Chapter 9

By: MysticFantasy

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The first thing Natasha was aware of was the sound of rain.

The next thing she was aware of was a wall of warmth behind her. It wasn't overpowering but very comforting and almost lulled her back to sleep but she had to know where it was coming from.

They had put the fire out before going to sleep so she knew that it wasn't the fire giving warmth.

Slowly turning onto her back, she quickly spotted where the warmth was coming from.

Steve.

Because of the size of the cave, they were all only within a few inches of each other and right now Natasha didn't mind it at all.

She stared at Steve's sleeping face. Memorized how peaceful he looked, how he seemed to dream of nothing. She had seen him have a nightmare before. She suspected it was a flashback to his time in the war.

He never talked about it but she was sure that was the reason he didn't sleep some nights.

Natasha could easily relate to the situation. She had her own share of nightmares. Things she'd done in her past, things she had done before Clint had found her and offered his help...

Life before SHIELD and the Avengers was not something she wanted to remember or even come close to thinking of.

Maybe...they could share their feelings and thoughts of the nightmares and try to figure out a way to overcome them together.

Of course, they would have to be alone for a while to even get started talking about the subject. And to do that, they needed to be alone.

"Is it still raining?" Clint asked sleepily as he slowly sat up.

"Yeah." Natasha answered and made her way to the front of the cave. She peered outside and saw that the sky was still dark with heavy rain clouds.

"I hate rainy days." Tony muttered as he stretched. "Can't go out to play."

"You've done enough playing in your time." Natasha joked.

"Hey, some of us like to party. Helps make up for others not partying."

"Several people in your case."

Steve lightly smiled as he sat up. It wasn't uncommon for them to have their little spats but it was all, mostly, in good fun.

After a quick breakfast of fruit and fish, the five quietly sat in boredom.

"Ugh, this is going to last forever." Clint moaned.

"Clint, calm down." Natasha advised. "It's only been half an hour since we got up. There's a chance that the rain will clear and then you can go play outside."

"Can I mommy?"

"Of course you big baby."

"Let's tell embarrassing stories to pass the time." Tony suggested. "Barton, you first."

"Why not you?" Clint retorted. "We all know that you have plenty of stories to tell."

"Younger first."

"Well, why not the people who never talk?" Clint suggested. "Cap, you first."

"Hey, I never agreed to this." Steve said.

"We know. Now talk."

Steve chuckled again.

"Come on. Start with the most embarrassing." Tony said.

"Alright, alright." Steve agreed. "Well, one of the most embarrassing stories is when I was in basic training. I was climbing the rope wall when my foot slipped. I fell back and was hanging upside down for a few minutes until I could get myself out."

"No one helped you?" Bruce asked.

"Nope." Steve answered. "They all thought that I was a waste of time. I would have slowed their own times."

"Man, people back then were just as nasty as people are today." Clint said.

"Not everyone was. They just thought that I was because I was the skinny, sick kid. They didn't think there was a chance of me being the one to be picked to accept the serum. I didn't think I would be picked."

"Well, it all blew up in their faces." Clint said.

"Should have seen the looks on their faces when I showed up with the prisoners I got out of the Hydra base." Steve said with a smirk.

"Alright. Next." Tony said. "Barton."

"Nat knows this one. It was an undercover mission in Brazil and we were pretending to be cousins owning a farm together. Second day we were there, I had to go check on the chickens and the turkey's..."

Natasha lightly bit her lip to keep from laughing at the memory.

"I made the mistake of having the feed with me and the second that I opened the door...stampede!"

Tony laughed at the thought of his friend, Hawkeye, being flocked over by a bunch of birds.

"He was completely covered in feathers and had been pecked a few times." Natasha added. "I didn't let him live it down the rest of the time we were there."

"I would have done the same if it had been you." Clint replied.

"So, who wants to go next?" Tony asked.

"Why don't you go?" Clint asked.

"I go last."

"Fine."

"Red?"

"Ok. I'll admit this because it isn't too bad." Natasha said. "The mission that I went on in Texas...Naturally, I think 'cowgirl'. So, I got a pair of cowboy boots, a hat, the works...I get dressed up and when I get dropped off...Everyone was dressed like regular, casual people."

"Cowgirl Widow." Tony mused.

"I felt so stupid walking around the whole day like that." Natasha said.

"Still, I bet the cowboys didn't mind seeing such a pretty cowgirl." Tony said. "Bruce?"

"Well, everyone knows that when I shrink down from being the Big Guy that I'm almost always naked." Bruce started. "Well, one time that I shrank down, I had somehow ended up in a convent."

Tony and Clint both began laughing while Steve gave him a sympathetic look. He knew how bad it was to look in front of nuns.

"They helped me but they were also saying that I should be more mindful of where I decide to go streaking."

"Oh man. That's hilarious." Tony said. "They thought that you were streaking?"

"They did." Bruce answered. "I've never shown my face within miles around that convent again."

"I sure wouldn't." Clint said. "Nuns can be very..."

"Intimidating?" Steve suggested.

"Very."

"Alright, Stark." Natasha said. "You're the only one left."

"Alright." Tony agreed. "Happened when I was making the second suit. I put a little too much power into the boots and ended crashing into one of my beautiful cars. I still don't forgive myself for it."

"That's it?" Clint exclaimed. "Give us something more than that!"