hawkoyed:
“psh,” clint waves a hand, laughing to himself. “you’ve had your coming of age, wanda. you don’t count as a kid anymore. i may be an old man, but that just makes you nearly an old woman, remember.” then clint’s eyes narrow. “dammit.” he mutters. “i’m gonna have to get her back for that one, the little-” then he catches himself. mid-life crisis. given the life expectancy of anyone in his occupation, he figures he’s well overdue for a mid-life crisis. the thought makes him laugh. “careful, wanda, or one day you’ll have convinced me, and i’ll be gone forever. disappeared without a trace.” then he scowls yet again. “i do not go to bed at eight!” he scoffs, “it’s like, nine-thirty at the earliest.”
but who decides when i’m needed? what if they don’t call me, and something… something happens. i wouldn’t be able to live with myself. he admits, looking downwards in a mixture of guilt and embarrassment. good. then he tries for a smile, places a hand on her forearm. it’s hard. when barney died… well, that’s a different story. but i know it’s hard to know how to move on.
“nah, i only fought some robots. i think a real coming of age is fighting aliens. once those guys come, then i’ll be an old woman just like you.” well she would rather not fight aliens right now, but maybe later. her only skill in this fight would be running away from them. “i won’t ever say what she sent though, so you can’t get her back. most likely she won’t even give you the chance.” wanda only had brief interactions with kate, but she adored the younger woman. she was good for clint, kept him young and hip with the kids. “oh yeah nine thirty is so late. you and your old man coffee are the only way you make it that late.” she teased. really clint just opened him up for this.
they will call you. just because you’re taking a break doesn’t mean you won’t be part of the team. everyone needs a nice vacation now and then. she pulled him into a quick hug, both of them seeming like they would need it. he’s not coming back, i just have to accept it. there’s nothing i can do to suddenly make him here again.”










