Work Text:
Valentine
Clint was sitting at his workshop table as he was building a new set of trick arrows. In the background, the Rolling Stones hummed through his speakers. Then there was a knock at his door. He removed his gloves and set down his tools before opening the door. Immediately upon opening, Kate walked into his home.
“You could call first,” Clint said.
“You said to only use that for emergencies.”
Clint groaned with feigned annoyance.
“I got you something,” Kate continued and handed him a purple coffee mug that read GOSH I LOVE ARROWS.
“Er—” Clint responded. He was trying to think what prompted this gift and if he was supposed to have bought Kate something.
Kate sensed his confusion. “It’s for Valentine’s Day. Yesterday, Greer and I celebrated Galentine’s Day. Thought about inviting you but you’re not a gal.”
“Thanks for noticing.”
Clint set the coffee mug down on the kitchen counter and smiled. I do love arrows, he thought.
“Shouldn’t ya be out on a date?” He asked.
Kate scowled. “Why are you home? None of those Tinder dates work out?”
“I’m old-fashioned. I like it when they try to kill me first.”
Then Kate walked over to the table where his tools were still scattered. Her index finger skated along the edge of one of the arrows. Clint started to put away his supplies since it was clear he wasn’t going to get any additional work done tonight.
“My date stood me up,” Kate said quietly.
“Is that his mug?” He joked. Kate rolled her eyes, but Clint caught a glimpse of a smile.
Clint finished gathering his items and stowed them away. He looked at his watch then grabbed his wallet and keys from the table and lazily stuffed them in his front pocket. As a former pickpocket, he knew it was not very smart to keep his belongings in his back pocket especially if he was going to a crowded place.
“You comin’?” He asked as he threw a coat on.
Kate followed him out the door and Clint locked up. Outside the sky burned orange as the sun began to set.
Clint pointed down the street. “There’s a carnival not too far from here. Maybe you can best me at a shootin’ game,” he said and winked.
The pair started to walk and soon their pace aligned. The streetlights beamed on, and a gust of wind barreled through like pigs to a trough. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Kate shiver as she wore a plain t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans. She also wore a white cross body bag and a pair of black Chucks. Without a word, Clint removed his coat and threw it over Kate’s shoulders. She grinned and then maneuvered her arms to don the coat appropriately.
“I ain’t getting that back, am I?” He asked.
Clint and Kate approached the ticket booth. There was no line but beyond the booth, the crowd swarmed in various directions. Music, laughter, and conversations ebbed and blended into a single soundtrack. He paid for two tickets and the two of them walked into the fairgrounds. Almost immediately they both spotted an archery game and walked in that direction.
The attendant advised that for a dollar each, they’d have four shots to try to make three bullseyes. There were upsides to being the world’s least favorite Avenger. If no one recognized him then no one could accuse him of cheating at a carnival game.
“Ladies first,” Clint said.
Kate picked up the plastic bow. It was a garish yellow reminiscent of a school bus. They were definitely secondhand bows from a physical education class or the Y. Kate adjusted her stance and grabbed a shoddy arrow. She nocked the arrow and relaxed her shoulders as she pulled back the bow string. Clint allowed his eyes to wander and admire her toned arms. But she released the arrow before properly aiming. The arrow spun and narrowly missed the center of the target.
“Am I making ya nervous, Katie?”
Kate didn’t respond but her cheeks flushed. Then she readied another arrow and readjusted her stance. She released the arrow and this time it pierced the center perfectly. Clint let out a low whistle. Kate had two more chances to succeed. On her third shot, she succeeded again. Kate prepared her final arrow but her grip was too tight. She released the bow string but the arrow barely hit the edge of the perimeter of the target.
“Better luck next time,” the game attendant said wryly.
Clint stepped forward as he and Kate switched placed. The cheap apparatus was unwieldy. He stood upright and kept his feet at a 90-degree angle from the target. He nocked the arrow and pulled the bow string. His back muscles flexed under his fitted shirt. The arrow landed on the bullseye. Without hesitation, Clint made the next two shots in quick succession and they both pierced the center.
The game attendant looked surprised but impressed and told Clint to pick a prize. He eyed his options and settled on a pink and white teddy bear. Then he handed the stuffed animal to Kate.
“You really never miss, do you?” She asked earnestly.
“I can’t miss,” he answered. Being on a team of superpowered heroes was a stark reminder of his mortality. His skill is what him special and without it, he was just a man.
“Where to? Loser’s choice,” he said.
Kate looked past him and her eyes lit up like a gambler hitting the jackpot on the slot machine.
“Let’s ride the Ferris wheel,” she exclaimed.
She was steps ahead of him before he could respond. Her long hair whipped back and forth in tandem with the wind. Clint caught up to her just as she neared the entrance of the ride. The pair entered the cabin with Kate in front of him. The cabin had seen better days if the sporadic rusting was any indication. As they stepped foot inside, the cabin wobbled and Clint placed his hand on the small of Kate’s back. The duo took their seat on the ride’s bench.
The ride very slowly rotated to allow more passengers to go in their respective cabins. Once the Ferris wheel was fully occupied, it began to rotate at only a slightly faster speed. As their cabin began to reach full height, they watched the stars twinkle in the vast sky and the moon’s glow was like a jellyfish in a dark aquarium.
There was a loud axle screech and suddenly the wheel stopped. Clint groaned and some of the other passengers echoed. That grappling hook arrow would have been useful in a moment like this. Clint turned to his right and saw Kate rummaging in her purse and he couldn’t imagine what she was fishing for that would be useful.
“That a Mary Poppins bag ya got there?”
Instead of a rappelling rope or a hook, Kate handed him a miniature plastic bottle then pulled out a second bottle. They were both labeled FIREBALL CINNAMON WHISKEY.
“Classy,” Clint said.
Kate lightly punched his arm and untwisted the cap of her bottle. He followed suit.
“Cheers,” she said and touched her bottle against his.
He downed the shot of alcohol in one swig. An almost imperceptible warmth ebbed through his body.
Kate took a deep breath. “Is this a date, Hawkeye?”
Clint leaned towards her and gently cupped her chin with his hand. His calloused thumb lightly rubbed the edge of her jaw. He pressed his mouth against hers and he could taste a mix of whiskey and strawberry-flavored chapstick. She leaned in closer and deepened the kiss. After a moment, they both slowly pulled away.
“I’d say this Ferris wheel counts as you tryin’ to kill me, Hawkeye,” he said and laughed.
Then a lever squealed and the ride began to rotate. The crowd below cheered and the passengers collectively sighed in relief.