Imagining the very testosterone-oozing Barton on his knees gave me exactly the same double-take as you describe, but I kept remembering he was a soldier first, and with that comes the conditioning to take orders though it doesn't mean he has to lower himself to do just that--and that's how I resolved all of this into fic. And then, as you say, pretty boy buried in all that experience and muscle, and that didn't hurt at all. :D Thank you so very much for this lovely feedback!