Chapter Text
Hunter always figured he’d leave SHIELD one day, he’d been apprehensive about joining the team in the first place anyway. Too many rules for his liking. But now that the day had come, he couldn’t.
His single duffel bag was packed and zipped up at the end of his bed, well their bed. The lights were still off in their room but he could still make out her figure, the mountains and valleys formed in the sheets that had been created by her restless tossing and turning. Her hair unbound and knotted, covering her pillow. He couldn’t bear to look at her any longer.
He didn’t want to leave, but he still had to. Since his return from Russia he’s been in danger, it’s only been two nights since but he knew he couldn’t stretch it out any more. His staying here was putting the team in danger, especially Bobbi.
Hunter took one last look over to his ex-wife before he reached for the door handle.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Bobbi’s coarse voice froze him in his tracks. Hunter was praying he wouldn’t need to explain, that he could just skip out unnoticed, but evidently that wasn’t an option anymore.
“I gotta go, those Russians are still after me, you know I can’t stay here forever.”
“So you thought you’d sneak out while I was sleeping. I thought you knew me better.” Bobbi pushed herself up into a sitting position on the bed. “Come back to bed.”
“I can’t do that Bob.” He shook his head and stared down towards his bag. These damn Russians, they have a special way of hurting people, and though he knew she could handle herself better than anyone… He just couldn’t let her.
As if she could read his mind Bobbi’s voice, softer now, inquired: “You remember Rio?”
Hunter stayed silent.
“You left me in that hotel and went after the target yourself. Turned out it was an ambush and I had to come and save your ass. Ring any bells?”
He replied with a faint “Yeah”
“If I hadn’t been there at the right time where would you be now, where would we be now? When I tell you not to die I mean it, and usually that means you need someone at your back.” Bobbi paused, catching her breath, she pulled the covers off her lap and made her way over to Hunter. “I’m coming with you.”
“Hell no you aren’t, you’ve still got a life here I can’t let you throw that away for me.” Those weren’t exactly the words he’d planned on saying, but he still meant it.
“My life is my choice isn’t it? Maybe I chose you.” The air between then seemed to thicken making it harder to breath. She could tell by his expression that he lacked a response. “I’m not gonna let you die out there.” Bobbi’s blue eyes pierced through the dark and met his. His arms wrapped around her hips and he pulled her closer filling all the gaps between them. He knew that his plan to escape into the night never had a chance of succeeding.
He let his head fall, lining up his forehead with hers and closed his eyes. They stood there together for a few moments before he felt her arms wrap around his neck, pulling his jaw down to where his lips met hers. Her lips were soft against his and it felt like it was somewhere between a goodbye kiss and a promise. He pressed into her, running his hands up her side to her jaw and let her melt into him.
After a few more passionate kisses Bobbi pulled back and brushed her hand along his stubble. “So it’s settled then.”