Stark's Shadow

Chapter 9 - Buff Love

"Hey Olive," Tony says, walking over to me, "I thought about your ant question."

"Oh?" I ask through a mouthful of marshmallowless Lucky Charms, "And?"

"First of all, ew. Don't talk with food in your mouth. And I think it would depend on where the ants live. Somewhere with lots of people, we're just pains in the ass. In a forest, the ants would be more likely to think we're gods or something."

"Ooooh, that makes sense!" I say happily.

"Okay, what the fuck are you two talking about?" Clint asks, shutting the fridge door.

"I'd also like to know," Sam says.

"Oh, just if ants would think we're annoying or if we're deities if they had the brains to understand such a thing as a deity," I tell them.

"Why?" Sam and Clint ask at the same time.

"Why not?" Tony and I reply, also at the same time.

They couldn't come up with a good reason not to. Eventually, they all finished eating and left. I sat there and stared at the wall, completely zoned out.

"Olive?" I hear Steve say.

"Here," I reply. I hear a laugh. I assume it's Bucky.

"You alright?" Steve put his hand on my shoulder. I turn and see a worried Steve.

"Oh, yeah, totally," I smile.

"Then why have you been staring at a wall for fifteen minutes?" Bucky asks.

"Have you been watching me watch a wall for fifteen minutes?"

"No, we made ourselves breakfast," Steve tells me. Bucky laughs at me.

"Bitchin'," I say, "What are you two fossils up to today?"

"Nothing, why?" Steve says, totally ignoring me calling him and Bucky fossils.

"I was wondering if either of you'd be up for some sparring?" I ask, "If not, understandable. Losing sucks."

Steve grins at this, "And you called me cocky the other day!"

"So that's a yes?"

"You know it," Steve says, then turns to Bucky, "How about you, Buck?"

Bucky nods, "Sounds fun. Get ready to lose Olive,"

"I think you meant to say win,"

Bucky gives me a playful shove then we head over to the gym.

"Aren't you going to change?" Steve asks me, "You're in your pajamas."

"Nah, I'm good," I tell Steve, "What if the tower gets attacked while we're sleeping? I won't have time to change. So I should be able to kick ass in my PJs."

"That makes sense, actually," Steve tells me.

"You want to fight in your PJs too, Steve?" Bucky asks, making Steve's face go red.

"No, do you?" Steve asks, then guess what? You'll never fucking guess! Bucky's face goes red!

"No,"

"Okay, lovebirds," I joke, "I'd like to start today, please and thank you!"

"Lovebirds?" Steve asks, going redder.

"It was a joke. Calm down, I'm sorry," I tell him.

The two look at me, "About that," Bucky starts.

"We actually are, you know," Steve says, pausing to look at Bucky, "Together."

"Aww, how cute! Congrats!" I say excitedly, "Now can we beat the shit out of each other?"