Just Darcy

Chapter 4: Just a Little Tension

Natasha sighed. "Your distracted." she said accusingly standing over Clint on the mat. His chest was heaving from exertion and sweat covered his body. She shook her head offering him a hand up. When he was on his feet they moved to the benches guzzling from their water bottles. They sat in silence for a while until Natasha spoke up again. "You wanna talk about her?" she asked. Clint looked over at her confused.

"Her?" he questioned.

"Darcy." was Natasha's only reply.

"What makes you think Agent Lewis has anything to do with this?" he asked. She looked at him incredulously. He held back a cringe. Even after all these years she still managed to intimidate him when his guard was down.

"Well seeing as how you don't usually stare at people the way you were staring at her at dinner on Tuesday, I just assumed." Natasha explained with a smirk as pink stained Clint's cheeks. He cleared his throat.

"When you put it that way..." he answered. "How bad does Coulson want to kill me?"

"His only concern is what will happen when it doesn't work out." She explained.

"When? Nice to know he has such little faith in me." He grumbled, standing up. He stretched cracking his joints before turning to Natasha.

"You don't exactly have the best track record." She finally said. He gaped.

"Are you kidding I've been in one serious relationship since joining SHIELD, and *Barbra and my split was completely mutual because she got job offer from SWORD." He defended. "So I don't see how anyone could possibly think I would ruin something like this."

"He's not worried about you having a relationship with her; he's worried about you not having a relationship." She explained matter of fact. "It's only been a week since she's started working here but he's already said she's the best assistant he's ever had. People around the office are referring to her as the Pepper Potts of SHIELD."

"What do you mean not having a relationship with her? Like a one night stand? Does he actually think I would be so crude?" A nod was his only reply. He huffed, plopping back down on the bench next to her, his arms crossed over his chest.

"So, you like her." Natasha prompted after a while. Clint sighed dropping his head.

"More then I should." he replied tiredly.

"Do you know what you're going to do?" she asked. He shook his head.

"No, she said she doesn't date people she shares office space with." He explained.

"I won't pretend to know anything about relationships, but perhaps you should just ask her out and see what happens. Make it clear that you know about her personal policy and you thought you'd try...Nothing ventured, nothing gained."

Clint looked over at her, a look of contemplation on his face. "Makes sense." He finally replied. Natasha took a deep breath before standing and grabbing her gear.

"Whatever you do, do it quick. Otherwise I'm going to have to find a new sparring partner. Maybe Steve, he doesn't let things distract him on the mat." She told him heading toward the locker room.

"Steve huh? Somehow I don't think you're all that opposed to a little one on one with Captain America." He yelled at her retreating form. She raised her arm, flipping him off as she disappeared through the door. Clint sighed when she was gone, checking his watch. He had twenty minutes to shower, change and get down to the range to train one of the newbie agents. He scowled he hated training the new agents they were more often than not full of themselves.

It was true SHIELD only wanted the best but there were thousands of people working for the agency and most were more experienced. It seemed a rarity that he'd be lucky enough to get a new agent who was willing to learn rather than show off. Clint stepped out of the shower, dried quickly and dressed in his plain black cargos and t-shirt. He threw on his boots, grabbed his gear and headed toward the indoor range three hallways down.

With a deep breath, Clint pushed his way through the doors stopping in his tracks as he caught sight of the person standing, seemingly waiting, near the weapons table. They turned too looked at him as they heard the door open, a wide smile stretching across their face.

"Hi." Darcy greeted as he walked up to her.

"Hey." He greeted in reply. "So you're my two o'clock?" He asked carefully. She nodded.

"Looks like it." She said sweetly. He gave her a half heart smile before moving to the table and depositing his gear there. "So teach, what's the lesson today?" She asked coming to stand next to him. He did his best to ignore how close she was standing next to him, her perfume surrounding him.

"Hmm, well, I was going to start with simple target practice with a standard glock nine millimeter, but Coulson mentioned earlier that you were nervous about learning to use one so, I think we'll start with something else." He explained refusing to look at her. The way her SHIELD t-shirt and tight dark jeans hugged her curves was far from lost on him when he first saw her and he really wasn't sure he could trust himself just yet.

