Day 9 – Blind Date

Clint and Bucky were at Clint's apartment, watching some mindless TV show, laps each holding plates filled with pizza, a bowl of popcorn between them. At that point, it was hard to tell whether most of the popcorn was in the bowl or the floor in front of the TV from where they'd tossed kernels at the screen. "Why do they call them blind dates anyway?" Clint asked. "I've been on enough of them to know my eyes were always open and ready for any possibility."

"Don't forget blind as a bat," Bucky replied.

"Blind luck."

Bucky thought for a minute. "A sight for sore eyes."

"Sight unseen. Another one of those sayings that don't make sense." Clint took a bite of pizza.

"Seeing is believing."

Clint tossed a few popcorn kernels and caught them in his mouth. "Can't come up with anything else for sight." He drummed his fingers on the arm of the couch. "Guess we can move to hearing if we're talking about senses. Hey, here's one. See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil, have no fun."

Bucky grinned. "Sounds like your motto."

"It does, doesn't it? I should get a t-shirt with that on it." Clint's smile turned into a frown. "Course, that leads to the cliché I hate the most."

"Which is?"

"Deaf and dumb." Clint put his plate down and drew his legs up as if curling in on himself. "Sometimes feel like that one was meant for me."

Bucky reached out and lightly grabbed Clint's arm without thinking about it. "Hey, look at me." Clint turned his head to face Bucky. "You are not dumb. I don't know anyone who can make calculations in their head as quickly as you when you're shooting. You also are skilled in strategizing, unlike Steve, whose plan is always let's barge in and punch. And not one word about being a school dropout and ex-carnie. You can't teach instincts like yours. There's no one I'd rather have watching my back in a fight than you."

"It is a nice back," Clint deflected.

"Don't try to change the subject, Clint Barton. You are one of the smartest men I've ever met, and I've met presidents, scientists, and government leaders."

"I don't think assassinating Kennedy counts as meeting one."

"I can neither confirm nor deny that statement." Bucky paused, realizing he still had his hand on Clint's arm. "Oh, screw it." He picked up the popcorn bowl with his metal arm, placed the bowl on the table, dragged Clint next to him, then kissed him. "Now, you gonna believe me?"

Clint smirked. "I might need some more convincing." Bucky smiled, and they continued making out on the couch, not noticing when Lucky appeared and ate the rest of the pizza and popcorn.