Love doesn't discriminate
between the sinners
and the saints,
it takes and it takes and it takes
and we keep loving anyway.

We laugh and we cry
and we break
and we make our mistakes.
And if there's a reason I'm by her side
when so many have tried
then I'm willing to wait for it.
I'm willing to wait for it.
-Wait for it, Hamilton

oh no... (i mean this in the best way possible)

Contrary to popular belief, when Natasha isn't undercover, she is really, really bad at flirting.

Also on AO3 (http://archiveofourown.org/works/7907959)






One

“So what’s a beautiful woman like you doing in a dump like this?”

The line is corny, but the twinkle in the man’s not-quite-blue eyes suggests that’s deliberate. Natasha decides to keep her knee from his groin, but takes a discouraging sip of her Pinot.

“Trying to forget the world is full of assholes.”

“And how’s that working for you so far?” The twinkle vanishes and he raises his glass in a mock toast. “Apart from your efforts to reduce the population, I mean.”

When his phone buzzes and he leaves without another word, the regret comes as a surprise.

…..


Two

Her hands are cuffed -- To keep Coulson from hyperventilating -- but not shackled, and she is free to watch Barton trying to get comfortable in his seat.

“If you need a pillow, you could use my lap,” she purrs.

Because she owes him and he’d seemed interested, back in that bar in Pristina.

“Save it,” he grunts, and stretches out his legs against the bulkhead.

She’s not used to rejection; somewhat non-plussed, she gives him an exaggerated pout.

“Most men would jump at the chance. Besides…”

He cuts her off in mid-performance.

“That’s not why I’m bringing you in.”

…..


Three

“I don’t get it, May. Chocolate is supposed to work.”

May looks at him like she would at a new recruit in combat training, and Natasha feels slightly self-conscious about eavesdropping. Slightly.

“Work for what, exactly? You and Bobbi have been divorced for six months. I thought you’d noticed.”

Clint sighs.

“I read somewhere, ‘gifts nourish a relationship’. Like watering a plant, or something.”

“Provided the plant is still alive, Barton.”

He considers the matter, then smiles ruefully.

“You’re right, I suppose. How about some chocolates, Melinda?”

They leave the gym together; Clint winks at Natasha as they go by.

…..


Four

“Are you conscious?”

The familiar voice cuts through the fog, and for a moment Natasha thinks of telling the truth. But this is Barton, and they’re battling the mob in Vegas; his ridiculous notions of chivalry have gotten them both nearly killed before.

“I’m fine,” she slurs.

The chuckle takes her aback.

“Oh, too bad. And here I thought I could talk you into marrying me. Look, Elvis is all ready for us.”

Suddenly, she’s wide awake. Gunshots turn the chandelier into a crystal shower, and the statue of Elvis crashes down. The chapel will take days to clean.

Pity.

…..


Five

“So who cares if you can’t hold down a long-term relationship?”

As opening lines go she’s probably done better, but Natasha is confident that Clint will see it for exactly what it is: an invitation for a no-strings quickie. (It’s about time, and she’s ready.)

“Bobbi tells me the sex was fantastic.”

He sets down his glass with a clunk and gets up.

“So does Hand, by the way. And May. Although she ended up with Andrew, of course. And …”

It’s doubtful whether he hears her over the slamming door, even when she adds, “See? I’ve done my research.”

…..


Plus One

“You’re hopeless, Clint.”

He grunts; whether in denial or pain is hard to tell.

“What made you think that jumping from the sixth floor balcony was a good idea?”

He mumbles something about ‘seemed like one at the time’, but hisses when she dabs the cut on his face with disinfectant. Suddenly, it hits her.

“You could have died.”

Something in her tone makes him look up; he gives her a lop-sided grin.

“Don’t tell me you care, Romanoff.”

She drops the bottle and the cotton on the floor, and leans down to close his mouth with hers.

“Shut up.”




Edited 2016-08-29 09:25 pm (UTC)

Possible companion prompt: Clint, however, is really, really good at flirting. It's all the other relationship stuff he finds difficult.

You are too damn good at prompts. This one and the preceding one may make a great 5+1...

Note to self: I love you does not mean I won't ever leave you.

STOP DOING AWESOME PROMPTS. I have only so much room in my head.

Reprompt from the Valentine's day fest: Turns out for a secret agent/assassin/Red Room graduate, Natasha knows an awful lot of people (5 times Clint met Natasha's exes and one time.....dealer's choice)

Clint/Natasha or Clint/Natasha/Laura, the status quo is upset when Steve brings Bucky home and he remembers Natasha.

commentfic prompt: 'I would kill to keep him safe, and grant mercy to keep his love.'

“The trick is finding someone who complements you instead of completes you. You need to be complete on your own.”

This thing, I like it.

Let slip the dogs of war.

oooohhhh.....

I loved you once, she thinks. I loved you and you told me you loved me but you burned me to the ground.

Edited 2016-07-31 01:49 pm (UTC)

Your prompts are killing me. (Also were you the one who prompted the reincarnation AU last year? Cause I STILL have that in a WIP.)

The drums boomed. The crowd roared. The Princess smiled, her hair the exact same shade as the arena floor - crimson red, blood red, but even then, all Clint could think about was the sickening crack of the gladiator’s bones – the way he closed his eyes as if he was saying a prayer to the gods – and his last trembling breath before he sighed and slipped from reality.

(romanempire!au)

unfinished poetry:

you, resplendent in a dress painted with sunlight, your hair a cavern of molten gold, and your smile dappled in honey - me, hands coarse from cigarette burns, fingers clutching a half-opened bottle of whisky. where did we go wrong?

Everybody wants to rule the world.

The sea has many voices,
Many gods and many voices.

-T.S Eliot, Four Quartets

Olympics AU!

Always fun! :D

DRINK COFFEE do stupid things faster with more energy

Hey, that's my life!

Avengers/The Musketeers: AU or fusion or whatever suits your muse… Like, what if Musketeer Barton is tasked by Captain Fury to rid Paris of the mysterious and troublesome young woman recently arrived from the Tsardom of Russia? Including Athos and all the gang in the background is encouraged (just imagine d'Artagnan helping Clint, the banter between Aramis and Stark, the friendly competition between Porthos and Thor, and the tales of relationship woes between Athos and Cap; of course, it's Pepper and Constance who keep them all in line).

Oh damn, my two obsessions at the moment... :D And of course Pepper and Constance would totally buddy up, hehehe.

In Clint's opinion, Rumlow's always been a untrustworthy, cocky dick. Count him unsurprised when the fucker turns out to be a Hydra asshole.

In Brock's opinion, Barton shouldn't even be a S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent. There's no way that *insert shortcoming(s) here* can be as good as they make him out to be.

As far as shortcomings go I'm always partial to hearing impaired.

You setting off a hissing match? Or an AU where Rumlow doesn't die in Nairobi...?

(taken from a star wars prompt, so interpret and/or genderswap as you will)

she deserves a prince and he's worried she's settling for the pirate

Clint/Natasha, Unexpectedly, the only big issue in their relationship is religion.

Interesting!

Tickle wars 95% of the time end in sex.

it takes a long time to make love with someone who hates themselves ["The Information Man" - Buddy Wakefield]

Dragon Age Inquisition AU: Inquisitor Clint is in over his head leading the Inquisition and helps one of Sister Nightingale's agents, Natasha, while in the Hinterlands.

(taken from Tumblr)

clint barton is the type of guy to fall down and yell “PARKOUR”

Edited 2016-08-01 06:28 am (UTC)