The Tower

Meeting the Archer

My relationship with Natasha for the next few months was incredible. She wasn't always around. She had missions and other people she saw. But I lived for the moment she was. She was like my best friend and my lover all rolled up in one. I was happy talking to her about anything and everything, even when she teased me about being a nerd. I loved listening to her stories. Her life was crazy and I couldn't believe she wanted to even share a small part of it with me.

The sex was amazing. She had me doing things I never even imagined I would do. Turned out I quite liked finding out what she did to bad girls. She started doing that when I was good too.

I was happy. I knew she wasn't ever going to just be mine, but I was okay with that. Her honesty and openness were part of what sold it. In the past, I had been monogamous. Only it was only me that had been. The people I had been with cheated pretty much constantly and if I even looked at another person they'd get jealous. Natasha never got jealous and she never cheated. It was liberating.

One day she asked me to meet her out. That was new. We never went out as a rule. She was worried that if we were seen together too often I'd get targeted and someone might use me to get to her.

I met her at a bar not far from my place. I took a seat at a booth and a few minutes later she slid in opposite me. "Hello, Mishka." She said. I wanted to kiss her but I knew it was a bad idea. She smiled at me. She has such an adorable crooked smile, it makes me melt whenever I see it. As she smiled I felt her hand on my knee and I brushed my fingers over hers. "I'm going away for a month. Possibly longer. I have to keep an eye on someone."

I frowned. "I'll miss you, Tasha."

"I know, my darling. I'll spend the night with you if you'll have me. But I leave first thing in the morning." She explained. She drew circles on my knee and all I wanted was for that hand to go higher. For me to be able to curl into her and breathe her in. I didn't understand why she's opted to meet out at all.

"Of course I'll have you. Why don't we go home now?" I asked.

"Soon, Mishka," Natasha answered, rubbing my leg as if to reassure me. "There's someone I'd like you to meet. Is that okay?"

"Yes of course," I answered.

Natasha waved to someone and a man approached and slid into the booth beside her. He had sandy brown hair that was spiked up and while he was lean his arms were muscular in a way that only happens from use. It made the sleeves of the purple t-shirt he wore look tight over his bicep. He was also covered in random plasters.

"Hey." He said, nodding his head to me.

"Elly, this is Clint," Natasha said.

"Yeah, I know. Hawkeye. Nice to meet you." I said, offering my hand to Clint.

He took it and instead of shaking he kissed the back of my hand. "Pleasures all mine."

"That was smooth," Natasha said, rolling her eyes. "Clint and I are..." She paused and it looked like she was searching for the words to describe what she and Clint were.

"He's one of the others? You're her boyfriend?" I asked.

Clint pulled a face. "Gross, I wouldn't go that far. Nat's like my best friend."

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Who you have sex with?"

"Oh hell yeah. All the time." He raised his hand to Natasha like he wanted a high five and she just looked at him incredulously. He turned and held his hand towards me. "You won't leave me hanging will ya?"