sixwordstories | (no subject)

[Did they ever sleep? She thought the time off would do good and it had...at first. When it was just bird and spider, no SHIELD, no Avengers. Sometimes Tasha would try to sneak reaching for the earwig that wasn't there, but Clint always caught her and a scolding followed (albeit playfully).

When she didn't see him in bed, the assassin sought him out elsewhere, first checking one place and then following the sounds of the television to another. She sighed rather heavily at the figure on the sofa, coming up behind him with her arms loosely crossed.]

Talk to me, Clint.

[What is it this time?]

There's never anything good on at 2 in the morning. Why is that?

[Distraction. Avoidance. Good humor enough to fool most. If he ignores the issue there isn't one, the fact that he's still awake is a choice, not fear or guilt picking away until he dreads closing his eyes.]

Edited (LET'S CLOSE TAGS why don't we) 2012-09-25 21:05 (UTC)

[Charlie was sleeping. Probably. It's likely, at any rate. She looks tired when she leaves her room, heading towards the kitchen for a glass of water. The sounds of the television catch her ear and she follows it, poking her head tentatively into the living room and eyeing Barton with mild concern.]

You're not allowed to lie to me and say nothing's wrong. [A shrug, a half-smile.] Can't really trust someone who could probably maybe be a future team mate, if they lie when I ask if they're okay. That being said, are you okay?

[She scratched the top of her head and pursed her lips.] Because most people are asleep by now. Or working a graveyard shift.

[Leaning over the back of the furniture, Tasha gently elbowed his head only because it was closest. She nodded downward, asking:] You want the company or would you rather watch nothing good alone?

[Not that he truly had much of a choice but she was attempting courtesy.]

[Pepper sets coffee before him as she moves to the other chair]

Bad night?

You obviously don't know team lingo; you always say you're okay.

[A grin that's at least half smirk, forced if you know where to look for it, the tired look slipping through because that's at least fine to admit.]

What about you, you're up late.

[Yes, he's going to try to make this about her.]

I'm not really good at sleeping, to be honest. I think I forgot how to sleep for more than ten minutes every hour. [She settles in front of the couch, knees brought up under her chin and her arms tucked between her calves and thighs.]

And I was googling the school Stark enrolled me in.

[Floor plans. She was googling floor plans. Just in case. And she had them memorized by now. Just in case.]

[Ooh, coffee, good. He leans forward to grab it, spends a moment just absorbing the warmth before hazarding a sip, then shrugs.]

Side effect of the job; I'm pretty sure if you actually manage to get a good night's sleep you're either taking something or doing something wrong.

You?

"Nothing good" is always better with company. More effective mockery that way.

[Yeah, he knew she wasn't leaving. Because he wouldn't have left either.]

Brat.

[Delayed reaction to the nudge, but the teasing jibe was there, at least.]

I'm pretty sure there's gotta be a samurai movie on somewhere. Or kung fu, at least. I just haven't been able to find it yet.

[He passed her the remote, a small relinquishing of control, and it wasn't much but it was a start.]

I wasn't sure if you took sugar or cream in it. [She held her cup in both hands.]

I just couldn't sleep. Blaming it on the meetings in seven hours. [She said glancing at her watch.]

Edited 2012-09-26 01:43 (UTC)

[Barton looks more than slightly surprised; clearly he wasn't expecting that.]

He actually enrolled you himself? I'm impressed, normally that's Pepper's gig.

You can borrow some couch, you know, I promise I don't bite unless it's your thing.

[And...you know. Older.]

Pepper went with him. [Which is probably code for 'made him go and supervised everything.' See? She is in fact learning. She raises an eyebrow at his comment and stays where she is, not at all about to move.]

I think I'm okay on the floor. So, tell me again why you're not sleeping?

Honestly I'll drink it about whatever way you put it in front of me. Thanks.

[This is the guy who will mix beer and Froot Loops in a bowl and actually eat it to get a rise out of people, after all.

There's a slight edge underneath, like she's something of a lifesaver as well as just purveyor of caffeine, but he won't call attention to it, just keep things light and casual.]

Exciting.

Couch is about 120% more comfortable, I promise you.

It's not in my contract. Also it makes for a good conversation starter.

