Clint didn't know whether or not Natasha was avoiding him over the weekend.

He didn't have a phone for her to ignore his calls, and he didn't where she lived for him to stop by. He'd imagined when she'd been escorted away from the park that it was over between them, and as the weekend dragged on his thoughts only grew darker. He threw himself in to his schoolwork with relish, hoping to distract himself from the series of fuck-ups that was his life.

A guy could only take so many plot twists and dead ends before he began to wonder if the universe had any kind of great plan in store for him, or he was some kind of defect who would never get anywhere or who would have a life completely devoid of happiness.

He acknowledged that he was being slightly melodramatic, but he was a heartbroken sixteen year old after all.

When Monday finally rolled around, he considered feigning illness as he trudged towards the shower.

Jerking off in the shower. That was the high point of his day. It would all be down hill from here.

He still hadn't gotten a chance to speak to her when he reached his lunch period. That was normal though she always came late on Mondays because of her brother's schedules.

So, it completely shocked both Clint and Phil when Natasha slammed her lunch tray on to their table.

"They're serious". She looked up and caught Clint's bewildered expression and added "About Halloween. They want you to come over before our Halloween party. What?" She said in response to Clint's unchanging expression.

Clint blinked and shook his head. "Nothing. I just thought…" He broke off his sentence and grinned at Natasha. "I missed you. Our date was cut short."

Natasha's expression softened as she smiled back at him. "I know. I'm sorry about Tony. He's probably going to be the most difficult. And he riles up Bruce, which makes everything worse. No one wants to see Bruce angry. "

"He's bipolar," she said in response to Clint's expression. "He has it under control for the most part but we still never know when he's going to snap and he doesn't react well to anything that could potentially piss him off".

"He's Tony's twin right?'' Phil piped up "Fraternal twin. And they're like, geniuses".

"Yup" Natasha answered with a small smirk "The science bros. The fact that they're home schooled is a public service. Anyway, back to Halloween. They want to officially meet you before our party. The party starts at six and they want you to come over straight after school. Bring a costume. And Phil's invited to the party too of course".

"What are you going to go as?'' Clint asked in an attempt to digress from the topic of meeting her brothers. "I bet you'd make a good Wonder Woman''.

"Oh no'' Natasha laughed. "I'm not a fan. I prefer a femme fatale. They're sexier and smarter".

"Catwoman then. I bet you'd look great in a leather suit" Clint wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"I bet you'd love that. I'll keep it in mind" She picked up her tray and got up from their table.

"You're meeting her family?" Phil exclaimed the second Natasha stepped away. "This morning you made it sound like it was over between you two and now you're meeting her family? That's pretty serious man; I didn't know you guys were like having feelings. Did you make out a will? "

"Hahaha" Clint deadpanned. "So what if one of her brothers is annoying as fuck? They can't all hate me. It's gotta be statistically unlikely".

"Damn. You're going to get the shit beaten out of you AND you're going to fail math".

Halloween rolled around sooner than expected, and Clint found himself making the trek from school to Natasha's house.

"They offered to pick us up from school but I figured you should have as much time to mentally prepare as possible" Natasha rambled. Natasha never rambled. It was the oddest thing Clint had ever witnessed. If what awaited him frazzled Natasha it was not going to be good.

He was glad for the taser that he had spotted Phil sneaking in to his bag.

"Also this way they'll be preoccupied with setting things up for the party and putting on their costumes. You brought a costume right?"

"Yup" Clint answered. He'd brought a sheet with eyeholes in it that he had had to steal anyway. Say hello to Casper the not-so-friendly-fucking-ghost.

"At least you won't be meeting my Uncle Nick just yet. He's almost always away on business."

"What does he work as?"

"Honestly? I'm not quite sure. Something to do with security? He doesn't really like taking about his job at home so I don't know the details".

They finally rounded a corner-on to the street that Clint recognized as the rich part of town and stopped in front of a mansion.

Seriously she lived in a freakin mansion. He'd recognized that Natasha always wore nice clothes, which he now suspected were designer, but he hadn't realized that she was rich.

