A/N at end of chap

Natasha was left as the bartender after Tony had sent the actual one home for the night. His birthday party this year had gone on without a hitch for once. So far, he even managed to keep his pants on. The main party had gone on for hours ending at what Tony referred to as an 'early two in the morning' with a guest list ranging from the thousands. The afterparty was more select only Avengers, Pepper, and Happy. Peter would have been welcome too, had he not passed out at one. It was okay; he would wake up in the morning covered in sharpie.

They had all moved the party out to the veranda, sitting poolside in the cool night as Tony's bots cleaned up on the inside. Natasha finished the drinks as the rest sat clumped together not far away, laughing and talking. Tony was inside, making sure the bots were cleaning correctly, seemingly having an important talk with Steve. She smirked, only imagining what they were talking about while Clint tried to chastise her.

"I mean, you two danced nearly every dance together, Tasha," Clint leaned heavily on the bar, watching as she mixed more cocktails.

"Sorry, Clint, I'll be sure to refrain from dancing in the future I just didn't know we were in Footloose is all," She responded blandly.

"You know what I mean," He sighed.

"No, Clint, I don't," She sighed, brushing her hands on the countertop. "Why don't you spell it out for me."

"Listen," He leaned in, speaking in a lower tone. "I know you and Tony have gotten a little close. I just don't want either of you getting hurt. Tony, he isn't the type to settle down, okay? He isn't even the type to be with someone more than once. He just recently broke up with Pepper. What? Six? Seven months ago? They're due to get back together any day now."

"Yeah?" She looked past him at Pepper as she leaned heavily on Rhodey. "You sure about that?"

"Natasha, I just want you to be safe, okay?" He leaned in further. "Please, just don't do anything with Tony. He isn't good for you, and honestly, I don't know how well you'd fit for him."

Her eyes slid to him, pushing off the counter to finish a few more cocktails. "Oh really? And why's that Barton?"

He winced at the use of his last name. "You both have very different types of people, that's all. Just, promise me, you won't do anything with Tony. If you're bored and want to be with someone again, you and I can go to the club and pick someone up for you. Just… anyone but Tony. Please."

Natasha smiled, putting the two finished drinks on the bar in front of him. "Clinton, I'm going to tell you this once and only once, so you better listen carefully. It is none of your business who I am with, no matter how close we are. If I choose to be with Tony, Bruce hell if I decide I wanna fuck or marry Loki-" She paused to let her point sink in, satisfied with his wince as it did. "It is none of your business or right to decide. You are my friend, not my father or handler. Try and remember that, hmm?"

Clint winced, leaning back from her. "Yeah… I might have overstepped a bit. I'm sorry, Tasha. I'm just tiring to look out for you."

"I understand," She nodded, motioning to the drinks. "Take these to Pepper and Wanda. I'll be over soon with the last drinks."

He nodded, looking like he wanted to say more but seeming to drop it for the time being as he grabbed to drinks and walked away back to the group. Natasha let out a sigh after he left, starting a martini for Tony as he walked up to her as well as her glass of vodka. "You would not believe the conversation I just had with Captian Do Good." He groaned, throwing himself onto the bar counter.

"If it was anything like the one I just had with Clint, then I'll need to make your drinks a little strong too," She smirked.

"Clint too?" Tony scoffed. "Cap told me how I have to keep it in my pants for once and reminded me of the definition of sexual harassment. All under the guise of helping me, of course, saying that if I tried anything with you, then you'd murder me in my sleep."

"Hmm," She smirked. "Clint told me that you and I together is a recipe for destruction. He begged me to stay away from you. Told me you'd be getting back with Pepper soon and offered to take me out to find a better match." She placed his drink by his shoulder, leaning closer to him. "He told me you, and I spelled danger."

"Oh?" He smirked, rolling his head to her. "And what do you think of that?"

"I've always loved danger," She smiled, leaning closer to him.

"So have I," He smiled back at her before glancing at the rest of them, gaining a stink eye from Clint and head shake from Steve. "Natasha?"

"Yes?"

"Can I ask you something personal?" Tony leaned closer to her, pulling a strand of her hair around his finger.

"Always," She answered.

"If this was the last birthday party you were going to have, what would you do?"

She raised an eyebrow. "That depends; you're not dying again, are you?"

"No, far from, actually," Tony answered. "Just… curious, I guess."

Natasha sighed. "Then, I would do whatever I wanted to do, with whomever I wanted to do it with." She stole his martini, taking a sip before putting it back in front of him. "Maybe do something I've never done before."

