I am NOT a dang MERMAID.

Ask | Submit | History | Rules (Independant Marvel Roleplay for OFC Ariel Archer - Mun and Muse well over 18)

[awwwhawkguy]

Terrifying Love?

[foolrushedin]

the-darker-hawk:

Barney leaned in, trying to steal a peek into the bag. “Throw in anything sexy for him to wear, just in case?” He teased with a playful little smirk.

“My luck, Clint’ll steal it for himself,” Ari stuck her tongue out at her husband and plopped the bag in Clint’s lap.  “Shoo.  I added lots of chocolate, too - he’ll want cuddles, let him tell you if he wants more than that - you know how he is.” she gave Clint a look.

[awwwhawkguy]

Terrifying Love?

[foolrushedin]

the-darker-hawk:

Huffing softly, Barney shook his head and held his hands up in surrender. “Alright, alright. Don’t get your boxers in a knot. Just givin’ you a hard time.”

Ari came back, holding the duffle out to Clint.  “I put in a little of everything, and our extra pack of condoms just in case - I figure Bambi won’t want to go out like this.  I also tossed in my extra sneakers in case they’ll fit him, and a couple hair ties, in case he wants to go outside - lemme know if I forgot something he could use.”  She set it on the top of the couch and zipped it up.

[awwwhawkguy]

Terrifying Love?

[foolrushedin]

the-darker-hawk:

awwwhawkguy:

“It’s not… It’s greyfaces. I just need a few pairs of panties, a bra, and some jeans and a couple t-shirts.  His clothes are falling off him, and he’s about your size. Pleeease.”

“Damn those greyfaces…” Barney mumbled, shaking his head. “Alright, I’ll be nice and not make any jokes. Except…now the name Bambi really does fit him.”

“For the record, Bambi was a prince, it’s a boy’s name,” Ari huffed, getting up and smacking Barney’s bare ass as she walked past in her own.  “I’ll put together a duffle for him, she assured Clint before disappearing into the bedroom.

[awwwhawkguy]

Terrifying Love?

[foolrushedin]

the-darker-hawk:

awwwhawkguy:

Clint was unphased for those same reasons.  Still, he put his panicked gaze on Ari.  “They’re not for me, they’re for Ph…..someone who needs closed pleasedon’tmakemeaskSimone.”

“ ‘Ph…’ ?” Both eyebrows went up as Barney blinked. “ ‘Ph’ as in 'Phil’? Did Phil start crossdressing?” Barney paused to think for a minute and shrugged. “I could honestly kind of see that happening, actually.”

“Not gonna ask why Bambi wants to try on my clothes, that’s up to him. Her?  Do we need to have a coming out party?” she asked not unkindly.

[awwwhawkguy]

Terrifying Love?

[foolrushedin]

the-darker-hawk:

awwwhawkguy:

Clint burst into the apartment, barely remembering to shut the door.  On his face was all the freaking out and massively worried feelings he had that he refused to let Phil see.  “I need clothes.  Ari’s clothes.  I really REALLY need them.”

Quirking an eyebrow, Barney folded his arms across his chest, his years in the circus giving him no shame in the fact he was standing there stark naked. “You’ve cracked, little brother. Did you decide to start crossdressing? C'mon now, don’t lie. Are we invited to the opening drag show?”

Ari stifled a laugh and sat up, resting her arms on the back of the couch, and her chin atop them.  “Why do you need my clothes, Blondie?  They won’t fit you anyway.”

[awwwhawkguy]

Terrifying Love?

[foolrushedin]

the-darker-hawk:

awwwhawkguy:

“Guys, c’mon, I know you’re in there!” Clint called, knocking again.  “I’m having a crisis!”

“That pretty much sums up your entire life, brother mine.” Barney mumbled as he pushed himself up off the couch and stood, tossing the blanket from the back of the couch across Ari, so at least she was covered up. “It’s open!”

Chilled now that Barney wasn’t being her Barton-Blanket anymore, Ari snuggled up under the blanket and stretched, because couch naps were awesome.  She waited to see what had Clint up in a tizzy this time.

[foolrushedin]

What a Date

They’d been teenagers for a few months now - teenagers out of time in New York City - with the people of the building looking out for them, and some of them bad at hiding their concern for how long it was lasting.

Was this, instead of a prank, another lease on life, would they grow up together this time?  Would this undo everything that happened before, or was this a regression in memory as well as body, rather than a snatch out of time?

Ari didn’t worry too much about it, instead enjoying the time they spent together, curled up watching shows, exploring the city, curled up Not Watching shows.

Ari rested her chin on her arms on Barney’s chest and gave him a smile.  “G’afternoon. Hungry yet?”

Barney gave a small grumble of nonsense as he blinked the sleep from his eyes. When had he fallen asleep? It really wasn’t like him to just drift off to sleep in the middle of the day. Of course, generally in the middle of the day, he’d be working the tents or crowds or something, so he wouldn’t have been able to fall asleep. Still, this slower, kind of normal life was...nice. If still a bit weird.

