Dancing in the Dark (for farmboyhawk)

[study_in_scarlet]

They didn’t get a lot of time off together, at least not enough to make a trip away worthwhile, so for this one weekend they decided to stay in the city and play tourist for the day.

They had started with a walk through Central Park before grabbing an early lunch at one of the city’s many street vendors and then wandering through the American Museum of Natural history. Natasha found the Hall of Minerals fascinating while Clint had gotten a kick out of all the dinosaur bones. They both enjoyed laying under the big blue whale with all the normal people.

Afterwards they went to a nice restaurant for supper, blending into the crowd of normal couples as best they could and Natasha actually forgot if she was playing a role or being herself as they finished their wine and shared their desserts.

“Thank you,” she said sincerely as they left the restaurant, stepping back into the cool night air. Nearby a busker played guitar and sang with surprising melody and soul, barely seeming to notice as people threw change into his open case, so caught up was he in his music.


Comments

[farmboyhawk]

"Love watching you..."

His trembling hand reached up to push her hair aside so he could go all over her neck and ear with his lips, with special attention concentrated on the sensitive skin of her lobe and right below. But his eyes never left the mirror, not missing a single reaction, not a second of her eyes closing, her lips trembling with her moans.

His own pupils were blown wide, his chest rising and falling quickly, his spine tensing up with pleasure every time, Natasha's strong legs worked his hard length. Small milky drops of precum were staining her skin, until he thought he couldn't take it anymore. The delicious wet sounds of his cock teasing through her tender, wet folds drove him wild.

Already his hand was down between her legs, slowly spreading her lips apart for him. He wanted to watch her when he pushed inside her, see it in her face how much she enjoyed it, hear it in her voice. They had gone from teasing and ordering to action very soon but he didn't really worry about that... He was pretty sure, Natasha would still be in a mood for her little revenge later, when there was plenty of time and the needed tools at hand.

He went slow, gentle and especially careful given the little preparation they had had, which made it much more intensive for him as well, and harder to keep his eyes open. But somehow he managed it, stifling his moans against Natasha's shoulder as her warmth engulfed him, pressing down on him just as hard as her hand could.

[study_in_scarlet]

She tried to keep her eyes open, but it felt far too good when he nibbled at her skin right where he knew she most enjoyed it, so she let herself relax, her head rolling to the side to give him better access to her neck. With each breath in, though, she would open her eyes to catch a glimpse of him before letting them close once more.

They were moving fast but she was ready for him when he slowly pushed inside, ever gentle and caring. Digging her nails into the counter at either side of the sink, she held back a moan, not wanting to be loud enough to draw attention to them so that they got caught. She could be loud for him later, when they were on their own with nobody else around.

Leaning forward to adjust the angle, her breath hitched slightly and it took a moment before she could open her eyes again to meet his in the mirror. “Hard and fast,” she whispered, bracing herself.

[farmboyhawk]

"Fuck, Nat..."

Clint meant to tell her how much it turned him own when she got that kind of bossy, just telling out clearly what she wanted and needed... And all without the stale taste of such encounters years ago, when there had been always the need for control, the hidden fears lying underneath. But he thought, she would feel it pretty well, from the way, his body pressed against hers, trembling hard, and his hardness twitched inside her tight wetness, just the stimulation of her body moving around him already drawing growls and moans from his lips.

"You look so fucking hot like that", he whispered, breathlessly, his eyes locked on her face when he started to move inside her. Just the way she had asked for it, entering her deep and tight with every thrust, rolling his hips to let her feel it just where she needed it most.

His hand stayed seated between her legs, quickly dancing fingertips seeking out to tease her clit between his movements while his other arm was firmly wrapped around her, supporting her position. Her wetness engulfing him sounded through the small room in rhythm with their moans, and in the mirror he could see himself biting down on his lip hard, trying to contain his sounds of pleasure, without too much success. Already his vision blurred from the too fast, too intensive heat floating through his body, and God, this definitely wouldn't be lasting very long.

"God... Tash'..."

