Alright guys! Thanks for the love! This is the last chapter, but a little birdie, or 73 of them, ok more like 3, tell me there'll be a sequel. So, apparently, there'll be a sequel!
Reviewers!
Niom Lamboise; Thank you for the idea my dear! Seems to be catching fire a little bit and I promise you'll love the next one :) Hope this is a nice last chapter for you! :)
BanditFox; Nope. No sequel. You didn't hear such a thing. Nope nope nope! Don't have another idea in mind for it! (Can so totally lie..) I'm glad you liked it and thanks for the compliments :)
TheGalliumKnight; Keep an eye out ;) That's all I'll say on that matter! Glad you liked it :)
Odd Little Girl; I get like that sometimes. But then I'm like 'Dammit! Can't update without logging in!' and then I have to remember my password and it's just a hassle! I'm glad I can make you happy with my little story! I hope the last chapter continues with that trend! Head's doing alright now though, thank you! Just a bad migraine every now and again! Honestly, ever need to know what it's like for a story or something, being concussed honestly feels like being drunk for a week! Enjoy this one! :)
DISCLAIMER;
Pietro; Alright.. I suppose she's alright.. Though I'll hold my thoughts on her off until the end of this chapter and this sequel is done..
Clint; That's all I ask! The lovely StumpyTPDimples who tortures me so many many times doesn't own us or anything to do with Marvel!
Pietro; *Mumbles* The bitch..
Clint; *Facepalm*
"Fucking ouch!" Clint basically yelled, jumping from the bed a little at the stinging feeling.
He hated this feeling! But the laugh it got from Pietro seemed to make it worth it. He pouted at the speedster nonetheless.
"Baby.." Pietro whispered under his breath with a smirk, dabbing the gashes on the archers chest once more with the alcohol wipe.
He hadn't a clue why they weren't healing. Natasha and Pietro said something about poison when he asked, but he just can't figure that out. All he knows is that it hurts like hell and Pietro seems to get way too much joy out of cleaning them!
"Do I get a sponge bath after this?" Clint asked with a smirk, loving how it made Pietro's hands pause in their work for a moment. He could dish out his teases and flirtations like no one else, but when he's on the receiving end of them, Pietro always turned into a shy kid. "Because if so, then I don't know how this old bed will hold up.."
"I think I liked you better on the strong pills." Pietro mumbled with a pout, setting the wipes aside and unwrapping a clean bandage.
"Oh you love me all the time!" Clint laughed, holding his arms up a little so Pietro could wrap the bandages around his torso. The speedster's fingers would always linger that little bit longer as they passed by the archers pecs, and it never went un-noticed by those hawk eyes of his.
He was feeling good today!
That doesn't mean that the past while hasn't been a struggle. Because holy crap it really was. He was constantly sore, his leg was the only injury that didn't really hurt that much but that was because it was in a protective cast. His torso hurt with every little movement, his shoulders were beginning to ache with the crutches, and his head..
His head.
He can't describe what was going on in there.
He could think about them. He had all these amazing memories that would swim into focus every now and again, and he'd be fine with them. He was fine knowing they were coming to see him, looking forward to it each time. But when he saw their faces, when he got a glimpse of Tony's smirk or Banner's glasses, or when Steve would walk in and offer a handshake like the gentleman he is, something in his mind would switch and he'd suddenly feel threatened. He wouldn't know the people in front of him. They were strangers coming to attack, they were enemies, they were dangerous and his fight or flight instinct would kick in.
He would never choose flight. Flight was for cowards, or so he was brought up believing. So he'd have to swallow down whatever fear was there and get through an evening with them. It would get easier. By the end of it, he'd feel like they were his friends again. But they'd come back the next time and the same would happen. He couldn't talk to Pietro or Natasha about it, because they're worrying about him enough already. So Wanda was his confident. She would listen, she wouldn't interrupt or tell him he should do this or that. She would just offer a hand and let him spill until he feels alright enough to sleep. She was turning out to be a better friend than he could ever imagine she'd be.
Being on the farm helped. He was under strict instructions from, well, everyone not to do any of his usual work. The grass needed cutting, crops needed tending to before the season passed. That tractor really needed to be fixed, but that wasn't a main priority, just a little project they were letting him mess with. More than anything, the quiet serenity of the country side helped heal him faster than any drugs ever would. Being in such a place, away from the crazy business of city life, clears your mind of anything that plagues it. It's why he bought it after the Loki attack in the first place, to help him heal. Now it was doing it's job once more!
"There we are." Pietro smiled, patting Clint's chest gently when he was done tying off the bandages before moving from his hunkered position to leave.
