𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

"I mean yeah. There's like - a decent haul. But this looks like..." The gears in his head were turning. He'd left kits like this for agents before. Hand loyalists who were infil- "They're implanting people into SHIELD."

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

He pulled them out from under the bed, tossing them between them. He'd already taken and moved the guns, showed her where he'd kept them. Inside were files, SHIELD files but partially redacted. Hard to say if they were targets for assassination, protection, moles, whatever. ~

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

"Yeah. And have a corn dog or something." He smirked, refocusing on her and not the fleeting images in his mind. She was important. Present. In focus. "Wanna go through those dead drop bags we stole?"

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

"Then a Zoo date. I remember loving animals. I... I remember living and staying with a circus." He looked thoughtful, puzzled, and happy all at once.

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

"What part of the proper order of things am I supposed to get turned into an assassin? Before or after meeting your mom?" He laughed this time, leaning in and kissing her again. "I'll figure out something. You like the zoo?"

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

"So did you want to go on a date?" He smirked, looking like he was holding back a fairly big laugh. "Not exactly flush with cash. Also, we kinda live together already." "We're in a lot of boats together."

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

"I ... I hope you're fine with the fact I have nothing to compare this to." His dark eyes met hers, searching for a shred of truth - not that he thought she was lying.. He was just constantly feeling like all of this could be a dream at any moment. He'd wake up back in that stone box, a killer.

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Never had the interest...? "In someone else, or felt someone else be interested? Cause that second one sounds impossible..."

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

"Me either. Being a monastic assassin for a death cult really keeps you off the dating market..." He smiled, laughing a little at the absurdity of their situation.

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

"I won't... I just might need sometimes for us to slow down, or need space. We don't know what coming down off their enhancement drugs will looks like. We don't know if I need deprogramming..." Clint rested his head against hers. "I can't be a time bomb. I refuse to be."

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

"I just..." He exhaled deeply. "I feel all of this, but it's also a lot. So much." He swallowed, finding it impossible to pull away from her. "You were there when I became myself again. You're an anchor for my sanity..." ~

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

"You make me so confused... I'm been out of my own mind and body so long, I don't know what this is supposed to feel like. I was scared I couldn't trust myself..." His lips brushed hers again, sweetly. Then again. "But I trust you."

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

So much tension had been growing between them... He felt an immense relief, both that he hadn't just imagined it between them, and that she reciprocated it. It wasn't his first kiss - but it felt so... Hyper real? ~

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

"Don't have to tell me twice." His hand moved into her hair, his hand sliding along her hip and closing that distance. He moved her softly to put her back to the door, pressing into her as their lips met for the first time.

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

"Hownam I supposed to brood and think about myself when a woman as beautiful as you is standing so close to me...?" He leaned in, his heart was pounding. "Your shivering."

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

"Jeez webs," he uttered, eyes narrowing as she closed the distance. "You give me a lot of credit. I..." She was close. So close he could feel the heat of her against him. "Jess..."

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

"You didn't misread anything. I don't think. I just don't think I have any business looking at a women, let alone one I know I've tried to kill." He also looked down, unable to face her. "It's... I'm not good for you."

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

"I don't mean to look at you, not any kind of way. Least of all one that makes you uncomfortable. I..." I'm a mess. "I'm a damaged man. But I've got my head on straight. Mostly. I understand if you think I should go..."

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

"No, you're not crazy." He muttered, hands running through his hair. He guessed... They were doing this. "Sorry I've been weird. Confused. I don't want you to think I'm some kind of weirdo."

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

They stood beside each other in silence, the archer stealing glances. She seemed off. He figured he did too. He didn't know how to break the silence. Wasn't sure if he'd like what she'd say if he did.

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

He let out a long, exasperated sigh. He wanted to go back inside. Talk to her about these feelings he'd been having. He'd also rather die than force that sort of conversation. It was like coming out of a coma and falling for the first person you see? How cliche. ~

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

His flush faded slightly, shaking his head as he waited. These feelings were complicated, pleasant, and like all the others... Difficult to trust. But he wanted to trust her. He wanted to know he could.

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

"Ah, okay..." She couldn't make him, but he was also flushed a deep red. "Sorry Webs."

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

He had the door cracked and his hand on the knob. "I went out for some air... Jess... Are you undressing a lot while asleep...?"

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

"Oh, shit - Jess I'm sorry." He holds up a hand and covers his eyes, backing out of the room. "I'll be outside..."

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

And he did - he trusted her in a gut instinct way that he didn't even think about it. Veering to the left he grabbed a rail bar and launching himself and out the door she opened. "You know which way now, Webs?" He called, turning back briefly to see if they were being followed.

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

"Woop Woop." That's the sound of the alert. He tossed her a backpack as they ran, because he was bolting beside her from the first noise. He peeked in his as they moved. Gun. Clips. Cash. Files. They'd come too early, or late, or someone on a camera had noticed them. It wasn't a lure - ~

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

He didn't see this as theft - he saw it as counter-intelligence. Spycraft. Ninja shit. He hated it, even if he also kind of thought it was cool. "Gotcha." Opening the locker, it looked empty... Until he hit the back and pushed open a false back. "Bingo." ~

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚗@gruffarcher.bsky.social · 11mo ago

"Yeah well... Maybe. A lot of good it will do for us if they use different codes or signs. Can't reasonably break into them all... He began walking down the row - looking for markings, signs of wear, graffiti, and unusual locks. Lots of key locks, a handful of combination locks. Cheap. ~