Chapter Text
Tony laughed at Clint as once again Natasha beat him in another game of arm wrestling. It was the third time in a row, but Clint kept ensuring he could beat her. They were in the common room, while Tony lay on the couch working on updates for Stark industries on his tablet, and the two spies were sitting on the floor.
Clint shook out his arm, "C'mon let's go!", he said, Natasha rolled her eyes and stood, stretching, "Have you learned nothing?", she asked as put her hand on her hip and looked down at Clint, who glared at her, "You're cheating somehow I can feel it", he stated.
Tony laughed again, setting the tablet down on his chest, "Maybe you're just weak Barton", he splayed his hands in the air, as if he just made a discovery.
Clint turned his glare on him, but Tony rolled his eyes, "Aw, don't be sad Clint", Natasha started, "You can always wrestle with Coulson".
Clint fell back to the floor, "HE CHEATS TOO!", he groaned, causing both Tony and Natasha to snicker. They were still laughing when the elevator opened to reveal Steve and Thor, both sweaty and out of breath.
"HELLO, MY FRIENDS!", Thor's loud voice greeted them, causing the three to wince.
Steve patted Thor's shoulder, "Inside voice, Thor", he reminded the god, before greeting everyone.
"What's everyone up to", he asked, wiping the sweat off his forehead, and coming to sit on the edge of the couch, by Tony's sock-covered feet.
Tony picked his tablet back up, "Oh y'know the usual, Clint getting his ass handed to him once again", Steve didn't try to reprimand him on his language, by now he was used to it.
Steve chuckled at that and turned to Clint, "You asked her about the arm wrestling thing, didn't you?", he asked but already knew the answer.
Clint sat up, and threw Steve a look, "Of course, I asked her"
"What is this arm wrestling you speak of?", Thor asked, confusion clear on his face.
Tony watched as a mischievous glint came over Natasha's emerald eyes, "It is a test of strength", she answered, but he knew there was something else coming, "I bet Steve could show you how to play", she suggested, both her and Thor looking at Steve.
"I don't think-", he started only to be cut off by Clint, "Don't be such a loser!", he called out, excited to see Captain America and a literal god, arm wrestle.
"Yeah", Tony agreed, "Don't be a loser Rogers", Steve turned to him, "You aren't helping"
"When do I ever?", he asked, raising an eyebrow.
A slight frown came over Steve's face and he opened his mouth to reply but was once again interrupted by Thor
"Son of Rogers, it would be my honor to arm wrestle with you", he said, seriousness written all over his face. Steve sighed, and Tony knew they had won, "All right", he agreed, causing Clint to let out a cheer.
And that's how Bruce found them five hours later. Thor and Steve's hands clasped tightly together, neither giving the other any leeway, while the rest of his teammates were crowded around them and the coffee table they were using to steady themselves.
"Uh?" Bruce asked as he came to a halt, causing all heads, sans Thor and Steve to turn his way, "What's going on?"
"Steve and Thor are arm wrestling", came Clint's reply. "I can see that", Bruce said
"But why?"
"To see who's stronger", that was Natasha, she was kneeling by Thor's side along with Clint.
Bruce looked over to Steve, where Tony was kneeling by his side, "Who's winning?", he asked. Tony's eyes flickered up to him and then back to the match in front of him, "It's a tie", he answered.
Bruce nodded along and sat kneeling down in the middle of the two sides, both men's hands were trembling with the amount of strength they were both using.
Steve looked up from their joined hands, and into Thor's eyes, "Plan on giving up anytime soon?", he asked, because truthfully he didn't know if he could hold out much longer.
Thor gave him a blinding smile, "Only if you do, my friend!", he replied, pushing his hand harder against Steve's. Steve grunted but held on.
And then it happened, Steve's hand started slipping, Thor smiled even bigger this time, and renewed his effort to pin down Steve's arm. Steve held tight and gripped the glass coffee table with his other hand. The rest of the team held their breath, in a few short seconds the battle would be over, and they would finally have their answer.
The sound of faint cracking reached their ears, it was the glass table, where the battle was being held. Steve quickly glanced down at the table, seeing faint fractures running through the glass, under his elbow. Thor took the chance to press down Steve's hand even harder, Steve pressed back, but it was a futile last-ditch effort.
Only a few seconds later, the glass table burst from under them, sending glass shards everywhere. Everyone jumped back from the now ruined table
"Holy shit", Tony breathed from beside Steve
"That was awesome!", Clint finished for him, clapping Thor on the shoulder.
Bruce grimaced and brushed glass shards off his shirt and pants, "We'll I guess Thor's the winner", he announced. Clint whooped, and pulled Thor into a playful headlock, Natasha rolled her eyes at the friendly display.
"Uh, I don't think so", Tony spoke up, causing all their heads to turn in his direction.
"What do you mean, you 'don't think so'? Thor obviously won", Clint argued. Tony raised an eyebrow, "Steve's hand never touched the table"
"Does it matter? Thor shattered the table", Clint responded, crossing his arms over his chest.
"No, the force they were both exerting on the table, shattered it", he informed them.
"What! No!", Clint shouted on Thor's behalf.
"I have to agree with Tony", Bruce said, turning to Thor, "It's basic science".
"Which", Tony started, "Means we have a tie lady and gents"
Clint's arms shot out, "Um, hell no. Thor won.", he stated, then turned to Natasha, who had kept quiet up until now, "Right, Tasha?".
Everyone's attention turned to the redhead, who had an impassive look on her face, "It's a tie", she concluded, causing Clint to shout in outrage.
Tony turned to Steve and patted his shoulder, "Congrats, Cap, you almost made it", Steve paid him no attention, staring at the shattered table, "I broke your table", he spoke up.
Tony frowned, "Technically, both you and Thor broke it", that didn't seem to make Steve happy, "But I'm a billionaire so, who cares?"
Before Steve had the chance to respond, the Avengers Alarm was going off, and everyone immediately got to their feet. "JARVIS, what's going on?" Tony asked his A.I.
"There seems to be an ongoing villain attack, in downtown manhattan", JARVIS informed the team.
"Do you know who it is?", Steve asked, he was still getting used to talking to a computer system, that was omnipresent in the tower. "It seems to be a creature made out of slime", he answered.
Clint visibly shuttered, "Do we really have to fight it? I just cleaned my suit from the last fight", Natasha shot him a look, effectively shutting him up.
Tony turned to Steve, "What's the plan, Cap?", Steve turned to JARVIS, "Get the Quinjet ready", he then turned to his team, "Suit up, we've got work to do".