Day 23 – Red

Clint was seeing red. He knew it was a cliché, but that's the only way he could describe it. This time, it wasn't from blood dripping from a head wound. It was all thanks to one James Barnes. The two had hooked up a few times when they were in college. Bucky, as he'd gone by then, was the hottest and most interesting person Clint had ever met. They'd met at some party Clint's best friend Nat had dragged him to. Bucky had been forcibly taken by his brother Steve since the party was hosted by Steve's best friend Tony, and no one ever said no to Tony. Bucky and Clint found they had a lot in common and continued to see each other over the next couple of years until Bucky was accepted to a school on the West Coast, and they eventually lost touch. Clint and Steve were both majoring in drafting and design, so Steve kept Clint in the loop about what was happening with Bucky thousands of miles away. After graduation, Bucky started using his proper name, James, as he thought it was more professional. Clint had long decided he'd call him anything he wanted him to if he ever came back into his life. The nights he wasn't hanging out with Steve, he was with Nat, pining over James Bucky Barnes and spilling his guts to her about how far he'd fallen for the brunet.

Now, they were all here at a party celebrating Steve's new job at Stark Industries. "That'll be you in a couple of years, you know." Nat linked her arm with Clint's.

Clint sighed. "I know." He turned to face his best friend. "I'm happy for Steve, Tash, I really am." He's done his best not to let his situation turn him bitter. It wasn't his fault that his brother had taken off, leaving his wife and three kids destitute. Clint couldn't stand seeing that happen, so he withdrew from school and relocated to Iowa to care for them. He stayed until his sister-in-law Laura got her degree and got a job with the federal government. Once they were stable, he moved back to New York and planned to start classes again in the fall. When he came to the party, he knew there would be a chance that Bucky – James would be there, but he wasn't going to miss the opportunity to celebrate Steve's accomplishment of landing his dream job. Clint was about to go over to congratulate Steve, and suddenly all he could see was red.

Natasha felt his tension. "You knew he'd be here, Clint."

Clint gritted his teeth. "Yeah." He closed his eyes and began his deep breathing exercises. Once he felt he could function, he slowly opened his eyes, counted to ten, and took a deep breath.

"Wasn't expecting it to hit you like that, right?" Clint nodded. "Talk to me. What are you feeling?"

Clint knew Natasha wouldn't accept less than a completely honest answer. "Angry, mainly at myself for letting him get away."

"He's an adult, Clint. He made a choice and did what he thought was best for him."

"I know." Clint felt those were the only words he'd been saying to her. "Not only mad about that, but for not finishing school and getting my degree. Though, I'm mainly pissed at Barney for that."

"What else?" Nat squeezed his arm to urge him to continue.

Clint sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "Shame. For not completing yet something else in my life."

Natasha turned Clint toward her and put her hands around his face. "Listen to me, Clinton Barton. You have nothing to be ashamed of. A lot of people wouldn't have stepped up the way you did to help your family, so cut that crap out right now."

Before she could continue, Clint felt a presence behind him. "She's right, ya know." Clint recognized that Brooklyn accent. "Steve told me about what you did to help them out." Damn, James still had the ability to make Clint melt with that soft, sultry voice of his. "Natasha, do you mind?"

"Not at all, James." She smiled at him, letting him know with one look she would end him if he hurt Clint. She walked away, and as soon as the sound of her heels clicking melted into the other noises, James put a hand on Clint's shoulder. "Is this okay?" Clint nodded, so James turned him around to face him. Before he could open his mouth, James started talking. "I know you may not believe this, but I never stopped loving you. I got so caught up in my studies and focused on my career that I forgot the most important thing in my life. You. I don't think I could've done what you did, giving up a dream to help my family. It's been so long, I didn't think you'd want to hear from me, and I'm sorry about that. I'd like to start and get to know each other again, but only if you want that."

Clint had replayed in his mind how the moment would go when he saw James again. This was not anything like he'd ever pictured it. 'Screw it,' he thought. 'Tasha always tells me I deserve nice things.' He threw caution to the wind, grabbed James' shirt, yanked him forward, and Clint crashed his lips into James', and all he could think was, 'I'm home.'