Taking a breath and stiffling a yawn, he reached down to run his fingers through Ari’s hair. “I could go for food. Corn dogs actually sound amazing right now…”

“I bet we could track some down.  If they don’t have them in the grocery, maybe we can go into the city.  I still have that phone the loudmouth friend of your brother gave us for emergencies.”

Quirking a brow, Barney shrugged a shoulder and glanced up over the arm of the couch, out the window to the bright afternoon sunshine. “Or we could hike out to Coney Island. They’re bound to have corn dogs.”

“Oooh that sounds like fun, let’s do that.  We should leave a note so they don’t wig out.”

“Where we gonna leave it?” Barney half-propped himself up on his elbow and glanced around the apartment. “Not like anyone really comes down here all that often. Tape it to the door or somethin’?”

“We can do that,” Ari agreed.  “Or shove it under your brother’s door upstairs.  ‘gone to Coney, be back eventually’ or something?”  She slipped back to sit on her heels.

“ ‘Went to Coney Island on a mission from God. Be back by five.’” Barney splayed his hands over his head like he was imagining out a headline and quirked a goofy smirk to Ari before nudging her side with his knee. “Think they’d buy that?”

“Do we get sunglasses and skinny ties?” Ari asked.

“Don’t think so. Not unless we got some lyin’ around here.”

“I don’t think so, I haven’t seen any when I was snooping.”

Barney shrugged and hummed as he moved to sit up fully and stretch. “Well, then I guess we go without ‘em.” Slipping out from under Ari, he made his way to the kitchen counter where a stack of Post-Its were and scribbled down a quick note. “Might be better off slidin’ it under his guy’s door. Case he ain’t around.”

“Good idea. I don’t think I’ve seen him lately.”  Ari streeetched before moving to find something other than pj’s to wear - because lazy days in were for pj’s, but going to a fairground or whatever coney island was? was for jeans.

With a quick glance around, Barney jogged up the stairs to Phil’s apartment, slipped the note under the door without even bothering to see if Phil was home or not, and jogged back downstairs to get changed. Older him’s clothes didn’t quite fit right, they were way too baggy, but he at least found a couple pairs of jeans that fit him decently, and a shirt or two that weren’t horrible. He’d look respectable enough. That’s what was important.

Ari took to using a belt to keep hers on, wow she ended up hippier than she already was - not that that was a bad thing.  “C’mon, let’s get out of here,” she said, snagging his hand once she’d pulled the boots on... and maybe snagged something of older her’s for protection. In case and stuff.

It still brought a smile to Barney’s face whenever Ari would take his hand, or cuddle up against him on the couch, or drop a surprise kiss down on his head/cheek. Never in his life did he ever think he’d ever get this lucky. Good things never happened to him. They just didn’t. It was just the way the cookie crumbled for the Barton bloodline. Yet, here he was. Not in the circus, but in New York City. With a gorgeous girl who he apparently grows up to marry. And wasn’t that a kick in the butt! He actually grows up! And gets married!

It was a lot to think about, and part of him wasn’t sure he wanted things to change back to how they’d been before. What if they’d changed things? Changed their own futures without knowing it. What if, when whatever happened that he wound up in NYC, went away...he didn’t still end up here? Or he forgot about Ari?

He quickly shook those thoughts away and gave Ari’s hand a squeeze before letting go in favor of sliding his arm around her waist to pull her in close to his side as they walked. He wasn’t entirely sure how to get to Coney Island from Bed-Stuy -- mainly because, well, he didn’t know the city all that well any way -- but surely it couldn’t be that far, right? Or that hard to find? It was a pretty well known place, after all. ((aside: according to Google Maps, to walk from Bed-Stuy to Coney Island, it’d take 3 hours. HAVE FUN KIDS!!! I foresee them getting there, and being all “I hate life. I hate walking. Use that phone thing to call Phil’s guy and have him come get us.”))  ((when I was Ari’s age, I walked 5mi in high heels to get to church sunday mornings... LOL - she’s a mountain girl, she’ll be fine with the walk. LOL - on my good days, we still do walks like that, though it’s one and a half to library, then another one and a half back, so that’s about three. -- they could get a train, y’know hehe))

Ari had only been to the city a few times, herself - and usually spent time around Time’s Square.  She didn’t even bother trying to convince Barney to get a map, she waltzed right into the bodega and got one straight off, after commenting that the guy who walked past them and into the building looked like his bro’s guy... only all suit ish.  Which was weird and not something to think about.

“So, get this, it’s about three hours, thataway,” she pointed.

((also sorry, the net blipped and I had to reboot and re find everything :/)) ((S’ok. *Snuggles!* And yeah, they might wanna take the subway. It’s a nine mile hike one way. Barney says he’s not hiking 18 miles in a day))((ari says she’s up to it, but only if the only thing they did was hike, and if there’s soft zonkiness at the end of it LOL))

((......I’m fairly convinced all things Google and electronic hate me today. I totally responded here. And then it went all “Trying to reconnect” and deleted what I’d written. *cries a little* ))

Barney leaned against the building, hands in his pockets and head leaned back against the wall. He glanced off in the direction Ari pointed, raised an eyebrow, and looked back to Ari. “Three hours? Walking?”

((hugs - it went to next page))

“Yep. Want to brave the trains?” she asked, poking him in the stomach with a slender finger.

