Clint woke with a start, breathing elevated slightly.

He looked down. Pietro was gone. Clint's hand was rested on his thigh, but Pietro was nowhere to be seen. Looking up, he saw Tony and Steve sitting side by side on the top level of the lounge. They didn't see him. They were a little busy.

Clint smiled to himself, his nightmare forgotten. About time. I wonder how long they've been at it. An emotion pricked at his heart. He was surprised to find it was envy. He wanted to have that kind of connection with someone. He looked around the room again. And it just so happened that someone wasn't here. Clint didn't like it when he wasn't here. When he wasn't here… It didn't feel like Clint should be here. He wanted them to be together, always. But he didn't think Pietro would ever feel the same about him.

Get your head out the clouds Barton, He told himself sternly, quietly getting to his feet and quickly as possible making his way into the kitchen. Not gonna happen. You're acting like a… His thoughts broke off as he entered the kitchen and his heart was doing somersaults again. Pietro was just visible as a blue wisp of smoke as he disappeared through the door.

Clint stiffened. Where is he going?

Clint ran over to the door, peering out. A trail of blue smoke was just fading, leading upstairs. He sprinted up, pushing through the rapidly dissolving mist. His breath caught in his throat as he found where it lead- surprisingly before it became invisible. Pietro had gone into his room. Why is he in my room? Clint quickly reminded himself that it technically wasn't his anymore. He opened the door a crack.

Pietro was sat on the edge of his bed, subconsciously stroking his hand to the bed sheets.

"Pietro?"

The younger man jumped about five feet in the air and whipped around as Clint walked into the room.

"Sorry, I don't know why I came in here…" Pietro murmured, standing up and looking down at the floor awkwardly. "I-I'll go."

"You don't have to leave… Actually… I'd prefer it if you stayed." Clint mumbled, sitting down on the edge of the bed and gesturing for Pietro to sit beside him.

The younger man sat back down, deliberately avoiding Clint's gaze. The archer watched him carefully, half confused.

"What's wrong?" He asked, sensing Pietro's uneasiness.

"Nothing." Pietro answered, a little too quickly.

"Pietro… Look at me."

Pietro flicked his light, blue eyes upwards, blinking slowly at Clint. They held each other's gaze for a while until each found themselves lost in the other's eyes. The archer broke eye contact, letting his eyes wander away from Pietro's icy blue irises. He sighed, smiling. What's this Kid doing to me?

Clint froze.

Pietro had just leant forward and pressed his lips against his. But, much to his disappointment, he didn't stay there for long, obviously sensing Clint's stillness and shock.

"S-Sorry." He stuttered, drawing back. "I-I... I didn't-"

Clint cut him off, taking his face in his hands and pulling Pietro's mouth to his. The younger man returned his kiss eagerly and, though Clint was almost certain it was his first, seemed to know exactly what to do. The way he tilted his head. The way he moved his hand up to hold the back of Clint's neck. The way he didn't protest when Clint slowly forced him to lie back, his knees on either side of the younger man's torso. The way his breathy rasps almost seemed to be begging Clint for more. These little things… Just made it perfect. Because that's what it was. It was a perfect kiss. Neither of them had ever had one like it.

They finally broke apart and Pietro let out a quiet, breathy chuckle.

"You have no idea how long I've been waiting for that." He whispered the words onto Clint's lips, his breathing elevated slightly.

"As long as I have?" Clint guessed quietly, climbing off of the bed and allowing Pietro to get up.

The younger man sat up, running his fingers through his white, ruffled hair. Smirking slightly he sprang off the bed and sped into Clint. He gripped a hand to the side of the archer's neck, the other on his chest and forced him against the wall, touching his lips to Clint's. He let out an almost silent exclamation of surprise at Pietro's action but returned it anyway. Pietro moved his hands, brushing one down Clint's chest to hold his hip, the other up to clutch the back of his head.

A quiet knock on the door interrupted them.

Pietro quickly pulled away, speeding behind the door as it opened and flattening himself into the corner. Clint hurriedly smoothed his hair down, trying to look half presentable.

"Sorry. Did I wake you?"

Natasha, thankfully, stayed in the doorway, not entering the room.

Clint shrugged. "Doesn't matter. Do you need me for something?"

"No, I was just wondering if you'd like some breakfast, a few of the others are up now. But I'm guessing, no? Because you look like you need some more sleep. Plus you usually only come in here when you want to be alone… Are you alright?"

Clint nodded, forcing a yawn to make it more convincing. "Fine, yeah. I might come down a bit later if that's okay."

"Sure. No problem." A tiny hint of concern glistened in Natasha's expression for a second. "I'll leave you to it."

She shut the door and Pietro waited until he heard her footsteps dissolve into silence before chuckling. He pushed his hands against the wall and walked back over to Clint.

"She was worried about you. I reckon she thought you were sick or something." He grinned; face quickly falling as Clint turned away. "What's wrong?"

Clint sighed. "It's not gonna work Kid." He murmured.

"What?" Pietro's heart seemed to stop. "I-I thought-"

"I'm sorry." Clint muttered. "It's just… I'm married. I've got Kids… And you… Sorry." He walked towards the door, brushing past a frozen Pietro. A hand gripped his wrist and Pietro spun him round, forcing him to look into his eyes. "Don't make this any tougher Kid… It's complicated enough already."

"It doesn't have to be." Pietro whispered.

"Think about what you want Pietro." Clint sighed. "I don't think you really know."

"I want you." Pietro released Clint's wrist, moving his hand up to touch the archer's face. "I want you to be happy… But that's not going to happen if you're with me… Is it?"

"Pietro…"

Pietro shook his head miserably, cutting him off. He lowered his hand, scooting around Clint and putting a hand to the door handle. In a flash, Clint had taken him by the shoulders, turned him round and had his lips pressed to Pietro's again. One hand was on the younger man's back, the other stroking his white, wavy hair at the back of his head. Pietro returned the kiss for a short time before taking Clint's face in his hands and gently pulling away.

"Maybe you should figure out what you want." He whispered. "Because I'm not going to wait for you and I don't want to share you with someone else."

"I know." Clint matched his whisper. "I'm sorry. I… I know what I want now… I know who I want."

"And?"

Then Clint gave him a look. Pietro only just stopped himself from shivering. Oh my god… His eyes. It was a look that clearly meant 'Do you really have to ask?' Pietro nodded his head- the smallest nod possible- just so Clint could understand that he needed this. He needed those words. Clint smiled kindly, his eyes seeming to glimmer.

"I love you Pietro Maximoff."