Clint was perched on the counter next to the stove watching his husband make breakfast smiling. The past few days have been awesome. His husband is home for good and has been cooking all of their meals. Besides his husband himself, Clint missed Harry's cooking the most. He could taste the love that is put into each meal plus all of the food was good too. Clint could tell that Steve liked Harry's cooking as well since Steve has yet to miss a meal even though it was never announced but once. Harry sent a message to everyone's phone listing the times when the meals would be served and left it at that. You either ate then or found your own, unless you were Clint and occasionally Natasha.
"Mmm, smells good, what's for breakfast?" Natasha came walking through the door, she had smelt the savory flavor from Stark's library.
"Sausage, gravy and biscuits along with fruit salad," Harry motioned with his spatula grinning, "almost done."
Natasha grinned before rolling her eyes and lifted her hand to count down from five.
Clint chuckled hopped down from the counter and removed the fruit salad from the frig and moved to the table where six places were sent but only four were ever used.
As Natasha's count down ended and no Captain was present she frowned walking over to her seat and Harry was levitating the main courses to the table. Looking around Harry noticed the Good Ole Boy was missing.
"Where's Spangle?" Harry questioned dishing out Clint's serving before his own.
Natasha shrugged stabbing some fruit from the bowl to her plate.
CRASH! The sound of a table being smashed into hall echoed into the kitchen followed by muttered curses.
The three Shield Agents arched their brows as they looked at each other.
A moment later a flushed and sweaty and Captain America entered the room panting, "I haven't missed breakfast right? It's still going on?"
Natasha mind was gone down the gutter on Fantasy Lane even though she responded normally, "We just sat down."
"Thank goodness," Steve quickly made his way to his spot next to Natasha.
Steve began piling his plate full of sausage and biscuits before pouring the gravy over top with a gleeful smile. Ever since that first night meeting, Steve had been a little more excited about living and after the breakfast the next morning that was actually homemade rather than take out Steve had been a little more trusting as the four of them sat and ate their meals bonding.
Chuckling at Steve's exuberance, Harry joked, "So that's quite a mouth you got going on there."
Steve burned red as he coughed slightly, "You heard that?"
"This place is rather echo-y," Clint pointed out laughing at the darker red that appeared o Captain's face.
"I do believe you beat Tasha in swearing," Harry bantered bring his sister into it rather than her just silently sitting there.
"Shut up Harry, like you have room to talk mister-cusses-in-seven-different-languages," Natasha fired back.
"Technically eight if you count hissing," Clint added earning a playful poke from his hubby.
"Well at least it's educational," Harry defended pointing a fork full of fruit at his sister.
Everyone laughed and Harry smiled even though he was mentally thinking, If Stark and Banner don't show up for dinner he was going to go get them, research be damned.
Later that day…
"Rope," Harry lightly scratched Clint's scalp before he resumed his earlier task of petting.
"Erotic," Clint purred relaxing on top of Harry eyes closed.
"Chains."
"Skin."
"Nude."
"Engorged," Clint responded drowsily. They were outside on the balcony in a hammock with the sun shining down on them. A perfect way to spend their afternoon.
"Dominance," Harry countered just as drowsy. He was content as well with sun, sky and his beloved. What more could he ask for?
"Enthralled."
"Delicate," Harry looked down to see his husband giving him a one eyed glare.
"Eradicate," Clint relaxed once more closing his eyes.
"Entice," Harry lightly skimmed his fingers down Clint's back and arms, smirking when goose bumps appeared.
Inside…
"What are they doing?" Steve asked as he sat at the counter with some juice.
"Playing a word game," Natasha answered shrugging as she worked on her Sudoku, she only had two boxes left.
"Oh. And what are you doing?" Steve trying to read her book upside down.
"A number game," came the distracted answer.
Steve sighed. He really wanted to get to know the spider assassin better but unless she was with her brother her answers were always short.
"Hmmm," Steve stood and left to go sit on the couch as he flipped through the channels. He had settled on the Discovery channel when he felt someone sit beside him. Chancing a look, Steve saw Natasha sitting with her back against the armrest facing him still diligently working on her numbers game. Smiling slightly, Steve turned back to the program only to grin a bit later when a pair of delicate feet with toes painted red slid onto his lap.
He ran a single finger down the length of the foot and laughed lowly when said wiggled, almost demanding in a silent command to rub them. Acquiescing the silent request, Steve slowly rubbed the foot and couldn't keep the smile of his face when he felt body attached to the foot relax. Maybe he did have a chance…
Evening…
As Harry sliced the meat for dinner he asked, "Is this normal not to see Stark and Banner for a while?"
"Yeah, they eventually surface but not for long," Clint replied chopping peppers for their dinner.
"Hmm," Harry added the meat to the skillet to cook.
"Why?" Clint questioned as he moved on to chop olives.
"It's going to change."
Clint laughed softly imagining his love storming into Stark's lab. Maybe he could have Jarvis play a live feed?
With the meal prepared and Clint, Tasha and Steve sitting around the table, Harry purposefully strode to the door that led to Stark's lab fully intended to bring the two geniuses to dinner calmly and gently.
Clint seeing his hubby head for the Lab door waited till Harry has gone through, ignoring the questioning looks from his dinner companions called out, "Jarvis can you play live feed?"
"Of course sir."
Grinning, Clint watched as a screen began playing a feed of Stark and Banner at their computers looking exhuasted and frustrated.