“We’re definitely gonna brave the trains. I’m not walkin’ six hours. I don’t even have to do that back at the circus. Not sure I’d survive it.” He pushed himself off the wall, arm drapping back around Ari’s waist as they made their way off towards the subway entrance.

Ari leaned into him, sniggering.  “We could totally do it, but I’d rather do it out in the Catskills.  We should go sometime, I’ll leave a note for us, just in case we can’t escape for it on our own,” she said.  “Also we might need a nother map - because Subway.”

Shrugging, Barney nodded lazily. “Wouldn’t mind a hike out in the middle of nowhere with ya,” he smirked slightly, pulling her a little closer to his side. “Maybe get lost out there with ya or something.”

“I should warn you I’m very good at getting lost in cities, and very bad at getting lost in the middle of nowhere,” she admitted, turning her head and tipping up to kiss his cheek lightly. Just cus.

“Well, I should warn you, I’m good at gettin’ lost wherever I decide I want to get lost.” Barney turned his head, dropping a light kiss to her forehead. He turned them down towards the stairs heading to the Subway and kept her close, just in case.

They eventually made it to coney island, even if they took a few wrong trains, and Ari had to admit about halfway through the trip that she might maybe be a wee bit claustrophobic.  That was okay, though, because being practically plastered up against Barney’s side helped her not to freak out, and hey.  Bonus.  They eventually made it topside and she threw one arm to the side, taking an exaggerated breath of air. “Sunshine! Oh how I have missed thee, with thy fine rays of flame burning through the sky to light my way!”

Barney let out a laugh, ignoring the funny looks that they got from passerby's and instead opted for spinning Ari and twirling her with a flourish before pulling her back in towards him, his arm around her waist so they were front to front, faces barely a couple inches apart. He didn't say anything for a minute, just looked down into her eyes before giving a small smile. "You're kinda ridiculous, Gorgeous. Know that?"

"Well aware. Comes with being a theatre kid," she said with a grin. "I had a whole ode to the wind set up, but there isn't hardly any, alas."

Laughing softly, Barney dipped his head to brush a soft kiss to her lips, letting it linger for just a minute. When he pulled back, he tapped his finger on her nose lightly. "We'll walk back to the apartment once we get done."

"That's a three hour walk," she pointed out.

"Three's better than six," Barney countered, smirk in place and brow quirked.

"You're awesome, you know that?" she asked, leaning into him. 

Shrugging, Barney smirked and nodded. "Yeah, I gots an idea that I am."

Clever fingers went to tickle at his side.

Barney yelped slightly, jumping back and out of her reach. "Aw c'mon! All I want's a corn dog!"

"You are a corn dog, c'mon," she laughed, reaching for his hand and half dragging him toward fun times.

Taking a tight hold on her hand, Barney led her the couple of blocks to the pier and kept hold of her hand as they walked along. He got them both a corn dog, popcorn, cotton candy and soda -- because they were teens after all -- before showing his skills with a pellet gun. Much to the carnie's dismay that he was able to nail each target perfectly to win Ari the huge teddy bear.

Ari felt, no lie, like a princess. It was one of those dates you read about in stories, or see in movies, but doesn't happen to someone in real life - at least not in her experience. Not before Barney.

When they'd seen all there was to see, Ari enamored with the water for a while, she sighed and turned, smiling softly up at him and leaning up for a gentle kiss.

With the giant teddy bear sitting next to him (seriously, the thing was huge. It came to his hip. How they were going to get it back to the apartment, Barney didn't know), Barney leaned into the kiss, letting it linger for a minute. The sun was only just starting to set, the colors skittering across the water. Pulling back, he brushed his fingers across Ari's cheek gently. "Have fun today, Gorgeous?"

"Lots," she said, tilting into the touch with a soft smile. "Best ever."

"Good," Barney smiled, dipping down to kiss her again gently. Down the pier, a singing group sang an a Capella version of a pop ballad.

Ari kissed him back, her arms slipping up over his shoulders, the romance of it all sweeping over them both.

Arms around her waist, Barney swayed them in time with the song. He could sing, he did it enough in the circus when no one was listening, but...that was different. Though, it was Ari. Pulling back just enough to lean their foreheads together as he sang softly to her. It wasn't the song the group was singing, instead an old Chicago love song he'd heard on the radio a dozen times or more while in the circus.

Ari focused on him, and him alone, as they danced softly together. She knew in that moment, one of many over the past months, why she would fall in love with him. Thought maybe she already head. Knew she already had, and somehow knew better than to voice it. She watched him a while with a soft smile before closing her eyes, feeling how much care there was in this, between them. 

Barney finished singing quietly, his voice low. He kept their heads together, looking at Ari from under his lashes.

She smiled softly still, even when he stopped singing, and she opened her eyes to look at him. "I don't ever want to forget this," she whispered.

"Yeah," Barney murmured, shaggy russet hair falling into his eyes a bit along the sides. "Me neither."

Gently, Ari pushed at his hair with her fingers, smiling softly and leaning up to kiss him again.

Kissing back, Barney silently prayed to any god who would listen to a lost cause like him, that things didn't have to change. Or if they did have to change, that they'd both remember this. Remember each other.