"Hmm," He nodded, watching her lips as she smiled. "What's something you haven't done?"

"I don't know, Tony," She chuckled. "I've done a lot. You?"

"Yeah, you have done me," He gave her a lop-sided grin as she rolled her eyes. "Oh, you mean something I've never done? Well…" He looked up at the balcony near the edge of the pool. "Have you ever jumped into a pool from a story up?"

Natasha just scoffed. "Of crouse, why?"

"Naked?" Tony asked. "In the middle of an after-party?"

She looked up at the balcony then back at him with wide eyes. "Actually… yes."

"I'm not surprised." He laughed. "We can't do fully clothed; your dress is much too nice. We'll just have to do it in our underwear, then won't we?"

"Tony," Natasha said in a warning voice. "Do you really want to-"

"Come on, why not?" He grabbed her hand, slowly leading her from behind the bar. "It'll be fun. Besides, it's bound to piss off Dumb and Dumber." She grinned wider, letting him pull her into his arms as he whispered in her ear. "What do you say, Agent Romanoff, wanna do something dangerous with me?"

"It's hardly dangerous, Tony, the pool is ten feet deep, and the jump won't be any more than a story," She let out a small giggle as she nudged her head against his.

"It's dangerous if you count in all the daggers your gal pal Barton is shooting me right now and the boredom I will die from when I get a lecture from Steve later," They both spared a glance to the rest. True enough, Steve looked more disappointed than ever, and Clint looked ready to jump out of his seat and start a fight. "Come on, Red, don't let me die in vain."

"Well," She smiled, pulling him closer to her mainly because she wanted to and slightly to piss Clint off more, count it as payback for that 'talk' he had with her. "I could never let anyone die in vain, let alone you."

"That's so kind of you, really," He smiled, letting go of her waist to take her hand and tug her behind him. "Come on, let me get you undressed."

"That's it," Clint popped up from his seat. "I don't care if it's his birthday. I'm beating him to a-"

"Sit your jealous ass back down," Pepper snapped, rolling her eyes. "I swear you boys are so quick to a fight."

"But Tony and Nat are-" Steve began.

"Tony and Natasha have been dating for five months," Wanda rolled her eyes. "They haven't outrightly told anyone because you guys are so judgemental, my lord."

"Seriously," Rhodey stated blandly. "Lay off of them."

"Lord knows they deserve some damn happiness," Pepper added. "So if you try to go up there and bother them, you have to go through me."

Clint was about to respond, but before he could get his words out, a scream "Go!" Grabbed all their attention.

Natasha's dress fell to the floor, leaving her in only a black bra and panty set. Tony walked out from behind her in only his boxers, the doors to the balcony wide open. "How you wanna do this? Go on three? Go after three? Go on, Go? Go after go? Just stay up here and have cray loud sex till they all leave or Baton comes up here and puts an arrow in my ass or-"

Natasha laughed, putting a hand over his mouth to keep him from going, feeling a smile form under her hand. "We go after go. And hold my hand, I'll pull you into the right place."

"Hey," He said with mock offense. "This isn't my first jump into the pool. Granted, this is the most clothed and sober I've been for it. But I think that plays to my advantage."

"You're the worst," She rolled her eyes, a small smile on her lips.

"Maybe," He held out his hand. "But you still like me, so I can't be that bad." He licked his lips. "Three."

Natasha met his smile, holding out her hand. "Two."

He grabbed her hand tightly, excitement rolling off of him. "One."

They both smiled. "GO!"

A/N:

I apologize for my lack of updates! As those who read my other a/n know (no judgment if you don't I only read them from my fav stories or authors so I get it) I recently had a child in Dec 2020. In March of this year (2021) my spouse was deployed with a week's notice and as of now (July 2021) he is still gone and we don't know when he will return. :( so being a first-time mom, and having to live as a single mom, has been more than difficult. I've moved back closer with family during this time for support and help with my Lil Lord, however, babies are full-time and not very easy. That said, I will try to prioritize writing more in my limited free time. It really does bring me joy and a sense of fulfillment. I have a few multi-chap stories that I'd love to post but need some encouragement to do so. They aren't done yet so they would be a 'write a chap and post' kinda thing. If ya'll would like to hear about them or their plots to try and help me decide if and when to post them, please let me know. Again, I'm truly so sorry for my lack of updates. I know how much fanfictions can mean to some people, but sadly life happened in a big way for me and my family.

~Love (and sorry again) Liv