Natasha and Steve looked at each other before watching the screen as well.
"Maybe if we change the dose," Banner started to say.
"No, that's not the problem, I think we need to focus more on the elements being used," Stark interrupted. It looked as if he was going to continue but it was then that Harry walked into the lab.
"Stark, Dr. Banner," Harry greeted politely causing the two scientist to look up.
"Who are you?" Banner asked pushing his glasses up.
"Your new babysitter, Harry," Harry answered casually leaning against one of the desks, "Now why haven't you been up for food and," Harry sniffed the air, "shower?"
Blushing slightly Banner coughed while Tony answered, "Because we are on the verge of a breakthrough with Gamma radiation!"
"So?" Harry waved his in what's-the-point fashion.
"So this is huge! Brucie won't become the Hulk, although I personally like the Hulk, but Bruce doesn't," Tony stated.
"Right well you have thirty seconds to save your data and get up to the dinner table," Harry announced casually causing snickers from the three up at the dinner table.
"No, this is more important than dinner!" Tony retorted standing while Bruce could see the serious in Harry's green eyes began saving their work.
"You have ten seconds before I start dragging you out of here by your ear," Harry said lifting up his fingers to start a count down.
"You're bluffing," Tony said folding his arms across his torso, aware that Bruce rapidly saving their work.
Next thing the observers saw was Harry flash across the room holding Tony's ear looking at Bruce. They saw Bruce nod and walk out of the room. Clint was laughing as they watched Harry start chastising Tony while dragging him the ear out the door.
The live feed cut and the door opened to see Bruce quickly making his way to his spot at the table. Before anyone could say anything, the door opened again to reveal Harry dragging Tony by the ear to the table muttering about Superheroes who don't take care of themselves while Tony was yelling about being an adult man and this was abuse.
"Do shut up Tony, if you were an adult as you claim then you would know that you need to eat and sleep," Harry growled plopping Tony down next to Bruce making his way next to his husband.
Tony was rubbing his ear replying, "Someone of us know the true meaning of sacrifice."
Clint froze when he heard Tony's snarky reply. Clint knew that both Harry and Tony had sacrificed themselves for the whole of world, but he also knew that Tony didn't know that Harry had suffered more for sacrifices.
Natasha glanced worriedly at her brother knowing just what all he has sacrificed in his life. Steve frowned disapprovingly at Stark and Bruce was looking between the two warily.
Harry nodded with a slight frown, "Yeah some of us do, however some of know when and where to sacrifice. Sacrificing your life for your loved ones or for something you believe in is a good one. Sacrificing instant money for something more long lasting is another way. Sacrificing the remote to your angry other half is another one, even giving up the last potato chip to another is good. However sacrificing your body for research that can wait as it is not deadly is not. Not sleeping and eating could causes mistakes in your research as your body is wearing down. What if your research went wrong because your brain shuts down and you fall asleep at a critical moment? YOU could ultimately kill Banner."
Tony glanced over to look at Bruce who was frowning before looking back at Harry full of defiance that was slowly being chipped away as he actually thought about the consequences.
"This sacrificing over 'science' is a cover-up for self-destruction. I knew someone who was just as intense over his research and put all of his time and money into because he didn't like himself nor the role he played. Rumors were spread about him and instead of dispelling them, he fed into them hiding his true self away while letting his self-hatred grow.. Ultimately he sacrificed himself for something he believed in but he slowly killed himself until then by not taking care of himself. He didn't know what his death did those around him."
Harry quit talking piling the dinner onto Clint's plate and his own, letting his words sink into everyone's minds. Natasha and Steve followed his example filling their plates. Steve's thoughts were circling around the self-hatred bit and couldn't help but connect it to Tony and the day they were on Helicarrier. Bruce also filled up his plate, just realizing how hungry he was after his stint down in the lab, thinking about his own self-hatred and fear of his alter self.
Tony not one to give up asked rather quietly, "And what did his death to those around him?"
Harry focusing on his food answered just as quiet, "Some cheered as they believed the rumors, but those who knew him mourned and promised vengeance to those who ultimately killed him. Once the vengeance was obtain, depression set in and they never truly forgot him. They try to honor his memory."
The table was silent as everyone was focused on their own thoughts and eating. Surprising it was Harry who broke the silence.
"Which is why, you and Banner are required to be at the table for breakfasts and dinners from now on and must sleep for at least 7 hours a days, either night or day. Failure to meet these requirement will incur punishment," Harry in such a stern tone that it reminded a few of a father chastising his children.
Steve was shocked at how serious Harry sounded and had no doubt that he would follow through.
Natasha was smiling secretively at how much her twin cares for those under his wing.
Clint was snickering softly at Tony's and Bruce's dumbfounded expressions.
Bruce was slightly shocked at this man who Tony mentioned fleeting when he came down to the lab a few days ago that had earn some respect from arrogant genius; although the feeling of having some care about your needs was new and slightly comforting.
Tony's anger at being interrupted had vanished and was frankly shocked as well at the obvious care Harry had for them. He was so used to the disappointment in people's eyes and they're sharp retorts that he didn't know how to handle the obvious care and reverted to his self-defense mechanism.
"Right away, dad," with as much sarcasm as Tony could muster.
"Make sure to clean behind your ears as well," came the smart-ass reply.
Seriously Tony's respect for the guy continues to rise.