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Judy Martin (boston_bitch) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-03-07 00:22:00

Who: Judy, Ollie and Clint Barton
What: Meeting the best friend - and some hijinks
When: This past weekend
Where: The SCA meeting
Warnings: PG - Language, a little romance, and Ollie being Ollie.
Status: Complete



Judy had dressed a little more simply than usual that day, in a velvet dress and calf-length boots. She’d gone to work and gone through the day, and now she was waiting outside for Oliver. Honestly, she wasn’t sure what he’d show up in. She wouldn’t put it past Oliver to have a chariot. She didn’t quite know what to expect from this thing. If they were re-enactors, or was this a renaissance faire? Or both?

It wasn’t quite a faire, which meant it wasn’t open to the public. It was a section of Court for the baronry, which meant that, well, the people really involved in it would be there, and probably whoever else Clint and other people had brought along. Ollie couldn’t imagine Eowyn wouldn’t be there, for example, and he’d also tried to get Thea to come on the guise that she spent a lot of time embroidering things lately, or making jewelry, but no dice. He assumed she was with her little boyfriend or something.

Anyway, she’d laughed enough as she’d watched him get ready, and here he was now, pulling up to greet Judy. His bow, the makeshift one that he used for costume purposes, was resting in the backseat with a quiver, lying on a folded cloak, and he was dressed in a green tunic that stopped right about his knees with a pair of what anyone else would consider velvet tights and boots. And he was grinning. “Your chariot awaits, milady.” He proclaimed, hopping out of the car to get the door for her.

Jude laughed delightedly. “Wow. You weren’t kidding.” The tunic might have stopped at his knees, but it was still, uh, interesting. And yeah, those were tights. Sorry, Oliver. “I think you’ve got better legs than I do.” She kissed him once before sliding into the car, looking over at him with a grin. “What’s your function at this thing?”

“Today? I’m just there to support Barton.” Ollie smirked. “You know, have to be nice to the abusive ex and all.” Which was the kind of thing that was probably only funny to a select number of people. “He’s gotten a promotion to Captain of Archers for the whole local baronry. Which means he gets to run around Orange County overseeing events or picking people who can do it for him, inspecting equipment, all kinds of fun stuff. For free.” He shook his head, grinning. “I don’t know where he’s getting the energy.” And, of course, it was now Ollie’s job to make his life hell at events he was shooting at. For Reasons.

“But so they’re handing out his certificate of warrant, since they had the meeting coming up and it was better than mailing. He’s also kind of their golden boy.” He added, and no, that wasn’t him being bitter. It was just a fact. Clint had really thrown himself into this stuff, was the reason ROY was shooting again, and just, overall had given them a lot. He deserved the honor, really.

“That’s kind of nice. And it’s so kind of you to support him after how he treated you.” Jude winked. “Really, what did he do to you that you ‘broke up’?” She was teasing, of course; she knew this Clint was probably Oliver’s best friend. It was actually kind of endearing that they apparently tortured each other that way. It was what boys did. “And are you not active in this?” He had to be, otherwise why would he own the getup?

“Oh I am but not in the same way.” Oliver grinned. “I show up to shoot, and go to the events but I’m not really the networking type. And he stole my saffron.” he explained, giving her a fake pout. “And punched me until I puked on one occasion. I deserved it.” he added after a second of thought. “But it hurt. I love this kind of thing though, seriously.” he told her. “It’s good to be around other archers, find ways to improve the technique, and people who speak the language.” And he’d learned more about his own technique while involved here.

The Olympic shooting had been one thing, but it had been so isolating and individual. With more of a core group to compete against and to mock his shots when they went bad, he’d been able to identify his own strengths in this. He was the stronger archer and would always pull more weight between him and Clint, for instance, but Clint was slightly faster, and a little more inventive and, well, steadier. Ollie tended to take more risks. Actually, that was probably true of a lot of things.

“Saffron? That bastard.” Jude laughed. When he explained about being around other archers, though, she nodded. “I can understand that, definitely. The more you spend around people with your particular talent, the more immersed in it you get.”

