Don't ask me where these ideas come from - I have no idea! They just appear, and I write them, LOL. Actually, I think this one came from a conversation I had with my best friend. Please enjoy this Clint/Bucky one-shot!
"Are you sure you wanna do this?" Bucky asked Clint. "You'd really do this for me?"
"Well, not just for you. I do wanna be around to grow old with you, have people accuse me of being a sugar daddy or a cougar when I start looking my age, and you're looking like, well, you." Clint waved his hand up and down at Bucky and then collapsed onto the couch. "Plus, I'd rather go out on my own terms while I still can."
Bucky sat down next to Clint and knew precisely what he was thinking. He didn't want to be forced to retire because some got hurt – or worse – because he wasn't quick enough. He knew Clint dealt with that anyway; Clint tended to focus on the lives he couldn't save rather than the literal thousands of opportunities where he'd made a difference. "Hey, look at me, doll." Clint turned toward Bucky. "I love you no matter what you do. If anyone understands where you're coming from, it's me." After SHIELD fell and Bucky was able to break free from HYDRA's programming, he surrendered to the Avengers and Fury, who both worked on his behalf to remind the government that he wasn't a villain; he was the last remaining POW from World War II and was forced to commit crimes against his will. Steve even petitioned to get Bucky his back pay from the Army, which made it an easy choice for him as to what to do. He'd decided he'd fought enough for several lifetimes and decided against joining the Avengers. He took up Fury's offer to travel to Wakanda. After Shuri and her people had ensured all the programming was gone. He spent time there getting to know himself again. Steve made sure he got regular visits from the team. He discovered outside of Steve; he looked forward to the visits from Clint most of all. Clint reminded him of himself before the war, the quick wit, the smirks, the all-over sarcastic attitude. He thought maybe he'd found a kindred spirit in the archer, especially after Clint shared what happened during the battle in New York. From there, the relationship grew as they discovered the things they had in common clicked. Soon, Clint would travel to Wakanda in between missions. Eventually, Bucky felt comfortable enough to move back to New York and into the tower with Clint. Fast forward three years later, and here Clint was, talking about retiring.
Clint pulled some papers out of his quiver. "Good. I knew if I waited, I'd chicken out, so I printed off the official paperwork."
"What did Natasha say?"
Clint smiled. "Wondered what took me so long. I told her I'd help out with planning missions when needed. She made me promise not to hum any Taylor Swift songs through the comms."
Bucky laughed. "That always did drive her crazy."
"It did. We'll still be welcome any time at the tower. I told them there's a standing invite to the rooftop cookouts."
"Well, I had something else in mind."
"Oh? Do tell."
Bucky shifted his body to face Clint. "I've obviously had a lot of time to think about what to do once you finally got it through your thick skull that enough was enough." Bucky put his hand over Clint's mouth before he could react. "I found us a place."
Clint removed Bucky's hand. "We've got a place right here." He motioned around the apartment.
"I know, but hear me out. I remember spending time with my ma's family in Indiana when I was little and how peaceful and quiet it was, especially at night. You could look up and see the stars 'cause it wasn't blocked by pollution. It's how I felt in Wakanda. It was my place of calm amongst all the chaos in my scrambled brain. So, I talked to Tony and Pepper, and they reached out, and I found a place. It's about an hour outside the city, has room for a Quinjet to land if need be, and Tony already has suggestions on increasing security."
Clint was quiet for several minutes while he mulled over the suggestion. "Babe, if that's what you want, then I'm all in on one condition."
"What's that?"
"You have to walk around without a shirt on when you work on the house."
Bucky smiled. "Only if you promise the same thing, doll."
"It would be my genuine pleasure."
6 MONTHS LATER
"Lucky! Come here, boy!" Clint yelled from the front porch. He knew the team would be here at any moment and wanted to make sure their (his) dog was out of the way. Clint knew he wouldn't have to worry about Bucky's heathen cat, Alpine. She'd make her presence known when she was good and ready. The one-eyed yellow lab mix came bounding up the front steps and into the house, knocking Clint over on the way. "Hey, buddy," Clint scratched Lucky's head and stood up. The alert that the perimeter had been breached went off on his phone. Clint reached over, grabbed a leash hanging from the hook by the front door, and attached it to Lucky's leash. They stepped onto the front porch and watched the vehicles enter the long driveway.
