Disclaimer: Do not own!
"...A game called Party Quirks. Cheer up, just about one more game and we'll be through with this. Steve, you're stuck hosting a party where those three are your guests. Now get down here before you read their cards." Fury ordered, jutting his index finger in Steve's direction and then motioning to center stage. Steve obligingly stood and stepped down as Tony, Clint and Natasha were given envelops containing cards with strange personalities or quirky things written on them.
Tony's lips curled upward and he nodded as he read his card, seeming quite pleased with it. Clint blinked several times as he read the words written on his card, his expression somewhat befuddled, brows drawn down as he thought it over. Natasha stared at hers, reading it quickly but twice to be sure she got it, then put it away, stood and got in line behind the other two. Her expression gave nothing away regarding what had been written on her card.
"Tony, Clint and Tasha have been given cards with a quirky personality thing written on them, never seen them before, that they have to act out. Steve must guess each one by the end of the game. You three, line up over there," Fury pointed to the other side of the stage, where they had already began to line up, "and you'll come in one at a time whenever you hear the doorbell, starting with Stark. Go."
"Ah, party in the community room. I hope SHIELD doesn't mind." Steve muttered to himself as he pretended to survey an invisible table, taking inventory of what he had out. "Let's see - chips, drinks...oh no, forgot the dip. Where is the dip?" As he turned around in search of the elusive dip, the doorbell sounded.
"Oh - that must be the first of my guests!" Steve turned and approached where the three were lined up, opening the 'door' for Tony.
"Good evening," Tony greeted in a distinctly British accent accompanied by a quick, completely insincere smile as he first met eyes with Steve then let his gaze travel over to where the table would be. "Have you tried looking in the community fridge around the corner for your missing dip?" Tony inquired as he stepped down and walked along the stage, hands behind his back and eyes ever-roaming. If you hadn't guessed by now, his card had read SHERLOCK HOLMES RULING OUT SUSPECTS.
"Right, I forgot there were two- Wait, how'd you know it was missing?" Steve asked, his eyes first lighting up as he turned towards the table, then clouded over with confusion and mild suspicion as he turned back to Tony. Tony shrugged, his eyes roving towards the ceiling as he continued walking about.
"Very simple, that. The layout of the table is certainly suggestive, having everything except the aforementioned item, which there is a clear spot for right there." Tony pointed at the table, then held his hands behind his back once more as he turned to face Steve with another fake smile. "That, and I heard you talking to yourself through the door. Now, remind me, who all have you invited to this...gathering?" Steve rose an unimpressed eyebrow as the door bell sounded.
"Don't think I outlined that just yet, you'll find out soon though, and - sorry I must get that." Steve turned and opened the 'door' for Clint. He had a slight smile on and was about to speak, but as soon as he met Steve's eyes, he tensed and his own eyes enlarged quite comically.
"Everybody down! They've just locked a target on us, incoming!" Clint shouted, tackling Steve around the waist and bringing them both down on the knees and, waddling quickly over to Tony, yanked on his wrist to force him into a crouch as well. Clint's card, a bit more complicated and long, had read, ANYTIME EYE CONTACT IS MADE, BELIEVES A MISSILE IS INCOMING.
"What are you talking about, who has got a target lock on us?" Steve whispered, laying a calming hand on Clint's shoulder.
"Uh, the bad guys." Clint said, looking up again at Steve, who had been looking at him, so...eye contact again. "NO! They just sent another one, can't you hear?! What, are you working with them?" Clint asked, rather hotly as he threw off Steve's hand from his shoulder.
"Quite a nervous one, isn't he?" Tony commented in bemusement, keeping up the British accent quite well. "A little too much drink?" He asked, glancing at Steve.
"Nah, he's usually like this." Steve answered with a shrug; Tony gave an 'ah,' expression and turned away, eyeing Clint again. Clint met his eyes and gasped.
"Come On, seriously?! Not again! We need to get out of here, people!" Clint turned to run, but just then the door bell sounded.
"Hold that thought, please, and you...keep him calm." Steve said, first speaking to Clint and then to Tony.
"Calm?" Tony sounded a bit incredulous.
"Well, get his mind on...something else." Steve said with a vague wave of his hand as he turned to go answer the 'door.' "Ah, well...I see shooting arrows from a well-made bow string is among your hobbies. Tell me, have you recently-" Tony was cut off as soon as Natasha, whom had been looking around as she stepped down, spotted Clint. Her card had declared her to be CLINT'S BABY SITTER.
"There you are!" Natasha very nearly yelled, hands on her hips, as she approached where Clint and Tony were still huddled. "I turn my back for just a moment, and look what happens.." Nat muttered to herself as she headed over. "Clint, have you thanked the nice men for allowing us into their party?" She asked, looking down at him. Clint looked up her, meeting her eyes, and his expression changed rapidly from fear to anger.
"Not you too! Everybody, get down! Brace for impact, or - something! Where are they getting all these missiles from, seriously?!" Clint hollered, as Natasha gave an indulgent smile, sighed and sat down next to Clint.
"Still going on about those silly missiles, are we? I hope he's been no trouble." She said, looking at Steve now.
"Well, he clearly believes someone is sending missiles in our direction...whenever he meets someone's eyes?" Steve asked aloud, and a buzzer sounded. Clint gave a sigh of relief and retreated to his seat.
"Oh, where's he gone now?" Nat asked herself, annoyed as she looked around once Clint was off center-stage.
"And you, are some sort of guardian for him." Steve observed, raising an eyebrow. The buzzer sounded again.
"Close enough, she was Clint's baby sitter. Not much different from usual, really." At Director Fury's comment, Clint, from his seat, stuck out his tongue in a rather child-like fashion.
"And you.." Steve began, turning to Tony, who had also risen to his full height by this point. Tony inclined his head.
"You were walking in the country recently, very near the area in which the murder took place - I can tell by the distinct colouring of the mud on your shoes - you may as just tell me for what purpose, now." Tony declared, staring Steve down. Steve smiled, folding his arms over his chest as he finally got it.
"I would think you'd be able to deduce that yourself, Mr. Holmes." The buzzer sounded, and Tony smiled brightly.
"Hey, and I didn't even mention Watson!" Tony, voice returned to normal, said with his hands out in a 'wow' sort of expression.
"Yeah, well, I should've known with that accent." Steve said, a bit grumpily.
"Yes, yes you should've. But oh well, we all make mistakes." Tony said with a laugh, clapping Steve on the back as they all headed back to their seats. Fury sat at his desk, arranging a few papers, looking over his notes but not speaking for a full minute.
"Well," Fury finally began, leaning back in his chair with a sigh, "It looks as if...we are done. For now. I may have to call you idiots in again for another game or two, depending on the results from the audience, but...for now. You four," here he paused, pointing at each of them individually and giving all an equal scowl, "are dismissed. Now, get outta my sight!" The four chairs were emptied within seconds, and it wasn't long before the premises was vacated, and indeed the entire scene fell dark. For now.
Ok so that's it, for now! I had wanted to do another chapter that featured Bruce as one of the mains, but my creative-ness for this story is running low, so...I'm decided to end it here. That's not to say that I'll never come back and do another chapter, just. Probably not for quite some time.
Meantime, I'm set to start work on another Whose Line story...I'm calling it a StarLockian mix. I know, kinda strange combo, but, when an idea gets into your head it is sometimes quite impossible to shake. So, if that sounds interesting to anyone, please stay tuned! And thanks so much for reading, hope you enjoyed it~!