[Ha. Funny.]

Couldn't fall asleep, it's not a big deal.

[Lie. One she could even see for herself because he looks like he needs to be asleep, or at least is actively attempting not to be.]

[She's looking at him very carefully, now, head tilting just lightly.]

When was the last time you actually did sleep, though?

[Tasha walked around to join him, purposely dropping down hard to jostle the archer for his 'brat' remark. Even though she had started it.

Taking the controller with disdain, she made no move to change the channel just yet.]

We have other options, you know. The range, putting a movie we own on...

[She arched both brows as she trailed off.]

That really doesn't surprise me.

[And Pepper would have given him a weird look if she had seen it]

Yeah, maybe I'll be able to talk Tony into you know actually going into work today. [Sad thing, she's serious even though she knows that's a 'Yeah, right that's what I have you for Pep' moment.]

Other options besides violent movies that require subtitles? To which you offer actual violence or...Agent Romanoff, are you suggesting porn? Because that would be incredibly irresponsible of you, there are children here.

[Somewhere. Probably. Maybe. And he's only taking cues off eyebrows and filling in from there, going for something in the complete opposite direction of what got him here in the first place, going for something that might get a rise out of her in some way shape or form, but it's a reasonable jump anyway. Probably intentionally left that way.]

Tonight. Earlier.

[It didn't last long, didn't end well, and now he's here and trying to find something on that doesn't suck. The end.

Don't give him that look.]

Yeah, you know us carnival acts, we're all a bunch of weirdos.

[But there's at least a little hint of pride in there. It meant something before it got twisted up with the other half of it. There were good people there. It was good work.]

Good luck, I'm pretty sure you'll need it. That last gig got him pretty worked up, I'm about ready to start taking bets on whether he's gonna give Fury a stroke or not if he keeps up his list of demands.

You're not that weird Clint. When you start blowing things up for fun before breakfast and saying it was a science experiment. Then you'll start getting there. [As if to prove her point JARVIS cut in to announce Tony had managed to destroy part of the lab... again]

Don't tell me he's still working on that toaster...

No, it was the coffee pot this time.

makes me glad I use a press.

[She will give him all the questioning looks she wants to.]

Considering all the training you do, I'm surprised you're not knocked out.

[She pauses, thinking things over for a bit. On the one hand, she could keep her mouth shut. Not say a word. Leave out information. On the other hand, she's going to be here for quite some time, as far as she could tell. He'd figure it out, eventually.]

I don't have the best of luck sleeping, either. Not most nights.

Usually it helps, sometimes it doesn't.

[Barton shrugs, as if it's not a big deal. He pinches the bridge of his nose, tries to stifle the yawn; evidently the training has done its job, the issue's less about the inability and more about the intention.

He nods, expression commiserating, or at least empathetic.]

I figured, since you said your record's about ten minutes. I read your file, I'm not surprised.

It's surprisingly detailed. [She read her file, too. She was hoping for more information non the Shop. Say, oh...where another base is located? But it wasn't in there. Just details about her life. Fun read.]

PTSD is a bitch, isn't it?

[She's guessing it's something like that.]

[Tasha licked her lips and regarded him through half-hooded eyes.] You know for a fact I'd rather do than watch, Agent Barton.

[She turned back to the TV and actually started to surf.]

Just saying I can think of ways to wear you out faster.

[It worked a number of ways, innuendo aside.]

[He shrugged at the reassurance; it wasn't necessary, it hadn't been a play for pity, hadn't gone any deeper than the words themselves. He was who he was, he came from where he came from, he'd never seen the use in taking it at anything but face value. Actions were what was important, what you judged people on, not upbringing or where you'd gotten it.

Actions were what was keeping him up right now. Not the past.]

Yeah, I'm with you there. Call me old fashioned but I'm fairly sure there are some things that just shouldn't be messed with. Coffee pot and toaster being pretty high on that list.

[An impish smirk, a raise of an eyebrow. Almost challenging. Daring.] Who said anything about picking one or the other?

[And then he laughed, quietly, wryly.] And anyway. You're assuming I want to be worn out.

Thank Fury; he's almost more thorough than Coulson.

[Is. Was.

A chuckle escapes him at the question, dry and humorless.]

One way of putting it.

