Pawprints

As they finally reached the lab-Clint had tried to pick up Tony more than once, and they had been chasing each other in a circle for about five minutes- Steve was there, standing in the doorway with his arms crossed. Tony immediately fell back, relying on Clint to be his human shield.

"Thanks for finding him, Clint. JARVIS told me you had." Steve acknowledged, before glaring at Tony. "Stark, these childish games have to stop. You have to realise this is no laughing matter. Your money can't solve everything, so stop pretending that it can! I thought being turned into a dog would make you more responsible-that you would realise the risk of not being careful in battle- but i guess I thought wrong."

Upon hearing his words, Tony stared up at Steve's glowering face for a while before shaking himself and sneezing. Sighing at Tony's antics, Steve looked at Clint, "Bruce is cooking dinner. Be at the dining room on level 20 in thirty minutes. There's no dog food for Stark yet-we ordered but it doesn't arrive until tomorrow, so he eats normal food only this once." With that, Steve strode back down the corridor.

Clint watched his retreating back, before turning to Tony, "I told you so!" Shaking his head, he tried to scoop Tony up again, but failed. "Let's get you clean. Apparently, I'm on watch-Tony duty for today." Raising his voice, Clint asked, "JARVIS, Where's the nearest shower that is equipped for washing a pet?" "One floor above. I have unlocked Sir's third favourite bathroom. It's the one with the lights on." JARVIS' crisp, clear voice rang.

It was a long way to the lift-or so it seemed to Tony. He had exhausted all his energy in the chasing game he had conducted. Soon, he found himself listing sideways and lying down with a 'thump' on the smooth wooden floor.

"Tony?" Clint noticed, and grinned. "Ha! That'll teach you! Shouldn't have resisted being carried, huh?" Scooping Tony up successfully, he continued on to the lift, keeping up a running monologue as he walked. "Man, Tony, your fur is soft!" he exclaimed as he patted Tony's fur. Tony barked tiredly, trying to stop Clint, but it soon gave way to whines, which were infinitely more successful, as Clint quickly gave in to Tony's cuteness. "Okay, okay, don't go the cute route with me!" he laughed and tickled Tony.

When they finally reached the lift ("Tony, why are the floor of your house so big?" Clint complained. Tony huffed contentedly in reply.), Tony had fallen asleep again. "Dude, wake up! Or you will keep us all awake at night when you can't sleep!" Tapping Tony's head, Clint said loudly. It invoked a soft bark of complaint in reply, but Clint succeeded in getting Tony to wake up.

Reaching the bathroom took a few attempts but soon with JARVIS' help, Clint reached the bathroom with Tony still safely in his arms. "Yay! The perilous quest to the bathroom has finally succeeded!" Clint shouted loudly, startling Tony awake (he'd fallen asleep yet again) and making him jump. Going into the bathroom and locking the door, he decided to rinse a towel and rub Tony with it, seeing that he wasn't really dirty. "Okay, Tony! Time to get clean!" He smiled cheerfully and started rubbing Tony all over with the towel.

Soon, Tony was sopping wet and looked pretty ridiculous. "JARVIS, take a picture! This is for future blackmail material!" Clint gasped in laughter, rubbing Tony's back. Tony heard what Clint said and barked angrily. Clint laughed at Tony and finished off by patting him dry with another towel. "There, you're all clean!" Clint grinned proudly. Tony must have felt pretty good-showering does that to people- because he was bouncing again, his tail wagging so fast it was a blur.
Ushering Tony outside the bathroom, Clint gave him a serious look, and said, "Now stay here while I shower and don't run off- Steve might not forgive you again." Tony huffed in reply and sat down. Pleased with Tony's response, Clint closed the bathroom door and locked it.

After showering and changing into a new set of clothes (they had been stuffed in his pocket before the meeting), he unlocked the door. He was completely relaxed, calling for Tony as he stepped out onto the corridor. Suddenly, he was attacked by a furry creature with teeth and brown eyes. "Arg-" Stumbling backwards a few steps, he landed on his side on the soft carpet near the door of the bathroom.

Immediately sitting up, he spotted Tony gambolling towards him, his mouth twisted into a smirk. Jumping and landing resolutely on Clint's legs, he barked twice, as if to say 'Ha, ha! Revenge!' If that wasn't bad enough, JARVIS announced in a cool voice, "Sir, i have snapped a picture of what you called 'Clint's stupid moments' and put them in the 'Bird Brain' file as per your request before you were transformed."

Groaning in embarrassment, Clint asked, "How long ago was this request made?" "About the time you started pranking with him, Mr Barton." JARVIS replied. Was it just him, or was there a tinge of amusement in JARVIS' voice? Shaking that thought off, he made a grab at Tony, "I'm gonna get back at you!" Tony danced out of Clint's reach, and they made their way to the lift in that fashion.