He finally felt the exhaustion after spending an unknown amount of time in his lab, so he was making his way to grab something to eat, snag a quick shower, and then finally head off to bed.
"...between... you like long or short...?"
The muffled question drew his attention, his head swinging in the direction of the office that usually saw little to no action from anyone. The open living space of the whole floor was far more communal and comfortable for them to gather around. Not only that, the kitchen was just within reach should anyone need to eat or drink.
"...onestly? Short." a second voice spoke up, a little younger than the first, and obviously feminine in comparison to the one that asked the question. "..has… more power…"
A low hum had him softly approaching the door, wondering who they were and what they were talking about. Bleary eyes blinked when the young woman spoke up again, his exhausted mind taking a bit of time to figure out their identity, and only catching half their words.
"...can handle both…" there was a breath of hesitance, her next words sounding slightly embarrassed. "...long… tire my hands and arms..."
Now that had him curious. Long? Tired hands and arms? Just what were these two talking about.
"...build up your stamina…" the male, that he could now identify as their own professional archer, making the young woman his protégé.
Brown eyes blinked, lips curling as he leaned against the doorframe just out of their sight, intent on listening in. Perhaps he'll learn how the two actually met, which of them did the convincing for her to become the protégé, and just maybe, a little more.
A whimpering whine echoed through the air. "...you're cruel though…" there was a rustle of shifting fabrics. "...exhausted after our sessions…"
If he had been any other, his mind would have gone to training sessions. However, being who he was, and from what he managed to hear earlier, his thought process took off in a completely different direction. Straight to the gutter.
"You can take it." the smugness in the archer's voice had the billionaire snorting in amusement. "What's a few hours?"
Hours?! Arms crossing over his chest, he had to wonder just how many hours were being entailed. Though, with the young woman's own personal energy, everyone knew with just enough sugar or caffeine, and she could go for days straight without burning out.
"...says you…" her voice was muffled which was quickly followed by a soft 'fwomp'. She most likely threw a pillow at her teacher. "...couldn't feel my legs after last time…"
Lips curling in a lascivious grin, congratulating the archer for finally moving on from a certain red head, he nodded his head in a silent congrats towards his fellow male member of their team. And with his own protégé to boot. It would explain his behavior towards the spit-fire Japanese young woman; keeping all other men at arms length from her whenever possible, always quick to whisk her away, hours long training. Hell, he bet they saw to each other's injuries as well.
"Don't exaggerate." a chair was pushed and soft footsteps were barely heard out in the hallway. "You've gone longer and taken harder."
Cheeks heated slightly at the idea, arousal beginning to bubble up in his belly. It was only thanks to his sheer exhaustion that he wasn't pitching a tent in his pants at this moment. Though that didn't stop his imagination from running wild. He wouldn't be surprised if they were also into a few kinks, or doing it in locations that were less than convenient.
"..." the teacher's voice drew him out of a particularly erotic scene of the two in the room having a rather daring romp in the archery range.
"...ium. Otherwise, the shaft isn't flexible. Too hard, and you're bound to miss your target." there was a low moan, leaving him to wonder just what he had missed while enjoying his little fantasy of both watching and perhaps even taking part with the two.
"I agree." the teacher sounded closer now. "I have been wondering, though, why not go modern?"
"Ah!" the little squeak from the young woman had him blinking, trying to figure out what the two were now doing. "Careful! You're not exactly light, you know!"
"Forgive me, here." the teacher sounded less than apologetic, but he must have done something as their conversation was momentarily put on pause as there was rustling and shifting sounds.
A few giggles from the young woman echoed out of the room. "A-ha-ha! No-not there! Stop!"
"Didn't know you were ticklish there." there was a low, mock threatening growl in the teacher's own laughter. "Good to know for future references."
"Ha!" there was another bit of rustling, and all he could hear was her faint panting. It had him smoothing his hands down his front, wiping the slight sweat that built up in his palms. "Now, as to your question, ass. I'm not sure… I mean, all those pulleys. Besides, what's wrong with plain old traditional?"
"True, but sticking to traditional means faster wear-out." it was obvious from his tone, that the teacher was smirking. Her answering grumble, meant she conceded even if her words were too muffled to be heard properly from his hiding spot out in the hallway.
