New York City, Friday Afternoon

[so_hawkward]

All things considered, Clint had had a pretty good Thanksgiving. There'd been plenty of food at the apartment potluck, he hadn't burned his contribution (green bean casserole with the crunchy onion things on top), and there'd been plenty of leftovers. That meant he had very little guilt about sneaking another piece of pie out of the kitchen while Barney was distracted on his laptop, muttering something about Space Battles, and collapsing onto the couch to see if there was anything good on TV. It was the middle of the day, so probably not, but he could hope anyway.

[For she who is in the city with him!]

Comments

[throughaphase]

Kitty had also been muttering things about Space Battles all morning, and still had YouTube cued up on her phone to keep playing it whenever she felt it was necessary, look don't judge her life.

Feeling the need to de-geek for the moment, she came to join Clint, but eyed the pie and said, "I think I'm still full from yesterday."

[so_hawkward]

"Good, more pie for me," Clint said with a grin. "I think I burped a few times and made some room."

[throughaphase]

"That's the most romantic thing I've ever heard," she teased. "I will say this for your neighbors: they're very good at inducing food comas."

[so_hawkward]

"They really are pretty awesome. I think a lot of them just don't have anywhere to go for holidays. I can't imagine sticking around here would be better than being with family, but they stay and... it's nice," Clint said.

[throughaphase]

"Maybe they're too far away. Or hanging around family's too stressful. That's usually why I didn't go anywhere at the holidays," Kitty said. "Either way, I'm glad they do. You have a building full of nice people in New York. I mean..."

[so_hawkward]

"I know, it's a miracle," Clint said, laughing. "I'm glad we came here. Are you having a good time? I know the food was good but..."

[throughaphase]

"Oh, yeah. I always have a good time out here," Kitty said, taking a seat. "I think it's because I can be in New York without worrying about a crisis that may or may not affect my civil rights."

[so_hawkward]

"Worrying isn't allowed here, at all. This is a totally worry-free building," Clint said.

From somewhere in the kitchen, a loud laugh could be heard and Clint glared. "Go back to your trailer, you big nerd."

[throughaphase]

Kitty frowned. "Barney's a nerd?"

[so_hawkward]

"He's excited about Space Battles, that counts," Clint said. "And he thinks I worry too much, for whatever reason."

[throughaphase]

"Keep it up, nerd!" Kitty called approvingly to the kitchen, and then said to Clint, "You do worry too much, though. What're you worrying about?"

[so_hawkward]

"I do not," Clint insisted. "I worry about things that need worrying about, like the people in the building. I am technically their landlord."

Not on paper, of course, or in any legal kind of way. But emotionally, or whatever.

[throughaphase]

"That's more than most people do," Kitty pointed out, still kind of impressed.

[so_hawkward]

"Right, because you don't worry about your students at all," Clint said with a smirk.

[throughaphase]

"That's different, they're kids," Kitty said.

[so_hawkward]

"Simone has kids, so they count too," Clint said. "And let's be honest, some of your kids can probably handle themselves better than some of the civilians in this building."

[throughaphase]

"Okay, point," she said. "Is this where I say you're right?"

[so_hawkward]

"I wouldn't mind hearing it," Clint said. "But I'll settle for a kiss."

[throughaphase]

"How's this? You're right," she said, leaning in to kiss him.

[so_hawkward]

Clint blindly set his plate aside so he could kiss Kitty back thoroughly. "Yeah, that worked well," he said. "I'm still surprised I was able to steal you away with everything going on at your home."

[throughaphase]

"I think considering the Peter thing, people weren't questioning it too much," Kitty told him. "I'm sure there'll be more drama next week."

[Stop capitalizing weird stuff, Autocorrect.]

[so_hawkward]

"Maybe everyone will still be in turkey comas and will be too busy with leftovers for drama?" Clint said with a hopeful tone.

[throughaphase]

"Are you really that optimistic?" Kitty asked.

[so_hawkward]

"...no, no I'm not," Clint admitted. "I can pretend with the best of them though, to make you feel better."

[throughaphase]

"You're the best," Kitty said, leaning against him a little. "It's okay, though. I'm used to the craziness, and it's a lot more spaced out than I'm used to."

[so_hawkward]

"Yeah, it is nice to not be in crisis mode constantly," Clint said. "I kind of miss some of the missions I did for SHIELD though. They weren't all awful."

[throughaphase]

"Any word on if you'll be doing more of that soon?" she wondered.

[so_hawkward]

"It might be soon. I just have to re-pass some physical tests, talk to psych, pretty typical stuff."

He was trying to make it sound typical, at least.

[throughaphase]

"You're willingly going to talk to psych?" she asked. "I remember way back you didn't want to do that."

[so_hawkward]

"I don't," Clint said, sighing exaggeratedly. "I'm worried they're gonna have a grudge or something and not sign off on me, but I emailed Natasha about it and she made some unkind remarks about me and big boy pants so... maybe it'll all be fine."

[throughaphase]

"It will," she said, sliding an arm around his shoulders. "It's been a long time since New York, and you've been great since then... That's really all they'll probably care about."

[so_hawkward]

"Now who's being optimistic?" Clint said, but he was only partly teasing, and he leaned into Kitty's arms. "It'd be nice to have something to do while you're away. And it'll probably keep me from acquiring more dogs." For now.

[throughaphase]

"Are you that bored when I'm gone?" she wondered.

[so_hawkward]

Clint laughed softly and shook his head. "Nah, I have things to keep me occupied. Gym business, practicing, boring adult crap..."

[throughaphase]

"How are you not bored when I'm not here, then?" Kitty teased.

[so_hawkward]

"Lucky and Rook make sure to keep me busy. I think they secretly know," Clint said. "Honestly, I'm kind of bored even when you are around. I think being helpful again might be worth the hassle."

[throughaphase]

"I'll try not to take that personally," Kitty said dryly, but she got it. "Good. Helpful is good. I don't want you to feel like you're just spinning your wheels here."

[so_hawkward]

"I didn't mean I'm bored with you," Clint said quickly. "That wasn't--you're awesome, you know that."

[throughaphase]

"I know, I'm just teasing," she said, squeezing his shoulder. "I want you to be happy all the way around, though, not just with me. And if that means doing SHIELD stuff, great."

[so_hawkward]

Clint smiled and gave Kitty a soft kiss. "You're very supportive, you know that? I know I appreciate it."

[throughaphase]

"I do my best," she smiled, giving him a kiss back.