Chapter 4

When Stark found out that Clint was in DC he invited everyone to a party at Stark Tower, or rather Avengers Tower as he insisted. Natasha was in no mood for a Stark party but Clint wanted to go and even Steve said he would be there which surprised her. She once asked him to go clubbing with her and he looked downright panicked and stumbled something about having to do laundry. They both knew it was a lame excuse but Steve was so flustered and cute that she let it slide.

Even Thor was back on earth and would come from London with Dr. Foster and her intern. It would be the first time that everyone of them was in one room together. Tony would sent a private jet for her, Clint and Steve and told them that he had a surprise for them at the Tower. God knows that that could be, with Stark it could be anything. Maybe he started building suits for tigers, who knew.

Natasha loved Clint, he was like her big brother. He was family, her wife and his kids were her family. She owed him everything, there was no way she could ever repay him. But right now she would love to kill Clint with his own arrows. She hoped he would drop the Steve topic but he didn't. Oh no he used every single oppurtunity to tease her about her crush, his words not hers. She didn't even know why he was at the Triskelion so much. He had a few meetings and sessions but he didn't need to be the whole day at SHIELD. Clint didn't plan on going back into the field for another couple of months. He wanted to spend more time with his family after Loki. Yet here he was and observed every interaction she had with Steve. Even if he wasn't in the room, she knew that he was watching. He took the whole Hawk thing every seriously and probably hacked into the cameras to spy on her and Steve.

Clint was already waiting for her, leaning against her Corvette, when she and Steve entered the garage of the Triskelion. They had a training exercise with STRIKE and she noticed that Steve was particularly hard on Rumlow. She didn't know why or did she care why. She wasn't a big fan of him. He was a good agent, former marine, but he was an asshole. She never liked him and if Steve wanted to kick his ass, who was she to judge? She rather enjoyed it when he wiped the floor with him.

Steve waved at Clint and then turned to her. "I'll meet you at the airport, right?"

She nodded. She offered that he could share a cab with her and Clint but apparently Steve had a new friend, Sam, who would drive him.

"Yup, we'll see you at 5 pm."

He smiled at her and walked to his bike. She hated how much happy she was when his smile was directed at her. Not that she was keeping scores or anything but she did notice that he smiled at her more than at anyone else here at SHIELD.

"If you scratched my car, I'll cut your balls off."

Clint laughed and moved away from the car. "I think you'll get in trouble with the missus. She wants another kid."

She loved Laura but she didn't think there was any need for more mini-Clints not when he was so annoying. She got into the car and waited for him to sit down in the passenger seat.

"You wanna get Chinese? We still have time before we have to be at the airport."

Clint hummed his approval and Natasha was already driving on the bridge that connected the Triskelion to the mainland when Clint spoke again.

"Why are you trying to set Steve up with every available female employee? I'm sure if you ask him out, he'll say yes."

Natasha ignored him and stared at the road. She hoped that Clint would drop it but of course he didn't.

"You ever think he never asks any of the women out because he waits for you to go on a date with him?" She could see out of the corner of her eye how he was grinning at her.

"Steve needs to explore. All of the women I suggested would make a good girlfriend for him. I did not try to set him up with every woman at SHIELD. It's actually pretty hard to find someone who's good enough for him." She scoffed. There were over 300 female SHIELD agents at the Triskelion and so far she only found nine who were good enough for Steve. Well not really good enough but they were a good enough match for him. She really took some effort to find him women.

"So that's what this is about." They stopped at a red light and she looked briefly at Clint and he gave her small smile. "You think you're not enough for him. Tasha, let me tell you something. You are amazing. Steve would be lucky to date you." He squeezed her hand that was on the gearshift.

"I don't wanna date Steve." She removed her hand to put it on the wheel, she didn't want his pity.

Clint sighed the same way he did when Cooper didn't want to go to bed. "You liking him is not a bad thing. It's actually a great thing. You've been doing so great for so long. You should have something to share your life with."