“Definitely.” He agreed. “And well, it’s more collaborative here. As much as it was the team that took home gold in Atlanta? It’s not as though we had the same atmosphere.” They had all been so young, and so tense that year that it had been hard. “With the pressure mostly off, it frees you up for all sorts of things.” Like mocking and taunting and such.

“There’s something about drinking with your competition around a campfire that’s different.” Ollie told her, seriously. “Knowing that you’re all going to be sleeping on the ground and fighting for water and over who gets to go get it from the stations in the morning. I don’t know, it’s transformative. But yeah, the saffron. Admittedly, I left it in his cupboard but I hadn’t MEANT to. He turned around and sold it on ebay. After getting Stark to tell me he’d sent strippers to my place.”

No really.

Jude could definitely understand the idea of being with your competition. “On the Hill, it was similar, really. You understood each other and most of the time it wasn’t personal, but you still knew you were going through the same stuff and had to try and achieve the same goals - occasionally polar opposite to each other.” She watched as he turned a corner. “Of course, drinking with the competition kinda bit me in my ass. And I don’t know, the saffron, you kind of gave it up. The strippers were a nice touch, though.” She laughed, sitting back. She was definitely curious to meet this Clint. She’d heard enough about him by now.

“Oh it was brilliantly calculated on their parts. I don’t even want to know how that all came about. Well, wait. Tony was involved. That’s how.” Seriously. You could pass off just about anything insane or amusing that happened in this town by blaming Tony Stark. It was one of those facts.

“And yeah, a lot like that. We help each other out at the same time we’re trying to beat out the competition. Admittedly, I’ve only been with this group for a year, but they’re a good bunch. I think I like them better.” And they were pulling into the park that had been secured for the event, with a brightly colored tent erected in the distance and actual folding chairs set up inside it. See, not EVERYTHING was completely historical for this sort of thing. At least the chairs were wood at least, so you could SORT of suspend your disbelief. And there was a blue and grey clad figure approaching the Lexus and shaking his head.

“You bothered showing up!” Clint called out to Ollie, giving him a little wave. “I’m surprised you weren’t, I don’t know, something insane. And then he was sweeping a bow to the lady with Ollie, before he’d gotten a good look at her face. But coming back up, when he did? Oh shit, she WAS a cougar. That was kind of awesome.

“Hey, I’m glad it’s working for you.” She smiled at him. They turned into the park then, and she couldn’t help but look around, amused and interested both. She got out of the car, closing the door before catching a glimpse of the man walking up. This must be Clint. Judy chuckled, figuring she’d get into the spirit and curtsied to him. “It’s nice to finally meet you. God knows I’ve heard enough. I’m Judy.”

“Oh great.” Clint laughed and offered her a hand as she straightened from that. “So what exactly HAVE you heard? Because he’s a drama queen, really.” Oh god. Unintentional pun there. Heh. “I’ve heard a little about you. All of that fantastic.”

Judy laughed. “His middle name may actually be Drama; I haven’t asked yet.” She turned back toward Ollie, smiling fondly, but Clint’s question made her turn back. “What have I heard? Um. That you’re a saffron thief, that you’re a talented archer and you once beat the shit out of him, so he broke up with you. I don’t know who broke up with who for real, but I’m probably better in bed.” She winked.

“Jonas.” Clint informed her smirking. “Just so you have the information at your beck and call.” Because he learned that sort of thing about people just so he could trot it out if ever he needed to. “And those are all pretty true. Well, I don’t know about the last one. My fiancee hasn’t had any problems. Him though? He was always complaining.” Smirk. “Too high maintenance.”

Judy laughed. She’d spare the details, at least for now; he seemed too nice to fuck with too hard. “I’ll remember that. Jonas, really? Though I don’t want to use his full name, I’m not his mom. Despite what it might look like.” She got the joke out before he could. “I’m glad your fiancee is better in bed than Oliver. Congratulations, by the way.”

