Natasha wrestled and played with him for a bit before she sent him running with a swat. Chloe blinked and watched, curious.

Clint laughed and took off, trying his best to keep out of Natasha's reach. It didn't take long for her to catch him again and pin him down.

Natasha released him after a few moments and went over to nudge Chloe. Her turn to play. Chloe blinked, chuffed, and looked at Clint quizzically.

Clint grinned as he got to his feet and nodded.

"C'mon," he said. "I can take it."

Her first few tries to catch him were half-hearted at best, until she decided for herself that yes, he would be fine and he could avoid her pretty well. Then her ears pricked forward and she started hunting him in earnest.

Clint was forced to get creative once she really started to play, and he ended up going up a couple of trees before he finally let her catch him.

Chloe was very pleased with the challenge he'd given her, and she nosed his cheek before she yawned and stretched out next to Clint. Steve had already gone back to the back porch and flopped across Athena's feet to watch.

Athena was relaxing there with Steve, watching the others play. Clint just grinned and sprawled out on the grass with Chloe and Natasha, not minding he was being used as a pillow.

Steve stretched a bit and resettled himself laying on his side, his eyes half-closed. This was as relaxed as he'd been since they'd found out about the investigations.

Chloe was relaxed as well, oddly content to relax with Natasha and Clint. She hadn't relaxed with anyone like this in a while.

Tony finally came outside and raised an eyebrow when he saw them all.

"Well, this isn't surprising," he commented as he found himself a place to settle. He had a tablet tucked under one arm, and a fistful of tools in the other hand.

Steve lifted his head and snorted at Tony before settling down again. At least he hadn't had to go fetch Tony this time.

"Yeah, yeah," Tony retorted as he sat down and spread out his tools. "I'm here, aren't I?" He glanced over at the other three. "Looks like Chloe's getting more comfortable."

Steve huffed in a very satisfied way, getting up and stretching. He padded over between Athena and Tony so he could keep an eye on both of them, sitting down and curling his tail over his feet.

Tony rolled his eyes, but started working on the tablet he brought out with him. He did have to admit, though, Steve was right to drag him outside. It felt good to be out for a little while.

Over the next few days, Chloe relaxed further, starting to actually spend time with the rest of the group voluntarily and relaxing with them and, oddly enough, befriending Natasha first. Which may or may not have had something to do with rooftop talks on sleepless nights. But she was more than happy to spend time with Athena, as well, since the human was fairly calm and restful.

But the other employees she avoided.

Athena stuck pretty close to home when she wasn't at work, at least for a while. She ended up spending a lot of time in the living room with a book or her laptop, just keeping an eye on things.

The next time visiting time came around, Natasha had talked Chloe into shifting again, because she figured that might be easier for the other cat. And then she started a game of tag. Inside the house.

Clint snickered the whole time, keeping score. Athena rolled her eyes at the three of them and made sure to stay out of their way.

The game was fun up until people knocked on the front door. Then Chloe hissed and went to go hide up in the rafters while Natasha, very pointedly, sat in the living room.

Athena gave them a chance to calm down and gave Clint a chance to come down from the rafters before she went and opened the door.

Zee entered last, looking around briefly and letting the others look around first. He, instead, hung back.

"How are they adjusting?" he asked her, nodding to Natasha and Steve, who was standing near her watching the intruders with bright eyes.

"Nat and Steve?" Athena asked. "They're fine. Not necessarily pleased with the whole visit thing, but alright enough."

"Better than pissed," Zee agreed with a faint snort. "And Tony? Hiding away in his workshop again?"

"Yeah, for now," Athena replied. "Clint and I are able to keep things under control out here, so it's not a big deal if Tony wants to hole himself up."

Zee nodded. "At least someone is taking control," he said, looking at Natasha. "I really hope neither of them are foolish enough to approach her."