The compound was unusually quiet that afternoon, except for Clint's muffled chuckles as he and Y/N hid behind a corner, plotting their next move. Bucky leaned in, grinning, with a mischievous glint in his eyes as he tossed an empty water balloon from one hand to the other. The three of them were like a little storm of chaos today, making it their mission to prank as many people as possible.
"Alright, we hit Steve with the shaving cream in his locker, and Tony's still figuring out who filled his coffee machine with decaf," Clint whispered, his voice trembling with laughter.
Y/N snickered, leaning into the wall. "We are truly the unsung heroes of this place."
"I think Steve called us unsung menaces, actually," Bucky corrected, though he was grinning.
"Small details," Y/N waved her hand dismissively. "So, who's next on the list?"
Clint raised an eyebrow, glancing from Y/N to Bucky, and then in the direction of Natasha's training room. "I'm thinking... the Black Widow herself."
Immediately, Y/N held up her hands, shaking her head. "Nope, nope, count me out. Nat finds out, and I'm toast. Like, full-on burnt to a crisp toast."
"Oh, come on, honey," Bucky teased, using Natasha's pet name for her. "You're her soft spot; she'd let you off the hook."
Y/N shot him a playful glare. "Or she'd make me pay for it for the next ten years."
"Listen," Clint cut in, a glint of mischief sparking in his eyes, "if we pull this off right, she'll never know it was us."
After some back and forth, Y/N reluctantly agreed, though she muttered, "If this goes south, I'm throwing you both under the bus."
The plan was simple: Clint and Bucky would distract Natasha, while Y/N would sneak in and swap her beloved mug — a sturdy black one with a faint red hourglass symbol — with a pink, sparkly one reading #1 Spy Girlfriend in huge bubble letters. It was harmless enough, but just the thought of Natasha's reaction made Y/N's heart race.
As they executed the plan, Y/N slipped in and switched the mugs, glancing back nervously to make sure Nat hadn't spotted her. Just as she made her way out of the room, she heard Clint and Bucky trying to stifle their laughter behind her. But she barely made it two steps into the hallway before a strong arm grabbed her from behind.
"Thought you'd get away with it, huh?" Natasha's voice was low and dangerous, though Y/N could hear the slightest trace of amusement behind it.
Bucky and Clint shared a wide-eyed look before scrambling down the hall, abandoning Y/N without a second thought.
"Traitors!" Y/N shouted after them, struggling as Natasha spun her around, guiding her backward until Y/N's back hit the wall. The next thing she knew, Natasha was pressing her hands to the wall on either side of Y/N, pinning her in place with that intense gaze of hers.
"I'm disappointed in you, Y/N," Natasha said, her voice low and almost a whisper. "Turning to the dark side like this. And after all I've done for you."
Y/N gulped, trying to give an innocent smile. "It... wasn't my idea. Totally Bucky and Clint. I'm just an innocent bystander."
Natasha tilted her head, smirking as she brushed a stray hair away from Y/N's face. "So, you weren't the one who swapped out my mug?"
"Well, I may have had a small part in that," Y/N admitted, looking down sheepishly.
In one swift motion, Natasha slid a leg between Y/N's, pressing her back against the wall, sitting on Y/N with a smirk. "I think you're forgetting who's in charge here, sweetheart."
"Oh, trust me, I remember. You're just... very persuasive." Y/N grinned, trying to inch back a bit. "I'd like to plead temporary insanity?"
Natasha chuckled, though she didn't move from her position. "That's what I thought. So tell me... why should I forgive you?"
"Because I'll never do it again?" Y/N offered, only to receive a pointed glare. "And because... you love me?"
Natasha rolled her eyes, but there was a softness in her expression that she couldn't quite hide. "That's debatable at this moment, but keep talking."
"I'll make it up to you," Y/N promised, managing to slip her hands around Natasha's waist, her expression turning earnest. "Dinner? A real one. Just the two of us."
Natasha gave her a long look before finally leaning back, sighing. "Fine. But this isn't over. You still owe me."
Y/N let out a sigh of relief, smiling up at her. "I'll make it worth your while, I swear."
That evening, Y/N set up a small table in one of the compound's lesser-used dining rooms, lighting a few candles and setting up Natasha's favorite dishes. She waited, tapping her fingers nervously until Natasha finally walked in, looking relaxed and amused.
"Wow," Natasha said, taking in the setup. "You really went all out."
Y/N grinned, pulling out a chair for her. "Only the best for you. Consider it my very sincere apology."
They settled into their seats, and Natasha took her first bite, giving Y/N an approving nod. "Alright, you're forgiven. For now."
"For now?" Y/N pouted. "What do I have to do to make it permanent?"
"Hmm," Natasha teased, sipping her drink thoughtfully. "Stay out of trouble for one full day."
Y/N laughed. "Impossible, but I'll try for you."
They ate in companionable silence for a while, exchanging smiles and soft touches across the table. Eventually, Natasha looked up at her with a serious expression.
"You know, Y/N... I know you and Clint and Bucky like to play around, but there's a reason I'm hard on you sometimes," Natasha said softly.
Y/N's expression softened. "I know, Nat. You're just looking out for me. And, for the record, I love it when you're a little... possessive."
Natasha chuckled, reaching out to take Y/N's hand across the table. "Good, because I'm not planning to stop anytime soon."
They finished dinner, lingering over dessert as they talked about anything and everything, Natasha's hand resting comfortably in Y/N's. By the end of the night, Y/N felt like all was forgiven... though she had a sneaking suspicion Natasha had her own way of "getting even" planned.
As they left the dining room, Y/N hesitated, then turned to Natasha. "So... does this mean you're not going to team up with Bucky and Clint to prank me back?"
Natasha raised an eyebrow, a sly smile on her lips. "Oh, darling, you're never safe around here."
Y/N laughed, pulling her closer for a quick kiss. "Bring it on, Widow."
