study_in_scarlet | Dancing in the Dark (for farmboyhawk)

Clint just nodded and let her go, knowing well enough that Natasha needed her freedom in moments like this, that it didn't do anything good to press the subject when she was upset. He emptied the rest of the water to get the taste of alcohol out of his mouth and made a short stop at the bathroom himself before leaving the restaurant. He wondered if they would actually come back here when he waved the waiters good-bye and again berated himself mentally for being such a dumb-ass. Why was it that he never found the right words when it was really needed?

He leaned against the stair railing with a deep sigh and kicked small bits of sand from the steps while he waited, trying to think of something to say when Natasha would return. He still couldn't come up with anything intelligent.

Why did this have to be so hard? Why couldn't they be looking forward to this part of their future like any other couple? He definitely wasn't helping Natasha with this burden as he had just proven so perfectly. With his hands awkwardly buried in his pockets, he waited for Natasha to join him, more restless with every passing second.

Retreating to the washroom, Natasha locked herself in one of the stalls and leaned against the wall. It was stupid, she was being ridiculous, but she still felt her eyes burning and her heart hammering. All because she had had to admit aloud to someone she didn’t even know the thing she was trying so hard not to think about, despite the toll it was taking on her body.

What was her problem, anyway? It wasn’t even as if it was a true superstition. Usually when people waited it was because the first trimester was a greater risk, and if they told their friends and family and ended up losing the child it would be that much harder to deal with. It wasn’t as if telling someone would ‘jinx’ something and make her lose the baby. She didn’t even believe in stuff like that.

Taking a few breaths she blinked rapidly and tried to get herself under control. If the morning sickness was the worst part of this whole thing then the mood swings and overwhelming emotions were definitely a very close second. She had to stop worrying about this, because while telling people couldn’t actually make anything bad happen, her stressing over everything very well could, then it would be all her fault.

Shaking herself out of this mood, Natasha forced herself to choke down any lingering worries. Clint was out there waiting for her, probably feeling guilty as he was want to do, and she couldn’t leave him to it. Exiting the stall she wet a paper towel and dabbed it just under her eyes and stared her her reflection with determination. Once she was finished she rejoined Clint where he awaited her, looking like the weight of the world rested on his shoulders.

“Hey,” she said as she approached, giving him the most reassuring smile she could muster. When no further words were forthcoming she instead moved on instinct and wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight.

She was smiling, but it still looked strained, as if she was pushing herself just for him not to make him worry, and that didn't exactly help.

Clint could only relax a little when she was the one initiating the embrace. He pressed her against him carefully, like she could break any second, in case she needed out of his hold quickly, in case she couldn't deal with any more pressure right now. He hid his face against her neck, fed up with the whole stupid situation and mostly himself. Just one day of getting everything right, was that so hard, Barton?

"I'm stupid. I forgot", he finally mumbled, because he still couldn't think of anything else to say. "I'll try to be more creative next time."

Holding Clint so close, hearing the steady rhythm of his heart, Natasha finally felt her calm returning. Of course he proceeded to apologise and berate himself and she shook her head against him.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have let it affect me me so badly,” she said, taking a deep breath, just breathing him in. “I don’t believe in superstitions, they’re stupid, but I panicked. It was stupid.”

So here they were, two master assassins arguing over who was more stupid in what should have been a simple situation. Life was strange.

This was becoming so absurd that Clint now actually had to laugh, a dry, quiet chuckle, but it was better than nothing.

"Well, at least we're stupid together."

He pressed a few small, soft kisses to Natasha's neck and ran his fingertips gently through her hair, ever so softly, bringing a little order back both to her curls and hopefully into her troubled soul. They wouldn't stop going crazy about all this anytime soon, not until the pregnancy had progressed somewhat further, hopefully without problems. But instead of both freaking out, they should at least try help the partner in such a situation.

"We'll do better next time."

Another long kiss to her shoulder, then he softly guided her back to look at him, his smile.

"Peanut is fine, and you are too, right? We're getting this done. We're the best at what we do, remember?"

It really was ridiculous, and when Clint chuckled it really drove that point home. Her own short laugh was hoarse but it seemed to break the tension and she stopped clinging to him, instead settling into a comfortable embrace.

If they were both this stupid about everything then how were they even going to make this work? Because they had each other, and they would work it out like they always did. “I almost pity the kid,” she said, trying to make a joke though her heart wasn’t full in it. Clint handled it a little better with his gentle touch and kisses soothing her mind, body and soul.

Leaning back to look up at him at his urgings, she returned his smile, and while hers was still faint it was genuine. “But this isn’t what we do,” she said before shaking her head. “Just another new challenge, right? Never did shy away from those.”

