Chapter 6
Clint kept his eyes on his phone as he left Natasha's cafe. Natasha. He didn't even know what to make of her. The best word he could come up with to describe her was...unpredictable. It was hard to read her, almost impossible to guess the thoughts swirling around behind her eyes.
Lucky whined, pushing his nose against Clint's palm. Smiling, Clint brushed his fingers through Lucky's fur. He could always count on Lucky to be right by his side no matter what.
He had just started walking back to his apartment when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Thinking maybe it was Kate asking him where he was, he pulled it out fully prepared for a long rant about telling people where you were so you didn't get murdered by a serial killer. Instead, it was a text he'd never thought he would get.
From: Natasha
Sorry.
Meet me for coffee sometime and I'll give you a better apology?
And wow. Okay. He hadn't been expecting that.
He hadn't really lied when he said he had a family emergency, but he hadn't been telling the truth either. He was actually supposed to meet Kate almost an hour ago at her girlfriend's bar. Kate was like a daughter to him and America hated pretty much everyone, but hadn't killed Clint yet so he called that a win.
He shot Kate a quick text telling her he was almost there before sliding his phone back into his pocket. He probably should have texted Natasha, too, but what could he say? Oh, hey. Yeah, no. It's totally cool you just ignored me once we found out we're fated to be together.
He didn't really see that going well.
He wasn't really angry, per se. He understood not trusting the system. It was the not even giving him a chance he was having a hard time with. How could she immediately hate someone she didn't even know?
Lost in thought, he didn't realize he was standing outside America's bar until someone shoved him, yelling about something Clint didn't catch. He might have turned around and said something, but Kate beat him to it. "Hey asshole, why don't you watch where you're going!"
The guy responded with a middle finger held high and Kate returned the gesture with both hands.
Clint couldn't help but grin when she turned back around to level him with an annoyed glare. Upon seeing his expression she rolled her eyes and shoved his face away with one hand before turning and walking back into the bar.
America greeted him with a nod before she pressed a kiss to Kate's cheek. Kate smiled before sitting down next to Clint. The two of them were so in love it was disgusting. Sighing, Clint ran a hand through his hair as his thoughts turned back to Natasha and how cold she had seemed towards him. He would have shrugged it off as just a personality quirk if he hadn't seen how much she clearly cared about Sam and T'Challa.
Before he could completely get lost in his thoughts Kate was waving a hand in front of his face, her expression almost worried. "What's up, old man?"
Rolling his eyes, Clint explained what had happened as best he could. Kate had joked before that his soulmate had to be some badass to be able to deal with him and if what he had seen earlier that morning was any indication, Natasha was definitely full of surprises.
"Wow." Kate looked completely dumbstruck, her gaze almost angry. "And why the hell haven't you called her out on being a bitch?"
"Um..."
"No, you know what." Kate reached into his pocket and grabbed his phone, unlocking it without a pause and stepping out of arm's reach. "I know you won't do anything, Barton, so let me help -" She shot Clint a mischievous smirk before she spoke again. "Hello? Is this Natasha?"
Clint buried his face in his hands, wishing the floor would swallow him whole. He loved Kate to death, but sometimes he really wished she would shut up. He groaned as Kate continued to talk, unable to catch most of it. It wasn't until she ended the call and turned back to him with a grin that he glared at her, holding his hand out for the phone.
She relinquished it, patting him on the arm. "Don't worry, she's not coming here." She glanced over at her girlfriend, before waving her over. "Hey, I'm taking Clint to go call his soulmate on being a dumbass. Want to come with?"
America snorted, rolling her eyes. "Not this time, but take pictures."
"Oh, please." Kate laughed. "I'll be taking a video."
~***~
Clint hadn't wanted to go back to Natasha's cafe but Kate wouldn't take no for an answer, no matter how cute his puppy dog eyes were. They had been standing outside for about five minutes with Clint telling her why this was a bad idea before she interrupted him midsentence by opening the door and shoving him through. Before the door close she shot him and a grin and gave him two thumbs up.
Sometimes Clint really hated his choice in friends.
It didn't take long for Natasha to notice him. She had been leaning against the counter at the front of the building, talking to the girl that Clint had tried - and spectacularly failed - to save that morning. He was more than a little surprised she was still there. Surely Natasha hadn't made her stay to work after what had happened?
Natasha paused midsentence, giving the girl a smile before she walked towards Clint. Surprisingly enough she was still smiling, and Clint found himself thinking it was a good look on her. Reminding himself that she didn't care about him or their connection, he forced himself not to smile back. She either didn't notice, or it didn't bother her.
