This story is a companion piece to Mr. Jones. Each chapter will focus on a bonding moment between Alfred and the team.
I do not own anything from Avengers or Hetalia.
"Alfred, slow down. You're going to hurt yourself, shoveling your food in like that," Natasha said one morning at the breakfast table.
"Yes ma'am," Alfred said, obeying the Russian's order.
Natasha smiled to herself and continued eating the meal she had made for her and Alfred. Thor was off accompanying Jane and Bruce was held up in the lab. Tony and Clint were sleeping in from their late night drinking (which Natasha forbade him from attending, no matter how much he whined). Steve was up in the training room, going through his normal morning routine. This left the morning to only Natasha and Alfred. The only female member of the team didn't mind and actually enjoyed the little one-on-one with the youngest member.
"Don't gulp that all in one take," Natasha said when she saw him chug half the cup down in one go.
Alfred quickly placed his cup down and swallowed the juice in his mouth. He smiled at her sheepishly.
"Yes ma'am," he said. "Sorry."
"It's alright," Natasha said with a smile, noticing some liquid straying out of the corner of his mouth.
Grabbing the napkin, Natasha gently dabbed the corner of his mouth, cleaning up after him like a mother to her child. Alfred smiled at her and went back to his food, not questioning why she'd had done that; he acted like it was completely normal. Natasha placed the napkin down and continued with her breakfast, hearing Clint's familiar footsteps enter the kitchen. She felt a little bitter that her happy morning was being dampened by the archer, but she held in the sentiments. There was no need for her to give her fellow agent ammunition. Clint stepped in, looking just as hung over as Natasha knew he would be.
"The water bottle is in the fridge," she said without looking up.
"Thanks," he muttered, making his way over to the fridge.
"Morning Clint!" Alfred greeted happily.
Clint winced.
"Keep it down," he ordered as he held his head.
Alfred looked embarrassed and lowered his head. This caused Natasha to glare at Clint and rise to the young man's defenses before he could apologize.
"Don't snap at him because you decided to get a hangover," Natasha responded.
Clint blinked at her as did Alfred. When Natasha glanced at Alfred, the boy squeaked slightly and went back to his food, wanting to occupy himself. Natasha smirked lightly, happy to see Alfred was eating again (if Alfred felt embarrassed or anything, he'd stop eating). She turned back to Clint, finding that he was still looking at her. He shrugged and sat down next to Natasha, downing half of the water from his bottle. When Alfred finished, he thanked Natasha once more and went to the sink to wash the dishes.
"I'll get those Alfred," Natasha said without looking at him.
She knew he was eager to spar with Steve, which had been why he had tried to eat so much food so quickly.
"Thank you Miss Natasha!" Alfred said, placing the dishes in the sink.
He sent her a beaming smile, one that warmed her heart, and then he was gone, running for the training room. Natasha smiled privately to herself before feeling eyes on her. Sighing she glanced at Clint. The smirk on his face was not something Natasha liked. He grabbed the apple in the fruit bowl and then placed his feet up onto the table. Taking a bite into the apple, he questioned,
"Maternal instincts kicking in 'Tasha?"
Natasha narrowed her eyes at him and tipped his seat back, causing him to fall backwards. He released an "oomph" and spit up the apple pieces he had been chewing, coughing as he tried to breathe correctly. The spy smirked and got up from her chair, washing the dishes in the sink while listening to Clint struggle against the headache that was torturing his mind. Despite her reaction to her friend, he did have a point. Something about Alfred made her act like a mother towards him. She was still trying to figure out why this was so, but she decided to let it be and accept it for what it was.
Though this didn't mean she was going to let Clint get away with mocking her with it.
