A/N: I know I'm working on so many other fics rn, but I can't help myself. I love the prospect of teenage Avengers who are best friends. Don't worry I'll keep working on my other ones, currently Don't Smash, De aged Avengers, Happy Family, and Stop, but I just had to entertain myself by playing with some ideas first.
Tony Stark turns over on the thin pallet that was on the floor in the corner. His hand accidentally smacks someone in the face, eliciting a groan from the other form.
"Sorry." He mutters.
The other form, was in fact, Clint Barton. On Clint's left is Bucky, and on his left, is Steve, then Natasha. Any normal circumstances, it may have been inappropriate to share a room and pallet with a girl, but these aren't normal circumstances.
Soft snores emanate from under the thread bare sheets, and Tony's eyes begin to droop again. The sound of quiet breathing lulls him back to sleep.
Clint opens his eyes in a flash, the sound of pots and pans clanging together jolts everyone awake. The wooden door swings open flooding bright light into the dark cellar.
"Wake up! Time for you good for nothins' to do your chores." Says Mrs. Gavin.
The door slams shut, and Tony flops back onto the pallet groaning. Steve pushes back the sheets and dutifully stands up, gathering his worn clothes in his arms and stepping into the closet. Clint rubs his eyes, laying back down on the warm pallet sounds wonderful. Tempting, but not worth getting in trouble. He sighs and stands up as well, stretching greatly. He pulls Bucky up, who was falling asleep again, and tosses Tony his clothes. Time for another day in paradise.
Steve splashed cold water on his face, attempting to perk up a bit. It was probably 5:00 a.m, and Mrs. Gavin was probably back in bed fast asleep. He steps out of the bathroom, fully dressed, and gestures Natasha inside. She smiles at him, and trudges inside. Closing the door softly, he sees the others have gone upstairs. He trots up the steps, walks through the living room, and into the kitchen. The three boys are gathered around the chores list, trying to decide who does what. Steve steps up to the table, and Bucky moves aside, letting him see the list. Steve squints helplessly. His eyesight has progressively been getting worse, ever since he had scarlet fever a year ago, his eyesight hadn't been the best. Now he was afraid he might lose it all together. He didn't want to tell the others. They had enough to worry about. He catches Bucky looking at him, and widens his eyes. Bucky frowns but looks away.
Bucky sees Steve squinting at the list, and frowns. He knew his eyesight wasn't good, but they couldn't afford to go to a doctor, or convince Mr. and Mrs. Gavin to care enough. The kid was the youngest, 14 and a half. He was the first one to be adopted by the Gavins, welcoming Clint, then Natasha, Tony, and himself. The first time Steve had gotten in trouble for not washing the dishes, the first time all of them saw him beaten, and locked in the basement, something snapped inside of them. He had been locked in for two nights. It was cold, damp, and dusty down there, and it irritated the kid's asthmatic lungs. From very early on, they swore to protect each other. Whatever it took. They would be there for each other. Always. Forever.
A/N: these aren't going to be very long chapters. The next chapter will be more interesting, I just had to have a simple beginning that had a little background. I hope you're intrigued! Stay tuned for the next chapter!