Avengers: What is a Merp?
R: K
Summary: Steve hears a curious word on the street and decides to ask Tony what it means…
A/N: Just a pointless little one-shot I was inspired to write.
Disclaimer: I do not own, nor will I ever own, the Avengers. This was written purely for the profit of my enjoyment and others. So don't bother to sue as you will only get less than a 100 dollars.
It was a bright summer day in New York City, birds were chirping, the city was a bustle with preparations for Independence Day, and it was hot. Very, very hot. Lemonade stands had popped up everywhere; sold by eager young children hoping to earn a few dollars selling the coveted drink. Natives and tourists alike sought to escape the summer heat with wearing few articles of clothing legally possible. Pools were crowded to the max, and the beaches were swarmed.
In the Avengers Tower, previously Stark tower, the team had relocated to the top most balcony. Though reconstruction had ended nearly a few weeks ago, tell tale signs of it still lingered. Saw-dust hid corners refusing to be found, remnants of plastic sheets still littered the ground, and a few stray nails littered a work-bench near the new bar. During reconstruction, Pepper had come up with the idea of installing an in-ground pool and hot tub, Tony agreed. So they were built, and today, Tony found that he did not regret that decision.
Natasha was swimming laps in the pool, Clint was reading a book in lounge chair, and Bruce had fallen asleep in his with a newspaper over his face. Tony watched Steve silently sketch in a new sketchbook he had recently bought with a pensive face. Curious.
"Something on your mind, Steve?" Tony asked jovially.
"Huh?" Steve looked up, blinking in the sun, "Uh-" He shrugged, "Well," He coughed, "I took a walk earlier and, well," Steve scratched the back of his neck, "I heard something funny."
Tony stared, "Come again?"
Steve sighed, "Tony, what does Merp mean?"
Tony gaped, incredulous, in his periphery vision he saw Clint sit up straighter and Natasha stop swimming. Steve flushed at the sudden silence. But the silence didn't last long as Tony suddenly burst out laughing. Clint and Natasha snickered and Steve's face flushed even redder. Bruce woke up with a snort and the newspaper slid to his chest. He blinked drowsily at his laughing friends, "Did I miss something?" he asked in amused tone.
"Hee," Tony wheezed and held onto his side, still shaking with laughter, "He asked what merp means."
Bruce blinked in confusion, "Oh." Was all he said.
Tony's giggles finally abated and he glanced at Steve who was glaring at him moodily. He swallowed a drink of lemonade before answering Steve's question, "Merp, Steve? Where on earth did you hear that?"
"I told you," Steve muttered, "I went on a walk."
"Who said it?"
"A teenager."
"Oh, that explains it." Another giggle threatened to escape Tony's mouth but he quenched it, "Merp, Steve, basically means, well, nothing. Or it's generally used as an expression of disappointment." He coughed.
Steve stared at him, confused, "But how can something mean nothing? That doesn't make any sense." Steve shook his head, "I still don't get it."
Tony shrugged, "I don't think anybody does." He stretched lazily and asked dryly, "Anything else?"
"No," Steve muttered, he turned a new page in his book, "Thanks."
"Anytime, old man, any time."
Merpty-derp!
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