"Damn right we won't. We're getting this done."

Clint touched that shy smile gently with a fingertip and then kissed it, just to keep it right there. His arms tightened around her waist, just enough to hold her close and assure her, he always had her. They had somehow caught their breath, which was probably better too, out right here in the public. But if Natasha ever needed to fall, needed to break... He would be there to put her back together.

"Come on, let's walk a little."

He pushed the last of her curls out of her face and pressed another short kiss to her forehead but let go off her then. Some people were climbing up the stairs to the restaurant, and he didn't want Natasha exposed in such a vulnerable mood if it could be avoided.

Clint sounded so sure, so determined, and it was exactly what Natasha needed right then. If she had any chance of getting through this at one piece it was with Clint there to hold her together. Returning the embrace again she felt her worries subsiding for now, along with her embarrassment at her silly behaviour. It didn’t matter, not when they were together. Clint understood, just as she understood him. It was only a minor stumbling point, and she would not let it ruin their night.

Finally pulling away, Natasha was glad that the couple that passed them seemed to think they had just been making out in the stair well, and she quickly followed Clint’s lead. Stopping to remove her shoes once more, she took his hand as they stepped out onto the sand. With the sun down the sand was slowly growing colder, and she liked the feel of it under her toes.

“Tomorrow we should look through those books and figure out what we need to know and do right now,” she said. Clearly they couldn’t avoid talking about it, so maybe if they made a plan and knew what to expect and what not to do it would make everything easier. A plan should at least set her mind at ease a little.

The ‘tomorrow’ bit was very important, though.

"Sounds like a good plan. Educating ourselves in our holiday. Hill would be so proud."

They were back passing by the beaches where the young people were partying and Clint took Natasha's hand again while they walked, searching contact, touch. Both to reassure her and himself that they had left that small bump in the road behind and could go on enjoy their evening now. More time for serious talk and think through the upcoming proceedings tomorrow.

He was feeling too full both in body and mind for another dance, so he lead Natasha past the partying people. Soon they reached a very small spot between said party and the next, locked beach area. Protected from watchers on the street by a low well, they could sit down on one of the big rocks leading to the water like they had done it just a few days ago.

Only he pulled Natasha onto his lap this time so she didn't have the cold, hard stone against her thin dress, and wrapped his arms around her waist. It was a much quieter, melancholic mood but still just as beautiful as in the restaurant. The ocean was nothing but a black moving mass now, with the moon and the stars reflected in a glittering blur.

He rested his face against Natasha's shoulder, just breathing, feeling her against him for a while and enjoying the marvel of their view. Slowly he could feel the rest of unease slip away, that he really enjoyed feeling Natasha close to him again instead of holding on to her. And that her warmth and the softness of her skin wasn't just creeping into his soul anymore but reminded his hormones, they had had some plans for tonight.

"Ready for the rest of your night, beautiful?"

And just like that it was settled; the rough moment had passed and they had a plan for tomorrow that would hopefully prevent more moments in the future. With Clint’s hand in hers and the cool sand under her feet, Natasha felt herself further relaxing with each step.

It was tempting to pull him in for another dance when they reached the party again, but she was more in the mood for something slow and that didn’t fit the up tempo music that was playing, so she let him lead on until they found a deserted spot. She could still hear the music they had left behind but it wasn’t entirely intrusive and the sound of the waves lapping at the beach helped to drown it out somewhat.

When Clint settled on the large rock, Natasha was about to brush the sand off the space beside him when he pulled her into his lap. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders with a light laugh, she let her shoes fall to the sand and settled against him. Resting her cheek on top of his head, she stared out across the dark water at the little lights that littered it like stars. All the bad feelings slowly faded away and she was left with only the happiness and comfort that she found most easily in Clint’s arms.

Eventually he spoke and a smiled curled her lips. She was glad to know that she hadn’t ruined their whole evening. She had just caused a minor delay.

“I do believe I am, handsome,” she teased, shifting slightly on his lap in what could have been a completely innocent movement but was probably nothing of the sort.

Clint let out a small hiss of surprise at the teasing movement and tightened his grasp around Natasha's waist instinctively. Fortunately, just in time his brains overrode his hormones again and he shifted away from her a little, to reign in that dangerous heat just waiting below the surface. Waiting for a last spark.

If they started as much as cuddling around here, he might get one or the other bad idea about the deceiving remoteness of this place. And then the next best person leaving one of the parties around them might get to see a lot more of them than he was willing to show in public.

So he answered her little game only with a gentle nibbling on her shoulder and prompted her to get up instead, so they could make their way back to the car.

"Well, then, if you have nothing else planned..."

While his actions prompted her to take it easy, though, his voice was challenging her to play around a little more if she liked.

