11:34. The picnic was slated to start, but as usual, Fury was running late. So, those there decided on some tag football. Only rules were no powers, 5 vs 5 with one ref. Each "score" was worth 1, first to 10 wins. Team one was led by Steve, and had Bucky, Coulson, Clint and Maria Hill. Team two consisted of Sam Wilson, Natasha, Yelena, and a severely relaxed and not at all taking it seriously Thor, led by the infamous Tony Stark. Bruce was the ref, so what he says goes. He and Thor dug some shallow tallies into the meadow they were in on each side, then they got started.
Things started already chaotic with Tony trying to bribe Bruce to give them the ball first, which everyone but Tony knew would have the opposite effect. Steve's team set up, and immediately struck, Steve faking out a rushing Yelena to hit Clint completely unprotected. None could catch him, and it was Tonys teams turn. It was almost as fast, with a little bait and switch freeing Natasha to score almost uncontested, although Maria has sworn up and down she tagged her at the 25. Nevertheless, It's tied at 1. Trick after trick after increasingly aggressive tagging, forty minutes are gone. It's 9-9 as the clock hits zero, and we're heading into overtime. Tony actually tries to bribe Bruce again, this time more as a joke, to the same result. Cap hands the ball to Bucky, who makes all of 7 yards before being almost shoved down by Nat. They've all been so focused on their game that they didn't notice (or if they did, they didn't care whatsoever) that Fury had been watching for about fifteen minutes by now. He and a member of his detail were watching, amused. Cap decides on a QB sneak, almost breaking free but getting tagged by Thor about 12 yards downfield. When the next two plays warranted nothing, it was third down, and they tried the fake that had scored them their first as well as seventh point. But this time, Sam was ready. Interception! Mercifully he was tagged by Clint immediately, but the tides had shifted. Tony faked a Yelena run, tossing Thor a short pass that got them all the way to the 4 yard line. The next play was almost magic, Coulson nearly picking off the repeat attempt to Thor. Second down, Yelena lost two yards due to Maria blitzing right past Tony and Nat and catching them totally off guard. She hadn't done anything like that all game. Third and goal. Tony tries to pull a Steve and run it in himself, but he manages to only gain back what Yelena lost, again to Maria rushing. This called for Thor to be adjusted to blocking for Tony, taking over for Sam, who'd been unable to keep her back. Last chance! Tony dropped back, and Maria's intelligence here saved the game for her team. She feinted forward, causing Thor to move forward to meet her and stumble. Bucky pounced on the gap immediately, almost taking Tony off his feet. Steves team had the ball now, and a fire in their gut. Probably cause they were hungry. First play nearly spelled disaster immediately, Bucky getting to the corner nearly untouched, but Sam saved the day. Not before he'd gotten it to the 30, though. The next play, a pass. Steve looked for Clint, but Thor had him smothered. Bucky was too busy blocking Tony, Coulson was running interference on Yelena, and losing, and Natasha and Sam were closing quick. Maria could only block one. Blocking Nat was the smart play. Seeing no other choice, he ran it right around Sam. He missed Steve by maybe an inch, although there's a couple accounts that say he did touch him. Thor got free of the block, but it was too late. Steve had scored, and the game was over. It was then Fury showed himself. Moments later, everyone was relaxed, food and drink were spread, and a story that would live in SHIELD history forever reached a breezy, sweaty, happy conclusion.