[study_in_scarlet]

At his words Natasha grinned wickedly at him in the mirror, and then he was moving, pushing into her hard and deep every time, and it was getting increasingly difficult to keep quiet. If anyone passed too close, or was waiting outside then they would surely hear the sounds both of them were making.

Clint always seemed to know exactly what she needed, and with his fingers working her clit while he pounded her from behind she could already feel that excitement building up inside. Catching sight of his reflection again, she shook her head slightly. “Not your lip,” she panted when she saw him biting rather hard on his lower lip, not wanting him to damage that mouth of his in any way. “Me.” Whether her shirt or her skin she didn’t care, she would rather him stifling his cries against her.

As if to demonstrate she took hold of the arm he had wrapped around her and raised it to her lips, keeping her other hand braced hard against the counter. Drawing the soft skin where his thumb met his hand into her mouth, she muffled her cries against it, biting down not hard enough to break the skin, but enough that he could definitely feel it.

[farmboyhawk]

Clint cursed when the new surge of adrenaline from that delicious little pain left his cock twitching just harder inside her. He stopped for a moment, pressing his hips hard against hers, so her slick skin caressed his groin, promising, warm and soft.

Temptation was big indeed to return the favor, leave another of these sweet red marks on her shoulder or neck... But he knew from experience that in this position, the angle wouldn't be the best. And he was determined to make her come really good even in such a short, hot encounter.

So he straightened up instead, as much as possible to not deprive Nat of her improvised gag and still keep on stimulate her swollen clit between his fingertips before he started thrusting into her again, picking up speed.

"Look at me, please", he murmured, seeking her gaze in the mirror again. "Want to see you when you come all over my cock..."

That much he still managed to get out in a quiet enough voice, but then he had to bite down on the fabric of his own shirt to keep it down, because fuck... She felt fucking amazing.

[study_in_scarlet]

Even when he stopped moving she could still feel him twitching inside her, so she contracted her muscles around him and sucked softly at his hand. She was a little disappointed when he straightened up leaving then with less bodily contact, but when he started thrusting again the angle was just right to hit her exactly where she needed it.

His voice was rough when he spoke, but it was the word ‘please’ that made her bite him again and push back against him. She liked when he let himself take control and instructed her what to do, but the fact that he actually still asked so politely in the middle of everything was strangely hot.

Brushing her hair back and over one shoulder so he could clearly see her face, it was a struggle to keep her eyes open but she did as asked and held his gaze intensely. She watched him bite into his own shirt and answered with another bite to his hand before sucking on the skin gently, soothing it with her tongue.

She could feel that familiar feeling in her stomach, knew she was getting close, but she couldn’t keep herself from muttering one word. “Harder.”

Holding back the scream she felt welling up was not going to be easy, but luckily she was trained in such things. Who knew training in how to handle torture would come in handy in such a pleasurable situation?

[farmboyhawk]

That was something she didn't need to tell him twice. After the slightly rushed beginning, she had gotten used to the hectic act by now, softly, relaxed engulfing him. Save for these little wicked games of her muscles of course, that had him moan and tremble, everytime he withdrew from her just to enter her up to the hilt again.

The lose rhythm picked up even more speed, his hips now transferring all that strength that lifelong training had left in his legs, into his hard pounds, and with every of these movements he was very careful to hit that one spot deep inside just right.

It would have been difficult to keep it together in such an intensive game on a normal day already, but with Natasha's flushed, highly pleasured face so beautifully displayed right in front of his eyes... He actually had trouble not finishing this before she could reach the peak of this pleasure. In sight yet, judging from her blown pupils and the way her muscles spasmed around him more frequently... but not quite yet.

He tried to match the idle movement on his fingertips with his thrusts, finding her clit swollen and tender to his gentle rubs, so he could actually manage to pinch it softly between thumb and forefinger. Seeking to hear even more of these beautiful moans that she could hardly contain, see her lose control even more in her sweat covered face.

