Working Title : Loki & Annie

Chapter Eighteen

Barton sat in the common room, his fingers held an arrow that he was tapping against his thigh. He was sitting on the couch, leaning against the arm with several pillows piled up behind him. Staring into the distance he let his mind roam free. He wasn't sure why but he felt the need to think even though he couldn't decide what he needed to think about. So he just let his brain free float.

He heard the elevator door open and saw Steve come out, his hair sticking up in random directions and still damp from a shower. He watched as the super soldier spotted him and the two men gave friendly head nods to each other.

Steve grabbed a banana from the fruit bowl, tucked it under his arm then grabbed an apple and took a bite out of it. Going to the fridge he peered inside before grabbing a carton of milk.

Clint called out, "I'd sniff that first."

Steve opened it, sniffed then jerked his head back. "It's bad." He started pouring it in the sink.

Nodding Clint said, "Yeah, it was bad this morning too."

Steve turned to stare at the archer who just shrugged at him. Tossing the empty milk carton in the trash Steve went for the orange juice instead. He picked that carton up only to find it empty. He again found himself meeting the archers eyes.

Clint grinned, "That one was good."

Another carton in the trash and Steve just grabbed a glass and filled it with tap water which was actually filtered more than most bottled water. The two men glanced over to the elevator when the doors opened and they watched Nat walk out.

Dressed in black tight fitting workout clothes she gave Clint a smirking smile as she walked past. "Barton."

"Romanov." He said with the same smirk.

Taking the glass of water from Steve's hand Nat drank it down. "Thanks." She gave him a gentler smirk than the one she gave to Clint. "How you feeling this morning, Cap?" She handed him the glass back but didn't let go right away when he took it.

Steve stared at Nat until she let go of the glass then he refilled it and offered it to her. She shook her head but slipped the banana out from under his arm. He watched her peel it and take a bite all the while watching him. He narrowed his eyes at her extra innocent expression. "Just fine, Nat. How about you?"

She licked her lips, chewed and swallowed. "I'm just fine too." She took another bite.

Clint blew a raspberry. "Ohh, you two just get a room." He called out while making a face.

Nat fought to keep back a laugh and Steve grinned at Clint. "We have rooms."

"I mean one room. Together. God, you're like two teenagers."

Nat walked over and put her banana peel on his head. "I'd like to think I'm more mature than a teenager." She gracefully vaulted over the back of the couch and sat easily next to him. He had lifted his feet and now he dropped them onto her lap.

Steve grabbed another banana and headed towards the elevator. "See you guys later. I have a stack of reports to read."

"One of the perks of never learning to read." Clint yelled after him as the elevator doors closed. After a few moments of silence he grabbed the banana peel from the top of his head and tossed it on the table. "Up for a walk?"

Nat nodded and the two rose from the couch.

They ended up stopping a few blocks away and sitting at a bench. There was a hot dog vendor that gave them each a discount on their dogs because having the two of them sitting there was good for business. It pulled some people in while keeping other people away. A win win as far as the vendor was concerned.