𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐌𝐄━︎━︎ C. Barton

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

CHAPTER EIGHT:
❝︎Dinner?❞︎

SHE HELD THE BOW IN HER HANDS, ARROW KNOCKED INTO IT AS SHE HAD IT PULLED BACK. Clint stood there, watching her as he always did. He had come quick to admire the woman. She wasn't afraid to speak her mind. She could fight. But she was afraid. She was afraid of something, and he wasn't sure what it was. He couldn't help but wonder if it was him, if it was S.H.I.E.L.D that she was scared of. But something told him it was much deeper than that. And though he had a desire to know, he wouldn't push her. He wouldn't scare her away.

He stared at her form for a moment, smiling slightly to himself before watching as she missed the target again. She frowned slightly, taking another arrow and notching it in the bow, after she missed again, Clint couldn't watch anymore. "Let me help you." He walked towards her, watching her and waiting for her to nod to tell him it was okay. When she did, he instructed her to get another arrow. He placed his hands on her shoulders, pushing her foot forwards slightly, taking her shoulders and pushing them back.

He was so close to her, his breath on her neck sending shivers down her spine. She watched him for a moment, swallowing thickly as she forced herself to focus on the bow. His hands glided gently down her arms, fixing her hold on the bow until she was holding it right. He nodded towards the target, glancing towards her when she felt her eyes on him. They stared at one another for a moment, before Theodora forced herself to look away. She swallowed thickly, adjusting her hold on the weapon.

"Now, all you have to do is aim and when you're ready, release." When he was sure she was ready, he took a step back, crossing his arms over his chest as he watched her. He watched her analyzing eyes, almost like she was waiting for the perfect moment to release that arrow. Almost as if the target was an actual person, and she was trying to be sure on her shot. And then she was raising her head slightly as if confidence washed through her veins, and she let go. The arrow went flying before finally implanting itself into the bullseye.

A wide smile etched its way onto Theodora's face as she snapped her head towards Clint who had a matching smile of his own. "Did you see that?" She sounded so excited, so proud of herself and it made Clint feel excited for her. "I can't believe I actually made that." She couldn't stop smiling and for the first time since she's been at the facility, she looked totally and completely relaxed. She took another arrow, knocking it in and doing the same thing that Clint had just done. She aimed, taking a deep breath, and then releasing. She hit the red again.

"Look at you Hawkeye." Clint joked, a smile on his face. "You're a natural." He watched as she lowered the bow, placing it down on the table before she turned her attention towards Clint. She took a few steps closer to him and he couldn't help but think she walked with such grace. He barely knew this woman and yet she was already breaking her way through his professional wall and tugging at his heart. He wanted to reach forwards and brush the black hair from his face, but he forced himself to hold back.

"Better watch out. I might take your job." Theodora joked, a gentle laugh falling from her lips. She pushed her hair from her face, tucking it behind her ears before glancing over towards the target that held many of her arrows―︎two of them being the only ones touching the the bullseye. A sigh fell from Theodora's lips before glancing down to her stomach as it started growling. Through all of this she had completely forgotten to eat. She chuckled slightly, placing a hand over her stomach. "Guess I forgot to eat during all this."

"I could do with something to eat." Clint nodded his head. "Now we have two options. We can either go down to the cafeteria here and eat the food that has been provided for us. Or, we can go out and grab some dinner that way you can have the chance to look at a different colored wall since all of them are the same color in this damn place." He glanced around the room for a few second before he turned his attention back towards Theodora who had an eyebrow raised and an amused smile pulling at her lips. "What?"

"Barton, did you just ask me out to dinner?" She crossed her arms over her chest as she looked at him with slight amusement crossing her lips. She should've been taking this more seriously. But she hadn't been asked out. . . well, ever. And her heart seemed to flutter in her chest at the thought that her first ever date was going to be the one man that she had been so quick to trust. She should've been skeptical, but she wasn't. For some reason that Theodora didn't know, she trusted Clint more than anyone. She had only known the man for a few days and yet she found herself longing for his approval and to see his smile.

Clint stopped, his mouth going completely dry. Had he? He hadn't meant to. But at the same time he felt like he had. He tried not to stutter over his words, tried not to make a fool of himself as he struggled to speak. "I―︎well, no. Not exactly. I just thought you could use some fresh air." God, he was a blubbering idiot. He'd never done this before. What was it about Theodora Knox that made him forget everything he ever trained for. "Did you want. . . I mean. . ."

Theodora shook her head with a smile, trying her best not to blush under his gaze. She hated feeling like this. But at the same time she absolutely loved it. "How does Mexican food sound? I haven't had that in a long while."

"That sounds great." Clint nodded. He pulled open the door before motioning his hands forwards. "After you, Ms. Knox."

She rolled her eyes. "Please. Don't call me Ms. It makes me sound old." And then she was walking through the door with Clint following closely behind.