So this is a story I've been working on for a while. I actually published it on Wattpad, but I thought I'd see if it would do any well on here. It's with Clint and a OC of mine. Set after Age of Ultron. Obviously, Clint in my story was never married.
And even though this storyline takes place after Ultron, the time frame for this story is moved to Spring 2020. So set after Ultron, but a different year, so CW and all that hasn't happened yet.
He needed a break. Desperately. He thinks everyone knew that. That's why he was here. Out of uniform, out of duty. For how long?
He didn't know.
The events of Ultron and Sokovia had drained him in a way that he had never experienced before.
Pietro sacrificed himself for him.
The why still haunts him every day. Along with Wanda's screams at seeing her brothers' body on the quinjet back to New York.
They weren't friendly. They weren't pals. They borderline hated each other in the short time they had known one another
Yet, Pietro gave his life for him.
Why?
He could barely face Wanda.
That was another reason why he needed to step back. Take a break from being an Avenger. From being Hawkeye.
Just try and be normal for a bit.
Going to Stark with the idea hadn't been the easiest thing for him to do, but surprisingly Stark was comfortable with it.
Stark even offered to set him up anywhere.
Clint had told him he wanted to go back to D.C.
It was familiar thanks to Shield or Hydra, however, you look at it. But Clint found his own place. Not wanting to be in over luxury with one of Starks apartments. He found a modest one-bedroom apartment in the Wakefield area. It was decent, and it would do the job.
The only odd part was that the balcony wasn't split. He noticed it the first day he moved in over a week ago. It was one, large shared balcony.
His next-door neighbors' presence was apparent. Their side was decorated with a small outdoor sofa and a small table. A few outdoor pillows and potted flowers littered the floor. Whoever lived there obviously spent a good amount of time out there.
Which is why Clint made a point to avoid the balcony so far. Only going out in the dead of night when no one would bother him. His dreams would keep him awake and he would shuffle out onto the balcony and watched the moon sink into the earth as the sun rose up.
He wanted to blend in and be alone. That's why he was away.
But the weather was pleasant today as spring started to creep into the city. Clint wanted to have the fresh air in his lungs. He never did too well cooped up indoors. He always took to heights and the outdoors.
Stepping out onto the balcony, Clint shut the door behind him and filled his lungs with fresh air.
He leaned against the railing lost in thought. He didn't know how long he would be MIA from the Avengers. He wondered how long he could be gone and get away with it. A part of him didn't want to go back. Things had changed after Sokovia. He had a feeling everyone felt it but wouldn't admit it.
What would it be like to leave? Retire? Would that even be possible?
What would he even do?
He could do contract work. Get back into carpentry. He had always been good with his hands. He enjoyed it too.
Clint supposed he could talk to Nat about it, but maybe he was just jumping the gun. He'd only been here a week. Maybe a little vacation was all he needed.
A tapping on his shoulder pulled him out of his thoughts as he swiveled around, ready to fight.
"Whoa, I surrender!" A voice squeaked at him.
Today hadn't been terrible. I suppose. Diana wasn't a total bitch like she could be so I suppose it was a good day.
Trekking up the stairs I pulled my keys and unlocked my apartment door. Risking a quick glance, I snuck a peek at my neighbor's door.
Still the same.
No decorations, no welcome mat. Whoever lived there had been at the place for a week now and still nothing.
It was odd.
The minute I moved in I placed a welcome mat outside my door. But not everyone was the same I suppose.
However in the week that the apartment was now occupied I had yet to see head or tail of the new arrival or arrivals.
I was beginning to wonder if they even existed.
Unlocking my door, I stepped inside and locked it before stepping out of my heels with a sigh.
It had been kind of a shock when the super emailed her telling me that someone had rented the apartment next to hers. I found it so weird because no one ever wanted the joining apartment because of the one long balcony. That's why I moved into my apartment in the first place. The rent was cheaper because of what was considered a "building defect."
Thanks to some building managers mismanagement screw up I had a whole balcony and reduced rent to myself for over six months now.
