2: The One With The Accessories

A few weeks had passed since the clothing incident and the pair found themselves walking about the mall on a quiet evening. They passed by several shops, coffees in hand as they window-shopped; they had only gone out for a stroll, but Tony watched with hawk-like eyes as Clint's gaze fell on items that the archer was clearly interested in. He made a note of the watches and cufflinks Clint seemed to like, Tony would come back another day to buy them for his unofficial partner.

—LINE BREAK—

Returning home, Tony hastily made his way to Clint with a grin; calling to the archer as he got closer. Turning, Clint greeted him, a gentle smile growing across his cheeks. His own hawk-like eyes dropped down and spied the gift bags in Tony's right hand; instantly, the smile withered and died as a frown bloomed in its place. Tony felt like shrinking back, the look was worryingly reminiscent to that of his father's consistent glare that was always aimed at the youngest Stark.

"Tony…what have you got there?" He asked, voice still and unrevealing as he raised an eyebrow at the genius,

"Umm…" Tony started before coughing and composing himself, he didn't need to be ashamed of his actions, there was nothing shameful about buying your partner -official or otherwise- a gift…or three, "well, the other day, I noticed you eyeing a watch and a couple of pairs of cufflinks. So I went back and bought them for you." He finished with a smile, holding the two bags out for the archer; Clint opened the first one and found a slightly familiar and very mesmerising water-proof Blancpain watch with Roman Numerals and three silver hands that rested against the two shades darker dial. The straps were an enthralling ocean blue that would work perfectly with Clint's beautiful blue eyes. They were priced around $18,000.

"Tony." Is all the archer said, his voice flat but his eyes harsh with barely concealed anger and annoyance, unsure of what to say, Tony handed him the other bag and watched as Clint opened it to reveal a gold set of Santos De Cartier cufflinks with lapis lazuli in the centre. Tony thought they were relatively cheap, but Clint seemed to like them so he bought them for $5,250.

"Go on, open the other set!" Tony exclaimed almost giddily after several minutes of complete silence had passed the pair, but Clint refused.

"No."

"Clint?"

"Tony, I don't want these. Okay? Take them back and for god's sake, just stop. I don't want them. Stop buying me stuff like this. Jesus, have you actually seen the price tags? It's ridiculous!"

"Clint? I don't understand."

"Of course you don't. Fucking hell, Tony. Get it through your thick skull, I don't want this shit! I don't."

"But, just look at the other one, please, you won't regret it-"

"Tony. Take them away from me, now. I don't want it."

"But Clint-"

"Tony!" His voice was so sharp and harsh as he shouted that Tony couldn't help but take a step backwards on instinct because all he could see in that split second was his father bearing down at him, fists raised, alcohol on his breath as he shouted at his son. Tony knew Clint would never hit him outside of sparring, training and the occasional punch amongst friends, but in that moment, Tony had actually been scared.

And Clint had realised with wide eyes and horror as he saw his partner take a step back clearly somewhere else far in the past of his memories.

"Tony…I'm sorry." He whispered but it was too late, the genius had grabbed two of the items, not even realising that he'd left the unopened and unseen set of cufflinks behind with Clint as it had still been in the bag beside the man, and fled to the safety of his workshop.

—LINE BREAK—

He sat on the stool in his workspace staring at the boxes in front of him, lost in the madness of his mind as he tried to work out what he did wrong. Perhaps he misinterpreted Clint's gaze for the watch and cufflinks, perhaps he was staring in dislike instead of like. Although, as Tony looked back on what was said, he recalled Clint mentioning the price being ridiculous. Maybe Clint wasn't happy because they weren't as expensive as the suit; especially the cufflinks. That must've been it, Clint must've been upset because Tony hadn't spent as much on him. The genius felt like a jerk as he came to that conclusion.

"Hey, what's wrong?" A soft voice startled the brunet from his thoughts, looking up he saw Steve staring down at him, his blue eyes expressing worry and concern for the older man.

"Oh, hey, Steve. Nothing's wrong. 'm fine." He mumbled and the blond merely raised a disbelieving eyebrow at him and snorted in disbelief.

"Is it Clint?" Steve asked quietly causing Tony's head to snap upwards in surprise at the intuitive man's guess,

"How'd you know?"

"About you two or about what's upsetting you?" Tony was silent for a few too many seconds,

"Both…" Steve sighed gently as he grabbed an office chair and wheeled it over before sitting down, hunched as he stared at the genius,

"Well, everyone knows about you two. We just don't know what the two of you are exactly." Tony snorted,

"Neither do we." He muttered and despite wanting to ask, Steve ignored the comment and continued,

"And I realised it was about Clint because I heard you asking yourself if he'd like the gifts you bought him when you rushed out of the elevator earlier." He paused and looked at the objects, "I'm guessing he didn't like them." Tony merely shook his head, "Is that why you're sad?"

"I'm just…I don't know…confused?" His response was more of a question than an answer,

"About?" Steve murmured trying to get the genius to elaborate,

"I…the other day, I saw Clint eyeing these and so I went back and bought him them but he's…he wasn't at all happy with it. Told me to take them back and I just don't get what I did wrong." The blond was silent for a few minutes,

"Maybe you're going about this the wrong way; maybe you need to take a different route with Clint if you want to treat him to something. But Tony, don't smother him okay?"

"Thank you, Steve," Tony said bearing a grin as he understood Steve's words and began to plan what he should do next.

—LINE BREAK—

Clint ended up keeping the other set of cufflinks because Tony had forgotten them on his bed; so did Clint, the archer had only found them by mistake as they had fallen under his bed. Once he had seen them, he couldn't give them back. The cufflinks were of a bow and arrow; they were remarkably, significantly, cheaper than Tony's typical price, coming just under $100, but Clint appreciated them. After all, they were far more personal because Tony had seen them and thought of him.

Here's my Tumblr if you're interested, it also has the story collages: anxious- - -soul (no spaces between the dashes, this site sucks and wouldn't allow them without spaces).

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