Clint grabbed Pietro's wrist gently before his boyfriend could leave the room, standing from the bed a little to pull the speedster closer. Once off balance, Clint smirked and turned quickly so the pair fell onto the bed, Pietro on his back with Clint hovering over him. The archer placed his hands face down either side of Pietro head as he leaned in close, his nose touching off his partners. Pietro held such a shocked look that it made Clint smirk.
"Outside is bad." He whispered to Pietro, his lips then moving to trail kisses along his cheek before going along his jaw, knowing where his sensitive spots are from many nights of teasing. Pietro's hands, after recovering from whatever shock Clint sent his whole body into, were snaking up his back and towards his hair. "I like in here.."
"Easy Clint.." Pietro whispered, his breath hitching a little though when Barton nipped at his ear. "Need to wait until you feel better.. Working yourself up won't help."
"Get myself pretty worked up when I wake each morning to a shirtless you." He whispered through a pout, pulling back so his eyes would meet Pietro's. "How can someone so young be so damn built?"
"You're one to talk." Pietro laughed, his hands distracting Clint a little by playing with his hair. "Someone your age should not have abs like that.."
"Probably not.." Clint hummed, leaning down a little more to place just the lightest of kisses on the corner of Pietro's lips, smirking when the man beneath growled. "Gotta look good for my boyfriend though.."
His eyes were locked with Pietro's, but the slight upturn in them told Clint that the comment had him grinning.
"I take back my earlier comment.." Clint whispered then with a pout, one hand moving down to tug at the hem of Maximoff's shirt. "No shirt.. Never any shirts.."
"Barton, if you want something, take it.." Pietro growled, moving up off the bed a little to give Clint's lips a quick peck. "Teasing is just mean.."
"Clinton Francis Barton! If you want a lift to the store, get off Pietro and get out here!" Natasha's impatient voice broke the couple's moment, earning a shy smile from the archer and an embarrassed grin from the speedster. "We have company tonight instead of tomorrow so we need supplies!"
He couldn't help the response that last sentence earned. Slowly, his body tensed up, a frown spreading across his face as he thought about it. He only had Tony yesterday. He was hoping he'd have tonight off, just to relax with Pietro before having Steve tomorrow.
"Hey.." Pietro whispered with a frown, his hands coming up to gently cup Clint's cheeks. "Clint, it's ok. Everything will be ok. Something must have been on tomorrow that he could not get out of and so he's coming today, I don't know, all I know is it'll be ok."
His words were quick, his thumbs gently stroking Clint's cheeks. Something was flashing across his eyes aswell, he must have been surprised to hear it's today aswell, but it seemed to be more than that. He must be panicking if Pietro was like that with him. He was fine with Steve, more than the others. He would usually only talk when Clint wanted, he'd read some book by the fire and just be there until Clint was ok with it. But he really wasn't up to it today.
"Look, we can pack up the truck today." He whispered with a little smile, the rest of his face seeming concerned though. "We can pack it up with junk food and go to that lake you showed me last week. We can stay there for a while then you can come back relaxed and ready. Ok?"
That actually sounded pretty nice. A day with Pietro was really all he wanted, and that spot would be nice on a scorcher day like today.
"Ok.." Clint whispered back, his voice a little shaky, but it made Pietro smile.
The speedster did the one thing that always managed to relax his muscles after an attack like that; he gave Clint a toe curling kiss that sent shocks all through his body.
They kissed for a few minutes, until Clint was relaxed, until he could move his hands again. They kissed even when Pietro's hand slipped back into Clint's hair, his other going to the waistband of his trousers. They stopped when Clint bucked his hips forward a little as Pietro started to pull the trousers off him, though it wasn't Clint who stopped it. Clint was cursing in his mind when it was stopped!
Pietro pulled his head back with an embarrassed grin, chuckling a little awkwardly. It was too cute a sight for Clint, causing a smile to break out.
"When I'm better?" He whispered, knowing exactly why the kid stopped their fun. And, sure enough, Pietro nodded before giving his lips one last quick peck.
"When you're better." He confirmed, moving a little to get Clint off of him. Barton sat on the end of the bed, trying to calm himself down from the activity they just undertook, and from the thoughts of the one he really wanted to do. Pietro straightened out his clothes when he stood then smiled at Clint. "When that cast is off, and you don't look like you are about to pass out, you can have me in that bed all day. Right now though, I need to talk to Natasha. Get some rest, I can go to the store with her."
He didn't wait for Clint to reply, because he probably knew better than anyone that it would be a protest about sleeping. Clint stared at the closed door for a few minutes after Pietro left, a grin slipping on with each passing second.