Ari's own hopes and prayers lay likewise, and when the kiss broke, she hugged him tightly, feeling inexplicably like their beginning was about to end. 

Burying his face in Ari's neck, Barney took a deep breath and held her close. "Glad I got to dance with ya for real, Gorgeous," He murmured into her shoulder.

"Me too," she whispered, tightening her hug. "I'm glad it's you."

Inexplicable light began to envelop them.

Barney closed his eyes tight, keeping hold of Ari so tight, afraid of what was going to happen once the light faded. "Love you, Gorgeous," He whispered.

The light faded around them, leaving Barney grown, and regretting wearing clothes that fit his younger self, but not so much his grown self.

"I love you too, Red, but if I don't get this belt off, I'm going to be half the woman you married," Ari said in a strangled voice, the woman letting him go and pulling at said belt to get those few inches she needed to be able to breathe again.

Barney took a step back to give her room. And froze. He...stepped. His legs were moving. And holding his weight.

"Ho-lee...shit."

Ari loosed her belt, automatically reaching out to him, then blinked, and grinned, and pretty much just jumped into his arms, hugging him with all limbs. "You're on your feet!" she squealed.

A nervous laugh half bubbled out of him as he clutched her tight, waiting for his legs to give out and for the feeling to disappear from the waist down. "Yeah...yeah I am."

She kissed his cheek, then his mouth, full deep and joyful as she unwound a bit, just enough so she could stand with him.

Barney gripped her hips in his hands tightly, afraid to let go. "I swear if this is some delayed reaction shit that's gonna catch up to us half way home..."

"I can call for a cab," she said. "In case, but God, I hope..." She held him tight, still. "You've been so upset," she whispered. "I don't know how to fix that.  Not like a bomb or anything."

Glancing down to the teddy bear, Barney quirked a brow. "Not sure we'd get the bear in a cab." Taking a breath, he cautiously took another step, testing his weight on each leg.

"They have trunks," she said, cos she was so not getting rid of that, childhood fancy or not. She stepped back a little, holding a hand out to him as though she could break his fall, should he do so.

He kept hold of her hand, and shuffled towards her, almost afraid to take real steps. "True..." Barney lifted his gaze to meet Ari's, doing his best to give a smirk. "I think, we'd better call a cab soon. Just in case. But if this isn't gonna last, then i wanna get home soon as possible."

She grinned. "I bet." She pulled out the phone Stark - jeez, she couldn't believe he'd met them when they were young, and woah that was a thought she wasn't ready to dwell on yet. They were TEENS TOGETHER, holy sithmonkies NOT the thing to dwell on right now, Ari. She hit in the number of a cab company she'd had good luck with (she hated the subway, okay?) and was promsied a cab back at the street asap. She put the phone in her pocket and grabbed the bear in one hand, taking Barney's hand with the other. "Walk with me, Red? It's a loverly day."

Nodding, Barney gave her hand a squeeze and let her lead the way to the cab. "Yeah, I could do with a walk, I think."

"Do you remember?" She asked softly, halfway to where the cab would pick them up.

"That it's a three hour walk back to Bed-Stuy?"

She bumped hips with him, more careful than she had an hour ago. "You know. The last few months. Us... as kids."

Taking a breath, Barney slid his arm around her hip, pulling her in close. He didn't say anything for a minute, though. "Pretty sure that's the only time in my teen years that I've spent that long of time with a girl and not gotten laid." Glancing to the side, he gave a small smirk. "Ya managed to make a pretty decent gentlemen outta me. How'd that happen?"

She laughed, shaking her head. "Probably you just needed the right innocent girl to wrap you 'round her heart," she said, wrinkling her nose at him in half a tease. "I knew you had it in you."

Sticking his tongue out at her, Barney gave her a squeeze as they walked. "Yeah well, don't let word get out. I had a pretty...terrible reputation as a teen."

"Yes well. I loved you, too, you know. " she glanced at him. "Right before we changed, you said it - but I hadn't, and I want you to know I did, too."

Barney most certainly did NOT blush. Not at all. Not even in the least little bit.

Okay, he did. He could feel his ears burning.

"Pretty sure I already knew that, Gorgeous."

"Just making sure, Red," she said, popping a kiss on his cheek. "Now, what should I name this giant ass bear?" she asked.

[awwwhawkguy]

Terrifying Love?

[foolrushedin]

the-darker-hawk:

awwwhawkguy:

Phil curled up on the bed, watching Clint leave with a small smile on his face. Once Clint had disappeared out the door, Phil quickly stripped out of his jeans and boxers, pausing to examine the damage done to his boxers before tossing them into the laundry. With just his now baggier sweatshirt on and covering most of his body, Phil crawled back into bed and made himself comfortable under the covers.

* * *

Clint jogged down the stairs, pressing his ear to the door before knocking loudly on the door to his brother and sister-in-law’s apartment.

Barney lifted his head from where it was resting on Ari’s bare stomach and cast the door the most threatening and fierce glare possible before looking back to Ari. “Shhh, pretend we’re not home. Maybe they’ll go away and I can see if I can get one more orgasm out of you.”