The familiar heat coiled hard in his lower body again and this time he didn't stop, just let it wash over him while he kept on caressing her and doing his best to muffle the sound from his lips with his own improvised gag... But fuck, that was anything but easy, with the mark of her teeth she had left still burning on his skin, the sweetest pain imaginable, and her hot wetness clamping down on him so tightly.

He threw his head back, groaning loudly between his teeth and pinched that little sensitive nub between his fingertips again, just hard enough to match his thrusts, while he felt his orgasm build quickly inside, searing hot and unstoppable.

[study_in_scarlet]

Besides a quiet grunt or moan each time Clint hit that sweet spot Natasha managed to stay fairly quiet. She always could stay quiet if she wanted to, but with Clint she rarely did. With Clint she could relax and let herself go; she could voice her pleasure as loudly and wildly as she wanted. It felt good not to hold back, and she knew he loved it when she was loud and free, but now was certainly not the time and place for that. He would have plenty of time to make her scream over the next few weeks.

What was more difficult was keeping her eyes on his when they just wanted to close. Letting go of his hand she dropped hers back to the counter to grip the edge with both now, her knuckles going white as she held on. His fingers worked her just perfectly sending a further shock of pleasure through her with each thrust. Finally she let her eyes close and hung her head, her breathing coming shallower by the moment. Forcing her eyes open she saw his head thrown back, his jaw clenched tightly, the veins in his arms bulging and it was so fucking beautiful a sight to see him enthralled with so much pleasure, pleasure that she was giving him, that when he pinched her clit just that much harder as he thrusted into her she felt the world go white as her orgasm took her over the edge.

[farmboyhawk]

For long seconds they were both completely lost in the height of their lust, hips tightly entwined, the delicious contractions of Natasha's muscles around him prolonging the ending of this spontaneous hot intercourse.

Clint pulled her into his arms when her trembling died down, held her gently against his chest with his face pressed into her neck and tried to catch his breath.

What maybe he could have told her, he already had, so he just caressed her gently while he helped her straighten her clothes and reached for some paper towels, giving it to her to clean herself. He didn't like to hurry that much when they were both still pretty high, but they didn't need any nosy personal or flight guests throwing them meaningful glances.

There still had to be time for a few tender, open mouthed kisses onto her neck though, a tired but satisfied sigh with closed eyes while he pulled her in for another tight hug.

"Vacation couldn't start better", he murmured into her ear, smiling.

[study_in_scarlet]

Natasha sagged back against Clint’s chest when he held her close, her eyes closed and one hand sliding up to cup the back of his neck while he nuzzled into hers. She could feel his heart pounding against her back and as his breathing slowed hers matched it. Unfortunately there wasn’t much time to bask in the afterglow, and soon they were cleaning up and redressing as quick as they could in the tiny space. Washing her hands, Natasha was just drying them off when Clint pulled her back against him again, and she smiled at him in the mirror as he softly kissed her neck.

“This will certainly make the rest of the flight more bearable,” she said. Turning in his arms, she wrapped hers around his neck and kissed him slowly, tenderly. All the stress of the day, from the meeting with Fury to the long hours of travel to Clint’s melancholy in Germany was all gone, and she felt completely relaxed once more.

“Don’t forget to wash your hands,” she teased as she pulled back, giving him one last quick kiss before slipping out of his arms and through the door.

[farmboyhawk]

Clint watched her leave with a soft smile and took a few minutes himself to not look like... well, like after a good hot fuck anymore.

He felt calmer when he joined her again, partly surely because of this most erotic little exchange.... But also because they had left hostile boarders behind, so to speak, and their destination was getting closer with every minute.

It was one of the things he loved about Europe, that you could cross from one country to another in a heartbeat here, all of them filled with their own history, language, culture, beauties and pains. He especially had lost his heart on the South Island of Italy, when he had had to explore the blackest depths of Mafia dealings years ago. The more the plane neared that huge Island, very much looking like the ball, the boot-shaped Italian country was playing with, a comforting warm feeling of home began to settle.

They were just in time to see all shades of orange burn into the ocean and it would be probably about midnight when they would reach their destination, but he didn't care. A coffee could take care of that, and no country in this world had better coffee than Italy. Also, he enjoyed driving that long highway right along the ocean through Sicily's landscapes, especially at night with no one else around.

