Kiss of true love
Of course he is hit by a witch's curse. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if he had turned into some kind of animal, but instead he feels cold and - in a strange way he can't describe better - abandoned. The feeling of cold has settled in his chest area, which isn't even dispelled by the coffee.
And if the coffee doesn't make it better, what does that mean?
“It’s your soul,” Wanda says, the red magic slowly dissipating around his chest. It warms him a little, gives him a little comfort and he is grateful to her for it. “Part of it is…locked up.” “Oh,” Clint says, rubbing the spot as if it would make something better. "But you know how to...free my soul again, right?" he asks, his initial confidence fading when he notices Wanda's hesitation.
Wanda reaches for his hand and gives a comforting squeeze. To make it easier for him or for herself, he doesn't know. "Soul magic is very tricky. One wrong move and puff gone. But don't worry-" Wanda says confidently. "I'll find the witch and make sure she undoes it." She gives him a smile, which Clint replied as best he could. Nobody likes to hear that their soul is locked up.
But he trusts Wanda and so he watches her resolutely leave the room.
He stays alone in the room for a while and tries to distract himself with the latest episode of The Bachelor while he drinks one cup of coffee after the next in the naive hope that it will do something against the cold. The episode is almost over when the apartment door opens and Lucky barks happily. The dog races towards Clint and throws itself on him like they haven't seen each other in a year.
“Hey buddy,” Clint says happily as he tries to keep Lucky out of his face. “Bucky will be disappointed that you’re watching The Bachelor without him,” Nat says, handing him a cloth bag and sitting down on the couch. Clint immediately turns his attention to Nat. “Have you reached him? Is he coming?” he asks excitedly, but Nat shakes her head. “The Russian Wasteland isn’t exactly known for its good cell phone reception,” she explains, and Clint lets out a frustrated sigh.
“What do you need?” Nat asks gently, with an underlying concern. “A hug would be nice,” Clint replies and without saying a word, she wraps her arms around Clint.
A few days go by without any news. Neither from Wanda nor from Bucky. While the cold is constant and does not leave their new home, the feeling of loneliness is different. It's growing. Slow. But it grows and even though Lucky is constantly at his side and there is a well-developed cuddling plan. It doesn't disappear. It also makes him grumpier, even if he wouldn't admit it.
“You smell,” Clint grumbles as Tony leans against his side. “I camethe workshop,” Tony explains with a shrug and Clint wrinkles his nose. The acrid smell of oil and metal swirls around them. “You could have showered before you came here”. “Why so grumpy?” Tony asks, far too amused, tapping his phone. "Maybe I don't like my couch getting dirty," Clint snaps and Tony just raises his eyebrow. “We had to burn your last couch because you and the dog agreed to sleep on it despite the alien goo.” “Leave Lucky out of it. He didn’t do anything wrong” “I’m just saying that-”
“I’ll be gone for two weeks and you’ll be cuddling other people,” Bucky interrupts the banter. “And we’re also have cuddle fights,” Tony adds, but doesn’t make any move to get up. Clint tries to peel himself out of the blanket. However, Bucky is faster and hugs Clint. “A witch, really?” Bucky asks, mumbling into Clint’s hair as he hugs him awkwardly.
“I’m sorry,” Clint murmurs. Bucky breaks the hug. “It's not your fault. You weren’t standing on the street with a sign saying-” Bucky stops himself and something dubious flickers in his eyes. “You weren’t standing on the street with a sign saying-” “No,” Clint says indignantly, and if his hands weren’t buried under the blanket, he would give Bucky a little punch.
Bucky looks relieved and gently strokes Clint's cheek. The touch gives a little warmth. “Has Wanda contacted you yet?” Bucky asks as Clint leans into the touch and shakes his head. “Okay,” Bucky murmurs, leaning in for a kiss. It's light and sweet. Just a hint and yet Clint feels the warmth slide through his body and there's a break in the cold. But when Bucky pulls away, it's back. Clint immediately misses the feeling.
“Is there anything that helps?” Bucky asks. “Cuddling,” Clint says with a slight grin. “What kind of witch was that again?” Bucky asks and takes a seat next to Clint, who immediately leans against him. “Hey,” Tony says indignantly and has to slide over to be with Clint again. “Tony, I think you can go,” Clint says, but Tony just snorts scandalized. “For the next two hours and forty minutes, I'm still an official cuddle partner. Barnes can't just barge in here and steal my job. He has to write himself into the plan just like everyone else.”
