A Gift From: mintedjulep
Title: Something fine and rare
A Gift For: gsparkle
Rating: T (for mild cursing)
Warnings/Choose Not To Warn: No warnings
Summary/Prompt Used: Secret Santa - just what the hell is one meant to buy a reformed Russian spy and/or an archer assassin?
Author's Note: This is easily one of the (if not most) cheesiest things I have ever written in my entire life and I am not sorry about it. I recently visited New York and went to the Met so this was heavily influenced by this trip. I know my giftee has also once written about this exhibit previously so I thought it was only fair to drop it back in.


Something fine and rare

“Don’t you have some sort of technology to do this?” Steve asks aloud. Tony drops the last folded piece of paper into his empty helmet.

“Alright, basic rules,” Tony says, clearly ignoring Steve’s question. “If you pull your own name, just put it back and take another.”

He jiggles his helmet around, the six folded post-it notes jumping around like popcorn.

“You first, Captain.”

Steve grabs the first piece of paper and gently unfolds it and smiles. He tucks it carefully into the front pocket of his khakis.

Thor goes next, fumbles a bit with the papers and mutters, “Well that’s not correct.” He re-folds the paper and puts it back and tries one more time. “This one is satisfactory.”

Bruce grabs one and takes a quick peek and immediately tucks the neatly folded piece into his front shirt pocket.

Clint goes next, smiles at his result and crumples the paper in his fist.

Tony wanders over to Natasha last, and shakes the helmet at her. “Alright Red, this one’s all you.”

Natasha grabs the last small piece of paper sitting in the helmet. As Tony walks away, she unfolds the small scrap of paper to reveal Clint’s name in scrawled purple highlighter.

—

Natasha paces back and forth in front of her plush couch, Liho’s eyes following her as she circles around, biting her nails deep in thought.

“What do I do, Liho? What do I get Clint for Christmas?” The black cat mews, and begins bumping her head against Natasha’s leg for attention. Natasha flops down onto the couch next to Liho and drags her laptop onto her knees. She opens up a window and begins searching -

What to buy for the man you’re sleeping wi- Ugh, no. Too vague.

Gift guides for archers who you lo- Okay, seriously? Do you think someone’s going to have this very specific guide, Natasha?

What to get the man you eventually want to spend the rest of your li- Natasha deletes the query and immediately shakes her head, as if the motion would shake the thoughts clean. You’re being ridiculous, Romanoff. Get it together.

She sighs and snaps her laptop shut in defeat. Liho jumps off the couch, her tail swishing around like a snake. “You’re no help, Liho.” Liho begins to bat at a small purple fletching on the floor and mewls back up at her. Natasha watches as the cat skitters across the floor, bumping right into the couch, knocking a lavender coffee cup over.

“Ugh Lilo, you’re going to break Kate’s mug.” Natasha cleans up the spill and then looks over at the cat who is now on her back, kicking the fletching with her back feet. “Maybe you’re right, Liho. I’ll try calling Kate.”

Natasha heads into the kitchen, scrolling through her contacts to get to Kate’s number. Her finger hesitates over the call button. Ugh, come ON Romanoff. You’ve murdered people in cold blood - asking for help is NOT that hard.

Natasha tilts her head back and groans in frustration at herself before hitting the call button. She buries her head in her arms on the kitchen counter as the dial tone rings once, twice, before Kate’s voice echoes through the phone.

“Natasha?” Kate’s voice comes through Natasha’s phone, her name drenched with concern. “Is everything alright?”

“Heeeyyyyy, Kate,” Natasha draws out, in an attempt to be casual. “Everything’s fine I was just wondering if maybe…you want to….grab some coffee? Or something?” Natasha scrunches her face up in embarrassment. Natasha’s met with some silence for a moment before Kate responds.

“Uh…sure…? I mean I guess.” There’s another beat before she continues. “Are you sure everything’s okay, Natasha?”

“Yeah, everything’s fine I just…I could use your help with something.” She hears Kate cough slightly.

