I think you're all going to like this chapter! It involves a certain redhead and a basketball. Enjoy! And, as always, please review!
Chapter Eight
My eyes fluttered open to the dim lighting of my new room. I almost had a panic attack until I remembered yesterday's events.
"Good morning, Ms. Barton." Now that sent my heart up to my throat. It took me a moment to remember it was JARVIS.
"Morning." I muttered to the A.I. "What time is it anyway?"
"My systems read 5:30." I groaned. "Is something the matter?"
"It's too early." I said as I flopped back into bed. For the next ten minutes, I tried to go back into sleep mode, but my efforts proved futile. I groaned once more as I got around and was out by six. My aunt and uncle were still asleep, so I decided to go to the living area, maybe flip on the TV. As I turned the corner, however, the last person I wanted to meet was sitting on the couch. I turned, trying to leave before he could even take notice.
"Hannah." Too late. I poked my head back from around the corner.
"Yes?" I asked Tony wearily. He gestured me over to him. I inwardly sighed and drug myself in front of him. "Is there something you wanted?"
"I've been rethinking some things...particularly the events of yesterday's dinner." He was looking down at his now-twiddling thumbs.
"Look, I really don't want to talk about this." It was already weird enough I was talking to Tony Stark, but stranger to get any sort of pity from him.
"I'm sorry about what I said. I'm sort of..."
"A jerk?" It took a moment, but he nodded.
"And I'm sorry."
"It's alright. My Dad just died two weeks ago, so it's not easy."
"No, it's not."
"What do you know about losing parents?" I asked him.
"I lost both of mine in a car accident when I was...well...your age."
"Wow." I said, shocked. "I'm sorry."
"It's still not easy, even after all these years." I could tell he felt a little awkward, getting so personal and such.
"Why do I get a feeling you're not used to talking about this?"
"Because I'm not." He answered. "But it's good to talk it out sometimes, I find."
"Yeah, I suppose it is." I agreed and turned to the television screen. "Soccer?"
"You like soccer?"
"Heck yeah!"
"Then by all means, have a seat."
"Thank you, Mr. Stark."
"Call me Tony."
Later that morning...
Breakfast had been a real show. Thor had managed to break several coffee mugs, shouting 'another' in a loud, boisterous voice each time. I, as well as everyone else, had tried to stifle our laughs as a very annoyed Tony had to call a device called Dummy to clean it up. After everyone had dispersed, I was sitting on the couch reading a book, whilst everyone did whatever they did while here.
"Hey, Hannah." Steve said and I closed my book shut. He was carrying a massive punching bag, one I could never dream of lifting.
"Hey, Steve." I said. "Where you headed?"
"The gym."
"There's a gym here?" He smiled.
"Yeah. Want to go?"
"Sounds great." I said, hopping from the couch, abandoning my book. I hadn't had a workout in weeks, and I desperately wanted to get back into some sort or routine. We made our way to the elevator and he pressed a button that led to the fifteenth floor. The doors opened and my eyes went wide with the sight of the gym. It was in pristine condition, nothing like the gym at my high school with it's scuffed up floors and bleachers with gum underneath them.
"This is awesome." I breathed and Steve chuckled.
"So, what do like to do? As exercise, I mean." He said, leaning the punching bag against the bleachers.
"Got any basketballs?"
"First closet on your left."
I opened up the closet door and lo and behold there was a whole slew of balls, of which at least ten of them had to be basketballs.
I started off easy, shooting a few free throws, a few three pointers and playing a game of Around the World. Just as I was on the next to last shot of the game, the ball missed and shot out towards Steve's direction. He quickly moved into the path of the basketball and dribbled it back.
"Mind if I play?"
"Don't you think it's a bit unfair playing against a super soldier?" I asked with a slight grin.
"I'll turn it down a notch."
Just as he started dribbling the ball for a little one-on-one, a voice caught us off guard.
"Well, well, Cap is finally playing good sport." Tony's voice echoed through the huge gym. Steve huffed at the comment.
"By good, you mean you like it?"
"Duh." He said, holding out his hands for Steve to pass the ball. "Hmmm...two on one? That's not very fair."
"I'll volunteer to be ref for this one." Steve offered rather quickly.
"How would you know any rules about the sport?" Tony asked as Steve stepped over to the sidelines. "I don't recall you saying that basketball was a sport you ever played."
"Easy. Whenever she "accidentally" (I loved his insinuating notion) smacks you when taking the ball, I'll make the call. Besides, I watched plenty back in the thirties in forties on the playground. It's not like a lived back in the Middle Ages, Tony."
