JULY 2011: TRISKELION
Shortly after returning from the academy's, Johnson pulled Katherine out of the department by Johnson and led to one of the conference rooms. Inside, agents in suits sat at the horseshoe shaped table facing a wall full of screens, but their attention turned to the new arrivals. Feeling out of place in her black skinny jeans and grey cotton tee that she spilled coffee on during her morning commute, she pulled on her jean jacket, hoping it still covered most of the stain.
"Don't these people believe in casual Friday?" Katherine muttered to Johnson. His lips quivered, trying to hold back his smile as he led her to two open seats on the opposite side of the room.
Desperately trying not to swivel in her chair like she would at her desk, Katherine almost fell off it when Director Fury came strolling casually into the room. Everyone else kept their chill, as though having a meeting with the director of SHIELD on a Friday was completely normal. Maybe for them it was. For her, she'd only met Fury once, during the grueling interview process.
"I'll wait to start until we're all here," he said, making her glance up and down the table. All the seats were filled, who else were they waiting on?
When the screens before them came to life, she realized what he'd meant. Certain agents were tele-conferencing in, with their name and location tagged beneath their video feed. There were agents as far away as Shanghai, and others a day or two drive away, including Fitz and Simmons. She smiled when she saw Clint on one of the monitors, looking casually disheveled as he sat with headphones on, holding a to-go cup of coffee and wearing a SHIELD sweatshirt.
"Good morning," Director Fury started, drawing her attention back to him. "I know this is an impromptu meeting for some of you, but security was of the utmost importance when crafting this team. We had to vet all of you before pulling you in."
Kat's eyes kept flitting back to the screens, to Clint, their gazes meeting several times as he did the same. She forced her attention back to Fury when Johnson nudged her chair with his foot. Apparently, he'd noticed who had her attention.
"We have an Ex-SHIELD agent involved in international black markets involving highly sophisticated technological weapons. Now, each one of you has been chosen based on your specialties. We have our linguistics specialists, who combined are fluent in every language spoken around the world."
Most of the agents around her and a few on the camera shared looks. That explained why Shanghai was conferencing in.
"We also have our bio-engineer team, meant to equip you with the newest gear and tech prototypes," Fury said, nodding at the screen where Fitz and Simmons gave a little wave of acknowledgement.
"We have a data and computer specialist to help us find and monitor our target, as well as diffuse any and all tech he is moving," he continued, looking to Katherine. She awkwardly nodded her head at the attention. It seemed to be enough as Fury moved on to the last member of the team.
"And a field operative, meant to take down our target once we locate him."
Clint smiled, giving a sloppy salute to Fury.
"On the tablets provided before you are all pertinent files to the mission. If you want to decline, do so now. Once you've read the file you're in until it's finished. Any questions?"
The agent to Katherine's left raised his hand.
"Jacobs," Fury nodded at the agent to go ahead.
"Will we be working other cases or only this one?"
"As intel for this mission is limited and updates are unpredictable, you will continue with your regular duties. However, this mission takes precedence over all else. As soon as we get any updates you will be pulled off whatever you're working on to focus on this."
"Are we allowed to discuss the mission?" One of the women on the screens from LA asked.
"Only with those involved. No one outside of this conference can know anything about this mission."
When there were no other questions, Fury dismissed everyone. Angie sent Kat prying looks when she and Johnson returned, and she slipped back behind her desk. She had to send her a message explaining how she couldn't talk about it. Angie understood SHIELD protocol, she just didn't understand Kat following it so strictly. Whatever it was must be big.
"It's killing me not telling her," Kat said later that night, sitting cross legged on her bed with her computer up, looking over facts from the mission and trying to find traces of Gregorio Slater, the ex-SHIELD agent.
"If Nat wasn't on an undercover mission right now, I'd be in the same boat. At least we can talk to each other about it," Clint said through the com. He stood on the roof of his apartment where he had a homemade gym, taking aim at the target across the roof.
