1:58am
The Avengers were asleep. Well, some of them anyway. Thor, Bruce, Steve, Wanda and Natasha. They had finished watching the 3rd series of Sherlock at about 1:30am and Steve had suggested they get some sleep. Tony, Clint, Pietro and Vision had stayed awake; Clint and Tony had gone to the kitchen to have coffee. Pietro and Vision were on the top floor of the lounge. Wanda had apologised to Tony, with a little help from Clint and Pietro, and he had forgiven her almost immediately; provided she, with her powers, lift a big heavy metal object that only he and Banner knew what it did. Now she was asleep, her head in Vision's lap. The android stroked her hair with rhythmic motions. Pietro did very well to restrain himself, only occasionally letting out little tuts if Vision became too intimate. But this time he just leaned against the wall and grinned at his sister's content, sleeping expression. He pushed himself off the wall and went to sit next to Vision. He looked up as Pietro sat beside him. Pietro put his head in his hand and looked from Vision to Wanda and back.
"Do you love her?" He asked.
Vision met his gaze and replied simply. "Yes. Very much so."
Pietro nodded and got up. "Look after her for me."
"Pietro wait." Vision called him back as he started to leave. "She'll always need you. Remember that."
Pietro hesitated before nodding slightly and zooming off into the kitchen. He appeared in the seat at the head of the table, between Tony and Clint, with a mug of coffee in his hand. He smiled and sipped it quietly, relishing the surprised looks on Tony and Clint's faces.
"That was fast." Clint commented.
"That's what she said." Muttered Tony.
Clint spluttered, inhaling a bit of his coffee. He choked, laughing and spat his coffee across the table.
"Oh wow. What a mature old man!" Pietro said rolling his eyes sarcastically.
"Ergh… Clint!"
"Ahahahah!"
Now it was Pietro's turn to laugh. Tony was covered with coffee; it dripped off his scruffy, black hair. Pietro attempted to cover his laughter with a few coughs as Tony turned to glared at him.
"I'll get you a towel." Pietro offered, grinning.
He zoomed off, reappearing a few seconds later with a grey-black towel. He held it out to Tony and sat down. Tony snatched the towel, his expression half-amused half-annoyed as he dried himself.
"Is everyone else asleep in there?" Clint asked Pietro, waving a hand in the direction of the lounge.
Pietro took another mouthful of coffee before answering. "Vision was awake when I was in there but he might have fallen asleep now."
Clint nodded. "I'm gonna go check." He said, and then added cheekily. "And maybe take some pictures."
He returned 5 minutes later, chuckling to himself as he scrolled through his phone. He approached the table, tossing his phone to Tony's outstretched hand. He caught it without even looking and began to scroll through the pictures.
"Oh I am so getting this one framed." He murmured.
He showed the picture to Pietro who had more luck than Clint in keeping the coffee in his mouth, swallowing the liquid before bursting into laughter. The picture was of Thor. The Asgardian, usually looking so regal, was curled up on the floor in midnight blue, tartan pyjamas. He was hugging his hammer, holding it close to his chest, like a child to a teddy bear. They spent the next 10 minutes going through the pictures and videos Clint had taken. The next one was a video showing Bruce, his back against the wall, occasionally letting out small mewing noises. As he made the weird cat noises he swatted a hand at the air.
"Is he having a dream where he's a cat having a fight with another cat or what?" Pietro asked, smiling.
"Looks like it." Agreed Tony. "Oh.. oh!" He burst out suddenly. "Light bulb moment! You remember when he said Loki's head was a sack full of kittens or something like that?"
Pietro and Clint exchanged a confused look and Tony's mouth formed an 'O'. "Sorry… Pietro you weren't here and Clint you were kind of… Urmm… You know."
Clint clenched his jaw and looked away. Pietro, still frowning, looked at Tony questioningly. Tony gave a small shake of his head, clearly meaning 'don't ask'. Pietro dipped his head in understanding. He wished Tony would think before speaking. The subject obviously made Clint upset.
Some things were better left unsaid.
