So this is an offhand piece which I thought would be pretty good to write up. I didn't intent for it to be this long but anyway, I hope you enjoy!
Clint slowly landed the Quinjet, his thoughts scattered. The team was a mess. And so was Natasha. Everyone else was moving around, sometimes talking to each other. Natasha just sat still. He must have looked back a thousand times during the five hour flight. Each time, wishing her to move, to show any sign of life. He couldn't see her face, but he imagined it was the blank expression she always wore. Clint sighed and opened the door to the Quinjet. He jumped out of his seat, going straight to Natasha. "We're here, you guys." He informed the team, not missing a step.
He crouched down in front of her as the team started to file out. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Steve turning around and looking at them, but Clint kept his eyes firmly on Natasha. She still hadn't moved.
"Hey, sweetie, we're home." He reached out and stoked her cheek softly, and she leaned into his palm, closing her eyes.
"Home?" She repeated, her voice breaking.
"Yeah, home. With Laura, and Cooper and Lila. The fireflies and the treehouse. You remember that?"
Natasha buried her face into his palm, hiding from him. "I'm home." She whispered. Clint's heart was soaring, not in the good way. The way Natasha started to hide from him scared him. What the hell did that witch show her to make her like this? Clint was seething, angry at himself for letting this happen, and angry at the witch for doing it. He should have been with her.
Clint could hear the team talking outside, and he supposed they were waiting for him to guide them. He rolled his eyes minutely. They were hopeless.
He stood up and dropped his hand, feeling extremely guilty about the whine she let out when the contact was lost. He grabbed both her arms and heaved her up as gently as he could. She stumbled, and fell into him. Clint sighed internally and wrapped his arm around her back, pulling her to his side. He started to walk slowly out the Quinjet, careful not to make her fall.
Her head was drooped, face covered by her hair. The team were standing about three feet out of the Quinjet, and he didn't say a word to them, just brushed past them towards the house. He could feel their eyes on them, but he needed to get Natasha back in the house.
As the walked up the steps he heard Steve asked what this place was.
"Safe house." Tony stated.
"Let's hope." Clint said over his shoulder. "Honey? I'm home." He called out.
Laura stepped out, "Hi." Clint heard rather than saw the rest of the team stop. He removed his arm around Natasha slowly, fearing she might fall. When she didn't immediately, he relaxed slightly and walked over to his wife. Laura's eyes narrowed.
"Company. Sorry I didn't call ahead." He kissed her then brought her into a hug.
"This is an agent of some kind." Tony said. Clint turned around.
"Gentlemen, this is Laura." He said, his arm around her.
"I know all of your names." She said chuckling. Clint's eyes strayed to Natasha, but when he heard running he looked back and smiled. "Ooh, incoming." He let go of Laura.
"Dad!" Lila yelled, jumping into his arms.
"Hi sweetheart! Hey, buddy!" He placed Lila on his hip and Cooper hugged his waist. "How are you guys doing?"
"These are smaller agents."
"Look at your face!" He put Lila down.
"Did you bring Auntie Nat?" Lila asked. Clint gasped, looking over at her. Natasha looked up smiling.
"Why don't you hug her and find out." Lila laughed as Natasha picked her up. Laura sent Clint a worried look, and Clint mouthed 'later'. She nodded.
After about ten minutes, Clint went back to Natasha. She had sat down on the sofa, her knees pulled to her chest. Everyone else was in the kitchen, and Natasha had left after only five minutes, wanting to be alone.
"Hey, Nat." He said, sitting down beside her. She angled her head slightly, acknowledging him but not speaking.
"Can I touch you?" She nodded once. Clint placed his hand on her back, rubbing up and down.
She buried her face in her knees. He could feel her start to shake with repressed sobs, and his heart broke for her. "What did she show you?" He whispered gently, now carding his fingers through her hair.
"My graduation ceremony." She muttered back, he could barely hear her, but yet her words seemed like she'd yelled them at him. He shut his eyes tightly.
