Weekly Dinner
Fuck. Fuckity fuck. Fuck. Drinking shots the night before his first day of college is not the smartest idea. He had a pounding headache and he swore he would kill the next person who told him he looks ‘a little pale’. No shit, Sherlock. I’m trying not to puke all over the floor. Clint grumbled as he left the campus ground. Why does the house have to be so fucking far anyway? Phil better carried me back home if I passed out in the middle of the street. This is ridiculous. I need sleep.
“Hey, you made it home.” Phil Coulson, the devil himself, opened the door and let him in.
“Yeah. I’m going to crash now.” He told the older man.
“We’ve go newcomers. You better get your shit together when they came back from classes.” Phil nodded. “Oh, I enrolled you to Russian Language 101.”
Clint snapped his head towards the man. Bad idea. He almost fell when he did it. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment before he opened them and gave Phil the worst glare in the whole world.
“What the hell? I don’t know any Russian. Why would I take that class?”
“You lost the bet.” Oh right. The bet. The stupid bet they made when Clint came to the university. I get to pick a class for a semester if I caught you hungover on your first day of the semester. Of course he would find out.
* * *
“What do you mean we’re moving? Bruce!” Tony threw a tiny screw at his best friend.
“There’s a better housing, Tony. It’s at the end of that road.” He pointed at the empty street outside.
“That’s very far.”
“And the house is cheap. I know price doesn’t matter to you but it’s a good place. It’s a very peaceful place. Phil was the house leader, if you want to know.” Bruce smiled.
“Phil? Phil Coulson?”
“Yeah.”
“Dammit. That guy charmed Pepper in seconds. I still don’t know how he did that.” Tony grumbled. He still took the paper from Bruce and quickly filled out the form, though. Their current housing was crap and he knew it.
“He’s a nice guy.” Bruce shrugged as he went back to his microscope.
“Hey, Tony.” Jane Foster interrupted before Tony could make a comeback. “Oh, you’re moving to the Avengers Residence?” She peered at the paper with a huge smile. They have been working together for a month now and he still couldn’t get used to her kindness.
“Avengers Residence?”
“Phil named it. It’s pretty catchy.” Jane grinned and grabbed her pad to start on her work.
“You’re moving as well?” Bruce looked up from his microscope and watched her gave him a nod.
“Darcy’s coming as well.”
“I like Darcy.” Tony said.
“Of course, Tony. She’s like the female version of you, but with less exes.” Jane quickly replied.
* * *
“You want to move here.” Phil Coulson spoke out, a little (very) unsure with the two science major kids in front of him. Bruce, he can understand. He didn’t come from a wealthy family. He read a lot about his accomplishments and he knew the kid got into the university on full scholarship. But Tony Stark? This kid was probably the richest kid in the whole university. Why would he want to stay in this place is beyond him. Then he darted his eyes towards the awkward looking Bruce and it clicked. Best friends do not leave each other.
“Yes.” Tony and Bruce nodded.
“Okay.”
“That’s it?” Tony’s eyebrows were knitted in confusion.
“Yeah. What do you expect? Some lengthy interviews and tests?” Phil raised an eyebrow.
“Darcy told him there would be some huge test to see if we belong here or not.” Bruce grinned.
“You let go of that expensive housing of yours so you could stay here with your best friend. That’s an A plus from me.” Phil smiled when he saw Tony twitched. Someone really needs to teach him how to accept a sincere and heartfelt compliment.
* * *
“Phil Coulson is texting me.” Steve furrowed his eyebrows as he stared at his phone screen. Bucky snickered beside him and let out a curse when his laptop fell off his lap.
“What did he say?” Natasha asked.
“Dinner at 7.” Steve looked at her. “Why are we having dinner at 7?”
“Don’t any of you read the guidelines?” Natasha rolled her eyes. “We have weekly dinner with the whole housemates on Thursday.”
“Huh.” Bucky turned back to his laptop.
* * *
“Hey, Jane.” Darcy called out. They were walking towards the administration office to apply for another class. She was in political science already and didn’t know why she would want to apply for another class. But Jane could be very persuasive and they had a weird project going on. Taking the class would get her more credits and let’s be honest, it’s not the worst class she could pick.
“What?”
“Have you ever heard of Odin?”
“Who?” Darcy rolled her eyes. Of course Jane wouldn’t know. That girl didn’t know anything beside science.
“You know, the rich royal family from a small country in Europe?”
“No. Why?” Jane turned to her as they gave their forms to the old woman in the office.
“Some people were talking about it. His first son is going to enroll in this university.” Darcy explained. Jane didn’t seem to care and she had to resist the urge to roll her eyes again. She opted to check her phone while they waited.
“We have dinner at 7.” Darcy reminded.
“At home?” home. The words felt right in her tongue as she asked Darcy. She has never felt at home anywhere but the Avengers Residence gave her just that.
“Yeah.”
“Okay.” Jane smiled.
* * *
Phil heard the sound of the door and peeked out of the kitchen to see who just came back. His face split into a wide smile when he saw Steve, Bucky, and Natasha entering the house. They looked a little taken aback by the food he set up on the long table.
“Sit. We’ll be eating soon. Darcy and Jane will be here in a few minutes. Barton is out.” Phil explained.
“Thank you, sir.” Steve politely replied. He spent his childhood with little money and this kind of feast always overwhelmed him.
“Just call me Phil. Oh, do you want mashed potatoes or fries?” Natasha was right. Phil Coulson is a very nice guy.
“We’re home!” The three of them tensed for a moment before they realized there was nothing to be afraid of. Phil noticed it but he pretended not to see when Natasha turned to him. They turned their attention to the front door.
Darcy dragged Jane into the dining room. The two of them had huge smiles on their faces as they put down their bags on the couch.
“Meet Darcy Lewis and Jane Foster.” Phil introduced the women. “And these are Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, and Natasha Romanoff.”
“Nice arm you got there.” Darcy blurted out with a grin. Jane looked horrified at her statement. Bucky relaxed a little bit more as he grinned back at the curvaceous woman.
“Sorry. I don’t really have filter for my mouth.” Darcy apologized with a grimace.
“It’s okay, Lewis.” He waved it off.
“I like you.” Natasha nodded in approval.
“Good. I like you too. Your hair, actually.” Darcy cheekily replied.