I had moved to the neighborhood just after finishing graduate school. It had been a hard move to leave Pops but they both agreed it was for the best. I needed to spread my wings a little bit. A master's degree and a shiny, new job helped.
I would have moved in with Beth, but I wanted to be by myself. See if I could handle it. So far I had been able to handle it. Plus it was nice having the balcony to myself. I personally loved being outdoors when the weather was nice.
Moving in at the tail-end of summer, I spent as much time outside on the balcony as I could before the autumn weather moved in with the winter winds. The winter, without fail, always made my seasonal affective disorder worse.
When the stirrings of spring began to pop up two weeks ago it made my heart give a happy sigh. Spring was coming, and winter would be gone.
Then all I had to do was deal with my regular depression and anxiety.
Yay.
Setting down my purse and work bag I checked the time and decided to delay dinner and spend some time outside.
Grabbing my laptop out of my bag I made my way to the balcony doors only to stop suddenly.
Someone was on the balcony.
This, logically, must be the newbie.
A man, tall, well taller than me. But most people were taller than my dwarfed self at 5'4. Deep brown hair. The sunlight was making it resemble chocolate. Jeans, basic black t-shirt.
All relatively normal.
Though whoever he was he had muscles for days.
Where did that come from?
Anyway, getting my mind back to it, age range I'd put him at...well I couldn't tell from the back of him.
Chewing my lip I pondered on what to do. Should I stay inside? Sit outside? Sit outside and act like he wasn't there? Introduce myself?
After shuffling on my feet for a few seconds my curiosity and need for fresh air won out. Slowly I slid open the door, thinking it would give him enough time to turn around and flee.
But he stood standing where he was.
Strange.
Going outside I shut the door and he still didn't turn around.
Stranger.
It was like he was in another world.
I put my laptop down on the sofa.
"Hello?" I softly spoke.
Still nothing.
Either he was looking at a hell of a view or he was pointedly ignoring me.
The last thought pissed me off a bit.
Walking over to him I tapped his shoulder but immediately jumped back when it looked like he was going to attack me.
"Whoa, I surrender!" Yelping in a high-toned pitch.
G.I. Joe instantly backed down. He took me in with a blush.
"Sorry about that. You startled me." He sheepishly apologized.
"Well, I called out a hello. You didn't respond." Making sure to stand a few feet away from him "Are you deaf or something?"
"Actually I am." He pointed to the hearing aids that I could see now.
I felt myself blanch "Oh shit. I am so sorry." Rapidly starting to apologize.
"No, it's my fault I had them off because I thought I was alone." He said as he fiddled with the devices.
Great one minute alone with my new neighbor and I manage to freak us both out, and at the same time mock his disability.
Super start.
We stood in silence for a few seconds.
"I'm Dorothy, well Dottie, or Dot, your neighbor." Reaching out my hand.
He took my hand and shook it "Clint." He told me.
"Nice to meet you." Finishing the handshake and letting our hands drop.
Discreetly, or trying to be, I studied him a bit more.
Spiked hair, that now looked a bit lighter but could still be mistaken for milk chocolate, sat top his head. Green eyes, really nice green eyes to go with the thick arm muscles...
Wait, where was I?
Damnit.
Guy looked good. Let's just acknowledge it and let it drop.
"How are you liking D.C.?" Asking him to make small talk.
"Oh, it's nice. I've lived here before though...not this building though." He was awkwardly trying to clarify.
"It seems like you spend a lot of time out here." He gestured to my space behind me.
"Yeah, I love being outside when the weather is nice." Replying "I'm actually surprised someone rented the joining apartment because of well..." Gesturing to the balcony.
"It wasn't mentioned in the listing." Clint shrugged his shoulders like it was no big deal to him.
We were silent again.
"Looks like you have work to do." He gestured to my laptop "I'll leave you alone."
Before I could start to protest, he was already shutting his glass door closed.
"Okay then." Finally managing to get out saying to nothing.