Oh… bloody hell…
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"THOR! PASS THE BALL!" Coach Marko bellowed, cupping his hands over his mouth. Thor continued to run with the football, dodging other team members getting near the end zone. "THOR! PASS THE BALL TO STEVE! THOR!" Marko was now bobbing up and down waving his large juggernaut arms to try and get his attention.
Thor was not paying attention.
"SOMEONE TACKLE HIM!" Steve shouted.
"Not going to work." Bruce muttered, leaning on the bench and scribbling something down on his notebook. Tony lit a cigarette, leaning back blowing out the smoke into the air before offering it to Bruce. He took a drag and gave it back to the now shaven Tony.
"Why not?" Steve asked, moving back to join his friends, pulling off his sports hoodie.
"Thor hasn't tied up his hair," Tony said. "He should really get it cut. Or is he really going for the Norse god look?"
"It's not that," Bruce said. "He's had three red bulls and four cups of coffee. His ears are probably ringing, he can't hear you."
Steve picked up the water bottle beside Bruce and took a long drink. "Why so much caffeine?"
"Blame Tony keeping him up all night," Bruce pointed towards him, pushing his glasses further up his nose.
"Not in that way!" Tony cried, seeing Steve's face. "I was pestering him to give me information about Clint and his special new friend."
"Special new friend?" Steve asked.
"Clint is being really secretive about it. He's told Thor because apparently Thor is the most trustworthy, so I was trying to get some information from him,"
"Ah, why are you so concerned about it?"
"Well she's smoking hot!" Tony said.
"You have a girlfriend," Bruce said absentmindedly.
"So? That means I can't appreciate fine art when I see it?" Tony asked. "And that calculation is wrong,"
"How would you know, you barely looked at it," Bruce said.
"It's wrong," Tony said taking a drag and looking around. "Oh, speak of the devils…" Bruce and Steve looked around to see Clint and the girl that Tony was harassing a few days ago at lunch approaching them. "CLINT!" He shouted. "SHARE SOME OF THE BOOTY!"
Clint said something to the girl and she shrugged before following him over to the stalls. "Hey guys."
"Going to introduce us to your friend?" Bruce asked.
"My name's Natasha," She replied. Bruce stood, pulling off his glasses and giving her hand a small shake.
"Pleased to meet you," He said, sitting back down.
"That's Tony, you've met him," Clint pointed. "And that's Steve."
"STEVEN ROGERS GET BACK ON THE FIELD BEFORE SEVEN SHADES OF HUE ARE KNOCKED OUT OF YOU!" Coach Marko bellowed.
"Nice meeting you," Steve sighed before capping his water bottle and jogging back out to the team.
"And the big guy blatantly ignoring everything is Thor," Clint said pointing to his friend running on the field. Natasha craned her neck before sitting back down.
"So… Natasha…" Tony said, leaning forward. "You're new."
"Aren't you just the regular little detective?" Natasha smirked as she and Clint sat down.
"You two are a cute couple," Tony said. "You should go out."
"Don't berate them Tony," Bruce warned, closing his books and shoving them into his bag before taking the cigarette from his friend and puffing at it.
"I'm just saying." Tony shrugged, pulling out his new cell phone and tipping his hat slightly under the sun. "So, do the curtains match the drapes?"
"Why don't you find out?" Natasha smirked.
Tony paused, looked up from his cell phone and lowered his sunglasses. "Is that an invitation or a double bluff?"
She leaned forward. "You decide."
Tony had begun to stutter. "I-I… I'm in a relationship…"
Clint was laughing hysterically.
"That's not what you were saying five minutes ago," Bruce said.
"Five minutes ago I was appreciating fine art, not sleeping around like a man whore." Tony defended.
"Oh yeah, that sounds like the Anthony Edward Stark we know!" Bruce muttered.
"You actually hang out with these people?" Natasha asked.
"You do learn to live with it," Clint replied, clearing his throat and taking off his hoodie.
"Don't full name me, Bruce, you know that makes me angry,"
"Really?" Natasha asked, looking over at Clint.
"Well, tolerate it at least." He replied, shrugging slightly.
"THOR WILL YOU THROW THE BALL TO STEVE!" Coach Marko shouted.
"It's nice that you hold your friends in such high regard," Tony muttered, tapping at his cell phone with discontinued interest in the conversation. Steve had stopped playing again and was now hovering on the outsides of the playing field. He squinted over at the rest of them before running over.
