Before the Storm, There is Peace by scifigrl47 (G)
Fandom: THE AVENGERS (MOVIEVERSE)
Pairing: Clint Barton/Natasha Romanov
Length: 1099
Author on LJ: Unknown (there is a matching screen name, but nothing Avengers-related there or anything to connect them)
Author Website: Tumblr or AO3
Why this must be read:
This fic must be read because, well, it's scifigrl47, and I'm of the opinion all her fic is in the "must be read" pile. Most of it has been recced already, with good reason. She builds the best "team as family" world I've ever run into, has a deft hand with original characters (and bots!), and can bring the funny on the same page that she breaks your heart wide open.
I was thrilled to find out that this fic in particular hadn't been recced, since I wanted to highlight some of the best Clint/Natasha fic this month. "Before the Storm, There is Peace" captures (in just a relatively few words) some of the most quintessential elements that make Clint and Natasha's relationship so compelling - whether they're written as lovers, exes, "just partners", or soul mates (romantic or otherwise) Here they fill in each other's spaces and guard one anothers' backs. Here they bicker in the way that only those of long acquaintance do, are blindingly tender at one turn and then slip away from one another the next. In particular she's taking a look at them preparing for the Battle of New York (written before the movie aired, so there's a fair amount of guesstimation) but it could be before any moment of truth in any number of dangerous "we probably won't survive" sort of circumstances.
She tipped her head back, those amazing eyes meeting his. "Promise me that you won't take the shot if it means your life."
He gave her a faint smile. "I promise."
Her lips tightened. "You lie so easily." Her hand came up, the back of her fingers brushing against the line of his jaw, his cheek, moving up into his hair. She ran blunt fingernails through his short locks. "I always hated that about you."
He leaned over and kissed her forehead, the gesture as chaste and gentle and delicate as any he'd ever attempted in his life. "Promise me you'll come back, that you won't leave me alone with these idiots."
"I promise," she whispered, and when he raised his head, her eyes were closed, dark lashes like blades against her pale skin.
"Liar," he whispered.
"It's why we always got along so well," she pointed out. "And why we were doomed to fail."
Before the Storm, There is Peace
Author's Summary:
"This is nothing we were ever trained for."
If you have to die, die fighting. If you have to fall, fall because you were standing for something. And if you have to face impossible odds, you might as well do it with someone who knows just how impossible they are, but has your back anyway.
Or; only an ex would ask you why.
Pairing: Clint Barton/Natasha Romanov
Length: 1099
Author on LJ: Unknown (there is a matching screen name, but nothing Avengers-related there or anything to connect them)
Author Website: Tumblr or AO3
Why this must be read:
This fic must be read because, well, it's scifigrl47, and I'm of the opinion all her fic is in the "must be read" pile. Most of it has been recced already, with good reason. She builds the best "team as family" world I've ever run into, has a deft hand with original characters (and bots!), and can bring the funny on the same page that she breaks your heart wide open.
I was thrilled to find out that this fic in particular hadn't been recced, since I wanted to highlight some of the best Clint/Natasha fic this month. "Before the Storm, There is Peace" captures (in just a relatively few words) some of the most quintessential elements that make Clint and Natasha's relationship so compelling - whether they're written as lovers, exes, "just partners", or soul mates (romantic or otherwise) Here they fill in each other's spaces and guard one anothers' backs. Here they bicker in the way that only those of long acquaintance do, are blindingly tender at one turn and then slip away from one another the next. In particular she's taking a look at them preparing for the Battle of New York (written before the movie aired, so there's a fair amount of guesstimation) but it could be before any moment of truth in any number of dangerous "we probably won't survive" sort of circumstances.
She tipped her head back, those amazing eyes meeting his. "Promise me that you won't take the shot if it means your life."
He gave her a faint smile. "I promise."
Her lips tightened. "You lie so easily." Her hand came up, the back of her fingers brushing against the line of his jaw, his cheek, moving up into his hair. She ran blunt fingernails through his short locks. "I always hated that about you."
He leaned over and kissed her forehead, the gesture as chaste and gentle and delicate as any he'd ever attempted in his life. "Promise me you'll come back, that you won't leave me alone with these idiots."
"I promise," she whispered, and when he raised his head, her eyes were closed, dark lashes like blades against her pale skin.
"Liar," he whispered.
"It's why we always got along so well," she pointed out. "And why we were doomed to fail."
Before the Storm, There is Peace
Author's Summary:
"This is nothing we were ever trained for."
If you have to die, die fighting. If you have to fall, fall because you were standing for something. And if you have to face impossible odds, you might as well do it with someone who knows just how impossible they are, but has your back anyway.
Or; only an ex would ask you why.