The Recruit

17. Clint

Clint was a big fan of being in a relationship. He often led with his heart, making calls about people on the fly, running headlong into marriages, and trusting his instincts. There was so much he enjoyed about being with another person. He loved the close bond you formed when you were in love with another person, how they were your best friend and closest confidant. He loved PDA - there was nothing he liked better than cuddling and holding hands, and making out with people whenever they were within reach of him. He loved the sex. Yes, it could be amazing having a random hookup, but he really did love how silly and experimental sex could get when you had the right long-term partner. He loved having company. He loved the potential that romance could be family. He loved the idea of one day being a dad. He loved the act of falling in love.

Unfortunately, relationships didn't always end up well for him. He loved being in relationships, but he wasn't always sure he was the best partner. He had been judgemental in the past, to the point it ruined his marriage. He'd cheated on someone he cared about. He doubted himself constantly. Partially because he had made stupid mistakes with people he loved, but also because he didn't have great examples of healthy relationships and unconditional love in his life. His father had been violently abusive right up until he'd died and taken his mother's life as well. His brother had ended up turning on him and trying to kill him. Every foster home had been violent, and the circus only provided conditional care. If he made money they took care of him, if not, he was out. Within the circus, he even picked up two more father figures, both of whom tried to kill him at least once.

Yes, Clint loved relationships, but it wasn't until his current one that he really felt secure in it. There was something about polyamory that just clicked for him. It was weird, in a way, because where some people might find dating six people to be difficult to juggle, Clint just found he got more of the good stuff and less of the bad. There were more people to make out with, and more people he considered his best friends, the sex was way more varied and regular, and when he started getting all up in his head about things he had a whole bunch of people to help him think about things more reasonably. Even this week, when Steve had been particularly short with him since returning from his mission, the others had reminded him Steve had just gone through something big so that Clint didn't end up spiraling.

Plus he'd fallen in love five times, completely guilt-free.

Now he was falling in love all over again. He loved training with you and felt personal pride when you aced a lesson. He loved when you came to dinner with the group and the little buzz of excitement that wasn't there before. The buzz that came when you were starting to realize that what you were feeling for someone was real, and there might be a future there. He loved the one-on-one time he got to spend with you, as rare as it was still, when it did happen he felt this instant connection, the way he had with Natasha all those years ago.

It was date night tonight and you'd agreed to spend time with him and Natasha. He was practically thrumming with excitement. He had plans - or ideas that could be plans if you were up for them. He thought you would be up for them. He felt like he was getting to know you well now, and he was sure you'd be just as excited as he was.

"You know I haven't had sex with her yet?" Natasha said as she watched him get everything ready.

"Well, obviously we don't have to have sex," he said. "Twister doesn't mean sex."

She laughed. "You're such an idiot."

The affection was clear in her voice. Like the word idiot, was a synonym for I love you.

He grinned and kissed her cheek. "Look," he said. "You said it yourself, it's hard to date someone when you can't take them out on dates. I want to make sure we do something fun that's not just watching TV while we eat pizza. She's moving into the building which will mean it's easier for her just to come up and see us and do that more chilled hang out, but this is date night, so I want it to stand out.