Thanks to my (sadly few but still) amazing reviewers! Shout out to Jedi Kay-Kenobi, vampgirl1902, and DevinBourdain. You are appreciated! And sorry this took so long. I only write when the muses speak to me!
Chapter 2: In Which Clint and Natasha Have a Moment (Which Is Quickly Ruined)
Clint sighed as he stepped into the elevator. Brilliant though he was, Tony Stark could really rub him the wrong way.
The archer sighed again. He knew it was futile to wish that the genius would change. But, a guy could dream, right? He pushed the button for the eighth floor, the one marked 'GYM 3.' Although the basement gym and the ground floor gym were more fully equipped, he didn't need the lap pool, or the basketball court, or the weight room.
No, Clint Barton needed the archery range.
He was surprised when the elevator stopped on floor number five. He was even more surprised when the door slid aside to reveal Natasha.
"Where are you going?" he asked curiously.
"Judging by the relaxed way you're holding your bow, plus the fact that you have armguards on, I'm guessing we're going to the same place," replied the redhead. Like Clint, Natasha didn't like using the bigger gyms where Cap, T'Challa, Thor, (and sparingly Tony or Bruce,) worked out. Instead, both S.H.I.E.L.D. agents preferred the small gym equipped only with targets, dummies, and a wrestling ring, (plus various sharp projectiles and guns.)
Clint shrugged. "Want to spar?" he offered. Inside, he knew she was getting the better end of the deal; she was just better than him in close combat and hand-to-hand.
Natasha smiled; she knew it too. "Definitely," she said seriously. "We can have a shooting match after I scrape you off the floor, if it makes you feel better," she added, in a tone that was almost, but not quite, sincere.
He dodged her first blow, somersaulting forward, then leaping up and ending behind her. He thrust a fist at her shoulder, then rapidly changed direction, now aiming at her side. But she was ready for him, and gracefully pirouetted out of his way and landed a blow on his kidney.
He sucked in air, not showing any of his pain, and dodged her follow-up, grabbing her wrist and flipping her over on to her back.
The Black Widow responded by sweeping her feet around and knocking his feet out from under him, following with a punch to his solar plexus that would have any untrained man fall to the ground, unable to breathe.
As it was, Hawkeye stumbled back, allowing the Black Widow to launch herself towards him for the final blow. The Russian flew through the air, and Hawkeye smiled.
He twisted out of the way, catching her wrists in one hand, while applying light pressure to a pressure point on her neck.
"I've been practicing, Romanoff," he breathed beside her ear. He felt her tense, ever so slightly, and added pressure to her throat. "Don't try," he said softly.
On an impulse, he pressed his mouth to her cheek. He felt her relax, and he released her hands. She wrapped her arms around him, and he held her close. They stayed like that for a long time.
Of course, something so perfect had to be interrupted.
Tony Stark cleared his throat. "Umm, Clint?" he said awkwardly.
Quickly, the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents broke apart. "What is it, Stark?" Clint asked. If looks could kill, Anthony Edward Stark would be stone cold right now.
Tony was frozen, suddenly comprehending the scene that had just taken place. "Whoa. You and her- you were hugging- and-"
"Shut it, Stark," Natasha said brusquely. If she was embarrassed at all, she hid it well. She pointed a finger threateningly at the genius. "Say anything, to anyone, you will be dead." She marched out of the gym alone.
Tony turned to Clint, his jaw hanging low. "When did that start?" he asked in awe.