Title: How Can I Help You Today
Rating: PG-13
Summary: A Corner Drugstore AU.

Clint and Natasha are Pharmacy Technicians. You know it's going to be a rough week when the first customer through the door makes you see red... and it's only Tuesday.

Of course, their issues are not singular. Everyone in the drug store has problems.

Snippet:
Clint swears he’s only been in Aisle Five for five minutes. Ten, tops. Three people have asked for Tylenol PM (has no one heard of the recall? That happened TWO FUCKING YEARS AGO?) without successfully finding it the first time with his instructions and he’s had to walk out to show them exactly where it is, each and every time. With his finger pointing at it. And sometimes moving the actual box. When they look at him with that look in their eyes that says that they don’t understand, he picks up the box of generic pain relief (SERIOUSLY! The recall was on the evening news of all the major networks for months!) and shows them where it says Similiar to Tylenol PM and then he explains how Tylenol PM is just acetaminophen and benadryl and they could get the brand name of both and take them together and... they never listen.

He’s counting off the exact number of steps it takes to get from the end of the aisle nearest the pharmacy counter so he can tell people how to get there without having to leave Natasha alone. Nothing good happens when Natasha gets left alone for very long.

The echoing “Excuse me?” and the muffled cry and amplified thump can be nothing good. “Steve,” Clint hollers as he goes running toward the back. He’s going to need back up if she’s gone after a customer again.

When he gets to the scene, Bruce is trying to assert himself between the red-haired girl and the older man. Clint wraps his arms around her waist and manhandles her away from the scene and into the back room. Steve comes to a screeching halt right behind him and helps Bruce pacify the man, getting him his prescriptions and drink of water.

“What was that?” Clint hisses as he sits Natasha on the ledge they use for everything from lunch room table to restocking counter. She doesn’t try to move away, only slumps in on herself, but he puts a hand on either arm to make sure she doesn’t get any ideas.

When she mumbles something, he uses a finger to lift her head up so they’re eye to eye. “What?”

“He came to the wrong window to pick up his prescriptions.”

Really, Clint knows he should read her the riot act for daring to treat a customer like that but it’s been days since her last encounter. Not enough time to forget the tirade he gave her last time but enough, obviously, to forget her promise.

“You just got here, Tasha. He was your third customer. It’s only Tuesday.”

She nods, miserable. “I really need this job.”

“I know you do. I’m the other half of your rent, remember?” He leans his head in until his forehead touches her bare collarbone. She smells like the orange cleaner she was using to clean off the counters earlier but nothing else. The one thing he loves about Natasha is that she always smells like herself. “You have to remember to smile at them, Tasha. Nothing else. Only smile.”

More at AO3 (http://archiveofourown.org/works/482409)