Ari giggled, biting her lips and brushing her fingers through his hair.

[foolrushedin]

Egg Cream

"And this," Ari set down the glass in front of Barney, "Is an Egg Cream." It was a milk and chocolate syrup and club soda mixture. "You should drink it fast, or it'll defizz."

Barney stared at the glass cautiously before giving it a hesitant poke. "This is not at all what I thought it'd be...an' I don't even wanna know why it's called what it is."

Ari shrugged. "It's a New York thing, go on, drink it," she finished mixing up her own, some chocolate syrup, some milk, then pouring in the club soda while she mixed it up.

Making a face, Barney lifted the glass and damn near chugged it down like a pro. Which he ultimately almost instantly regretted doing. "Ugh...shouldn't have done that..."

Ari was happily drinking her own and pouted at his not liking it. "That's too bad. Ah well, at least you tried it."

Barney thunked his head down on the table, arms wrapped around his stomach as he suddenly regretted chugging down the whole glass at once.

Ari set her half drunk glass and went over, rubbing his back. "Hey, you're not, like... allergic or anything, are you?"

"No..." Barney mumbled, though the rumbling and clenching in his stomach seemed to be trying to say otherwise. "It's just been a really long time since I've chugged milk. Even longer since I've chugged chocolate milk. Just wasn't a bright idea..."

She hummed, then poured a clean glass with just the club soda. "Sip this, it'll help settle, believe it or not." She shrugged. "I haven't seen any gingerale."

Sitting up, Barney took the glass and sipped from it slowly. "Probably good thing, I don't like gingerale, anyway."

"What do you do when you have a stomach ache and feel nauseated?" she asked, curious.

"Usually just suck it up an' keep quiet. Safer that way." Barney answered with a shrug.

Ari ended up hugging him for that. "I want to wrap you up and take you home and feed you," she mumbled into his shoulder.

Huffing softly, Barney wrapped his arms around Ari and buried his nose in the crook of her neck. He didn't want to see the look on her face if he told her she was the first and only one to ever want to.

She just hugged him a little tighter. "I'ma find you," she promised.

Barney broke into a small smile as he carefully started to pull back. "Pretty obvious that ya do, if the pictures my brother's got of us is any sign."

"Yeah yeah, but maybe if I know NOW, I can find you faster."

"Well," Barney shrugged and gave his best smug, nonchalant smirk. "Ever come 'cross Carson's Caravan of Traveling Wonders, look me up. I'll be the guy shovelin' out the animal cages."

"You guys ever make it upstate New York?" she asked.

"Dunno. Only been with 'em 'bout a year. Go wherever they think they'll make some money."

"I'll keep an eye out," She promised. "Maybe we'll get lucky."

"Ohhhh Mighty Mouse," Barney's smirk turned suggestive and teasing as he waggled his eyebrows. "You've no idea how much I hope we get lucky."

Ari pulled back, blushing bright and giggling a little. "Yeah maybe that too, 'ventually."

"Could always practice in the mean time, ya know?" His hands settled on her hips. "Makin' out's great practice."

She bit her lip and glanced at his with a shy smile. "I do like practice," she agreed. "How's your tummy?"

Pausing in thought, Barney nodded. "It's good now, I think."

"Okay good. Lemme finish my egg cream before it goes bad," she said with a cheeky smile.

"You are such a tease," Barney flopped back in his seat though he didn't make much more of a fuss.

Ari laughed. "You'll love me for it someday," She promised, retrieving her glass and drinking it up.

"Really hope so, cuz right now it's just plain mean. Girls are horrible, mean creatures."

"Boooo Boooooo, Booooo," Ari jokingly quoted the old woman from Princess Bride before finishing off her drink. "Couch?"

Barney quirked an eyebrow at her boo-ing but shook his head and stood. "Couch."

Ari rinsed out the glasses and moved to follow him, biting her lip. It was a little weird to just up and decide to be kissing, instead of just kind of... falling into it.

Dropping down onto the couch, Barney held an arm out to invite Ari in against him, his smirk trying for coy and suggestive, but fell just to one side of sweet and soft. Yeah, he was kind of a big marshmallow. Nobody had to know that.

Ari went to him, smiling softly and leaning in to peck a quick kiss on the corner of his mouth.

His arms wrapped around her, Barney pulled Ari in against him, giving maybe just the smallest nose nudges to make her smile before leaning in to return the kiss. That was maybe just a bit more than a quick peck.

Predictably, Ari melted against him, putting a hand gently into his hair as the kiss slowly deepened.

Barney kept his arms around Ari, his hands politely above her clothes because he could totally be a gentleman thank you very much. Even if he did decide the kiss needed to go a little deeper.

[foolrushedin]

Puppile

[the-darker-hawk]

"Fffffffuuu…you’ve got magic fingers, know that?"

[foolrushedin]

Ari grinned softly.  ”I do now,” she said, shifting down a little to get at his lower back.

[foolrushedin]

Barney gave a soft sigh once it felt like every bone in his body had turned to jello. He didn't want to move. Wasn't actually sure that he COULD move. "If grown up you does that for grown up me," He mumbled, words muffled by his arms, "then there's no doubt in my mind that there's lots of really good 'thank you's to be had afterwards..."