“You need MY help with something?” Kate asks, voice cracking slightly.

“Yes. Meet me at The Grind at 2:30?”

“Okay. You’re buying though. I’m broke as hell.”

—

Kate taps her fingertips on her ceramic mug as Natasha takes a sip of her steaming tea in front of her. Kate watches as Natasha fiddles with the tea bag, adds honey to her tea, flattens her napkin, rearranges some sugar packets, and adjusts her chair uncomfortably.

Kate narrows her eyes and starts, “So…”

“This shop is really cute, don’t you think?” Natasha responds, a little too quickly to be considered casual.

“Aren’t you like a super spy or something? What is up with you today?” Kate says bluntly after taking a gulp of her oat milk latte.

Natasha sighs. “Listen. I got Clint in the Avengers secret santa and I need to get him a gift.” Kate raises one eyebrow at her. “But I can’t get him just any gift. You have to help me.”

“Aren’t you two like…straight up fucking?” An older woman a few tables away starts coughing. Natasha rubs her brow in embarrassment.

“Ok yes - we’re sleeping together,” Kate mutters a quiet I knew it under her breath, which Natasha fully ignores before finishing. “I mean…I guess it’s more serious than that.”

“You’re not sure if it’s serious?”

“No, I do know that it’s serious. I’m just,” Natasha blows a strand of hair out of her face in frustration. “I thought that maybe you could help me…figure out how to explain what I want to say.”

Both of Kate’s eyebrows raise at that. “And you thought I could help you with this endeavor?”

“Well…yeah. Besides me, he spends the most time with you.”

“Okay yeah, but when we do hang out we do stupid stuff like watch Dog Cops or build trick arrows or find whatever stupid coffee blend he wants to try next not like, uh…” she gestures her hands wildly between her and Natasha. Kate sighs and stops her train of thought. “Okay listen, here are the things I know about Clint Barton. He’s a simple man and only loves four things. Archery. His dog. Coffee. And you.” Kate takes another sip of her coffee as Natasha furrows her brow. “Definitely not in that order though.” Natasha sits in silence as she ponders Kate’s statement.

“Do you really think he loves me?” Natasha asks quietly. Kate groans and stands up from her chair, wrapping her purple scarf around her neck.

“Listen, I really don’t think you need my help with this. I appreciate the coffee, Natasha. Let me know how the secret santa goes.” The bell tinkles as Kate exits the shop and hails a cab, leaving Natasha sitting at the cafe alone. She sighs, and leaves her empty cup on the table and a tip for the waiter. She follows Kate’s trail and exits the cafe onto 5th avenue.

Not quite feeling ready to head back to the tower and unsatisfied with her lack of ideas, she heads towards Central Park. Her boots crunch in the snow and she walks past tourists, families, and couples. She glances at some of the couples enviously as they walk hand in gloved hand together in the park, noses red from the cold and cheeks rosy with love, or chapped wind. She huffs, and continues on until she stands at the bottom of the steps at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

“Natasha?” She whips around, slightly startled by the unexpected voice. She sees Steve standing there, scarf wrapped tightly around his neck. “What are you doing here?”

She shrugs in response and sighs. “Clearing my head, I guess.”

“Would you like to join me? I wanted to spend some time in the Arms and Armor display today.” He offers his right arm out to her and she takes it, grateful to spend some time with a friend after being stuck inside her head.

The two wander into the museum, a quiet buzz in the air from the shuffle of visitors and hushed voices. Steve steers her towards the Arms and Armor exhibit before asking quietly, “Penny for your thoughts?” He asks, patting her arm with his left hand.

Natasha, quiet for a moment, glances down at Steve’s silver ring on his left hand. “How did you know you were ready to commit your life to someone?” Steve lets out a full-bellied laugh out of shock in response. Natasha sends a death stare in his direction.

“I’m sorry. I just,” Steve clears his throat. “I was fully not expecting that from you.”

“I understand,” Natasha responds quietly. “I know I’m not exactly known for wearing my heart on my sleeve.”