"Oh, honey," Clint didn't know what to say. He couldn't say that it wasn't real, because it was. It happened. He bit his lip. "You want a hug?" It was a long shot, but he knew being held always made her feel better. Especially by him.
Natasha looked up at him. Her eyes were bloodshot and her bottom lip was trembling. Clint felt an overwhelming surge of anger and sadness. She nodded sadly, and Clint's heart dropped. She turned towards him and held her arms out.
Clint's reaction was instantaneous. He pulled her towards him and buried his head in her shoulder. He felt her arms wrap around his neck, squeezing tightly. Clint didn't mind the pressure, he knew it helped ground her and let's her focus on the present.
They stayed like that for god knows how long, neither one wishing to move. Each one lost in the comfort in the other's arms. After a while, he felt her start to relax even further. The pressure of her arms around his neck subsided and her breathing deepened.
Clint lifted his head up, kissed her hair twice then gently moved away. He placed her down on the sofa, not wanting to disturb her enough to bring her upstairs. He found a purple blanket and he gently placed it over her, pulling it up to her chin like she always does.
He stood up, giving her another glance before he left the room. He found Laura in the kitchen, cooking something. The rest of the team were seated at the table. He noticed that Thor was absent, but he didn't dwell on it.
Tony looked up as he came in the room and smirked. "Enjoy your little alone time?"
"Shut the hell up, Tony." He snapped, walking over to his wife.
"What's wrong?" She asked, not bothering to lower her voice. Her eyebrows were furrowed with concern. Clint sighed and ran his hand through his hair, "Nat isn't doing too well." He saw his teammates turn their heads, looking at each other then at Clint.
"Explain," his wife ordered, dropping the toast she was buttering.
Clint reached up and got out a mug before beginning to explain. "She saw her graduation ceremony. It messed her up, bad." Laura gasped, her hand coming up to cover her mouth. "She was getting better, Laura. And that little witch messed her up again." He slammed the mug down, and Tony jumped before trying, and failing, to cover it up. The whole team was watching them now, not even trying to hide it. "Where are the kids?" He asked, starting to boil some water.
"Outside. Do you think she'll… y'know…" she glanced at the team, unsure if she should say it. "Relapse." She whispered. Clint sighed.
"I don't know. Can you call Maria, ask her to come here?"
"Sure," Laura's hand brushed his arm for a moment, then she left the room.
"What did she mean relapse?" Steve blurted out. Clint looked up, rather surprised. "Enhanced hearing." He explained.
"Relapse as in drugs?" Tony stepped in, raising his eyebrows.
Clint looked back down, shutting his eyes again for a second. He really did not want to tell them. It was none of their business, but if she does relapse, he would like some help. Clint loves Natasha, so so much, he's her favourite person in the world. But when she's high on drugs, she's relentless as fuck. He knows it's not her fault, but he won't be able to deal with it on his own again. It's fucking exhausting.
He can tell them later. Right now he just wants to carry Natasha upstairs and put her in her bed. He wants her to need him, to ask him to stay. To hold his hand and bury her head in his chest. The sweet feeling he experiences when she nuzzles his neck. He wants to lay with her wrapped around him all night and stroke her hair. He wants her to know everything's going to be okay.
In some way Natasha is like one of his children. She likes to be held and comforted by him, and she enjoys the mothering nature of Laura. Once, on her second visit to the farm, she had a bad nightmare. Instead of wallowing in her sorrows, she climbed straight into Clint and Laura's bed, desperate to be surrounded with their comforting nature and warmth.
When Natasha came out to them, she expected to be met with resistance, but instead they told her how much they loved her and how proud they were that she trusted them enough to tell them. They helped her figure out what her feelings were towards Maria and educated her on the spectrum of sexuality. Ever since then, Natasha has always considered them family.
Should I make a second part? Thank you so much for reading!