Ari giggled, a little embarrassed. "She probably does? Jeez, your back was like a giant knot, that can't have felt cool."

"Mm..." It was a weak and pathetic confirmation, but it was the best he could manage at the moment. "Not many chances to get a good back rub, where I'm from."

"That stinks," She said, finally getting the last knot, but loathe to stop, so just gently massaging the muscle anyway.

Barney hummed quietly, "Mmhmm..."

Ari smiled, resting her palms on his back. "You're falling asleep, huh."

"No," Barney turned his head, resting his cheek on his forearms and half looking over his shoulder at her. "Just in no real big hurry to move at the moment."

Not to mention the fact that Ari seemed like a Nice Girl. And Nice Girls probably wouldn't be too impressed if he were to roll over and it become blatantly obvious just how much he enjoyed having his back, shoulders, and neck rubbed.

"Okay. I'm gonna lie down again now, though," She said, slipping off to lie beside him, grabbing at what was left of the popcorn.

Nodding, Barney made no attempt to stop her or roll over. He just stayed where he was, willing himself to behave again so he didn't make an idiot of himself.

Took Ari a few minutes before she snort-giggled. "Dude, I'm in Theatre, don't give yourself blue-balls. The bathroom's first door on the left." Was the only reason that made sense he didn't turn over, and he wouldn't be the first guy she gave a shoulder rub to who had an embarrassing reaction.

Rolling his eyes, Barney huffed. He wanted to argue and say he was fine, that he just didn't feel like moving, but instead, he stood and casually made his way to the bathroom without a word.

He wasn't even planning to work it off, because if he did that he'd probably end up imagining Ari and even if the grown up versions of them were married, he'd still feel skeevy about imaging her down while he got himself off. Wouldn't be the first time he'd splash cold water on himself to go down.

Of course, when he got to the bathroom, he didn't need the cold water after all. The wheelchair next to the tub took care of it for him. "Hey Ari?" He called over his shoulder. "C'mere for a sec, would ya?"

"Minute!" she called, rolling over and crawling out of the fort. "Sup?" she asked as she made her way there. "Need to figure out how the tap works?"

"Not quite..." He nodded towards the wheelchair. "Theater prop?"

"Um...Yes?"

"Why don't I believe you?" Barney turned and raised an eyebrow at her, though the rest of his face remained perfectly blank.

"Be....cause I'm lying?" she said then bit her lip.

Barney nodded thoughtfully, glanced back to the chair for a moment, and then back to Ari. "An' I'm gonna take a wild stab in the dark an' say you're not the one it belongs to?"

She shook her head, ponytail and stray hair swishing. "I'm sorry?" she tried, not sure what the protocol for something like this was. It wasn't as though she knew when it'd happened, or how. As far as she knew, Barney was a sitter, and that was fine. It wasn't until he was a teen, too, that she'd thought maybe he hadn't always been. (considering she hadn't realised it was Barney at all, probably should have been a recognition of that).

Lips pressed into a tight, thin line, Barney nodded, eyes focused on the wheelchair. "So I grow up to be a gimp. Perfect."

"You grow up to be strong, and kind, and pretty kick ass, if half the stories you told me were true - but if you wanna focus on the stupid chair, then," she shrugged and walked out and went back to the fort.

Barney stood in the bathroom for another moment or two, just staring at the wheelchair and wondering what the hell happened that he wound up in one. Maybe it was a circus accident? It would explain why he now lives so close to Clint. Maybe it was a circus accident, and they both had to leave because what good is a gimp in the circus? And Clint left cuz Barney would have needed some help or something? Who knew why Clint would leave.

Yeah. That had to be it. A circus accident. Go figure.

Shaking his head, he went back out to the living room and crawled back into the fort with Ari. "Bet I can do awesome wheelies and spins in that thing."

"You only use the ramp in the back to keep people from having heart attacks when you navigate down stairs, I hear."

"Bet I can do it, though," He said, nodding thoughtfully. "Navigate down the stairs in one of those things. Just need to balance on the back wheels, go slow and careful. It can be done."

"Might take a little practice though, don't go breaking your neck," Ari pointed out, pleased that he was pretty much over it. She rolled onto her side and regarded him, then offered the bowl of popcorn.

Barney nodded again and reached for the popcorn, tossing one piece at Ari and bouncing it off her nose. "Breakin' my neck could kill me. Hate to do that and miss out on seein' your pretty face all the time."

"Hate for you to do that and never get to meet you."

"That'd be a damn shame. Bet you an' me have a lot of fun together."

"Probably," She smiled. "I wonder how we met. You wouldn't tell me."

Shrugging, Barney dropped a handful of popcorn into his mouth and watched as the rebel forces blew up the second Death Star. "Dunno. Maybe Phil an' Clint can tell us."

"We can ask tomorrow, I think maybe they're gonna want some 'lone ime after," she waved wordlessly. "And I have a feeling Clint'll freak out if he sees me right now."

"Yeah, prob'ly."

Ari stuck her tongue out at him playfully.

Smirking, Barney waggled his eyebrows back at her. "Better be careful. Keep stickin' your tongue out like that, somethin's liable to come along an' try to bite it off or somethin'."

