Sorry about not updating for a month, I've been busy with other stuff. I would really like you guys to post a review, and if you spot any mistakes or want to make suggestions you are more than welcome to PM me. Thanks
It was late morning when Clint and Natasha woke up in their respective apartments. Jarvis told them that the rest of the team were gathered on the top floor (the group floor) and that Mr Stark had invited them to breakfast. Both thanked the A.I. and decided to head up once they had showered and changed clothes.
Natasha entered the elevator and after a short ascent, Clint joined her. A slightly awkward silence descended upon them, and like last night, they stood with a reasonable distance between them. A wave of relief washed over them as the elevator doors opened. Both parties refusing to acknowledge last night's incident, and later state of confusion.
They exited the elevator without a word. Clint shuffled over to the array of sofas and sat on the one closest to the window. Whilst Natasha walked into the kitchen to get some coffee.
The rest of the Avengers and Pepper were spread out on the sofas. Steve was located at the breakfast bar quietly reading the newspaper, with an empty, discarded bowl of cereal about a foot away from him. Just as Natasha went to pour the coffee, Steve jumped slightly and greeted her, "Good morning ma'am" with a smile. She finished pouring the coffee, "Morning Steve" she replied politely with a small smile, and then proceeded to exit the kitchen towards the sofas.
Natasha decided to sit next to Brice on the sofa located on the opposite side of the room from where Clint was sitting.
Tony was sitting on the middle sofa with his arms wrapped securely around a curled up Pepper, who was cradling a mug of coffee. The lack of contact between the assassins had sent alarm bells ringing in his brain. He so desperately wanted to find out why they were ignoring each other but he didn't know how to approach it. Simply asking them had already failed so now he should move to plan B – making sarcastic comments to annoy them until they snap. 'Now this was going to be interesting' he thought to himself. Giving it another minute or so increased the amount of tension in the room.
All traces of anxiety from yesterday's interrogation (of sorts) had disappeared. Tony knew that his self-preservation had been thrown out of the window the moment he began to speak. "So are you two going to explain the little outburst you had last night?" Tony asked. Instantly the two assassins' heads shot up and appeared to be visibly tense. You could practically see the tension radiating off their bodies in waves. But within a split second the Russian's face became a cold and emotionless mask, calmly replying, "There was no outburst. I was extremely tired and you wouldn't let me go to sleep. Conversation over Stark."
"Oh please Romanoff!" Tony scoffed, "I bet you and bird boy over there (motioning towards Clint) just wanted to get away so you could go back to his nest…" The billionaire's sentence was cut short when he realised the assassin was pointing a gun to his forehead. Natasha knew how to scare the living daylights out of a man that's for sure. "I will not repeat myself again. Conversation over. Understood?" Natasha said icily as she glared at him, thoroughly angry. Tony gulped and swiftly nodded his head, barely managing to keep a straight face.
She lowered her gun and returned back to drinking her coffee as Steve, Bruce, Thor and Pepper sat gaping at the events they had just witnessed.
Fear long forgotten, Tony turned his attention to the archer who had returned his attention to the view outside the window, apparently oblivious to the Russians threat. "Let's hear your side of the story Legolas!" Tony exclaimed, as the archer promptly turned around to look at the idiot with no self-preservation skills. Clint could have sworn the room temperature had just gone up 20 degrees in the past 10 seconds.
Clint just couldn't seem to find the right words to say. Partially because he hadn't fully been paying attention, but also because he had no idea how to answer it. "Erm…no…nothing…" he barely managed to splutter out. "C'mon Legolas. Just 'cause Spidey over there won't give us info doesn't mean you can't." Tony pleaded. By this time Clint had regained his ability to speak coherently and think fast. In a stern and warning voice he replied, "I was tired, bored of your crap, and wanted to go to bed. Do what the lady says Stark and you won't get hurt. Conversation over." Clint hated where this conversation was going, and quite frankly after last night he just wanted to put it in the past and get rid of that stupid pain in his chest. He needed to stop this before it got too out of hand.
Unfortunately Tony had other ideas; he had never felt intimidated by the archer so with a smirk replied "Hawk boy and Spidey sitting in a tree, K.I.S.S…" his little song has been rudely interrupted when he saw the light reflect off a small sharp, metal object in the Russian's hand.
"Now," Clint began, "would you like me to put an arrow in your eye socket? Or would you like to be cut open by one of the four knives Natasha has on her right now?" Clint said smoothly, with a hint of excitement in his voice. 'Now that was creepy' Tony thought.
