"Dinner!" Pepper called and set the chicken nuggets on the table. She helped Natasha into her chair and Steve and started to pour variations of juice, water and milk into their cups. Then she noticed Clint wasn't at the table. She found him still sitting on the couch.
"Clint, are you hungry?" She asked softly. She saw his eyes dart around quickly before settling on her. He slowly slid off the couch and looked up at her. Pepper nodded and he started to walk over to the table. He looked back at her and she had to nod again before he skillfully climbed up the chair and sat down.
Thor was eating the most but Pepper wasn't surprised at all. Natasha was nibbling some but she was focusing on her doll. Tony was playing with his food while Bruce was eating while he hummed a tune and rocked side to side. Steve was looking down as he ate and Clint was hesitant to eat but once he started, he ate as if he hasn't eaten anything in days.
As everyone was finishing up Tony looked right at Natasha who was fixing the Barbie's shirt. "You're pretty." Tony snickered and Natasha looked at him with surprise before she stuck her tongue out at him. Clint laughed along with Thor. "Why you laughing at me?" Tony asked to Thor, who was sitting next to him while Clint was on the other side of the table next to Steve and Natasha.
"You're just jealous." Tony said to Thor when he didn't answer.
"I am not." Thor said, his laughter fading.
"Uh-huh. You too." Tony said and pointed at Clint.
"Am not." Clint said. The first words Pepper heard him say.
"Are too." Tony shot back.
"Am not."
"Are too."
Clint furrowed his eyebrows and looked away with a sigh. "See, you are." Tony grinned.
"Tony." Pepper warned but Clint grabbed his last chicken nugget and threw it. It hit directly between his eyes and left some ketchup on his head as the chicken fell away.
That made all the kids laugh, even Steve as Tony crossed his arms and pouted.
Clint looked smug but when Pepper looked over at him, his smile dropped and his eyes shown something Pepper could only describe as fear. "It's okay, I'm not mad." She smiled and Clint relaxed slightly but looked down at his plate. Pepper watched him as she wondered what his childhood was like.
After dinner they all ran into the living room, even Natasha. Thor seemed to take a liking to Clint since he hit Tony and followed him as he went to the toys. Clint seemed unsure of him but didn't fight against him when he sat next to the bags like he did.
He dug around before he found a toy suction dart gun. He cocked his head as he looked at it when he accidently pulled the trigger and a suction dart flew from the gun and stuck to the mirror on the other side of the room.
A huge smile spread on the little boys face.
"Maria," Pepper almost whined. "Why would you get a toy gun?"
Maria smiled as she shrugged.
The boys started to form a game. Kind of like tag but they could use anything to tag someone and they were on teams. Thor immediately wanted to be on Clint's team and Tony and Bruce paired together. Steve sat this one out and Natasha didn't want to play.
Before long they were all running around. Thor and Tony chased each other right away while Clint climbed upon the couch that Bruce was hiding behind. Clint stood and Pepper watched him carefully to make sure he didn't fall. He didn't though and aimed at Tony running at Thor. He waited a few moments before pulling the trigger.
Tony gasped and stopped as he reached to touch the side of his neck where the dart hit but fell to the floor. Tony looked around and spotted a smirking Clint. Thor cheered but Clint peeked over the edge and shot Bruce who was still hiding.
"No fair!" Tony yelled and Clint jumped down.
"That was fair," Thor said and stood next to Clint.
"No it wasn't, you can't shoot people."
"You said you could yourself." Thor said looking confused.
"Did not!" Tony said and twisted the gun out of Clint's hand.
Clint didn't hesitate in trying to get it back and in their struggle Tony pulled the trigger. The bright orange dart flew through the air and hit Natasha on her eye.
"Ow!" She cried out.
"Oh Natalia! Are you okay?" Pepper asked and rushed to her side. Natasha held her hand over her eye but nodded. Clint tore the gun back and walked over to Natasha.
"I'm sorry. I can get him back for you." Clint said to Natasha in a quiet voice. Pepper was about to interfere but decided Tony should learn a lesson. She smiled slightly as she backed away from the pair.
"Ok," Natasha nodded from where she was sitting at the kitchen table. He started to climb up and she scooted over. He stood on the chair and aimed at Tony who was focusing on the legos again. Clint shot the gun and the suction dart hit the small tower he was building. It tipped over and Natasha giggled.
"Hey! Pepper!" Tony pouted but didn't cry. Bruce walked over and started to help him rebuild it while Thor found a remote control car. Steve sat on the couch and watched the TV curiously as it played in the background.
Tony went back to his legos and the incident was forgotten. Pepper started to put the dishes away while Maria watched the kids. Clint and Natasha dropped down and she followed him to the couch.
"Who are you?"She asked and tugged on his arm to get his attention.
Clint looked over her before pulling his arm back. "Clint." He said hesitantly.
"I'm Natalia." Natasha smiled and hugged her doll. "This is Rose." She told him what she named her Barbie. Clint seemed uninterested as he turned to walked away but Natasha pulled him back. He knocked her hand away quickly and stepped back. Natasha seemed taken back by this and didn't try to stop him when he climbed the couch and sat to watch everyone. She sat in the shadow casted by the couch and played with her doll.
"Watch out!" Thor yelled as the remote control car ran over Bruce's foot.
"Careful." Maria warned.
"I'm tired." Tony said.
"Me too!" Steve and Bruce agreed.
"Me as well." Thor said after a yawn.
"Ok," Pepper said as she walked into the room. "Everyone pick a spot." She said and they all rushed to the blankets except for Clint and Natasha.
"Are you two tired?" Pepper asked.
"Yeah," Natasha said and walked over to her. Natasha laid down on the edge and hugged her doll close. The boys all spread out on the other side. "What about you Clint?" Pepper asked.
He shook his head but slid down to sit on the couch.
He yawned but wouldn't come down. "Come on my friend." Thor said as he looked up from his spot. Clint seemed hesitant. And Pepper thought about the ways he's been acting this whole time. He has a hard time trusting people. That was it.
"Ok, I'll put in a movie." Pepper said and reached into a bag still on the floor. She went through a few before pulling out the Lion King.
Within the first fifteen minutes everyone but Clint and Natasha was asleep. Natasha looked so tired but she forced her eyes to stay open. Pepper knew Clint to be tired but his eyes never failed to scan the area before he would watch the movie.
"Come on, Sweetheart." Pepper said softly as she scooped Clint up. He didn't struggle against her and she set him in the last open spot next to Natasha. They were back to back with Natasha on the outside, only then did they both fall asleep.