Natasha grinned for the briefest second at Clint’s reaction before schooling her expression into one of the utmost innocence. Clearly the serious moment had truly passed and he was ready to get back to the earlier dirty talk, not to mention the follow through.

He managed to behave himself well enough, though, though his movements were a little rushed as he urged her to get off of his lap so they could make their way back to the car. It was going to be a long ride back to the house.

Retrieving her shoes, Natasha smoothed out her dress and brushed her hair back from her face, stretching and arching just right to accentuate her curves. “Nothing in particular planned,” she said, starting back up the beach toward the road. “Unless you want to join the party again.”

She knew the last thing he wanted right now was to mingle with a group of people, to share her and have to behave himself, which was why she couldn’t resist suggesting it. it was the last thing she wanted as well.

By now Clint was outright staring when Natasha presented her body so perfectly for him, and that promising warm tingling in his loins was becoming hard to ignore. Finally he had to force himself to look away, or he might have had trouble concentrating on the way home.

"I think we can have our own party at home", he mused when he joined Natasha on the way to the car, just half a second too late. Moving a little closer to her and wrapping his arm around her waist, so none of the people they passed on the way could hear, he added: "Because you know... You were fucking hot when we had that Samba earlier. I'm not against a repeat performance... This time without an audience..."

His fingertips drew playful circles over her hips, wandering just a little too deep.

Of course Natasha noticed the way Clint was looking at her, though she pretended not to. She did throw him a look, though, when it took him a little longer to fall into step with her than it should have.

Pressed comfortably against his side as they walked, she grinned at his words, the quiet ones meant only for her. “Mm, your own private dance, hmm?” It wouldn’t be the first time she had done exotic dancing, whether it be a striptease or a lap dance, and though that wasn’t exactly what Clint was referring to she was still putting the offer out there. She certainly wouldn’t mind performing for him with the way he looked at her so reverently and treated her the same.

“Or our own private dance.” Of course a dance together like that samba with no audience nor restrictions sounded rather delicious.

"Hmm... Wouldn't mind either way."

Clint turned his head to press a playful kiss to Natasha's ear and give it a soft nip before turning back to the street quickly. He didn't mind the amused glances of people passing them by. But it was no good running them into a column, just because Natasha was just too goddamn tempting to not touch her.

"Though, if we do this right, it would be my turn to dance for you tonight... Not sure you want to see this."

He laughed quietly and shuddered a little, remembering a very particular embarrassing undercover mission in a nightclub.

Even with the attention Clint didn’t falter in his step, as that would have just slowed them down, and it was pretty clear that neither of them wanted that right now.

Laughing at his words and the image they created, Natasha shook her head. “Maybe another time,” she said, moving her hand to rest just above his ass. “I think this time I’d rather have your hands on me like back at the party.”

Finally reaching the car she sat sideways in the passenger seat and brushed the sand from her feet once more before swinging her legs into the car and shutting the door.

"That certainly can be arranged."

Clint shivered under her touch and closed his eyes for a moment too long. It was getting harder and harder, battling the rising heat, the desire to push Natasha against the side of the car and make out like teenagers right here and now. Not in public.

He still couldn't resist leaning over once they were seated. Just for a few moments couldn't hurt, right? Just a slow, tentative kiss, playful sweeps of his tongue against her lips while his hand traveled up and down her leg, fingertips sneaking under that teasing slit in her dress.

No sooner had she shut the door when Clint was leaning over for a little taste of what was to come to tide him over for the drive. He kept his kiss and his touches sweet and playful, but she could feel the urgency lingering just below the surface and knew he was exercising a good deal of self restraint right then.

For a moment she gave in, kissing him back and letting his hand wander before her own covered it and stopped the movement.

“Keep that up, hotshot, and you’re just going to make the drive back even harder”, she said, grinning against his lips.

Clint groaned a little at the pun but had to admit Natasha was right as usual. Getting himself too worked up to drive certainly wouldn't help coming home.

"Going back to that as soon as we arrive", he grumbled, pouting a little, and then finally started the car.

He meant to keep that promise so he did his best to concentrate on the drive and the crowded streets only and even took it a little slower than necessary to keep them save.

But as soon as they were parked in their quiet and at this time of the day empty street, the motor wasn't even quite off yet when he leaned back over to Natasha. Some days they would tease each other for hours and hours and others he just wanted to feel her touch so badly that he couldn't even wait until they were inside. Right now he definitely needed to kiss her.

Natasha had strongly considered being a complete and utter tease the entire drive, but as crowded and winding as the streets were she figured it was best to behave herself. Such actions were best saved for deserted highways.