Instead he kept his eyes on his task as he assembled one of the training bows. He could feel her eyes watch his movements intently. When he was done he picked up a pair of specialized gloves from the table and turned to her helping her put them on. He then picked up the bow and handed it to her. She took it, weighing it in her hand.

"Ok, turn around." He told her. She did as he said blushing slightly when she felt him step up behind her. He pressed in close to her back guiding her hands to hold the bow properly and moving her arms into the right positions, all the while explaining what and why. "Is that uncomfortable?" He asked. She shook her head 'no' unable to find words. "Good." He said. "Now try and pull back, make sure the tension isn't too heavy." She did, finding it difficult but not impossible. "Ok, good." He said stepping back. She forced herself not to sigh in relief. "Step up to the line." He finally said gesturing toward the booth where he had set a quiver of arrows.

When she was standing where he told her he drew an arrow and handed it to her moving to resume his place behind her. Her blush returned as he pressed against her back. She swallowed hard trying to focus on the task at hand.

Clint showed her how to notch the arrow before guiding her back into the proper position. She lined her shot and after a moment let the arrow loose watching as it embedded itself into the outer circle of the target. She smiled.

"Oh my god, I hit It." she said happily. Clint chuckled, an action that was enhanced by the fact that he was still pressed against her back. She felt the deep rumble against her shaking her to her core.

"Good job." he said before handing her another arrow. They repeated the process a few more time until Clint stepped away. She couldn't help the mixture of disappointment and relief that shot through her. "Now try on your own." he told her. She nodded and drew an arrow, getting into position. She was very much aware of his eyes on her as she prepared. She took a deep breath forcing herself to relax before letting loose the arrow. She hit the target a little closer to the center then she had been before. "Not bad, keep going." Clint told her when she turned to him with a proud smile. She turned back around and continued.

Clint watched her intently the entire time, scrutinizing every move. Coulson was right, she was a quick study.

Clint watched as she drew back the draw string, her body taught with tension as she fought against the pressure of the bow. He was ashamed by his leering but he could help it when his eyes traveled the column of her exposed neck, traveling slowly intently down the curve of her back, tracing the swell of her hips and moving down her lean calves, provoking a stirring in his pants.

"Shit." he scolded himself. "Quit starring." he scowled. His hormones were going to be the death of him. How could he possibly be so attracted to this woman, whom he'd known for less than a week? It just wasn't natural. He should have more control over his thoughts then this.

After a while Darcy finished off the arrows and turned to Clint. "How was that?" she asked as he move to stand next to her facing the target.

"Not bad." he told her. "Have you ever used a bow before?" she shook her head 'no'. "Well you learned pretty quickly." he continued. "You won't be taking my place anytime soon but if necessary you'll be able to defend yourself pretty well." she smiled. "Why don't we call it quits for now I'm sure Coulson is desperate to have his "Pepper Potts" back." she blushed.

"So are we still on for tonight?" she asked, handing back the bow. He looked at her confused.

"Tonight?" he questioned. She nodded.

"Yea, you know cheesy sci-fi movie marathon on TV tonight. We were going to order Chinese and make fun of the horrible graphics and stereotypical plot." she explained.

Clint hesitated remembering their conversation the other day. In all honesty it was burned into his brain. He remembered coming back late Wednesday night after a mission feeling beaten to a near pulp and completely exhausted.

He remember getting to his apartment only to hear the door down the hall open and hear her voice call out to him. He vividly remembered the look of worry on her face at all the cuts and bruises on his body. He had brushed off the medical guys on the Helicarrier but when she offered to help him he couldn't bring himself to say no.

The rest of the night consisted of a couple of beers, a bit of complaining as she practically drowned him in antiseptic and bandages, and a very detailed discussion of movie genres. The next morning he woke up on her couch, covered by the fuzzy fleece batman blanket he usually saw draped over the back of the couch.

