Julian & Clint | Wednesday Morning

[x-hawkeye.livejournal.com]

Julian and Clint meet one another while on their respective morning runs. Hostility happens.


The air was a great deal cooler than Julian would have liked, much colder than California, but not too much different than the stone forests of China- though much more oxygen rich. The young investor jogged along the forest path, the sound of dead leaves crunching beneath his custom made sneakers, and the sounds of Arcade Fire blaring from his iPod. He was nearly back to the start of his route, a five-kilometer path he took on rest days, when he spotted someone else on the path ahead of him.

Clint didn't listen to music while running - it always made him think of a movie he'd watched with a girl he'd been dating before coming to Xavier's and how one of the women said running with earbuds in and music blaring meant you couldn't handle your own thoughts. Instead, he ran one of the trails through the woods and thought too much. He wasn't uncomfortable with the things going through his mind, they just kind of pissed him off. He wasn't sure whether that meant he should've brought his iPod or not, since running wasn't doing much in the way of letting him blow off steam and maybe he should have let music distract him.

The other runner was one he'd only seen on the journals, never having met him in person, Julian was surprised that he could identify Clint Barton at all. As he drew nearer, Julian moved to one side of the path, tapping the iPod to turn down the music. The only real conversation they'd had, had ended in Clint whining about being picked on...it had not left the best impression on Julian, but he was willing to let it go.

The echoing thud of another runner's feet hitting the path behind him had alerted Clint to someone else's presence. He didn't bother checking to see who it was - unless he specifically asked someone to run with him, he didn't tend to enjoy company.

"On your left," Julian put on some speed to get past Clint, then looked over his shoulder, doing his best to remember to breath while he called out a brisk, "Good morning." His muscles telling him that he was getting a bit tired, he pushed forward trying to reach the boathouse as quickly as possible.

Clint's expression perfectly conveyed his feelings about finding himself sharing a trail with Julian, of all people. He gave a half-sarcastic salute to acknowledge the greeting but kept his mouth shut. If you can't say something nice, he thought.

A few minutes later, Julian rested along the shore near the boathouse, panting and checking his heart rate on the silicone band around his wrist. It was lower than he'd have liked, but it had been a half-run. He heard footfalls on the trail behind him and did his best to not take up the whole path, straightening up to not show the utter exhaustion his body was now experiencing- though the sweat laden running gear gave away a story of its own.

Clint reached the boathouse and paused, preparing to turn right back around and head back to the mansion - only then a bothersome sense of responsibility started nagging at him and he turned toward Julian. "Are you going to pass out or anything? You're looking a little rough."

Exhaling sharply, Julian straightened up and smiled broadly, "Never better! Just had to," he caught is breath, holding up a finger. "Push it a bit hard at the end there. I usually take it slower, like yourself."

"Look, dude," Clint said. "You're kind of a jerk and that's fine as long as you don't bother trying to hide it behind snide little snubs and shit. I don't have the time and I don't get why you'd even bother. If you want to try and insult me for pacing my run instead of pushing myself into a lathered mess, awesome. Do that. But don't bother trying to pretend it's anything but an insult."

Julian raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "This is the first time we've talked face-to-face- and I'm the jerk?" With a sigh and a shake of his head, he continued, "I don't know why your wound so tight, Barton, but I'd advise you to let it go."

Clint slid his mobile from the armband he'd strapped it to his bicep with and absently checked it for messages. "Whatever, Keller," he said, seeing he'd gotten a text from Namor. He snapped a picture of Julian, then opened it in a photomanip app Billy'd made him download ages ago. "Tan seems to think there's more to you than the playboy image you parade around the tabloids, so just make sure you don't hurt her." After doodling a pair of horns and a mustache on Julian's head, Clint finished the picture off with a pointed tail and a pitchfork before saving the photo and sending it to Namor. The text that went with the picture read, Stuck at boathouse with Satan. If I'm not back in a half hour, send help. Also, a body bag.

Julian laughed, doubling over slightly and holding up a hand. After a moment, he finally caught his breath, "Dude...are you seriously jealous? You know Tandy and I aren't really dating, right? We're just friends." He held back a snicker, involuntarily letting only a small amount through.

"She said as much," Clint said, slanting an unimpressed glance in Julian's direction as he tucked his phone back into his armband. "But in case you missed the memo, she's been through a lot. I don't have to be jealous to be concerned about a friend."

"You're concerned, hmm?" Julian fought to suppress his grin, but it was a losing battle. "So you're aware, Bow told me about what she's been through. I'm aware of all that crap and I am also aware that she's tough- maybe tougher than you think." Holding up a hand he pressed forward before Clint could interrupt, "You're a good friend to be concerned, but she's fine- if you're really worried," his smile fell away, "talk to her and quit being a punk."

"Aye aye, cap'n," Clint said, giving Julian a mocking salute. "But if you hurt her, you'll regret it."

Rolling his eyes, Julian started walking back to the mansion, turning around to face Clint as he slowly meandered backwards, "If Kyle couldn't scare me away from dating Angelica for real, what hope do you have of scaring me away from Tandy when we're not really dating?" Julian chuckled as he turned his back to Clint and waved absently to him, "Have a good run, Barton."

The urge to pick up a conveniently water-rounded stone and hurl it at the back of Keller's head was strong. Clint could practically feel the weight of the rock in his hand, the smooth curve of it just before he released it - but he knew he wouldn't miss. And braining the dude who'd somehow managed to finagle his way into helping out with New Mutant stuff while his back was turned was just... well. It didn't seem particularly smart.

Besides, he had a feeling taking a shot like that would make Mister Summers frown at him. Logan would probably tell him he'd done good, but Mister Summers would give him a lecture about morals and responsibility. So Clint settled for mentally wringing Julian's neck before he turned in the opposite direction and continued running around the lake.