A harsh exhale, he was sure the young woman was now pouting, and she spoke up once again. "Fine, I concede. I just, I don't know if I can concentrate properly. I mean, can I? It looks almost clinical, smooth cold metal and all those ropes and pulleys compared to classic wood."
Toys!? They used toys and were into bondage?! Oh, fuck, were they kinkier than he thought. Then again, she was from the pervert capital of the world, he would be surprised if she wasn't into some sort of kink. As for her teacher, he wouldn't be surprised if he was guiding her in all there was when it came to sex as well. But bondage seemed fast for the two, even by his standards.
"That's why we practice. So don't knock it till you try it." their conversation came to a close there, silence filling the room as the two seemed to relax.
His fantasies were now running rampant; sex toys, bondage set-ups, just what were the two not doing outside of practice? Biting his lower lip, he let the fantasies continue to play out, each one growing more vivid than the last.
"Come on, let's go get something to eat."
"As long as your not cooking, I don't care!" her slight cry was followed by her rushed exit of the room, blue eyes flashing as she turned, though paused when her gaze landed on him. "Mr. Stark! Are you alright?"
Swallowing thickly, he stumbled to come up with an answer as her gaze turned concerned. He didn't get very far as her teacher silently appeared next to her.
"Tony." the gaze directed his way was wary, though it quickly shifted. "Come on, Kid, let's go eat."
"But, Mr. Stark…" her argument was ignored as she was physically turned away from the billionaire.
"Most likely forgot about everything while in his lab." his arm remained around her shoulders as they continued walking towards the kitchen.
A last glance was tossed his way from the young woman. "If you say so, Clint. So, during our next session, would it be possible to try a compound bow? See if they're all that you boast about them."
"Sure thing, Kagome, be a good test with your abilities too." their voices drifted when they turned the corner.
Tony was left standing in confusion. Had he gotten aroused from them… talking shop? Grumbling, he let his hand wipe down his face as he tried to cool his imagination and arousal. He was far more exhausted than he thought. Grab something quick to eat, he would bypass that shower and just get straight to bed. Though, the fantasies continued even as he pushed off from his spot against the wall and followed after the two archers, grumbling about misleading conversations.
Kagome eyed that sour looking billionaire as he practically stomped through the room, yanking the fridge open and grabbing a carton of left overs. She reared back slightly when he tossed them a frustrated glare, muttered something under his breath only to storm back out. Turning to Clint, she blinked a few times, attempting to ask her mentor, something, she just wasn't sure what or how to phrase it.
"Don't bother, Kid, his own fault." Clint ended his statement by taking a large bite out of his reheated slice of pizza.
Brows furrowing, Kagome looked down at her own leftovers. "But, I don't understand."
There was a slight snort from Clint that drew her gaze back to him. "He was eaves dropping."
"I'm aware, but his attitude is what confuses me." her lips pursed at his chuckle.
Wiping his hands on a napkin, Clint reached over and playfully tugged a strand of her hair. "Let's keep it that way for as long as we can." he chuckled when his hand was knocked away, letting him return to his plate.
Blue eyes narrowed on the man next to her. "I'm not a child, I am 22 and I understand that Mr. Stark is… well, the way he is. I just don't understand what about listening in on our conversation upset him."
Pulling her chair closer to his own, Clint ducked down, licking some sauce from the corner of her mouth. "Believe me, I appreciate the fact that you are a woman." he smirked at the blush that colored her cheeks. "So believe in me, when I say, it's best to leave the, complexities, that make up Tony well enough alone."
Biting down on her lower lip as she eyed Clint's own mouth, Kagome spoke up. "If so, could we drop the 'Kid' nickname? Feels inappropriate with our relationship."
"Kitten has a certain ring to it, but it feels like something Tony would call you." he chuckled even as he pressed a kiss to her cheek when she wrinkled her nose at the comment. "So, until we're ready for the others to know, it's your nick name when they're around, Babe."
AN: A little something that suddenly inspired me out of the blue. Yes, I know Clint has a wife and kids in the movies, but we'll just assume that in this piece, said wife is a sister instead and the kids are his nieces and nephews.