Darcy was doing her best to tip toe around the kitchen, making coffee and pop tarts for two. He laughed at her attempt while accepting a cup of coffee and a chocolate pop tart. They had a great morning and somewhere along the way she mentioned the movie marathon on the Sy-fy channel suggesting they make a night of it if he was interested.

"Oh yea, of course." He replied. "Seven right?" He asked she nodded. "Alright, looking forward to it." He continued. If she blushed he didn't to notice.

"Great, then I'll see you tonight." She told him grabbing her things and heading out.

Clint watched her leave sighing when she was gone...he was so screwed.

"I'm screwed." Clint groaned as he dropped into one of the seats at the island in the shared kitchen. Natasha never looked up from the fruit she was cutting as she answered.

"Training with Darcy didn't go well I take it." Clint looked up at her suspiciously.

"You knew she was my trainee?" He asked. "Why didn't you tell me?" Once again she never looked at him.

"Frankly I find this a lot more entertaining." Was her only reply earning a snort of amusement from Pepper who until then was sitting silently on the stool next to Clint working on her tablet. He looked over at her with a scowl.

"I take it you are apprised of the situation." Clint said.

"Indeed." She replied amused sipping her coffee. He sighed harshly.

"Quit being dramatic, Barton." Natasha scolded playfully. He glared at her. "I thought you had already decided on what to do." She continued ignoring his expression.

"So did I." he told her. "But saying and doing are two totally different things." he continued. "Every time I open my mouth to say something, my mouth gets all dry, and nothing will come out. I end up saying stupid stuff." Clint said. He caught Pepper looking at him from the corner and turned to find her grinning at him. "What?"

"You're really serious about her." he looked at her skeptically. "Dry mouth, unable to speak, and your nervous which can only mean you're really serious about her." Pepper explained. He shook his head.

"I like her, but I don't know about all that." Clint replied. Pepper shook her head.

"Trust me, I'm unusually qualified in this department." she continued.

"Oh, how so?" Natasha asked curious and amused.

"Well, I've worked for Tony for twelve years. Ten of those years we danced around our feelings so much we could have held our own prom every time we were in the same room." Pepper explained. "Trust me, it will be a lot easier if you suck it up and talk to her."

"Yea, but that whole situation accounts for both sides feeling the same way." Clint retorted. Pepper and Natasha shared a look before turning back to Clint.

"Oh you poor, clueless man." Pepper said shaking her head. Clint looked between the two women taken back.

"What?" he asked nervously. It was well known that these two women were dangerous on their own but together they were deadly. He really should talk to Tony about limiting their time together when they had time off. Although he did always tell Natasha she needed more female friends... Or friends in general for that matter.

"I'll put this as simply as I can Clint, she may not feel the same way about you, but she is most definitely attracted to you." Natasha told him matter of fact. "Talking to her could end rather well for both of you." she continued.

"But what about her rule?" Clint asked. He knew he was starting to sound whinny but he was starting to get annoyed with the way he was acting. He was a highly skilled sniper stuff like this shouldn't affect him so much. Or at least nothing had since Barbra left.

"What rule?" Pepper asked. Natasha turned to her.

"You remember what she said at lunch about dating in the office." she said. Pepper 'Ohed'.

"I wouldn't worry about that." Pepper told him simply. Clint looked at her confused.

"Why?" he asked. Pepper smirked as she finished off her coffee and gather up her things.

"Because, Agent Barton, I had the exact same rule at one point." she told him. "If she really cares, she'll take the chance. You need to give her the option to change her mind. Trust me, rules like that are good, but if you legitimately care or even love someone they just get in the way." as if on cue Tony walked in looking around at the three friends who were starting at him.

"Not that I don't always enjoy the attention, but why is everyone staring at me?" he asked in his usual manner. Pepper smiled walking up at him. She pecked him on the lips before taking him by the hand and leading him back out.

"Come on Anthony, you have a 'meeting'." She told him as they disappeared through the door.

When they were gone Clint turned to Natasha. "What the hell is wrong with me?"

