Gently

14. Decidedly Impressed

From where he was perched above the makeshift firing range, Clint watched with intrigue as Bucky stared at the target, rifle held loosely in his hands, taking deep, steady breaths. In one quick, fluid motion he brought the barrel up, sighted, and fired, grinning with satisfaction as a hole appeared at the edge of the centre spot. It was a grin of triumph, with a hint of smugness. "How about that?"

"Split second shooting, not bad." Clint shrugged. "I could do better."

Bucky raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah?"

Pulling his bow into his lap, he chewed his lip thoughtfully. "JARVIS, push it a little further back, would you?"

"Someone's confident," the assassin smirked as the target was moved accordingly. The two of them had Tony Stark's Virtual Scenario room all to themselves, and, in what Jan would have called a 'typical display of macho-ism', were trying to show off to one another. It was the first time they'd been alone together since admitting their feelings (or rather, since Clint had forced a confession from Bucky), and Clint was enjoying himself. They'd had the range at S.H.I.E.L.D to themselves a couple of times, but it was nothing compared to the privacy and flexibility of the VS room – Bucky was almost a different man here, and in a very appealing way.

Standing up on the platform JARVIS made for him, Clint slipped an arrow into position and gestured down to the target. "I'll backflip and hit centre," he said casually.

Bucky snorted. "Clint, I know you're good, but seriously? Can you even do a backflip?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

He shrugged. "You're no Natasha."

Ignoring the flicker of jealousy in his stomach, Clint flexed his fingers on the grip and ran his gaze over the target, taking in the distance to it, the angle he was at, and how far away the ground was. He turned so he was facing away from it, then glanced down at Bucky. "How about a bet?"

Tilting his head sideways, Bucky folded his arms. "Like what?"

"I hit dead centre and you buy my drink at the next social."

"And if you don't?"

"I'll pose naked with that rifle of yours. Privately, that is."

For a moment Clint wondered if he'd pushed a little too far, but then a smile graced Bucky's face and he nodded. "Alright. Give it your best shot."

Rolling his eyes at the pun, Clint took a deep breath and gripped his bow tightly. He pushed off the platform hard, watching carefully as the world went upside down and releasing the arrow as soon as he saw the target. He straightened up in time to plant his feet on the ground, only slightly off balance (he hadn't done that in a while), and quickly looked over his shoulder to see what had happened. Beside him, Bucky groaned. "I hope you know my order, old man."

"Don't know why I doubted you," he muttered. Clint chuckled as he made his way over to the bench, clapping him on the metal arm as he passed. "Seriously though, where does a spy pick up a move like that?"

Clint set his bow down, unscrewing a bottle of water. "I learnt it in the circus," he deadpanned. Behind him Bucky laughed, and as he drank he waited for the realisation to sink in.

"You always say that… Wait, are you – you aren't kidding?"

"Reel it in, JARVIS."

"Were you actually in the circus?" Bucky asked again above the whir of the target.

Clint waited for it to stop in front of them, counting down the seconds until the board would grind to a halt and there'd be nothing but silence. A loud clunk rang out across the room, its echo fading quickly into the space. "Engage privacy mode." JARVIS confirmed the request, and he turned to face Bucky. "My brother and I ran away from the orphanage when I was eight, and he got us work with the circus that happened to be in town at the time. We travelled with them, and when one of the main acts got interested in me he took me under his wing. I was given a bow and a set of arrows, and pretty soon I was part of the show." He shrugged. "Not much more to it than that."

Bucky stood with his hands on his hips, blinking at him. "And?"

"And what?"

"So you just stayed with the circus until S.H.I.E.L.D picked you up?"

"Of course not."

"Then what happened in between?"

"I left."

"Why?"

"Does it matter?"

"I'm just curious – most kids dream of joining the circus at that age. To be able to say you've done that is actually kind of cool."

Clint turned away. "Yeah, well most kids don't know dream from reality."

Either he'd said that more harshly than he'd intended, or Bucky had realised he struck a nerve, because the next thing Clint knew was that he was moving in a little closer, reaching across with his real hand to brush the back of his knuckles lightly. "Sorry," he murmured. "Didn't realise it wasn't a good thing."

Shaking his head, Clint sighed. "It wasn't all bad, it's just… I made some bad choices back then, you know?" He swallowed. "Can't help but wonder if my life would've been less painful if I'd just stayed at the orphanage."

"We all think like that sometimes," Bucky said softly, leaning in to rest his forehead against Clint's temple, metal hand resting lightly at the base of his neck. "Some more than others."

"Do you wish things had been different?" he whispered. "That someone else had gone on that mission in your place?"

"No," was the firm answer, and when he met Bucky's eyes questioningly he continued: "If it hadn't been me, it could just as easily have been someone else. I wouldn't wish that life on any one of the men we served with." Clint nodded in understanding. "And anyway – if we hadn't made those decisions, neither of us would be here now."

Seeing the twinkle overcoming the pain in Bucky's eyes, Clint felt a smile growing across his face. "Yeah," he agreed. "There is that." He closed the short gap between their lips, relishing in the comfort of another body against his, the light squeeze of Bucky's hand and his still tentative response. This, at least, was one decision he hoped he never regretted.

"So," Bucky said between breaths. "Did you have a spangly outfit?"

"One you will never see as long as I live," he told him, kissing him more insistently and hoping the message of 'shut up and make out with me' was getting through.

"Sirs," JARVIS said, startling Bucky out of the kiss. "Mr Stark is approaching."

"Thanks JARVIS," Clint said, grinning as Bucky put some distance between them both. "Disengage privacy mode." He was packing away the bow, Bucky a few metres away with his rifle, when Tony strode in.

"Hey, Sniperbros – ever heard of sharing? You two aren't the only ones in this circus, you know."

"Yeah, you never let us forget," Clint retorted, shooting a smirk at Bucky, who rolled his eyes in response as Stark continued to gripe at them. Was moving into the Avengers tower a good decision? Eh. Probably.

AN: Prompt: "Bucky discovering about Clint's circus past and being impressed and all".

(OMG have you seen The Winter Soldier trailer?! 8D 8D 8D May is too far away...!)