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SQUUUUUUUUUUUEEEEEEEEEEEEE

They can't stop the nightmares.

... you have my attention. I owe you angst..

"If I could, I would kiss away all of your scars."

My brain went: magical realism au where someone can ?

"You're making it so hard to concentrate right now." "Good, pay attention to me."

The disaster that is Rio comes down to 5000 words. He has 5000 words to explain, rationalize and compartmentalize before finally, finally after 4 months he can go back to her.

Coffee.

He needs coffee. Double Expresso with a side of Redbull. He puts on the filter, tonight's about quantity over quality.

He almost gets away with it, leaving his laptop full of secrets unattended until he hears the sounds of claws against keyboard.

“Liho this mine” He sighs scratching the feline between her ears just into the sweet spot behind the right. She meows back indignantly lounging across the keys.

“Your making it really hard to concentrate милая”

She doesn't care, of course she doesn’t. Its all she wants as she blinks slowly stretching out a paw further. Good pay attention to me.

"She's missed you" A familiar voice calls from the hall. Tasha. Damn it, he'd hoped she’d stay asleep, that he could wake her with a kiss, like some hero from a romantic movie. That he could get this done, over with and all she'd know is when they woke up the next morning. She had enough on her plate with the Stark mission and the logistical nightmare trying to find a quiet in with a billionaire as high profile as Stark.

"So its back to annoying me already, it's like I've never left huh?" He reaches over to stroke her, hearing her purrs softly. It's a weak distraction from Natashas gaze. "Did I wake you?"

"I never slept. Been waiting. Gave you two hours since you got back to come-"

"I'm not off mission until the paperwork's in"

Natasha sighs "You couldn’t see me but coffees ok-"

"I needed it-" She sighs, taking a step into the room. Damn he’s missed her.

"4 months. Clint. It was meant to be 2 weeks"

"I know Nat, I know."

The silence that settles isn't comfortable.

"Could you move her?" Clint asks gesturing to Liho dozing in the warmth of the laptop.

Natasha does so easily, ignoring her cries long enough to place her back on the floor.

"You train her to do that?"

"What?"

"You train her to get in my way-"

"That's just what she does Clint. She missed you"

Clint gets it. He’s missed her too, both of them. But it's not that easy. Never is.

"When do you leave for Stark?"

"Monday"

2 days. That's all they had. The Stark mission was bound to be long. Shield were suggesting 3 months. 3 months no contact.

7 months. 2 days together.

Clint sighs offering his arms out for her. She perches on his lap running her fingers down his back.

"I missed you" he whispers as she leans against him, "After Stark, we'll go, take some time to ourselves. A few weeks - there's a safehouse in the Welsh valleys Stockfords been raving about. Just you, me, Liho, and Sheep for miles."

Natasha sighs taking him in for a second, the weight of the world on her archers soldiers. They are mortals, weapons, they weren't meant to be Atlas holding the world up.

"Don't make promises you can't keep" she whispers pressing a kiss to his lips letting herself linger. Its not enough, Clint sighs shrinking down to rest his head against her neck.

They're still for a minute. Before the coffee pot stops and Natasha fetches a cup. Black, lots of sugar. He needs it. Scooping Liho up into her arms as she jumps onto the table.

"3 hours. 3 hours then I'll get started on my own"

"Like you don't do that everytime"

Natasha shrugs turning sharply towards the bedroom with a wicked grin "That isn't the insult you think it is. 3 hours, get to it Barton"

He smiles. The chemistries still there at least. He finds the template he needs. 5000 words to describe Rio. Just the key points, all the directors would want to know. He writes the date, checks the headings and sighs. Fuck it. Phil could wait another day.

you were so hot that when you asked if i was the blind date you were looking for, i lied and said yes, but before i can make a bigger mess, your actual date comes up and introduces themselves and i’m so embarrassed

Meeting for after-work drinks, Natasha greeted her friends, Maria and Melinda, and went to the bar to order the first round.

As she waited for the bartender someone called to her from behind.

“Excuse me.”

Natasha turned to the deep voice.

“Would you happen to be Mary Jane Watson? I'm Clint. Steve and Bucky said we were supposed to meet up tonight?”

