Chapter 18
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It has been about three weeks since Bucky came here, three weeks sharing his space with him and it is a bit different having him here. Not really bad, just different and Clint knows it is going to be awhile before they can set him up with a place of his own, a while before they can make him not a fugitive so he is mostly stuck in Clint’s apartment. Maria is working on paperwork for him while Fury is keeping them in the loop about certain things. It reminds him a bit of the early days when Natasha joined SHIELD but a little different, there isn’t a whole organization that Bucky has to deal with, just a few people and Clint just hopes he is getting what he needs. Right now, Clint just focuses on pouring his coffee and figuring out what to do for breakfast when Bucky enters the kitchen.
“You drink a lot of that.”
He says this simply and Clint just shrugs before offering him his own mug.
“I like coffee. Sometimes I don’t even use a cup, just go for the pot, but there is company around right now so I’m being polite.”
“I’m guessing I’m the company. I suppose Steve is around here a lot anyway.”
Bucky says this and takes the mug from Clint and Clint just gives a little nod. It is the truth, Steve has always spent a lot of time here but the last couple of weeks he has only gone back to his place for a few hours. Sam and Nat have been over a lot as well but not to the extent that Steve has been. It is like he is worried about Bucky being out of his sight and Clint gets it but it is maybe a bit much. Hopefully, they can get Steve out of the apartment for a bit soon but right now, Clint just stats getting some breakfast ready. Bucky wordlessly starts helping and soon enough Steve is coming into the kitchen, brushes a quick kiss against Clint’s lips and touches Bucky on the shoulder for just a moment before the other man moves away just a bit. He still doesn’t quite seem comfortable with touch but Steve is at least getting better at hiding his feelings when Bucky moves away. He takes his own cup down now, gets some coffee and helps Clint with breakfast. They all end up sitting down and eating, conversation coming along alright and they start to clean up when there is a knock at the door, Clint going to answer it and he isn’t really surprised by who is there, just surprised that they knocked.
“Hey, you didn’t break in or use your key. Wanted to surprise me?”
He says this as Nat comes in, has his mail including a package in her hands and Sam is right beside her, has a duffle bag in his hands and is dressed in running clothes.
“He thought it would be more polite today. Just wanted to check in, thought I would grab this for you, curious if your package is like mine.”
She says this and he takes it from her, goes into the kitchen and he has a good idea who it is from since Natasha got one as well apparently. The address on it is random and the name is vaguely familiar and he starts to open it as Natasha and Sam exchange hellos with Steve and Bucky.
There is a note in it, one in code from Fury letting him know a few things and then there is something wrapped up in some brown paper, a little tag on that just says to Clint. Presents from Fury are not a common thing and can vary in how great they are. The knife he got Clint after his third mission is great and still around, the chocolates on Clint’s fifth year universe were filled with Tabasco and Clint still ate them just wasn’t that happy about it. He unwarps the paper with equal parts excitement and dread but ends up smiling in delight.
“Hey, he’s still knitting.”
He says this as he pulls out the cap, a ridiculous shade of purple with what looks like things that should be arrows on it. It is sort of garish but looks to be cozy and well made for the most part and he puts it on with a grin. Everyone turns and looks at him, differing expressions that go from amused to confused with Natasha giving a tilt of her head as she speaks.
“Mine has spiders on it, red ones, and the black it a little less eye catching than your purple.”
“The black goes well with your hair. Not sure if that purple goes with anything.”
Sam says this to Nat, gives her a little compliment while teasing Clint just a bit. Clint just grins wider.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, purple goes with everything. I pull it off.”
Clint poses a bit now, tilts his head, pouts just a bit. Natasha lets out a soft laugh while Steve asks a question.
“Did Fury make that then?”
Clint gives a nod as Bucky stares at them all for a moment with confusion before speaking.
“Nick Fury, former head of SHIELD knitted you a hat? Why?”
He sounds generally perplexed right now and Clint just shrugs his shoulders as he gives an answer to the question.
“Nat and I started sending him knitting magazines quite a while ago and I guess he figured my head gets cold so he made me something. He can be a softy sometimes.”
Bucky looks at him for a long moment like he isn’t sure if Clint is joking or not while Steve changes the subject slightly.
“Did he send any news to go along with your hat?”
“Some. We can go over it now, I assume you got a debrief too?”
He asks Natasha and she gives a nod. The next couple of hours are low key for the most part, going over some of Fury’s info, talking about a few other things and Sam and Nat end up leaving soon, just leaving the three of them. They go about their day and Steve keeps Bucky in his eyeline whenever he can, something Clint notices and that he knows Bucky does too but neither of them say anything about it. They end up watching a movie late into the evening and Steve is drooping a bit on the couch, Clint is ready for bed as well, but Bucky appears wide awake.
“I think it is time for bed, don’t play the tv too loud and turn off the lights when you’re done. We’ll see you in the morning.”
Clint announces this as he gets up off the couch, holds a hand out for Steve to take. Steve sort of blinks up at him.
“We’re going to bed?”
He asks and looks over at Bucky who just sort of shrugs.
“I’m not tired yet but you look like you’re about to pass out, think Clint’s right and it is time for you to go to bed.”
Clint likes the back up and gives a nod to Bucky before turning his attention back to Steve.
“Bed time, he’ll be here in the morning.”
Steve gives a sort of reluctant nod before following Clint into the bedroom. They get ready and soon find themselves settled into the bed but Clint knows Steve is still glancing at the door.