"My head is just not in the game," He said, sitting down beside Bruce, moving his bag slightly.
"Good thing it's not a proper game," Clint said.
"If it was a proper game, we'd have to do something about it," Tony said. "Coach Marko will not be pleased if we lose against Wheeler-Nicholson again."
Natasha turned and raised her eyebrow. "Who?"
"The school at the other side of town," Clint explained. "Like the Yankees and the Mets… Basically they win almost every year and… Not through talent. Through manipulation. They use dirty tactics."
"Bunch of polished dicks…" Tony muttered.
"Don't start, you're just like them," Steve said. "Especially like Wayne."
"I am nothing like that pompous arrogant…" Tony stopped, looking pissed.
"Wayne?" Natasha asked.
"Bruce Wayne," Bruce said. "Prize jock from the other team. He's smart. But basically, he's an ass."
"Thought you two would get on well," Natasha tilted her head.
"We share the same namesake, that's all," Bruce said, his voice rising sharply. "I have nothing more to do with him."
"Bruce, calm the fuck down," Clint snapped.
Bruce rubbed his chin. "Sorry," He muttered. "That was mean."
"So where you from Tasha?" Tony asked, putting his cell phone back into his pocket.
"Originally Russia," Natasha replied. "But I move around a lot."
"Not related to the Romanov family are you?"
"Not as far as I am aware," She smiled, leaning back, stretching her legs and kicking off her shoes.
"Do you shawarma?" Tony asked. "We're heading over to the joint a few blocks from here after they finish up their practice,"
"What's shawarma?" Natasha frowned, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.
"You… Are kidding right?"
"It's a sort of kebab dish," Clint explained. "It's alright, I guess, but the guy who owns the place serves other stuff. Tony takes his shawarma very seriously."
Steve grinned. "I think that's Tony's subtle hint of inviting you out to join us." He said. "You want to come? We'll only be practising for another twenty or so minutes."
"Speaking of which, shouldn't you be actually out practising with them?" Clint asked.
Steve shrugged, leaning back comfortably on the stalls. "I'm sure they can manage without me for a little while. It's not like-"
"THOR PASS THE BALL! Sobbed coach Marko from a distance. They turned to see the coach running after the boy, blowing his whistle. Steve's face blanched.
"Or we could sit here and watch the game," Tony shrugged, pulling out his cell phone to record the disaster that was football practice.
"Pay up," Bruce muttered. Clint sighed and pulled out his wallet, handing over five dollars.
"Enjoy your blood money," Clint said.
"What's that for?" Natasha asked.
"We've only been back for a few days and several teachers have been reduced to sobbing wrecks," Bruce said nodding over towards Thor.
"Perhaps I should…" Steve got up and jogged down as Coach Marko blew his whistle for the final time.
"Alright that's it! Practice is over!" Coach Marko said defeated as his team moved towards him. "Hit the showers. Thor, please next practice, pass the ball to someone else."
Thor frowned. "You wanted me to pass the ball? You should have shouted."
Coach Marko looked exhausted as he sat down on the stalls. "We're not going to win this year either…" He put his head to his hands. Thor grinned massively and climbed over the stalls towards his friends, Steve following behind. Tony put away his cell phone and smiled.
"I think you should do that every game," He said. "Who needs team players when you have Thor?"
Thor laughed before picking up a water bottle and downing it in one enormous gulp. "Who is this?" He asked, nodding towards Natasha.
"That's Tash," Tony said. "Clint's new lady friend."
"Oh," Thor tilted his head. "Are you coming to supper with us?"
"What to the shawarma joint?" Natasha asked.
"You never actually said if you were coming or not," Clint said, twisting his fingers.
"If you don't mind," Natasha said.
"Cool." Thor said before lifting his mammoth hands to wave at Jane Foster. She waved back before continuing with Betty and Darcy. "Steve and I shall go shower and return in a few moments."
Steve smiled sheepishly before following Thor to the changing rooms. Natasha was frowning as she turned to look at the others.
"He's British," Bruce said. "Descended from nobility or something like that. He's a bit odd."
"A bit?" Tony said.
…
"A good meal?" Logan asked, moving towards them, wiping his hands on his grubby apron.
"Bloody marvellous," Tony said, leaning back, stretching. "Though, you couldn't get us some more soda?"