He let out a happy sigh and fell back onto the bed, his arms spread out as he watched the ceiling.
He was too in love with that man..
"Clint?"
"Mhmm?"
"You're snoring." His eyes were closed, but the amusement to Pietro's voice meant he was smiling. He just sighed and nuzzled his hand, trying to find a comfy spot again while Pietro drove them to the lake.
"Was not." He mumbled, letting his eyes peek open to see if they were close.
So he might have been. But he was tired, ok!? It was after dinner, evening time, when he'd usually have his nap. But he wanted to head out to the lake like Pietro suggested for as long as possible before Steve came over, so he didn't want a nap!
"If you don't think you're able for this.." Pietro started softly, Clint sitting up straight then to let him know he was just fine. Pietro was starting to get a little american twang to some of his words. It was oddly cute.
"I'm fine, don't worry." He smiled, trying his best to be convincing. Pietro could see through him though. That fact scared Clint more than anything. Not only did he have Natasha being able to read his every lie, but now he had Pietro being able to do the same. That was a seriously dangerous combination!
"I always worry, you know that." Pietro whispered, a smile on his face when Clint finally looked at him.
It made his breath catch a little. The evening sun just made him look a thousand times more amazing, and Clint was never sure that was a possible thing. But yet, here he was, just wanting to stop the car and jump on the man driving.
He smiled to himself and shook his head of the thoughts, unbuckling his seat belt when they got close to the car park of the lake area.
"I do not think I ever thought of you as a pick up truck kind of guy." Pietro said with an amused smile once he opened Clint's door, helping the archer out since it was kind of a high truck to try get out of with a broken leg.
"The muscle car's back in New York." He replied with a laugh, figuring that's the kind of guy Pietro had him pegged as. It's the kind of guy everyone had him pegged as, and they weren't wrong.
"Do I get to take that for a drive?" Pietro asked with a grin, grabbing the basket they packed with some drinks and a blanket just to relax for a while.
"My god no!" He laughed out, hobbling his way over to the trail. It wasn't a long walk, only a minute or two around the corner, so he'd be fine. "That thing is my baby. Not even Nat's allowed drive it!"
Pietro gave a quiet chuckle as way of a reply, his hand resting gently on Clint's lower back as they made their way along. A silence fell between them, but that was fine by Clint. They didn't really need to talk much.
Once they found a nice spot by the lake, Clint stood staring out at the water with a smile as Pietro set out the blanket. It was beautiful here. The first time he brought Pietro here was actually by accident. He had a bad nightmare early in the morning and just got out of the bed and hobbled his way. He didn't realise that he was coming in this direction, or that Pietro was following. He only noticed both when he actually got to the lake. That morning, they sat on the bank and watched the sun rise. That was on the opposite bank though, so the fact that Pietro chose this spot meant they were now going to watch the sun set.
He glanced over his shoulder and smiled softly when he saw Pietro already lying on the blanket. He had it angled on the bank so they could lie down and still be able to see the sun setting infront of them. He hobbled the few steps and awkwardly moved to lie next to his boyfriend, his fingers instantly interlocking with Pietro's as they lay shoulder to shoulder.
The sight was perfect. As the sun set, it sent beautiful streaks of red and orange across the lake, the shimmering surface reflecting the rays up and out in to the forest area behind them.
"I could get used to this." Pietro whispered from his side after about a half hour. Clint had to agree.
The archer smiled to himself at the thought of the two of them spending more time here, more time at the farm house. He didn't think he knew of a time he wanted this sort of life before Pietro came into the mix. He brought their joined hands up to place a soft kiss on Pietro's knuckles.
"We might be here for a while yet.." he whispered, watching as the sun slowly dipped behind the horizon. "We can do this a few more times before we have to go back to our normal lives."
"Do you want to..?" Pietro asked, a cautious tone being held. Clint smiled and nodded, letting their hands rest gently on his stomach.
"You don't want to watch sunsets with me?" He chuckled, rolling his head to look at Pietro. His smile slowly faded when he noticed a frown cross his boyfriend's face.
"I mean do you want to go back to your normal life?" Pietro said so softly that Clint struggled to pick it up.
He sighed softly and shrugged, looking back at the view then.
"It's just that.. This was the first mission back and you nearly died.." Pietro continued, giving Clint a genuine smile.
"I didn't nearly die, kid." He said through a slight chuckle, the last rays of light giving way to a few stars. "It was a set back. It's still a set back. But I love what I do.."
"Clint.. If something were to happen.." Pietro started, and when Clint turned his head he saw his love watching him with the most concerned eyes he's ever witnessed in his life.
He smiled a little sadly and leaned across a little more, giving Pietro's lips a soft, loving kiss before letting his forehead rest gently against his.
