For the next few days, things went normally. Well as normally as they can in this place. Steve accidentally ruined even more of the punch bags, Tony burnt the meal that Pepper was initially making and I worked out, as well as helping Rogers with mac products. I think we're done with that for the minute. I just need to think up our next project.
Me and Steve were sitting in a comfortable silence until we heard shouting.
"What the hell is that?" I asked Steve. He shrugged and we quickly ran over to the door to see if anyone was in trouble. And yes, someone was in trouble. Clint. He was completely battered from the mission that he had been on. One arm sleeve of his uniform was no longer there and there was a huge rip in his uniform around the side of his stomach. Blood was smudged into the black leather of his suit and his hair was sticking up in all directions.
Me and Steve were peeking round the kitchen door at quite a close proxemity. Don't think about him. Don't think about him. Don't...what is the point?
They came over to us, between the kitchen door and the sofa that Banner, Pepper and Stark were sitting on. I tried to ignore Steve's annoying firm chest against me.
"So how's everybody been then?" Clint asked casually. My mouth didn't fall open like the others. I know Clint. I know that he is hiding the pain to make himself look less weak. It's a boys thing. Actually, it's more of a Clint thing.
"Right, we are getting you cleaned up right now." Natasha instructed, walking to the corridor of rooms. We looked at the others, who were just as shocked as Steve was, and then went to sit back down in our seats in the kitchen.
"How does he not show it? He wasn't even limping?" Steve asked.
"JARVIS, give us a link to the corridor right now." I asked and JARVIS complied, displaying video footage of Clint being helped down the corridor by Natasha.
"Why would he not accept help in front of us?" Steve pondered, more to himself, but I answered regardless.
"I know that he doesn't like to appear weak in front of people, but I guess with you guys it's even more pressure to be just as good."
"Just as good? What do you mean?"
"I mean that he probably doesn't feel like he has as high a status as you guys have. You are superheroes after all and he doesn't even have a serum like Romanoff. He's just a human being." I explained and he nodded.
"I understand, but he shouldn't be intimidated by us. Yeah, he can use his bow and arrows to fight the enemy, but he also has skills beyond that. Not just combat skills either. He listens to people, their ideas, absorbs information, has incredible eyesight, doesn't lose his focus and most importantly brings the team together. He has great leadership skills and doesn't just complete the mission. He completes the missions with the right reason." he stated. His words almost wanted me to break down and cry, but to be honest everything he says wants to make me break down and cry.
"I agree." I said simply and smiled. He returned the smile and then we resumed into our comfortable silence, only to be interrupted 7 minutes later by JARVIS.
"Miss Hill. Mr Rogers. Your presence is required in the living room by Mr. Stark"
"Thank you JARVIS. I wonder what it is this time." I said raising my eyebrows. Then a question came to me. "JARVIS?"
"Yes, Miss Hill?"
"Why are you called JARVIS? What does your name originate from or why are you called it?"
"Mr. Stark called me JARVIS after the name of his father's butler JARVIS many years ago. Instead, he refuses to acknowledge that information and says he only calls me it because it is short for 'Just a Rather Very Intelligent System'."
"Thanks." I turned to Steve. "I always wanted to know that." I said, smiling like a school girl. "What are you doing?" I said to myself very quietly, through gritted teeth.
"What was that?" Steve asked.
"Uh...nothing." I replied and we went towards Tony.
"Ah, my new favourite couple." Stark commented, causing both of us to go red.
"We are not a couple." I said.
"Whatever you say CaptainHill. Whatever you say." he said, holding his hands up and smirking at me. I remember how our conversation went the other day.
"I need you to stop making comments about me and Steve."
"You do like him don't you."
"That's not what this is about. Stop making cheap jokes about us." I said sternly.
"Do you like him?"
"Will you stop if I tell you the truth?"
"Yes. I will."
"I don't like him."
"You said the truth, not lies Chill."
I sighed and shook my head. "I don't fancy him."
"We all know you're lying Hill. Just admit that you're into capsicle and I shall let this whole charade go." he said, smirking.
