Chapter Text
Clint’s lips quirked slightly as he watched the movie playing on the television screen across the room.
“So… is it an actual requirement that you chief medics are all grumpy bastards then?”
Behind the archer Cayden frowned slightly.
“You what?”
Clint chuckled quietly and gestured toward the television, tilting his head back to look at his boyfriend.
“Doctor McCoy, CMO of the star ship Enterprise, curses up a storm and enjoys stabbing his patients with hypo-sprays. Last week, CMO Ratchet, swears at patients and hits them with wrenches when they don’t do as he says or he thinks they’ve been stupid,” his smirk widened as he poked Cayden in the chest. “CMO Poole, tells patients to grow a pair and enjoys giving injections to patients who are scared of needles.”
Cayden’s eyebrow arched. For a long moment he just looked back at the man lying against him on the sofa.
“Geek,” he finally muttered, earning a bark of laughter from Clint. “And I’m not a CMO. I’m only chief of trauma.”
“CTO then,” Clint rolled his eyes, turning away again and looking back to the screen. “Still a chief medic.”
Cayden laughed and returned his arm to lay around Clint’s waist as it had been before the archer’s shifting had dislodged it, returning his attention to the movie. Despite not answering the question Clint said no more on the matter, although he did chuckle and poke Cayden when the on-screen doctor said something snide.
“So, ready to go back to work tomorrow?” the agent asked when the end credits started to roll.
Cayden groaned, tightening his grip on the archer in his arms.
“Ready as I’m gonna be,” he sighed. “You still going round to Tony’s?”
“On Tuesday yeah.”
Cayden nodded, tracing his fingers absently over one of Clint’s arm.
“So you just going up to New York on Tuesday?”
“I’ll head up with Tasha in the morning, yeah,” Clint confirmed. “You just going to stay at medical?”
Cayden pursed his lips.
“I’d be as well,” he nodded. “I’m probably gonna be dead on my feet tomorrow night so I wouldn’t be much company for you anyway.”
Clint pushed himself up just enough to turn a dubious look to the doctor.
“Did you just… admit that you get tired?”
Cayden rolled his eyes and pulled Clint back against his chest.
“Don’t tell anyone.”
Clint chuckled.
“My lips are sealed,” he laughed, settling back down against Cayden. The doctor smirked, nuzzling his face into Clint’s neck.
“Are you just going to stay here tomorrow?”
“Eh, yeah…” Clint turned his face toward Cayden’s. “Yeah, if that’s ok?”
“Of course,” Cayden smiled contently, impressed he did not sound as excited about the idea of his boyfriend staying in his apartment without him as he actually was. He was also still relishing the fact that Clint had stayed with him at the apartment every day since he had been released from medical. The doctor returned to tracing his fingers along Clint’s bare arm, biting his bottom lip thoughtfully. “You know I’ve really liked having you around the last few weeks.”
Clint took a deep but quiet breath.
“Well someone had to make sure you behaved yourself,” he replied lightly, turning his head to rest his cheek against Cayden’s chest but did not look completely at the other man. Cayden chuckled.
“What are you implying Agent-I’ve-escaped-SHIELD-medical-more-times-than-anyone-can-count-Barton?” the doctor asked. Clint laughed, lightly tracing a hand over Cayden’s shoulder as he waited for him to say more on the matter – maybe finally bring up the topic of moving in together but the other man stayed silent for several moments. When he did finally speak again it was with a resigned sigh. “Well I suppose I should get my ass to bed or I’m not going to be able to get up tomorrow.”
Clint hummed an agreement, stretching slightly before pushing himself up into a sitting position. He glanced quickly at the other man as he too pulled himself up from his slouched position and Clint was pretty sure from the faint expression on Cayden’s face that the doctor had forced himself to resist saying anything more about more permanent living arrangements. The archer frowned slightly as he stood but pulled a more sociable expression onto his face as he turned to offer Cayden a hand up off the sofa. That was a concern for another night…