Double-Blind
Author: Daniela
Fandom: The Avengers
Pairings: Clintasha/Stony
Rating: PG13
Category: Angst, Romance, Humor
Series/Sequel: No
Summary: They are made for each other.
Warning: Adult Fanfiction, Spoiler for the movies
Disclaimer: I own nothing. I'm writing for free.
Feedback: Bull's Eye!
Email: daniforblue@yahoo.de
Word Count: 1577
Released: February 2022
Beta: None
If anyone of the Avengers had spotted the bite-mark on Clint Barton's arm, he or she didn't dare to talk about it. The hawk was already in a dangerous mood, even though his more serious injuries were not visible, even though the possession by Loki, Phil Coulson's death, and the life and death fight with his partner must have left a distinctive mark on the best marksman in the world.
"So, how is he?" Tony asked Natasha bumping into her one evening at the Stark tower.
"He's fine."
"Seriously?"
"That's what I know."
"Come on. If he talks to anyone it's you."
"He didn't." She grimaced. Why did everyone think they'd know about Clint and her? Sure, Clint was the one man who made her feel better about herself, he was the home she never had; without him she was reminded constantly how much red she had in her ledger. Yet she knew nothing about his recent turmoil. So why should their comrades learn what's driving that man if she didn't know what the fuck was going on in his closed-off mind? Since Loki was beaten and they'd settled in at the Stark tower he hadn't spoken one word about his feelings or pains. Fuck it. She wouldn't start pestering him if he wasn't man enough to speak up. "Not that I care."
*****
Stalled in Stark's tower, confronted by the sarcastic billionaire, Clint was brooding more than usual, mostly about Natasha. Since the disaster with Loki she was acting different around him. His relationship with her had never been intimate but close, the closest he had ever managed to shape with anybody. For some reason that had changed. She kept her distance and went goofing off with Steve Rogers instead. He didn't even realize how much that bothered him until Stark made one of his annoying remarks.
"I never thought the dreaded Romanoff would fall for a guy like Captain America. What about you, Barton?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," he said, and then walked off, sulking in solitude. Nat and Rogers? No way! He had never been the jealous type, always sure of himself, and too busy to get involved with anyone romantically, least of all Natasha. She was his partner. His friend and confidant. No more or less. Yet he felt strangely abandoned and betrayed by her not sharing her time or any news about Rogers with him. Stark's teasing didn't make his mood any better, and he shot a hundred arrows on the target on the wall in his quarters. He didn't miss the center once.
The next day Stark slipped a disc on the table in the common room. "You should watch this."
"No, thanks," Clint scoffed.
"No, really, you should. I can't take any more of your miserable brooding. Nobody can. That's why you should watch this," Tony said, and strolled away.
Clint stared at the disc, indifferent. Fuck! Stark was such a jerk! He didn't know what to do. That was unlike him. He was a man of action, a man of quick decisions and thinking.
Just then Nat and Rogers were coming toward him, chatting loudly.
He snatched the disc and fled back to his quarters.
The content of the disc left him fired up with anger and sorrow. This is my fault. Fuck! He paced through the room like a maniac. He didn't know what to say to her. They always understood each other without making a lot of words. They had been in sync since the day he'd met her and decided not to kill her. They were brothers in arms, weren't they? So, why didn't she share the mess with Loki with him? Why was she shunning him?
*****
She went on a mission with Steve. She wore the necklace with the silvery arrow. A charm too small to be noticed by her friends or enemies. She kissed Steve but only to make the mission work. The kiss meant nothing. She was eager to go back home to Clint, though she couldn't reach him right now, and he and she were not close in any way. Right. At her return Clint said hi and nothing more.
That made her downright furious. She had to release some steam. So, she was sparring with Steve. Well. She felt comfortable around him. She could tease him without feeling guilty. He made her laugh. He taught her to have some fun. Steve Rogers was a guy every woman wanted to hang out with.
She heard a sound and turned around, catching Clint watching them. She froze in motion with her hands touching Steve's chest. What the fuck? How long had he been standing there?
Clint's jaw muscles clenched, his blue eyes were the color of an Arctic sky, and then he left in a hurry.
