Prompt: Late Night

From: avengers-tables .livejournal under 50-word prompt (yes, I do intent to use all 50 words)

Pairings: Clint/Darcy

[I'm bored, come save me.]

Darcy almost broke into laughter at the context of the text. Of course Clint's bored; he's always bored when he's not shooting at things or preparing to shoot at things or training to shoot at things. It's just how he is. So it's no surprise he's texting her when he's hanging around not fifteen feet above her head on the roof, laying flat and possibly partially hanging upside down. How, she's not about to ask.

Late nights are no ones' idea of fun (except for Jane, who seems to run solely on caffeine and poptarts). Much less late nights that could be spent cuddling with sexy archers rather than staring at sheets of data.

A glance confirms that Jane was thoroughly engrossed in her science and won't notice Darcy's minor distraction.

[Can't Clint, I'm working.]

He responds less than half a minute later, meaning he's indeed very, very bored.

[So am I. Let's work together. Coulson's always encouraging us to practice team work, so let's practice.]

Of course, any mention of her dad is an immediate buzz kill, but that's the advantage of the internet. No one can see when a horrified shutter crawls down your spine at the mention of your father in a sentence meant to entice you to come have sex with your boyfriend.

[I don't think that's what he meant and please never mention Coulson and innuendo in the same sentence again. It's a cross between disturbing and horrifying.]

[Noted. So, what do ya' say, come up?]

[I can't just drop my work so we can have a booty call.]

[Who said anything about actually having sex? There's three other SHIELD agents around here who can see me from their positions. I'm adventurous but not that adventurous.]

[You did.]

[I was kidding. If we're gonna have sex, it's not going to be on the roof.]

[We've already had sex on the roof. Twice.]

[So we're not gonna have sex on the roof again. Better?]

[A little. So what do you want then?]

[Company. A little conversation, someone to plot how to land spitballs perfectly on Agent Fin's jacket without him noticing, the usual.]

[You don't need me to figure out how to hit Fin with spitballs.]

[No, but it's more fun with you. Plus, your kitty cat face was a great idea.]

It was only through great resistance that she kept from giggling at the memory of that particular day. They'd been on the roof, bored, when Clint had started throwing spitballs at Agent Fin. After a few, Darcy had told him that she bet he couldn't make a kitty cat face. Clint had happily proved her wrong, to both their amusement. Fin had walked around most of the day with the spitballs on his back before anyone finally said something. With a faint smirk, she shot a text back.

[Smiley faces are always classic. Take a photo.]

His pout could be heard through the text.

[C'mon, please Darce!]

Huffing a soft sigh, she shook her head and typed back a quick response.

[When I get out of here: you, me, my bedroom. But for now you let me work, deal?]

[Fine. Finish fast. I'm holding you to that promise.]

[Oh yes, you're really gonna have to twist my arm on that one. Be safe.]

Shaking her head with a soft smile, Darcy tucked her phone back into her pocket. Maybe she could finish quickly and sneak up to hang with Clint. Or just drag him back to her trailer to hang out and watch bad horror movies. Those were always fun.

The stack of papers beside Darcy suddenly disappeared, replaced by Jane as she hopped up onto the edge of Darcy's desk and proceeded to stare a hole in the side of her head. Which just made Darcy all that much more uneasy. Shit, maybe Jane had caught her texting. This could be bad; focused Jane got pissy when everyone else wasn't equally focused.

"Was it him?" Jane's words weren't angry or tense, just curious. And a complete surprise.

For a moment, Darcy was floored. She didn't know what to say or how to respond, and it left her looking like a fish out of water. So she did what she always does and said the first thing to come to mind. God, it's a good thing she's not a spy. "Him who?"

"The him you've been sneaking out with for the last month," supplied Jane easily. "Don't think I haven't noticed you disappearing. So, is it him?"

Darcy winced a little. She thought they'd been pretty good about keeping the whole thing under the table, but apparently that wasn't the case. Lying crossed her mind, but was just as quickly dismissed. She sucked at lying despite her father's secret agent status. It just wasn't something she was good at, mostly because it always felt like the other person could see right through her. Which left the truth, though she wasn't gonna tell Jane it's Clint she's dating. That just didn't seem smart. "Yeah, it's him."

Nodding quietly, Jane looked drawn for a moment before gesturing towards the door. "If you have plans-"

"Don't think so, Janey," cut in Darcy, shaking her head firmly. What Jane's offering is nice and she wants to take it, but her conscious won't let her. Her dad had taught her to always be responsible with her work and that's damn well what she's gonna do. "I can see him when we're done for the night. No rush, I promise."

Jane's eyebrows furrowed skeptically. "Are you sure? You were texting him for ten minutes."

"Because he's bored and wants me to come entertain him as much as he wants to actually see me," explained Darcy, shaking her head and neatly pulling the papers she needed from Jane's grasp. "Now let's get this done, eh boss lady? It's already gonna be a late night, let's not make it later than necessary."

"Alright," agreed Jane, smirking a bit at Darcy. "But Darcy? If you need a night off, let me know."

"I will Jane," assured Darcy, smirking a bit herself. "You better be careful making offers like that though, someone might take you up on them and then who'd remember to feed and water you?"

Rolling her eyes, Jane hopped off her desk and headed back towards her station. "I am a grown woman, Darcy."

Chucking, Darcy turned back to her computer and flipped through the notes until she found where she'd been. "Yeah, and without me you'd waste away to nothing."

Jane didn't bother to respond verbally. Instead, the sound of clicking keys broken occasionally by a white board pen squeaking filled the lab instead. Darcy was just glad to be back to work; she really wanted to keep her promise to Clint tonight. Late nights were only fun when you had someone to curl up with after and sleep like the dead.