Fighting Next To You ~ A Clintasha FanFiction

Part Nineteen

I wake up early and find a smart trouser suit in the wardrobe. I've never had a meeting with the council before, and I'm slightly nervous. I walk into the bathroom and wash my hair with some non-branded shampoo. It doesn't smell of much, and the shower gel is extremely manly. I don't make a fuss though; I've needed a shower since I got back. I get changed and tidy up the room a bit before walking out into the corridor. Clint is leaning against the wall wearing a shirt and jeans. "Clint, we need to be smart." I sigh.

Clint laughs, "What, you don't think this is smart?" He leads the way down the long corridor and we both remain silent. Eventually, Clint speaks again, "Are you nervous?" He sounds concerned, but he continues to walk ahead.

"A little, you?" I say truthfully.

"Nah, I've done loads of these meetings before, they're just super boring. Hawley is a bitch though, I'd watch out for her." Clint jokes.

"What do we have to do?" I ask. Clint shrugs as we get into the lift, he pushes the ground floor button with his thumb.

"Talk about the files, the experimentations, pretty much what we told Fury yesterday." The lift doors shut abruptly, and we move down the building swiftly. The doors open and we walk out into a mass of S.H.I.E.L.D agents. "This way." Clint directs me, leading me to the room.

We wait outside the door. Apparently we get called in. I feel like I'm waiting outside the Principal's office, preparing for a scolding. "It'll be okay Tasha. Afterwards we can go home." Clint reassures me.

"I'd rather not go home." I mutter under my breath so Clint can't hear me. The glass door swings open and a blonde woman pokes her head out.

"The council will see you now." She opens the door wider for us. Clint walks in first, hands in pockets, I walk I second, hands behind my back. There are four holograms in the middle of the room. Three men and woman are positioned in front of us in an intimidating manner.

"Agent Romanoff, Agent Barton." The woman speaks in a British accent. "We're all members of the World Security Council, I'm councilwoman Hawley. We need to know about the files you retrieved from A.I.M. yesterday..."

Once the meeting is over Clint and I rush out of the room. "Fucking hell that was boring." I whisper, making Clint laugh. We make our way out of the building towards the parking lot.

"Tasha, can I ask you something?" Clint asks me once we're outside. Planes are flying overhead, and I can hear gunshots from the training rooms. The smell of petrol clings to the air due to the many vehicles here at S.H.I.E.L.D.

"Sure." I say, my hair trailing behind me in the breeze.

"Earlier on you said that you'd rather not go home, why?"

Shit. He did hear me. I sigh and fumble for my car keys. "The apartment is a dump pretty much." I can see my red BMW sitting in its space innocently; it's untouched, just as I left it. Clint's Ford sits next to mine. It's muddy and has dents running all the way along the sides.

"Money's tight?" Clint questions me.

"Not just that... I think I'd rather live in the accommodation here, but Fury still thinks I'm a risk." We pause and stand next to our cars.

"I have a spare room, if you want it... I live five minutes away from HQ, and my place isn't a dump." Clint offers but I shake my head.

"Clint..." I trail off. Clint moves towards me and tucks a lock of my hair behind my ear. He doesn't hesitate in kissing me. He doesn't even check to see if the coast is clear. He pulls apart and takes my hand in his. "Fine." I sigh, kissing him on the cheek.

"We can go to your place first and pick up your stuff." Clint tells me.

"I packed everything I owned for New Jersey, it's all in this bag." I show him the bag I'm currently carrying.

"Okay, well I'm sure Fury can sort out the business and paperwork with your Landlord. Let's go!" Clint smiles.

"I'll follow behind you in my car?" I question. Clint shakes his head.

"We can both go in your car, I'll come back tomorrow and pick up mine, and it's only a fifteen minute walk." He says helpfully. And with that, we leave S.H.I.E.L.D.