Chapter 15: About Her/ About Him

Natasha didn't know what to think at the moment. She was used to sitting quietly not saying much, but it was weird when the rest of them did it. Understandable though. She shared study hall with Steve in the mornings before lunch, and he finally filled her in on what happened while she and Bruce stayed behind yesterday. She didn't show it, but she was pissed at Clint. The last time he tried to play Hood Ornament something went wrong. And now again.

What a fucking dummy.

She was also pissed that he decided to have a 'nest day' following that event. She hated when Clint didn't want to talk. He had come too far personally and emotionally to be doing that now. Especially now that he had a boyfriend. Poor Tony. Natasha has gone through multiple 'nest days', but this was the millionaire's first. He was probably driving himself crazy thinking about Clint's current state of mind. Natasha still thought it best that Clint just have his 'nest day', but Steve and Tony insisted on seeing how he was doing. If they felt like they could do something, Natasha was open to letting them try. So much has happened since Tony's birthday weekend who knows how Clint would react?

There were two other things bothering her as well. One was Loki. She could understand exactly why even Thor wanted to sock him right in the mouth. She didn't know how and she didn't know when, but that lanky bastard was going to pay for almost getting Clint seriously hurt. The other thing was Bruce. Yesterday he stared at her like she was the eighth wonder of the world and called her beautiful. Natasha wouldn't have minded it so much if Bruce wasn't already taken. She'd be lying if she said she didn't have any attraction at all to Bruce. He was unconventionally handsome. Surprisingly witty. Smart. The right amount of adorkable. Gentle. Natasha liked hanging out with him. Still though, she never gave any serious thought about what it would be like dating him. She never even flirted with him. At least not intentionally. But now ever since their strange moment alone yesterday,...she just didn't know. Clint was her soulmate and she still never considered him a boyfriend. A lover. With how she is, was she even capable of seeing Bruce that way if she wanted?

Bruce was avoiding eye contact with her, and she knew right away that was going to be an issue for the near future. Bruce would do one of three things now. One; cut himself off from the Circle just to avoid being around her for risk of further awkward moments. Two; continue on as he is but now driving himself mad with his obvious conflicting about her. Three; see exactly what he can do about pursuing her, including breaking it off with Betty. Natasha frowned internally. She didn't want any of those scenarios to happen. Bruce was a really great guy, and honestly she didn't want to lose his companionship. Natasha closed her eyes and sighed. She knew she had no choice but to have a serious talk with him. The sooner the better. In the meantime, she let herself get immersed in the conversation that started when Tony and Thor came back from the bathroom. It was strange. Tony seemed a little happier now.

"Can we please not do this?" asked Steve who was red in the face.

Tony just chuckled and slapped him on the shoulder.

"Hell no, buddy. Say it. What did you help Sam make at the bake-off yesterday?"

"Sweet po-tay-to pie."

"Say your favorite dish from yesterday's barbecue."

"The po-tay-to salad." Steve grumbled.

Thor hung his head and laughed hard into his hands. Natasha cracked a smile. The Circle never ceased to amuse her.

"No. I expect that from Thor, not you. It's not 'po-tay-to' salad." Tony teased.

"Don't listen to him. It is what is." Natasha said with a wink at Steve.

Steve continued to blush but he himself couldn't help but smile at the way he pronounced certain words.

"How long are you guys going to milk this?"

"As long as we continue having pleasure in it, dear friend." said Thor.

"C'mon, Steve. You are kind of annoyingly perfect. Plus you know me. It's fun getting a rise out of you sometimes." said Tony with a wink and a shit eating grin.

Steve rolled his eyes.

"Gee, thanks."

"Look, just try this. Do it the way Sam does. Say 'puh-tay-da'." said Bruce.

Steve took a deep breath and slowly repeated,

"Puh-tay-da."

Natasha raised her eyebrows and clapped her hands.

"That was good. Now say 'I want a order of ribs and puhtayda salad.'" she prompted.

"I would like to have an order of ribs and some po-tay-to salad."

Natasha hung her head in her hand and snickered hard at him with everybody else. Tony slapped the table and groaned childishly.

"Ughhhh, you're hopeless. Try it again."

With slight concentration, Steve gave it another go.

"I want a order of ribs,..."

Thor gestured his hand at him.

"Mmm hmmm."

"and puhtayda salad."

Natasha nudged Steve's shoulder.

"There you go."

