When Hawkeye first showed up in Thor I was so confused. There must've been stuff on the cutting room floor that we didn't get to see. Missing scenes on the DVD?
There is also the aspect that there are certain canon (Het) relationships that people can either take or leave. For me, I am very happy with the small hints of Clint/Natasha that canon has allowed. If someone like Natasha is walking around wearing personal jewelry that seems significant -- though perhaps she is engaged in complicated spy positioning -- I only THINK I know what that arrow necklace means!! or, I am probably thinking exactly what Natasha WANTS me to think. :D
With Tony, I get his heart of gold -- so there is some interesting tension to explore with him and romantic relationships, outside of Pepper, who for me is non-negotiable. I could see him extending an invitation to his bedroom to Steve just because that is how socially awkward Tony actually is. "Spangles! Your floor in my Tower is getting dusty. No it isn't, I have bots for that. Thought we should set up a playdate. Meaning sex. I'm sexting you. Pepper's aware." ... I feel like Pepper would not be comfortable with Tony sleeping with just anyone... he has a bad track record with that... but I think it could be something they negotiate. (Especially with Bruce!) Pepper's motivations in allowing Tony to add Steve to The List would be complex I think, should it occur. One could write a whole story opening with that text with Steve fuming and trying to process it for like 72 hours.
no subject
There is also the aspect that there are certain canon (Het) relationships that people can either take or leave. For me, I am very happy with the small hints of Clint/Natasha that canon has allowed. If someone like Natasha is walking around wearing personal jewelry that seems significant -- though perhaps she is engaged in complicated spy positioning -- I only THINK I know what that arrow necklace means!! or, I am probably thinking exactly what Natasha WANTS me to think. :D
With Tony, I get his heart of gold -- so there is some interesting tension to explore with him and romantic relationships, outside of Pepper, who for me is non-negotiable. I could see him extending an invitation to his bedroom to Steve just because that is how socially awkward Tony actually is. "Spangles! Your floor in my Tower is getting dusty. No it isn't, I have bots for that. Thought we should set up a playdate. Meaning sex. I'm sexting you. Pepper's aware." ... I feel like Pepper would not be comfortable with Tony sleeping with just anyone... he has a bad track record with that... but I think it could be something they negotiate. (Especially with Bruce!) Pepper's motivations in allowing Tony to add Steve to The List would be complex I think, should it occur. One could write a whole story opening with that text with Steve fuming and trying to process it for like 72 hours.