"Your messy, you eat like an animal, you snore and you have a serious crush on your boss's assistant." Natasha replied finishing what she was doing with the fruit and putting it in a bowl. He glared at her. "Now suck it up and ask her out before I do it for you and I promise if I have to do it it won't in the least bit be flattering for you." she finished walking out of the kitchen.

Clint sighed dropping his head on the counter. "With friends like these who needs enemies."

He stopped outside Darcy's door, hesitating.

Clint sighed; he seemed to be doing that a lot in the last week. Ever since he laid eyes on the one and only Darcy Lewis. He didn't know how many times he could say there was something wrong with him before someone actually believed him and committed him to some mental institution. It was frustrating this hold she had on him, the affect. And the worst part was she had no idea she was having any kind of effect on him. It would be a lot easier to get through this if she knew and was just playing him.

He cut that line of thought off quickly. The last thing he needed was to make himself crazy thinking like that. Clint raised his hand ready to knock on the door, but before he could the door opened surprising him. She smiled at him, not noticing his shock.

"Hey you're just in time." She told him stepping aside to let him in. He stepped in, waiting for her to shut the door before following her into the living room. The big screen TV was already on, set to the right channel. On the table she had set out an amazing looking spread, boxes of Chinese food, a giant bowl of popcorn, along with boxes of movie candy, and a six pack of beer.

"I guess we won't need this." He said holding up a giant sized bag of chips. She smiled widely.

"Are you kidding? There's always room for chips." She replied taking the bag from him. She walked back to the kitchen pulling out a large snack bowl and pouring some of the bag's contents into it.

"Make yourself at home." She told him amused when she looked up only to find him still standing awkwardly by the end of the sofa. He looked over said sofa, taking note of all the extra-large blankets and fluffy pillows scattered around the couch. He sat down and grabbed a beer just as she came around the couch, setting the bowl of chips down with the rest of the food.

"Lot of food." He stated looking over the spread again. Darcy smiled grabbing one of the cartons of take out and a pair of chop sticks.

"You can never have too much food." She told him, opening the carton and digging in. He watched, a lopsided smirk unwittingly gracing his features. She looked over at him, her mouth full of food, blushing. "What?" She garbled, trying not to sound as piggish as she most likely looked. He chuckled at her embarrassment shaking his head.

"Nothing I'm just not used to hearing that from a woman." He told her grabbing a carton for himself. "Even Tasha watches what she eats. The most I've ever seen her splurge is ice cream with Pepper every other Saturday." Darcy smiled shyly.

"I guess I've just never really seen the need to count calories or anything. I love food. Why should I be afraid to show it?" She told him. He smirked at her. He could tell she was embarrassed.

"That's refreshing actually." He told her simply. She blushed, suddenly finding the commercial on the TV very interesting. He chuckled, turning back to his food. With all the worrying he'd been doing the last few days it was funny that now he was suddenly relaxing.

"Awesome, snakehead terror." Darcy said as the first movie began. "This is one of my favorites." She told him. He laughed.

"Why's that?" He asked amused.

"Because it actually happened." She replied energetically. He watched her like she was crazy. "Ok well maybe not exactly but it did happen. *Some idiot released a few live Snakehead fish into the Potomac River after their restaurant closed down and they almost completely decimated the ecosystem of Virginia." She smiled widely at him.

"Admit it, there's a little evil in you." He replied warily taking a drink of his beer.

"Muwahahaha." She joked in reply. Clint snorted his beer at her unexpected reply, sending Darcy into an uncontrollable fit of giggles.

"Wow." He said as he cleaned himself up. "You are a nerd." He continued.

"Damn right!" She stated proudly. "You got a problem with that Barton?" She questioned. He smirked at her.

"Not even a little bit." He told her matter of fact, leaning back in his seat cockily. If he made her blush anymore her head was probably going to explode.

The rest of the evening went well-he was happy to say- and at some point she moved closer to him. It was at that point that he relaxed the most. She seemed all too happy to get close to him- which boded well for him- and he was all too willing to let her. By the end of the night, Darcy had managed to curl herself up to his side, his arm slung around her while she rested her head on his shoulder.