"I have you. And Laura."

"That's not the same and you know it. I want you to have what I have with Laura."

She had to laugh at that. She could be lucky she wasn't dead or somewhere in a dark cell for the rest of her life. She got more than she ever deserved.

"Just think about it, okay?" She could hear at his tone that he was willing to let the topic go. For now.

"Okay"

She managed to get a parking space right in front of their favorite Chinese restaurant. Clint rubbed his hands. "Mm, Daddy wants some spring rolls and Peking duck."

"Please don't refer to yourself as Daddy when your children are not around."

Clint stuck his tongue out and got out of the car.

The private jet landed directly on the roof of Stark Tower. No, it was now called Avengers Tower Steve reminded himself. The flight from DC to Manhattan was pleasant. Clint told a few stories about his time at the circus and Steve tried to read the body language between him and Natasha. They didn't act like a couple in front of him so maybe that truly meant they weren't together. Or maybe they were just very private. Steve hoped it was the former because he was buidling up his courage to ask Natasha out.

Tony was waiting on the roof for them and waving like a maniac.

"So good to have the whole band back together." He greeted them. "I heard you and Red are now partners?"

Before Steve could answer, Natasha already barked at him to not call her that.

Tony just shrugged and walked into the Tower with them following him.

"You said something about a surprise?" Clint asked him when they reached the elevator.

"Yup. Since I take the mi casa es su casa very seriously, every Avenger will get their own floor. Thor is already with his entourage at his."

Everyone would get their own floor? Wasn't that a bit over the top? A room was more than enough for Steve. It wasn't like he was very often in New York. He was either on missions or in DC.

"Holy shit, Stark. That's very generous of you." Clint clapped him on the shoulder. "Thanks, man."

Stark just waved him off. "No problem. I want you to feel welcomed here."

Natasha gave him a small smile. "A whole floor is not necessary but thank you, Tony."

"Yes, thank you, Tony. That's very kind of you." Steve agreed.

Tony actually looked like he was blushing and left the elevator to work in his lab. "JARVIS will take you to your floors. The party starts in an hour."

Steve's floor was the first and so he left Clint and Natasha alone. It didn't look like Tony gave them just one floor for both of them, so that meant that he assumed they weren't together, right? He so desperately wanted to ask them if they were an item but he was too afraid to ask. What if they confirmed they were together? He couldn't, shouldn't, dream about taking another man's girl out on a date.

The party was already going on when Steve came to the penthouse. He had some issues to work out the technology of his floor but a patient JARVIS explained everything to him. His floor was gigantic. He had a big master bedroom, a bath with a jacuzzi, a walking-in closet already filled with clothes, his own kitchen, a study and a guest bedroom. He never dreamt in a millon years that he would live in such a place. Everything was so luxurious and tasteful. He had the suspicion that Pepper was in charge of the interior design.

Tony said that he only invited some of his closest friends but there were at least 30 people in the room. If Steve counted his closest friends, he came up to one. Natasha. And he hoped she would be more than his friend some day. He looked for her in the crowd and discovered her at the pool table with Clint and a brunette woman with glasses he didn't know. His gaze lingered on Natasha. She looked amazing. Her hair was in big waves and she was wearing a glittery top and leather pants. She noticed that he was looking at her and raised her beer bottle at him. He prayed that he wasn't blushing but judging on the smirk on her face he definitely was.

He was considering if he should go over to her when Thor blocked his view.

"Captain! It's so good to see you again!" He boomed and smiled at him brightly.

"You too, Thor. Glad you're back on this planet."

Thor chuckled and dragged him over to the bar to get them drinks. Apparently a Darcy Lewis got him hooked on "Appletinis" and Steve should really try them. The cocktail was fine even though he couldn't understand why apple juice had to be put into a drink. Thor continued to tell him about his brother Loki who apparently died to save him and his father allowed him to live on earth. He mentioned the invasion of London. Steve felt a bit guilty that he didn't help him but Natasha and he were in the deep jungle of Columbia to save hostages when it happened. When they came back the whole thing in London was already dealt with. Thor proudly told him that Jane Foster was considered for a Nobel prize and then he asked Steve if he had someone.