"Then I'll get over that too.." He whispered, trying to ease the speedster's worries. "I know it hasn't been easy for you. But this is my life, Pietro.. And you're a part of it now weather you like it or not."
"Oh I definitely hate it.." He said with a slight grin, causing Clint to roll his eyes. He then moved back and held his arm out, Pietro quite happily taking the invitation by turning on his side and cuddling up to Clint, his ear resting over the archers heart.
"You need to work on your sarcastic tone." Clint said through a slight chuckle, giving him a soft kiss on the top of his head before looking up at the stars.
Silence fell between them once more. This was good. Clint finally felt human, finally felt right. He felt like this was where he was supposed to be, here watching the stars as the small waves on the lake lulled the couple into a peaceful state of mind.
He had to count all the lucky stars in the sky at that moment for giving him the chance to experience this.
"Hang on for a second."
Clint turned with an eyebrow raised at Pietro's words, just about able to make out the speedster's features in the dark of night. They stayed in that peaceful spot until they could no longer see the hand infront of their face, counting stars, talking about nothing in particular, just being in each others company. It was perfect, and it had a smile plastered on Clint's face that he just couldn't shake.
Now though, he was halfway up the decking steps, watching as Pietro approached with an uneasy look on his face.
Something was wrong.
"You doing ok?" He asked once closer to the archer, Clint giving a nod as answer.
"I'm fine, Pietro. I'm actually looking forward to seeing Steve now!" He smiled, patting Pietro's cheek gently before turning again to head to the door.
He was blocked by Pietro who stood running the back of his neck awkwardly. Yep, something was wrong! He wasn't just worried about a bad reaction to Steve.
"Just.." He started, sighing then when he obviously couldn't find the words he needed. "If it's too much, let me know. We can come out here for a while."
"I'm fine Pietro." He laughed, giving him a quick little kiss before hobbling into the house. He was fine with Steve! Steve was the one he looked forward to seeing on the good days!
There were alot more voices though.
When he made his way through the hall and into the little sitting room, there were alot more people than just Steve.
It had his mind slipping into the panic mode at an alarmingly quick rate.
The whole team were there.
Natasha and Wanda weren't right now, but he could hear them moving around the kitchen. But the five others, Steve, Sam, Tony, Pepper, and Bruce, were all sitting around the area. Pepper was the only one on one of the sofa's, the others all using kitchen chairs since he only had two three seater's.
Tony laughed at something, the others snickering, and it had Clint freezing in spot, his eyes wide.
They were planning to get him. They were planning the most horrible way to take him out and laughing about it. Or maybe they already took out Natasha and were joking about how it happened. Maybe that wasn't her moving around the kitchen right now.
He jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder, Pietro quickly coming into his line of vision though with both hands firmly gripping Clint's shoulders. The room had gotten way too quiet, they must have noticed him.
They were getting ready to attack.
"Clint.. It's ok." Pietro said softly, a commanding edge to his voice though. "It's safe, you're safe. You trust me, right?"
Do you trust him?
It's Pietro, of course you do..
Pietro knew about this. That's why he was so weird outside. He didn't want to tell Clint otherwise he wouldn't want to come into the house.
He was planning with them. He was siding with them. They all were.
No.
Not Pietro.
Pietro would never harm you. Pietro would help.
But he knew.. He brought them here.. He brought the ones who are trying to kill you right into your home..
He groaned a little and squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the internal battle going on in his mind right now.
He didn't realise he was being led away somewhere until he heard Natasha's worried voice, the feeling of being place on a chair following then.
"Clint..?" Natasha asked softly, Pietro must be leaving her to do the explaining. "Open your eyes for a second. I'm not that ugly."
He smiled just the slightest, despite the panic, despite everything. He always called her ugly or would tell her she looked like hell when he was the one injured. It was a running ritual with them now to let the other know everything's fine.
He opened his eyes and was met with Natasha hunkered down infront of him, worried eyes watching his every move.
"I can't.." He whispered with a shake of his head, knowing she'd understand what he was getting at.
"We're just trying a new tactic." She said softly, patting his knee gently as a little reassurance. "I'm sorry we didn't tell you. But I was afraid you wouldn't come out of your room if you knew."
She knew him way too well..
"What are we trying then..?" He asked through a whisper, his voice a little shaky. He was still convinced they were getting ready to attack him out there, but that voice was slowly slipping back into the shadows where it came from.
"We're making memories." She smiled. She must be glad he was giving it a go. But he saw no way out of it really. "The past while we've been trying to repair old ones. So we're making new good memories while trying to repair the old. We have a movie night, lots of pizza, lots of junk food."
