Region-Beta Paradox (Avengers X Male Reader)

The Deceitful Cover and The Suspecting Lover

"Uh yeah, can you please get me the director?"

"One moment, sir." the receptionist said and put you on hold.

"..."

"Ah, Y/N." You heard Jeffrey's voice soon after. "I thought you'd call."

"Can I see you, please? In private?" you asked, not wanting to talk to him in the headquarters since there were too many ears this could fall on. And you didn't want to take any chances of having Steve find out about the adoption.

"I'm rather wrapped up right now, actually. Maybe next week?"

"Mace, please." you couldn't help but let the desperation in your voice slip through. "Please."

You heard Mace sigh after sometime. "Alright, send me the address." he said and cut the call.

***

"Right. We're just meeting, don't worry." Mace said. "I'll look things through."

"You better." said Clint.

***

"You read the letter, Y/N. There isn't anything I, or anyone, can do at this point." Jeffrey said, seeming to be done with the conversation as he stood up.

"No, wait." you urged. "Can I get another of these?" you asked the waiter. Jeffrey sighed and sit down. "Please, Jeffrey. I'm not asking as an Avenger. I'm asking as a friend."

Jeffrey merely looked at you for sometime before speaking, "Are you sure you're at the right point in your life to adopt children, Y/N?" he said.

"What do you mean?" you frowned.

***

"Oh hey, Cap." Clint smiled as he entered the kitchen to see Steve reading the newspaper. He was baking a pie for after dinner and was waiting by the oven.

Steve looked up and forced a smile at Clint. He didn't exactly hate him. He was almost indifferent to the whole thing before that night at the club. After that, Steve just didn't find it in him to force himself to like Clint. "Good evening, Barton." Steve said back.

"You seem lonely here all by yourself, where's Y/N?" he asked nonchalantly as he went to the fridge and grabbed a juice box.

"He had some work at the headquarters, said he'll be late tonight." Steve answered.

"Headquarters? I thought he was going to Bronx today?"

Steve furrowed his brows. "What makes you think so?"

"Oh, nothing. I just ran into him earlier this morning. He himself said he's going to meet a friend. But I don't know, maybe he went to the headquarters after." Clint shrugged.

Steve frowned, you didn't tell him that. Not that you had to tell him everything, its just you always told him where you were going if it was somewhere afar. "Perhaps." Steve said and continued to read his newspaper, trying not to give away that he was phased by any of this.

"You know..." Clint sat down across from Steve, making him put down the newspaper again. "Back when we were... You know, together. Whenever he wouldn't tell me where he was going, he'd just-"