Dodgeball
The Avengers have a lot of unorthodox training methods. Pretty much all of them are just desperate attempts by Fury to get them to actually participate in different exercises. Most of the time, it doesn’t work. But every once in a while, dodgeball day rolls around, turning the most innocent of team members into cutthroat killers who show no mercy. the teams were always different, but whichever team Clint ends up on tends to have the upper hand. His aiming skills can be applied to more than just archery. Tony insists he should be able to use his suit, but so far, it’s been refused every time.
On one of the dodgeball days, everyone was playing rather competitively. They had agreed that the team who lost would have to do the dishes for a week. Although it was immature, it got them to play harder than normal, so Fury let it slide. Clint didn’t really care who’s team he was on, he just took out as many people as possible. He was working on aiming towards Sam, who was hanging out in the corner, when a dodgeball hit his side, throwing off his aim. In a split second, Clint turned, aiming toward where the ball had come from, and firing one in return. It almost happened in slow-mo. The ball leaving Clint’s hand, flying forward, and hitting Nat directly in the face. Everyone froze, dropping anything they were holding, and staring at the two in mute horror. Nat didn’t say anything for a moment, before looking up from the ground, and locking eye with Clint. She pointed at him, and dragged a hand across her throat, a very obvious threat in the air.
Before anyone could say anything, she turned, walking out of the room. Clint didn’t move for a moment, just stared at the place where she had left. He seemed to snap to attention, jerking upright, and turning to the others, “I have to go. I have to get out of here. I have to leave,” Steve raised his eyebrows in confusion, “What do you mean? It’s just game. I’m sure she was joking.” Clint’s yes were wide, “Sorry Rogers. there are some things you just don’t understand.” He grabbed his bow from the nearby table, shooting a rope upwards, and scaling it insanely fast. Within a minute, he was perigees in the rafters, crouching in a deference position as he scanned everything around him. Tony glanced into the room Nat had walked into when she left. He shot his head at Steve, who promptly turned to Clint, “It’s okay Clint, she’s gone,” Clint shook his head vigorously, “No she’s not. She’s just waiting!” Steve turned to the other Avengers in exasperation, but they just shrugged, unsure of how to handle the situation, so Steve turned back to Clint, “Anything we can do to help?” everyone expected him to say no, so they could move about their business.
Instead, Clint’s eyes lit up, and he started speaking rapidly, “Yes thank you. Steve, I need you positioned in front of the door she left out of. Tony, you need to get in your suit and watch the elevator. Peter, get up here in the rafters to be my backup. Everyone else, either spread out to search for her, or help to guard this room. No one gets in, understood?” No one moved, partly in shock, before Clint clapped loudly, “Get moving, we don’t know what she’s planning!” Everyone scrambled to action, a little bit confused but willing to help. As everyone moved to their positions, Peter swung upwards towards Clint, and perched next to him, assuring him he would be fine. Clint just kept his bow at the ready, warning him not to underestimate Nat. After a couple minutes, Peter was already getting bored. Nothing had happened, and Clint didn’t seem to want to talk. All of a sudden, Peter was hit in the face by something, and he fell from the rafters.
Tony caught him before he hit the ground, and Peter leaped up, “My spider senses are tingling.” Tony rolled his eyes, “Peter, you were literally just hit in the face with a dodgeball.” Peter shrugged. A high pitched screaming sounded from above, and everyone looked up to find Clint yelling as he was dragged into the vents by a red-haired assassin gunning for revenge. By the time any of them got up, Clint was gone. And no one dared to go searching through the vents. Clint and Nat were the only ones who knew all the secrets. Tony had designed the building, and even he wasn’t sure. Although they were upset at having been outsmarted, none of them were really worried. Nat and Clint were pretty much best friends, Nat wouldn’t cause any permanent harm.
Clint was missing for the rest of the day, as was Nat. Neither of them repaired until dinner. The Avengers had ordered takeout, and were spread out in the kitchen, chatting and eating. Peter had insisted they all needed to eat together more. So as they ate, Clint stumbled in through the doorway, Nat by his side. Tony stood up, “Barton. You good?” No response. Tony turned to Nat, a hint of surprise on his face, “What did you do to him?” Nat smirked, “I reminded his of his place.” Steve stood next to Tony, “That sounds a little dark, even for you Natasha.” Nat’s creepy smile faded, replaced with a genuine one, “Chill out Rogers. I took him back to his farm, and had his kids throw dodgeballs at him. Then me, Clint, the wife, and the kids got milkshakes. You really don’t have a high opinion of me, do you.”
Steve stumbled over his words, and Nat just waved him off, “I’m joking.” Tony took the lead, “What’s wrong with him then?” Nat shrugged, “Pretty sure he’s still in shock,” Clint mumbled, “They’re just kids. How could they throw that hard?” Nat cocked her head at him, “I’m sure he’ll be fine eventually.” Peter ran up to Clint, “Sorry Mr. Hawkeye. She caught me off guard.” Clint didn’t respond, but Nat ruffled Peter’s hair affectionately, ‘Oh yah. Sorry about that kid.” Peter smiled up at her, but turned back to Clint, “Is it okay?” Client nodded dumbly, and Peter grinned. Everyone made their way to the table to eat, even Clint, who was still pretty much out of it.