14228/It's been a hard day's night

It's been a hard day's night
Date of Scene:	26 March 2022
Location:	Apartment 3A, Marcy House
Synopsis:	Skye brings coffee to a bruised Hawkeye. And they kinda end up taking care of the elephant in the room.
Cast of Characters:	Hawkeye (Barton), Quake

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Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Marcy House. Hawkeye's house. Of what's left of what was once a nice apartment building. Right now, only one apartment is occupied, the archer's one.

The door to the apartment has been left unlocked because, frankly, if anyone wanted to kill him, a decrepit wooden door wouldn't stop them. On entering, the visitor would soon notice the pile of dust accumulating around, except maybe for the coffee pot in the kitchen corner and the prone body resting on the old couch. Clint Barton is sleeping, or unconscious, or trying to ignore the rest of the world. Even he's not sure which one.

Quake has posed:
Fuck.

It's been too long. Everything is new (in that old way), and yet, everything was exactly the way she had remembered. Where did they go wrong? Really? Where? And yet their entire relationship stood on the edges of a coin. One little move and everything would be decided.

For Skye she wasn't sure which way she wanted it to go.

Clint was back in town - if he had even left. And given the predicament he was rescued from, and the refusal to go to Med Bay to make certain he was really.. really.. okay, Skye was self elected to go and check on him.

Two coffees later, she was knocking on his door. "Hey Clint, I've got coffee?"

A part of herself hoped he wouldn't answer..

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
The knock at the door doesn't even startle the archer, as he slowly moves his aching body in a sitting position on the couch, stifling pain induced groans of pain. He obviously had time to shower and put on clean cloths, grey sweatpants and purple T-shirt. Clint's face is pretty much bruised, with a large cut on the forehead covered with chirurgical tape.

His eyes slowly turn toward the unlocked door, while his mind turns back in time. Skye. Yes, he's seen her at the warehouse, just before the extraction. She was fabulous, as always. It's a good sign that she came to his apartment, maybe they can be at least on a talking basis? At least?

It takes a moment, then comes his reply, "Coffee, hey? Then you can enter, you've even earned the right to smack me if you want. As long as it's black and hot."

Quake has posed:
"Mmm.." Skye pretends to check the cups "There's a lot of cream.." Pretending. She knows better. Unless he's changed his coffee, she's brought him black. The other one is for her. Cream - of course.

She's not sweet enough, and she doesn't care!

Seeing as he welcomed her in - or close enough - she opened the door, and gave a shake of her head. "No locks?"

Unlike him, she did go to Medbay, where they gave her the one over; some pills to make her knit her bones faster (she always had microfractures when she blasted things). "Don't worry, it's the usual damage. Here, have your coffee."

She looks around for something to sit upon. No go.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Clint finally reaches a sitting position, which allows room for Skye to sit down next to him on the old couch. His hand reaches for the hot, black coffee.

He offers a half crooked smile to his visitor, "Even a pea shooter could destroy this sorry excuse of a door," he says, "Or maybe I just forgot to lock it."

Then Clint takes the time to sip some coffee, it visibly bringing him some overdue comfort. Which reminds him that he hadn't eaten in a long time.

"Thanks for the coffee. And, hrm, I'm sorry," he says in a low voice. What about? There are more reasons to say he's sorry than he could find excuses for. "I mean, for the damage. I dropped my comms, and I guess it activated the distress signal." Yeah, buster, like you would /never/ call for backup. Pfft.

Quake has posed:
Of course he would have to offer her the opposite side of the couch. How could she think about him and their situation that way? Really. Still she took a seat without thinking. ~Fuck. My own body is betraying me.~

"Don't worry. You owe me two dollars and fifty cents for the coffee." Skye grins, hoping the joke would go over well.

Sorry. What doesn't he have apologies for? She bites at her lower lip. But before she can reply he passes over the 'sorry' and gives a pretty good excuse for it. Too bad she knows him too well. Still, "We weren't aware that you were giving the distress signal.. I mean.."

What did she really mean?

And did she want him thinking that if she happened to know that it was him.. What? She wouldn't have come?

