Chapter 13: A Different Monday

Okay, Tony. Today's the day. Don't fuck it up.

Tony was feeling fairly nervous. It was the Monday after his birthday weekend and everything went by okay. It was all...okay.

Pepper's magic touch successfully turned his house into a teen nightclub, filled with music, dancing, laughter, a glow in the dark cake, and even Kaylee Foxx singing "Happy Birthday" to him. Thor brought a new friend named Bruce Banner to the party. Tony knew about Bruce and his passion for science. Tony liked him just fine, but Bruce mostly kept to himself all night, not saying or doing much. Disappointing sure, but all night long Tony's heart wasn't really into it. Tons of people from school were there. Most of his friends were there, but not the one person he actually wanted to be.

Earlier that Friday he had a talk with Mr. Coulson, coming to terms that he had a crush. A major crush on a certain hot, edgy, quiet boy he shared his English and lunch period with. Clint fucking Barton. Tony couldn't believe it himself, but he was crushing, and crushing HARD. At some point during the party Steve told him that he tried inviting Clint and his special friend Natasha Romanoff, but Clint said 'no'. Steve didn't know Tony liked him. So when Tony heard the news, he was disheartened even though he knew it was a long shot on Clint showing up anyway.

Towards the end of the night Tony didn't feel like doing anything else so when the party was over, so was his happy mood. Thor, Pepper and Rhodey asked if maybe he was up for an after-party, but Tony insisted on them all going home while he went to bed. The rest of the weekend went by kinda boring. Sunday night though, Tony decided that he would take Coulson's advice.

"Try being friendly instead of being a showman and see where it goes."

So Monday morning Tony was on a mission; find a way to ask out Clint Barton. Or at least talk to him. That shouldn't be an issue. After all, everybody liked Tony. Who wouldn't? He was confident he'd think of something. English class? Nothing. Lunch? Nothing. Tony thought about approaching Clint at his table, but he lost his nerve when he saw Clint tell someone off after they looked at him funny. Tony didn't have any classes with Clint the rest of the day, and he found himself thinking about nothing but Clint's possible response if he ever got the nerve to actually introduce himself.

The end of the school day was when Tony had enough. Happy was waiting for him in a stretch hummer out in the parking lot, but Tony signaled him to wait. He scanned the lot. He saw Bruce getting on one bus. Poor guy looked like Thor didn't make any sort of difference on him at all. Thor walked home from school so he was already strolling away. Pepper and Rhodey hopped on another bus. Sharon and Sam left with Steve in his car. Finally he spotted Clint and Natasha headed towards the purple Saturn he always saw his crush come to school in. Tony licked his lips. Clint was wearing low hanging shorts and a purple sleeveless top, revealing his perfectly toned arms.

God damn he's sexy. Alright, time to swallow the sword. I'm Tony fucking Stark. What do I have to be worried about?

Tony took a deep breath, put on a confident smile and walked over to the Saturn just as Clint was turning the key in the door. Natasha noticed him first, raising an inquisitive eyebrow and placing her hands on those killer hips of hers. She looked at Clint then nodded her head in Tony's direction. Clint caught her gesture then looked at Tony as well. Tony couldn't help but widen his smile. In all their years together at Marvel High, this was the first time Clint actually saw Tony. He almost got lost in how mesmerizing his gray-blue eyes were before remembering his mission. It was a long shot, but Tony was always more curious than cautious.

"You?" asked Natasha.

Tony fought not to frown. She said that with clear disdain. Clint just stared at him with a blank face. What a beautiful blank face it was on the blond.

"How's it going?" asked Tony.

No matter how nervous he was, Tony always spoke clear and concise. He's a Stark, dammit. Clint raised an eyebrow as well and crossed his arms.

"Seriously? What do you want, Tony." he asked bluntly.

Tony couldn't help but chuckle.

"Right to the point. I like that. Well since you're asking, I was wondering if you'd like to hang out."

Clint puckered his lips and crooked then to the side. He looked more curious than spiteful like Tony expected, so a glimmer id hope shined in his heart.

