A/N
I don't own the song mentioned here, but I do suggest listening to the song while reading the lyrics. It adds something.
Chapter 19
The door slams behind me as I sprint up the stairs and onto Natasha's floor.
"Natasha!" I yelp as I skid to a stop in her living room. "Help!"
She looks at me over the top of her magazine. "Is someone attacking?"
"No."
"Are you being chased?"
"Nuh uh."
"Then calm down and explain."
I take a deep breath and count to ten. "Do you know what tomorrow is?"
"July 12th."
"Which is…?"
"The day after July 11th and before July 13th?"
"Natasha." I groan. "It's our anniversary."
"Whose?"
"Clint and I. And I told him I had a dress and I don't and I need major help."
"I already knew that before today. But wait here, I think I have one that would look good on you."
I nod miserably and slump onto her couch as she disappears down a hallway. I idly twirl a piece of scrap metal between my fingers as I stress over the next night.
"Found it!" Natasha calls out, and she soon steps into the room with a dress bag slung over her shoulder. "Look."
My eyes widen. The dress is a beautiful purple color, with a dark eggplant sleeveless top that eventually fades to a lavender chiffon and ends just after my knees, longer in the back than it is in the front.
"I have no clue why I bought this." Natasha muses. "It's not really my style."
"What shoes go with it?"
Natasha glances at the dress. "Roman sandals, maybe. Something light."
I groan. "Can't I wear my combat boots?"
Natasha glares at me. "No! Come on, you need to look good for Clint."
"Clint will not care what shoes I wear!"
Natasha huffs. "I'm calling in the cavalry."
Within the next two minutes, Jane, Darcy, and Betty are all gathered in Natasha's living room and debating the styles of shoes I should wear.
"I think it would look cute with the boots!" Darcy insists from behind my shoulder.
"But they are boots!" Natasha argues. "And as much as I love practicality, even I get dressed up sometimes!"
"And this is her anniversary date." Jane adds.
I sigh and send an exasperated look at Betty, who is looking bewildered and amused at the same time.
I shake my head. "Enough!" They all look like deer in headlights as they remember who is in the room. "I want to wear the boots. Come on, Tasha, they can't look that bad. Please?"
Natasha sighs and loos sheepish as she nods. "Right, sorry. Your date, your outfit. Clint will love it. Now, about your hair…"
A~A~A
"You have everything?"
"Knife, knife, bow, grappling arrows, and two guns. Yes, Tasha."
"What about the mace?"
"мать." I groan. "When will you stop worrying?"
She smiles cheekily and snaps my braided shoulder-strap black handbag closed. "When your surname changes to Barton. And not even then."
I groan as my cheeks burn.
"Go, the limo just pulled up. Have fun, дочь." she squeezes my arm with a warm smile as she shoos me out the door.
The chauffer – most likely one of Dad's – steps out and opens the door. I give him a courteous smile as I step inside and smooth down my dress. I almost fail to notice the index card on the seat next to me.
Dear sparrow, it reads,
We've made it one year. Can you believe it? I hope you wore a dress, but you look amazing in anything. Trust the driver, he's one of your dad's personal picks. I checked him out twice.
See you soon, your hawk.
I laugh at my boyfriend's antics as I sit back and relax, wondering what he has up his sleeve this time.
The driver eventually stops, coming around to help me out. I can see that I'm out doors, on a sidewalk of some kind, and the sidewalk leads to a gazebo looking structure about two and a half yards away.
I wave at the driver as he pulls away from the curb and speeds off. I cautiously make my way towards the gazebo, my boots – I won that argument – quietly shuffling against the pavement.
By the time I'm about a yard and a half away, I can make out a figure standing on the gazebo with his back to me. When I am about three feet away, the figure turns around.
And my lungs and heart – er, reactor – stop working for a second.
Because oh my god my boyfriend is so freaking gorgeous in his tailored black suit, white dress shirt, and a purple tie to match the top of my dress. Clint's jaw drops as he sees me, and he quickly shuts it and tries to act nonchalant.
I roll my eyes and quickly ascend the two gazebo stairs, coming to a stop in front of my date for the evening.
"Wow." we both blurt at the same time. I brush a lock of hair behind my ear.
