The ride back to the house was pleasant and relaxing. The wind on her face was refreshing, Clint’s gentle touch soothing, and the scooter was just damn fun to drive. Despite the rough night and morning, the day had turned out better than Natasha could have ever expected or hoped for.

Parking the scooter behind the house, she grinned at the little furball that waited for them on the doorstep. “You just wait right here,” she said to it as she slipped inside after Clint, carefully closing the door behind her. She knew he wasn’t keen on having the kitten in the house, and she certainly wasn’t going to try to press the issue, at least not until they got the little thing checked out and properly bathed. The last thing she wanted to do was infest Clint’s home away from home with fleas.

Giving him a look for his comment, one that didn’t quite hide the smile in her eyes, Natasha took the two bowls and balanced them on one arm. Quickly grabbing the little toy she had bought at the market from her partially unpacked back, she slipped back outside. “Let’s go back to your little spot,” she said, rounding the house to where Clint had set up the blanket for it. Setting the bowls down, she crouched beside them and scratched the kitten on the top of the head before leaning back to let it eat. “You are a hungry little one, aren’t you? The others don’t play nice, hmm?” She could see the tear in one ear, could tell it had it rough. “Such misfortune for one so small.”