As predicted, though, the drive seemed to last forever, but at least there were lots of sights to see on the way. Still, she was hardly surprised when Clint was on her the second he cut the engine. Curling her fingers around the back of his neck, she eagerly returned the kiss. She could still taste the remnants of their meal on his lips and couldn’t resist drawing his lower lip in between her teeth and giving it a not quite gentle nip.

“We should take this inside,” she breathed against his lips. “Not much room for dancing here.”

Clint's hand had just found its way under Natasha's dress again, so letting go off her was a strain, but somehow he managed to pull back with just a little sigh on his lips. A few more seconds, he could do that, no matter how perfect she tasted and how soft her skin felt under his eagerly searching fingertips.

"The things I can do in a car, beautiful, you'd be amazed", he couldn't help but tease her though before he forced himself to get out.

The spot where her teeth had been a second ago burned deliciously and demanded for more. Pleasant, tingling heat thrummed through his body, concentrating mainly on his mid-section, and he knew he would be gone the moment they closed that door behind them.

Which was exactly why he fumbled with the keys a second longer than necessary, to tell himself to cool it. He was no teenager, for fuck's sake, he had himself perfectly under control. Yep. Definitely.

Until he held the door open for Natasha at least, and finally could close it behind them. That was when he already had her in his arms again, still standing with his back to the door and kissed her like she had the last of oxygen in the world.

Had she left it any longer things probably would have gotten out of hand real quick. Clint was barely restraining himself as it was, and despite the compact quality of the car they didn’t exactly need a lot of room to find their pleasure.

“I’m sure I would,” she replied with a grin. Waiting until he backed off and got out first, Natasha followed after, her movements much calmer and more relaxed than Clint’s. Raising her eyebrows at him while he fumbled with the keys, her expression turned very teasing and heated when she passed by him to enter the house. The door had barely shut behind him before he was pulling her into his arms and practically devouring her mouth.

Giving back as good as she got, Natasha backed him into the door, freeing one hand just long enough to slip the lock before grabbing a handful of that perfect ass and pulling him tight against her.

Clint groaned into her mouth when her hand started wandering and ground against her, to let her feel how quickly his body could respond to a game like this once he allowed himself. He dropped the keys carelessly to the floor to have both hands free, one tangled in Natasha's hair, the other eagerly making its way down from her neck to her breasts. Massaging and caressing and teasing her perfect curves through the thin fabric of her dress, he kept on roaming her mouth hungrily, teasing every little sensitive spot of flesh he could reach. Then he pulled back just enough to suck her lower lip between his teeth, nibbling and moaning as the pulsating desire in his lower body grew with every second.

Somewhere in the back of his head a voice whispered that they had planned on doing... something when they came home. He decided there would be plenty enough time to do the thing later when he didn't feel like taking her right here and now anymore.

Right now it was so much more interesting dropping his hand to her hips and making his way under her dress again. With nothing to stop him this time, he quickly made best use of that perfect teasing slit on the side to pull her dress up and make his way higher until his hand was on her ass, grabbing her firmly and pulling her even closer against his quickly growing erection.

She moaned and arched against his hand as he kneaded and caressed her through her dress. He always knew just how to handle her, just the right pressure to apply, when to tease and when to be earnest. He listened to her body and responded to every shiver and moan, and some nights Natasha thought he might know her body even better than she did.

All night his mind had barely strayed from that teasing slit in her skirt, which was honestly the sole reason she had chosen it because she knew him that well too. This time when he let his hand roam she didn’t stop him, instead rewarding him and letting him claim his prize. She could feel him pressing hard against her, his erection straining his pants, and she eagerly moved her hands to his belt, wanting to free him, wanting to get her hands on him, wanting to fuck him senseless against the door or on the kitchen counter or anywhere close. All their plans could wait until later, once the almost overwhelming animal lust was satisfied.

Realizing that no matter how well she had behaved during the evening, Natasha was just as impatient as he was, had Clint grin against her lips. He wisely shut up about it though and put his mouth to much better use with another longing kiss.

e took his hand long enough from her chest to help her with opening his pants, then he was right back to circling her hard nipples with his thumb and gently pinching them between his knuckles in turn. Just tight enough to draw these sweet little moans from her lips he loved so much.

His other hand had been busy shoving her dress further up so it was much easier know, kneading her perfect ass and thighs, caressing her everywhere he could reach and it was definitely not enough yet. It wasn't long before his hand was on the inside of her thigh and then higher, and just feeling her hot and turned on through her panties had him groan into her mouth once more.

"Need you out of that dress, beautiful", he murmured, giving up on her lips just long enough for that statement, then he was right back at nibbling on her lower lip and plundering her mouth with his tongue.

Dancing in the Dark (for farmboyhawk)

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