#characteracharacterb

This is a fill for today’s @flashfictionfridayofficial [#FFF291 Stuff of Legends]  as well as my   @character-a-character-b    Rair Pair bingo C1 square:  A&B pulling a prank on someone together. 

Fandom: MCU/Marvel Pairing: Scott Lang/Clint Barton Rating: General Tags:  Avengers Compound, Avengers as Family, Pranks, Pining,, Love Confessions Summary:  Clint and Scott plan a prank to get their teammates to confess their attraction to one another - but things don’t quite go according to plan. Word Count: 974 words 

 “This would be a lot easier if we were tiny,” Scott muttered, following Clint through the air ducts of the Compound.  They were in the process of setting up what Clint claimed would be the most epic Avengers prank ever. ‘You know, stuff of legends-level!’ 

Scott wasn’t sure about that,  or whether the bruises and dust-bunnies were worth it. And then there was the dubious morality of the prank itself -  but getting to spend time with Clint? That was worth all the hassle.  Besides, Scott knew he had a habit of doing weird stuff to impress  a crush.

“I thought you had to be wearing a suit in order to shrink,” Clint replied over his shoulder,  “and I don’t think Hope’s would fit me.”

“Theoretically, the Pym particles don’t require the use of a suit. After all, An-tonio got sized up with no ill effects, as best we can tell.” 

“Yeah - I’d rather not take my chances,” Clint shot back, a grin in his voice.  “Here we go!”  He taped a speaker and a can  of house blessing spray  to the back of the living room air vent,  then attached the remote controlled gadget Scott had designed that would trigger the spray, along with the recording  they’d made earlier in the day.   Once everything was set up, they wriggled their way as quickly as possible back to Clint’s room. 

“Make sure to clean up a bit before dinner,” Clint warned him with a wink.  “Wouldn’t want them to suspect anything.”  

“Will do - see you in a bit!”  Scott made a mock-salute while trying not to fantasize about getting naked and wet with Clint.    He ambled back to his own room and took a quick and unfortunately solitary shower before joining the rest of the team for their weekly pizza and a movie night.   

It was Tony’s turn to choose the movie, so they’d probably be watching some sci fi action film that he would snark his way through, at least until Steve or Bucky asked him to stop.  It was clear that there was some serious UST between the three of them, and hopefully their prank would help clear the air, so to speak.

They waited until everyone had finished eating - no reason to ruin perfectly good pizza, Clint had reasoned - and had settled into their accustomed spots around the room.   As usual, Steve, Bucky and Tony claimed the largest sofa, conveniently located under the air vent  Clint and Scott had booby-trapped.   

Once the opening credits rolled, Clint glanced over at Scott and gave him a nod.  Scott pressed the button of the small remote hidden in his pocket.    Mere moments later,  a cloud of mist  billowed out from the vent, and a booming voice (actually Scott’s own, with a fake foreign accent and run through a modulator) announced.   “Foolish Avengers - did you think I could be so  easily vanquished?   Nay- and now I wreak my revenge - casting a spell that forces you to confess that which you have hidden from one another!”  

Steve and Bucky had leapt to their feet at the sound of the first word, which meant they both got a face full of the vapor.  “What the…” Bucky exclaimed, before a coughing fit overtook him. Steve was gagging and hacking as well; apparently super-soldiers were super-sensitive to aerosol sprays. 

“Friday? What’s going on?”   Tony asked, pulling the collar of his Black Sabbath t-shirt up over his mouth and nose as he pulled his companions back down to the couch. 

“I’m not sure, Boss.”   Scott was both immensely proud and a little ashamed of having hacked Tony’s AI so his and Clint’s venture into the HVAC ducts wasn’t observed and recorded.  “I’m having trouble identifying the makeup of the spray.”   

Time to roll out the next part of the prank.  Clint took the lead,  scrambling to his feet, dramatically placing one hand over his chest.  “Natasha - I’m so sorry!  Budapest - that was all my fault!” 

“What?”  Scott didn’t know what any of that meant, but he couldn’t tell whether  the shocked expression on her face meant Natasha was playing along or not.  His own declaration hit a little close to home, but Scott figured it might  encourage their targets to bare their souls a little as well. 

“Clint - I’m head over heels in love with you!”  Scott announced, throwing his arms wide.  The expression  of happy surprise  that crossed Clint’s face looked almost real, and Scott’s traitorous heart skipped a beat in return.  

“You are, huh?”  Clint pulled him into an embrace.   “Turns out I’ve kinda been carrying a torch for you as well, handsome.”  

The blood rushed to Scott’s cheeks even as he reminded himself that this was just part of the prank.   “Anybody else have something they feel compelled to confess?”  

“Uh….” Steve rubbed the back of his neck.  “Bucky and Tony and me have been stepping out for awhile.” 

“And by ‘stepping out’,”  Tony added, with a hint of a smirk,  “he means screwing like bunnies.  I’m surprised no one’s asked why I’ve been walking funny lately.”

“I didn’t need the sordid details,”  Natasha shrugged.  

Bruce sighed. “At least you’ve kept your amorous activities out of the lab….. right?” 

“I can neither confirm or deny.”  Tony shrugged apologetically before turning to face Clint and Scott, who were still standing with their arms around each other as they absorbed the results of their prank.  “It’s about time you two ‘fessed up to your feelings -  we were ready to lock you in a closet!” 

“What?”  Scott and Clint said practically in unison.  

“Bozhe moy”  Natasha muttered, shaking her head.  

“It’s like a forest’s worth of pining between you two,” Bucky groaned.  “Just go ahead and  kiss already.” 

“That’s an order,” Steve added in his Captain America voice.