“Thank you.” Clint grinned. “And yes, seriously. And who knows, you might want the information someday. For, I don’t know, blackmail purposes.” He winked at that. Not that he’d blackmailed Ollie over it, YET, but he very well COULD if he wanted. Then again, with a middle name like Francis, could he judge anybody? It was hard to say.

“Maybe. Though I’ve met Thea.” Judy chuckled. “Oliver told me you’re getting a promotion today, by the way. That must be nice, being recognized. Though I do admit that the first reason I came was to see Oliver in period garb.” Hey, she was dating the man; surely it was understandable.

“Hey, that’s the reason most people show up.” Clint pointed out, grinning. “I mean, funny costumes and all.” And that was the moment Laika showed up again at his heels. He’d left her back at one of the tents to do a bit of wandering around because it wasn’t like anyone was exactly quiet at these things and there wasn't much danger of him not hearing something dangerous coming at him in the middle of a park. She was technically off duty, and dressed in a tabard that matched Clint’s. On a dog of the appropriate breed, like a greyhound, it might have looked like she was going on some kind of a hunt. On Laika though, considering she was a bit smaller than that? It looked sort of hilarious. “Speaking of funny costumes.” He smirked.

Judy laughed, but she didn’t touch the dog. Oliver had mentioned she was a service dog. “What’s her name again, sorry? Oliver mentioned her, but I confess I’ve got an old lady memory.” And a drunk’s memory, but somehow, she didn’t want to talk about that. She was keenly aware that Oliver could do better, and she didn’t want his best friend to get the ammo to think so so soon.

Well, she sure didn’t have an old lady’s legs, that was for sure. Clint was pretty strictly an Eowyn man these days, but Ollie had done really really well for himself, that much was obvious here. He was glad for him really. “That’s Laika.” he nodded towards her. “My partner in crime as it were.”

“So...” he said, now changing to a smirk. “How the heck did Ollie manage to keep you around anyway? I mean we all know how it happened, I’m pretty sure, he’s not exactly subtle but..I’m impressed you’re weathering the crazy.”

Judy laughed. “He’s definitely not subtle, and he’s lucky I like interesting people. But ... I don’t know. He’s got the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met. He makes me laugh. Cute as hell. And I don’t know. I like people who have a sense of what’s right, even when I’m not screwing them. I’ll put up with TMZ up my ass for someone like him.” She looked around. “God, Oliver better not be listening; we’ll never get his ego down to normal size.”

“Let’s hope he’s not.” Clint laughed. “I mean, after that I’m going to be required to find something stupid and petty to disqualify him for just to poke his head back down to normal size.” Or he could go ahead and shoot him. That idea had merit sometimes. On the other hand, the last time he’d shot Ollie had sort of had negative consequences so...

“He tries really hard.” Clint nodded. “I don’t think I’ve seen Ollie reserved about, well anything. Ever. It’s just...whatever he’s doing he puts everything into it. That’s part of why he’s so nuts.”

“Sounds about right.” Judy chuckled. “Good to know he’s not just insane for kicks.” But her tone was fond. “I’ve met Thea - may have traumatized Thea a little - and he tries very hard with her, I know. I’ve even heard rumors of the way he cooks, and that sounds completely over the top.” She was okay with that, though. Honestly, she liked people who threw themselves into life. As the cliche went, it was too damn short.

“Thea...Thea sounds like a trip.” Clint hadn’t met her yet either. He hadn’t really NEEDED to considering the stories. “If you can traumatize her, that’s actually all kinds of power I think. I’m just glad you seem to be using it for good. Oh God, the cooking.” He shook his head and looked both fond and exasperated at the same time if that were possible. “You know how on television, parents come to your house with labeled food and stock your fridge? He actually seems to think that’s a real life thing.” Clint sort of wished Ollie would play laundry fairy instead. “It’d be adorable and sweet if any of it was, well, edible and not completely over the top in ways that just don’t work.”

She had to laugh. “Oh, shit, so if he says he’ll cook I should fake a seizure?” Judy shook her head, grinning. “I’m not the greatest cook myself, so at least people can’t say he wants a substitute mom or something. I don’t do laundry, either.” She could tell this man was genuinely fond of Oliver, and it endeared him to her.

