Several hours later…

Clint was on the elevators alone until Thor and Steve walked on together.

"Thanks for agreeing to spar with me, Thor." Steve was saying.

"Do not mention it, Captain. It was a pleasure to battle with another matching my strengths."

Clint looks up, sees them both, and pointedly chooses to ignore Thor's presence. "Hey Cap."

"Hiya Clint. Heading to the Dining Halls?"

"Yep."

"Pleasant seeing you, Barton." Thor said genially.

Clint presents Thor with a severe glare, though he says nothing.

Obviously uncomfortable with the evident tension, Steve shifts his stance,

Thor frowns confused, but tries again, hoping the subject of Natasha would make Clint more open to conversation. "Lady Natasha had intentions of reminding you of this earlier, though in her absence I find it considerate to inform you she wishes to partake in training exercises with you tomorrow afternoon."

"Oh, so she finally finds time for them now? Who'd think she'd even want to with all the energy she's spent 'working out' and 'training' all by herself in 'privacy mode.' I bet you wouldn't know anything about that, would you Thor? And it's funny how you conveniently were graced with her presence when she told you that, especially since it's impossible for the rest of us to even find her lately." Clint muttered bitterly.

"I believe there is a misunderstanding, Barton. Lady Natasha informed me and the Captain of this when we came upon her in the place of weaponry…"

"Is that another story she told you to cover with!?" Clint spits out, interrupting Thor mid-sentence,

Thor, unmistakably remorseful, looked like he'd been slapped.

"Clint…" Steve finally says in a low voice.

"Barton it pains me to admit…" Thor begins before getting talked over yet again.

"Oh come off it already!" Clint yells, ignoring Steve. "And just tell Nat if she needs to tell me something, she can come find me herself." Clint taps a button that makes the elevator come to a full stop and then tramples off on a floor he didn't originally intend to be on. The elevator closes and continues its journey upward, leaving Thor and Steve in silence.

Steve places an arm on Thor's shoulder briefly. "I'm so sorry about that, Thor. He really should have had more respect toward his fellow teammate. I'll talk to Clint later."

"Of course, Captain. It has come to my attention that he has been turning increasingly abrasive towards me as of late."

Steve glanced at Thor. He couldn't just let this go, so he says mildly, "You do know why, don't you?"

Thor averts his eyes and is uncharacteristically quiet.

Steve sighs, "He's offended because he thinks you and Natasha are involved but are keeping your relationship hidden. Now I don't know about the romance rumor, but I do know something strange is going on with you two. Do you deny it?"

They stop on the dining hall floor and the doors open, but Thor remains on the elevator.

"Captain, I wish I could be forthright about everything, but I regret to say I have been sworn to secrecy by Lady Natasha. I hope you can understand."

"Not quite…but I guess I understand keeping a promise."

Thor nods, looking a bit more at ease. "Indeed. I thank ye for allowing me to keep this private for now." The Thunderer gestures toward the open elevator, "After you, Captain."

Steve offers Thor a small smile before stepping out before his companion.