“I don’t think you have to worry about him running away you know.”
Clint says this, means it as a reassurance and Steve turns to him now, gives a little nod.
“I know, I just don’t think he is sleeping much, don’t know if I’m doing enough for him. ”
There is just a hint of worry in Steve’s voice and Clint tries to ease it with soft words.
“Hey, you’re helping, he’s just been through a lot. He’ll get through it, we’ll get through it, and if you want, I can distract you a bit right now, if you can stay awake a few more minutes. “
It is maybe a cheap tactic but Steve doesn’t seem to mind, just gives a little nod before brushing a kiss against Clint’s lips.
“I can stay awake bit longer. Anything in particular you have in mind?”
Steve says this now and Clint decides to show instead of just tell, giving Steve another kiss. They haven’t done much like this in the last few weeks, too much going on, not sure how Bucky will react but Clint has missed touching being , touched and he thinks Steve has too. They end up bare soon enough, hands wrapping around each other, both trying to keep quiet and it is over quick, almost too quick but it is still good. They soon enough find themselves laying next to each other, cleaned up and getting ready to sleep, Steve’s hand trailing over Clint’s skin and it goes to the scar on Clint’s hip, the uncovered scar and Clint shifts just a bit at the touch but not as much as he used to but more than he does when it is covered with markings .
“We haven’t drawn on it for a while, kind of miss it. I can do a design tomorrow on you if you would like.”
There hasn’t been time between looking for Bucky ,finding him, and then bringing him here and helping him recover to do the drawings. Clint has missed it, missed the private moments that have just been shared between him and Steve and occasionally Natasha. He gives a little nod.
“We can do it in the morning, pick out one of the quick ones again, like the fire, I like that one.”
Clint says this and Steve gives him a little smile and another quick kiss. They both fall asleep after that and the next morning when Nat and Sam come over, Steve and Clint spend some time in the bedroom, the flames returning to Clint’s hips. It calms him down a bit, having the marker fresh on his skin and it should last a while and Clint hopes he won’t have to go without as long again.
A couple days pass and Fury is getting ahold of them again, needs some backup. It doesn’t need to be all of them but he needs at least three of them and has requested Steve, Natasha and Sam offering to go with him. Clint is in the bedroom with Steve as he gets a few things together, a lot of his stuff migrating here over the last few weeks and Steve is all tensed up now.
“He didn’t give us a timeline, said it may take a few days. Maybe I should see if Tony could do this one, stay here. “
Steve says this and Clint knows that he doesn’t really mean it, that he is going to go but he still helps eases his worries a bit.
“He didn’t ask for Tony, he asked for you. We’ll be ok for a few days, I promise.”
Steve gives a little no but still looks a little unsure but soon enough he is packed and ready for Natasha and Sam to come by. They go to the living room where Bucky is waiting.
“Be careful, don’t do anything too stupid.”
Bucky says this with a brief clap to Steve’s shoulder and Steve grins just a bit.
“I can’t. Leaving it all with you.”
There is a flicker of emotion that crosses Bucky’s face right now, one Clint has seen over the last few weeks, the one that shows he is remembering something and he just shakes his head a bit.
“Punk.”
The word is said with a bit of fondness and Steve smiles at it and Clint feels just a little bit awkward, like he is seeing an intimate moment but he feels like it would be more awkward if he left so he stays there.
“Jerk.”
Steve utters that word with the same sort of fondness that punk had and leans forward just a bit, leans in like he is about to brush a kiss against Bucky’s cheek. Bucky moves quickly, just steps out of the way like he isn’t sure about it and there is a flash of hurt on Steve’s face. There is a moment of quiet that is interrupted by a knock and Clint is thankful for Nat’s timing.
“I’ll get it.”
Bucky says this, quickly moves to the door and Clint moves closer to Steve, brushes his hand against his and Steve grabs it briefly, gives it a squeeze. Natasha and Sam now enter, Natasha speaking softly to Bucky and Sam making his way over to Steve and Clint.
“Everything ready to go?”
He asks and Steve gives a nod, brushes a quick kiss against Clint’s lips and steps away. Natasha comes over to Clint now, brushes her own kiss against Clint’s lips and Clint can feel Bucky’s eyes watching them and it occurs to Clint that they haven’t exactly explained everything to Bucky, that the other kisses he has seen them exchange have been on the cheek or forehead, could be passed off as friendly gestures. It wasn’t that they were hiding anything, they just hadn’t quite thought about bringing it up and they might need to have that conversation soon. For now, he just gives runs his fingers through her hair for just a moment.
“Be careful, come back in one piece.We’ll do breakfast when you’re back, the two of us.I’ll make the fancy waffles you like. ”
He says this, hasn’t had much time with just Nat and she smiles at him now.
“I’ll always come back in one piece if I can get waffles. “
She says it, voice teasing and Clint gives her another quick kiss. More good-byes are exchanged and soon enough, it is just Bucky and Clint alone in his living room.
“So just the two of us, how about we get pizza and watch some movies, have some sniper bonding time.”
Clint says this, doesn’t know what else to say and Bucky raise an eyebrow for moment now.
“Sniper bonding time?”
He says and Clint gives a nod.
“Hey, we’re both snipers and we can’t call it brainwashed assassins bonding because we would need Nat for that and she would get grouchy if we left her out of that club so when it is just the two of us, it is sniper bonding time. So you in?“
Bucky thinks about it for just a moment before giving a nod. They get down a pizza menu, debate what to get, and maybe the next few days won’t be too bad.
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