Life Happens

Sam

Sam left the squat rack a few moments after Steve went to the punching bag. He went to treadmill next to Clint. He ran at a gentle pace compared to Clint's fast pace. Sam knew something was up with Clint. He only did this much Cardio when something was wrong. Sam didn't say anything though. He was going to wait for Clint to approach him. He stopped running and placed his feet either side of the treadmill and waited for it to stop.

"Hey Sam?" Clint asked him quietly as if he didn't want Steve to hear.

"Yeah?"

"Can I talk to you? In private?"

"Sure where do you wanna go?"

"Central Park?"

"Sure I'll Just go get changed first. We eating out?"

"Er, yeah sure."

"Cool. Meet you on the common floor in ten?"

"Yeah ok." Sam nodded and left for his floor.

****

"Tony why not ask Cap out to lunch? I mean me and Sam are off out, Wanda and Vision are visiting Pietro and Tasha and Bruce are doing something for Helen." Sam heard Clint say.

"I suppose you're right. Well you birds have fun together." Tony said as he headed towards the elevator. "Should probably drop these off first." He muttered to himself as he passed Sam.

"So what was that about?" Sam asked as he entered the living room.

"He was complaining that we were going out for lunch and so I couldn't make him lunch."

"You'd think he would have a private chef or something already."

"Don't give him any ideas." Clint said with a deadpan expression. The two of them walked to elevator. And decided they'd buy a couple of sandwiches.

   ****

Sam patted the ground to check that it was dry. The weather was quite warm for early October. He sat and motioned for Clint to sit.

"So. What do you wanna talk about?" Sam asked after a few minutes of eating. Clint huffed.

"It's going to make me sound insane I know it." Clint paused. "Yesterday when we were on the way back in quinjet I fell asleep as you probably know." Sam nodded. "Well, I had this dream. More nightmare I suppose. It was different to all the other ones that I've had. Pietro was there but different. Usually he's dressed in the same outfit as when he saved me but this time it was the outfit he wore when we first met. He was calm and stood there." Clint stopped for a few moments. "He started saying how it was all my fault and that I could have saved him. That's not the weird bit though." He paused again. He took in a long breath before letting it out. "He got shot. Like every other time. But instead of dying, he lay there. I went down to his level before saying "I need you old man."  And then Wanda woke me up."

"Clint are you ok?" Sam asked noticing Clint's body go stiff.

"I don't know what it was but something pulled me hospital. I went to see him."

"Wait when did you go?" Sam asked. After they got back Sam, Clint, Wanda and Vision watched TV before going to bed.

"In the night. Can't remember the time and they weren't going to let me in a first but being an avenger I managed to pull some strings. Anyway, it had been less that twelve hours and he looked so much different. But he isn't the problem. Well maybe he is. Partly. Look the point is we nearly lost Nat, my best friend and for some reason I could only think about him." Clint stopped and held his knees to his chest.

"Do you want to know what I think?" Sam asked cautiously.

"Sure."

"I think you knew that Natasha was safe and so you calmed down around her and didn't worry. However, Pietro we are all unsure of. Yes he's alive but he isn't living like us. The dream could have been your brains way of telling you to visit him to get closure on him." Clint sat still for a moment. Sam considered touching his shoulder but thought against it.

"That actually makes sense." Clint said. His phone buzzed. "It's Wanda. Apparently Steve and Tony are going out for lunch."

"Nice. Hang on I've gotta text Steve and tease him."

"You and Natasha really like winding him up about being single don't you?"

"Haha only a little. Wait how does Wanda know?"

"Vision was talking to Tony when he mentioned he and Steve were going out."

"Them two aren't very good with secrets." Sam chuckled. "Since we got a few hours do you wanna do anything?"

"Hmm we could go watch a film."

"How about The Martian?"

"I like the way you think."