Only Us

I Know You

Natasha Romanoff was many things. Assassin, spy, Avenger, sister, friend, the list could go on and on. But the word most would use to describe her is intense. Borderline scary, and more than intimidating, she fit the definition of the word to the fullest extent. She used it to her advantage at any given opportunity, and it was the reason why she had so little friends before joining the team. But there was one man who could match her energy, who was just as deadly and crazy as she was. Clint could see there was something more to his target; a lost soul in need of a second chance. He didn't release the arrow, and the rest, as they say, is history.

They've spent a lot of time together over the years and knew just about all of each other's secrets. They might as well have been joined at the hip. She might can fool everyone else, but Clint knows who she really is. And that person is a huge goofy and sweet dork.

Natasha thought she was alone: everyone else either busy or out of the tower. Clint finished his training early and decided he wanted to mess with his best friend. He saw her through the grates in the vent, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. She was a huge horror movie buff and was in the middle of watching an old classic, completely unfazed. Clint had seen it a thousand times and knew when the next scare would be. He quietly loosened the screws and removed the vent cover, laying in wait.

Closer...

Almost there...

Now!

He dove from the ceiling with a war cry and landed on the couch with a heavy thud. Natasha let out an ear piercing scream, the bowl of popcorn in her lap flying through the air. She growled angrily at the laughing man.

"Fucking asshole, you spilled my popcorn everywhere!" she scolded. Clint didn't seem too remorseful. She narrowed her eyes and leant forward, "I'm gonna kill you now."

He rolled his eyes and waved a hand dismissively, "No you won't."

She raised an eyebrow and cocked her head to the side, "Oh? And what makes you so sure?"

"Because I know you," he said matter of factly. Now it was his turn to lean in. "And because of this." In one swift movement, he shoved her down on her back and pinned her on the couch. Before she could do anything to reverse their positions, his fingers began rapidly squeezing her sides. She snorted in shock and started laughing loud and free. If this were anyone else she would already be giving them a taste of their own medicine. After all, this was a weakness she simply couldn't allow to be taken advantage of. It was silly and childish and let people get too close. Clint was someone she didn't mind being close to.

She didn't push him away when he went for her stomach. She didn't turn the tables immediately to ensure he would never try this again. In fact, she hoped he never stopped surprising her with these little ambushes. She didn't break his wrist when he dug underneath her arms. She just threw her head back and let herself fall into the spiral of hysterics she was currently trapped in. Her mind swirled in a daze of laughter and maddening touch.

He rolled her shirt up to expose the pale skin on her stomach. She started shaking her head, pleads for mercy falling from her mouth. "Nonono Clihint plehehease!" He looked her dead in the eye and waggled his brows before dipping his head down and blowing a raspberry on her belly. She thrashed around, hand tangling in his hair and gently tugging to get him to stop. He made a show of raising back up and gasping in another breath as he went in for more. She let out another squeal and tried to curl up, but Clint shoved her back down on the couch. Her hair spread out on the cushions, framing her face in a disheveled halo of red. Her tongue poked out between her teeth in a giddy grin as she chased his hands, trying to capture them. When she finally caught them, she didn't push away, just held on tightly to help ground her in reality.

She was okay with this: with him touching her like this and making her feel good. As long as it was the just the two of them, she would be okay with just about anything.