Hi guys! Remember me? Haha... I really want to get back into writing and hopefully finish some of my left in limbo stories in 2021. I feel super rusty, but it was fun writing this and I hope you enjoy! Reviews would mean the world!
Give each other little presents. Even if it's just a rose on Friday the 13th. Clint was trying to take a nap on the quintet, but the other agents would not. Stop. Talking. At first he'd been somewhat honored that they not only acknowledged he was an actual avenger, but where excited to be on the same flight as him. Not even the same mission, he just so happened to have needed the next flight to Amsterdam, and this one happened to have an open seat. The archer had been looking forward to the attention, but several hours into this flight and he'd give anything for some peace and quiet. The relentless questions had quickly grown old. The agents where also all so new they hardly outranked interns, and all of them looked far too immature for Clint to take any of them seriously. During a pause in conversation, after around the twelfth question about Clint being raised at a circus, the young man sitting in the chair across from him eagerly raised a hand. His face was lit up with excitement. Clint on the other hand, dragged a hand through his hair, struggling not to roll his eyes. "Jesus, guys, this isn't kindergarten I told you that you don't have to raise your hands! Christ, makes me feel old as shit..." The agent sheepishly lowered his hand. "Oh, uh- sorry Mr. Barton, um, Agent Hawkeye, I mean- Clint." "It's just Clint, man... I'm not Natasha. You're allowed to use my real name without being scared you'll wake up in a bed full of spiders." At this the the young man grew a shade paler, but after a nervous gulp, moved forward with his question. "Um, is Tony Stark as cool as he seems?" At this question, the first so far to be about one of the other Avengers, it was like a dam had broken, and suddenly the jet was flooded with more Avenger related questions. "Was it true that Steve and Thor where best friends? Did they actually go to a grocery store once and buy every flavor of Pop-Tart, or had that been a media scam?" "Was Stark still a party guy, or had he calmed down?" "Did the avengers see the footage of that spider guy in New York City? Was he a new superhero?" "Was Agent Romanoff as scary as she looked?" So many questions where being asked, Clint was getting a headache. He tried to come up with some answers, while simultaneously looking through his backpack hoping to find something to occupy him and deter conversation. His hand brushed against some paper, and Clint pulled out a file. Which was surprising, because he definitely hadn't packed any files. Paperwork was what the agents surrounding him where for. Still, as boring as it might be, at least paperwork was a good excuse to make these newbies stop talking to him... Pulling it out, he read "Top Secret Mission Report. Must be filled out by Agent Barton as soon as possible." It looked official enough, but the handwriting definitely wasn't from Coulson. Currently no questions where being flung at Barton, because the agents where loudly debating which Avenger would win in a round of Mario Kart. Clint wasn't about to burst anyones bubble and tell them Thor had surprisingly enough beaten them all at it, but he took the opportunity to investigate just what was in this "secret" file. The archer opened it, and had to resist the urge to smirk down at what where supposed to be serious documents. Inside was a word search booklet he'd been eyeing last mission, at a gas station with Natasha. And a sticky note attached to the cover. "You didn't listen to me when I said it was a bad idea to take that flight, did you Bird Brain? If the infants are getting on your nerves, tell them you need peace and quiet when filling out your "important grown up avenger files". I also left some headphones in your backpack, because I KNOW you never remember to pack them. Stay safe Hawkeye. Natasha's signature hourglass was scrawled at the bottom of the note. Clint put on what he hoped resembled a resigned face, and lifted his voice while digging down into his bag for the headphones. "Listen up Agents! As much as I've loved this conversation, I forgot I have some super serious, important, Avenger related crucial documents to fill out. So if you could keep it down to a dull roar, and not bother me until the end of the flight I'd much appreciate it..." -/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/ Natasha was relieved to enter one of her favorite safe houses. For once not because it was one of the places she felt safest, but because of the torrential rain that was pouring down outside. She'd had a long day, doing some light undercover work, and now the job was done and Hill had said she didn't have to report back to them until tomorrow afternoon. Hardly a vacation, but Romanoff was always relieved to have even a bit of free time, away from orders and agents. The spy had paused in the front doorway, she literally was wringing the water out from her hair, and was trying not to get the whole apartment wet. When suddenly, a small sound from the kitchen caused her to pause. And slowly reach for a knife. Natasha was certain someone else was in the apartment, however