Damn, that actually sounded good..
He nodded a little, letting her know that the plan was fine with him.
He looked up when a hand was on his shoulder again, meeting the smiling faces of the two twins. These three would protect him. He'd be fine.
He hobbled back out to the sitting area, ignoring the voice this time though, because while he was hobbling with one crutch, his other hand held Pietro's firmly.
If Pietro was there, it would all be fine.
Things started slowly. They were tentative with him. And he seriously appreciated that.
Stark apparently had the idea to watch some movies that Steve hasn't seen yet. Because that list is roughly three miles long. So they were staring with the Back to the Future trilogy. Why? Because Tony spent about twenty minutes laughing at how they were movies just made for Steve!
Half way through the first movie, he smiled at them teasing Steve.
Near the end, he was talking to them, joking about stupid things in their lives right now, like how Pepper caught Tony and Banner cuddled up on the sofa one night, or how Steve finally went on a date with Sharon, and how she kicked some guys ass for trying to dance with her. He laughed along at the stories, feeling more and more comfortable with each one.
And by the start of the second, it was like they were family again.
He never let go of Pietro's hand the whole time, and Pietro never left his side on the sofa. Natasha was sitting on the other side of him. His protective little duo doing all they could to make sure he felt ok, and he loved them for it.
He couldn't tell you when he fell asleep, but it shocked him later on to know. The fact that this little night had made him comfortable enough to fall asleep around the team, around the people that he was still convinced were trying to murder him and Natasha, meant that something worked to make him trust them again.
It was still a long road, but he'd get there.
He remembered placing his head on Pietro's shoulder at one point, and finding it difficult to open his eyes after a while, but didn't think he'd fall asleep. He only realised he did when, and one point, he peeked his eyes open and was looking at the underside of his boyfriends jaw while he carried him upstairs bridal style.
There was a small smile on Pietro's lips, and he kind of wanted to ask what made him happy for future reference. But, instead, he just closed his eyes again and nuzzled against his chest.
The feel of his soft mattress was soon present on his back, followed by the bed sheet being placed over him and a soft kiss being placed on his forehead.
"Goodnight love.." Pietro whispered, and something tugged on Barton's heart knowing the speedster was planning on leaving.
"Pietro?" He called softly, not opening his eyes, but he could hear the other male stop moving in the room.
"What is it, Clint?" He replied just as softly, a concerned edge to his tone.
Clint simply lifted the side of the blanket that Pietro just covered him in.
"You can stay, if you want.." He said after a moment or two, not wanting to sound needy. But he slept better with Pietro there, he knew he did. Those nights he'd come in to comfort Clint after a nightmare, he'd sleep like a baby. "Unless you wanna go back to the team.."
He peeked his eyes open to see the figure of Pietro shuffle across the room, crossing to the other side of the bed. In the low light, it was difficult to make out his features, but when he climbed into the other side of the bed and held his arm out, Clint could see the grin on his face.
"I don't think words from your mouth have ever made me happier." He simply said, giving Clint a little grin as he moved over to cuddle up to his boyfriend, head resting on his chest with his arm draped across his stomach. His eyes slipped closed at once, feeling completely and totally relaxed for the first time in a long time.
He felt a kiss being place ontop of his head as sleep drew closer, followed by four whispered words that made his heart stop. "I love you, Clint.."
They joked about it, saying the other loved them when they did something to annoy them. But, as far as he could remember, unless it happened while he was drugged up, they never said that to eachother.
Yet, he found that he didn't mind.
He didn't mind that this was the first time hearing those words. He couldn't care less that he only guessed at the feelings Pietro had, and never knew them fully.
Pietro loved him.
He didn't have to say it. He showed it every day. He had been a god send while Clint was recovering. He looked after him, changed his bandages, made sure he was in as little pain as possible, making sure he ate, being absolutely positive he was ok with the team, and made him smile.
All those little things showed love more than three little words ever could.
As sleep took him, he decided he really did love loving someone. All his life he thought he'd hate it, for a while he did hate it, not so much anymore.
Probably no surprise to everyone except Clint that it worked out this way.
He just loved the feeling it gave him each time Pietro looked at him. He loved the fire that runs through his system when they kiss, loved waking up next to him, loved making him smile, making him laugh, making him blush with his idiotic attempts at teasing or flirting.
He loved Pietro.
He loved loving Pietro.
He whispered his response just as sleep took him, knowing he'd wake to a shit eating grin of the speedster for it, but he didn't care.
"Love you too, Pietro.."
'Let's be honest, kid.' He thought to himself, sleep finally claiming him. 'Us falling in love? We probably saw that coming.'