Imagine Book 2

A Christmas Moment- Clint Barton (Hawkeye)

Fem Y/N

The New York City snow fell in gentle flurries outside the apartment window, each flake catching the warm glow of Christmas lights strung across neighbouring buildings. Y/N sat on the weathered leather couch, fingers nervously tracing the edges of a small wrapped package in her lap. The apartment was quiet for the first time in what felt like weeks – no arrows flying, no bad guys crashing through windows, no urgent mission briefings. Just peaceful silence broken only by the soft crackle of the fireplace and Clint's footsteps in the kitchen.

"Hot chocolate's ready," Clint called out, emerging with two steaming mugs. He'd changed out of his tactical gear into a simple grey henley and jeans, and Y/N couldn't help but notice how the fabric pulled across his shoulders as he set the mugs down on the coffee table. A few bandages peeked out from under his sleeve – reminders of their latest scrape with the Tracksuit Mafia.

"Thanks," Y/N smiled, wrapping her hands around the warm ceramic. "It's nice to finally have a moment to breathe."

Clint sank down beside her with a tired sigh. "Tell me about it. Though I keep expecting someone to burst through that door any second." His eyes darted to the entrance, ever-vigilant even in these quiet moments.

"Hey." Y/N nudged his shoulder. "We've earned this break. The bad guys can wait one night."

He turned to look at her then, and something in his expression softened. The perpetual furrow in his brow smoothed out, and the corner of his mouth lifted in that crooked half-smile that never failed to make her heart skip a beat.

"Yeah, you're right." He settled back into the couch, their shoulders touching. "Though I gotta admit, watching you take down those three guys earlier? Pretty impressive."

Y/N felt her cheeks warm at the compliment. "I learned from the best." She hesitated, then gathered her courage. "Speaking of which... I got you something. For Christmas."

Clint's eyebrows rose in surprise. "You didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to." She held out the small package, wrapped in simple brown paper and tied with twine. "It's nothing fancy, but..."

Clint took it carefully as if handling something precious. His calloused fingers worked at the twine with surprising gentleness. When he pulled back the paper, his breath caught audibly.

Inside was an old arrow tip, mounted on a simple wooden stand. But not just any arrow tip – it was the one from their first mission together, the shot that had saved her life when she was just starting out. She'd kept it all this time, had it cleaned and mounted.

"You kept this?" His voice was rough with emotion as he turned the piece over in his hands.

"Of course I did." Y/N watched his face carefully. "It reminds me of the day you took a chance on me. When everyone else thought I was just some rookie who'd get in the way, you saw something worth believing in."

Clint was quiet for a long moment, just staring at the arrow tip. When he finally looked up, his eyes were bright with something Y/N had never seen before.

"I have something for you too, actually." He reached behind one of the couch cushions and pulled out a small box wrapped in slightly crumpled red paper. "Was waiting for the right moment."

Y/N took the box, her fingers trembling slightly as she unwrapped it. Inside was a delicate silver arrow pendant on a chain, but what caught her eye was the subtle pattern etched into the metal – the same marks that were on Clint's favourite bow.

"Clint..." she breathed, lifting it from the box.

"Had it custom-made," he explained, rubbing the back of his neck. "The markings... they're an old protection symbol. Thought you could use all the backup you can get, considering our line of work."

"It's beautiful." Y/N blinked back the sudden moisture in her eyes. "Will you help me put it on?"

Clint took the necklace, and Y/N turned, sweeping her hair to one side. His fingers brushed the nape of her neck as he fastened the clasp, and she couldn't suppress a small shiver at the contact. When she turned back around, he was much closer than before, his eyes fixed on her face.

"You know," he said quietly, "when I first started training you, I told myself I was just doing my job. Mentoring another agent. But somewhere along the way..."

"It became something more?" Y/N finished, hardly daring to breathe.

"Yeah." His hand came up to cup her cheek, thumb brushing across her cheekbone. "You went from being someone I wanted to protect to someone I couldn't imagine not having in my life. And it scares the hell out of me, because in our line of work..."

"Don't." Y/N covered his hand with her own. "We can't live our lives afraid of what might happen. And I'm not going anywhere, Clint Barton. You're stuck with me."

A smile broke across his face then, bright and genuine in a way she rarely saw. "Promise?"

Instead of answering, Y/N leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. For a moment, Clint went completely still, and Y/N's heart nearly stopped. But then his arms were around her, pulling her closer as he kissed her back with an intensity that took her breath away.

When they finally broke apart, Clint rested his forehead against hers, both of them breathing heavily. The pendant rested warm against Y/N's collarbone, and Clint's hand came up to touch it gently.

"I love you," he murmured, the words falling easily between them, as if they'd been waiting there all along. "Have for a while now."

Y/N smiled, her heart so full it felt like it might burst. "I love you too. Even when you're being a reckless idiot."

"Hey!" Clint laughed, pulling back to give her a mock-offended look. "I prefer the term 'strategically adventurous.'"

"Whatever helps you sleep at night," Y/N teased, but her expression softened as she reached up to trace the line of his jaw. "But you're my reckless idiot."

"Damn right I am." He caught her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm, then pulled her closer until she was tucked against his side. The hot chocolate sat forgotten on the table, probably cold by now, but neither of them moved to retrieve it.

Outside, the snow continued to fall, and somewhere in the distance, Christmas carols drifted on the winter air. But in that moment, their world had narrowed to just this: the warmth of the fire, the comfort of each other's presence, and the knowledge that sometimes the best gifts come when you least expect them.

Y/N's fingers found the arrow pendant again, tracing its familiar shape. "Thank you," she said softly. "Not just for the necklace, but for everything. For believing in me, for training me, for being you."

"Thank you for giving me something worth fighting for beyond just the next mission." Clint pressed a kiss to her temple. "Though I have to warn you – dating an Avenger isn't exactly a quiet life."

"Good thing I don't do quiet," Y/N grinned. "Besides, someone has to watch your back."

"And no one does it better than you." His expression grew serious for a moment. "I mean it, Y/N. You've saved my life more times than I can count, and not just physically. You make me want to be better, to be worthy of the way you look at me."

"You already are," Y/N insisted, turning to face him fully. "You're a hero, Clint Barton, even if you don't always see it yourself. And I'll keep reminding you until you believe it."

He kissed her again then, slower this time, like they had all the time in the world. When they parted, his smile was soft and wondering, as if he couldn't quite believe this was real.

"Merry Christmas, Y/N."

"Merry Christmas, Clint."

They stayed like that for hours, talking softly, trading kisses, and simply being together. The world outside could wait. For now, they had this moment, this quiet space where nothing existed but their love for each other and the promise of all the moments yet to come.

The arrow tip sat on the coffee table beside them, a reminder of where they'd started, while the pendant around Y/N's neck symbolized where they were going. Different kinds of arrows, different kinds of protection, but both representing the same truth: that sometimes the best shots are the ones straight to the heart.