Steve pats her on the shoulder gently as they wander down the exhibit. “I don’t know if the answer I have to your question is going to satisfy you.”

Natasha sighs and rubs her face out of frustration. “I would rather hear what you have to say than nothing at all,” she mumbles through slotted fingers. Steve guides her away as she moves her away from the exhibit they were looking at. Natasha frustratedly groans, head tilted back, eyes closed.

“Some of the most important decisions in my life were a gut reaction,” he says to her. “Including the one you asked about.” Steve gently grabs her shoulders and faces her towards one of the displays.

“You’re right,” Natasha whines. “That did not satisfy me.”

“I know, but sometimes you just have to go with your gut.” Steve pats her on her shoulder. “Have a good day, Natasha. And good luck.”

Natasha opens her eyes and stares at the exhibit in front of her. Steve waves at her through the reflection of the glass, as Natasha loses herself at the small artifacts on display in front of her.

—

Natasha finds herself in the viewing area of Tony’s lab, watching as he pours what looks like molten something or other into a mold. After she watches him carefully put down his equipment she knocks on the window.

Tony looks up, his welding mask obscuring his face. He waves back and motions for her to come into his workshop. Natasha opens the door to the steaming work room, the heat emanating for whatever project Tony is currently working on. Tony walks over to her and removes his welding mask.

“What can I do for you today, Romanoff?” Tony wipes the sweat off his brow with his arm, and leans against the wall to look at her.

“I need your help making a Christmas present.” Natasha says flatly.

“Only if you ask nicely,” Tony retorts back. “What is it exactly that you need?”

Natasha reaches into her back pocket to pull out a folded piece of paper. She hands it to Tony. Tony opens the paper and raises his eyebrows, glances back at her, and quickly back at the project he was working on before redirecting his attention back at Natasha.

“Can you do it?” She asks nervously, biting her lip.

“Sure can,” Tony folds the piece of paper back up and tucks it into his pocket. Tony goes to put his welding mask on before he stops Natasha just before she exits his workstation. “Hey, if you’re nervous, don’t be.”

Natasha smiles and looks at Tony inquisitively as he ignores her stares. Tony smirks back at her, then flops his mask down and gets back to his work.

—

Clint gleefully grabs the lavender box with the silver bow from under the tree. He rips open the packaging with the zealousness of a child on Christmas day. As he cheers triumphantly while pulling the last bit of wrapping off the box, Natasha can feel the knot of nervousness in her stomach tightening.

“WOAH!” Clint shouts as he holds the box out in front of him. “An espresso maker! Awesome! I won’t have to go to the fancy coffee shop with the mean barista anymore.” Clint pries open the box with fervor, but notices a small, red envelope taped to the top of his espresso machine.

Natasha glances up from her new ornate throwing daggers that Steve gifted her to watch Clint as he opens his present. He gently pries the card away from the top of his new espresso machine. He glances at the neat cursive of his name and traces his fingers over the dried ink and glances up again at Natasha. He looks at her inquisitively and she smirks back, blood rushing to her face and her heart pounding in her ears. He slides his pointer finger under the envelope flap, breaking the seal. He quickly reads the handwritten note inside and smiles gently at Natasha.

“You gonna read that out loud, Robin Hood?” Tony jeers from the corner, already wearing his novelty T-shirt that reads, “No, I won’t fix your computer.” from Clint.

Clint glances up, deer in the headlights, clearly forgetting he was in the presence of friends. “Um, no,” he says, tucking the card gently into his jacket pocket. “No I won’t.” He glances up at Natasha one more time and gives a quick wink.

—

Clint,

I got you this espresso machine because I know you’ve been wanting to up your coffee game, and I thought this would be a good step towards becoming a professional artisanal coffee snob.

While I think you may really love this gift, I think the actual present that I got for you may leave a bigger impression. Meet me on my balcony at 9:00pm. Dress warm and cozy.

Thank you for being my best friend.

Merry Christmas.