Natasha and the boys shared a good laugh. Even Bruce who managed to look at her without immediately looking away a second later. Progress.

"Hey, check out who's sitting at the table with Thing One and Thing Two over there." said Tony.

Natasha and the others all turned in the direction Tony was looking at. At the far end of the lunchroom were the Maximoff twins and some black haired guy Natasha didn't recognize.

"That's weird. The Maximoff twins don't talk to anybody." she said.

"Sound familiar?" asked Tony.

Natasha rolled her eyes at him.

"Once upon a time, Tony. Once upon a time." she answered.

Thor sighed tiredly and began rubbing his eyebrow.

"That is Loki. I did not know he shared our time of lunch."

Natasha narrowed her eyes hard and clenched her fists.

"So that's the little shit who almost hurt you guys yesterday?" she asked in a dangerously low voice.

Nobody touches her friends. Nobody touches her partner.

"Calm yourself, friend Natasha. I can see the fire in your eyes." said Thor.

Natasha unclenched her fists but kept her eyes narrowed.

"I haven't even been in contact with Loki and already I can't even stand the sight of him." she said.

Thor sighed and gripped his hair.

"Unfortunately he tends to have that effect on people. Oh heavens, I do not know what I am to do with him." the big blond groaned.

The anger in Natasha lessened when she saw the look on Thor's face. She forgot to take into account how much this had to be for Thor. Especially when she remembered all that he told her. Loki was his family, and even after two years nothing's changed.

"Does he know he has the same lunch time as you? And why is he sitting with the Maximoffs of all people?" asked Bruce.

Steve shrugged his shoulders.

"I hate to say but...maybe it's an outcast to outcast attraction? The Maximoffs are an enigma to me."

Tony scoffed and turned back around.

"Whatever. As long as he's not near us it doesn't matter to me. Let him hang out with those weirdos if he wants."

Steve frowned deeply at Tony.

"Tony, that's not nice. Don't name call the Maximoffs. I'm sure they're alright folks."

Natasha shrugged and went back to her food.

"Maybe you should invite them to the next upcoming birthday party, Captain. One of us might end up hooking up with them."

Steve couldn't help but chuckle at that.

"Very funny, Natasha. But if I recall, it worked pretty okay for another pair of 'weirdos'." he retorted.

Natasha chuckled as well.

"You proud of yourself?"

Steve flashed her his toothpaste commercial smile and nodded fiercely.

"Yup. Been happy to have you and Clint around ever since."

"As have I." said Thor.

"And me." said Tony.

"Me too." Bruce added, smiling softly at her.

Natasha pushed some hair behind her ear and beamed. Her heart began to swell with a pride and a happiness that she thought only Clint could bring.

"Damn. You guys got me all happy and shit."

"Language, Bonnie." Steve said with a self mocking attitude.

Natasha saluted him.

"Aye aye, Captain."

After lunch, the rest of the school day went by fairly uneventful. The only interesting thing that happened was Steve and the other members of the student body having a meeting about Prom. Spring Break was coming up in less than a month, and Prom was a month or so after. They went over some primary ideas for the theme then put them in writing for the faculty to review. At the end of the day, he met up with Tony, Bruce and Natasha at the parking lot. Thor had some after school football thing to go to, so Loki took his car to go home. Though considering Loki's reputation he might've taken it for a spin around town instead of going straight home. He found Tony talking with Bruce and Natasha by Clint's purple Saturn. Steve figured she must have used to to get to school since Clint loaned it to her yesterday and decided not to go to school today.

"Hey guys. What's going on?" he asked when he walked up to them.

Tony smiled when he Steve approach them.

"Oh good, you're here. Captain, would you mind doing what you suggested at lunch? Bruce has to take the bus, Natasha wants to leave him alone, and I have a business thing with Howard."

Steve shrugged.

"Sure I guess. I remember where he lives. You sure it's okay for me to go though, Natasha? You're his partner after all and you wanna leave him be."

Natasha put her hand on her hip.

"You don't need my permission, Steve. It was just my suggestion. But that's a different thing."

Natasha looked at Bruce.

"I'm going to go study with Bruce."

Bruce's eyebrows shot up.

"You are?" he asked, surprised.

"Yeah. You can ride with me." she replied with a wink.

Steve arched an eyebrow too. Natasha studied with Bruce before, so why did he act surprised? And why wasn't he speaking much during lunch? Bruce had gotten a lot better at talking more during group time. Steve sighed.

