I love you (Clintasha)✔️

✬♧19♧✬ Be civil

The door bell rang.

Clint set down his mug of coffee and unlocked the door.

His group of friends stood outside, with Tony right in front smiling sympathetically.

Clint almost wanted to close the door, he wasn't in the mood for interacting with anyone and these days his patience level was non-existent, he didn't want to burst out at his friends who came only with kind intentions.

But they were all here, sincerity written across their faces, Clint couldn't bear to send them away.

"Come on in." He sighed and stepped aside.

They walked in one by one and Maria was the last. She gave him a nod of silent understanding before entering too.

"So, what brings you guys here?" Clint asked, already knowing the answer. It was an attempt to start a decent conversation and wash away the cloud of tension hanging above them.

"We're just here to visit, can't good friends drop by occasionally to hang out?" Tony answered with subtle lightheartedness, stretching out his arms over the back of the couch.

"Clint, your hand..." Jane pointed out.

Clint looked down at his bandaged fist.

"Accident at work." He replied absently.

But he knew it wasn't an accident, and it wasn't because of work. Maria knew it too. She glanced over at him briefly.

It was from ravaging that punching bag after hearing some insensitive agents comment about Natasha and him.

"Erm, we stopped by the patisserie and bought some cakes before coming here, let's...have them?" Pepper began, breaking the awkward silence and holding up a paper bag.

Clint nodded and walked into the kitchen to retrieve some plates and cutlery.

Steve followed behind, presumably to help.

"Clint, are you...angry with...Bucky?"

Clint stilled, and stopped wiping the plate that was in his hand. He hadn't actually asked himself how he felt about Bucky.

"He has the right to be." A voice answered.

Steve turned around to find Tony leaning against the doorframe with crossed arms, and he frowned.

"Your opinion is unnecessary." Steve answered lowly.

"I'm just stating a fact. He should return Clint's wife." Tony went on.

"He didn't take her away." Steve defended. It was partially true, Natasha had gone to him on her own accord.

Steve had always known how Bucky felt towards Natasha, and how he had been waiting, for a train that wouldn't come. But now it was all in his favour.

Even though Steve felt bad for Clint, he believed that Bucky should have a chance. Maybe that was the way fate worked, in mysterious ways, and all these years of waiting would finally pay off.

"You're defending him just because he's your best friend, what about Clint? He's our friend too-"

"I'll take the plates out." Clint cut in, swiftly leaving the room. He didn't want to hear this, he was past and tired of blaming. Most importantly, blaming wouldn't bring Natasha back. It was just a waste of time and energy.

Steve and Tony watched as Clint left before turning and staring coldly at each other.

"Sometimes I want to punch you in your perfect teeth." Tony muttered under his breath before walking out of the kitchen after Clint.

--------------------------------------------------

His friends' visit didn't make Clint feel any better. Instead, the question Steve asked kept replaying in his mind, 'are you angry with Bucky?'

Clint couldn't believe that what he had asked of Bucky all those years ago was coming true.

"Look, I know you like Natasha and have been very good to her..."

"What are you trying to say?"

"Please take care of her. Protect her, care for her, and love her. Give her what I couldn't give."

"I would have done so even without you telling me..."

"She'll come to see how good you are to her and she'll forget about me in no time."

"I'm not obliged to give you this promise."

Though Bucky never did promise him, Clint knew Natasha was in good hands and Bucky would most definitely give her the world.

It didn't make his heart hurt less, but at least he could sleep easier.

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