"Clint, you look…amazing."
"And you look…you…I…just…whoa."
I smile at him and kiss him to end his miserable stuttering. "Thank Natasha."
He nods, and then looks down at me. "I hope you like the venue. You up for more dancing under the stars?"
"As much as my feet can take." I agree. "But is that all?"
Clint looks at me for a second, then tips his head back and laughs. "Of course not. I also brought a picnic." He points towards a basket in the corner. "Hope you like ham and cheese sandwiches, because that's as far as my culinary skills go. Outside of breakfast, that is."
I give him a curious look. "Undercover as a line cook in Bolivia for three months. I can make a mean omelet." he explains as he sets out the food.
"Oh. Got any other secret skills I should know about, Mr. Barton?" I tease him as I spread out the blanket.
He pauses for a moment and thinks. "Hmmm...no, I don't think so, Ms. Stark, but I'll consult you when they do."
I snicker as I snatch a sandwich from the basket, pulling my feet under me as I sit on the blanket.
We laugh and joke and manage to talk about everything from the latest Stark tech to the most ridiculous Avengers merchandise and everything in between. I relish in the undivided attention of my boyfriend; I have no doubt he is doing the same.
After we both clean up the food and blanket, he goes over to a small speaker in the corner. He presses a few buttons and a slow song begins to flood the gazebo.
I recognize the song as Christina Perri's A Thousand Years as Clint straightens his tie and suit jacket and offers me a hand up. "May I have this dance?"
I nod and accept his hand, letting myself be pulled close, placing one hand on his shoulder and linking the other hand with his as we step in time to the first verse.
Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave?
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?
But watching you stand alone,
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow.
One step closer
I smile ear to ear as Clint and I waltz or way around the gazebo, making no specific pattern.
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more.
I wince at the reality of the chorus. God knows we've done enough dying. Losing limbs, being held captive, and sacrificing ourselves, running from the law, saving a government organization…
Clint sees my face and chuckles, bending down slightly to brush his lips across mine. I grin and lean into him slightly.
Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this
One step closer
Clint sings softly along with this verse, placing emphasis on the first two lines. I blush, causing him to laugh openly this time.
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more.
I laugh as Clint twirls me under his arm, making me dizzy and then roping me back into his arms.
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
One step closer
One step closer
I like this verse, seeing as I've loved Clint really since I was fifteen and he was teaching me archery. He was an amazing friend for three years, but something inside still hurt when I saw him admiring other girls.
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more.
Clint dips me suddenly, laughing at my stunned look and spinning me back up once he's composed himself.
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more.
We both hum the last verse, swaying in place and just appreciating each other for a moment, breathing in the now-silent night air.
Clint is the first one to step back, keeping our hands linked as he leads me over to the railing. He motions for me to wait here, briefly letting go of my hand and going to rummage around behind me. I can hear his exclamation as he finds whatever it is, then he returns with two champagne flukes filled with what smells like ginger ale. He leans back against the railing as lean forward against it, and he begins softly pointing out constellations and sneaking a kiss in between every other one.
"Hey Clint?" I whisper breaking the calm silence.
"Yeah Taylor?"
I look over at him, taking a moment to study him while I gather my words. "Do you…" I sigh. "Do you ever think about the future?"
He seems to consider this for a moment, not even batting an eye at the out of the blue question. "Well…" he begins carefully, "Not really. Not that I don't want to, necessarily, but when do I have the time? Between shooting and getting shot at…" he trails off, and I nod at the unspoken words.
"Well, you aren't getting shot at right now. Penny for your thoughts?" I prompt gently as I run a thumb across his knuckles.
He sets down his glass, balancing it on the chipping railing. His eyes take on a thoughtful glaze as he glances at the night stars, then me, back at the stars, and then me again. "I don't know exactly," he begins quietly, "and I dint think anyone ever does. But I do know one thing."
"What's that?"
"It will have you, I guarantee it." he promises.
I grin and blush, but Clint just pulls me in, wrapping his arms around my waist and pressing a kiss to my scalp. I lean back against his chest, exhaling and letting pounds of tension gained over the past few weeks just melt away.
A thousand years? Not yet.
But we're on our way.