Chapter 1
It is quiet right now or at least as quiet as it can get out on the sea. The moon is out and it and the stars give just enough light that Natasha can look out at the ocean. It is still one of her favorite sights, has been since she was young girl. There had been a sense of freedom looking at it, like if she could get out on it, cross it, she could make her own choices, be her own person instead of just a tool. It wasn’t quite that simple but the sea did help her claim a place for herself, has provided her with a sense of freedom that she did not have once. It has been her home for a long time now but she needs something more now, needs land again now that she feels steady. It is something she has been thinking about, has talked to Clint about it, and they have started making plans. She takes one more look at the ocean and makes her way down below to their chambers.
It had taken her a bit to get used to the swaying of the ship but is a comfort in a lot of ways, a comfort just like seeing the light of the lamp from the crack of the door. There was a time when the captain’s chamber was her alone but it hasn’t been that way for years now and she smiles as she opens the door, sees Clint at the small table looking over maps and some letters they have got. He is just in some pants right now, shoulders and chest bare and Natasha walks to him now, lets fingers trail over the exposed skin. He turns and looks at her, gives her a smile that is both warm and just a little teasing.
“Thought you were going to stare at the stars all night, leave me to my own devices.”
She smiles back at him as she sits down, takes one of the maps as well.
“I learned my lesson the last time I left you alone. I liked those sheets.”
“Hey, they were only a little burnt and these new ones are better anyway. “
He says this in defense of himself and Natasha just shakes her head and leans in for just a moment to brush a quick kiss against his lips. It is a tender gesture, a genuine gesture and it took her a long time to give these to him, to feel comfortable enough to let her guard down. Clint had stayed with her even before she could give him this, stayed and didn’t push more than he had to, and it is part of the reason she is able to be soft with him. She leans back again and glances down at the map, asks a question as she does.
“Did you see any weakness with this one, any reason that it wouldn’t be a good stronghold?”
She asks, trusts his eyes. He will need to see it up close but he will be able to see any major problems with can still see things on maps that others can’t. He shakes his head just a bit.
“No major weakness, would be a good stronghold but hard to take by force. I suppose you have other plans, especially now that Rogers is supposed to be leaving it soon?”
He asks and she gives a little nod. The Howling castle and land is in a good spot, has strong protections, and is close enough to the sea that she could still return to her ship when needed and it has caught her eye. Steve Rogers is the family heir to it but a marriage is supposed to be taking him away from it and he is leaving it to his second, to James Barnes and it provides an opening.
“Force isn’t the only way to take something and from what I have heard, Barnes is not spoken for, could be claimed. Will need to go there and see him first, see the castle first , to know just how to play it but seduction can be a useful tool.”
He looks at her, lips not quite in a frown but not in a smile either and then he speaks softly.
“Not sure if I want to watch you seduce someone , even if we both agree we want a permanent place. “
She brings a hand to the back of his head now, fingers tangling in his hair, a reassuring touch. He doesn’t let jealousy get to him often and she is not entirely sure that this is jealousy. It could be worry, fear that she is thinking of herself as a weapon again, falling back into red room habits. She isn’t, this is entirely her choice and she makes sure he is looking at her as she speaks.
“You have seen me seduce before, though those were mainly for fun.”
She gives a little smile now and he just shakes his head a bit but doesn’t deny what she is saying. They have had other bed partners though the years, some that they have shared and so she doesn’t think he is bothered by the thought of another touching her and the little shrug and the words he speaks confirms this for her.
“Just don’t want you thinking you have to do that if you don’t really want to. Besides, most of the fun ones I was there with you.”
“I know there are other ways but this may be the easiest. You’re right, though. You were there for most of the others, maybe you should be there for this one as well. Barnes is supposed to be handsome though possibly dangerous. Has a metal hand, sure you could have fun with that.”
She teases just a bit and he blushes now but there is a smile upon his face now.
“Alright, if the situation looks like it needs seduction, I’ll help you seduce, if we see him and don’t want to, we find another way, promise?”
He asks and they both know that promises can be broken even with intentions to keep them, they have been forced to break them before , but she still gives a nod, leans forward and speaks softly before placing a kiss against his lips.
“Promise.”
They stay at the table for a few minutes after that, go over the maps and just talk but then they head to the bed. They just lay together tonight, no touching that will lead to more but they do hold each other, find sleep after a while. There are no nightmares for either of them tonight and when the sun rises, Natasha is ready to start her plans, to find out what she can, and claim another home for her self.