The marathon was over but he was more than content to just sit there with her, huddled together and enjoying the others presence. Unfortunately as he looked at the clock he was reminded that he had a ridiculously early day and going to bed early so he could get at least a couple hours of sleep was probably a better idea.

Clint sighed drawing Darcy's attention. "Is something wrong?" She asked.

"Yea," he replied dejected. "I have an early morning." He wouldn't lie, the pout on her face definitely made him happy.

"Oh, ok." She answered softly. It was obvious she was disappointed. It was nice to know the feeling was mutual, especially when she removed herself from his side taking the warmth with her. Reluctantly he stood up; grabbing the shoes he'd kicked off earlier in the night. "So, um, I had a lot of fun tonight." She finally told him as he slipped his shoes on. He grinned lopsided at her.

"Me too." He replied simply. She smiled sweetly at him, and it was at that moment that he made e decision. He had to ask her. "Listen," he began his mood suddenly heavier. She watched him concerned, worrying her bottom lip. "I like you, a lot, more than anyone might think possible in just a week." He paused taking a breath. He was absolutely not the kind of guy who went around with his emotions on his sleeve and sucked when it came to words, he was more of an actions kind of guy, but he was willing to try if she was willing to be patient. "I know you have this rule about dating people you work with, but I was hoping that you may consider making an exception, for me." He watched her, growing nervous by the dejected look on her face. Panic set in and he did the only thing he could think of. "Like I said I know about your rule but I was thinking that this could be like a test and you know we go out and if you decide that you don't want to invest your time in...well me...we can just let it go and be friends, and...stuff."

The nervousness didn't subside as he watched her fidget. He tensed up waiting for her reply. "I guess...I guess I didn't make myself all that clear." She finally answered, looking down at her hands. Whatever he was expecting her to say it wasn't that.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you." Clint told her shoving his hands in his pockets. He starred down at the ground suddenly finding the carpet really interesting. A breathy laugh left her, surprising him into looking back up her. He watched as she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear before looking up at him nervously.

"I...kinda thought..." She took a deep breath calming whatever nerves were keeping her from getting her point across. "I thought that, that was what this was." She finally managed worrying her bottom lip. Clint starred at her wide eyed, not really sure if he had heard her correctly.

"What?" He forced out.

"Well... I mean...Natasha and Pepper said that I should ask you out cause they knew that I liked you and stuff, so I thought that tonight would be good, you know, subtle...apparently too subtle. I'm not really good at stuff like this...at all. Um, I'm just rambling at this point so feel free to jump in at any time."

Clint shifted on his feet, a look of udder disbelief on his face. This whole night was a date...their first date at that. She had asked him out and he hadn't even realized it.

"Let's try this again." He finally replied taking his hands out of his pockets and standing up tall. "I had a great time tonight. Would you like to go out again, say tomorrow...nice dinner, and walk around town kinda thing?" He asked feeling lighter when a smile broke across her face.

"I would love too." She told him.

"Great, I'll see you tomorrow then." He continued before bidding her goodbye and heading for the door.

"Um...Clint." She called out to him. He opened the door. He turned to face her watching as she walked up to him. Without warning she leaned up pecking him on the cheek and smiling shyly. "I really did have a great time tonight. Whether or not it can be considered a date." He smiled lopsided at her pulling her into a hug.

"I'll see you tomorrow." He told her smirking.

"Looking forward to it."

Clint stepped out into the hallway closing the door behind him. He hadn't smiled like an idiot in years, but damn did she make him love to do it again. Of course the minute what she said crossed his mind, the little tid bit of their conversation that told him he need to pay a little visit to Natasha and Pepper.

A/N: Chapter 4 complete. Lots of stuff coming up. Hope you stay tuned.

*Barbra 'Bobbi' Morse A.K.A Mockingbird was Clint's fellow agent turned lover, turned wife, turned Ex-Wife in the comic books.

*I was watching Monster Quest on the History channel and they were talking about Monster Fish. Snakehead Terror really is one of my favorite B class movies and apparently some idiot really did release a bunch of them into the Potomac.

-RED