One thing at a time, Rogers.

Tony gave Steve a pat on the shoulder as he passed him by.

"Much appreciated, Steve.

Now if you'll excuse me, my boyfriend's sugar coochie has work to do. Catch y'all on the flip side!"

"Bye, T!" the others called out.

Steve gave Bruce a fist bump and Natasha a nod before he too went to his car.

This afternoon should be interesting.

Steve arrived in front of Clint's house less than ten minutes later. He saw that Barney's car wasn't in the driveway, so most likely Clint was home alone. Good. Steve wasn't happy to think it but he didn't like Barney very much. Steve walked to the front door and knocked the rhythm of Shave and a Haircut. He shifted his backpack on his shoulder and sighed nervously. He didn't know how Clint would react to unexpected company on a "nest day". Thirty long seconds went by with nothing happening. Steve raised his hand to knock again when the door finally opened. Clint stood there, shirtless and barefoot wearing a purple bandana and navy blue pajama bottoms. His eyes looked a little tired but all in all he seemed pretty okay. Clint smirked and sighed.

"I figured at least one of you would drop by after school." he greeted.

Steve smirked back.

"Afternoon. Can uh, can I come in?" asked Steve.

Clint backed up a few steps and gestured to the couch.

"Yeah. C'mon in, man. Bar Rescue is on."

Steven shrugged and walked inside. He'd never seen Bar Rescue before but he heard good things. Steve put his backpack in the corner and sat down on the couch while Clint slid a shirt on. Clint then sat down next to Steve and leaned on his shoulder. The two of them then sat and watched Bar Rescue, not saying much but enjoying the show. A half an hour later, Clint seemed in an okay mood so Steve went ahead and asked,

"So I'm pretty sure you know why I'm here. What's going on, Clint?"

"Not sure how to answer that question myself, Steve. I thought I was perfectly fine yesterday but today...I don't know. I just woke up and-"

"You didn't feel like dealing with anybody at all?"

Clint nodded.

"Yup. Happens to me once in a blue moon. Nat calls it a 'nest day'."

Steve smiled and put his arm around Clint's shoulder.

"I know, bud. That's why I'm here. Tony and Thor are busy and Nat went to go study with Bruce."

Clint hung his head low and swallowed.

"Is uh, is Tony mad at me? On my nest days I turn off my phone. He's probably sent me like a million messages."

"No. Just concerned. After his business thing he has to go to I'm sure he'll be right over here."

Clint leaned further into the crook of Steve's arm and sighed again.

"Well thanks for stopping by. This is the first time I've ever felt guilty about having a nest day."

A river of warmth spread throughout Steve's body. If there was something he loved it was helping a friend, and having that friend show just how much they felt about him. He knew it must've been a little embarrassing for Clint to admit he felt guilty about not showing up at school without a word, so Steve decided it was secret time.

"Hey Clint, remember that night you got loosey goosie at the corner store?"

Clint rolled his eyes and groaned.

"Yes, Steve. You know I do. Not a proud moment for me."

Steve nervously tapped his fingers on the couch.

"Aaaaand remember when I was helping you into the car and you um,...you said I was sexy?"

Clint muted the television and turned towards him with an inquisitive eyebrow.

"What about it?" he asked cautiously.

Steve leaned a little closer to Clint.

"Did you mean that?"

Nonchalantly, Clint said,

"I'd be lying if I said you weren't easy on the eyes, Captain. Yeah. I think you're kinda hot."

Steve couldn't stop the embarrassing giggle that burst out of him nor the red he turned around his ear. This was the first time he blushed because of a guy. Steve wasn't gay but wow. Clint laughed at Steve's reaction.

"Why are you asking by the way?"

"Because Clint, for a while now you've kinda been my guy-crush."

Clint bit down on his lower lip and wiggled his eyebrows.

"Oh really? This is news to me. Too bad Tony's my boyfriend. If he wasn't, I'd probably let you come at me."

Steve's eyes widened. Boy was Clint direct sometimes.

"You would?"

"Hell yeah. A couple weeks ago Nat asked me if there was anyone other than Tony I would go out with. I said you. Don't get me wrong, I'm not pining over you. I am PERFECTLY fine being friends with you. But yes, I find you datable."

Steve chuckled at patted Clint's arm.

"Consider me super flattered, Clyde. If you were a girl, I'd consider stealing you from Tony."

Clint looked Steve up and down and scoffed.

"Steve, I would wear you out."