Moon System
She can hear the men arguing from the stairs. She knew the day would come when Tony would finally find Clint's address. She had only bet on a future date and is now frustrated that she is losing twenty dollars. The four men stand in front of the door like ducklings and discuss who will ring the bell. "I still think it's a stupid idea," Bruce admits. "You've said that eighteen times now and it won't end with the fact that we don't do it anyway." Tony puts an arm around Bruce's shoulder, who dismisses this with an eye roll.
"So who's ringing now?" Tony asks, looking at Steve, who shakes his head. "The doorbell doesn't work," Natasha mutters as she walks down the hall and stops in front of them. Everyone has the decency to flinch and look at times guilty. "Romanoff-" Tony grins. "What a pleasant surprise to see you here. We were just in the area." "Mhm," Natasha says unimpressed, pushes past the men and knocks on the door.
She can hear the surprised inhalation of the idiots and shakes her head slightly. World's Mightiest Heroes, she thinks with amusement as she steps and hears a joyful bark behind the door. She could also have used the apartment key, but is always good to warn those present.
"Yes?" it comes gruffly when the door is opened. "Hi Jake," Natasha greets, unperturbed, and Jake relaxes a bit. "Oh gosh," Steve gasps behind her and Tony starts giggling. "You didn't have time to get dressed?" Natasha asks sweetly, her eyes on his face. Jake leans against the door frame and shrugs. "It's my home and this is a free country. Besides, we're a bit busy right now,” Jake chirps sweetly and looks at Steve in a slightly provocative manner.
"Jake!" Clint calls from the apartment. "You won't believe it, but Isabell chose dress number two and it was just to make her mother happy. She will stand at the altar and regret that decision." Natasha raises an eyebrow. “Say yes to the dress marathon. It's a very important-” “You have three minutes to get dressed or we'll just come in,” Nat interrupts with an amused grin.
"I wouldn't mind," Jake grins, but turns away. "I hope at least one is looking at my ass," he calls over his shoulder and Nat rolls her eyes. "Looks good," Tony replies, giggling. "Thanks". "Oh god Tony," Steve says slightly indignantly and there is a blush on his face as if he had been in the sun for too long. "What? He's got a great ass.”
"AU", it comes from inside the apartment. "You ass, I've got coffee in my hands here, why are you throwing-" Clint stops mid-sentence. "Why are you naked?" Clint asks after a few seconds of silence. "I've been naked for two hours-" Jake begins in a distinctly slow voice. Clint doesn't seem to be wearing his hearing aids "But thanks for realizing. Romanoff and other people are at the door"
"Other people," Tony repeats the words under his breath. "Is he always like this?" asks Bruce, while Clint fumes. "You can't just answer the door naked." "Jake's an ass, but that kind of ass you can get used to," explains Natasha. "He certainly seems very open," Steven replies, still embarrassed. “There should be no embarrassment among warriors. There is a lake where we always swim in the summer days,” Thor explains proudly.
"Of course I can open the door naked, I just did," says Jake, making Clint sigh. "It's just Romanoff and some guys," Jake adds, amused. "Some guys? What guys?” asks Clint worried. "Don't know...Captain America and so". Clint replies with something that is too incomprehensible.
"Jake, please put your clothes on," says Clint more clearly now. "Uh so bossy. That sounded different last night though-" "Jake!" Clint interrupts in frustration, making Jake laugh. Natasha suppresses a smile. Unintelligible words are exchanged, followed by another laugh. "And when you're dressed, I want Marc to be there."
"Who's Marc?" Tony asks and then Clint appears in the foyer. "The door is open," he murmurs as he puts his hearing aids in his ears. He's wearing old faded purple sweatpants and a t-shirt that definitely seems to be Marc's. "How much did you get?" he asks worried. "Kind of everything," Natasha grins, then pushes past Clint.
"Hey-" Clint greets the others. "I'm sorry about Jake. He can be an ass. I mean, he has a very cute ass and he can do whatever he wants with it...but well...his shame is sometimes absent and-” Clint stops his babble and takes a deep breath. "Would you like to come in...even though I have no idea how you found the address". Clint steps aside and makes room for them.
"Sorry about the mess," Clint apologizes as they all enter. "I told Tony not to just barge in here," Steve says apologetically. Tony turns around indignantly. "Wow, you stab me in the back like that," says Tony, sighing dramatically. "Your little warrior companion is very cute," Thor says and enthusiastically holds Lucky in his arms.
The dog enthusiastically wags his tail and barks happily.
"It's his superpower," Clint grins. "So, does anyone want to tell me what you want here, or will there be an even more embarrassing situation before we talk about it," he asks, looking around. Tony and Steven exchange looks. Bruce looks at the pile of books and Thor is still hugging Lucky.
Clint looks at Natasha, who is in the kitchen making tea. According to her expression, she herself has no idea what the four are doing here. Steve sighs. "First of all, we're sorry for just showing up here. We got your address from a nice lady who works in the R&D department and makes your arrows and I...we know it's a massive invasion of privacy,” Steven explains, genuinely apologetic.
Clint brushes that fact aside. It was only a matter of time. It happened earlier than expected, but nothing he didn't expect. "So the reason we're here is that...we have a few questions about-" "Clinton, why is Jake stressing about some- oh gosh," Steven interrupts from the upstairs apartment floor and Clint rolls his eyes and sighs.