Amused, he watched himself get up as one of the first when they had landed, impatient to get out of these too small, too crowded rooms. He handed Natasha her bag like a perfect gentleman and lead her outside, though the small arrival building to one of the two baggage carousels. Humid, warm air welcomed them, pine-trees still fresh and green outside the small glass building, speaking of a warm autumn, and he smiled. Italy knew how to welcome them, definitely.

"Old informant of mine left me a car a few blocks from here. Are you tired? Should we take a cab there?"

[study_in_scarlet]

The remainder of the flight passed comfortably, with both of them either enjoying the view or just each other’s presence. They said little, but small talk was unnecessary for them; it was just something they engaged in when they wanted to, not because they were afraid of uncomfortable with silence.

When they finally landed, Clint wasn’t the only one amused to find that he was on his feet the second the seatbelt sign went out, and trying to get off the plane as quickly and easily as possible. It didn’t take them long to get their bags and exit the airport, and as soon as they stepped out of the air conditioned building the heat hit them like a wave. Good thing she packed light.

“We can drive. It will be better having our own car,” she replied. Besides, old habits died hard, and getting a cab would leave a sort of record of where they were going, not that they were really hiding, but a spy never truly goes on vacation. The plane tickets were enough; a car that wasn’t a rental was better than a cab any day.

[farmboyhawk]

"Definitely. It's not parked far from here."

Clint hadn't wanted the car right at the airport. Just as much a security measure like sanding certain e-mails concerning their holiday through several addresses and countries to make it untraceable. S.H.I.E.L.D. of course would still find them if they really wanted to, but they had a good headstart.

He stopped only for a cup of takeaway coffee on the way out - and even that stuff in a plastic cup was better than everything you got served overseas - and lead Natasha through the small, quiet valleys to that certain parking spot then. The old Fiat was waiting there, just like requested, a little dirty but fully functional. Well used looking plates, registered on the old identity he had made up back then during mafia times... They were practically already off the grid, and God, he enjoyed it far more than he probably should.

He found himself grinning when he pulled the car out to said highway, steering along the ocean right below them while the sun vanished on the horizon. So they both still had it in them, it seemed.

With every kilometer nearing that certain small village in the shadow of the Etna Volcano he felt the tension fall off him more. Salty, clean air floated in through the open windows and he allowed himself to breathe deep, understand and internalize that there was no mission to worry about, no hurry to get to the hiding place as quickly as possible, not even many weapons to speak of in his luggage. Only Natasha and him enjoying some time together.

"Better not wake me up if this is a dream, okay?"

[study_in_scarlet]

“Well, it is certainly inconspicuous,” Natasha teased when she saw the car. It looked well worn, and would certainly blend in easily among any other traffic around instead of sticking out like a shiny new rental. Clint really had thought this through, not that she expected any less of him.

Settling into the passenger side seat, she glanced over at him just as the sun was setting, the fading orange glow lighting up the smile on his face, and for a moment she felt warm in a way that had nothing to do with the heat. He looked so free, so relaxed, already and whatever happened during or because of this trip she knew it was the right choice.

Turning her face toward the window, she watched the scenery pass by, not even bothering trying to tame the wild hair that the wind blew around her head. Only when he spoke again did she lazily roll her head along the back of the seat to look at him again. “It’s not,” was all she said.

[farmboyhawk]

"Good."

Keeping his eyes on the street, Clint reached out to rest his hand on Natasha's knee, without any unpure motives this time, just softly caressing her through her clothes. Just like the young gigolos who were on a fun ride with their girls Saturday night. They both weren't too young anymore - sometimes he had a feeling, Natasha would really never grow of age - but at least tonight, coming home under a clear sky, he felt a little like it.

They actually did pass by a few street festivities like you could find them every night on the beaches of Isola Bella and Letojanni on their way, but he didn't halt, not tonight. Tonight he just wanted to hold Natasha in his arms, rest from the journey and thank her for being here with him.

