AvengersxReader Inserts *Requests Open*

[Clint x Reader] Holiday Peeves

You and Clint laid along the length of your couch together, your back resting against his chest. He was silently playing with a few stands of your hair while you scrolled through your Facebook feed on your phone, trying to kill time until your dinner reservations. It had been a few weeks since any missions, and Clint had sprung the idea on you at Tony's New Year's Eve party the night before, wanting to get at least one more good date in before Fury beckoned one or both of you again.

He had managed to snag a table at one of your favorite high end restaurants, which had surprised you seeing as the wait was usually several weeks long and even longer during the holidays. Assuming he had Tony pull some strings or used his Avenger's status, you had shrugged it off. You didn't realize that he had been planning this for some time.

"Ugh," you groaned, scowling down at your phone.

"What is it?" he asked, leaning over your shoulder to get a look at the screen.

You raised it up so that he could see the festive picture of a couple standing together happily. "A friend from back home just got proposed to," you offered in explanation.

His brow furrowed in confusion. "Do you not like the guy?" he questioned after a moment of trying to figure you apparent disapproval.

Sighing, you shook your head. "No, he's a complete sweetheart, and they're honestly perfect for each other. They've been dating for long enough, so it's about time he popped the question."

"Then why the disgust?" he asked with a laugh, slipping his hand discretely into his pocket and fingering the stereotypical little black box that lay hidden against his hip, while at the same time trying to keep the smile on his face from growing too large.

"Because it's unoriginal and completely overdone," you stated as if it were the most obviously thing in the world.

Clint laughed again, clearly amused with your frustration. "What? Getting engaged?"

"During the holidays," you finished, elaborating at his silence. "I swear more people get engaged between Christmas and New Year's than the rest of the year combined. It's like they use the season as an excuse to do it. Apparently men are incapable of making the occasion special on its own and feel the need to use a national holiday to give it the extra push. It's stupid."

You settled back against him again as you finished your rant, your wildly moving hands falling back into your lap. Your head leaned back against his shoulder when he still didn't say anything, looking up at him curiously.

He attempted at a smile, but it felt horribly forced, and a wave of panic hit him. "I had no idea you were so passionate on the subject," he fought to get out evenly.

You gave him a cheeky grin, completely oblivious to his discomfort. "Blame it on too many Facebook engagement posts. Now come on," you said, pushing up from the couch with a groan and extending a hand to your still struggling boyfriend. "Don't want to be late."

~~~~~

He trudged through the dark tower up to Tony's bar, exhaustion sitting heavily on his shoulders. The date had been wonderful, as it always was with the two of you. You had gone through the entire thing with a smile, never once picking up on Clint's inner battle. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy himself, but the ring had sat in his pocket like a leaden weight the entire time, and it took every bit of training he had ever received to keep an unconcerned air around you. He didn't know what would happen if you found out his original plans for the evening.

He groaned, slamming his head down on the bar surface. He wanted a drink. It was definitely the right time for a drink. He stood up just enough to grab the closest bottle and glass, pouring himself the pity beverage. It wasn't exactly the way he had imagined ending the day, but the circumstances made it seem appropriate.