Regardless of how daunting the mansion and this realization was he squared his shoulders and followed Natasha to the front door, Had Alderaan not been blown up Han Solo would surely have gone to meet Princess Leia's family. He was officially dubbing himself Han Solo.

When Natasha opened the door something huge and furry bounded out and jumped on Clint.

"You have a dog?" Clint asked needlessly while grinning and petting the creature. He'd always liked dogs, and had always planned to get one for himself someday.

"Yeah" Natasha said. "And a cat. Steve picked the dog and I picked the cat". She entered the household and Clint and the dog followed.

"Guys!" Natasha called up the staircase that faced the front entrance, ''I'm home!"

A guy in a pirate costume appeared at the top of the staircase, grinning. "It's your lucky day. They went out to load up on snacks and should be back in ten".

Natasha rolled her eyes. "Seriously Bucky? Jack Sparrow? Did you use up all my eyeliner?'' she appraised him as he came closer "You apply it better than I do".

"Smear like it's the blood of your enemies baby" he responded, reaching them. He gave Clint a once over. "Tony was right. You are on the small side".

Clint ignored the remark and held out his hand. "Clint Barton".

Bucky ignored his hand and clapped him on the back "Bucky Barnes". He turned to face Natasha "This place is going to go to hell in a few minutes so go put you costume on from now so there are no fights between you and Tony over the mirrors".

Natasha snorted and turned to take Clint's hand but Bucky held him back "Oh no" Bucky said grinning. "Over my dead body is he going upstairs with you in to your room, unless I stand in the doorway the whole time. He's staying down here with me".

Natasha looked at him warily and then seemed to deem him not a threat. "I'll be right back" she called over her shoulder to Clint as she ascended the stairs.

"Sit down" Bucky told Clint as soon as Natasha was out of earshot; Clint sank in to a lavish armchair near the foot of the stairs without question. "We all have it in for you, and we haven't even met you yet. Seriously, all five of us. And her uncle hasn't been told yet. Nats too young to date, and looking at you I can just tell you're in to funny business".

"So what, if I survive the shit you guys throw at me I can date Nat in peace. Is this like trash talk before a fight?"

Bucky gave Clint a look that made him feel two inches tall and then walked off without a word, the dog following him.

Once again, Clint had been abandoned.

Right on que, the front door slammed in and a bunch of guys poured in.

They stopped dead in their tracks and stared at Clint.

Clint stared back.

"Why is there a homeless boy in our house? one of them asked.

Before Clint could retort Tony stepped forward with a flourish. "And I present to you, the homeless dude Natasha brought home. This is even worse then the first time Steve brought Bucky home. Bucky pulled the homeless look off better, he manage to look like a neglected puppy."

A blonde guy stepped forward with a warm smile and held out his hand that wasn't carrying a plastic bag. "Hi Clint, I'm Steve. It's nice to finally meet you."

It didn't look like the others shared that sentiment.

"Tony has told us a lot, and Nat hasn't told us anything at all.'' Steve was right up close to Clint now and he seemed to lift Clint right out of the chair. "Bet I bet we'll all get to know you really well today."

This time there were grunts of assent from behind him. The other blonde guy, the one who had made the homeless comment and the biggest of them all was eyeing Clint as though he were an insect. That he really really wanted to squash.

Just then someone bounded down the stairs. "I'm ready!" Natasha announced as she reached the bottom of the stairs. Clint's jaw dropped.

She'd gone with Catwoman.

The leather suit was very complimentary.

"No way". Steve said immediately. "Go upstairs and change right now young lady. That costume is far too" he wrinkled his brow "Suggestive."

"Oh Steve don't be a prude" Natasha said brushing him off. "You'll see a lot worse and I don't have anything else that fits me".

"That looks like it might be a little small on you" Steve stated dryly.

"Clint" Natasha said veering the attention way from herself "What's your costume?"

Clint pulled his sheet out of his backpack.

"That's pathetic" Tony interjected. He shot Clint a manic grin that put the Joker to shame. "I have an old costume that'll fit you".

And it begins Clint thought.