"That idiot with the bow is the only reason I'm still alive," Natasha answers mildly. His sacrifice to get her out of the Red Room would have been for nothing if Clint hadn't made a different call when SHIELD sent him after her. It would've worked, too. She hadn't been watching the rooftops for someone with two sticks and a piece of string. He'd taken her completely by surprise.

It was only natural he become her best friend after that. For her, at least. She likes having people around her that challenge her. That can surprise her. Just...in different ways for different people. How could anyone hold a candle to the soldier that never completely forgot her, no matter how many times his handlers pulled his mind apart?

"I still like kissing you even after all that shootin'," her voice playfully mimics his accent on the last word, the corner of her mouth twitching up just a little. It's not that she's impressed by him being suave, exactly, so much as she's always liked how much he likes being suave. "But like I said. I don't need it. I'll meet you where you are."

He's looking at her like he's trying to puzzle out the whole situation by sheer force of will. She remains at ease under his gaze, resting her chin on her hand to return the stare with an arched brow.