12828/The proverbial return

The proverbial return
Date of Scene:	11 March 2021
Location:	Gino's Pizzeria, Williamsburg
Synopsis:	Skye and Clint reunites after a few months apart.
Cast of Characters:	Hawkeye (Barton), Quake

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Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Of all the meeting places, Hawkeye always goes for Gino's as the location where he makes his proverbial returns. Yes, /returns/, cuz it ain't the first time he's returning. Yeah, he's been there, and done that. Got the T-shirt and even new scars to show. Fresh new scars aren't visible, but hopefully his girlfriend - well, he's not so sure about her status at the moment - will discover them soon enough. Three months absence tend to cool down the best of relationships.

Gino's is quiet at the moment, that's perfect. Hawkeye has been waiting for about an hour, sitting in the back area of the small restaurant, drinking water while waiting on Skye to share a pizza. Maybe she's busy, or worst - decided to not respond to his invitation.

Quake has posed:
The thing with undercover is you never knew when you were coming back. And Skye was being a good girl and not snooping in the black files to see what Clint was up to. In fact she was surprised at the single sentence: Meet me at Gino's at 2.

For all she knew he was *still* undercover, but needed to give her something.

At 2:15.. because Skye wasn't having a great day from the outset, in fact the was a certain point she wasn't even certain she *would* make it at all.. she made it.

Skye looks around, and there he was, at their usual table at the back. Her smile says more than her words could ever do. "Hi.." And she sits across from him.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Skye's smile stands as a reflection of his own. There she was! Clint will never get used to that funny feeling, this kind of nervousness he would never feel before or during a fight, but will always feel when coming back from a long, unexpected absence, to find out that he's welcome back. Deep down, he's always expecting to be rejected. Always. And luckily for him, it rarely happens.

"Hey, Keyboard," he replies, with that grin on his face, "Damn, did you kill anyone on your way here? Or lemme guess, teleportation now?" He's joking about how quickly she made it to Gino's.

He's already glancing at the menu - not that he needs it, maybe it's just a distration, so his eyes stay busy instead of alerting the morality officers by the way he's looking at Skye.

"I know what ye're thinkin", he starts, "Yes, for work. No, can't say anything. No, didn't loose any part. Just glad to be back. Hungry?"

Clear, simple. Maybe other details will be added when they move to a more secure location.

Quake has posed:
She almost laughs. "I'm not usually late! Really!"

Well, for work she was always on time. The rest of the time..

She listens to his reason about being absent, and she nods. They had long ago pounded the rules until they were, if not happy, at least they were satisfied. With two spies in the couple, they had to come up with a plan. Even so, every time she went out on a job she was worried: was *this* the time he couldn't take it any more? So she understood his concern.

"Grant and Wade are.. well they're sleeping in your spot in the bed. I'm sure that must be feline for I love you?" Skye laughs. "The usual?"

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
"Well, I've got bad news for the felines," Clint replies, "Not allowed in the bedroom tonight!"

He laughs at that, releasing the tension that has been building up before Skye's arrival. At least, his plans for the evening and night - maybe tomorrow even - are clear.

Ordering the pizza is a matter of seconds, especially since the staff has been waiting for a time already. Yup, the usual. Just the word "usual" makes him feel better. All is fine.

"And keep some room for dessert," he adds, "I brought you something. Actually, a few somethings."

Quake has posed:
"Did you bring them catnip?" Skye's smirks. "Otherwise we'll be serenaded outside the door." She was *only* joking a little bit about the serenade. "They'll be glad. I think you give them extra treats on a daily basis." Even though Grant was definitely Skye's. He would take treats from anyone.

"Oh?" A surprise? Skye's tries to wheedle it out of him. Spy missions she was cool about, but surprises? Not even close.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
The pizza is quickly brought to their table, along with sodas. No beer. No change on this new habit of his, alcohol free still. Damn, is he hungry. Weeks of eating barely edible and cold food would make anyone dream of a pizza.

There's no point making Skye wait, besides, he still feels guilty about his extended absence. Swiftly, Clint reaches for a bag he had placed on the chair next to him, and places it on the table. Will Skye opt to eat first, or will she go directly for the bag with the surprises? The archer is quite sure what she'll do, and starts eating the oh-so-waited-for pizza he dreamt about for weeks.

"I went for sure hits," he announces. "But you'll like it."

Quake has posed:
"Oooo!" Now Skye usually didn't like surprises. In fact the first Christmas they ever had was a bit of a sit down and discuss with them. She was happy to provide her friend with surprises, but for her it was hard. Being a foster child, who lived is a group home until she was old enough to leave - and by leave she meant skip town at a very young age..

Clint had worked on her. Now, very reluctantly, friend could give her presents, and Clint was *always* allowed.

Skye rooted through the bag. Until she discovered the prize: Swiss chocolate coffee, and (the best of all!!) a sim card. And not just *any* sim card.

"Hot damn! Hotshot thanks!"

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Damn, this is good. The pizza, of course. But mostly to be back, enjoying lunch with his girlfriend, making her happy. And yup, the day ain't over yet! Life is good right now in the Hawkster's world.

"I though you might need some energy," he says, grinning. But then, the grin suddenly disappears as he worries, "Hey, did you eat well lately?" He can't say for sure, but Skye seems to have lost some weight.

Pointing at the sim card, and lowering his voice just so it stays between them, he adds, "Came across someone who made the mistake of mentioning a common /friend/ of us... with the nickname of a frozen flower. Thought you'd have fun digging into this sim card."

There is no way he'll mention IcedLotus in public, Skye will get the hint.

Quake has posed:
Skye smiles sweetly. "You don't say."

"And what do you mean? I've been eating!" Mr. Noodles, and chocolate bars for the most part. And sometimes she went out with Natasha. Normally she had to eat when Nat was around. If Clint were to check the garbage though..

To demonstrate she grabs a slice of 'za and stuffs it in her mouth. See? She's eating!

"I'll check on this when I get back. I've got some other thing she might have played around with as well. Speaking of.. Nat has an underling. Alexander Aaron."

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
There's an obvious shadow of a doubt on Clint's face for a moment, as Skye mentions her eating - or most probably the lack of. He'll drop the matter - she's old enough to decide for herself, though he can't help but care.

"An.... underling? Nat?" Clint chuckles at that, "What did the guy do? Shit, Fury's getting harsh in his punishments!"

Of course he's joking, anyone having the chance to train or work closely with Natasha Romanov will benefit from the experience. If they survive, that is.

Quake has posed:
"What did he do?" She laughs. Fury most definitely knows, but Skye did not. "I've got to talk with Nat." And fast. "At least he's putting his punishments around the upper Agents."

May had her.

"He's got a good start if she's taking him under her wing."

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
"Well, I'm curious now," he replies, "About this guy. Shouldn't be long before I get a chance to meet him."



The meal is perfect, everything seems to be fine. Clint will get more recent news... later. In his mind, he just decided that the rest of the day will be theirs, no more work talk.

"Let's go for a walk," he suggests, "Then we grab something for dinner and... haul up for days!"