Chapter 10
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”Your car is nice.”
It is the first thing Clint can think to say as he settles into the passenger seat, Sam taking the driver’s seat. They are going to a place he knows to get doughnuts and Clint has offered to pay. He figures it will be good to get a chance to talk to Sam just the two of them, get to know him a bit. Sam just gives a little shrug as he starts the car.
“Not actually mine. A rental till I can get a new one. My old one is not drivable anymore.”
“A result of your adventure with Steve and Nat I take it?”
He asks and gets a little nod as Sam starts driving.
“Yep. Had the steering wheel ripped straight out of my hands. Not fun.”
“Can’t say I have ever had that happen. I’m guessing it was from a run in with Barnes.”
He says this and it really is more than a guess. That metal arm can do a lot of damage more than likely and Clint already knows that there was a confrontation with him on the highway. Sam just gives a little nod.
“Still not sure if my insurance is going to cover it, I may not have run ins with a super soldier in my plan. I didn’t think it would come up that often so didn’t really seek out a plan that would cover it, thought it would be better to have the free towing.”
His tone is light and Clint can appreciate someone who can joke about their almost death experiences.
“Free towing is a good one to have. I think I’m going to have to look for new insurance, SHIELD provided it for me but well, we know what happened to that.”
“Guess you all are unemployed now, might have to find new careers. I already suggested MMA fighting to Steve, don’t really have much of an idea of what you and Natasha can do yet. What did you do before SHIELD?”
Sam asks now and Clint won’t lie about it.
“Free lance work of an unsavory variety, it is how Fury found me.”
“And before that?”
“Was with a circus, world’s best marksman. Did that since I was about 11, brother and I ran away from foster care to join it.”
He says this and Sam turns his eyes from the road for just a moment to look at Clint.
“That’s not a joke, is it? “
Clint just grins.
“Not a joke at all, I have an old poster I can show you sometime. Or you can ask Steve to show you on his phone if he still has it, he loves showing a picture of the poster to people.”
“Ok, I believe you, may still ask to see the pic later though, just for curiosity’s sake.”
Sam says this and then there is a comfortable silence for just a moment before Sam speaks again.
“So just let me know if I’m getting out of line with this, but do you mind me asking what is going on with the three of you? I mean, I know you and Steve are dating, him telling me you’re his boyfriend before we met and the kisses yesterday were a bit of a tip off but is there something between you and Natasha as well?”
He asks and Clint has been waiting for this since last night, is just glad that he doesn’t have to wait a long time to give Sam a bit of an explanation.
“There’s something between us but we don’t really consider ourselves dating. We care for each other but Natasha doesn’t date, not like other people do, it is a bit complicated for her but what we have works for us. ”
It is the best way to explain it though he doesn’t go into too many details, details are for Natasha to give if she wants to and Sam doesn’t really push for too many right now, just asks another question.
“So it is you and her, and you and Steve, is there something between them?”
“They are working on figuring that out. The three of us are a little complicated but it is working right now so I’m going along with it.”
Clint says this and Sam just gives a little nod, looks over to him.
“Hey, if it works for you guys then it works for you guys, just wanted to know what was going on so I didn’t say anything weird or something.”
“What about you, you got any one special right now?”
Sam just shakes his head.
“Not currently but I have before. You know the last person to ask me about that was my mom but she didn’t mention it last time we talked. That conversation was much more focused on my hanging out with Captain America and almost getting killed and her finding out about it on the news. That was a fun talk.”
Clint lets out a little chuckle at Sam’s expression right now, a sort of pained acceptance.
“I bet. You and your mom close?”
He asks now and Sam gives a little bit of a nod.
“I suppose so, keep in contact and all. Dad’s not around anymore so I like to check in when I can though my sister is still closer to her. So you said you have a brother, you guys close?”
Sam asks now and Clint takes just a moment before answering.
“Not really, I mean things were worse between us once so it is better than it was but it is a bit complicated.”
Complicated is the best way to describe his relationship with Barney. He isn’t trying to kill Clint like he did once but they don’t really talk much but Clint keep tabs when he can and last he checked, Barney is doing ok, trying to settle down and that is good enough for Clint.
“You’re using complicated a lot. Is that just how your life is?”
Sam asks with just a bit of a smile and Clint returns the smile as he shrugs.
“I guess so. But complicated isn’t always bad so I’ll take it.”
“Hey, whatever works and you’re right complicated isn’t bad. Now, remember you’re paying.”
Sam says this and they are pulling into a small parking lot next to a little bakery. Clint just gives a nod as the car stops, gets out and follows Sam in. They get a ridiculous amount of pastries and several coffees and the ride back is filled with conversation just like the ride there was and Clint feels like he has a feel for Sam now so it is a good start to the day.
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“I need to go somewhere for a few days, have something I need to do.”
Natasha says this to Clint now, the two of them alone right now in his apartment and he looks at her, asks something that he knows she won’t ask.
“I can come with you, you want me to?”
She thinks about it for only a moment before she gives an answer.
“I shouldn’t run into trouble but it might be good to have you there. I have almost everything arranged, want to leave tonight. Can you do that?”
Clint isn’t surprised that everything is almost ready, when Nat decides she needs to do something she gets it done. He just gives a nod.
“Should be, need to let Steve know what is going on, just let me know where to meet you. I’ll get packed and everything.”
“You’re not going to ask me what we’re doing?”
She asks with just a little smile and Clint gives a shrug.