“I'm going to kiss Clint right now-" Bucky starts with a serious look on his face. "and maybe it won't be G-rated. So-." Bucky points to the door, but Tony just seems to be assessing his options. "I have too say I'm pretty flexible and-" "Out," Bucky says emphatically, hitting Tony with a pillow. "Okay. Fine. Note accepted-" Tony begins to babble as he leaves the couch.
"Jarvis will send you the cuddling plan and then-" A pillow hits Tony's head and grumbling, he leaves the apartment. “So-” Clint says with a wide grin and turns to Bucky. “This is not G-rated part, let’s do it now or…”. Bucky puts an arm around Clint and pulls him closer. "You've been cursed by a witch and-" "Pfft," Clint interrupts. “My soul is locked away. The rest works. “
Bucky rolls his eyes but plants another light kiss. He feels the warmth again. It feels nice. But when Bucky pulls away again, the cold creeps back. Not as fast and strong as before, but it's coming. Confused by the feeling in his chest, he rubs the spot.
“Are you okay?” Bucky asks with a worried look on his face.
“Kiss me again,” Clint says, leaning forward. Bucky follows the demand without saying another word. The warmth closes in around the cold. It feels like the first warm rays of sunshine after a long and cold winter.
“It’s slowly going away,” Clint whispers against Bucky’s lips. “Really?” Bucky asks surprised and Clint nods. “Okay, then let’s solve a witch’s curse,” Bucky grins, letting renewed warmth flow through Clint.
Post Credit 🙂
Wanda knocks on the door and that's the best manners she can show. The last few days have shown her how grateful she can be for her lifestyle. She has a nice little house in Lotkill and also a cozy apartment in the Avengers Tower. It's comfortable and pretty and not in the middle of the Amazon.
There are various runes around the little house where Polly lives to keep out unwanted people, which is why Wanda hasn't been able to use magic for four days. Not only has she been attacked by an enchanted anaconda, but she's also been chased by a crocodile and a capybara, the latter of which she's not even sure if it was enchanted. She spent a whole day stuck in a sticky spider web and fell victim to countless mosquitoes. Her skin itches and it takes a lot of willpower not to give in to the feeling.
And if all these things weren't bad enough, the last swamp section was a pitfall. There is not a clean section of her that is not covered in swamp mud. Knocking nicely is the last nice thing she has in her body.
The door swings open before she can start knocking again. “Oh uhm…Hi Wanda,” Polly says uncomfortably. “Hi,” Wanda replies, reaching for Polly’s shirt collar. She knows it doesn't makes sense to attack a witch in her own home, but she has left logic and reason in the spider's web. “Would you like a cup of tea?” Polly asks with a slightly nervous expression. “That’s not what I’m here for,” Wanda grumbles.
“Okay, but could we sort this out somewhere else, you’re getting my carpet all dirty.” Wanda looks down and a small green-brown puddle has actually formed around her. Good thing, she thinks, and it gives her a satisfying feeling. However, she frowns when a mouse sits on her shoe and begins to clean it with a small rag. She watches the mouse for a moment before remembering why she's there and turns her attention back to Polly.
“You stop the spell now or-”
“What spell?”
“The Soul spell on my friend”
“Oh the cute blonde one, with a touch too much purple?”
“Exactly”
“Unfortunately I can't-”
“Those are not the words I want to hear”
"No. Wait. What I mean by that is there is nothing left that I can resolve.”
Wanda pauses for a moment. Anger builds within her.
“If he is dead, not even the capybara will be able to help you”
“Wait. What? Dead? Nobody is dead. The spell doesn't kill unless, well, you kill-"
“Polly!”
“He broke the spell by himself”
"What?" How?"
“It's a stupid simple Disney Princess spell. True love and stuff”
"When?"
“Uhhh when? Good question?"
The mouse on her shoe makes a noise.
“Pablo says it was two days ago”
Wanda lets go of the shirt. “Two days ago,” she murmurs. Two days ago she was hanging in the spider web. She still has sticky threads in her hair. The spell has been broken for two days and no one has called her. She closes her eyes, takes a quick deep breath and lets it go make their frustration disappear for a short time.
“I’m sorry for bothering you,” she says through gritted teeth and turns to leave. “If you need to release frustration-” Polly calls after her, pointing in the opposite direction. “There are dead trees there blocking the way,” “Thanks,” Wanda grumbles and follows the instructions.
Two days.
And CLint didn't called.
If his coffee is nothing more than water for the next few days, he deserves it. Let him try to break this spell.