"With you? Tony Stark? You're asking me to hang out?"

Tony shrugged. Clint had every right to be surprised. This was the first time they'd ever spoken to each other formally.

"Yeah. With me." he simply replied.

Natasha glanced to the side, looking like she was trying not to laugh. Tony couldn't tell if that was good or bad. Clint's eyebrows lowered hard and Tony took a step back.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Clint asked harshly.

Tony's smile was wiped completely off his face. That tiny ray of hope was officially extinguished.

Well, shit.

"You're Tony fucking Stark. Don't you have some models or Stark groupies waiting for you to bang them in the backseat of your limo?"

Tony shook his head and held his ground.

"What? No! I just wanna-"

"Don't bullshit, Stark." Natasha interrupted.

Tony was about to retort that she should mind her own business, but both Natasha and Clint hit him with death glares so icy it made him shiver. It was like a ghost walked through him. Clint then rolled his eyes and opened the door to his car.

"Look Stark, I don't know what kind of fucked up game you're trying to play, but quite frankly I don't really care. Go make it rain at a country club or something. I don't have time for this shit."

Tony stood there motionless and speechless as Clint and Natasha calmly got into the car like they hadn't just wrecked his fucking emotions. He knew rejection was the most likely outcome to this scenario, but he hadn't expected Clint's infamous attitude to rear its ugly head. Natasha, too for that matter. Tony almost wanted to cry. This wasn't the first time he'd faced rejection, but it WAS the first time he got rejected AND told off. By someone he saw himself forming a genuine connection with if only the opportunity presented itself. He backed up as Clint turned the key in the ignition and brought the Saturn to life. Loud heavy metal music blasted through the speakers. Tony gave it one last shot.

"But Clint, I just wanted us to have a good time."

Clint scoffed and slid on a pair of shades.

"I'm pretty sure that wouldn't have worked out however you saw that situation, Tony. Fuck off, rich boy."

Tony stood there in shock as Clint backed up and sped out of the parking lot.

"But,..." Tony whispered to no one.

He thought he could do it. Guess not. Now what chance did he have? Clint Barton doesn't like him. Clint doesn't like him. He doesn't like him. He doesn't,...

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Tony woke up with a gasp and sat up in his bed. His heart was pounding in his chest. He slowly reached a hand to the left side of his face. It felt moist.

"Did-did I shed a tear?" he asked out loud.

Tony wiped it away in disgust. He's Tony fucking Stark. He doesn't cry! Especially not over a dream. Tony ran his hands through his hair. A dream. It was all one big fucked up dream. He gulped hard and hissed at his lower back pain.

"Boy. Clint really did a number on my tailbone."

Then Tony gulped again. Clint. It was okay, he thought. This was reality now. Clint DID like him. Clint was his boyfriend. Tony felt giddy at that knowledge. Clint was his boyfriend. His first goddamn boyfriend. Tony looked over at the clock on his nightstand. It was around three in the morning. He was tempted to text Clint something cute, but he knew Clint was dead asleep by now. Just like HE should be. Tony wiped some sweat droplets off his forehead, yawned loudly then laid back down and closed his eyes.

Before sleep could reclaim him, another tear escaped his eyelid. What was so disturbing about the dream was how REAL it felt. That was exactly how things could've happened. If Clint would've said "no" to Steve's invitation, Clint wouldn't have showed up to the celebration. Which meant he wouldn't have made Tony happy enough to throw an afterparty (which of course included Truth or Dare and that kiss). Bruce wouldn't have been subconsciously motivated by Clint and Natasha to enjoy himself get out of his shell more. Steve and Sharon would still be together (which as it turned out wouldn't be for the best). Pepper and Rhodey wouldn't have showed their true colors. Thor wouldn't have a friend to learn subtlety from. Natasha wouldn't have become Tony's friend. Clint wouldn't be his. Another tear leaked through Tony's eyes before he went back to sleep.

Clint wouldn't be mine.