Chapter Text
Since the thunderbolts were turned into the new avengers and started living in the watchtower, they had made no progress in their relationships. There was just nothing to do and nothing to talk about. Valentina was still figuring out the logistics of this new team and had no missions for them yet. Bucky didn’t have any missions for them either so they were left wandering the tower and only leaving for food. Even that mostly consisted of the wheaties with the team on it that Alexei was so proud of.
Bob walked into the kitchen where Alexei was sitting with a bowl of these. Bob stood there for a second, watching Alexei examine the box.
“Is not as cool,” he muttered.
“What’s not as cool?” Bob asked. His sudden question surprised Alexei.
“Bob! You are up! Come here I have question.” Bob approached as Alexei turned the box to show him.
“Look.” Bob looked. “The name. Too many words. Too cluttered but look! Ah-ha!” Alexei slapped the box and left behind a rudimentary sticker. Handwritten and partially colored, it read “THUNDERBOLTS”
“Is much better name!”
“Oh! Uh…” Bob did not know how to respond.
“We should have kept it.”
“How many times, Alexei? We can’t call ourselves that,” Bucky said while leaning against the door frame.
“But there is story behind it! And I didn’t come up with it, that was Yelena.”
“No I did not! I told one story and it stuck,” Yelena said as she squeezed past Bucky still leaning against the door frame, “Hi, Bob.”
“Oh hi!” he smiled. “ Good morning”
“Breakfast?” It took him a second to realize she was asking him if he wanted some.
“Ye-yeah but I’m pretty sure we only have wheaties.”
“Oh no I’m sure there is something else.” She started rummaging through the cabinets. He watched her try and fail to find anything good and decided he didn’t want anything anyway.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw movement and looked at the wall to see Ava walking through.
“Stop trying to be all mysterious and cool leaning in the doorway like that,” she said to Bucky. He rolled his eyes and stepped farther in but still slightly blocking the door.
“Here bob.” Yelena passed Bob a very spotty banana and he accepted it. Yelena wanted him to have it so he had to eat it.
“That is not enough food! I will make you bowl of wheaties!” Alexei insisted and started making it.
“What’s going on in here?” Walker came in, pushing Bucky out of his way. “Why is everyone in here? Are you plotting against me?” he said lightheartedly. Bob wondered if, maybe deep down, Walker thought they were.
“Nope,” he said, “Alexei is obsessing over the name thunderbolts again.” Walker groaned but said nothing and went to find his breakfast.
The kitchen, while large, felt pretty full with 6 people all standing up and moving around so Bob sat down and started peeling his banana.
“May I take your jacket?” he joked to the banana. Everyone froze for a second.
“Um, do you think we can’t hear you?” Walker questioned. Ava laughed and sat down next to Bob. Bob glanced over at her and saw she didn’t have any food so he offered her half his banana and she accepted it without a word.
“Everyone!” Alexei said, exasperated, “We have plenty of wheaties! And they are thunderbolts themed now!” He slammed the bowl he made for Bob on the table and Bob flinched at the impact. Alexei noticed and apologized. “Sorry, Bob.”
The conversation about the name thunderbolts continued. Bucky was adamantly against it, as well as Yelena because the story behind it felt too specific to her. Bob was partially listening, but also in his own thoughts.
“We should play it!” he burst out. When everyone looked at him funny, he realized he needed to elaborate. “Uh soccer!”
“Oh, no,” Yelena groaned. Alexei however seemed ecstatic.
“YES! Great idea, Bob!”
“No, bad idea. Why?” said Bucky.
“Well, it could be fun, 3v3…”
“Love a competition!” Ava interrupted Bob.
“...With powers,” Bob finished.
Immediately Walker said, “I want Ava on my team!” Everyone started to crowd the table.
“I will join Yelena’s team! We will win!” Alexei declared
“No,” Yelena groaned again.
“FOR THE GLORY”
Everyone groaned at that. It fell silent as they looked at each other for approval. Yelena gave a nod and they all looked at Bucky. Bucky, still near the door, gave in.
“Fine.”
They cheered.
“God why are you like this? I can’t believe I’m responsible for you all!”
“You?” Yelena questioned while heading to the door, “I’m the leader.” The others were silent again. “Come on, you guys!” Yelena protested.
“Yeah ok,” Bucky moved on. “Let’s go.”