The Stark Shadow

The Calm

Collins

"Collins," Steve said quietly as he stood at the bottom of the stairs half asleep.

It was nearing midnight. Clint and I had waited until the kids went to bed before leaving for the compound. I tried telling him that he didn't need to babysit me, but he didn't trust me not to run off. Even Laura gave me a look when I said I could make it back on my own.

"Hey there stranger," I replied to Steve as I walked up to him still standing at the bottom of the steps. I could see his chest fall as he let out a relieved breath before wrapping me in his arms. He buried his face into the crook of my neck while I ran my fingers through his bed head. We stood there for a while in each others' arms just soaking in the comfort.

The sound of Clint clearing his throat made Steve pick his head up from its resting place on my shoulder. "I'll go let Tony know you're back," Clint offered as he turned to leave the lobby, but before he passed through the doorway he paused and looked over his shoulder at Steve. "Try not to let her run off again," Clint said with a smile.

I shot him a look before mouthing a silent "thank you" as he turned back around and walked away. "Come on," I told Steve, gently pushing him off. "I've got a plan." Before I could go up the steps to the conference room, Steve took a hold of my wrist.

"That can wait."

I raised an eyebrow in interest. "What do you mean?"

Steve pulled me back into him until my body was flush with his. With one hand still wrapped tightly around my wrist, he cupped my cheek with the other. "I mean that it's been a week since I've seen you. The plans can wait another few hours."

My lips curved up into a defiant smile as I leaned into his touch. "You can't tell me how to live my life, Steve Rogers. Surely, you've learned that by now."

"I have," he smiled sleepily back at me, his blue eyes twinkling in the dim lighting of the lobby. "But tonight, you're following my orders."

~~~

Clint

I didn't need to look too hard to find Tony. The week Collins had been gone Tony bounced back and forth between the cabin and the compound, but most nights I found him in his lab either tinkering away or asleep. Tonight was no different. The man was passed out across the table with a screwdriver still in his hand.

I knocked on the table as I walked up to him. "Wake up, sunshine."

"What the hell, Barton?" Tony shot up, nearly falling out of the stool. "What time is it?"

I checked my watch. "Almost midnight."

"What are you doing here? And what the hell did you wake me up for?"

I hopped up onto the table next to a pile of schematics that I picked up. "Just thought you might wanna know your sister's home," I replied casually, sifting through the papers.

"What?" Shocked, Tony knocked aside the stool and went for the door.

I stuck out my foot causing him to trip and a slew of curses flew from his mouth. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Again, Barton. What the hell?" He asked, looking up at me from the ground.

"Saving you, Collins, and Steve from a night of embarrassment," I replied, tossing the schematics onto his chest.

After a few seconds of pause, Tony's eyes widened in realization. "No."

"Probably," I scoffed. "Can't say for sure, but they haven't seen each other in a week. Do you really wanna find out?"

"God, it's almost like when you two were a thing," he draped his arm over his eyes, unsuccessfully shutting out the memory.

It was years ago, but Tony had walked in on Collins and I in the middle of reconnecting after my weeks long mission in Budapest.

"Give her the night, mood killer. She said she has a plan and you can wait until tomorrow to hear it," I reassured him.

"I hate all of you," Tony grumbled.

I hopped off the table and bent down to pat his shoulder. "No, you don't."