Damn him. "I don't like him." I said and Stark just got the sledge hammer again. "Bye Hill."
So that plan utterly failed. Why is he such a dick?
"All patched up Birdbrain?" Stark asked.
"Yep. Now what do you want?" Clint replied, wanting to get to the point.
"Well, I have a brilliant idea that involves everyone. A holiday!" he said throwing his hand up in the air. Oh God.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Steve asked. Am I even invited to this? I mean, I know I live here now, but it just seems a bit outsiderish.
"We all need to take a break! And i've cleared it with Fury. Hill, you're invited too, so stop looking so upset."
Steve shrugged, turning to face me, and said "It may be good to get out of the tower for a few days, I guess."
"Sounds great." I said smiling. Definitely packing a bikini!
"So Blackhawk...you coming with?"
"Clint?" Natasha said.
He turned his head to her and said "Might as well. We kind of need a break."
"Seems like we're in then." Natasha said to Stark.
"What about you Banner?"
"I can't risk it Stark." he replied.
"But it's sun, sea and...okay no sex for you, but sex for the rest of us! Come on...it's an Avengers outing."
He shrugged and "Sorry Stark. I've got work to do here and it's too dangerous." I felt sorry for Banner and his condition. However, we all knew that it might endanger the team.
He groaned, pouted and said "You ruin my fun."
"So...where are we going then?"
"Well, I have a private apartment next to the beach in Malibu. It used to be my house, but I felt like it needed redecoration anyway. I could turn it into a holiday home for all of us."
"Really? Are you sure Stark?" Steve asked.
"Yeah, i'm not using it anyway. Whenever any of you want to stay there, then go ahead."
"Wow. Thanks Stark."
"Might as well put it to good use." Stark replied. "Well, you'd better get packing...because we're leaving in an hour."
"An hour?" Steve asked.
"Yes, an hour. We're going on holiday and all of the clothes that you own are in your wardrobes. Do you think you can manage dumping them in a bag? Now come on! Lets move it!" he said clapping his hands, getting up to go his room.
"Uh, fine." I said getting up to go and pack, followed by Steve.
"Hey, what am I supposed to pack. I don't really know what kind of weather it's going to be?" he asked as we went down the corridor together.
"Well, you can pack a couple of pairs of jeans if you really want, but it is usually really warm there, so I would suggest shorts mainly. Oh and don't forget swimming trunks! Tony has a swimming pool there and of course there's a beach that we will go to." I said smiling at the thought of it. All of us there, together as a team. Me sitting there in my swimming costume next to cap who's in swimming trunks, maybe with his abs on display? You never know. I remember weeks ago when I saw him in his room. He came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his hips. We talked about S.H.I.E.L.D history that night.
"Great. Thanks and I'll see you back in the living room."
"Yeah. See you." I replied and entered my room.
Time to get packing. Sexy swimming costume. Summer dresses. Sexy summer dresses. Play suit. Sunhat. Jeans. Shoes. Shirts. Skirts. Shorts. Short shorts. Knee-length socks (:P) Underwear. Sexy underwear hidden at the VERY bottom of my suitcase just in case anybody decides to go snooping. And most importantly my Silver Baby Desert Eagle Air Pistol Co2 BB Gun .117 Caliber. Of course.
I finished zipping up my suitcase after about 55 minutes of packing and headed towards the living room. Once I got there, I saw Bruce standing without a suitcase, but Natasha, Clint, Pepper and Steve were there with their cases.
"All here apart from Tony. What a surprise!" I remarked and drew my cases next to theirs.
"Well Tony's late for everything." Pepper said, looking at her watch.
"Should we make our way up?" Natasha asked. I noticed that Clint and Natasha had a shared case. Things really have changed here.
"Might as well. He can meet us up there."
We walked towards the lift, meaning that I was pressed up against Steve.
"Sorry." I said, looking up at him.
"N-no worries." he replied nervously and we continued to ride the rest of the lift in silence. God, why is everything so awkward around him?
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