There you have it, she realized, stunned. He was jealous. Clint Barton. The guy who never crumbled, the unreadable lone hawk was jealous like any guy. That was something she could work with, though.
Natasha's hands fell off Steve's chest, dangling at her sides.
"What's up with Barton?" Steve asked, looking clueless.
"I can only guess," Natasha mumbled. "Sorry, we have to end our session. Something important came up I need to handle personally." She chased after Clint. She had enough. He and she weren't children. Time to take the bull by the horns. Unchanged she went straight into his quarters, sweaty and excited, not waiting for an invitation.
He jerked into a sitting position. "What the hell?"
She stopped in front of him. "We need to talk."
"Oh yeah? About what?"
"Why did you run away not saying a thing to either of us?"
"You were the one running going on that mission with Rogers."
"Fury wanted us to do that not me."
He sighed. "I saw you and Rogers."
"You saw wrong."
"I understand, okay?" He shrugged. "He's a likable guy."
"So? He's too good for me."
"Nobody is good enough for you, Nat."
"Everybody is too good for me. I got too much red in my ledger. I can never wipe it out."
"That's Loki talking."
She winced.
"Yeah. I know what he said to you. Stark showed me the recording."
"That meant nothing. I played Loki. It was a set-up," she scoffed, crossing her arms.
"Sure, but he still hurt you good."
"No." She tensed up. "You're wrong."
"I wouldn't have done it, you know. He couldn't have made me kill you."
"Don't lie, Clint. You were close to do just that." Fuck. Now she started crying. Since when was she the sentimental type?
"I'm sorry. I-"
"What for? Not talking to me. Not sharing. Not wanting to be with me." She wiped her face. "I thought you're different. I thought you get me." She turned to the door.
He went after her and grabbed her by the sleeve. "Tasha."
She squirmed in his grip. "Nobody calls me that but you."
He swallowed. "Don't you like it?"
"Holy shit! You are an idiot."
In a split second he found himself on the back with her on top of him. He snorted. "You wanna fight me? You would win, you know. You wanna take revenge? That's fine. I deserve it."
She rolled her eyes. "Clint... for a guy who is called Hawkeye you're utterly blind."
"Am I?" He tried to push her off but then he blinked, and his breathing hitched. "What's that?"
Ah. The necklace. The Hawk had finally made use of his skills. "An arrow."
"Tasha." He flushed. "Are you... Do you...?"
"How couldn't you know?" She leaned in and kissed him on the lips. "It was you right from the start. It was always you."
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her back. "I'm sorry, Tasha."
"For what?"
"Getting compromised."
"That wasn't a choice, Clint."
"I know. Still." He clung to her.
"We have all our demons," she whispered, then kissed him mute.
He gasped into her mouth and kissed her hard and long enough to make up for days of wasted opportunities.
"You know, I don't like to go on any mission without you," she groaned. "I would always choose you."
"Well, it's nice to be reminded of that every now and then." He caressed her breasts.
"Besides, I was never looking for someone cute."
"I'm not cute?" He raised both eyebrows. "What am I then, huh?"
"My equal."
"Tasha," he exhaled and flipped her on her back.
"That's right." She licked her lips. "Time to hit the mark, champion."
"Yes, ma'am."
*****
"I think they made up," Steve said in the training room, sparring with Tony.
"Yeah? About time," Tony snarled, hitting his face with a right blow.
"We haven't seen them for two days. They didn't even come out to eat."
"Jealous?" Tony smirked.
"Not in the least. I have different preferences." He made a sneaky move and took Tony in a headlock.
"Hey! That's not boxing."
"You think?"
*****
When Clint and Natasha came out of his quarters to get a bite, they found Steve and Tony having lunch making goggle-eyes at each other.
"Damn. What's happened? How long have we been in there?" Clint said, browsing the common room for magical gadgets.
"I don't know," Nat said, leaning into him. "Come on. Let's have some fun."
"Whatever your plan is, if Tony and Steve are the target, I'm in." Clint smirked.
"Well then! Let's hit the mark, sweetheart sniper man."
