Of course there were stipulations. Complete and utter honesty wasn’t something to expect from anyone nowadays, especially someone with so much to hide. He nodded his head to let her know he understood. It did help, though, when she chose to elaborate. She didn’t have to, she didn’t have to talk about trust, but he appreciated it because he knew how hard it was to put his trust in her, so it meant a lot that she trusted him in return.

“I know,” he said. “Same goes for me.” If it meant something to hear it then he had to assume she’d appreciate hearing it back. He didn’t have as much to hide as her, but she knew the issues he had with trust and abandonment. Everyone he’d ever loved had betrayed him, and while it was no Red Room it had all still left a mark, some both mentally and physically.

Leaning forward to tie his boots, Clint chuckled at the admonishment. “Hey, I wouldn’t even dream of keeping you awake,” he tried to protest, but the grin made it less effective. “I know how cranky you get when you don’t get enough sleep, and I do value my life.”