"Get off your lazy ass and do it yourself, the fridge is two feet from you," Logan replied.
"Ooh, touchy," Tony said moving to get up. Bruce rolled his eyes before getting up and fetching him a bottle of cola. He held it out to Tony before remembering his friend's pet peeve. He put it on the table and let Tony reach out and take it himself.
"Thanks Brucey babes," He said, opening it. He gave him a wink and Bruce rolled his eyes.
"How'd you enjoy the meal?" Logan looked over at Natasha who smiled.
"It was good," She said. "Maybe not what I expected."
"What did you expect?" Clint asked, helping himself to the last of the chicken wings.
"Well not four star dining at least," Steve snorted.
Natasha tilted her head, looking around at the tiny restaurant. It was tacky to say the most, with road signs and sing trout's nailed to plaques running across the walls. There were only a few tables, their group occupying one of the larger ones. Logan seemed very proud of his restaurant, so she supposed it would be rude to say anything against it.
"Well, it just wasn't the way I expected it to be," She reassured the owner.
"In a good way or a bad way?" Logan asked, scratching the sideburns that ran down his chin.
"In a good way," Natasha smiled.
"Oh good, otherwise I would charge you double for what you ordered." Logan said. "Which seems to be what I do for Thor…"
Thor looked up, still eating, finishing the rest of the food. "What?" He asked.
"Nothing big guy," Tony laughed. He sat up. "I've got it! 'The League of Extraordinary Gentleman'!"
"No Tony, that's crap!" Clint said. "Besides, we have a woman here now."
"You consider me part of the group?" Natasha asked, leaning forward.
"Yeah, why not?" Clint shrugged.
"What?" Bruce looked up. "What's going on now?"
"Tony wants to give our group a name. Like the Plastics but not the plastics," Clint replied. "I made a bet with him that he couldn't come up with one by the end of the school year."
"I'm going to keep trying." Tony muttered, picking up a napkin and wiping in between his fingers.
"Speaking of bets," Bruce said all of a sudden looking cheery. "You lot owe me and Thor about 60 bucks. I didn't crash my motorbike."
Tony rolled his eyes. "Fine, okay," He began to reach into his wallet, before stopping and looking over at Bruce.
"No," Bruce said, raising his finger. "No, I know that look Tony, whatever you're thinking, stop thinking it now."
Tony began to grin. "Why don't we extend the bet into next month?"
"No, give me my money Tony," Bruce said.
"Actually, we should extend the bet…" Steve said. "It's barely been a week, who's to say you won't crash it tomorrow."
"Exactly," Tony smirked.
"Such faith my friends have in me," Bruce said.
"I'm not saying you are going to crash, but… You never know!" Steve defended.
"What do you think Thor?" Clint asked. "Should we extend the bet?"
Thor looked up and blinked. "Yes."
Bruce opened his mouth to protest, but Thor cut across him. "Though I feel we should add 20 dollars each week until the bet ends."
"Fair enough," Tony said. "Logan, you want in on it?"
"The only time I gamble is when I play poker with the boys," Logan said. "Not dirty playground bets."
"Your loss," Tony shrugged.
"Thanks, one less person making money out a potential accident that could kill me," Bruce said.
"You were okay with the bet a few days ago," Clint said.
"That's because I knew I wouldn't crash within a week of actually getting the bike," Bruce replied.
"He has a point," Natasha shrugged.
"Woah, sweetheart you don't get a say in this," Tony said. "You're not a part of the bet."
"I want in," Natasha replied. "Only I'm betting for Bruce."
"Thank you Natasha," Bruce said.
"Fine," Tony said. "Give your money to Steve."
Natasha pulled out her wallet and counted a twenty, handing it over to Steve. He checked the money before stuffing it away safely.
"So when will the bet end?" Clint asked.
"When I want it to." Tony said.
"No, that's not fair," Thor said. "Logan, you should decide."
"Oh, I don't care," Logan replied, moving behind the counter. "Make it for the end of the school year."
"Done," Tony smirked.
"I hope you lot have enough money," Logan smirked. "Kid's not going to crash his bike."
"Shut up Logan!" Tony called.
"I suppose now would be a good time to bring up the bill…"
"Not until Thor finishes eating," Steve said as Thor let out a mighty belch. "Finished?"
"No, are you done with that?" He pointed at Clint's fries.