Ari giggled and bit her lips, looking over to the screen. It wasn't like she didn't know they grew up to be together, but that was abstract. Concrete was never flirting for real... except this might be, and she kind of wanted to squeal and hide her face in a pillow doing the kicky-feet-of-yay thing. Cos seriously, Barney was HAWT.

Barney's smile grew all the more as he watched Ari's reaction to his pretty much shameless flirting. "I mean, if you wanna take your chances an' try it again, you're more than welcome to."

She glanced at him out the corner of her eye. "But I need my tongue for ice-ceram."

Raising his eyebrow again, Barney's eyes darkened just a bit. "Lucky ice cream."

Ari only smiled and hummed, maybe wiggling just a teensy bit before returning her attention to the Ewok Party. Because. Ewoks.

Barney watched her for a second or two longer before turning his own attention back to the screen. He'd missed most of the movie, so really had no clue what was going on, but that was fine. He didn't mind the distractions one bit.

Ari scooted so they were shoulder to shoulder. Totally to share the popcorn.

When Ari moved closer, Barney stayed perfectly still for two beats, then shifted to put his arm around her, pulling her in just a little bit closer.

Humming, she snuggled in. Cuddles were best thing ever invented.

Barney kept holding her, even as the credits ran through. His attention was no longer on the movie, but rather on Ari. The way she hummed along to the theme music and bounced her toes in time with it. The way the one little clump of hair kept slipping out from her ponytail and from behind her ear.

Without giving it much though, Barney moved the hand that had been holding her, and tucked the hair clump back behind her ear again. He definitely did not take a moment just to feel the silky strands slide through his fingers. And he sure as heck didn't brush just the tips of his fingers across the skin just behind her ear, and down her neck a bit as he pulled back. Nope. None of that happened.

Ari's breath caught and her smile was curious as she turned her head a bit to look at him, an eyebrow raised. That felt... really nice.

Barney didn't say a word. Instead, he held Ari's gaze for a long second, leaned in, and brushed his lips across hers in a soft, slow kiss.

Ari's eyes widened, then fell shut as she kissed back - forgetting to breathe.

Kissing Ari definitely felt like the best thing in the world. Even better than Barney thought it would. Even better than kissing town mayor's daughter in Nebraska last July. And that had been a great kiss! But this? Barney couldn't even begin to describe it.

He kept it soft and slow and gentle, giving Ari every chance imaginable to pull back if she wanted to.

This was nothing, Nothing!, like stage kissing. This was real, and made her heart flip inside out, never wanted it to stop.

Slowly, he reached his hand up to cup her jaw, thumbing just in front of her ear as the kiss very gently deepened. The tip of Barney's tongue came out to trace along the seam of Ari's lips, hoping to coax them open so he could explore the rest of her mouth at great extent.

Ari gasped, lips parting, following his example with a quiet whimper.

Barney shifted just a hair bit closer to Ari as he slipped his hand across her neck, behind her head, and up into her hair, letting the kiss deepen more.

She followed him a little longer, before breaking the kiss to catch her breath. "Wow..."

Grinning a bit, Barney gave a nod, his nose brushing over hers. "Yeah, pretty great, huh?"

"Yeah," she said, her eyes filled with wonder.

Barney reached up again, cupping her cheek once more, and chuckled softly. "Trust me, there's plenty more where that came from."

Ari blushed prettily and glanced down then up again, smiling softly.

Barney's grin softened into something sweeter, not quite so smug and predatory. He leaned in again, dropping a quick, light kiss to the tip of her nose. "Hey, just gonna put this out there...I ain't gonna do anything you don't want me to do, okay? All ya gotta do is say the word and I'll back off. Okay?"

"Okay," She said. "Not that I thought you would." She smiled and nudged him a little.

"Yeah," Barney nudged back, "I just wanted to make sure ya knew that."

"Thanks," she said a little shyly.

Giving a nod, Barney's smirk turned playfully smug again. "Great. Now then. Where were we?"

"Something like this?" she asked, leaning in to kiss him sweetly.

Barney smiled into the kiss and nodded, pulling Ari close again and continuing exploring her mouth with his own.

Ari went willingly, kissing back softly, a little awkward and inexperienced, but no less sweet.

With Ari pulled in close against him, Barney shifted and rolled to his back a bit, giving Ari the upper hand over him -- the lead in case she starts to feel overwhelmed and wants to ease off, she doesn't feel trapped.

Ari's knees curled up under her to theside, her upper body resting against Barney's as they continued to kiss, one shy hand reaching to thread into his thick russet hair with a soft whimper, kinda hanging on, but careful like.

Barney gave a soft groan of his own at her fingers being in his hair. God he loved that. So long as she didn't yank his hair, they'd be good. He brought his arms around her, splaying one across her back while the other went back up into her hair, playing with the ponytail and debating on whether to tug the rubberband out or not.

Ari kept petting her hand through his hair, when he didn't tell her off. Each kiss was soft and sweet, a small breath and going back to learning how he liked to be kissed. Learning kissing.

