As a reminder, I don't own Marvel, just my OC's. If I did, I'd be independently wealthy. Instead, I offer my heartfelt thanks to the team at Marvel and the actors for giving us these rich characters to write about. Hopefully, you caught the Renner reference in the last chapter from one of my favorite movies of his, The Bourne Legacy. We need more Aaron Cross! This chapter will include a snippet of a scene from one of my guilty pleasure movies. Enjoy!
Mikayla still sat with her back against the headboard, knees pulled up to her chin, and arms wrapped around her legs. She felt like she was living a dream. Never in her life did she expect to fall for someone who'd whisk her away, let alone have that man be a bona fide superhero, no matter how much he protested he wasn't. Yes, she knew when they returned to New York City they'd have to deal with Barney and his crew, and it was a sure bet Clint would be sent out on missions, but after this recent turn of events, she was sure she could face anything with her newfound friends and their assistance if needed. She heard the water turn off, so she made her way to the bathroom. Clint was in the vanity area, a towel wrapped around his waist, and using another towel to dry his hair. She kissed him on the cheek and stepped into the shower. Mikayla turned on the shower and let the hot water run over her body. As it did, she pictured the troubles of the past few days being washed away and spinning down the drain. She laughed, realizing she had spent way too much time listening to Misty read passages from her cheesy romance novels. She quickly washed her hair and finished her shower. When she exited, she could hear Clint in the other room getting dressed. She wrapped a towel around her, dried her hair, then put it in a quick braid. "Uh, Clint? Did the assistant happen to send any makeup over?"
"Top left drawer, babe."
She opened the drawer and found a makeup case. She put on her makeup, then looked around for clothes. "Uh, one more question. Where would I find clothes?"
"Hanging up in the walk-in closet."
"Thanks again." She went to the closet and gasped. She found a sleeveless cobalt blue evening dress with a chiffon skirt that looked like the hemline would land just above her knees. "Uh, Clint, tell me you did not pick this out."
"Nope, had a little help from Pepper and Nat."
"That would explain why it's not purple."
"Just because it's my favorite color doesn't mean it has to be yours." He came up behind her and kissed the nape of her neck. "I love the combination of your black hair and the dark blue against your skin." He left a string of kisses along her shoulders and neck.
"Oh, God, Clint," she moaned. "If you don't stop, we'll never make it to dinner."
He sighed and stopped. "Fine. I'll step out and let you get dressed. Oh, and the shoes are out here." He went back into the bedroom and let her try on the dress. When she did, she found it fit like it was made for her. She put on hosiery, then walked into the bedroom and almost fainted. Clint was wearing a royal blue suit, with a white shirt, royal blue vest, and blue tie. She just about melted then and there. "Guess this means you like the suit." All she could do was nod. She'd suddenly lost the ability to form words. "Doesn't hold a candle to you, but you're not fully dressed yet." He held up a pair of blue heels. "Here, let me help." He knelt, lifted her right leg, guided her foot into the shoe, then lightly caressed her calf but stopped at her knee as she started to pull her foot out of the shoe. "Problem?"
"There's something in the shoe, I can't put my foot in."
"Here, let me take a look." He picked up the shoe, put his hand in it, and smiled. "You're right, let me see what it is." He felt a bit, then pulled a small box out. Mikayla looked down and started breathing a little faster. Clint took her hand. "Before you say anything, I know it's sudden. However, you reminded me earlier your parents only knew each other for two months before they got married. Babe, we've been together longer than that." He swallowed before continuing, giving himself time to go over what he wanted to say. "I don't know what I've done to deserve you. I'm a spy and an assassin, I lie to people and kill people for a living. I carry that list with me, especially after the attack on New York City. I don't know how I ever had the fortune of landing in your office that day. I hate to call it dumb luck. Maybe it was fate, planets were aligned, I don't know. What I do know is I spent 6 months trying to get my mind right so I could meet you. I thought about you every day. I knew I had to be in the right frame of mind to meet someone who could change my life. Now I know that was the right decision because it led me to this moment. Mikayla O'Hara Coulson Fitzgerald, would you do me the honor of stealing my last name like you stole my heart?"
Tears welled up in her deep brown eyes. She gulped and said the only word that came to mind. "Yes," she answered, barely above a whisper. She was too scared to say it any louder, afraid she would find out this moment wasn't real. She bit her lip to keep from breaking down in joyful, ecstatic tears.
He stood up with a beaming smile on his face. "Would you like to see the ring?"
She inhaled to give herself the strength to reply. "It could be from a Cracker Jack box and it wouldn't change my answer."
"Now you tell me, that would've saved me some money," he joked.
That brought a smile. "I will be happy to wear whatever you bought, anything that announces to the world I'm blissfully taken by you." He opened the box to reveal a princess-cut amethyst gemstone surrounded by smaller amethysts and diamonds around the band. "I knew you'd work purple in somewhere."
"That way you'll never forget it came from me, Sharky."
"Won't ever happen, can't ever happen, RH."
He took the ring out of the box. "Babe, your hand?" She extended her left hand and he placed the ring on her finger. "It looks amazing. Just like you." She stared at her hand for several minutes without uttering a word. Clint could feel his heart pounding. It felt like it was about to break out of his chest. Did she like it? Was she disappointed? Was she regretting the decision already? "Everything OK? I've never seen you go this long without talking except when you were unconscious."
She looked at him, brown eyes shining, full of tears. "I have never been more OK. I'm just dumbfounded. I've seen most of my classmates go off, get married, have kids, and lead seemingly normal lives. I thought that kind of lifestyle had bypassed me. I'd made peace with the fact I was going to be single my whole life. Then you flew into my life, Clinton Francis Barton, and turned my world upside down. I was shocked when you told me you loved me after a week of dating, but I felt the same way and I understood your reasoning. But this," she held up her hand, "this was something I never thought I'd get to experience and now that I am, I'm overwhelmed." She bit her lip again. He noticed she did that when she got nervous. It was one of her adorable traits, unless it turned into an anxiety attack, of course. "All that to say this. I love you, Clint, and I am honored to be able to change my last name to Barton." She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him. She whispered, "I'll spend the rest of our lives telling you how much I love you and that will never change." She buried her head in his neck.