The small, curvy serpentines up to Taormina village slowed him down a little bit. As much as he loved his adrenaline, he hadn't ridden streets like this for some time. And in Italy, traffic rules were pretty much a matter of not getting yourself or the biker next to you killed.

But finally he could park his car in the entrance of a small one story house, one that would look more inviting in a bright red and a well gardened hedge around it in the morning light. Angelina did a good job coming by here every month. It wasn't something Clint hadn't always afforded easily through the years but it had been worth it.

When they brought their luggage in, windows were opened, insect nets perfectly installed, even some fresh fruit was waiting on the counter. It smelled like autumn leave and Angelina's famous Pasta Bolognese probably waiting in the freezer. The furniture had been uncovered from its protection and awaited them clean and inviting. Dark, simple, mostly wood, the way Clint was used to it from very early childhood though he hadn't realized until much later why he had chosen this particular home. Sometimes it was a bit scary, but he liked it here. And he had made his share of good memory here, unlike in that long burned down farm in Iowa.

And he planned to make some more.

"Mylady..."

He probably should do a quick check of the security facilities before they crashed. That was something he didn't leave to his good old housekeeper soul.

But right now he had priorities. Dropping his suitcase where it would fall in the middle of the living room, he pulled Natasha close for a long gentle kiss, her face softly held between his hands, their bodies close enough for her to feel his slightly quickened heartbeat. It was ridiculous but... He kind of hoped, she liked it. It wasn't exactly luxury standard, but it was cozy.

It was where he could be happy and there weren't many places like this these days.

[study_in_scarlet]

The drive was pleasant, the scenery beautiful, but Natasha was glad when they finally pulled up outside the small house and were able to get out of the car and stretch their legs. It had been a long day of traveling and being stuck in small spaces, but finally they had made it.

Following Clint into the house, she took in every sight and every smell. The air was warm yet fresh, and inside something a bit spicy. The house was simple but homey, looking loved and lived in with its dark furniture and simple design. The windows had been opened, the rooms aired out and dusted, and everything was prepared. It was an unexpected surprise, and Natasha felt herself warm to the place immediately. It was perfect, so much better than any resort could ever be with their usual hotel furniture and bland artwork.

Turning back to Clint, she didn’t even have time to speak any praise before he was pulling her in for a kiss. Sliding her arms around his waist, she held him loosely and kissed him back before smiling against his lips. “You definitely know how to pick a spot,” she said, opening her eyes to look up at him. “It’s lovely.”

[farmboyhawk]

"I try. Sometimes you do get a lucky find."

Clint was pretty sure he made it not to blush, but his smile revealed his relief. It was childish, of course, such things shouldn't matter, but especially since the country had been his idea, he really was glad that the house did it. He wanted Natasha to be as comfortable as possible.

Starting with adapting to the climate of course, and it had absolutely nothing to do with his enlightened mood or the sense of freedom settling in more and more, that he made a good example of getting out of his shirt first thing. Really, just getting used to the temperature.

"Not much to see, but if you want to take a look around..."

He made a vague gesture to bath-, bed- and storeroom on his way to the kitchen. Yep, and of course Angelina had taken care of the empty fridge too. He made a mental note to send an extra tip with the next cheque and poured out two big glasses of water for the first of heat and thirst. There even were icecubes and lemon slice cut ready. Already he began to remember why he loved that country and its people so much.

"Come with me for a second?"

Handing Natasha her glass, he nodded to the bedroom door. Again, nothing special, but the little balcony right in sight of the bed was definitely the best part of this house. And before they would take care of all the boring stuff like unpacking and checking on the alarm systems, he just needed to see.

Even now at night you could spot the lights of the ships from afar, and a light wind carried the faint smell of the ocean even up here. Clint rested his arms on the balustrade, like he had done it a thousand times before and just leaned there for a long moment, silently, trying to comprehend.