^_^_^_^_^
It has been a while since they have stayed for a while on land and Clint is looking forward to it, even if it is mostly going to be scouting for information for a while. He had never really set out for a life on the sea, it just sort of happened like a lot of things in his life and he wouldn’t change it cause it brought him Natasha but he still misses the land sometimes, misses having something solid under his feet. If everything happens the way they are planning it to, they will have both, a home on land and a home on sea. For now, he gets ready to leave the ship as Natasha speaks to Maria for a bit. Maria is the only one Natasha will trust with the ship besides maybe him and their discussion is brief for the most part and soon enough they are leaving the ship, Natasha patting the railing of it as they leave.
“Maria will keep her in one piece.”
He says this as a reassurance and Natasha just gives a little nod, follows Clint onto the dock. They have a bit of traveling to do and it isn’t too difficult to get what they need and head out. It is a long day and they don’t get a chance to see too much of the area that they are hoping to claim yet but it is a start. They settle down for the night in a tavern a village over and have a room to themselves and they look over maps and notes for a while after dinner like they did the night before and then they find themselves getting ready for bed.
“You know, might be hard to fall asleep without the swaying underneath, been a while since we have been on solid ground. Might need to tire ourselves out a bit more.”
He says this to her as he settles down on the bed, as she does the same on the other side. She looks at him and gives that little half smile that he loves, the one that he never really sees her use with anyone else.
“I have some ideas.”
The half smile turns into a full smirk now and Clint loves that look as well, loves to kiss it so he does. They kiss for a while, touch and shed clothes and he loves when she is bare before him, loves running his mouth and fingers over her skin. She is so damn beautiful, even her scars are beautiful and he kisses the scar on her shoulder where an arrow head dug in so long ago with a gentleness that he always uses with that particular mark.
“You always kiss it like you’re apologizing, you know you don’t have to.”
She says this now and he just gives a little shrug, places a kiss against her throat instead. They don’t talk a whole lot after that, get caught up in the touching, in having each other and soon they are laying on the bed, a bit sore but satisfied and they settle together, her head on his chest. He brushes a kiss against her hair, whispers words against it.
“Love you.”
He says it cause he needs to , cause he means it and she just places a soft kiss against his chest, doesn’t need to say it to him, can’t say it like he does but he has no doubt of her care for him. They end up drifting asleep after a while.
He dreams of blue that night, of blood , of a cruel voice and harsh touch and he wakes shaking but not screaming . Clint shifts a little too much when he wakes, jostles Natasha just a bit and she sleepily grabs his arms, makes him settle back into the bedding and holds him tight.
“Not letting you go, you know that.”
She mutters it, voice not fully awake and he just gives a little nod even though she doesn’t see it, lets his own arms wrap around her and brushes another kiss against her hair. It takes him a little while to fall back asleep but he does and the blue doesn’t visit him again that night.
The next few days are spent gathering information, looking over the land near the castle though they haven’t been inside yet and finding out what they can about those in charge of it. Steve Rogers owns it but he is getting married soon and will be leaving it to James Barnes, his second. Barnes is a childhood friend, fought with Rogers and then went missing for years, recently came back from some darkness and Clint can admit to being a little intrigued by what he has heard though they have yet to actually see the man or meet him. He should stand out, with apparently having a metal arm and all but there has been sight of him yet. Hopefully, they will see him soon, get a feel of him but right now, they are going to split for a bit.
“I shouldn’t be gone for more than a week, probably less, just need to see what Sharon can tell me. She is part of the family Rogers is marrying into, I’m sure she knows a few things, might be willing to tell me.”
Nat says this as they share their meal in the morning and Clint gives a little nod as a small smirk covers his lips.
“We did have a good time last time we met. Planning on having fun without me?”
He asks, just a little teasing while Natasha just shrugs her shoulders. Their arrangement is pretty open for the most part, they share each other’s bed but don’t say no to others when they are interested.
“Maybe, don’t know yet. If you see someone you like, feel free to have fun as well. Don’t want you getting bored while I’m gone, that tends to lead to things getting burnt or shot.”
Her voice is teasing and he pretends to be outraged.
“That has only happened three maybe four times at the most.”
She arches a brow at him and he huffs just a bit.
“Fine, probably at least six but I’ll be good this time. Still might play darts or something though but I’ll keep them out of people’s legs.”
“See that you do, unless they really deserve it.”