"Legolas!" Tony exclaimed as he got out of the car. "Have you missed us?"
"Hold on, let me deactivate the missiles," Clint said dryly, pulling out his phone.
"Missiles?!"
"Kidding, Stark," Clint chuckled. "Who needs missiles when you've got two former assassins and snipers living here?" Clint came down the steps. Lucky broke free and darted straight to Natasha, who bent down and petted him. Clint hugged Tony as he greeted him. "Good to see ya, man."
"You, too. Looks like retirement's treating you well."
"Lot less snap, crackle, and popping when I move, that's for sure."
"Lot less noise over the comms, too," Natasha joked, walking up the steps.
"Aw, love you, too, Nat," Clint wrapped his arms around his best friend. The two spoke a few words, then Natasha grabbed Tony's arm and dragged him into the house. Steve, Thor, and Bruce appeared, greeting Clint before they all went inside.
"Where's your cohort?" Tony asked after Clint had passed around drinks.
"Outside communing with nature and working on his new hobby."
"I would love to see what James' new interest is," Thor said.
"I thought you might. Come on, guys, follow me." Clint led them through the laundry/mud room to a field away from the house. He stopped and let the rest of them go ahead. It never failed to stop him in his tracks whenever he watched Bucky. Never in a million lifetimes did he, Clint Barton, head case, orphan, ex-carnie, former mercenary, then eventual SHIELD agent and Avenger, would end up with someone as amazing as James Buchanan Barnes. He stood on the back porch and did what he always did, fell a little more in love with the man every day.
"Barton, what the hell is he doing?" Tony yelled.
Of course, Tony had to ruin the moment. "It's called yoga, dumb ass!" Clint yelled back. This was the moment Clint had been waiting for, the look on his friends' faces when they saw the latest additions to the farm.
"I can see that, but what are all those animals around him?"
Bruce shook his head. "Those are Capra hircus, Tony. Leave it to the city boy to not know."
"I know what goats are, Brucie-bear, but those are so small."
Clint had joined them in the field. "The correct term is dwarf goat. We've also got fainting goats. You'll be happy to know we have goats named after each of you."
Tony looked around, found the largest goat, and pointed at it. "That one's me, of course."
Clint shook his head as he watched Bucky changing positions, with a couple of the goats moving around him and trying to stand on his back. "Nope, that's Bruce. He's meek, mild-mannered, doesn't know his own strength." The goat walked up to Bruce and looked up at him. "See, even he knows who his namesake is." Bruce knelt and petted the goat.
"Okay, now I'm curious, Clint. May I ask which one is me?"
"That one over there. He's probably the happiest one we have, the easiest-going one. He tends to watch over the younger goats and protects them."
"I am honored." Thor smiled, bowed, and patted Clint's back. "I shall go introduce myself."
"Barton," Natasha said threateningly, hands on her hips.
"Easy, Nat. We picked one specifically for you. She's the true leader of the group and doesn't take crap from any of the others. Go on," Clint pushed her toward a goat standing on top of a rock.
"Someone's got to keep you boys in line." Natasha left to go meet "her" goat.
As the group talked, Bucky finished his workout and came up on the porch. "Hey, Steve." Bucky and Steve hugged each other. "Want to see Stevie the goat?"
"Can't wait," Steve said dryly.
"He's easy to recognize. He's the most stubborn one we have. He refuses to listen to either one of us." Bucky dragged Steve off to introduce him to Stevie the goat.
"Guess you're wondering where yours is, Stark."
"Just a little, Barton."
Clint looked at his watch. "Give it a minute." Suddenly, a loud bleating could be heard from up above. The noise sounded like the goat said, "Me, me, me." Clint laughed. "There's Tony."
The two men saw a goat standing on a tree branch. "Well, I'll be damned. Look at me, overseeing my kingdom." Tony gasped as he saw the goat leap from the tree and land safely on the ground. "Hmm, wonder if I can make it an Iron Goat suit?"