25 Unicorn Street, Tuesday

[so_hawkward]

So, birthdays had never really been a big deal for Clint. At least, he hadn't let them be, because then he couldn't be disappointed when no one remembered or, even more likely, the whole day went to crap. However, Clint knew that certain other people wouldn't let him get away with not celebrating anymore, so he was up and dressed in real clothes, not lounging-around-the-house clothes, and he'd made sure things were clean and that Lucky had been taken care of - thankfully, he didn't want to be out in the cold any more than Clint did, so he was perfectly content laying next to one of the heating vents and snoozing. Clint was flipping through television channels at the moment, but he was almost tempted to lay down too. At least then he'd be really warm.

[Mostly for the girlfriend, but open!]

Comments

[throughaphase]

Of course he'd ended up with a girl who not only remembered things like this, but who'd had enough terribly birthdays of her own to try and make sure that the day at least didn't totally suck. Sorry not sorry, Clint.

Said girl knocked when she got to the door- mostly because she figured it'd be smart not to surprise Natasha if she was around- and stuck her head through the door. "There's the birthday boy!"

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie had no clue about any birthdays.

So this was just a fortuitously timed check-up phonecall.

[so_hawkward]

Clint glanced over at his phone, not really expecting any calls, and smirked when he picked it up. "Dominoes Pizza, can I take your order?"

[so_hawkward]

"You know, it's actually gotten a little less weird to see you do that," Clint said, waving at her. "Come on in, have a seat. What brings you by?"

He was allowed to be a dork on his birthday, it was in the rules and everything.

[throughaphase]

"The same thing that usually brings me by. You," she said, stepping the rest of the way in with a bag of Chinese food. "I brought dinner and everything."

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie snorted.

"Yes, do you deliver to Brazil?"

[so_hawkward]

"Ooh, I could, but it might be a little cold by the time it gets there," Clint said. "Brazil, huh? I bet you're not freezing your ass off like the rest of us."

[so_hawkward]

"Aww, you shouldn't ha--ooh wait, that's Chinese. Never mind, you totally should have, get over here," Clint said with a grin. "It's cold out, you should let me warm you up."

[throughaphase]

"Oh, believe me, that was definitely part of my plan," Kitty said, coming over to put the bag on the table and take a seat next to him. "What do you say next year we move our birthdays to like, July?"

[so_hawkward]

"I like that idea. Spread them out from Christmas and winter," Clint said. He scooted closer to her and leaned over to give her a kiss. "I'm glad you came by. I don't suppose we can pretend this is just a random dinner?"

[throughaphase]

"We can if you want to," Kitty said. "Is this not a good year or something?"

[whenshewasnice]

"No. Although I was in Toronto for New Year's, so I got my share of the cold." And she'd actually missed it, the weirdo. "But no, Ribeirao Preto is pretty cozy."

[imablackwidowbaby]

"Catch," Natasha said as she crossed the living room, winging a grenade with a bow on it in Clint's general direction. Not a standard grenade, but a missed catch would make it about as welcome.

[so_hawkward]

"Whoa," Clint said quickly, looking startled as he snatched the grenade. "What are you--oh hey, this is pretty cool, thanks." After a moment of sniffing at it, he added, "Wait, are you telling me I smell bad?"

[so_hawkward]

"Nice, it sounds like you're in a good spot. Are you doing okay?" Clint asked. He didn't think she'd be taking the time to call if she wasn't, but he still wanted to check.

[so_hawkward]

"I don't think we've gotten far enough into the year to call it good or bad yet," Clint said. "I just don't want you to feel like you have to make a big deal out of today, that's all."

[imablackwidowbaby]

Natasha smirked at him. "Sometimes." Then she shrugged and allowed, "Most of those times you probably have easier access to a grenade than that, though."

[throughaphase]

"I don't," she assured him. "Dinner's not a big deal. Just don't expect that I wouldn't do at least something to say I'm glad you exist."

[so_hawkward]

"Good point," Clint agreed. "Hey, I wonder if a cologne arrow could be a thing. It'd make guys easier to track, if it worked right."

[so_hawkward]

"Well, I'll admit, I'm feeling pretty glad that I exist too, and that's not something that could be said for every birthday," Clint said. "You definitely help."

[whenshewasnice]

"I'm Chief of Staff to the Hegemon now," she said. Not that she expected that to maybe mean much. "Peter won the election. There's a lot of complicated political stuff that means he doesn't have nearly as much power as Hegemons of the past did, but. Still."

[throughaphase]

"And that statement is one of the many reasons you get to have me around as long as you want me," Kitty said, giving him another kiss.

[so_hawkward]

"You and Chinese food. Definitely the making of an awesome birthday. Does 'as long as I want you' mean you're planning on spending the night?"

Sorry Natasha, they'd be quiet. Ish.

[throughaphase]

They'd try, anyway.

Kitty nodded. "Called out of work and everything like an awesome girlfriend."

[so_hawkward]

"Ah. Well, congrats to him." As much as that would mean. "Chief of Staff makes you sound all important and impressive. I'm honored you have time for phone calls."