“Well depends on WHAT he’s cooking.” Clint said, “If you tell him you’d prefer something normal, make damn sure he’s using standardized stuff. It’s not like he’s BAD at it but...he does weird things in the kitchen. There was a point he made thirteen varieties of chilli in a single weekend. They started normal and then veered off into surreal. Oh I don’t know that he wants a mother, really.” Clint laughed. “Not the way HE hovers over people.”

“Thirteen?” Judy stared. “Jesus. That’s kind of ... ” Obsessive? “Unusual. And you’re right, I take it back; Oliver does seem to want to take care of everyone.” She smiled. “He hasn’t tried to mother me yet. I’m curious if he’ll ever try.”

“Well, “ Clint considered. “He’s never really done it to me if that’s any consolation. The one time he sort of did, I actually needed it, and it was more a ‘get your act together, asshole’ thing than ‘come here and let me love you’. So maybe it’s more a vibe he gets from people. I’m not sure.” His personal vibe with people who needed help was to offer it but to make sure they knew how they could help themselves while they were at it, and he didn’t often spare calling people on their shit. Unless he was ignoring them pointedly and passive aggressively.

Which, okay, ONLY Ollie had brought that out. It was a lot different from his other best friend, that was for sure.

“I’ll tell him to fuck off if I need to.” Judy laughed. “Just because I’m fond of him doesn’t mean I can’t call him on his crap. I hope he calls me on mine, for that matter.” She looked up at him. “I know you’re not trying to do that, but it feels like some people are trying to warn me off by going on about what a lunatic he is.”

“He’s absolutely insane, yeah.” Clint agreed. “But, hell, everybody’s insane somewhere, right? He’s not JUST a lunatic I mean. Usually you can ignore the crazy. And yeah, it’s good to have the person who’ll tell you to fuck off when you need it. And who’ll call you on that crap. He’s pretty good at accepting it too.” That was kind of how they’d wound up becoming friends after all. “Sometimes we all need that.”

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but ask him to tell you stories. I’ve got a long history of crazy. Just not the scary dangerous kind of crazy.” Judy grinned, but blinked when she heard a horn sound. “Is that some kind of signal?” Where had Oliver gone?

“Ooh stories.” Clint laughed. “Yeah, we’ve got our share of... Oh hey, they’re starting up the meeting and passing things out. I’d better get back up there or the heralds are going to be all annoyed.” And would get progressively louder if they were ignored. Seriously. These people were like that.

Ollie had vanished off to grab some bottled water, which he was carrying by a few leather holders and appeared, offering one to Judy. “Look, VERY authentic.” he joked. If this were a full session of course, things would be different, but...

Judy waved at Clint before hearing Oliver reappear. She chuckled, taking one. “Oh, very. Where should I be? Do you need to get down there with Clint?”

“We just need to grab seats really.” Ollie grinned. “I’m technically supposed to participate when it gets to the archer’s guild stuff but that’s more if I have ideas or anything, and really...I didn’t BRING anything to contribute. Consider this more an exercise in watching how I spend my weekends, or at least the people I spend them with.” It was probably going to be fairly boring with a lot of administrative stuff but hey, amusing costumes, some people trying too hard and ridiculous names on top of it. It had its merits anyway.

“I can do that.” She linked her arm through his, letting him lead the way. “He actually said mostly nice things about you, by the way. In case you were wondering.” He seemed like a good man. “Can I ask why he has the dog?”

“Did he?” Ollie laughed “Well, wonders will never cease. Everybody else thinks I’m kind of crazy cakes these days. And Laika hears what Clint can’t. He was in Iraq in some kind of explosion and it knocked out most of his hearing in the one ear, part in the other. “ He didn’t add the part where Laika was unofficially for trauma too. That part was Clint’s business to tell, which he wasn’t exactly upfront about and had never even mentioned to Ollie. It was more one of those things you could tell after a while. The ativan in his medicine cupboard, the way he tended to get really jumpy around Memorial day and it lasted until the last fireworks of the year had ended, his response to almost losing Eowyn, it was obvious but if his friend prefered to keep it hidden, Ollie was fine pretending he didn’t know.

