Clint had things to do, so Cora was on her own for the day. He met her for lunch, but the rest of her day was spent reading and wandering the tower.

She found her way into a training room where Steve and Natasha were sparring. She sat quietly in the shadows and watched as they ducked, punched, kicked, and blocked. It looked like no holds barred, anything goes.

Cora was surprised Natasha could keep up with the supersoldier, let alone knock him back on his heels.

She could swear Natasha caught her eye, but her focus never wavered. It was ten minutes before Steve got her into a hold she couldn't escape, and they stopped.

"Hey, Cora," Natasha said.

Steve spun around. "Hey. I didn't see you there."

"It's ok," Cora said. "Hi."

She pulled her hair over her cheek and hunched in her seat.

"Did you come to train?" Natasha pulled at the tape wrapped around her hands.

"Not really. I was bored, so I decided to give myself a tour."

Steve smiled. "If you ever want a real tour, just ask."

"Really?"

"Sure. For as long as you're here, this is your home. You should know what's here."

"Which is practically everything," Natasha added.

"Thank you," Cora said. "I may take you up on that soon."

"Just let me know when." Steve wiped his face with a towel, then tossed it over his shoulder. "See you later, ladies."

Steve left the room, leaving Cora alone with Natasha.

"Did Clint tell you I'll be helping you with your bag work at night now?"

Cora nodded, but didn't make eye contact.

"Are you ok with that?"

"Sure."

"Good."

Natasha wrapped a towel around her neck and picked up the weapons. Cora made her way onto the mats, closer to Natasha.

"So… you and Clint have known each other for a really long time, right?"

"Long enough."

"And you always got along?"

"Well, not at first. See… I have kind of a checkered past. Clint was sent to handle me, and he ended up making a different call."

"Really?"

Natasha nodded. "But after that, he's probably my best friend."

"He's really a good friend?"

"Come on, Cora, you should know that. He's a great friend."

"No, I know. I meant… you and him. You're… just good friends?"

Natasha laughed. "Did you think we're more than that?"

Cora shrugged and pulled her hair forward.

"Cora… are you attracted to Clint?"

"I didn't say that." Her head snapped up.

"No, but you didn't have to." Natasha stepped closer to Cora and reached her hand forward, but stopped. "May I?"

Cora flinched, but nodded. Natasha tucked Cora's hair behind her ear.

"You always hide your face when you're around me. Why?"

Cora lowered her eyes. "I used to be pretty, too."

"Cora, you're still pretty. You're gorgeous."

"How can you say that when I have this huge scar on my face?"

"Because this scar can't take away from how pretty you are. This scar is your survival badge. Wear it proudly."

"No man will want me with this thing on my face. That's why Schmitt did it. So the other men wouldn't want me, because they made comments about me."

"And did the men stop making lewd remarks about you?"

Cora blinked as she stared at Natasha. "They did in front of him."

"But not behind his back?"

Cora shook her head.

"Because you're still a very pretty woman."

"Or because they were all just pigs."

Natasha nodded. "That's quite possibly true. It doesn't change the fact that you're still pretty."

Cora touched her scar. "I don't see it."

"You will one day."

"Thank you."

Natasha smiled and gave a quick nod. "So, you want to do some training?"

"No. Maybe one day, but not now."

"Ok. No pressure. I'll meet you at ten for bag work."

Cora nodded.

Around seven, Cora was lying on her bed reading a book. Clint knocked on the frame of the open door, and she smiled at him.

"Hey," she said.

"Hi. Busy?"

"Yeah, sure, because I have things to do."

Clint smiled. "Well, I'm done with what I had to do. Want some company?"

"If it's you? Sure."

Clint pulled the chair a bit closer to her bed and sat. Cora sat up and folded her legs in front of her.

"Steve said you were in the training room."

"For a few minutes. I was just wandering around. And before you ask, yes, I'm still considering it."

"I'm that obvious, huh?"

Kylie shrugged, but smiled.

"What are you reading?"

Kylie handed him the book and he read the blurb.

"Sounds interesting."

"Wanda let me borrow it."

"Steve and Wanda. You've been making the rounds today."

"I spoke to Natasha, too." Cora touched her scar. "You were right. She's really nice."

"Told you."

"I had some things I thought about her… but I was wrong."

"Things like what?"

Cora stared at Clint for a moment. "It doesn't matter. I was wrong. Want to watch a movie?"

"Sure."

They went through Tony's huge digital collection before settling on Clue. Cora wanted the comedy.

Eventually, Clint kicked off his shoes and propped his feet up on the bed. Cora smiled. She had a pretty good day, even without Clint by her side all day, but she was glad to have him there. She'd missed his presence. Missed him. She wondered if he had noticed her attraction like Natasha had. Maybe that was why he decided to back away.

Either way, his mere presence soothed her. She propped herself up on her pillows, and Clint's soft laughter lulled her to sleep.

She woke to a dark room and quickly turned on the light, flinching at the sudden brightness. Midnight. Clint was gone, but there was a note in his place. She got out of bed and sat in the chair to read it.

You looked so peaceful that I didn't want to wake you. Hope you slept well.

She had, but she was awake now, and her growling stomach would never let her get back to sleep. So, she went to the kitchen.

Clint sat at the table with a bowl of cereal, the box open next to him.

"Hey," he said. "You're awake."

"I am. Why are you awake?"

He shrugged. "Couldn't sleep."

Cora sat across the table from him.

"Something's bothering you."

"Nah, I'm ok." He played with the cereal in his bowl.

"No, I can tell."

Clint smiled. "You think you know me so well?"

"I've certainly spent enough time with you."

"Yeah. Just some stuff on my mind."

"Wanna talk about it?"

He shook his head. "I'm ok. Really."

"Ok."

"Want some cereal?"

"Yes. I'm starving."

She moved to get up, but he grabbed her wrist.

"I got it."

Clint got her a bowl and spoon, poured the milk, then set it in front of her.

"Thanks." She poured a bit of cereal onto the milk. "So, do you have things to do tomorrow?"

"You mean today?"

She chuckled. "Yeah, I guess it is."

He shook his head. "No, Steve needed me to look over some stuff, but I was able to get through it all yesterday."

"So… can we— I mean, do you want…"

"You wanna hang out?"

Cora nodded and smiled.

"Sure. Anything particular in mind?"

"I was thinking I'd like to try to get out of the tower again."

"You have been doing better."

She nodded. "I've never been to New York. Do you think we could play tourist?"

"Empire State Building?"

"Statue of Liberty?"

"Central Park?"

"The Met?"

"Woah… you just went out of my expertise."

"I like art."

"Well then that's where we'll go." Clint smiled and took a bite of his cereal. "I want to get to know you better, so this will be a nice insight into what you like."

Heat flooded Cora's face, and she knew she was blushing. She put her head down to take a bite, and let her hair fall forward, but Clint brushed it back behind her ear.

"You'll get hair in your milk… or milk in your hair."

She adjusted the hair where he'd tucked it, but as she pulled her hand away she let her fingers trail over her jaw where his had brushed.