InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "DOWN TUU IN A LULEELURAH"

Kate was holding her phone when Clint’s text message came in. It’d shocked her, jarred her out of her ponderings. How was she going to make this right? It seemed everyone had been affected by some massive Orange County craziness over the last week, and the amount of apologies flying around was almost as crazy. Kate had already texted with Veronica. They were cool. Neither of them was the kind to hold a grudge, and both seemed to feel genuinely guilty over the whole thing, therefore the apologies were accepted, forgiveness was doled out.

But what happened with Clint? Kate was a little afraid that she’d lost him. That maybe he wasn’t affected by the same thing she was, and that he actually meant what he’d said about Daddy’s Card. She wasn’t expecting to hear from him, so the text message came as a surprise. She invited him over, then climbed up from the bed to straighten her apartment, get dressed, and prepare for his arrival. (Put a pot of coffee on.)

She headed to the door to open it at the sound of the knock.

Clint was aware that whatever it was that had happened last week with all this nonsense was the OC being the OC. It didn't really make the guilt go away though. He'd text Kate to make sure that whatever it was that happened wasn't irreparable but discussing that on the phone didn't seem right.

So when Kate said it was okay to stop over he didn't really waste time. He'd already spent the morning making up with Lucky who apparently was not happy with being ignored in the least.

Still not sure what the hell he was going to say to Kate, Clint showed up at her flat a little unsure and nervous.

Kate pulled the door open. Guilt and nerves were pooled in her stomach, but when she saw him standing there relief joined the other, strange feelings. He was here. That was a good start, right? He wanted to make things better, too. She could tell by the look in his eyes.

“Hey.” A small smile tugged the corner of her lips upward.

“Hi,” So apparently this was going to be a little bit awkward, but that was fine. He figured that while they both knew it was the OC -they did both know that, right?- being its usual chaotic self with whatever crap it had now, there was still a little bit to work through.

“Are you okay? Y’know, um… from the taser?” He hadn’t asked at the time, which he was stunned by, because really, he knew what tasers felt like, it wasn’t good. And it might be a little bit delayed, but he figured it’d be a good place to start.

Awkward was fine, so long as he was here. And he was. They could move past awkward. Kate stepped to the side and held the door open so he could come in. There was a delicious pot of coffee brewed in the kitchen, filling the little apartment with intense coffee smell.

“You know that scene from The Princess Bride where Wesley is in the Pit of Despair and the six fingered man hooks him up to the machine to steal one year of his life?” Being Kate’s favorite movie, she had the thing memorized. It was the reason she’d gone into fencing. “Then he just lays on the table and whimpers? I may have made some noises similar to those.”

Stepping inside, Clint winced a little at the description. Tasers could vary, they were never fun, but they weren’t always horrific. That one sounded like one of the ‘well this sucks’ versions though. “God, I’m sorry I was a dick right after that.” Probably just adding salt to the wounds really. The smell of coffee was pretty encouraging though, because at least that indicated more than just ‘say your piece and get out’ sort of moods.

“You and Veronica get to talk?” It was probably one thing to have your potential, maybe, not entirely sure boyfriend being an ass, but right on the edge of your bestie shooting you full of electricity? That was a contender for worst day of the week awards.

"We texted." Kate said, closing the door behind him. She wrapped her arms around her stomach in a shy way, watching Clint in her place. She spent more time at his than him at hers, so this was a bit of a treat. She just wished it was under better circumstances. "Neither of us is the kind to sing Kumbaya and hug it out," she added.

"You want coffee?" Kate moved close to him, to squeeze past and head into the kitchen.

"Yeah, that'd be great." It was probably a little weird that they were doing this awkward thing now. Since they skipped that crap at the start.

Following after Kate, Clint leaned against one of the counters, mostly sticking out of the way while she did whatever to get things ready, "So um, I pretty much came over to apologise for being a dick, but I'm pretty sure nothing is gonna actually sound right."

"It's no big deal," Kate said, pouring the coffee. Her heart was thundering now, though. She turned to glance at him. "Everyone was crazy. I wasn't the nicest person, either."