"Not that there's much to talk about," Kat grumbled, shifting through video feeds from Munich, Germany, the last known location of Slater.
"We could talk about our date," he suggested, pulling his bowstring back to kiss the edge of his lips before releasing and hitting the bullseye, again.
"What do you have in mind?" she asked, hugging one of her pillows to her chest and smiling.
"I mean, you asked me out," he said, leaning lightly against his bow. "Shouldn't you plan it?"
"You taught me how to sign it. I was oblivious to what I was saying," she pointed out.
"Are you saying you don't want to go out on a date with me?"
"No!" she said a little too emphatically, causing him to smile.
"Don't worry, KitKat. I'll plan the first date," he said.
She barely had time to process the way he said 'first' date before he had to answer an incoming call from Coulson. After he hung up, she abandoned her search for Slater and called Angie, too giddy to focus on the mission.
SEPTEMBER 2011 WASHINGTON DC
Planning a date with another SHIELD agent was harder than Clint anticipated. Days off were few and far between and getting time off at the same time was nearly impossible. Harder yet when they lived in different states and worked out of different headquarters. Not to mention, they'd both been pulled into a long winding case involving an ex-SHIELD agent working with international baddies on black market tech that could wipe out power in a whole country with a few keystrokes that required long hours. Hence why it'd been weeks and their first date had yet to happen. At least they'd been working together more.
"What about next weekend?" Clint asked, ducking behind a concrete pillar of the bridge as gunshots rained down on him from across the deserted highway.
"Hang on," Kat said. Her fingers tapped rapidly across her keyboard as she tried to find satellite images of Clint's location to help provide him with more cover. Pulling up her calendar on the split screen, she clicked on the next weekend. "As of now, I'm not on the schedule."
"Great, I'll be back in the states by Friday," he said, peaking out from the pillar he hid behind to loose two rapid fire arrows before ducking back for cover. The structure shook beneath his back as his arrows exploded and rained down concrete on his attackers.
"Back-up's headed your way," Kat said, switching over to a new internet page to put in her request for official leave. "And I'll see you this weekend. It's a date."
"Finally," Clint smiled, firing another arrow at an approaching adversary.
….
"Alright, let's go over the checklist," Angie said, lounging across Kat's bed. In just a few hours she'd be in New York, finally on her first date with Barton. "Plane ticket and ID?"
"Check," Katherine said, flashing Angie her wallet.
"Killer date outfits?"
"I've got casual, and fancy," Kat said, holding up her two options.
"Don't forget the dark wash jeans. Your butt looks poppin in them."
"They're already packed," she said, tucking her date outfits into her hardcase luggage.
"You better have sexy lingerie and proper protection in that bag too," Angie said, making Kat blush.
"It's our first date." They hadn't even kissed yet. One step at a time.
"Lust doesn't care which date it is. And you and Barton have been holding back for months." Their sexual tension had to be at a 10 by now. Besides, she was flying to New York for the weekend for their first date. That kind of commitment deserved some hot and heavy action.
"Angie," Kat said in a warning tone, watching as she moved to her dresser.
"It's good to be prepared for anything," she said, tossing in a few lacy items. "Trust me, you'll thank me for this."
Angie drove her to JFK airport. Kat gripped her purse tighter the closer they got, her stomach in knots by the time they'd parked and stood by the security line.
"Nervous?" Angie asked.
"And excited," she said, releasing a sigh.
"Text me the second you land and when you get to the hotel. And I want full details of the weekend when you get back, preferably over copious amounts of wine."
"I love you," Kat said, squeezing her friend. "Don't get into too much trouble while I'm gone."
"Love you too, chica. I'm sure you'll get in enough trouble for the both of us. Have fun," she said, waiting until Kat made it through security before heading back to her car.
