Disclaimer: I don't own, nor will I ever. Don't sue and all that jazz.
Author's Note: While this story has all of the Avengers, it also has a ridiculous amount of other Marvel characters. Why? Because I damn well can. And because they're all awesome. If you want to know who anyone is supposed to be let me know. So prepare for some awesome high school love and slight OOC-ness. Feel free to review.
Main pairing: Clint Barton/Bruce Banner (There will be a bunch of side pairings as well.)
Chapter 1:
"True love. The thing that makes almost every girl all weepy and putty legged only exists in movies or books. No one can possibly find some smart, suave, sophisticated Prince Charming, Mr. Right. It's a hoax that Hollywood drills into ditzy girl's heads." I said.
"That's a pretty dismal look at love," Natasha said.
We were chilling in Natasha's room since our math class was cancelled. Tasha was lying on her bed writing her history paper outline while I was browsing through an old Cosmo magazine. I was leaning against her wardrobe, which was across the tiny room from her. She looked up from her computer and rolled over on her side, looking at me.
"Now why would you say that?" she asked.
I held up the magazine slightly.
"There's an article in here that has a bunch of chicks talking about how they met their true loves."
"And what makes you think they didn't? How do you know how they really feel?"I snorted, "Come on. You don't believe this trash, surely?"
"A little…yeah. I think everyone has someone out there for them and when you and that person finally get together it's true love."
"That's crazy. I think that you find someone you like a little more than everyone else and then stay with them. But I would never call it true love because there's always something you dislike about the person."
"You're a very cynical person," Natasha said with a smile.
I chuckled and smiled back, "That's what's gotten me through life."
Natasha laughed and rolled back on her stomach, going back to work while I finished reading the hogwash the magazine contained.
It was 12:10 pm on Friday and Natasha and I were walking to our final class for the day: 20th Century Poetry with Dr. Banner. We had just scanned into the door and were walking towards the student longue. Dr. Banner said that he "wanted this to be as informal as possible" that way we wouldn't feel bored or like we were getting lectured.
"So you don't believe in true love at all?" Natasha asked skeptically.
"Not one bit."
"Uh-huh. What about your boyfriend?"
"Scott? Please. If true love existed I sure as hell wouldn't find it in high school. Besides I'm not even sure I like Scott anymore."
"But last night on the phone I heard you say you loved him."
"Psh…those are just words like they even mean anything in this day and age."
"What words don't mean anything?" A voice behind us asked.
Both Tasha and I jumped and turned around. It was Banner.
"Damn, Dr. Banner. You're quiet as hell. You should have become an assassin instead of a teacher," I said, heartbeat getting back under control.
He laughed, "I don't think I could ever kill a man."
"That would definitely be an issue," I said.
All three of us began walking towards the student lounge together.
"Now what words don't mean anything in this day and age?" he asked with a smile.
Natasha replied. "Clint was saying that 'I love you' means nothing anymore. Oh, and he doesn't think true love is real."
"Someone's a loudmouth." I said, giving Natasha a fake glare, who very maturely stuck her tongue out at me.
Banner chuckled, "Words can always hold power. It just depends how much thought you put behind them. If you say 'I love you' all the time and never mean it, then of course they'll mean nothing. But if you reserve certain words for rare situations then 'I love you' can have a strong effect that few phrases have. As for the true love thing, we're gong to be talking about that in class today. Maybe you'll contribute something to class now instead of sitting in the back thinking I don't see you drifting off, Clint." Banner finished with a smile, looking at me.
I flashed him my much-practiced innocent smile.
"Why, Dr. Banner. I had no clue you noticed that."
"I notice enough," he replied.
AN: Aw snap, Banner's a pimpin' ninja.
