Chapter 13
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Clint watches Natasha for a little bit, watches Sam, watches both of them and he starts to think that Nat might want Sam just a bit. He thinks about it, works through the slight jealousy that the thought causes, and decides that he should maybe talk to Nat about it. She has had a few flings while in this thing with him, few and far between and different than the relationships Clint pursued and it shouldn’t be an issue if she wants to pursue something with Sam. Clint doesn’t think Steve will mind either but he should probably discuss it with him as well, just hasn’t quite found the time or the right way to say it. Now probably isn’t the best time either but the words slip his mouth without really thinking about it.
“You know, Sam’s cute and a great guy and I bet he would be interested. ”
He says this as he is painting Nat’s nails and he gets looks from both her and Steve now. They are having a night in, Nat insisting they do something relaxing since they are all still a bit run down from the last mission they went on and apparently relaxing means manicures and wine and take out and it hasn’t been a bad evening. It was Nat’s idea and she had invited Sam as well who has something else going on right now and Clint had seen the little twinge of disappointment in her eyes which is why he is bringing this up. Steve is looking at him with a little bit of confusion where he sits using Nat’s nail buffer on his own nails and Nat just raises a brow at him.
“Interested in what exactly?”
She asks now, purposely vague and Clint almost feels like rolling his eyes but he doesn’t, just restates what he said.
“Interested in you, in doing stuff with you, if that is something you want.”
He adds those last words in case he has been reading the situation wrong but he is pretty sure he hasn’t read this wrong. Nat is still just looking at him and he feels like maybe he needs to ad more to what he is saying.
“I wouldn’t mind.”
“I wouldn’t mind either, it is your choice.”
Steve says this now, is looking at Natasha now and she just returns both of their stares and maybe Clint should have thought this through. After a long moment that makes Clint a bit nervous, Natasha speaks.
“He might mind, may not see it the way we do.”
She says this simply and it isn’t a denial that she wants something with Sam.
“I could say something.”
Clint offers now and both Steve and Nat are looking at him with a strange sort of curiosity .
“What would you say?”
Steve asks this and Clint sort of shrugs as he tries to think of the right thing to say.
“Just let him know what is going on, that he can reciprocate if Nat makes a move, nothing too overt. Something subtle.”
They are both still staring at him and he goes back to Nat’s nails for a moment before her voice draws his attention away again.
“So you’re offering to play matchmaker for me again, only this time it isn’t with your boyfriend.”
“Hey it worked out well last time.”
Clint says this gestures to both of them and Steve just smiles and Nat sort of tilts her head in acknowledgement .
“Doesn’t mean it would work this time. Let’s talk about something else, like what movie to watch and what food to order and you should finish my nails and then I can do yours.”
Clint knows when to drop the subject with Nat and so he does, goes back to doing her nails and asking if some Greek sounds good for tonight. The discuss how to spend the rest of the evening and soon enough Nat’s nails are done, a bright cherry red and she starts on his like she said she was going to. When they watch their movie and have dinner that night, Nat has managed to get both him and Steve to let her do their nails, his a dark purple and Steve’s a blue and Clint wonders if they are spotted soon by anyone with a camera what people might say on the internet but he doesn’t really care. Their nails look allright and Natasha liked painting them and the evening is all around nice and easy and soon enough they are all getting ready for bed, Nat next to him in bed as Steve finishes up in the bathroom.
“If you really don’t want me to play matchmaker, I won’t.”
He says this quietly now, wants her to know that he won’t push this if it really is something she is unsure about. She turns to him and brushes a little kiss against his lips before speaking.
“You can try. I just am not sure I’m something he would want but it can’t hurt to see, right?”
She says this, face open and honest and he knows that this is a bit different for her, wanting this, admitting to it and to the worry she feels about and he brings her closer to him, brushes a soft kiss against her forehead.
“It can’t hurt to see.”
He says this and she gives a little nod and just snuggles up to him a little closer. Soon enough Steve is out of the bathroom and he lays down on the other side of Clint and they all end up drifting off to sleep soon enough.
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It is one thing to decide to try to play match maker for Nat again and another to actually do it. She was right that it is a bit different this time, Clint is still getting to know Sam himself, and he doesn’t want to make it more awkward than it has to be. He thinks about everything he knows about the man, goes over it and tries to come up with the right thing to say.
Sam doesn’t have anyone special right now, Clint knows this but sometimes he has a feeling he had someone awhile ago, has heard him say a few things that have led to that conclusion, seen him play with some dog tags before with a sort of wistful look on his face. Sam had someone once that he lost and Clint thinks he is still picking up pieces of that sometimes and Clint can see the sadness sometimes but he also sees more than that. He sees the way Sam gives little glances to Nat sometimes, nothing to noticeable but just enough for Clint to guess he probably finds her attractive. He grins at her sometimes, easy and light and Clint thinks maybe it is those grins that have made Nat want him like she does. He’s a good guy and Clint thinks he might be good for Nat and Clint won’t mind sharing if Sam is ok with it. He just has to approach the subject and he finds the chance when after a mission they are the first two up in the kitchen, making some breakfast and he starts with a simple statement.
“Nat told me she might see if you want to come over to her place to watch a movie sometime after this.”
This is true enough and Sam looks over where he is getting some stuff out of the fridge and asks a question.
“Like a team like thing, the four of us? It was fun last time even if Steve ate almost all the popcorn.”
Clint just shakes his head a bit.
“No, I think just the two of you, just hanging out, seeing where things lead.”
Sam’s eyes narrow at him just a bit like he is trying to figure out what Clint is trying to say.
“You know, if you were talking about someone else I would think you were talking about her maybe asking me out, like a date, but I don’t think that is what is going on here.”
Clint kind of shrugs now.
“Well, Nat doesn’t really do dates but it might be close to one for her. You should say yes if you want to.”
Sam’s eyes widen just a bit and he is staring at Clint for a long moment before he can get some words out and maybe Clint should have phased some of this better.
“Are you trying to set me up with your partner?”
“Kind of? More like giving you a heads up since I think Nat wants to make a move and I’m just letting you know that you can respond if you want to, that Steve and I aren’t going to get upsets. “
Sam is just still looking at him and after a while he sort of shakes his head a bit but it isn’t so much of a no as just sort of disbelief.
“You know when you told me that you guys were kind of complicated, I didn’t think I would have to worry about being involved in it.”
“Well you only have to be involved if you want. If you’re not interested, Nat will understand.”
“Didn’t say I wasn’t interested, just thinking about the situation a bit. I’ll see what happens. Are you going to give me a shovel talk?”
There is a tiny bit of a smile on Sam’s face and Clint returns it.
“Don’t really think I need to worry about it too much. Nat can take care of herself and you have seen her do it.”
“I have. Impressive stuff. The eggs are still good, want me to grab all of them?”
Clint gives a nod and they focus more on making food than they do anything else for the next few minutes and soon enough Nat and Steve join them and then it is a quick meal before they leave the safe house, makes their way back home. Clint does see Nat pull Sam aside for a few minutes but he doesn’t listen to their conversation but Nat does have a bit of a smile when it is finished so Clint thinks it probably went well. He hopes it works out for her, Natasha deserves good things.
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