NEW YORK
The flight was short, though rather bumpy from turbulence. As soon as she landed, she texted Angie then ducked into the bathroom to freshen up: rinsing her mouth with travel mouthwash, and finger combing her hair. It made her feel less like a trash zombie. Making her way down to ground transport, her heart fluttered when she saw Clint waiting for her. He held a homemade sign that read 'KitKat' with the chocolate bar taped to it.
"Cute," she said when he offered the candy to her and took her bag for her.
"How was the flight?" he asked, leading her out to his car.
"It was bumpy, but alright." When they stopped in front of a black jeep with dark purple accents, Kat smiled, remembering their drive down the West Coast while visiting the academy's. "This is your car?"
"I'm not just a city boy. I like to go off roading upstate at times."
"Sounds fun. Is that what we're doing this weekend?" He'd never told her what he had planned, hence packing multiple options for date clothes.
"I figured I'd save that for a future date. I didn't have time to restock the cabin. Besides, this is your first time in the city, I want to show you what it has to offer, other than me of course." If things went well, he hoped to entice her to put in a transfer to New York.
"You're not going to tell me what you have planned?" Kat asked.
"Surprises are more fun," Clint said as he pulled to a stop in front of her hotel. "Dress casual. I'll be back to pick you up in about an hour?"
"Are you asking if I need more than an hour to freshen up?" Kat chuckled at the question at the end of that statement.
"If you do, that's fine."
"I don't. See you in an hour," she winked, hopping out of the Jeep with her bag.
…
Clint took care getting ready, styling his hair three different ways before satisfied and carefully choosing the right cologne before dabbing it on. He'd even called Nat over for help.
"Are you nervous?" she called out from the hall as he rolled up the sleeves of his gray Henley.
"A little," he admitted, as he stepped out and held his arms out, asking for her opinion.
"Switch the sneakers with boots. Kat's got a weakness for boots and jeans."
"How do you know that?" he asked, kicking off his sneakers as he moved to grab a pair of boots from the hall closet.
"Angie told me." Ever since they'd worked together, they'd been comparing notes and trading info to help…encourage Clint and Katherine.
"What else did Angie tell you?" he hadn't known Nat was friendly with Kat's best friend. "And more importantly, what did you tell Angie?"
"Nothing against your best interests. Now go, with traffic your liable to be late if you don't leave now."
Clint wanted to press the issue, but he wanted to be late even less. He'd find out what Nat told Angie later. Right now, he needed to pick up Katherine for their date.
Katherine had Angie on speaker as she got ready.
"Glasses, or contacts?" she asked as she slipped in some delicate hoop earrings.
"Glasses. You're more comfortable with them and Clint has a thing for them. At least on you."
"Really?" Kat smiled as she slipped her glasses back on. "Hold up, how do you know what Clint likes?"
"Natasha mentioned it."
"You talk to her about Clint?" She hadn't known they knew each other well enough to talk outside of work.
"About both of you, really."
Her screen lighting up with a text from Clint distracted her from Angie as she hurried to slip on her black heeled boots.
"I've gotta go, Clint's here. But we're finishing this conversation later."
"Have fun! And remember, use protection!"
Shaking her head, Kat hung up and sent a text telling Clint she was on her way down.
Clint leaned against one of the pillars in the lobby, right ankle crossed over the left, looking sexier than any man had a right to. His face lit up with a smile when she walked out of the elevator.
"No Jeep?" she asked when they stepped out onto the sidewalk.
"We're traveling like New Yorkers tonight," Clint said, resting his hand on her back and leading her towards the subway station.
He pulled two prepaid cards from his wallet, handing one to Katherine. Once past the turnstiles, they funneled down to the train platform with graffiti painted walls until the next train stopped. Katherine assumed they'd be waiting for the next train, as that one was fairly full, but Clint led them into the car once the doors opened. He reached up to grip the metal bar above them, which Kat wasn't quite able to comfortably reach. Seeing this, he leaned down until his lips were beside her ear.