Skye's voice dips, almost to a whisper, "You have to know I would have come regardless."

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
A light chuckle comes first as a reply. The coffee is good, Skye's being around is good. All considered, maybe his life doesn't suck as much as he believes.

"Y'know, I think I owe you more than two dollars and fifty cents," he finally says, before enjoying some more coffee.

Ah yeah, there's an elephant in the room. A huge elephant, and he's pretty sure Skye sees it too. Where to begin with? He's been away for so long, always meaning to send news and whatnot, ending up sending nothing. Really well done, asshole.

Sighing, Clint leans back against the back of the couch, a hand over his eyes.

"And if something happened to you, I'd be... I mean." The sigh that follows is a mix of physical and emotional pain, filled with regrets and remorse. But he's not one to run away from problems, especially ones he's the blame for.

"You know, I really think you'd have to right to beat me, or yell, call me names. I meant to keep you aware of what I was doing, and I didn't. It's a long story, and I'm not even sure you'd be interested to hear it."

There, at least he acknowledged the elephant in the room. And whatever Skye's reaction is, he'll accept it. Just like the guilty party that he is.

Quake has posed:
Skye dealt with the easy part first.

"Remember when May found out just what I knew? It took a long time to prove myself to her. She was forever worried because someone could ransom me for the files I knew." When May realized she had up to level 9 clearance.. "But more than that May cared about me. Too much."

She presses her lips and thinks. "It took my shooting you and breaking out of the Trisk to go undercover for her to realize I was good at this job. I really am good at this job. It took me all that time learning my powers to get back to tiptop shape with new abilities added to my portfolio."

And then she look at long and sighs. "I would have been so angry if I could have helped you and I didn't. So, I guess we're on the same page."

"What are we going to do now.. You don't need to explain, but if you wanted to..?"

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Clint listens attentively, as much as he can with his good ear. It's the least he can do, considering the fact that he's been away for so long without a sending any news of his whereabouts.

Still, to his surprise - and relief - she didn't start yelling or worse, crying. That's his girlfriend alright. Strong and mature, resilient.

A large smile slowly appears on his bruised face, it hurts a bit, but it's all good.

"So? Are you sayin' I'd be off the hook if I had a good story to tell?" And there is his teenager grin, accompanied by a mix of hope and mischief in his blue eyes. As for her question about where they are going now, he has no clue, feeling that he doesn't even any right to suggest anything. It's really up to her.

Quake has posed:
"No!" At that Skye laughs. "You think you can get out of this with a story?" A pause. "It better be a good one, because you know I will be taking it to the Trisk and reporting it!"

She is.. joking? Could be. Maybe.

As for the elephant..

Sure she could cry - lord knows she wants to. And punch things and yell.. And.. and.. What would it do in the long term. Nothing. That's what. Besides she really did miss him - whatever portion she would be allowed.

"They really had you, didn't they?"

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Dang, he loves her. She's too good for him. It seems that the elephant is deflating.

"Well, you can't blame a man for trying? I'm a pretty good storyteller." And as he starts laughing, he suddenly grabs his mid-section, trying to stifle the pain to his ribs. The hell with pain, everything will heal in time, just like his relationship with Skye. Life is good.

Finishing his coffee, Clint takes time to put the story in order. The last event was actually the end of it.

"Once upon a time..." he starts, laughing. Then he pauses, then tries to be serious. "Well, yes and no," he says, never admitting defeat as usual, "I was just hanging around, you see, on my way home." Hanging at the end of a chain, 30 feet above ground, yeah. "Pretty much at the end of my rope... or chain." Right, he's trying to be funny. "Dropped my cellphone, down below."

And then, reaching for his cellphone, he taps a few keys, "OK, I think Bowie said it all."

And then the song starts playing, and this can he heard:

"Look up here, man, I'm in danger
I've got nothing left to lose
I'm so high it makes my brain whirl
Dropped my cell phone down below
Ain't that just like me?