"Knock yourself out," Clint said, handing the plate over to Thor who took happily.
Tony sighed. "Alright, I think we better be clearing off," He cleared his throat as the rest of them piled some money onto the table to pay for the bill. Tony counted the money and Bruce recalculated. Steve glanced over the money before agreeing and picking it up, handing it to Logan.
"So, I'm not getting a tip?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Only when you start cleaning the floor and stop swearing at the radio every five minutes because they play something you don't agree with," Tony shrugged, pulling on his jacket and standing up.
Logan shrugged. "Seems fair."
Clint stretched as he got up, rubbing down his stomach as he did. Bruce got up and slurped the last of his soda before waving goodbye to the rest of them.
"WOAH BRUCE!" Tony shouted, running after him. They disappeared out of the door. Steve grinned picking up his bag and making his way out of the restaurant. Thor followed, still eating the leftovers. Natasha sat smiling to herself, still picking at the leftovers. Clint looked at her.
"You coming?" He asked.
"Urm…" Natasha smiled. "No. It's okay."
Clint sat down opposite her. "You okay? Were you put off by the guys? Sorry just thought you'd like…" he stopped, clearing his throat and glancing down at his feet. "It's cool if you don't want to hang with us. Inviting you to shawarma with us was their way of saying, 'you're cool',"
Natasha tucked a strand of hair from her face. "I'm not worried about that Clint,"
"You want to talk about it?" Clint said. "I'm not great with that… But I can give it a go."
Natasha laughed.
"OI!" Logan shouted. "This isn't group therapy. Clear off so I can clean up."
"Do you ever clean up Logan?" Clint snapped.
"No, but I would like the option," Logan replied.
"Then you can wait a few more minutes can't you?"
Logan grumbled something as he dipped back into the kitchens. Natasha leaned forward. "Go," She said. "I'm going to stick around here for a little longer."
Clint shrugged. "Whatever you say," He got up, picking up his bag. "But you'll let me know if-" A car horn sounded outside. Clint sighed. "Tony literally has no patience. Do you need a ride home."
"I was just going to take the bus." Natasha replied.
"Well…" Clint smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow then,"
"Yeah, bye."
He gave her a small wave before leaving. Natasha leaned back on her chair as Logan emerged from the kitchen. "Are you still here?"
"Sorry," Natasha replied, still looking at the door. The owner rolled his eyes before lighting a cigarette and moving to clear up the tables.
"I've seen that look before," He said.
"No you haven't," Natasha replied. "You barely know me."
Logan paused, he began to pick up the rubbish and put it onto a tray before moving towards the back. Natasha got up and helped clear some of the crap from the table.
"What look?" she asked, handing him some plates. He took them without question, no look of surprise on his face.
"Not my place," He replied.
"Are they good?"
"Good?"
"You know what I mean. Can I trust them?" Natasha asked.
"Ah, trust issues," Logan tapped his head, putting his cigarette between his teeth. His dog tags clicked together as he looked for a dish cloth. "And you're asking me…?"
"You seem to know them quite well." Natasha shrugged.
"Only because they've been coming here ever since their sophomore year," He stopped and took out his cigarette. "What do you want to know? That Tony's a dick? But probably one of the best individuals you'll ever meet? Steve is a conceited, but charitable. That Thor is an idiot, but one of the biggest hearts you'll ever know. Bruce may have a lot of anger issues to sort out, but he's a great guy who, once you get to know him, he's a sassy little motherfucker... And Clint… Well Clint has a good heart. Trust me, compared to the other losers at that school like Wade Wilson; you're hanging out with some of the better ones."
Natasha smiled. "I'm the only girl though…"
"So what if you're the only girl?" Logan shrugged. "Besides you're not. There's Pepper, Peggy, Jane and Betty. Sure they've got some… Relationship issues between the boys, but who doesn't?"
"You've known them a long time?" Natasha asked.
"Oh don't make me sound old sweetheart," Logan said, picking up the last of the remains and giving the table a quick squirt with disinfectant. He wiped it down and stood up before moving towards the door and changing the sign to "closed". He smiled gently.
Natasha tapped the counter before standing a little straighter. "Thanks," She said.
"No problem love," Logan shrugged, before disappearing into the kitchen, leaving Natasha to rearrange her thoughts. She smiled slightly and picked up her bag and leaving the restaurant.