"You can hold onto me for stability," Clint whispered.
Her tentative hold on his sides turned into a tight grip when the train started moving again and had her falling into his chest. And still he didn't move: a solid wall of muscle. His free hand helped right her, instantly loving the added perk of taking the subway.
When they made it to their stop, she untangled herself from Clint and followed him out onto the platform. They hadn't taken more than a few steps when she reached for his hand, interlacing her fingers with his, her insides going wild when he gave her hand a light squeeze.
To her surprise, they stopped at a food truck a few blocks down from Central Park.
"Trust me, they have the best subs in the city," Clint said, stepping forward in line. He ordered first, giving her time to look over the menu and choose which she wanted.
With a bag with two subs and two bottles of water, Clint took her hand again and led her towards Central Park. He led her past sidewalks crowded with people to a hidden bench underneath a tree that had a breathtaking view of the city skyline.
"How did you find this?" she asked.
"Accidentally, on one of my morning runs. When I started planning our date, I immediately thought of it."
"It's beautiful," she said.
"Now it is," Clint said, handing over her sub from the bag.
"Wow, and I thought you were smooth when you got me to ask you out."
"Are you gonna call me an ass again?" he asked, feigning insult.
With a smile, Kat raised her right hand, spelling out the three letters in sign language.
"It's even better when you sign it," he said, biting into his sub.
Conversation flowed smoothly as they ate, broken only when Clint taught her new signs, physically correcting her as an excuse to touch her. Checking his watch, he gathered up their trash. It was time for the next surprise. Another subway ride a few blocks down and they were standing in front of one of New York's many comedy clubs.
"I'm going to get us some drinks," he said once they grabbed two seats up front. "What would you like?"
"Surprise me." He'd done well with the surprises so far.
When he returned with a beer and a fruity looking drink and offered either one to her, she smirked as she took the beer. Unbothered, he slid into the seat beside her, taking a sip of the pale pink drink as the comedian came onto the stage to start his set. He started with a few rehearsed jokes before searching the audience for some adlib.
"It takes one secure ass man to drink that drink," the comedian said when he saw Clint before turning to Katherine. "He has a huge package, right?"
"Why, are you thinking about taking him home?" she fired back at him, causing Clint to smirk around the rim of his glass.
"Normally I'd say something about preferring you and the sexy librarian look, but he looks like he could kill me. I mean, look at his arms. Even his forearms are ripped."
"Now it really sounds like you want to take him home," Kat joked back.
"I probably couldn't handle him if I did," the comedian laughed.
The show got back to scripted jokes after that, and the comedian left them alone until, halfway through the set, both their phones buzzed. As soon as they pulled them out, the comedian went back to roasting them, but neither were paying attention. Because it wasn't a coincidence both their phones went off. It was their SHIELD phones. Fury needed them on duty, tonight. They had new intel on Slater, and they were needed in the field, ASAP.
"I swear, SHIELD has the worst timing," Clint said as they exited the comedy club together, both responding to their texts.
"Slater's the one with bad timing. Bad guys need to learn to respect date night," she said, following Clint down back alleys as he led the way to the New York SHIELD headquarters.
Coulson waited for Barton in the hangar, impatiently checking his watch. His eyebrows raised when Lee came strolling in with him. He'd need to let the Triskelion know they didn't have to wait for her to show up.
"The tracer you put on all street cams got a hit," Coulson said to Kat as they loaded onto the waiting plane. "Slater's in Paris."
"We're going to France?" she asked, taking a seat beside Clint and buckling in for takeoff.
"What's he doing in France?" Clint asked.
"That's up to Lee to find out," Coulson said, setting a laptop on the swivel table in front of the two agents. "You have seven hours of flight time to figure it out."
"I'll get us coffee," Clint said, moving to the back of the plane.
Coulson's gaze flicked between Lee and Barton before he turned back towards the cockpit shaking his head. Whatever was going on between them, he wasn't about to unpack tonight.