"Hey," she said once she stopped in front of him. "Thanks for coming back. I actually closed the shop for the day but I can brew you another pot of coffee."
Wow, maybe she didn't hate him after all. Two free pots of coffee in one day was like a dream come true.
Clint couldn't help but smile this time. "Sure. Thanks."
"Don't mention it. Be right back."
Before Clint could do more than take a step away from the door, the girl Natasha had been talking to before was walking towards him, a hesitant smile on her lips. He wondered if maybe she knew that he and the redhead were soulmates. "Hi, she said with a little wave. "I just wanted to thank you for earlier. I know Natasha kind of beat you to it, but it still means a lot that you wanted to help."
Clint smiled. "No need to thank me. I'm just glad you're alright."
She gestured to the booth a few feet away. "Would you like to sit?"
"Sure." He waited to see which side of the booth she would take before sliding into the other side. "I'm Clint, by the way."
"Wanda." Her gaze fell on the guy with white blond hair that had practically flown by Clint earlier. "That's my twin brother, Pietro. I'll apologize for him since he's probably not even aware he almost knocked you down."
She glanced down as Lucky settled down next to her side of the booth and laughed at Clint's whispered, "traitor".
"This little guy belong to you?" She asked as she leaned over to scratch his ears. "He's a sweetheart."
"Please tell me you don't feed him pizza," Natasha said as she walked up to the table, handing Wanda a mug of what Clint was pretty sure was hot chocolate and sitting a pot of coffee down in front of Clint. Without waiting for an answer she crouched down next to Lucky and started petting him.
Wanda looked back at Clint, arching an eyebrow. "Do I want to ask or this is a creepy Russian assassin thing that I should just totally ignore?"
Now Clint was the confused one. "Creepy Russian what now?"
Wanda glanced at Natasha before looking back at Clint. "So it's a running joke between me, Pietro, and Sam. Natasha was definitely a badass spy in another life. She's always sneaking up on us and scaring the shit out of everyone. And she somehow always knows stuff that she shouldn't."
Natasha looked unimpressed as she looked up at the both of them. "I hacked into your tumblr, Rogers. You probably shouldn't post so much about your creepy Russian boss who has heart eyes for cute blondes."
Wanda blushed furiously, sputtering out an unintelligible answer before she got up and practically ran back to her brother's table. Natasha took her seat, looking proud of herself.
Clint laughed as he watched Wanda bury her face in her brother's shoulder. "Does she really post about that?" He asked as he turned back to Natasha.
"I wouldn't know. I just made a guess and it turns out I was right." She let out a small laugh as she leaned back in the seat. "I can't believe they're still running with that whole assassin thing. You stab a guy one time..."
Clint knew his surprise showed on his face because Natasha barked out a laugh, eyes closing momentarily as she fought to compose herself. "Don't worry, he stabbed me first."
That wasn't really comforting, but she didn't seem bothered by it so he didn't ask. That wasn't why he had come - read: was forcibly dragged - here anyways.
After several moments of uncomfortable silence, Natasha leaned forward, resting her chin on her fist. "Look," she said softly. "I wanted to apologize. It..." she glancing away, taking a deep breath. "This whole soulmate thing. I don't really get it, but I shouldn't have taken it out on you. I'm an aromantic asexual, so I don't know what kind of relationship we would have, if you even still want anything to do with me, but I'd like to try."
Clint was more than a little surprised. At what she had said in such a sincere way, and at himself for actually considering it. He liked her. She was sarcastic and a little shit from what he could tell, and her apology was more than enough for him to give her a second chance.
"Well," he said with a smile. "Lucky seems to like you so that's a good start." He paused for a second, considering what to say. "I don't know much about...aromantic asexuals?" He glanced at her for confirmation that he'd said that correctly vefore continuing. "But I'd like to get to know you."
Natasha smiled, reaching over and taking one of his hands in hers. "Thank you, Clint. And I really am sorry for before."
He got the feeling that apologizing wasn't something she did often and what he said next could make or break their relationship. "I forgive you." He glanced at the coffee pot. "Now, c'mon. Have some coffee with me."
Natasha laughed, taking a sip from the coffee pot when it was offered to her. "Gladly."
There was a lot more they had to figure out, but this was a good start in getting to know each other. Clint couldn't help but smile as he squeezed her fingers and watched as she allowed Lucky to join her in the booth.
Yeah, Clint thought as Natasha threw back her head and laughed. This was pretty good.