Title: make the season bright
Fandom: Marvel 616
Characters: Clint Barton, Kate Bishop, Jeff the Land Shark, Lucky, Tony Stark, Wade Wilson, America Chavez
Ships: Clint Barton/Kate Bishop
Rating: Teen
Length: 1,143 words
Summary: Kate decides that she doesn't want to spend Christmas alone on the west coast after all.
Originally Posted: December 25, 2021
Part 2 (of 2) of It's a Hawkeye kind of Christmas! - Part 1 is over HERE.
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Kate looked out the window for the third time that morning and sighed despondently. It just didn’t feel like Christmas without snow. She really missed east coast winters. She was wearing her favorite ugly Christmas sweater that featured decorated trees and lights that actually flashed but it wasn’t helping her get into the holiday spirit at all.
Kate turned on Christmas tree lights. Well, that looked a little more festive. She hadn’t done much to decorate this year. It was just her and Lucky and there didn’t seem to be much point in putting in a lot of effort. She’d thought about going back to the east coast for the holidays. Clint had even said something about her spending Christmas there but she was pretty sure he was just being nice. It wasn’t a big deal. The west coast had its own kind of charm during the holiday season. Kate did the zoo lights thing the night before last, and yesterday she treated herself by swinging by her favorite bakery in Little Tokyo and picking up a couple of boxes of assorted goodies.
She flopped down on the sofa with a sigh. She didn’t want to be here. Not for Christmas. She checked her phone. Clint had texted her on Christmas Eve. *Merry Christmas, wish you were here* There was even a photo of him with Tony Stark, Wade Wilson, and even Jeff the land shark. They were all on Clint’s couch together. They looked so happy and cozy and it filled her with such longing. She really wanted to be there but it was Christmas. There was no way she could make it from L.A. to New York in time. Unless —
Kate had a call to make.
“Hey bestie, Happy Holidays!” Kate said.
“Happy Holidays to you too, Chica. Didn’t we talk on the phone for almost two hours last night?”
“We did,” Kate admitted.
“Are you missing Barton again?” Damn, America knew her so well.
“For the last time, I don’t miss Clint. I miss the east coast.”
“Uh-huh, sure you do. So, you want me to open a portal so you can reunite with your beloved — east coast. Did you want me to open it anyplace in particular? Clint’s living room perhaps?”
“Please, could you? Let me just pack a few things first, okay?”
“Yeah, sure. I’ll just finish this piece of chocolate silk pie and then pop on over,” America said and hung up.
Kate packed too many clothes, all of her gear, her laptop, and a few other essentials. It was just in case she stayed a little past the holidays, that was all. It wasn’t like she was going to move in with him or something.
She was just finishing packing up Lucky’s leash, food, and favorite toys when a portal opened and America walked through. She hugged her friend and grabbed all her stuff.
“That’s a lot of stuff you’re bringing for a little holiday visit, Kate.”
Kate shrugged. “It’s just in case I decide to stay a little while longer.”
“Uh, huh.” America shook her head and kicked open a new portal. This one opened in Clint’s living room.
Clint was on the couch watching Frosty the Snowman next to Wade. Jeff was in Wade’s lap and Tony was nowhere in sight. Kate walked through the portal.
“Merry Christmas.” Kate dropped her gear and let go of Lucky’s leash.
Wade stood up and popcorn and other assorted food bits fell from his lap. “Portal!” Wade pointed at the still-open portal, America stepped aside and Wade jumped through. The portal closed.
“Oops,” America said.
Kate stood there with her mouth open for a couple of moments. What the hell? “Did Deadpool just jump through the portal into my apartment?” Kate asked.
America nodded. “I’m sure it’ll be fine.” She kicked open yet another portal. “Well, it’s been real - Have a happy holiday and all that.” She blew her friend a kiss and stepped through. The portal closed behind her.
Clint stared at her and Kate started to feel a little foolish. How was she supposed to explain her spur-of-the-moment decision to show up unannounced? With luggage. “Hey,” she said.
“You’re here, you made it.” There was something like wonder in his eyes.
“I did. I hope that’s okay. Didn’t mean to spoil your party.”
“It wasn’t really my party and you definitely didn’t spoil anything.”
Kate felt relieved. She’d invited herself over to his place plenty of times before but today felt different and she didn’t want to impose. She was glad that she didn’t. “Okay, cool.”
The living room was heavily and eclectically decorated but it was the little sprig of mistletoe hanging over the couch right above Clint’s head that kept snagging Kate’s attention. She bit her lip. She knew she should just ignore it. It was just a small decoration dangling from the ceiling. It didn’t have to mean anything. It totally wasn’t calling to her at all.
Kate leaped over the back of the sofa, landing beside Clint. Before she could second guess herself she kissed him. He seemed surprised but it took him barely a moment to start kissing her back.
Lucky barked. A throat cleared.
“Well, this is certainly an interesting turn of events. I guess my job here is done. I have a party or two to get to. You kids have fun.” The door clicked closed.
The kiss ended all too quickly. “Was that Stark?” Kate refused to open her eyes and check.
“It is, or was. He just walked out the door.”
Kate opened her eyes. “That was awkward.” Kate leaned back. “Not the kiss. Being interrupted by Tony was the awkward bit. The kiss was fine.”
“Just fine?” Clint asked.
“Um…” What was she supposed to say to that?
Jeff jumped into her lap, saving her from trying to figure out how to describe their kiss. “Hey Jeff, it’s so good to see you. I really missed you.”
“Apparently he’s been living with Wade,” Clint told her.
“That’s a decision one could make,” Kate said.
“From what I understand it was Gwen’s idea.”
“Well, suddenly it all makes sense.” Kate put Jeff down on the floor and he ran off to play with Lucky.
Clint looked over at her luggage. “So, you brought a lot of stuff.”
“Yeah, apparently I live here now?” Kate smiled.
Clint laughed. “With Wade running rampant at your place that’s probably your best bet.”
“So, it’s okay if I stay here?” Kate asked.
“Of course. Are we going to talk about that kiss?”
Kate looked up and pointed. “Mistletoe.”
“So that was a mistletoe kiss?”
Kate leaned forward. “Maybe.”
Clint moved closer and Kate kissed him. Again. This time they weren’t interrupted. Eventually, they took a break.
“Merry Christmas, Hawkeye,” Kate said.
“Right back at ya, Hawkeye.”
And it was.
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