Very slowly, Barney pulled the rubber band out from Ari's hair and combed his fingers through the loose strands as they fell free. He swept it off to one side, and just curled his fingers in it. He sighed and groaned softly, shifting a bit on the cushions to try and ease the growing tension forming in his jeans.

Ari whimpered, the good kind of whimper, and sincerely Melted against his chest once he got his hand in her hair.

The smug smirk was trying to come back on Barney's face at Ari's reaction. Oh yes, this he could work with. He smoothed up and down her back, trailing the tips of his fingers over each and every ridge and dip along the length of her spine, down to play with the hem of her shirt and just brush his fingers against bare skin on her lower back.

They kissed a little more before she broke it, resting her head on his chest and catching her breath. She wasn't going to manage any braining, or even words, just now - but breathing needed to be a thing.

Barney's hand at her lower back just slipped under her shirt. Not going up very high, but enough that his palm was flat against her skin. "Y'okay?"

"Y. Yes," she decided, with a small nod. "Feel good."

Smiling a bit more, Barney's hand on her back slid just a little higher, paused, and came back down again. Following this path half a dozen times as she caught her breath.

Ari's heart finally steadied down, and she nuzzled him a little, feeling snuggly. "...'s nice..."

"Yeah," Barney murmured, brushing a kiss over the top of her head and starting to move his hand up a little higher each time now.

Before his fingertips reached her bra strap, Ari reached behind herself and stopped his hand. She didn't feel like she had to tell him that that was about as far as her comfort zone extended.

The moment her fingers wrapped around his wrist and started to pull his hand back, Barney took his hand out from under her shirt and nodded. Limit reached. Loud and clear. "Okay then."

Ari nuzzled him. "C'n we just cuddle a bit?" she asked in a quiet unsure voice.

"Yeah," He nodded, hands coming to rest safely on her waist, over the T-shirt. "That's not a problem."

"You give the best cuddles," Ari mused quietly content.

Chuckling, Barney brushed another kiss atop Ari's head and smiled. "First time I've ever been told that one."

"People're missing out," she decided.

"Heh, sure they are."

Ari huffed and picked at a loose thread on his T-shirt. "They are," she said. and then rested her hand flat on his chest. "You're good at keeping the nightmares away, too."

Smiling softly, Barney brushed Ari's bangs from her face. "Glad to know it, Mighty Mouse."

[srtamillano]

[foolrushedin]

pekenadela:

[foolrushedin]

Puppile

[the-darker-hawk]

Barney all but melted right there in the fort. It had been since forever that he last felt his back loosen up and the muscles unclench. He couldn't even be sure his muscles had EVER been not tensed up. The groans that kept drifting out of his mouth were completely and unashamedly indecent.

"Fffffffuuu...you've got magic fingers, know that?"

[foolrushedin]

Ari grinned softly.  "I do now," she said, shifting down a little to get at his lower back.

[foolrushedin]

Puppile

[the-darker-hawk]

Eyes suddenly very wide, Barney whipped his head around to stare at her for a moment before giving his own grin. Quickly, he wiggled onto his stomach and waggled his eyebrows at her. "I'm all yours, Mighty Mouse."

[foolrushedin]

She smiled and shifted to straddle him and sit on his bum.  "I know," she said imperiously, leaning forward and starting to work on his back.  Lighter touches grew firmer as she found knots and pressed into them to worke them loose with singleminded determination in their warm little blanket fort.

[foolrushedin]

Puppile

[the-darker-hawk]

Barney tried very very hard not to groan indecently at the way Ari worked at the knots felt. Because it felt incredible and was doing wonders for his tied up neck muscles.

Chin dropping to his chest, he finally let out a low groan. “Mmmmmmmm…do shoulder and back rubs too?” He murmured, words slightly slurred. “Got knots in places that’ve been there so long they’re like…it’s like…I should…they’ve been there a long time.”

[foolrushedin]

Ari had the brief thought that she wanted to take him home and feed him forever - when she remembered that someday she actually would.  And that just made her grin a little and sit up off him a bit.  "Lie on your stomach and I'll see what I can do with your knots."

[foolrushedin]

Puppile

[the-darker-hawk]

Grumbling quietly, Barney toppled to the side, pulling Ari with him into the pillows. “I regret recent life choices…” He mumbled, reaching back to rub the back of his neck with a cringe.

[foolrushedin]

"Here, lemme help," she said, reaching up and pressing smaller fingers into the knots in his neck and shoulder.

[foolrushedin]

Puppile

[the-darker-hawk]

Barney was only half awake when Ari stirred. His head tilted back against the couch still and eyes barely opened and not even focused on the screen, but more seeing through it than anything else. He’d slumped a little lower at some point and hadn’t even noticed Ari half in his lap. 

Giving a quiet groan, he rolled his head to the other side and instantly regretted it and the crick in his neck.

[foolrushedin]

"You okay?  C'mon," She said sleepily, tugging Barney to crash out on the pillows.

[foolrushedin]

Puppile

Ari slept through the rest of the movie, and a good chunk of the next one (amazing multi-dvd player, the future was so cool!) before she stirred, half cuddled into Barney's lap by the time she was waking up.

Of course, once she knew where she was she just cuddled back down contentedly.