Natasha knew Clint was lying. Of course she had knives on her now. But both of them knew he was lying about the number. Both knew she had, in fact, eight knives. At least he had the smart idea not to tell Tony the actual number – that would be stupid. Both assassins already knew simply telling the genius that Natasha had a knife on her would be enough to scare him to a certain degree.
Apparently if Tony was scared (which undoubtedly he was) he only showed it a little bit. 'So Natasha has knives on her… This could get interesting' Tony thought to himself. Another smart comment here we go. "I bet you know where all of them are located, am I right Legolas?" But just as Tony spoke he was swiftly elbowed in the stomach by his girlfriend and had the wind knocked out of him.
Pepper, who was still sat in front of Tony, calmly sat and continued to drink her coffee as if nothing happened. "Conversation over. Got it?" asked Pepper, as she continued sipping her coffee. Behind her Tony was clutching his stomach as he nodded his head, with a look of pain plastered all over his face. "Got it" he managed to wheeze out. Which was followed by a simple but stern "Good" from his better half.
Once again Steve, Bruce and Thor had to deal with the awkward aftermath of a Tony vs. Assassins heated discussion. Steve was shifting uncomfortably in his seat whilst Bruce had managed to acquire a Starkpad to occupy himself with. He appeared to be doing more research on Thermo-nuclear Astro-physics. Thor however was sat contently watching a programme about Vikings, as well as shovelling in Pop tarts into his seemingly bottomless stomach. He appeared to have ignored the conversation as he was too engrossed in his programme.
Steve stood up, folded the newspaper and set it aside, then grabbed his empty cereal bowl and put it into the sink. He walked over to the elevator and before he stepped in he said, "I'll be in the gym if you need me".
It seemed like Pepper was next to follow when she stood up and walked away from a whining Tony, and put her now empty coffee mug in the sink. Pepper then walked back to the sofas, approached Tony from behind and kissed his cheek. "I am going to go over some paperwork in the office, so behave!" Tony Grinned as she walked away and said "I don't make promises I can't keep".
To save the assassins any more embarrassment (and to save Tony's life) Bruce was next to leave. He stood up, and said "Tony, will you come and help me in the labs? I'm struggling to get the schematics right on a piece of equipment". "That sounds like a challenge. I'm in!" Tony replied, as he jumped up and followed Bruce to the elevator.
That left the two assassins alone on the sofas. Apparently they were still doing the whole 'let's ignore each other' thing. They both knew it would have to end at some point. After all they were the two halves of Strike Team Delta, S.H.I.E.L.D's best duo, they had to communicate and function properly or else they would die. Simple really.
The silence wasn't uncomfortable, but it wasn't comfortable either. Neither had been in a situation like this before and the atmosphere felt strange… different.
Clint stood up, "I'm gonna go to the armoury and fix my bow. So I guess I'll see you later" he said hesitantly and made his way over to the elevator. Just as he passed the sofa his partner was sat on, she suddenly spoke up, surprising him a little, "Mind if I join you? I should check over my weapons. Most got damaged in the fight" she asked, sounding slightly nervous.
This was a shock for both of them. Natasha never sounded nervous. The Black Widow never sounded nervous. She needed to get her act together, for the sake of both of them. If only she could figure out why it happened; it would solve all her problems. But apparently Stark wasn't a major priority now; the pain in her chest was, it was almost as though every time she a Clint were alone it got worse. 'Pfft what a stupid idea' she thought to herself, it was completely ridiculous! Must just be heart burn or something like that.
"No by all means, be my guest" Clint said, slightly happier than before. Natasha stood, went to the kitchen, put her mug in the sink and walked back over to the elevator. Clint had already stepped inside and was holding the door open as Natasha stepped in. "Thanks" she said, as the doors closed.
The archer pressed the button and the elevator descended. After their little chat, the air between then was a little less awkward and was beginning to feel normal again.
Both of them had calmed down after the situation with Tony and decided to push all uncertain and unexplored thoughts to the back of their minds. Friendship and a good working relationship was more important right now. Any other thoughts would stay dormant, until they were in a position where they had time and space to analyse them, without disruption from unwelcome guests (e.g. Tony)
The elevator doors opened to signal their arrival at the training floor which also doubled as an armoury.
Unbeknownst to both spies, they were being spied on by Tony who was watching their every move through a security feed. His plan B had failed, quite epically he must say, so now his final plan C had to be taken into effect.
Plan C – lock them in a room together
'That ought to force then to talk' he thought to himself, and he let out a mischievous laugh.
"Tony?" Bruce said, from across the lab, "I need some help. Hello? Earth to Tony. Are you even listening?" When Tony didn't respond Bruce knew he had got his answer. A big, fat no. Bruce had the feeling this was going to be a log day.