“Don’t really feel the need, you’ll tell me what I need to know. I trust you.”
He’s told her before and it isn’t any less true now. She gives him another smile and leans over and brushes a kiss against his cheek.
“I trust you too, already told Steve last night that I would need to head out for a few days but it will be good for you to tell him that you’re coming along. It should be ok if it is just Sam and him for a few days. I’ll text you where we need to meet, you might want to make sure to have warm clothing. See you tonight.”
She says this and brushes another kiss against his cheek and then heads out the door. Clint just goes ahead and starts packing, Steve should be by soon and he can tell him what is going on. It has only been about two weeks since they have started their search for Barnes and they haven’t really had too many leads yet and Clint hopes they find something soon for Steve but first he will help Natasha with this. Steve shouldn’t mind, he understands that Nat is trying to understand herself and that Clint wants to be there for her and he has been trying to help in his own way. Steve and Natasha are growing closer and Clint enjoys watching it, lets them have some alone time together and it looks like things are going ok for the most part.
He has finished packing and is watching some bad tv when Steve comes in, a look on his face that lets Clint know that the lead he went to check on this morning was dead end and Clint just gives him a reassuring smile as he sits down next to him.
“We’ll find something soon, is just going to take a while. We’ll find him.”
Steve just nods his head.
“I know. Anything happen here?”
He asks and now is the time for Clint to tell him.
“Talked to Nat, she told me she already told you she needs to do something and I’m going with her. She wants to head out tonight, texted me a little while ago, think you’ll be ok?”
“I’ll manage without you for a little while but if you need me, let me know and I’ll make my way to where you guys are, ok?”
This is what Steve says and Clint leans forward and gives him a kiss.
“I promise if we need you, we’ll let you know but Nat doesn’t except trouble for this, I just think she doesn’t want to be alone.”
“Trouble sometimes finds you guys though.”
Steve says this with just a little teasing in his voice and Clint teases right back.
“It finds you too, must be why we all get along.”
“Must be. Sam texted me earlier, wanted to know if we wanted to meet up for pizza in a couple of hours, can you make it or are you heading out before that?”
Steve asks now and Clint thinks about the timeline Nat gave him and he gives a nod after a moment.
“It should work, Nat has our transportation arranged for late and you know I always say yes to pizza. Let me text Nat about it, can I invite her?”
He figures it will probably be alright but it is the polite thing to ask and Steve gives a little nod.
“Sure, I’ll let Sam know that we’ll show up.”
They both text now and it doesn’t take that long for Clint to get a response from Natasha.
Sam already told me, it is going to be at my place now, two hours from now, don’t be late
It is simple and to the point and Clint isn’t really surprised that Sam got into contact with Nat. They seem to get along pretty well and Steve just tells him that Sam told him about the change in address and Clint just gives him a smile.
“Nat said not to be late but I’m already pack so I figure we can watch bad tv and make out for about an hour, sound like a plan?”
“So romantic.”
Steve says this dead pan, with a serious face but after just a moment he cracks a smile and leans forward and claims Clint’s mouth. They do spend the next hour watching bad tv and making out, actually a little longer but an hour but they aren’t late and Sam is already at Nat’s place when they show up, pizza there as well. It is an easy dinner, some talking and it is nice and he has a feeling Natasha wanted to see both Sam and Steve before they head out but he doesn’t say anything about it. Dinner is soon over and they need to head out soon and Sam gives his good byes soon.
“Well, hope your trip goes well, bring me a souvenir if you can.”
“You don’t even know where we are going.”
Clint says this to Sam and Sam just gives a shrug and a smirk.
“So? You can still get me a souvenir, I’m sure wherever you’re going has postcards or snow globes somewhere. “
“I’ll bring you back something, try to stay out of trouble while we’re gone.”
Nat says this and Sam gives another shrug.
“I’ll try but no promises. I’ll leave you three alone now, have a safe trip. Get ahold of me if you need me, Steve.”
With that, Sam leaves and it is just the three of them. Steve reaches forward and grabs Clint, brushes a kiss against his lips.
“I meant what I said, call me if you need me.”
He says this to both of them as he pulls away from Clint. Natasha takes a step towards Steve now.
“We will. This won’t take long but it is something I need to do. I’ll tell you about it when I can.”
She says this to Steve and then brushes a kiss against his lips. Whatever they are doing, it is important to Nat but she isn’t quite ready to have Steve there yet. Steve seems to get this as he just simply puts a hand on her shoulder and gives it a squeeze.
“Ok, just try to be safe. Get ahold of me when you can.”
He gives Natasha a kiss on her check, gives Clint another kiss as well and then he leaves.
“We should head out, we have a long flight. You brought a coat, right?”
She asks and Clint gives a nod.
“Yep, Russia’s chilly usually. That is where we are going, right?”
He asks and Natasha just gives a little nod.
“It is but it shouldn’t cause any trouble, just some things I need to see.”
She doesn’t elaborate right now and Clint doesn’t ask her to. She’ll tell him what they are going there for when she is ready, for now he just gives her a smile.
“Hey, even if there is trouble, we’ll handle it. Now, let’s grab our stuff and get going.”
They do grab their things after that, leave Nat’s place and soon enough they are on a flight, seated right next to each other and Natasha leans her head on his shoulder and closes her eyes. Clint brushes a kiss against her hair and then closes his own eyes. It is going to be a long flight and they both will need the rest.
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