All my love,

Natasha

—

The elevator dings and Clint steps onto Natasha’s floor, donned in sweatpants and lavender fuzzy slippers. He pulls his beanie tight around his head and crosses Natasha’s living room towards her balcony. He glances out the window and sees a small nest of blankets, pillows, Christmas lights, and Natasha, sitting out on the balcony. He knocks on the window.

She looks up at him and smiles brightly, the Christmas lights reflecting in her green eyes and Clint feels his heart swell three times and his cheeks tighten into a wide grin. She waves him out, and he opens the door to step out into the cold, crisp winter air. He lets out a light chuckle, his breath fogging in the cold Manhattan air.

“You know, I absolutely love the espresso machine but I can tell this gift is already far better than that,” he kneels down to get under the blanket that Natasha is currently bundled under. She looks up at him, the tip of her nose red from the cold and her cheeks pink from wind, but her smile is bright. He leans down to kiss her gently. “Hello there.”

She smiles at him, her face even more red now from the rush of emotion and Clint can’t help but feel a small swell of pride that he was responsible for her response. “I got you something else,” she says and nervously bites her lower lip.

Clint responds with a quiet, “Oh yeah?” as he rests his head on her shoulder.

“I’ve spent quite a bit of time thinking about this present,” Natasha says, fiddling with something underneath the blanket. “It’s been quite an emotional journey for me the past few days.”

Clint interlaces his fingers with hers in support as she continues.

“We’re not…we’re not traditional by any means,” Clint lets out a single chuckle as Natasha waves her hand between them. “You’ve given me an entire world that I never could have imagined, and somewhere along the way, I’ve realized I would do absolutely anything to continue living with you by my side.”

Clint lifts his head up to look at her, tears welling in his eyes and falling from her cheeks. She continues, “I never want to continue living my life without you. I don’t care if we never get married. I don’t care if we do. What I do care about,” she wipes a tear away and reveals a small ring box that she’s been hiding from under the blanket. “What I do care about is that you’re with me every step of the way. I wanted to get you something to let you know exactly how I feel about you.”

Clint wipes the tears in his eyes away, and he gently takes the ring box from Natasha. Nestled inside the royal purple velvet is a large, silver ring, curved slightly downwards. The top of the ring is shaped like the familiar Hawkeye chevron. Two triangular rubies lay inset of the chevron, resembling an hourglass.

Natasha shakily takes the ring out of the box, and Clint offers his left hand to her, and he places the ring around his left thumb. Clint laughs with happiness, and wipes Natasha’s tears away from her cheek with his left thumb, the cold metal of his ring leaving a tingling trail on her cheek .

“I will absolutely do anything in my power to continue spending the rest of my life with you, Natasha,” Clint whispers against her lips. Natasha kisses him back, satisfied that the agony she experienced for the last few weeks was worth her while.

Clint chuckles a bit as they nestle back into the comfort of each other's arms.

“What’s so funny?” She asks.

“I can’t believe you got me an archer ring,” he says. He pauses a moment, contemplating “Where the hell did you find somebody to make you a custom archer ring?”

“I asked Tony to make it for you.” Clint stares back at her with a blank expression. “What?” Clint nervously begins scratching the back of his neck and then starts laughing. Natasha frowns incredulously. “Did I do something wrong?”

Clint is holding his side, aching from laughter when he chokes out, “Nothing it’s just,” he lets out a final chuckle. “I asked Tony to make you a ring too.” Clint pulls out a small black box out of his pocket, and reveals a twisted silver band with rubies on one of the strands.

Natasha stares at him, surprised, and just blinks. He stares back at her for a second, before she reaches for his face and devours him in a loving kiss. He smiles, and places his left hand on her waist. The new metal of his ring sends a shiver up her spine and she contentedly revels in the new sensation. They laugh as he places the ring on her left ring finger, and she caresses his face, reveling in the moment.

“Merry Christmas, Nat,” he whispers against her cheek.

“Merry Christmas, Barton.”