"Thanks," Kat said when Clint slid into the seat beside her and handed her a coffee. She kept her eyes on the screen, deep in the depths of the dark web, as she took a sip. Her fingers only hesitated over the keys when Clint's arm grazed her upper back as he rested his arm on the seatback behind her.
He watched her work, her eyes scanning the screen as fast as her fingers flew across her keyboard, and refilled her coffee whenever she needed. It was the only thing he could really do to help. He couldn't do any part of his job until they landed.
"I've got something," Kat said, causing Coulson to leave the cockpit. "There's an underground auction being held, fronting as a charity ball."
"Can you get an invite?" Coulson asked.
"Even better," Kat said, looking up from her computer with bleary eyes. "I've got two."
PARIS, FRANCE
After spending the rest of the flight sleeping, Clint and Kat were whisked away to an abandoned building as soon as they landed. There was a makeshift dressing area, along with a rack of suits and gowns for the two to choose from. Katherine chose a red off the shoulder dress. Red for luck. It also had a long side slit that wouldn't impede her movement as much as a full skirt. Stepping out from their perspective dressing areas at the same time, the two paused as they took in the other. Clint in a suit was a sight Kat wasn't ready for. Especially not the black suit jacket, black tie, black dress shirt combo he wore.
Coulson broke their staring contest, handing them both a masquerade mask and giving Katherine an ear com after ensuring Clint was properly armed beneath the heart stopping suit. Kat took the com, fitting it into her ear, and once again let her eyes trace over Clint, that time trying to figure out what weapons he might have strapped under his suit. He definitely didn't have his bow.
She reluctantly relinquished her glasses to Coulson in exchange for a clutch purse loaded with gadgets including a lipstick and compact that were really a mini USB and computer. Katherine put in the contacts Coulson provided her, not even questioning where he'd gotten them or how he knew her prescription, just happy she could see clearly again.
"Remember, you need to give Lee enough time with the weapon to disable it. And if you have the chance, you're to take Slater in. If not, take him out," Coulson ordered Barton before they were loaded into a town car set for the party.
Kat's hands twisted deeper into the skirts of her dress as the car pulled up in front of a sprawling manor house just outside of Paris.
"Hey, it's going to be fine," Clint said, reaching out for her hand.
"Maybe for you. I've only ever been on the other side of the coms during an undercover mission," she said, adjusting her lace mask.
"Just follow my lead. You're a quick thinker, you'll be fine," Clint said, stepping out of the car first and holding out his hand to help her out, his eyes grazing over her form again. "You look stunning."
He signed the words as he said them. Raising her flat palm towards her face, her fingertips kissed her lower lip before she moved them away, extending towards him in the sign of thanks. Taking his arm, she let him lead her inside. Her heart sped up as they went through security, afraid her bag might set off some alarms, or their made-on-the-spot IDs wouldn't be up to snuff. When they were let through without any questions, she let her tight grip on Clint's arm loosen slightly. The party had already started, as crowds of people mingled around the foyer and music drifted out from the ballroom. Because old, rich houses in France apparently had ballrooms.
"Let's dance." Clint moved them towards the dance floor, much to Katherine's confusion. They were supposed to be finding the weapon, not dance. Pulling her in close, one hand on her lower back and his cheek brushing hers he whispered. "It's a nonchalant way to observe your surroundings."
Although it was a bit harder to concentrate when his dance partner was Kat.
"So, Obi Wan, what are you observing?" she asked, her eyes sweeping the room.
"Guards in the shadows of the second floor," Clint said, suddenly twirling her around before dipping her slow, his face inches from hers. His eyes were such a bright blue. "See for yourself."
He pulled away slowly, and Katherine had to force her gaze up to the wings of the room, seeing movement from the shadows as men lurked around the hall above.