"Cap, don't fool yourself. I don't think she..." Tony was cut off as I grabbed the ball from his hands and completed a lay-up.
"Don't think I what?" I asked with a satisfied smirk. Steve was holding back his laughter as Tony stood near-speechless.
"Show off. But don't that it'll happen again." But it did. A lot. Tony may be a genius, but fast, he was not. I quickly had him at a score of 21-2, but only because I made it easy on him and let him shoot a two-pointer.
"Face it Stark, she's better than you at this." The super-soldier jeered, a content smirk on his face.
"Where did you learn to play, kid?" Tony asked through his heavy panting.
"My dad. He was a great player."
"But not as good as me." Aunt Nat said aloud as she came in, followed by Thor.
"What is the game with the orange object?" Thor asked curiously.
"It's called basketball." Steve answered. "Very exhausting Midgardian sport."
"Mid-ga-whatian?" I asked in confusion.
"We call Earth Midgard from where I come from." Thor answered. It made me think I'd better brush up on some Norse mythology soon.
"Oh."
"Anyways, Hannah's kicking his rear majorly." Steve teased.
"Hey! I was just warming up." Tony protested.
"Ha!" I said sarcastically and he glared at me.
"What's the matter, Stark? Need a little help?" My aunt jeered.
"How about you give it a go?" He asked and she looked at me.
"I don't think I've ever seen you play." Clint said to Aunt Nat.
"I know a thing or two. You'd be surprised what I pick up from the games you watch."
"Well then, let's give it a go." I said. She seemed up to the challenge, although she was a trained assassin. She always had her head in the game.
"Then by all means, pass me the ball." I did, and she quickly tried to move the ball around me, but I swiped the ball from her hands. Before she could make a move in my direction, I shot the ball and made an easy two points.
"Nice. But it won't be so easy next time." She warned. And she was right. I passed the ball to her and she was quicker this time, quicker than I could even imagine. She made a mad dash for the hoop and shot it in the air, evening out the score.
"Alright. I can pick up my game a little." I muttered under my breath. She passed the ball to me and I dribbled the ball between her knees and took it behind her and completed a lay up.
"Go Hannah!" I heard my uncle cheer beside the others. He must have snuck in while we were playing.
When it turned out my aunt and I were evenly matched, the whole team wanted to join in, even Bruce. Tony, Uncle Clint, and Steve were on my team, while Thor, Bruce and Aunt Nat were on the other. We figured it might eventually even out in skill.
"Pass!" Tony cried and I threw it to him. He quickly dodged Thor, only to be side-swiped by my aunt.
"Nice try." She said as she passed the ball to Bruce. He made an easy shot.
"I didn't know you were good at this sport." Tony said to the scientist.
He shrugged. "Just something to do in my free time."
Steve took the ball and checked it with Thor, with Thor knocking Steve over when he passed the ball.
"Sorry, I forget my own strength." He offered Steve a hand up.
"Here!" I yelled to Steve, but was quickly blocked by Bruce.
"Over here!" Uncle Clint cried. Aunt Nat tried to get in front of him, but he moved around her and, in one quick swoop, took the ball and sunk it in the net.
"Nice." I said and he smirked.
"I'm just that good." I could see Aunt Nat roll her eyes.
"Last point wins." Tony said a while later, which reached agreement with the group since we were all now sweaty and exhausted.
Uncle Clint met with Aunt Nat and checked the ball, only to have Aunt Nat quickly move past him the second he checked it with her.
"Here!" Thor yelled before she was blocked by Tony. She threw him the ball and he aimed for the goal, only to have it knocked out of his hands by me. I quickly took the ball and managed to keep it away from the hands of the others. Aunt Nat suddenly moved in out of nowhere, poised to win. In an instant, I aimed and fired the ball. It sunk in the net with a triumphant swish.
"Yes!" Tony said in triumph and gave me a high five. "Nice one, kid!"
"Not bad." Aunt Nat said. "Looks like you have some Barton in you after all." She teased.
"Ha ha." I laughed sarcastically. "Good game."
"We should play again soon." She offered.
"I'll be ready." I replied, ready for another challenge.
"But until then, who wants a drink?" Tony offered. As we all moved upstairs for some refreshments, I couldn't help but feel like I had made some new friends.
AWWWWW! Looks like Hannah's adjusting well to Avenger life. What do you think? Please review! I just love hearing what you think of these chapters!