Locked, Loaded, Loved ✔️ COMPLETE | UNDER EDITS

Chapter 10.5--Natasha

Steve returned to the compound after visiting New York and I returned a week later, happy to be back in California. Spending time in New York had been wonderful and a nice break, but my life was in San Francisco. I'd told Dr. Strange that if I needed further guidance on my powers, I would call him and he could open a portal. I liked the idea of not having to travel by plane to get to New York when Stephen could get me there within a few seconds.

"In honor of your homecoming...again...we wanted to throw you a little party. Just the team," Tony announced that evening as we all gathered around the living room. We had ordered pizza for dinner. Boxes littered the table with a few cans of soda and beer next to them.

I groaned, taking another slice of veggie pizza. "Tony, as much as I appreciate it, I really would rather just enjoy a quiet evening." I didn't add 'with Steve', even though I was thinking about it.

"After all this time, do you really not trust me?" he asked.

"Nope," I said. I wasn't surprised that everyone—including Pepper—echoed my sentiment.

Tony put his hand to his chest dramatically and pouted. "I'm offended, really."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine. What did you have in mind?"

Tony's face brightened and he rubbed his hands together.

Oh boy, what have I done?

"I was thinking monopoly," he said.

Clint caught my eye across the room and smirked. "Nat and I aren't allowed to play monopoly together anymore after what happened last time."

"Ooh, what happened last time?" Sam asked.

"He shot an arrow at me," I told him.

A chorus of outbursts erupted from the team:

"He did what?!" Steve asked.

"It was from a nerf gun!" Clint protested.

"Violence is not the answer, Legolas," Tony scolded.

I smirked at Clint. "See, I told you everyone would take my side."

"Wait a minute," Wanda piped up. "If Clint did that, there had to be a reason, right."

Everyone turned to look at me. Clint sat back smugly in his chair.

"Nat, you wanna tell them what you did?" Clint asked, clearly amused.

I glared at him. "For what it's worth I stand by my decision." I took a long swig from my beer. I did not want to be sober anymore. Which was part of the problem last time.

"What did you do? What did you do?" Emery asked, bouncing on her knees. Wanda took her drink away. The two of us knew firsthand how crazy things could get when Em was drunk.

"Clint picked the jail card. I did not rig the game. I wouldn't bail him out because that's not how the game works and I bought the property I knew he wanted," I explained. "It was all within the rules of the game."

"She has a point, Clint," Emery mused.

Clint slouched in his seat. "Fine. But I can't promise anything this time."

* * * * * * * * * * * *

"Oh hell no! Clinton Francis Barton, you are a cheater!" I yelled as Steve held back my arms.

"The dice clearly says that I'm not," Clint retorted, moving his piece (a bow and arrow because Tony had refashioned the game pieces for each of us) to land on the property I had tried to buy but didn't have enough money to complete the transaction.