“Oh, he thinks you’re crazy. He just said there are reasons for it.” Judy chuckled. “Told me I was impressive for putting up with it, but so far there hasn’t been much to put up with. It makes me laugh to no end that people joke with me about how high maintenance you are, when I feel like I’m the one with the issues.” She just had the experience to be able to keep most of her issues under control.

When he explained about the dog, Judy nodded. “He did keep looking at my face really intently; I didn’t know if he was just doing whatever or lip reading or checking me out.” She smiled. “Laika seems well trained; I didn’t mess with her as I know you said she was a service dog, but she stuck to him like glue. That little coat was pretty cute on her.”

“He’s pretty good at managing it.” Ollie nodded. “Laika’s more of a line of defense for if his aids happen to go out or something catches on fire while his aids are out. I didn’t know him before any of this happened, so I can’t really say if it’s different or if the intent is a thing he always does. He’s sort of very...in your face.” Ollie figured it was an army thing himself. As was the reading people thing that Clint tried to do. “Laika’s adorable. Last Halloween? She was a dragon.” That dog put up with a LOT, seriously. Weird partner was just one of them.

Judy grinned. “That is kind of sweet. I don’t think I’d have pegged him as an animal lover if I hadn’t seen her. I don’t know, though, I guess I can be wrong sometimes.” She followed him into one of the tents, figuring Oliver knew where he was going. “I tried to sort of dress the part?” Her dress was velvet and past her knees, and her boots were calf length and black.

“You did good.” Ollie smirked. “I especially like the boots.” No seriously. Boots? they equalled legs. Judy legs. He was especially fond of those these days. Someday he’d add the story of Clint’s unfortunately left behind kitten who probably was still nosing around soldiers as they thought about it, but for now? He had other stuff to think about. “It’s going to be pretty hard to behave through this you know.” He winked. “Maybe we should sit in back. I mean there’s nothing assigned.”

She had to laugh, pinching his rear. “Your friend will hit you.” But at the same time, that wasn’t a terrible idea. “At least pay attention to his moment.” Maybe then he wouldn’t get bent out of shape. But she followed Oliver up toward the back row, settling next to him with a grin and crossing her legs. She’d worn regular stockings, but still. She knew what looked good.

“I can do that.” Ollie agreed. “For his moment. But there’s a lot of boring court stuff they’re doing first.” Snerk. “Business and fundraising discussion and stuff that’s actually not REALLY in character but close enough.” He smirked. “We’d be in SO much trouble. Well I would.” Clearly that would be a great idea for him, from the way he slid an arm around Judy, tugging her in for a kiss.

“Least there won’t be paparazzi here?” Judy murmured, grinning before she let Oliver kiss her. She kept her movements small, hoping it would help them not be noticed. She knew logically she should be nixing this idea, but honestly, it was kind of a rush. It was like necking in a car in high school again.

“Nope. “ Ollie smirked. “They don’t show up unless they know for sure I’m shooting at some event and then stand around to make fun of me. Even more of them if Roy and I are competing. See how far the legend’s fallen.” The papers had been particularly brutal last summer when Roy had actually come out ahead. “So there’s just a couple of the nobles to avoid. And they’re all up front participating.” HE had far better things to do. Like stroking Judy’s clavicle for now. It spoke to what he’d do if they weren’t in public anyway and the hint could be kind of sexy too.

“Bastards.” Judy somehow didn’t like that, and she frowned. “No one is going to be as good as they were in their prime; it’s not exactly unique to you. Hell, Roy makes it sound like even he’s not as good as he was.” She closed her eyes a little as his fingers ran over her collarbone, grinning. He was starting to learn the little touches she liked. She lowered her voice. “I will not be held responsible if we do it in the car later.”

