Natasha was awakened the next morning by the sound of her personal cell phone. She rolled over to grab it, her heart nearly skipping a beat when she saw that it was a text message from Clint. "Good morning, beautiful." She grinned, pressing his speed dial number.
"Hey, Lady," Clint said, answering on the first ring.
"Hey. I was just thinking about you. Do you want to meet for lunch later?"
He paused for a second before answering, "Aw, man. I wish I could. I've got a meeting with my attorney this afternoon."
She frowned. "Attorney? What'd you do?"
"Nothing!" He shouted with a chuckle. "Ah, you know… I've got all this money and stuff now. I just figured that Bobbi's entitled to some of it."
"That's… actually really thoughtful of you."
"Yeah, so. Why don't I pick you up at your place on my way home? The old team's getting together at that bar near Luke's tonight."
"Sounds perfect," she said, running a hand through her messy bun. "See you then."
"Yup. And don't worry, I promise I'll behave myself in public," he said before hanging up.
XXXXX
"Clint, you really don't have to do this," Bobbi said as they stood in the lobby waiting for their lawyers to draw up the papers.
Clint shrugged. "Why should I be the only one to benefit from it? I didn't ask for any of this. Just leave my building to the tenants and you can have whatever you want." He paused to glance at his phone, the corners of his mouth tugging up when he saw the text that Natasha had just sent him.
"Oooh, 'see you tonight,'" Bobbi said teasingly, looking over his shoulder. "And it's from Natasha."
Clint rolled his eyes. "You're coming out too, right? We all are."
"You don't fool me for one second, Clinton Francis Barton. I know you've been smitten with her for years."
He lowered his eyes. "Bobbi…"
"It's okay, honey. I want you to move on. She's been under your skin since way before me, I know that."
"I-I don't… I can't…"
"Hey." She pulled him in for a hug. "We had something great. But it's over now. Has been for a long time. Be happy. That's what I want for you."
He smiled slowly. "Thanks, Birdie. I want you to be happy too."
She winked. "I am happy, sweetie. But there's something you should know about our next mission."
He raised an eyebrow quizzically.
"We're getting a fourth agent for this one. Maria told me."
"Well, that should make things a lot less awkward than just the three of us," he said, letting out a breath.
"You'd think so, wouldn't you? Look, Maria thinks it would be better for you to be the one to brief Natasha. Safer."
"Okay…"
"She said this morning that she would send you the details on your secure email. I'd check it sooner rather than later."
He clicked through his phone, only realizing that she'd reached for his hand when it started shaking as he read the stats on the new member. It took a moment for his eyes to focus on the name, and then his face went white.
XXXXX
At some point during the day, Nat had texted him to let him know that she was at her townhouse, not her apartment. She'd even sent him an address, as if he'd need it.
It felt like hours later that he was walking up her lawn, his heart pounding in his chest as he rang the bell.
"Sorry," she said, smiling apologetically when she answered the door. "I've got a conference with an old contact tomorrow and I just needed a couple of things. Come on in."
He took in his surroundings, thinking how the place hadn't changed one bit from what he remembered. "Wow. It's been a long time since I was here. I think the last time…"
"You came here looking to fight Daredevil for my hand?"
His cheeks flushed and he laughed. "I guess we've all matured a little since then. "
She laughed too.
"Although, I gotta say… you're worth fighting for." He wrapped his arms around her, backing her up against a wall.
"Hey!" She said, giggling as he nuzzled her neck. "I thought you said you were going to behave tonight."
"I said I would behave in public. We still have over an hour until we have to meet the guys. I don't think I can keep my hands off you until then," He murmured, nipping softly at her neck.
"Mmmm… well then I guess you'd better come here," she said, tilting his face down and kissing him deeply.
XXXXX
Loud music blared from the bar as she stepped in, with Clint's hand placed loosely at the small of her back. She idly stepped away from him when she saw Bobbi approaching them, but then Bobbi leaned in to give her a friendly hug and she visibly relaxed.
"Hey, Jess," Clint said awkwardly, nodding politely to Carol.
The dark-haired girl forced a smile at both of them. "I'd be careful if I were you," she said in a low voice. "You know Bucky's like, totally gonna beat the shit out of you, right?"
"What's he doing here?" Natasha asked, tensing as she spotted him sitting at a table with Luke Cage and Jessica Jones.
Clint swore under his breath.
She linked her arm through his, holding onto him tightly. "It's bad enough we have to work with him. You didn't say he was going to be here."
"Easy," Clint said, patting her gently on her shoulder. "It's alright. Barnes is a good kid."
Her eyes narrowed. "Why is he looking at you like you stole the one thing in the universe that makes him happy?"
"Because," Clint said, gazing down at their conjoined hands. "I think I just did."
She frowned.
Jessica whistled.
Bobbi tapped Natasha on her arm. "Let's go sit down, ladies," she said, almost pleadingly.
Natasha barely had enough time to register the fact that Barnes had risen from his chair before he was right in front of them.
"Natasha, hi," he said. "How are you?"
She nodded coolly in response.
"Barton," he greeted.
"Hey, Barnes," Clint said.
"Can we talk?"
Natasha gripped his hand tighter.
"Uh, sure." He pulled his hand away from her. "I'll be right back."
"Well, hurry up, handsome," she cooed.
Bucky raised an eyebrow and Clint coughed loudly. "Outside, right? Let's go." He walked purposefully out of the bar, keeping a wary eye on the seemingly younger man.
Bucky was silent as he leaned against the wall.
"It's not what you think," Clint said, looking at the ground.
"Isn't it?" he asked.
"Dammit," he swore. "Look, kid. I like you. Always have. It's not like I'm trying to steal your woman, or anything. It's just… complicated."
"She's not my woman," Bucky said sadly. "And I've known for years that you're in love with her."
"Shit! I never wanted any of this to happen. I was married, for chrissakes. Fuck, how did you-?"
"I've seen the way you look at her. I get it. She's not an easy one to get over."
"Buck, I'm sorry, I…"
He shrugged. "Like I said, I'm used to that look in your eye. I guess I just never thought I'd see her look at you that way too." He started to back away slowly.
"No, Barnes, wait…"
"Take care of her, Barton."
"Bucky, please. Wait!" he called, but the other man turned without looking back over his shoulder.
He swore loudly, slamming his foot into the wall as hard as he could.