"Um, no." He couldn't help but look through the crowd for Natasha. But she was nowhere to be seen and neither was Clint. He tried his best to ignore the green-eyed monster in his chest.

Thor gave him a warm smile. He really had a comforting presence despite being all tall and dangerous. "I take it adjusting to this world must be as difficult for you as it was for me. Jane really helped me. Well, Jane is the main reason why I want to be here." He laughed.

"Natasha's helping me." Steve blurted out and Thor raised an eyebrow. "Um, well we work at SHIELD together and she helps me with everything I missed in the last 70 years."

Steve suddenly had the feeling that Thor could look right through him. Was mindreading one of his powers?! Shouldn't someone at SHIELD look into that?

"Natasha is a very capable warrior. Not many have succeded in tricking my brother. He took quite the pride in being a trickster." Thor had a sad smile on his face. Steve personally hated Loki for killing so many innocents but he could understand that Thor was grieving his brother. Thor looked at him and chuckled. " Darcy was very excited to meet Natasha. She called her her girl crush. What ever that means.

Banner joined a bit later and talked with them about his project in Sri Lanka to help the locals there. He came more often to the States now to work with Tony on different kind of projects.

Only the Avengers and Tony's best friend Rhodey and Pepper were now sitting on couches on a podest that allowed you to looked over the party room. Steve didn't want to switch with the cleaning staff who had to clean this mess up in the morning. He hoped that Tony was paying them well.

Natasha was occupying an armchair and had her legs hanging off the armrest. She slid her high heels off and waggled her toes while she was sipping on a martini. He didn't think Natasha realized how cute and sexy she looked right now. The perfect mix.

Clint was currently trying to lift Mjolnir because he was sure that Thor wasn't the only one who could lift it. He was just as unsuccessful as Rhodey and Tony who used their gauntlets together but still couldn't move the hammer. Bruce tried it and pretended to turn into the Hulk which only earned him eyerolls and the hammer still didn't move an inch.

Not that Steve thought he could move the hammer but he got up anyway when they shouted his name. He wrapped his hands around the leather handle and he could have sworn that he felt some kind of energy coming from the hammer. He pulled and he could feel how the hammer moved an inch. He let immediately go.

"Nope, not worthy." He raised his hands and plopped down on the couch.

"Natasha?" Thor asked and she shook her head.

"Pepper darling, don't you want to try it?" Tony patted her knee.

"Oh please, I already have enough on my plate with SI. I don't need a kingdom on top of that." She moved Tony's hand away from her knee and leaned back against the couch.

Thor laughed and swung Mjolnir. "Guess you're all not worthy." He grinned at them.

Everyone groaned and scoffed at him. Thor continued to laugh and placed the hammer on his knee.

They called it a night soon after and somehow he and Natasha were the last ones on the podest while the others were already down stairs. She grabbed his elbow to make him look at her when he was about to go to down to the others.

He turned around and she was smirking at him. "Don't think I didn't notice how you pretended not to be able to move that hammer."

His cheeks were getting warm, it was like she caught him with his hands in a cookie jar. He really thought he pulled it off but of course no one could fool Natasha.

"I don't know what you mean." He lied and she scoffed.

"Oh please! I saw how shocked Thor looked when the hammer squeaked on the table. And suddenly you couldn't move it? One hell of a coincidence." She replied sarcastically.

He knew he was blushing. "I don't think I could pull the cape off like Thor does."

She chuckled. "Maybe. And it would definitely be a crime to cover that nice ass of yours with it." She winked at him and walked down the stairs.

Steve just stared after her. Did she just, did she just flirt with him?

RIP Mjolnir