“The upholstery can take it.” Ollie snickered. “Okay, so we MIGHT throw off the suspension but I’m willing to risk it.” The media were real assholes about that sort of thing. And Roy, well. “Roy’s not.” he admitted. “He’s getting back up there but he lost about six months.” And had to get used to a new arm but that was a level of weird he wasn’t telling Judy yet. He didn’t want anyone to really know about his relationship with Mayurai after the whole blowing up a building with his products thing. It somehow seemed...unwise. “They look to zero in on anything, the assholes. And they always insist on getting people to break character on camera.”

It was funny, but a mess.

“Because I know when you’re down there, you’re really not supposed to break character.” Judy nodded, running her fingers over the fine hair at the base of his skull. It wasn’t her thing, but she could understand the allure of something like this. It was plain old fun, for the most part; aside from the damn media, there didn’t seem to be a lot of competition or worry.

“Not really, no.” Oliver grinned. “Okay so I’ve kind of done an in your face at people but...” Snerk. “It’s different when it’s for their purposes, you know.” And it was, yeah, the fun part was good. Ollie had needed to reconnect to archery on a level that wasn’t as intense when he’d found re-enacting. And he shivered at that touch, wishing they weren’t quite so dressed right now. However, he could still do other things, and his foot wound up wrapped around one of hers.

“I’m sure.” Judy chuckled, liking that pleasant little shiver he gave. She smiled at him getting all cozy, running her hand down to rest on his knee. “I still maintain your legs look better than mine right now.” Those were tights, whether he wanted to admit it or not, and it was awfully form-fitting. “It takes a very secure man to dress like that, Oliver.” She was interrupted by a horn signal.

“Does it?” Ollie smirked. “You should see when I go earlier. Full on tunic to the ground. That’s a little more awkward.” He stopped at the signal too, actually glancing up to pay attention as the announcements of a few new offices were made. Okay, he’d better actually listen for this, or Clint would probably not forgive him. Probably.

“And our new Captain of Archers, Gauwyn Fletcher.” The herald was announcing and okay, Ollie still snickered at Clint’s persona name. It was just...wow. Hilarious when you really ,really tried it on for size. And you know, just...

“There’s something hilarious about pretending to be French.” he whispered to Judy, “I”m sorry just...yeah.” Snerk. But he WAS paying attention as Clint was handed his warrant and they actually did a brief swearing in and stuff. Aww. But as soon as it was over? Back to paying attention to mostly HER.

Judy laughed at the image, but went quiet when she saw Clint Barton appear. She watched him get the promotion and be sworn in, and applauded appropriately. He seemed like a good person, and more than a match for Oliver’s crazy.

When Oliver talked about pretending to be French, though, she laughed, and got a dirty look for it. She grimaced, putting a hand over her mouth. She didn’t really want to be disrespectful, but still. “You’re a bad influence,” she murmured to Oliver, amused.

“You bet I am.” He whispered back, snickering, and also got a couple dirty looks, which he followed up with a little smirk. Yeah, they knew him here. His people. They might be annoyed with him right now, but they weren’t going to kick him out either. Because...they kind of needed for him not to go back over to the West Kingdom. It would have put the archers on a more even footing at the next event after all.

Heh! And yeah, he clapped for Clint and everything, even adding in a couple of Huzzahs for good measure. Somehow from the look Clint gave the back of the room, he probably had some idea of what was going on. The mocking part at least. That was probably why, when no one was looking after HE sat back down, he quickly glanced at Ollie, biting his thumb. A little more Shakespearean but still.

Judy saw and laughed; she didn’t understand entirely, but the smirk on Clint’s face tended to convey a lot. She looked around, If they couldn’t talk, well, maybe she could be a little evil. She put her arm around him again, her hand going back up to the base of his neck. He’d liked that last time; maybe she could at least distract him.

Yeah that was Ollie being pretty distracted for a while there. And stealing a kiss in the process, with his arms wrapped around her. At least they were being quiet so Clint, slightly scandalized, turned his attention to other matters of his own. And okay, he might have been getting a little bit inspired there for when he wasn’t in public.