she was also certain that she knew who it was... The knife was just a precaution. The little apartment didn't look like much, but it was equipped with the best security equipment money could buy. And as far as she knew, only one person could get past that equipment, or even knew that this place existed. Still, better safe than sorry. Knife at the ready, she began creeping towards the kitchen. Suddenly, Natasha heard a familiar voice. "Damn it! What is wrong with this place!?" They where not even trying to be quiet, so Nat dropped her sneaky act and pushed open the kitchen door. Clint didn't even look surprised when she entered, instead he throw his hands in the air. "Tash, it's ridiculous, how can this be your FAVORITE safe house when not a single decent pizza place will deliver here!? The only place within range is Pizza Hut. And you know how much I love Pizza, but I don't think that trash deserves to be called pizza. If anything, it's an insult to one of the best foods in existence." The archer dramatically threw his phone down on the table, and crossed his arms in a pout. Natasha settled in the chair across from him, and laid her knife down next to his phone. "First of all, I try to avoid having ANY food delivered here. Kind of takes away from the whole "safe" part of a safe house, if Uber Eats has the address. Second of all, are you insane? You're lucky I didn't try and attack the second I knew someone else was here. You couldn't have told me you where stopping by?" Barton shrugged, a smirk creeping up on his face. "Well, if I'd told you it wouldn't have been a surprise, would it? So, surprise! Besides, when you gave me keys to this place you never said I had to warn you before coming here." "Ugh, just because I gave you those keys doesn't mean I can't take them away Clint. It should also be common sense to let someone know if you'll be at their apartment or not... How did you know I was gonna be here anyway? Or do you always squat in my safe houses when you think I'm not around?" At this question, Clint rolled his eyes. "Come on Romanoff, I have my own safe houses to squat in. And unlike this one, most of mine are decently close to quality pizza joints. Hill happened to mention that you finished the job early, and that she didn't expect to see you again before tomorrow. Between that, and where you mentioned your last gig was, it made the most sense you'd be here." Natasha lifted an eyebrow, "So, you're here because it made sense I'd be here? Is that really your excuse? You sound like a stalker." Barton grinned at this, "I already told you. I'm here because I wanted to surprise you! So, surprise! I was hoping to order pizza before you got here, but we both already know how that turned out. But hey, I do have this!" Clint eagerly leapt to his feet, moving towards the backpack he'd left on the counter. Rifling through it, he continued talking. "Because, yeah! It's not often you're not working, and I'm not working, so I thought we could just have a nice Friday night together. AND did you know it's Friday the 13th!? But, so far I haven't had any bad luck today. It's actually been a pretty good day! Well, again, minus the pizza thing. But hey, could have been worse!" Natasha had to chuckle at this. "I mean, yeah. I could have thought you where a real intruder and killed you, I'd call that pretty unlucky." The archer interrupted her before she could continue talking, "Ah-ha! Found it!" With a flourish, the archer pulled a slightly wilted, but still intact rose from his bag. "Kind of got beat up, but I saw it on my way here and thought you'd like it. It's pretty right?" He almost looked sheepish now, perhaps wondering if he'd made a mistake buying a super spy such a frivolous thing. They had been partners for a while now, but finally acknowledging the romantic relationship growing from the partnership, was still fairly new for both of them. They'd each had their struggles admitting the feelings where there, and still had moments of concern or fear. When you and the person you had feelings for both went to work every day not knowing if they would come back dead or alive? Well, it gave commitment issues a whole new meaning. But instead of feeling annoyed, or unsettled, in this moment Natasha was touched by the sentiment of the gift. She plucked the rose from his hand, and smiled down at it. "It's beautiful Clint... Thank you. I love it." At her words, relief poured over Barton's face. "Really Nat?!" He asked, almost unable to believe this wasn't going to end in her joking about the gift, or worse attacking him over it. Instead of answering the question, Natasha stood, moved towards him and pulled him in for a brief but passionate kiss. When she moved away, Clint was at a loss for words, something rare for him. But Natasha was already moving towards the front door, "Come on. They don't deliver, and it's raining, but there's a pizza place down the street that's going to blow your mind. We can order carry out, and maybe watch a movie back here? Sound good?" Barton had somewhat recollected his thoughts, and had followed his partner. Impulsively he grabbed her hand, and pulled her in for another kiss. They where both grinning as they broke apart. "Sounds great Nat, so long as you remember it's my turn to pick the movie."