Viper : Enemy of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Chapter 33: A lot happens in this one

 "Yeah, we're on our way Nat." ... "Okay bye. ... Come on Jade, hurry up." 

 "Geez, Big Bird." I say walking behind Clint to pick up my duffle bag off my bed, from changing. 

 "Ready?" 

 "Ready." I confirm huffing my bag up and onto my shoulder. As I pass him though, Clint stops me and hands me my book, taking the bag off my shoulder. I sigh as he walks out of my room. We pass through the living room and realize I left something. "Wait." I say walking over to my desk. I open the main drawer and grab my glasses case. I walk back to Clint and unzip the bag while putting my glasses in. 

 "You really weren't kidding about your eyes?" Clint asks. 

 "Yes...?" I say as he opens the door for me and walks out behind me.  

 "How did that happen? I mean, how were you able to be an assassin?" Clint says in a slightly hushed tone while I lock my apartment door. 

 "The fumes had messed up my eyes from all the tests, but HYDRA, I guess, had been able to temporarily take it away. When I was 21 though, my eyes started to go again." 

 "And how old are you?"

 "Twenty-four." 

 "Huh, if Cap had been born this generation, you and him would be about the same age. But he's not, he's I think 94." Clint says as we ride the lift down. Whoa, Steve's only, physically 24? He seems so much more mature... It sucks he was taken down in his prime. That he never got to live his life the way it was intended. "Yeah, I guess, but... I don't know, he's done a lot of good here. It seems like he's meant to be here." Clint says. I don't comment on the fact that I thought aloud, but am silently grateful for his response, rather than teasing me. The thought of Steve creates an itch in the back of my head and it's simply because, I didn't see him today. 

 "Clint?" I ask as we walk out the elevator. He looks to me in response. "Where was Steve this morning?" 

 "He usually goes out for runs." Clint tells me. I nod as he pulls out his phone. I look at the ground confused, because that itch still hasn't been scratched. My thought process is cut off as Clint wraps his arm around me and maneuvers me towards a cross walk. We walk across the striped pavement, Clint somewhat protectively guiding me, and I look up at him, then back to Avengers tower to my right. Clint sees the confusion on my face, and leans down slightly so I can hear him over the noise of New York. "Nat texted me saying she wanted coffee, and I wouldn't mind some either, so we're making a quick Starbucks stop." I nod to him as we walk back to the sidewalk, Clint's arm still draped over my shoulders. 

 "It's not, my first time walking in New York, you know." I say, referring to him still guiding me. He raises his hands in surrender and places them back at his sides. I smile up at him, but as soon as I look forward again, there's a cyclist torpedoing down the cement. Resisting the urge to simply kick the bike out from under this jackass, I think of another escape that wouldn't lead to me being a jerk too. I run out of time so I sheepishly skirt to the side and into Clint, actually clinging to his shirt with his arm quickly going back around me. 

 "Watch it!" I hear behind me. 

 "Says the asshole who nearly ran me over!" I shout over Clint's shoulder. Clint laughs and I join him at the irony of what just happened. He gives me a side hug with his arm around me and I wrap my arms around his torso in return. Soon we get to the Starbucks and walk to the counter. 

 "Hi, what can I get for ya?" A boy in his 20's with brown quiffed hair asks. I stand next to Clint, drumming my fingers on the counter, while he takes out his wallet and addresses the barista.