So... They had really done it. He wasn't delusional enough to think, all nightmares and fears would be chased away by the sound of waves from afar or taking on a few pounds from too much pasta. But standing here where he had spent so many lonely evenings in the past, with only the peace and silence of an ocean breeze could force away the pictures of violence from his mind... That surely wasn't something he hadn't expected last week, while fantasizing about killing the next whitecoat in sight with a pen if he had to hear the word deprogramming just once more.

[study_in_scarlet]

Natasha understood his relief, and found it rather endearing. This trip was for him, the location had been his idea, so of course he would worry she wouldn’t like it. He had always worried way more than he should about pleasing her and making her happy, though she certainly appreciated it. It was not something she was used to, though.

Giving her eyes a playful roll when he wasted no time in stripping off his shirt, she fell in a step behind him as he led her through the house, pointing out various rooms on the way. “And a fully stocked fridge?” Natasha said, impressed. “I feel bad for thinking you did nothing but nap while I packed.” Except she didn’t look like she felt bad at all, just thoroughly pleased.

Gratefully taking the glass of water, she took a large gulp before continuing the tour into the bedroom, which was the room she was most interested in seeing tonight. As much as she wanted to see everything and explore every bit of this house that Clint seemed to love so much, the idea of crawling into bed sounded really good right now too.

Following him out onto the small balcony, her eyes lit up at the picture before her. “It’s beautiful,” she breathed, leaning one arm on the rail and resting her glass beside it. For a moment she just took it all in - the sights, the sounds, the smells - before finally turning her eyes to Clint again. “I can see why you wanted to come here.”

[farmboyhawk]

Her voice lead him out of this good-natured type of melancholy, and only blinking, slowly, to clear his sight, Clint realized that he had been close to dozing off actually, even while he was still completely lost in memory and satisfaction. Well, yeah, it had been a long day.

Natasha looked just as tired, so he delayed all the kind of things he could have told her about the house, the village, the island, to another time and lead the way back inside with a knowing smile.

"I'll do a quick check up of the alarm system. Feel free to crash in the meantime."

He just stopped shortly by the broad bed to take the cover off and shook his head with a grin when he spotted the chocolate pralines on each pillow pile. Baci, these were called, the Italian word for kiss, and especially prepared in hotels for young couples as a welcome present. Obviously he hadn't been awfully discreet about not arriving alone in his e-mail.

"Just a fair warning, I give them two weeks before they want to prepare our wedding out in the village."

[study_in_scarlet]

When Clint looked at her she could see that he was practically asleep on his feet, and if she were honest she wasn’t far from it. It had been a tiring day, both physically and emotionally, but finally they could relax. There were no meetings to get up for in the morning, they could stay in bed as long as they wanted. There were no training sessions to go to, so they could spend the whole day on the beach. They could explore the village, or not even leave the house; whatever they wanted to do. Whatever they wanted. Whatever they wanted. For the next few weeks, at least, their time was entirely their own.

Following him back inside, Natasha finished her water and set the glass aside before her eyes fell on the chocolates on the pillow and she gave a light laugh. “Is it improper us being here, unwed?” she asked. She was unsure of the customs and beliefs of this particular village, so it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to think so.

There were a lot of things she never considered on the rare occasions she thought about her future, and marriage was one of them. She had been married once, and ‘widow’ was not simply just part of her codename. The marriage had been arranged, but she had grown to love him, and his death had devastated her. It was what had caused her deflect, to strike out on her own and make her own way in the world. She had sworn never again, that she would never let herself be so vulnerable again, never let herself feel so deeply for another.

She hadn’t counted on Clint Barton.

[farmboyhawk]

"Nah, they did grow a little more modern in the last 50 years or something."

Clint laughed quietly but quickly pulled Natasha in for a kiss on her forehead when he noticed her frown. Sometimes it still happened, no matter how well he knew her, he touched subjects that should be better left alone and only realized when it was too late. Fortunately he knew her well enough after all these years to pass such situations without doing even more damage.

"They might ask us a few times on the market if we have plans anytime soon, but it's all in good spirit, really. Love and family are held very high in Italy. They like to see people happy. And since I'm never happier than with you..."