She couldn’t help the contented noise when he kissed her; she really didn’t want to get Oliver in trouble, but he was being attractive. She had to hand it to him, though; not many men could be attractive in a long bright green tunic. “I don’t want to get you booted out of here,” Judy whispered in his ear, before snatching a kiss of her own.

“You won't get me booted out forever.” Ollie assured her, grinning. “Okay so I might get asked to leave court for the day, and you know, have to be socially censured or something.” Not really, not with this group, but you know, the very IDEA was there. Granted, it was the Middle Ages. It wouldn’t be like this was some huge deviancy or something THERE.

That said, one of the actual nobles was standing up now and glancing at the group. “May we have some decorum in the back please, good gentles? Remember your royalty are here.”

That part did it. Ollie started snickering uncontrollably. Oh God. And they were all glancing back at him now. Heh.

Oh, Jesus. “Oliver.” She elbowed him hard, hoping it would get him to shut up, but honestly, if it didn’t, that was probably okay. She’d just take him back to the car. And his laughter was usually infectious. Damnit! Judy just bit her lip, working hard not to let the adrenaline rush get to her.

Ollie got elbowed and straightened up with a little grin. Okay, that had been kind of, maybe bad. But it’d been HILARIOUS too. Maybe it was a good thing Roy had elected not to show up, when he thought about it. He’d have been so disturbed about now.

“Okay fine, fine.” He told Judy, though he tossed in a last kiss for now. “I can sit quietly. I think.”

After she got the laughter under control, she whispered once more in his ear. “Unlike Clint, I can withhold sex if you don’t.” In fairness, she wasn’t sure how long that would last once they’d left here, but still. The threat was hopefully effective.

That? Made Ollie shiver and sit straight up, and actually shut up. Yeah. He wasn’t gonna risk losing THOSE privileges. Seriously. He had priorities going on here after all. And well, he never knew for sure how long she’d hold out so that? Was probably the best threat ever. Wow.

Okay, it was damn near impossible not to laugh at that. Judy dug her nails into her knee so she didn’t crack up.

She managed to make it through the rest of the meeting, and as it broke up, she pulled Oliver over and kissed him firmly. It seemed easy for him to make her laugh, and she could really get used to that.

Oliver grinned as they stepped outside the tent and kissed back, deeply this time, now that he could, and okay, so there might have been clapping going on from somewhere and a few catcalls. Yeah, well. At least they were of the positive sort, right? Judy didn’t mind too much, did she?

Judy thought it was funny. As long as Clint wouldn’t be angry at Oliver, she was all right with whatever. She’d managed to shut him up eventually, right?

Eventually, she asked. “Is Barton going to kill you?” Well. Them. She wrapped an arm around his waist, looking up at him with a faint smile. “Because honestly, I can’t talk you out of this one.”

“Probably.” Ollie snickered. “But he’ll get over it. Probably bitch a little and swear he’s going to receive vengeance, then forget about it. He doesn’t really follow through on the revenge thing. Usually.” Not that he did either, for that matter. “I can probably talk MYSELF out if I try.”

“Hopefully.” She didn’t want anyone thinking she would always go along with Oliver’s lunacy, but every so often, you really just had to let loose. “You’re good at getting yourself out of tight situations, I’m guessing.” Call it a hunch.

“You bet I am.” Ollie assured her. “It’s a specialty.” Most of them anyway. There were SOME that he couldn’t quite avoid, occasionally, but on the whole? People tended to trust him and believe his sincerity about some things in most cases. Things like ‘this is the last time I’ll disrupt Court proceedings’ for instance. But he was so charming at people, how could they not? And look at his HOOD draped just so about his shoulders. He looked like Robin Hood. Like someone these people would actually legitimately trust, even if normal sane people would back away.

“Biggest bullshitter on the planet.” Judy grinned, leaning on him. “Should we go apologize, or can we go back to the car?”

“I think we can hit the car.” Ollie grinned back at her. “I’ll apologize later.” He’d bring him a casserole or something. It would work.