InsaneJournal

Who: Clint Barton and Pietro Maximoff
What: Eating Pizza on the Roof
When: Wednesday
Where: Roof of the Farm House
Warnings: None
Status: Closed/completed gdoc




Things were fairly calm again for now, the farm was quiet and everybody was going about their lives as normal again after the strange relationship event recently. Pietro hoped that meant nothing else would be thrown at them for a while. But it was Madison so there was no guarantee.

Pietro had finished work and just arrived home with pizza when he spotted Clint on the roof. Figuring he might be hungry he joined him up there, “Pepperoni” he said as he sat down and put the pizza box between them.

***

Clint was glad that whole relationship fiasco had seen fit to pass him by. He was having a hard enough time wrapping his head around the advice Nat gave him. He didn’t need to be forced into something. But he knew he should probably make an effort before Nat got it in her head to set him up with a date.

He picked up on having company on the roof before he knew it was Pietro. Clint didn’t have a weapon on him, not that he really needed one, but he knew no one who didn’t know him would make the effort to get on the roof. The smell of fresh pizza pulled him from his thoughts and he turned a smirk to the speedster.

“This is why I like you,” he said. “You bring me food.” Then he helped himself to a slice of cheesy, spicy goodness.

***

Being a newlywed hadn’t really bothered Pietro, both he and Alex had been happy and while they weren’t quite ready for it yet they both agreed that sometime it would be the right time for them.

Pietro figured he didn’t need to announce himself, he could have got up there without being detected - thanks to his gift of speed - but there was no need when it was Clint, he could never be sure his older friend was unarmed and he was a perfect shot.

“You will always appreciate it” Pietro said which is why he shared with Clint so easily. Shared food appreciation was good he thought, picking up a slice himself, “The hawk is enjoying the view?”

***

“The hawk is definitely enjoying the view.” Clint took another bite but wasn’t rude enough to talk with his mouth full. His wife had cured him of that. “It’s quiet up here. I’m surprised more people don’t spend time on their roofs. They could use the perspective.” Punny was Clint.

“So what about you?” he asked as he looked at the man who had saved his life. “What is new in the world of He Who Goes Fast?” Oddly, or maybe not so much, Clint wasn’t aware of what may or may not have happened to people during that relationship mess. He had tried to stay the hell out of it.

***
Pietro wasn’t quite as well trained yet but no doubt between Alex and his sister eventually he’d be that way. “That was very good” he nodded with a grin. He liked puns.

“Alex and I were married, it was nice. But we aren’t ready for that yet. Good to experience it though I guess” Pietro said, not wanting to bring up marriage too much with Clint. “But things are back to normal now, as normal as they ever are here”

***

Clint grinned back for the compliment. Not many people appreciated his sense of humor so when he found someone who did he didn’t hold back. All though sometimes it was fun to wield it against people like Rogers. His jokes sometimes went right over that blond head.

He didn’t mind hearing about marriages, especially happy ones. It sounded like Pietro and Alex had their heads screwed on right, though. Marriage was supposed to be something gone into with love and reverence, not forced because some unknown powers that be was holding some weird experiment.

“At least that’s all it was,” Clint said, his expression going serious. “Look at Rogers and his girl. They have to deal with the whole wedding thing.”

***

If Clint could find anybody who appreciated his sense of humour it was Pietro, puns and sarcasm were his thing and they had a fun little teasing to and fro together.

Pietro and Alex had both agreed that being pushed into marriage too soon wasn’t for them, just because they didn’t know how long they would be here was no reason to rush things. They would take their time as if they had all of it to work with.

“That is awkward” he nodded, “I think it has caused problems for many. I am glad you were not affected” he added, because he knew that would have been difficult for Clint. It must be hard for his friend to know what to do without Laura here.

***

“I’m glad I wasn’t affected,” Clint said emphatically. After wiping sauce from his lips with his sleeve he shook his head. He mused on that for another bite of pizza, a frown creasing his brow. Then he aimed that at Pietro.

“Let me ask you a question,” he said finally. “Nat and Bruce say I should try this dating thing. Personally, I think that’s just a case of misery loves company or they want the opportunity to poke fun at me, but damn it. They kind of made sense. What do you think?”

***

Pietro considered the question, “You are a good person” he said, “And you should not be alone. I do not think Laura would want that and you could be here for many years. But I would perhaps not go looking for it unless it is something you actively want” That was Pietro’s view, it was really not up to anybody except Clint himself.

***

Clint nodded thoughtfully. “I am a good person, aren’t I.” One corner of his lips twitched for that, but his mind was working over what Pietro said.

“I don’t know, man.” His legs dangling over the roof he leaned his elbows on his knees. “No man is an island, right? But we’re all idiots. We don’t know what we want half the time and the other half we’re usually doing stupid shit like lighting our farts.” He sighed. “I figure I’m not going to go looking for anything, but maybe I shouldn’t say no if it comes up and swats me on the nose.”

***

Pietro smirked, “Maybe I should not have said so. It will not help your ego” he teased.

“If it is meant to be it will come along” he said confidently, “I did not think I would find anybody but Alex arrived and we found each other. Wanda and John did too, perhaps that is why we are here. To live a life we could not anywhere else”

***

“Hmm.” Clint hummed as he took that in. It really was too bad that Pietro hadn’t lived back home. He was a good guy to talk to. Had more insight than anyone but Wanda knew. This conversation proved what Pietro had just said, and Clint was glad he had this opportunity.

“Well anyway,” he said finally then reached for another slice of pizza. “That’s the maudlin things that have me on rooftops these days. It’s probably better than drinking myself naked and running loose on an unsuspecting town.”

***
Most people underestimated Pietro, but it wasn’t just his body that moved so speedily his brain tended to work things out quickly too. Wanda knew of course, but most others never realised he was intelligent, he also hid it a lot behind teasing and jokes.

“I do not know, it got everybody talking. Though I did think Maria was going to shoot you and I’d have to step in and save you again” he grinned.

***

“Hey,” Clint said as he turned to point firmly at Pietro. “No more taking bullets. Could have slapped you silly for that the first time.” Except Pietro had been dead. He’d helped save that kid, but it had been something that weighed on Clint ever since. If nothing else good came of being here, getting to know Pietro better made up for it.

***

“Okay, next time I will just be faster and get us both out of the way” Pietro said with a nod, “Then nobody takes bullets” He hadn’t meant to make anything weigh on Clint but he had to save them. Clint had a family and the young boy was an innocent. Pietro could not have stood by and done nothing. But he too was very glad to have this second chance.

***

“And don’t you forget it.” Clint reached out to push at Pietro’s shoulder just like a little kid would then smiled. Okay. So Nat and the others were right. There were good things to this place. Damn it.