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Word Count: 916

Prompt 11: Horror doesn't settle for simple Tuesday: scary events happen on a holiday or special occasion.

Trick Or Treat

Tony leant into Steve's side, snuggling in until he was comfortable. Clint handed them a bowl of popcorn to share as he took his own seat beside Natasha with a second bowl.

Bruce sat in the armchair, fidgeting a little. Tony would be surprised if he made it through the first movie, never mind staying the whole night.

Tony felt for his science bro, he really did. He couldn't imagine having to measure something so simple as a horror movie night against turning into a huge, green rage machine.

JARVIS turned the lights down once everyone was settled, and the first movie appeared on the screen.

It was a Halloween classic: Scream.

Who didn't love a slasher?

(A quick glance at Bruce said that he didn't share Tony's enthusiasm.)

Bruce lasted exactly thirty six minutes before, with an almost silent apology, he scuttled from the room for the relative safety of his bedroom—or more likely, the lab.

Steve shifted, running his hand through Tony's hair in a way that, if he were able, would make Tony purr like a cat.

And then they were in darkness, the tv silent.

"Okay, who turned off the lights?" Clint asked.

Beside him, Tony could feel that Steve had tensed in his seat.

"It's probably just an issue with the reac-"

Tony was cut off by a growling sound.

"What in the absolute fuck was—"

It was Clint's turn to be cut off, and a scream sounded.

Tony and Steve were up on their feet in an instant, helping Clint fight off whatever had attacked him.

"It's Halloween dammit," Tony snarled, as Steve punched whatever had attacked them so hard it slumped, unmoving to the ground. "Have the monsters got no decency?"

"A good night for them to attack, no?" Clint offered, shaking himself off gingerly.

"Absolutely not," Tony replied, shaking his head. "Tonight is supposed to be a night off. We're supposed to get scared by fake monsters, not real ones!"

A roar sounded above them, and Tony groaned. "And now Hulk is gonna destroy my tower. Again."

"I'll go up and check on him," Steve said. "Clint, Tash, to down to the workshop with Tony and help him get a suit going; manually if you have to."

"You don't think we should stick together?" Clint asked, and Tony was surprised to hear real fear in his voice. He was usually better at hiding it.

Tony thought it might be because they were at home; no need to pretend when it was just them.

"Someone needs to check on Bruce," Steve replied gently. "If he's being attacked—"

"Sounded like Hulk had it in hand," Nat pointed out, and Tony whimpered.

His poor tower.

"Go," he said instead of complaining again. "Come and meet us as soon as you can."

…

So engrossed in trying to make his suit actually work, Tony didn't realise that Clint and Nat were in trouble until it was too late.

They hadn't run into any problems on the way down to the workshop, and Tony had almost thought it had just been the one monster, trying its luck.

Unfortunately not.

Having no luck with the suit, Tony tried to arm himself with anything in reach, but he wasn't sure that a spanner was going to do much about the monsters attacking them.

Clint and Nat fell silent, and then a low snarl sounded in the semi dark workshop. Tony had a small battery run lamp on the desk, but a thud sent it careering to the floor, smashing on impact.

Tony was forced to scramble back, until he hit solid wall, and only moments later, the monster was bearing down on him, it's breath awful.

Tony, panicking, tried to push the monster away, only to recoil when his hands met ragged fur.

He wasn't ready to die, but as a wide jaw opened, showing entirely too many teeth, a metal disk collided with the side of the monsters head.

Panting, Tony stayed where he was, staring at the monster laying on its side by Tony's feet. He looked up to see Steve in front of him.

"You came back for me."

"Of course I did. I always will, you should know that."

"Are Clint and Nat okay?"

"I think so. They're both alive at any rate," Steve replies, and then twisted around quickly as the lights flickered and came on; the sounds in the workshop waking up as everything came back to life.

On the floor beside Tony, in the spot the monster had been, was nothing.

"What the fuck?"

A crash at the door and they saw Thor standing there, Clint and Nat right behind him, each rubbing their heads.

"Friends! I see Loki surprised you!"

"Of course it was Loki," groaned, one hand on the armour. "What the fuck even was that, Thor?"

"Trick or treat, no? Of course, Loki wanted to do trick, and so I brought the treats. There is a feast for us to enjoy upstairs."

Tony and Steve exchanged a look, and Tony shook his head. "You can explain the customs, I… can't. You know I don't like his kicked puppy look."

Steve snorted and wrapped his arm around Tony's shoulders. "Come on, let's go see Bruce. He's back to himself, I think. He was turning when I came down to check on you."

Letting Steve lead him, Tony left Clint and Natasha to berate Thor.

They were spies, they could handle the kicked puppy look better anyway.

Written for:

Showtime: 6. Fear

Amber's Attic: 11. Horror doesn't settle for simple Tuesday: scary events happen on a holiday or special occasion.

Film Festival: 30. "You came back for me."

Bingo: 6. "Okay, who turned out the lights?"