"So, you think the weapon is being held upstairs?" Katherine asked when he raised her from the dip, holding onto his broad shoulders to keep her balance.
"I think the secret auction is taking place upstairs. There's a good chance the weapon is nearby, so they aren't far from it."
"I've got blueprints of the building. You can pull them up on your watch, Barton," Coulson's voice buzzed in their ear, reminding Kat they weren't really alone.
Waiting until the dance ended, the two moved to an isolated corner as Clint pulled up the blueprints. After a quick study, flipping through each floor, he had them memorized, impressing Kat.
"The most secure room would be the office on the second level, back corner of the West wing. That's where I'd keep the weapon if I organized this auction," Clint said.
"And how do we get there without alerting the guards circling the second floor?"
"We don't," Clint said with a smirk.
Clint left a trail of unconscious guards behind them as they made their way towards the West wing. He did his best to move them out of direct sight to buy them time before anyone noticed. Watching him fighting in person was weird. She didn't particularly enjoy violence, but the way he flipped off the hall walls and used everyday items around them to subdue his opponents, all while in a sharp suit, was a bit of a turn on.
"The office is the last room on the left down that hall," Clint said pointing towards the hall to their right. "I'll hold off anyone who comes as long as I can."
Racing down the hall, her skirt billowing around her, Kat's heart raced as she closed the study door behind her. Sweeping her gaze over the room, she bit her lip as she tried to decide where to look first. The weapon was compact, it could be stored anywhere.
"Katherine," a Scottish accent sounded in her ear.
"Fitz?" Katherine asked, confused as to why he was on the com.
"There should be a pair of glasses in your bag. Put them on," he instructed.
Untying her mask, she set it on the corner of the desk in favor of the glasses Fitz mentioned.
"Press the button on the outer right frame twice," Fitz instructed. "It should offer you an infrared, x-ray vision of the room."
"Woah," Katherine said, blinking when she pressed the button like he said. "You designed this?"
"It's still in the prototype phase, but I promise it's mostly safe."
"You could have glossed over that and simply said yes," Katherine murmured, moving around the room until the glasses picked up the small heat signature of an electronic device. It was in a safe inside a hidden compartment of the desk.
Sliding off the glasses and stuffing them back in her bag, she crawled under the desk, and worked the panel free before pulling out the lipstick and compact. Uncapping the lipstick, she plugged the USB into the side of the keypad for the safe. Opening the rectangle compact, the tiny computer connected to the USB via wifi. Using a code, Katherine had the computer in the safe plugging in the correct combination, and the door clicked open.
"Damn it," she muttered.
"What?" Clint, Coulson, and Fitz asked through her com.
"It's built into the safe, practically fused to the walls and the shelf." There was no way she could grab it and go. Running her fingers along the edge of the device, she searched for an entry port.
"Not to be the bearer of more bad news, but I've been spotted," Clint said, as three burly guards came stalking down the hall.
"Can you buy me ten minutes?" Kathrine asked, pulling the port from the safe lock and sliding it into the weapon's port.
"I can try," Clint said, loosening his tie and pulling a knife from a shoulder strap.
Cracking her knuckles, Katherine opened the device's programs, searching for any weak spots. She smiled when she found her opening. Pulling up a new window, she started typing as fast as she could on the tiny keyboard, careful not to mistype a single key. It was dire she type the code right on the first try. The background noise of Clint beating the crap out of people down the hall through her com wasn't helping except to distract her.
"We're out of time," Clint said through her com. "I'm coming to you."
Typing faster, desperate to finish in the seconds she had left, Kat just hit the enter key to submit the code as Clint burst through the doors. Locking them behind him to give them a few extra minutes, Clint crossed the room, pressing on one of the bookcase shelves to reveal a hidden staircase noted in the blueprints.
"Time to go KitKat," he said, reaching his hand back to her.
Reaching down she bundled her skirt together in front of her, tucking it between her legs before pulling each side around to tie it around her waist: girding her loins to keep her skirts from tripping her up.
