Chapter Text
He looked at his phone. Again. It felt like it was the hundredth time. No message. From no one. He sighed and closed his eyes. The waiter and the other staff already stared at him.
He had booked a table for fifteen people in his favorite restaurant and only he was here, nicely dressed in his new suit. He had bought it to surprise them. Steve said he looks good in a suit. Natasha had promised to come, Tony and Pepper, Bruce and Betty, Thor and Jane and Darcy, Fury, Maria, Jasper, Phil, Melinda. And Steve. Not even he was here. Two hours. And no one was here. It was the first time he really wanted to celebrate his birthday. Together with his friends. Together with Steve. He had invited them and they had said they would come. He had reminded them two days ago and they had said they would come. And now he sat here alone and waited for them and felt so stupid.
He looked around in the restaurant. There was another group. About twenty people. A birthday. He watched them having a good time, laughing, eating, drinking, talking. Half an hour ago one of the waiters had brought a birthday cake and one of the women blew out the candles and then she had closed her eyes for a few seconds. He hoped that her wish would come true. Her guests sang “Happy Birthday” for her and ate the cake while he watched them.
He felt the glances of other people on his back and looked at his phone again. No message. From no one. He sighed again and gestured to one of the waiters for the check. He paid and gave them a generous tip. At least the waiter was the only one who had wished him a happy birthday.
Outside of the restaurant he called a taxi and drove home. Home, he snorted.
Back at the tower the elevator finally brought him up to the common floor. He found Bruce, Betty, Thor and Jane in the living room, talking, Tony discussed something Stark Industries related with Pepper. He went to the kitchen to grab a bottle of beer.
Steve sat on the breakfast table and read.
“Hey babe.” He smiled and Clint took a long sip of his beer.
“Hey,” he answered and turned around.
“Where have you been?” Steve asked and Clint pretended to search for something in the cupboards.
“Out.”
“All alone?” Clint closed his eyes again and gritted his teeth.
“Apparently.” He closed the cupboard, took his beer and went to the door.
“Where are you going?” Clint could hear Steve rise.
“Bed.” He ignored him and left the kitchen without looking at him.
“Hey, Clint. Nice suit! Why did you dress up weeknights?” Natasha asked him on his way back to the elevator.
“Just for the heck of it,” he grumbled and pressed the button to his floor, not Steve's.
When he closed the door of his apartment behind him he leaned against it and he felt a tear leave his left eye. He stood there for a few minutes, his head against the door and stared at the ceiling. They were at home. No emergency, no supervillain, nothing. They forgot him. They simply forgot him. Slowly he stripped out of the new suit and threw it into the trash can.
“Agent Barton, Captain Rogers requests permission to enter.” Jarvis addressed him on his way to his bedroom.
“No. Tell him I'm already asleep.” Clint flopped down on his bed and stared again at the ceiling. He felt dumb right now. Really, really dumb. He had so looked forward to celebrate his birthday with his friends, with Steve. And it's not that he expected presents or anything. A simple 'Happy Birthday, Clint' would've done it for him. But no one, not even Steve had thought about it.
He turned onto his side, hugged the empty cushion when he felt another tear leave his eye. He closed his eyes and let the tears out.
“Happy Birthday, Clint.”