What's In Your Pockets?

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"Ok... Game time! " Tony announces, and the words are met with one cheer (Thor) and a chorus of groans.

The Avengers team is enjoying a night off at Stark/Avengers Tower. It's something that Tony seems to like doing every couple of weeks with everyone. Ordering pizza, goofing off, sometimes watching a movie. But lately, Tony's got onto a group game fetish, arguing that it will help them learn to work together better as a team. The results do not actually always go that well.

"NOT Scrabble again," Steve groans. "Someone has to stand by with a dictionary for the words that Thor chooses".

"And NOT Monopoly," Natasha adds. From beside her, Clint says, "Last time we played Banner hulked out when he went bankrupt".  From across the table, Bruce ducks his head in embarrassment.

"The Spanish game of One is pleasing," Thor suggests.

"NOT UNO!!" They all, except Tony, say in unison. "Tony is the worst loser at Uno," Clint says, drumming his fingers on the table.

"Well. Some team." Tony looks like he's headed for a major pout session, complete with lip and all. Pepper quickly speaks up.

"Hey, I found this idea for a group game online." She whips out her phone. "It's called 'What's In Your Pockets?'. Someone reads a list of random items, and the one that has the most of them wins". Tony tries to peek at the list over her shoulder, but Pepper deftly turns her phone away, making a face at him.

"Are we all wearing jeans?" Bruce asks. Around the table everyone nods. The only one not wearing pants is Pepper, but she's decided to be the one calling out items.

At first, the items being called are easy. Keys, cash, credit cards, bus pass... Library card (they're all sort of surprised when Clint is the first to whip one out). They laugh over who has the weirdest or most random items. Thor has two different kinds of half eaten Pop-Tarts stuffed in a pocket. Bruce has multiple wadded up Kleenex. Tony coughs up a measuring tape. Natasha has a broken heel from a shoe that everyone wants the story behind. Before long, everyone has an odd assortment of little items in front of them.

"This is both impressive and weird," Pepper remarks after Steve and Clint both pull out pairs of reading glasses. "Somehow, everyone has managed to have almost everything on the list."

"What's left?" Tony asks. He's become very interested in the game, probably because he's just nosey about what's in his teammates' pockets.

Pepper consults her list. "Just two items. " She laughs. "Underwear?"

They all start laughing, but then Bruce lays a pair on the table, and they all stare. He shrugs. "I've learned to prepare for the worst case scenario when the Big Guy shows up," he says matter-of-factly. No one can really argue with that logic.

"Um...ok.." Pepper uses her phone stylus to check that off. "The only item left is a piece of jewelry."

They start looking at each other and shrugging, a couple of the guys pulling up completely empty pockets. That's when Tony notices that Clint's face has gone red, like fire engine burning to the tips of his ears red.

"Well, I guess.." Pepper begins, but Tony stops her.

"Wait a minute." He points at Clint, one eyebrow raised. "You, Legolas, you have something else in your pocket there, don't you?"

There's a literal sheen of sweat on Clint's forehead now. Everyone is staring at him. It's obvious how uncomfortable he's become. Natasha watches him with concern.

"Let's just declare Banner the winner and move on." Clint's voice is desperate. Tony grins. "Absolutely not. Let's see what's in your pocket, Barton."

"No holding out." Steve agrees, and Thor and Bruce echo the sentiment.

For a brief moment, Clint looks like he either wants to punch Tony or just bolt, or possibly both simultaneously. He looks at Natasha, then slowly he stands, and pulls from his right pocket a small, dark blue box.
There's an almost collective gasp around the table. Clint shoots Tony a dark look. " This is not how I planned to do this... But..." Clint turns to Natasha, taking a deep breath. Natasha's cheeks have flushed pink.

Clint kneels beside her chair and opens the box, revealing a gold ring set with a small diamond in the center. He looks into Natasha's eyes, nothing else around them existing.

"Natasha Romanoff... Will you marry me?"

Natasha takes his face in her hands and pulls him up to kiss her. She releases him and smiles. "Yes. Absolutely yes."

Around the table cheers break out.

"See?" Tony quips triumphantly. " I've been telling you all that these game nights will bring us closer as a team."

------------End! 

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⏰ Last updated: Mar 17, 2022 ⏰

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