"Where does this even go?" She asked, a little out of breath as they sprinted up the narrow staircase.
"There's a door that leads off to the third floor, but we're headed to the roof," he said.
Pushing through the door at the top of the staircase, he threw out his arm to stop Kat from tumbling off the edge of the roof. Footsteps echoed around the staircase behind them. Looks like they finally broke through the doors.
"Now what?" Kat said, glancing around. The only way off the roof was down and the extraction point was at least a mile away.
Rolling up his sleeves to reveal a mini crossbow strapped to his wrist, Clint reached down to his ankle and pulled an arrow from the holster strapped there. He notched the arrow into the crossbow, aiming for the trunk of the tree a few hundred yards away.
"Now we cosplay Tarzan and Jane," He said, wrapping an arm around her waist to pull her closer and holding tight to the rope attached to the arrow with his other hand. "Hold tight."
Katherine did as he said, wrapping her arms tightly around him. She held her breath as they jumped off the roof, her stomach dropping out just as the floor from beneath her feet. Closing her eyes, she pressed her forehead against Clint's chest as they swung through the air until they tumbled to the ground together.
Her stomach didn't have time to settle as they ran towards the side wall. She was thankful for taking rock climbing classes as they free-climbed the stone wall. Clint jumped down on the other side first, catching her as she fumbled down after him.
"Whenever I envisioned visiting Paris, this wasn't exactly what I had in mind," she said as they sprinted through lawns and down cobbled streets towards the outskirts of the city and their extraction point.
"SHEILD: you get to travel the world, but you'll be running for your life for most of it," Clint chuckled, slowing to a stop when they reached their extraction rendezvous. "So, did I give you enough time back there?"
"Barely," she said, slipping of her heels and sighing when she stood in the soft grass. Running in heels was no joke. "I just managed to finish the code."
"Code for what?"
"A virus that will corrupt the device and render it useless the second someone checks on it." She flashed a grin at him, her teeth bright in the darkness.
"You came up with a computer virus on the fly?" Clint asked. "SHIELD is so screwed if you ever go rogue."
"SHIELD offers health insurance and much better perks, plus I like my coworkers," she said with a wink.
"They just really need to work on their timing," he said. "I'm sorry they interrupted our date."
"Don't be. This has been the weirdest, most memorable, best first date I've ever had."
She reached out, gripping his suit jacket. He gave her a lopsided smile as she tugged him closer, meeting her halfway with a kiss. His heart thumped hard against his ribcage. Encircling her waist with both his arms, he kept the kiss slow as her hands slid up over his shoulders to rest against the nape of his neck.
"Alright, that's enough you two," Coulson buzzed in their ears, causing them to start, pulling apart. They'd forgotten they were on a mission. "You've got a plane to board, and a debriefing to sit through."
"Worst timing," Clint murmured, leaning his forehead against Kat's as the plane landed in the field before them, the resulting gust of air causing her to shudder. Slipping off his jacket, he slid it over her shoulders before reaching down to pick up her heels. Hand in hand they walked towards the plane.
A/N: THEY FINALLY HAD THEIR DATE AND FIRST KISS! I had so much fun writing this. I hope you guys enjoyed it! As always, a collage for the chapter with their outfits for the ball are on my Instagram gracelesslyfalling. Also, I pretty much listened to 'I like me better' by Lauv during the first half of this chapter then Jeremy Renner's new songs while writing the mission portions.
Guest review responses:
JR: Yay! Glad you are liking the story so much. I'm working on updating as much as possible. Hope you enjoyed this update. It's a bit longer than usual.
To the guest who said I am one of their favorite authors in this fandom: That means so much. I'm touched you like my stories so much that you keep re-reading them. Hope I never disappoint!
Wieda: that's okay I can keep responding to your reviews here. I'm glad you loved the chapter!
Rach
xoxo