It was on the tip of her tongue to be honest and tell him ‘no’, but his twinkling blue eyes made her stomach flutter. Nat quickly scanned the handsome newcomer with the chiseled arms in a tight gray shirt and completely lied.

“Yes, I'm Mary Jane...that’s me.”

She stuck out her hand and felt a small thrill run through her when he took it and squeezed it firmly, pulling her hand towards him.

“Oh good,” he smiled with relief, “I never do this but Steve and Bucky said they've known you for a long time.”

“Oh, I know,” Natasha played along, “me too.”

“I’m glad they said you'd be wearing purple. There was another redhead in a lilac dress but I kinda hoped it was you. Were Steve and Bucky big dorks and told you purple is my favorite color? Is that why you wore that?” He rambled, looking adorably embarrassed.

Natasha shook her head and stared at his mouth, not really listening because he had very nice lips. She silently thanked Melinda for making her change outfits tonight.

Whoever this Mary Jane girl was, it was her loss now. Not only was Clint tall and attractive, he smelled good, his voice was hypnotic and he was sort of funny.

Unfortunately for Natasha his real date spotted him.

“Clint! Clint Barton!?”

Clint and Natasha both turned to a tall, thin strawberry blonde woman in a purple dress waving to him.

“Hi, I’m Mary Jane! I was at the back of the bar, sorry I didn't see you.” She bounced over, her long hair flowing behind her, obviously a model.

Natasha grimaced and started to back away feeling incredibly stupid.

“Hey…” Clint said slowly, obviously confused.

Mary Jane didn't pay attention to Natasha, she only had eyes for Clint. She started going on about Steve and Bucky and how much they told her about him.

Clint nodded politely but turned to Natasha with a questioning look on his face.

Natasha grinned sheepishly and shrugged her shoulders. But before she turned away, she did something out of character and gave him a sly wink, then flagged down the bartender.

“Um..who was that?” Maria asked, looking Clint up and down as Natasha sat with their drinks.

“His name's Clint.” She said offhandedly. “He likes purple and red heads.”

“Well maybe just one redhead cuz he keeps looking over here at you.”

Natasha smiled behind her glass as she took a sip and resisted the urge to look over at Clint and his date.

Maria, Melinda and Natasha ordered another round before Nat got the nerve to glance over, wondering if Clint was having fun with the gorgeous amazon from Wonder Woman.

They were gone. She tried not to let it sour her mood.

“Should’ve gave him your number…” Melinda sang.

“In front of his date? That would have been rude.” Nat smirked at the thought.

The girls said goodbye outside, Melinda and Maria heading left and Natasha going right.

As she approached the corner a familiar voice called out to her.

“So what is your real name?”

No way. Her heart thumped as she waited for Clint to catch up before she turned, not wanting him to see how excited she was that he came back.

“You know it's not fair? You know my name, you know some of my friends' names. You even know my favorite color, but I don't know anything about you.”

There was that smile. How did Mary Jane what’s-her-name let that go?

“What if I don't have a favorite color?” She teased.

His eyes scanned over her more clinically than creepy.

“Probably not an issue, you would look good in anything.”

Wow, charming too.

“Do you flatter all the girls like that?”

“No." He said simply but seriously. “If I did I would still be with my pretty but boring date.”

She took a deep breath hoping to sound casual.

“You didn't have a good time?”

“No,” he stepped closer, “but it wasn't her fault. She wasn't the one I wanted to get to know tonight.”

Nat swallowed hard, not sure what to say. Clint cleared his throat.

“Would you like to meet here tomorrow and tell me about yourself maybe?”

His voice went up a little bit at the end. The confidence slip made him that much more endearing.

She smiled and nodded.

He grinned but then frowned a little.

“Are you going to make me wait until tomorrow to tell me your name?”

Toying with the idea for a split second, she laughed and told him.

“Natasha. Natasha Romanov.”

“Natasha.” He repeated.

Her name never sounded so attractive before. She got goosebumps thinking about how it would sound if he whispered it in her ear.

“See you tomorrow, Clint Barton.”

She started walking home when he hollered.

“Hey Nat?”

Intrigued, she turned back. No one had ever called her that before and now here was this stranger, albeit a very attractive one, giving her a nickname on the first night they met.

Clint shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans. If he didn't stop looking so goddamn cute Natasha was going to kiss him right here outside of the bar.