By the time I got to New York
I was living like a king
There I'd used up all my money
I was looking for your ass
This way or no way
You know, I'll be free
Just like that bluebird
Now, ain't that just like me?
Oh, I'll be free
Just like that bluebird
Oh, I'll be free"

At that point, Clint is chuckling, really Bowie said it all. "Thank me for not singing."

Quake has posed:
Skye had never heard that version before. Well, no versions really. But she kind of liked it.

"That's the story you want to have on your report?" Okay, Skye had tried to keep a straight face, but now, she loses it, and laughs. "You're full of shit - you know that?" Then quieter, and more sombre, "What are we going to do, you and I?"

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Clint joins in the laugher, a mix of relief and real fun. Dang, he can't even remember the last time he truly laughed. It feels good to be home, it feels even better to be home with Skye.

The song came to an end, and now the elephant is back. Time to get rid of it. Clint takes a moment to place the half-broken cellphone on the dusty coffee table, sighing. What to say? He /knows/ what he wants, but maybe for once, he could try to see what his companion would want.

"Most importantly, what do /you/ want to do? Last I checked, I was pretty much committed to someone, you. I didn't change my mind." Then he pauses, unable to help himself, adding, "If you want us to take it slow from now, then the shower will wait until tomorrow."

Quake has posed:
Skye was not prepared for the answer she got. As far as she knew he had avoided her for.. Well.

At first, she believed everything was on the up and up. Clint was really needing the time to put his head on straight. He was trying to put memories of his father into in some picture that he could deal with in some fashion. She got that, she really did. After all Clint was there when she learned about her parents. She still hadn't found her mother!

But what about the rest of the time? She really thought he was hoping she would go away. To make this her decision. (Meanwhile, it had been his decision.)

She even told Fury it was over.. who told her just wait. Maybe he needed more time..

"What about the shower?" *blinks*

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
For a moment, Clint seems chocked and speechless - but this never lasts. Eyes wide open, he stares at Skye for a moment, incredulous.

"Oooooooook," he says, "I'd have to seriously up my game, if you don't remember /the shower/ times! Shyte, such a blow to my ego."

Laughing, he slowly starts to rise, finally getting on his feet. Man, it hurts likes a biatch. Every muscle, every bone, the ribs and head pounding with pain. There should be some Tylenol somewhere.

"Not that I think I could right now," he adds, looking around for Goddess Tylenol.

Quake has posed:
"Stay.. stay." Skye stands up and gently pushes him down. "Or better, get into bed. I'll get the Tylenol."

So he had meant the shower. What a jerk. Her jerk, apparently. But still a jerk.

"We'll take it slow. 'Kay?" At least until his injuries were almost healed.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Of course, thoughts of playing doctor and nurse cross his mind. But the archer has enough remaining sense to not voice them. Instead of kicking the crap out of him - of what's left anyway - she's caring. And that, for a lucky day, is a real one.

The bed seems to be his destination, as Clint turns and heads toward the bedroom. When he came home last night, he wasn't even able to make it to his bed, opting for the old couch.

Tossing the comforter aside, Clint slowly lies down over the Star Wars bedsheets.

"You don't have to stay," he has the decency to mention. "I won't be fun company for a few hours."

Quake has posed:
Skye smirks. "No kidding. Even if I had brought you full caf, there is no way you aren't ready for bed."

In a minute she comes back with the Tylenol and some water. "Drink up. And close your eyes. I'll stay with you until the morning comes. Then somebody has to get back to the cats." Before they destroyed things in a fit of pique.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
That's the best outcome this day could have. Tylenol will be perfect, even if the Trisk's med team might have relieved his pain faster. And Skye will be around, can't get better care than that.

Tylenol and water are taken care of, and Clint rests his head on the pillow, closing his eyes.

"Thanks, Keyboard," he says in a low voice, already feeling better. "Y'know? if you want to play doctor and nurse? just wake me up, kay?" He laughs lightly at that. Yeah, like it would happen! Then he falls silent for a moment, only to add, before falling asleep.

"I love you, Skye."

Quake has posed:
Skye watches him fall asleep, and her head shakes. "Damn you. I love you too Hotshot.I love you too."