She says this and he promises. They finish their meal , spends a little more time together and then Natasha heads out. The next few days, Clint just sort of hangs around the tavern, picks up what information he can and he does start to get a little bored. He starts the darts the third night , just little tricks to start with but he does enough that he gets asked for a repeat performance the fourth night and then the fifth. It is easy to perform and Clint doesn’t think it will get him into any trouble and so when a voice asks if he can try to match someone shot for shot, he thinks nothing of saying yes, doesn’t realize what he is getting himself into.
^_^_^_^_^
It is not that Bucky hates his duties at the castle or hates helping Steve with all the wedding planning, it is just that sometimes he needs a break. It can get overwhelming still at times, being in charge of things, giving orders and not being expected to just follow them, and he was starting to feel that way this afternoon. Thankfully, Sam and Steve had noticed and had sent him off.
“Go where you need to, take a few days if needed.”
Steve had said this and Sam had echoed it, said something about the birds could find him if they need him. It still a little strange that Sam can talk to birds but Bucky has seen weirder things in his life and it has come in handy before. He ended up leaving shortly after that, rode for a little while before ending up near one of the local taverns. It was starting to turn dark and he would need somewhere to stay for the night and this tavern was one more frequented by outsiders than locals, he could hide here for a bit if needed. He has his hand and arm covered so people would not know who he is right away and so he is safe from stares for now. He goes in, secures a room and some dinner and it as he is finishing up eating that something catches his attention, cheers from across the room. He gets up and goes to see what is happening and what is happening may provide a good distraction for a bit.
There is a man on the other side of the room showing off some knife and dart tricks. It is actually impressive, the way he twirls the knives, manages to hit some of the paper people have put up on the wall and Bucky just watches for a bit. The man is good and is nice to look at as well. Dark blonde hair, bluish green eyes, and a cocky grin as he goes through a few more tricks and Bucky is interested, very interested. He does the only thing he can think of, decides to challenge him.
“Hey, think you can match some one shot for shot?”
He asks and the man turns and looks at him now, cocky grin still in place and he looks over Bucky.
“Yes. Why don’t you show me your best?”
There is a hint of challenge to his tone, challenge and amusement and Bucky finds himself meeting it, returning the grin. Showing off is something he used to do a lot before he was taken, before he lost his arm and was turned into a weapon for a few years, and he is in the mood to do it tonight. Bucky wants to show off to this stranger so he does. He starts with a tricky shot but not the trickiest he can do and the stranger matches it with ease, does one after and arches a brow at Bucky like a challenge. They meet each other shots for quite a while after that, twirling the knives and darts in different way, Bucky mostly sticking with his right hand though the blonde uses both. There is conversation exchanged through out, boasts and teasing and a few questions, and eventually Bucky doesn’t meet one of his shots and the blonde grins at him.
“I should have put a wager on this.”
Bucky meets his grin and replies.
“Maybe next time. For now I can get you a drink if you want.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Bucky does get him a drink but the stranger picks up the next ones. They talk some more, teasing and flirting and Bucky feels want right now. It may not be the best idea to think about possibly offering to take this guy to bed but it is Bucky’s own idea and there is still a thrill and relief to getting to choose his own ideas, no matter how bad they may be. He is about to offer his room when the other man speaks, voice still a little cocky but eyes looking just a bit shy.
“I have a room here, if you want to go to it, pass the time with something other than darts.”
He wiggles his eyebrows a bit at the last words and Bucky can’t help but grin at it, finds himself charmed by the silly gesture and the slight pink of the other man’s cheeks.
“That sounds like the best plan right now.”
The other man grins at Bucky’s answer, gets up and offers Bucky a hand as he does so.
“Name’s Clint by the way, figure we should introduce our selves, might make the next hours better.”
Bucky shakes his hand, hesitates for just a moment before giving his own name. Usually with people he isn’t that familiar with, he goes by James but he doesn’t want to do that with this one so he gives him the name he prefers.
“My friends call me Bucky.”
“Is that what we are, friends?”
Clint asks with a bit of a grin and Bucky returns it.
“I think we are on our way to that, definitely on friendly terms, about to be much more friendly once we head up stairs.”
Clint grin grows wider now and he hasn’t let go of Bucky’s hand yet and Bucky doesn’t mind, just follows the little tug that Clint gives him as he starts to move to the stairs.
“Let’s go up stairs then. I like making friends.”
With those words, they go to the stairs and Bucky knows that the night should be a good one.
^_^_^_^_^