Clintasha-The Start

Chapter 9

        The next day, I wake up before Clint and look up to see his eyes closed and his breathing slow and peaceful.  It's easy to break away from him and to go brush my teeth and shower.  When I come back out wearing jeans and a loose t-shirt, Clint seems to be stirring, but still half asleep.  He settles down, but doesn't wake up for a while.  I smile, wandering over to the chair where my dress rests from last night and I take it my lap, running my fingers over the soft, thick nylon.  I hear a creak and look up to see Clint sitting in the bed, smiling at me.  "You looked so beautiful in that dress."

        "Thanks, but I probably don't look to beautiful right now," I joke, and Clint stands in front of me, bending down to briefly press his mouth to mine.

        "You always look beautiful," he insists.  I stand up next him and rest my head on his shoulder.  "How have you been?" he asks.

        I look at him for a while and say, "I think we'll be fine.  We can always ask Fury to call it off, but he wouldn't do this unless he really needed you over there."  

        He gives me an exasperated sigh.  "But what could be so important that you can't be there with me?"  He's so annoyed, but then another idea pops into my head.

        "What if he's sending you to Russia?  I've made a lot of enemies over there.  You would be safer alone."  I mull this over a bit before saying, "I would probably feel safer if you were there without me."  It hurts me to say it, but if the Russians found out Natasha Romanoff was back, we would all be dead.  Clint looks at me hard and I say, "It's for your safety Clint, I promise."

        He just nods and pulls away.  "I still think Fury should keep us together.  Beside, the chance of the mission being successful increases a lot more with us together."

        "But it stills depends on the mission.  By the way, your breaths stinks, go brush your teeth."  He releases a loud puff of air into my face, the putrid smell filling my nose.

        "Eeeewwww, Clint!"  I push him towards the bathroom and he stumbles, laughing hard.  I just shake my head and get breakfast together while Clint gets ready.   When he joins me to eat, he's put on a pair of jeans and a long sleeve green shirt, his muscles slightly bulging under the fitting cotton.  I smile and quickly avert my gaze to the food in front of us.  After we've finished, I decide to head back to my apartment, and Clint drops me off.  After kissing him goodbye, I clean up the minimal mess of makeup and clothes I left the night before.

        The next day, I look at my room and the open closet.  Clothes and random items are strewn all over the place.  When I've oragnized the surrounding area of my bed, I move onto my closet.  While pulling out my shoes, I notice an abandoned cardboard box collecting dust in the corner.  When I open it, the knot in the pit of my stomach explodes, and I feel my body thud against the floor.