She offered him a mug, smirking. The awkward faded just a little as she teased, "At least you gave me cab fare."

Cab fare, right, at least he hadn’t left her stranded on the side of the road after being released from medical observation at the lock up because her friend had tasered her. That was the silver lining here. Clint just rolled his eyes, taking the coffee she offered with a small smirk, “Right, that totally makes up for being a total asshole.” Really, he knew it was out of his character. He knew that Kate knew it was out of his character too, and while she likely had a lot to be grouchy about, he doubted it was really her that was picking fights and being bratty either.

“Either way, I’m sorry I dumped your ass on the sidewalk.” Especially after she’d done him a solid picking him up at the bar.

Kate set her mug of coffee aside, then moved to him. With gentle fingers, she pried the mug out of his grip (even though she’d just given it to him) and took hold of his hands with her own. She stepped in further, bringing his arms down and around her waist. “You’re forgiven.” She said, lifting her arms to wrap around his shoulders. “I didn’t mean any of the things I said. I’m sorry, too.”

Okay, maybe it was a bit forward. But the best way to fight awkwardness was with intimacy. Right? ….right?

He had been enjoying the coffee, but it wasn’t exactly why he was there, so it didn’t really matter either way. Looping his arms around her waist better, drawing her in a little closer, Clint gave a small smile, “Well, you’re forgiven too.” Usually he didn’t care one way or the other about nasty comments, he’d lived with his fair share, and the more he dreamt, the more he was aware that bullshit followed him around.

“It’s been a bit of a crazy week.” Which was the understatement of the fucking year, but these things were so very common that it became normal. How did he pick such a weird place to stay. “How’re you feeling now? I mean, you took some time off work right? After getting tased and everything.” Dipping down to place a soft, almost apologetic kiss to Kate’s throat, Clint rested one hand on the top of Kate’s butt, the other stroking her back slowly.

“Pretty much mandatory. My boss at the Archery Range gave me paid leave for five days, so I’m on forced holiday until Friday. I guess I can’t complain.” Kate loved the feel of his arms around her, pressing her body against his. “I’m back to normal, I think, though I’m staying away from electrical sockets. Just in case.”

“Good,” forced leave would at least mean she needed to take a few days to chill and get herself back to normal, and it’d let her know if there were any residuals, things she could’ve ignored if she was working. “Maybe stay away from sockets and metal things, just for now.” It was unlikely there’d be a need for it, but the teasing was easy.

“And, if you get bored lazing around, I can keep you company.” He was more than happy to do whatever, if Kate just wanted company, or to go somewhere, “I think it’s my turn to be Nurse Clint anyway.”

“Mmm, I like the sound of that. You nursing me back to health.” Kate took her turn to lean in and nuzzle against him, her nose finding the stubble on his jaw. It was sexy. Warm. Strong. She placed a kiss there and then pulled back to look up into his eyes. “But won’t Lucky miss you? We should go back to your place for a Netflix-a-thon or something.” If she was going to be on forced medical leave, she’d at least spend it doing something she enjoyed with someone she cared about fiercely.

“I’m pretty sure you have more separation anxiety than he does,” although he wouldn’t be able to stay gone for too long, since he would need to head back to take care of Lucky, so if Kate wanted to marathon anything, they probably were better at his place. “But he is very good for cuddles when you’re feeling down.” And after the week they’d all had, maybe some time with a fairly loving and non-judgemental dog would do the world of good.

“You know we like having you, no problem there.” And there wasn’t issue with an extended visit, Netflix or not, Clint really liked having Kate around.

“Probably,” Kate said. She couldn’t deny how attached she was to Lucky already. And Clint, too, she supposed. “All right, well, I’ll cuddle with him, then.” She lowered her head to rest against his shoulder. “When I’m done cuddling with you.” Because she wasn’t going to let Clint get out of his cuddles. After being tased, spending some time in a jail cell, being poked and prodded by the jail medical staff, then dropped off on the sidewalk and having to find a ride home she was absolutely ready for a couple days with Nurse Clint and his assistant Lucky.