Burning
Standing under the fluorescent lights, y/n skin heated staring into the stark blue eyes of the man she once called her own. He was still as handsome as he had been the day she left.
“Please come home baby.” he drawled, not breaking her stare. Her heart almost stopped. The ache had just gone away but the need to be in his arms returned with such ferocity she thought she might collapse on the floor right there.
The moment he walked she began second guessing her promise to her sister to get out of this life. Clint always had this power over her. The need to be next to him, to protect him, to have him protect her. They knew their relationship was a disaster but she couldn’t help herself. The pull he had over made her want to burn the world to be near him. The hardest thing she’d ever done was walk away without him.
With a sigh she turns to Tony, “My shift is over in an hour. Wait for me. Outside.” They walked out without another word.
The next hour passed slowly, even with the last rush of customers including some of her favorites. One of which was a man she had told she’d go on a date with this weekend. He gave her a beautiful smile and told her how beautiful she looked but all she could think about was the man in the SUV out front waiting for her to clock out. Kenzin walked out with a wink that made her almost tell Tony and Clint to go home and leave her alone. In fact that was her plan. She promised Nat she’d have a normal life now. Nothing was going to stop her from having that. Definitely not a cowboy with a bow and arrow. Not when she could have someone as sweet and caring as Kenzie Wright.
The moment the front door was locked, Y/n felt hands on her waist spinning her into a bone crushing hug. The smell of sandalwood and sun bleached leather filled her nose. A scent she still dreamed about. Clint shook as he twisted a hand into her hair. The world stopped as he held her. “Please Y/n, I will do anything to have you back with me. Even if you don’t help us. Just come home. I need you more than you can ever know.”
Y/n became numb from the overpowering need she felt. She had just gotten settled in her new house. Alone for the first time in years. “Not here Clint. Please, not here. Follow me.”
With that she climbed in her car and drove towards her house. The streetlights kept her grounded as the tears filled her eyes on the drive. She can't do this. Not again.
Their drive was over too soon. She pulled into her short drive, leaving just enough room for them to park behind her. Taking a couple deep breaths Y/n stepped out of her car and quietly walked to the door. She could feel the two men keeping a respectable distance as she unlocked the door.
Light filled the small front room. Calmly she set down her bag on the coffee table on her way to the kitchen. A cup of coffee was going to be needed if she was about to talk to them about whatever was going on that brought them here.
Once she had the pot and three mugs in hand, she headed back to the living room where they stood by the door.
“Alright. Out with it” she said as she handed them the now full mugs of coffee.
The men exchanged looks, deciding who should start the conversation. Tony decided he should be the one to talk.
“It’s Zemo. Bucky helped him break out to help with a mission, and he escaped before they could take him back. He’s teamed up with someone they call The Power Broker. From what we’ve gathered from certain channels only one of us,” he pointedly looked at Clint, “can reach, we know The Power Broker is not someone to mess with. They run a whole underground cell dealing in stolen art and weapons. But not just any weapons. These are made of vibranium. We need someone who isn’t on the rooster to go in and take them down. Naturally Nat was the one we would’ve gotten to go in for us but well…” Tony stopped even he couldn’t say she was gone.
“So let me get this straight. You want me to come back to go undercover to find this Power Broker and take them down from the inside? And I’m the one because my sister is dead and everyone knows that I left.”
Clint crossed the room, placing his mug on the table beside Y/n. “Darlin’ you are the best choice for this mission. We all know it. Bucky messed up and we need you to clean it up. You can even yell at him if you want.” he added the last part with a smile knowing that one of her favorite things to do was yell at Barnes over anything minor inconvenience.
“Tony get out.” she stated cooly not taking her eyes off of Clint.
Without so much as a goodbye he walked out of the front door. When she heard the car door close she took a deep breath. “Clint, I swore to Nat that I would give up the avenging and live a normal life. I asked you to come with me. You said no. Someone who constantly talked about hanging the hat up had a chance to walk away with the woman you swore you loved and you said no.”
“I made a mistake, Y/n. Ok? I knew the second you pulled away that I should’ve come with you. But Tony needed help. The Avengers were in a free fall. Hell Sam just took the Shield full time. Bucky is still screaming in his sleep. Peter lost May. We’ve lost so much and I can't bear another minute without you. I couldn’t care less if you help us with this Power Broker person. All I need is for you to come home to me.” His eyes shone with unshed tears. Clints hands rubbed a path up and down her arms as he talked.
Y/n felt her resolve failing her. All she had wanted this past year was for him to show up on her doorstep and tell her he wanted to be with her. Now he was here begging her to come back. Maybe she could have a normal life with him. Maybe she could go back and not do the mission but instead just be witht he man she loved.
“I need to think.”
“So think.” he closed the remaining distance between them. His breath warm on her lips, Clint whispered, “let me stay with you for tonight. I’ll send Tony back alone. Even if you say no, which if you do I will respect, we can have one last night together. Darlin’ let me hold you tonight.” His lips met her with a softness that melted her into him.
When the kiss broke, Clint walked to the car to tell Tony to leave him there.