Waterford Hotel, Flagstaff, AZ, Friday Evening

[so_hawkward]

As far as Clint was concerned, Operation Distract Kitty From Punching Fandom in The Face was going quite well. They'd seen the Grand Canyon, learned exactly what a "dry heat" meant, and now they were lounging in their hotel room.

"I'm really glad no one evil has blown the Grand Canyon up," he said, from where he was sprawled out on the bed. "Or filled it with acid or done something else awful." That was a totally rational thought when you were exhausted from being touristy.

[For she who is with him!]

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[throughaphase]

Even if she'd probably been a little quieter this week, Kitty thought the operation was going pretty well, too. "Give it time, I'm sure someone'll try it. Probably for a really stupid reason," she said, flopping next to him on the bed.

[so_hawkward]

"No. It's not allowed," Clint said, turning to face her on the bed. "I've said so, and that's what matters. It's too nice and deep."

[throughaphase]

"Is that the criteria for things supervillains can't destroy?" Kitty checked.

[so_hawkward]

"Probably not, but it should be," Clint said. "I think I have a pretty good idea of what we can do without."

[throughaphase]

"You know that's just gonna make me ask what those things are, right?" she said with a little smile.

[so_hawkward]

"Most parts of the Midwest. Possibly California since it's gonna fall off the map on it's own someday anyway," Clint said. "Maybe terrible tourist traps that could be rebuilt."

[throughaphase]

"But I like the tourist traps," said Kitty. With them being at the Grand Canyon and all.

[so_hawkward]

"I don't mean the good ones. I mean the big ball of twine ones. They can make another one," Clint said. "And it'll be good bait because then less people will be around when the bad stuff happens."

[throughaphase]

"You've maybe thought too much about this, sweetie," Kitty told him, rolling onto her side to face him.

[so_hawkward]

"You can't blame me for wanting to be prepared," Clint teased, turning as well. "And I've had a lot of time to think about this stuff on missions."

[throughaphase]

"Stick to the dirty thoughts, it's happier for everyone," she advised.

[so_hawkward]

"Well I can't have all my thoughts be dirty ones or I'd never get anything done," he teased back, putting his hand on her side and drawing small circles with his thumb.

[throughaphase]

"I firmly believe in your ability to multitask," she said, feigning seriousness. It was hard to be serious when he was doing that.

[so_hawkward]

"Not when I'm thinking dirty things. I think you're vastly overestimating my level of calm," Clint teased. "And you of all people should know that I can get very focused on the important task at hand."

[throughaphase]

"This is true. It's one of my favorite things about you," Kitty smiled, moving a little closer. "I'm glad we came out here."

[so_hawkward]

"Me too," Clint said. "It's nice to get away, and this is just far enough for the time being."

[throughaphase]

"This is where I'd usually say we should just stay here, but... Arizona." She doubted she needed to clarify why.

[so_hawkward]

"Yeah, no. No real city and deathly desert heat?" Clint shook his head. "Plus, you know, other side of the country from friends and work and all."

[throughaphase]

"I was thinking it's just the crazy state," Kitty admitted. "Look at you, being logical."

[so_hawkward]

"Oh, you mean with politics and stuff." You know, smart people topics! "I didn't think about it that way, but that's a good point too."

[throughaphase]

She smiled a little and slipped her arm around his shoulder, asking, "Do you ever think we're just completely crazy for living in Fandom?"

[so_hawkward]

"I'm already perfectly aware that I'm crazy," Clint said, laughing and shifting closer. "But I'd say we're no more crazy than living anywhere else we live, with monsters and mutants and everything that goes with that."

[throughaphase]

"Pretty sure I get my head messed with more in Fandom than I did back home, and that's saying something," she pointed out.

[so_hawkward]

Clint frowned at that and pulled Kitty closer, slipping his hand to her back. "I'm sorry. I know how you feel, after that Umbridge woman and everything. It isn't fair. Have you--I mean, are you thinking about not going back?"

It was only thanks to many years of SHIELD training that Clint could say that calmly.

[throughaphase]

"No. Not seriously, anyway," she assured him, giving him a kids. "Mostly just wondering why I live somewhere where sure , everyone 'a accepted, but you get messed with several times a year. It's like playing 'would you rather' with your zip code."

[so_hawkward]

"Yeah, I know. It's not fun going to sleep Friday nights and not knowing what Saturday's gonna be like," Clint admitted. "But it's better not dealing with it all by yourself, right?"

Note: That did not apply in the reverse. For the record and all.

[throughaphase]

"It really is. I'm pretty sure if I didn't have you, I'd have taken off a while ago." Because Kitty wasn't a big fan of facing certain problems head-on. "And for the record, I wouldn't even think of leaving there unless you were on board with it."

[so_hawkward]

"Right, no, of course not," Clint said, like he hadn't believed that for a second.

[throughaphase]

"Did you think I would?" she asked, tracing a pattern on the back of his neck with her fingers.

[so_hawkward]

Clint made a little pleasurable noise and closed his eyes. "No? I mean, not really. Probably not," he said. "Maybe if things got bad enough, or you got messed with in an even more awful way."

[throughaphase]

"Nah. I'm kind of in this at this point," she said, and if that was his reaction she'd keep doing it. "I wouldn't bolt like that without you."

[so_hawkward]

"Oh, so you'd steal me away with you? That's a nice idea," Clint said. Pardon him while he tried not to purr like some kind of small animal.

[throughaphase]

"Preferably. Lucky, too, of course," Kitty smiled. "I know I'd be happier."

[so_hawkward]

Clint cracked one eye open and gave Kitty an amused look. "I'm not gonna wake up one morning with a missing dog and a note, am I?" he asked. "You've got to take the both of us. No stealing my puppy."

[throughaphase]

"Both of you. You're a package deal," she promised, dealing her leg over his. "A package deal where one of you is slightly more cuddly than the other."

[so_hawkward]

"Hey, just because Lucky's got all those legs, it doesn't mean he's not as cuddly as me," Clint teased, shifting closer and letting his hand rest comfortably on Kitty's leg. "But yeah, we're a package. You get both of us."

[throughaphase]

Kitty moved her hand to place it over his to slide a little higher up on her leg. "I'm holding you to that."

[so_hawkward]

"I could make a holding pun right now, but I won't," Clint said, leaning in to give Kitty a kiss instead.

[throughaphase]

Kitty made a little pleased sound against his lips. "Good boy. For that you get rewards."

Like he wouldn't have gotten them anyway.