I agree, it's a little creepy walking into the kitchen without turning on the lights and the fridge talks to you.

[She lowered her arm to regard him again, canting her head drastically. Giving him THE LOOK.]

We're usually in bed by now, Clint.

[Tasha looked back at the boob tube again until she found Men in Black and left it there. She angled her body to that one leg dangled between each of his, gently butting her head against his.

Softly, Nat said:] Whatever you want, I'm here.

Next thing you know it'll be asking you to call it Hal and then we'll be in real trouble.

Oh if that happens me and Tony are going to have words. [Though she's trying not to snicker.] We should pull that on him though, pretty sure I can talk JARVIS into it.

Never heard of improvisation? Maybe I'm feeling anti-bed right now.

[The smirk hadn't dropped yet, and as she moved closer he moved to accommodate, an arm reaching out to enclose her body as it approached. Solidifying the contact, keeping her close, and he angled his chin enough to capture her lips, if briefly. It wasn't as far from his mind as she might have thought, really. Just not...directly on top. Her presence was enough, for the moment anyway.]

That'll work.

[Delivered flatly and with a face void of emotion.] No. I have never heard of such a thing.

[Sarcastic.as.hell.

She tenderly nipped at his bottom lip before settling back against him, half paying attention to the movie.]

Speaking of kids, you sure do hang around the fire starter a lot.

[Conversation. Conversation is good, it requires actual thought. Consideration, listening, and response, and okay, so he's got no problem resting a hand on her knee but she's practically in his lap as it is, it isn't like he's not going to take advantage.]

She's a good kid, and considering her file, I figure she could use the company.

[Aaand now the grin.] And don't tell me you wouldn't want to have a lighter hanging around if you had flaming projectiles.

If she'll keep the company, sure. I'm honestly surprised she's stuck around this long.

[Tasha snorted and turned to tap Clint's nose.] No, you're the child in this relationship, dear. I don't look at her and wonder what can we burn next.

Better hope Johnny doesn't catch wind of this; he'll be ever so jealous.

Fury told her he solved her problems. She might not believe it, but she'll stick around until she's got proof otherwise.

[The tap gets an injured look, but only a teasing one, and he might stick his tongue out at her just to prove her point.]

And if somebody came along who could make your thing cooler you wouldn't want to take advantage. Please.

If I didn't think he wouldn't light the whole damn thing on fire I might have been tempted to ask him first.

[Getting temporarily nostalgic and appreciative, Tasha murmured:] Gods save us when that man goes. The things he's done for us...

[She snorted at his remark. I don't need anyone making anything "cooler", I am bitchin' on my own.

[And then she pulled a face at herself, as she rarely was one to brag.]

We're missing the movie with your talking. As usual.

That's because being "smokin'" is kind of your thing. You can do the heat.

[And now they were back to teasing and smirks.

He leaned in, just an inch or so, angling towards her instead of the television; she'd managed to distract, which had probably been her aim all along, and now the hand on her thigh inched just a little higher.]

Well if you want, I can shut up. But I'm pretty sure you enjoy my talking.

[Eyes are rolled, but a smirk is barely suppressed.] Your cheesy compliments continue to turn me on, you know that, right?

[An involuntary hitch of breath was given at his advances and she delicately perked one brow. Perhaps almost challengingly.]

Yes. I enjoy your talking so much that I have recordings on top of recordings so that I can play it back. It lulls me to sleep, truly. And when you die, why, all I have to do is fire up a file.

Oh, now that's just cruel. Too far, Romanoff. Too far.

[But the way he grins, like he's Up To No Good, would kind of run counter to what he's saying.

Another inch, and he leaned in further, breath against her neck now.]

Nice to know I can put you to sleep though. Just not sure it's lulling, exactly.

Mmm, was it? I didn't think so. [Shrug.] Could have done worse, but I'll remember your sensitive feelings in the future, how's that?

[She accepted Clint's advances, remaining still save for taking advantage of their proximity to expose more of her neck and nip at his own. She chuckled lowly.]

Your ego doesn't need any more stroking so I'm choosing to not defend my word selection. Though, to be fair, you do more of the opposite, anyway.

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Woah sorry late tag.

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ehh s'all good! it happens

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