Since the Beginning

Ch 2: Birds of a Feather

Chapter Two:

Birds of a Feather

Clint yawned as he dropped from the vents of the tower, straight into the kitchen. It was still rather early in the morning, so he knew most of his team wouldn't be up yet. That was the entire reason he enjoyed being up so early in the first place though. Aside from Stark and Natasha, usually everyone else slept until at least eight or nine and it allowed him plenty of time to wake up and set his mood to deal with people, because contrary to popular belief, he wasn't honestly a morning person.

The sound of snores reached his ears and curious about who had fallen asleep in the living room, he moved towards the couch, trying to be as quiet as a church mouse. He couldn't help the smile that stretched across his face when he noticed Toni laying there, the blanket that had no doubt once covered her laid on the floor having been kicked off. She rolled and muttered in her sleep as drool slipped from her mouth.

"Where is a camera when I need one..." he whispered, grinning like a mad man. Maybe he could work with this.

Slipping back into the kitchen, he searched the fridge before he found a spray bottle of cool whip. Smirking, he grabbed it and shook it, heading back over to the couch where she still laid fast asleep. Clint didn't doubt that Toni hadn't been asleep long and granted, she probably needed all she could get, nightmare free, but this was far too good a chance to pass up. It wasn't often that the rude, reckless, and devious Toni Stark was at his mercy.

Holding the can tightly with his right hand, he gently sprayed a glob into her left hand that hung loosely over the side of the couch. Snickering, he backed up, placing the can down before he grabbed one of his older arrows. Now days, Toni had made him a lot of technically advanced ones, but he still liked the feel of the older ones that were made of feathers and iron.

Taking the end of it that was feathery, he brushed it over her nose, tickling her. Toni frowned in her sleep, smacking at her nose with her right hand. Clint, determined, tried it again. He smiled as she lifted her left hand and swept at her face. A large amount of the cool whip spread across her nose and mouth and Clint couldn't help but cheer.

"Success!" he yelled as he watched her bolt up, sputtering.

She turned, wiping the mess back into her hand as she glared at Clint. If looks could kill, he would have been dead twice over with the one she gave him.

"What the heck!" she yelled.

Clint just laughed harder when he noticed the mess across her face. Toni glared at him before a devilish smile crossed her features. Clint didn't notice it. Stepping forward as though she were going to go wash off, she diverted direction and rushed towards him, her hand outstretched. Clint only got a moment's warning before the glob was stuffed into his face, smearing into his hair. Toni laughed as she tackled him, jumping onto his back as he attempted to get her off without hurting her.

The two were so busy wrestling around, they hadn't noticed the small audience that had formed in the doorways to watch. Natasha walked in, smirking as she watched Toni get another lucky shot in, covering Clint's nose in the stuff. Clint for his part was fighting back, but he was having a hard time reaching Toni who was on his back and doing a fair job of dodging his many attempts. He could easily throw her off, but the last thing he wanted was their playful fight to end with her getting injured because he had gotten impatient.

"Nat!" he yelled, noticing them, "help me!"

Natasha just shoot her head.

"This is all on you Clint."

"Gee, thanks partner", he spat, though his eyes were still smiling as Toni laughed above him.

Bruce who stood just a little behind Natasha couldn't help worry that something was going to go wrong with their little rough housing, but he wasn't the one to stop it. Instead, Steve Rogers, their team leader and all around American Icon stormed in.