Another soft, nearly chaste kiss on her lips followed.

"We'll fit in perfectly."

[study_in_scarlet]

It was going to be a bit strange at first, to not only be completely open about their relationship, but to do so in front of people that knew Clint and would come to know her. It was easy holding hands in a crowded airport where nobody knew them, but something entirely different to be a couple around people that would talk to them, be interested in them.

It was a little thrilling, to be honest. No cover, no mission, just them and a chance to live how normal people lived.

“I think I might like it here,” Natasha replied, smiling warmly at him. Stealing one last quick kiss she abruptly pulled away. “Now go do your rounds and get your ass back here so we can sleep.” Stripping her shirt off over her head, she started a pile in one corner of clothes that would be going right in the laundry. She could look for a basket tomorrow; unpacking could wait too. She was unusually tired and all she wanted to do right now was sleep.

[farmboyhawk]

"Aye, Ma'am."

Clint mock-saluted her with a grin and quickly left before she could grab something blunt and heavy to aim at his head.

There wasn't much to do, fortunately. After Angelina had set up power supply, turning on security scanners and satellite control was a matter of minutes. The tech was a bit outdated after more than 5 years, but for the moment it did. Windows and doors were untouched, so for tonight they could definitely rest in peace.

Clint brought two more bottles of water to the bedroom and silently put them on each bedside table, in case Natasha was already asleep. Especially her, not being used much to hot climate, was likely to wake up thirsty later.

She wasn't wearing an awful lot of clothes when he crawled in next to her with just his underwear on, but any kind of activity for the moment was overshadowed by exhaustion, and that feeling seemed to be mutual. Natasha would have to wait a little for her little payback in that airport arcade.

Just for a tender kiss on her shoulder Clint leaned over her before he fall back in the pillows with a deep, satisfied sigh. Home and out of the game... Still felt fucking unreal. But here they were. Sleep already teared on him while he was still pondering about that, a delighted grin on his lips.

[study_in_scarlet]

While Clint ran his checks and set up his security system, Natasha stripped off to just her simple cotton panties before climbing into bed and pulling the light sheet up over her. She hadn’t felt this tired in a long time, at least not without having just finished a rather intensive mission, and she was already half asleep by the time she heard Clint return.

She listened to him pad quietly around the room, and opened one eye long enough to spy the bottle of water he had placed thoughtfully on her night stand. Smiling to herself, she closed her eyes again when she felt the bed shift as he settled in behind her. Letting out a soft sigh when his lips brushed her skin, she rolled over to face him, not pressing herself against him but bringing her body closer to his nonetheless.

“Good night, Clint,” she whispered, resting one hand against his chest to feel his heartbeat pulse under her fingers in a soothing rhythm.

[farmboyhawk]

Already half-asleep, Clint more felt than heard Natasha's whisper but his smile grew, and until he finally passed out, he had his hand placed softly over hers, stroking the back of her hand with his thumb.

He was out like a dead man for most of the night, which was a very welcome change to months of nightmares and coldness attacks. He felt more rested than he could remember for quite a while when he woke up to sunlight climbing over the ocean.

The soft orange light falling in through the windows had Natasha's hair glow like a flame, all spread out over her pillow, when he opened his eyes, and that was definitely one of the best ways to wake up. Not to speak of the memory that this wasn't even a kind of mission, that they wouldn't have to prepare for killing and running later for once. That she was with him here because they had chosen so and didn't have to worry about anything but keeping a low profile for a while.

It still felt fucking incredible.

He didn't reach out for her, not wanting to wake her, just watched her for a few long minutes while he waited for sleep to come back. When it didn't happen, he made his way silently to the kitchen to see if the coffee machine was still alive. It was, and together with the fruit Angelina had prepared for them yesterday it made a pretty decent breakfast. Light enough to leave room for more later, since he definitely planned to take Natasha to the best pasta place in town today.

"Hey, sleepy."

When he sat the tray with the food carefully down on the bed, Natasha still seemed pretty out. Apparently he had exhausted her more over the last weekend than intended.