Chapter Text
Natasha walked through the forest. Her cloak’s hood up to help keep her hair out of her face. She was as quiet as she could get to keep on the lookout for whatever lurked in these woods. Nat was on a quest for some feather. Apparently it could heal or whatever. She hadn’t really been paying attention. She just paid attention to the price she’d be paid, the basic objective, and where it could be. In a world of quests and adventures, Natasha just wanted a place to sleep and some money for trinkets and food. That’s about it. So after hearing about this feather, she put her boots, leather pants, her vest, and loose shirt on and went out. On her way into the forest, she had braided parts of her hair with some ringlets, just to feel pretty. She’s a mess, but a pretty mess.
The forest was beautiful. Sun shined through the tree leaves, the flowers bloomed, and it all seemed peaceful. Granted, Natasha didn’t trust that but she also didn’t trust a lot of things. Or people. She kept walking and listening. Listening for birds, walking until she found one. Ironically she saw no birds, but did see a few deer, some bunnies and squirrels. When it became close to night, Natasha found a small circle of trees to camp at. She built a small fire and after doing a final look around to be safe, she went to sleep.
Unaware of the man who’d been watching her as soon as she entered his territory.
Clint was not the most powerful of fae. He was ok with that. He could do what he needed and learned skill that other fae were too stubborn to take part in. He thought they were too uptight to do so. He knew that their powers were their downfalls.
Clint was in the trees, as he always was, checking on bird nests and his fellow forest companions when the red head stepped into his lands. He had pulled out his bow to shoot but when he saw her face he just couldn't. Something compelled him to just follow. And so he did. Followed her through the woods. Staying above in the high branches. She was clearly looking for something. Most humans who enter his territory come to search for one thing. So Clint had a clue. He sent his birds to hide, sending other animals to see if he was right. And he was. Usually he would kill the human or send them on a goose chase (literal) back to town or deeper into the woods to other territories if he was really pissed. But today, he continues his path with the human below.
As night comes, he watches as the human sets up her sad excuse for a camp, he comes up with an idea for the morning. He drops to the ground and hovers over the human. She was beautiful. He smiled at her rounded ears, they have a few piercings, and her hair reminded him of apples. Clint gave a soft kiss to her forehead before setting his plan in motion.
~
Natasha awoke to the smell of something delicious. And something bright. She guessed the sun as she rubbed her eyes open. Then she opened her eyes. While the sun was definitely part of the brightness, there were also glowing plants all around her. Her small circle of trees had been decorated with beautiful flowers of reds, pinks, a few blues, all seeming to be glowing and shiny. They created a curtain between the trees so she couldn’t see the rest of the forest. Around her on the ground were blankets and pillows. She was even covered in a soft blanket with a pillow below her head. The smell she caught was the feast that lay before her around her campfire. Which was now relit.
There were fruits, eggs, bacon, and pastries. It scared her. Natasha didn’t know what to think. She slowly lifts her cloak and the blanket off of her, looking around her new campsite. It was all beautiful but suspicious. “Hello?” Nat calls out. “Who did this?”
She keeps her eyes open and turns to see if someone was there. Clint was on a high branch, hiding in brightness above. He blinks at her. Confused. Most would start eating and being grateful. Maybe a question at first, but after a few seconds of hunger they dig right in. But this human goes right into questioning everything and being terrified. Clint goes down to a lower branch, still hidden by his plants. “I did,” he says.
Natasha whips her head in the direction of the voice. “Who are you?”
“You are not hungry?”
Natasha tilts her head, squinting up to see a form of a man. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“Neither did you.” Clint drops from his position onto the ground in front of her. Careful to not step on anything. He stays crouching, his hands on the ground to keep him steady. He looks up at his stunned human. Her eyes were green.
Natasha couldn’t believe it. A fae, or elf (she couldn’t really tell with the ears), was in front of her. He was handsome in a rough way. His ears were pointy and eyes were a silver blue. Hair was short, blonde, and cut so the sides were nonexistent (mohawk). He had markings of lines of lace maybe along the side of his head, down the side of his neck into his shirt. She assumed they met to his arms, for she could see more ink on the part of the arms she could see. He wore a similar outfit to hers, leather hunting pants, boots, a vest and a loose shirt underneath. He had a quiver on his back, bow over his shoulder. If she was on his land, he could have shot her. So why didn’t he?
“What do you want?”
“For you to eat.”
“Isn’t there some kind of rule against eating the food from the fae?”
Clint chuckled, shaking his head. He moved to a sitting position, grabbing a plate of food and lifting it to her. “That depends on the type of fae. I personally don’t care.”
“All the more to be cautious.” Natasha slowly sat down as she took the food. “So you won’t like own me or anything if I eat this?”
Clint shakes his head, “I just want you to have food.”
“Why? Why do all this?”
“Because I can. I don’t get many pretty humans who don’t make me want to kill them instantly so I decided to give you food and blankets.”
Natahsa was still hesitant, but the hunger was getting to her. So she picked up some pieces and took a bite. She didn’t understand how, but the flavors were divine. She tried to hold back a moan. That didn’t work. She closed her eyes in bliss as she savored the taste. It was so good. She ignored all bad feelings and continued her task. Clint chuckled as he ate his own place. He smiled knowing what he needed now. He now knows he can trust her.
After finishing what she could, Natasha lay against a tree. Her mind came back to reality. It was not a good idea to eat all that, especially coming from a fae, but at least she die happy and full. Natasha looks back at the man before her. He was laying against his own tree, smiling at her. Not in an evil way but in a “this person seems cool” way. “Where are all the birds?”
Clint tilts his head at the question. “They hide.”
“From me?”
“Yes. I sent them away so your goal would be harder to accomplish.”
Nat smirks, “So you know why I’m in these woods.”
“Most come into my lands with one goal. Granted they don’t meet me, but I’ve decided to help you.”
“Why?”
“Because, again, I don’t wanna kill you.”
Clint gets up then holds out his hand for the human. He nodds up, motioning for Natasha to join him. Natasha looks between his hand and face before slowly taking his hand and getting up. She grabs her cloak before following the fae out of the glowing circle then into the woods.