“I know I just asked you out for tomorrow night but I wouldn't be a gentleman if I didn't offer to walk you home safely. And I mean only walk you home, nothing else.” He added quickly.

Natasha smiled and laced her arm through his.

“I'd like that.”

AN: This is my very first contribution to the promptathon. thank you KMC for the prompt idea!!

you kiss me goodbye before leaving for work in the morning as if we do it every day and that wasn’t our first (non mission related) kiss ever

alwjrawkje;a omg yes 😂🤣

we make eye contact before trying to steal the last seat on the subway/bus/train and I end up in your lap and fuck you, I’m going to stay here because I’ve had a really long day and this seat was mine

Natasha is mildly surprised to see Clint dash into the same subway car as her. Last she'd seen of him, he'd been saddled with extra paperwork after being a wise ass to Coulson again.

But Clint hasn't clocked her at all. His focus is on the one open seat. Natasha does a quick calculation. The seat is slightly closer to him, but his lack of situational awareness means he doesn't realize he has competition. And she lost a bet to Bobbi and had to teach beginner hand-to-hand course today so there's no way in hell she's standing on her way home.

She darts forward. She can tell the exact moment Clint realizes his mistake. Except instead of stopping like she'd expected him to, he acts as if nothing has changed.

Clint lands in her lap a second after she claims the seat.

"I'm not giving up this seat, Barton." she growls under her breath.

"Who's giving anything up?" Clint answers airily, "We're partners. Surely we can share."

Natasha rolls her eyes, but ultimately decides it would be unconscionable to dump someone face-first onto the floor of a New York City subway. Plus SHIELD would probably take any cost for medical treatment out of her pay.

And if she loops her arm around Clint's waist to keep him from falling as the train takes a particularly sharp turn, neither of them mention it.

We slept in the same bed but now we’re just waking up and there’s something about your bleary eyes and mussed hair

This one sounds familiar, tee hee...

Clint watches a documentary about the GRC resettlement camps. He is not impressed, to say the least. But then the camera pans across an aid worker handing out meals, and dammit, if she doesn't look like Natasha...

Ok. Ok. Ok. I love this idea, but i dont know if i'd do it justice at all.. but imagine, she's there but has no memory of anything? and clint is like, oh no - the last time i saw you...

Loki 2.0 is back, with a ledger to clean. He hands Clint a TemPad and says, "Let's call it even, and have fun!"

Edited 2021-07-31 06:53 pm (UTC)

:o

Kate and Yelena compare notes.

It's Clint's first weekend with the kids after the divorce. Not the best of times to find out that Natasha has a sister.

Person A learning a obvious fact from Person B about their special skill. Like Clint learning about archery from Natasha.

Some post-Avengers 2012, everyone-lives-in-the-tower shenanigans

Respect the classics, man! <3

Natasha goes undercover with the Tracksuit Mafia and ends up reluctantly impressed by the Rando with the Bow who refuses to kowtow to their bullshit demands.

Okay, that's inspired, I love it

Clint and Barney and Natasha and Yelena all meet. Yelena and Barney are NOT impressed that Clint and Natasha are apparently Having Feelings.

You are ON A ROLL, girl!!!

"Please don't say you love me, 'cause I might not say it back" - Gabrielle Aplin, Please Don't Say You Love Me

you post this over every time and ONE DAY I'll write it!!!!

Natasha was looking forward to a nice, quiet night in - but then this had to go and happen.

Clint, Nat and the story behind those modeling photos in Iron Man 2.

from merelypassingtime on tumblr:
Clint has a trampstamp of a beautiful recurved bow with three arrows on the string.

Pointing... towards... his butt???

Everyone lives, nobody dies, and Steve doesn't do *that not very him thing* and how everyone's doing post reverse-snap.

“I have a hole…in my side.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“I was shot.”

Alexei walks in on Nat and Clint sharing a bed cause "nightmares". Chaos ensures.

Edited 2021-07-31 09:39 pm (UTC)

Oh, good lord. I was looking for inspiration. Words are forming in my mind already... \0/

This is frigging INSPIRED.

“I’m not sure how many coffees it takes to be happy, but so far, it’s not twelve.”

*snorts*

you’re not the first stubborn, angry, rude physical therapy patient I’ve worked with and you won’t be the last, but you might be the first to get under my skin