Clint looks up. Steven holds two t-shirts in front of his chest and tries to cover what can be covered. At least he's wearing pants, Clint thinks and climbs the stairs. "What are the Avengers doing here?" Steven asks quietly, looking from the four heroes in the living room to Clint and back again. "Mostly annoying,"Clint murmurs amusedly and putting himself between Steven and the curious gaze from below.
"Where's Marc?" Clint asks a little more seriously, drawing his boyfriend's focus to himself. "Oh yes, Marc refuses," Steven explains with a shrug. "He refuses?" Clint asks in disbelief and Steven nods. "He and Jake started fighting, no idea about what. I never listen to it and then all of a sudden I was standing there and now it's also very quiet,” explains Steven and Clint sighs again.
"Why are the Avengers here?" Steven repeats his earlier question, then gasps. "Is it because of the cupcakes?" he asks softly, then leans to the side and looks down. “Are you here for the cupcakes. I told Clinton not to eat them. They were labeled and there are rules in society, but he said-"
"They're not here for the cupcakes," Clint interrupts Steven's babble. "That's insanely interesting," Tony blurts out, his voice imbued with a curiosity that can only come from a scientist. With a disapproving expression, Clint watches as Tony comes up the stairs and holds out his hand. "Hi, I'm Tony and what was your name again?" "Steven," says Steven, slightly unwelcome, but accepts the hand.
"Nice to meet you," Steven says, looking up from the shaking hands to Tony. "Well theoretically we've met before," Tony replies and a questioning look appearing on Steven's face. "In the restaurant-" Tony begins to explain. "I was there with my girlfriend". Steven looks to Clint for help.
However, Clint doesn't know what to say.
That's why he wanted Marc here.
"Oh I think...that must have been Marc. The last time he took me out was sometime last year,” Steven begins to explain. "That's not true," Clint snaps, and Tony raises an eyebrow. "Who is Marc? A secret secret identity. Are you a Shield Agent? I knew it. You're incredibly good at this, this sudden change and stepping into a role. I've only seen that with Romanoff so far. Impressive."
"I'm not a Shield Agent," Steven says, confused. "Oh well then from another alphabet club. FBI? CIA? What else is there? Judging by the accent, maybe MI6 or-” “Um Tony,” Bruce interrupts from below. "Yes?" Tony asks, looking at the other scientist. "Come here for a moment," Bruce says, waving to Tony. Rolling his eyes, he strolls downstairs.
"What is it?" asks Tony. "I don't think he's any kind of agent," Bruce whispers softly. "Just because I didn't find him in Shield's databases doesn't mean he's not an agent. I've never met a human with another identity that wasn't an Agnet. What else should it be?"
"D.I.D," Bruce says uncertainly. Both scientists look at the man who is having a whispered conversation with Clint. "That makes sense-" Tony whispers. "that would also explain Thor's report of a knight". Steve clears his throat and steps closer. "As someone who of course knows what you mean, we should explain to Thor what this D.I.S is." Thor steps closer as well, Lucky still in his arms. "That would be very nice," Thor says.
"Dissociative Identity Disorder-" Bruce begins to explain. "It's...one body, multiple personalities or alters, if you will. It is often triggered by various traumas. So your own mind creates a new personality to protect the main personality,” Bruce finishes and Thor and Steve nod in understanding.
"The knight, however, is not another personality," says Thor, and the whispering is now over. "It stands to reason that a little boy might grow into a knightly personality-" "Oh no, the God is right," Marc interrupts Bruce, and everyone looks up at the sound of the new voice. "I mean I wish it was another personality because it would make everything easier, even dying, but it's not."
"Marc," Clint says with a sigh. "What? At some point, this invulnerability really sucks,” says Marc and descends the stairs while also putting on one of the shirts. "And I'm the one who had to go to therapy," Clint murmurs, following his boyfriend. "You had to go to therapy because there was a god in your head," Marc replies snippy, then looks at Thor. "I'm still not pleased with what your brother did." "I can only apologize for Loki's actions," Thor says apologetically.
"Yeah, that doesn't make things any better," says Marc and strolls into the kitchen. "Marc's a big softie-" Clint begins to say in a despising tone. "Like a mother hen. It's not funny when he and Phil yell at you and say you have to be more careful." Confused looks are exchanged. "So Marc is-" Bruce begins to ask cautiously. "The main personality, if you will," Clint finishes and Marc nods while pouring himself a cup of coffee.
"And you're with everyone?" Steve asks, a little embarrassed, and Clint grins at the blush that's appearing on the captain's face. "Yes-" confirms Clint and shrugs. “You get used to it” “And how does it work? I mean, isn't it a bit confusing?” Steven continues and Clint frowns. "Oh my god," Marc sighs and shakes his head.
"It requires a lot of communication from everyone and a lot of patience, understanding and trust," explains Clint and Steve nods in understanding. "I'm glad you're happy and that someone was able to help you after the whole Loki thing," Steve grins and Clint accepts this with a smile. "How did you even meet them?" Bruce asks and Clint's smile widens. In the kitchen, Marc sighs again and Natasha giggles.
"It's a great story. You should sit down. So-” “Wait a minute-” Tony interrupts, looking from Clint to Marc and back in confusion. "So he works for a god and we just ignore it?" Tony asks around and everyone nods. "Okay-" Tony sighs and collapses onto the couch. "Then tell us how you met."
"It was two years ago. I got a forced vacation from Shield and spent it in London and met what must have been the cutest guy ever-"