Jeremy Renner & His Characters One Shots

Secrets and Shadows

You and Clint Barton had always been close, ever since you joined the Avengers. The camaraderie, the constant banter, the shared glances during missions—it was a connection that ran deeper than mere friendship. No one knew that, behind the veil of secrecy, you and Clint had been dating for six months.

One evening, you found yourselves alone in the training room, the hum of machinery the only sound breaking the silence.

"You know, if anyone catches us, they're going to have a field day," Clint said, wrapping his arms around you from behind as you tried to focus on your workout.

You leaned back into him, a smile playing on your lips. "Then we better make sure no one catches us."

Clint chuckled, his breath warm against your ear. "You're too good at this espionage thing."

"Comes with the job," you teased, turning to face him.

He leaned in, capturing your lips in a kiss that sent a shiver down your spine. In that moment, the world outside ceased to exist. It was just you and Clint, hidden away from prying eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~

Over the next few weeks, you and Clint perfected the art of sneaking around. Meetings in deserted corridors, stolen moments in the kitchen at odd hours, and late-night conversations that stretched until dawn. It was thrilling, and the secrecy added an extra layer of excitement to your relationship.

But Natasha Romanoff, ever the keen observer, began to notice the little things. The way Clint's eyes lingered on you a second longer than necessary, the subtle touches that seemed too casual to be platonic, and the way you both seemed to vanish at the same time.

One day, as you were walking back to your room, Natasha fell into step beside you.

"Hey, what's up?" you asked, trying to sound casual.

"Just the usual," Natasha replied, her eyes scanning you. "You and Clint seem pretty close lately."

Your heart skipped a beat, but you kept your expression neutral. "We're friends. We've always been close."

"Right," Natasha said, her tone making it clear she wasn't buying it. "Just friends."

~~~~~~~~~~

It was a mission in Prague that blew your cover. The team had split up to track different leads, and you and Clint ended up in a safe house together. The tension of the mission, combined with the adrenaline, led to a passionate moment that neither of you could resist.

You were sitting on the couch, strategizing, when Clint suddenly pulled you into his lap, his lips meeting yours with a fierce urgency. You barely heard the door open until it was too late.

"What the hell?" Natasha's voice sliced through the air, and you both sprang apart like guilty teenagers.

"Nat, it's not—" Clint started, but Natasha held up a hand.

"Save it," she snapped, her eyes blazing. "How long has this been going on?"

"Six months," you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper.

"Six months?" Natasha echoed, incredulous. "And you didn't think to tell me?"

"It's complicated," Clint said, standing. "We didn't want to make things awkward for the team."

Natasha's eyes narrowed. "Awkward? Do you have any idea how dangerous this is? Keeping secrets like this can compromise missions, trust—everything!"

You stepped forward, trying to calm her. "Natasha, please. We were going to tell you. We just needed to find the right time."

"The right time?" Natasha laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Well, congratulations. You found it."

~~~~~~~~~~

Back at the Avengers compound, the atmosphere was tense. Natasha had made it clear she wasn't happy about the secrecy, and the rest of the team soon found out. Tony Stark, always the joker, couldn't resist a few snide remarks, but Steve Rogers and Bruce Banner were more understanding.

"Look," Steve said one evening, addressing the team. "We all know how difficult it is to balance personal lives with this job. But we need to trust each other completely. No more secrets."

You and Clint nodded, grateful for Steve's support but aware that it would take time to rebuild the trust you had damaged.

Later, in the privacy of your room, Clint pulled you close. "We'll get through this," he whispered.

"I know," you replied, resting your head on his chest. "But I hate that we hurt Nat. She was right. We should have told her."

Clint sighed, his fingers tracing circles on your back. "We'll make it up to her. Somehow."

~~~~~~~~~~

Days turned into weeks, and slowly, the tension began to ease. Natasha, though still hurt, started to thaw. One evening, she cornered you in the kitchen.

"Hey," she said, her tone softer than it had been in weeks.

"Hey," you replied, bracing yourself for another lecture.

But Natasha surprised you. "I get it," she said. "It's not easy being vulnerable, especially in this line of work. Just... don't shut me out again, okay?"

You nodded, relief flooding through you. "I promise."

From then on, things began to improve. Natasha and Clint had a heart-to-heart, and while it took time, the old camaraderie started to return. The team, once again united, faced new challenges with renewed strength.

~~~~~~~~~~

Months later, as you stood on the balcony of the Avengers compound, Clint came up behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist.

"Do you think they suspect we're planning a vacation together?" he murmured.

You laughed softly. "At this point, I think they'd be more surprised if we weren't."

Clint turned you to face him, his eyes full of love and determination. "No more secrets?"

"No more secrets," you agreed, sealing the promise with a kiss.

As the sun set over the horizon, you knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, you and Clint would face them together, with the support of your team—and the strength of your love.