"Make it small. I'm still not hungry, to be honest. Not like I can't afford losing an ounce or two."
Clint gave her a wry smile before packing up bottle and book and heading back inside. It was a relief to be in a air-conditioned room after that afternoon outside, admittedly.
He thought about Natasha's other offer for a moment and hesitated. It would probably be easier to get that bath done together, but he didn't like the idea that she could get herself all scratched up. Not as long as their guest was that dirty and still on anthelmintics. It didn't make a difference, as a hard voice inside let him know very helpfully, even it was dangerous for the... for her condition. They were about to do something about that anyway.
He still didn't want to see her any more injured today than she already was in more than one sense.
"I think it's better if I'm the scapegoat. Then she'll have you to trust left at least. I'll call you before I bleed out from my wrists, promise."
Again that wry, short smile that felt so heavy and exhausting on the corner of his mouth. God, how much he hated this mood already.
There was another good reason for not taking Natasha with him, he sound as soon as he had gotten that kitten bath stuff from the still waiting bags in the kitchen and opened the bathroom door. And closed it behind him very quickly. How could something so tiny leave so much stench? Fortunately there had been a drain, and he had everything to clean up the rest of the mess in the bathroom. Including these gloves that Angelina usually used to clean the house. Maybe he wouldn't end up all scratched up after all.
The furball eyed him warily from the other side of the tub when he took care of the mess and threw the dirty blanket in the washing machine. A good chance to put all the other stuff from the laundry basket in as well and start the machine while he was at it.
Then he couldn't procrastinate any longer. With a heavy sigh, he lifted the little animal on his arms and let in a shallow, lukewarm bath then while he tried to keep the restless, fighting thing close to his body without hurting it. It turned out, kitten claws were sharp enough to poke through a shirt. Oh, this was going to be fun.
"I hate this as much as you will, you know", he finally sighed when the bath was ready.
He somehow had a feeling, that wasn't much comfort for his little guest. About 10 minutes later the bathroom was... well, pretty wet everywhere, his arms looked like he had wrestled with two mountain lions at once, and the kitten trembled utterly defeated in his arms when he wrapped her in a big towel.
The day just kept on getting better.
"Promise, you'll be rid of me soon", he sighed. "Just need to dry you up before I let you out. They'll think you're a rat and eat you if you go out there like that."
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Clint gave her a wry smile before packing up bottle and book and heading back inside. It was a relief to be in a air-conditioned room after that afternoon outside, admittedly.
He thought about Natasha's other offer for a moment and hesitated. It would probably be easier to get that bath done together, but he didn't like the idea that she could get herself all scratched up. Not as long as their guest was that dirty and still on anthelmintics. It didn't make a difference, as a hard voice inside let him know very helpfully, even it was dangerous for the... for her condition. They were about to do something about that anyway.
He still didn't want to see her any more injured today than she already was in more than one sense.
"I think it's better if I'm the scapegoat. Then she'll have you to trust left at least. I'll call you before I bleed out from my wrists, promise."
Again that wry, short smile that felt so heavy and exhausting on the corner of his mouth. God, how much he hated this mood already.
There was another good reason for not taking Natasha with him, he sound as soon as he had gotten that kitten bath stuff from the still waiting bags in the kitchen and opened the bathroom door. And closed it behind him very quickly. How could something so tiny leave so much stench? Fortunately there had been a drain, and he had everything to clean up the rest of the mess in the bathroom. Including these gloves that Angelina usually used to clean the house. Maybe he wouldn't end up all scratched up after all.
The furball eyed him warily from the other side of the tub when he took care of the mess and threw the dirty blanket in the washing machine. A good chance to put all the other stuff from the laundry basket in as well and start the machine while he was at it.
Then he couldn't procrastinate any longer. With a heavy sigh, he lifted the little animal on his arms and let in a shallow, lukewarm bath then while he tried to keep the restless, fighting thing close to his body without hurting it. It turned out, kitten claws were sharp enough to poke through a shirt. Oh, this was going to be fun.
"I hate this as much as you will, you know", he finally sighed when the bath was ready.
He somehow had a feeling, that wasn't much comfort for his little guest. About 10 minutes later the bathroom was... well, pretty wet everywhere, his arms looked like he had wrestled with two mountain lions at once, and the kitten trembled utterly defeated in his arms when he wrapped her in a big towel.
The day just kept on getting better.
"Promise, you'll be rid of me soon", he sighed. "Just need to dry you up before I let you out. They'll think you're a rat and eat you if you go out there like that."