Clint was really trying to make that stick, wasn't he? Squirt had easily topped the list of names she hated with a fiery passion, right next to Katie, the nickname her sister had tortured her with for years--it probably wouldn't have been so bad if she hadn't used that stupid baby voice when she said it. And Barton here...he might as well have taken her martini and given her a sippy cup with milk in it. Not that he would've gotten away with that, Kate would've chucked it at his face as soon as he handed to her. She was nineteen, not ten.
But it was Christmas and why ruin that by getting worked up over something ridiculous? And anyway, Kate knew well enough that he seemed to enjoy getting under her skin in the same way she took amusement in getting under his, which was why she took a sip from her glass and smiled rather than dignify it with a response. She paused and glanced around the room before rounding her eyes back to his.
"Not bad," she answered truthfully. "It's nice seeing all you crazy superheroes together being all festive. What about you?" Kate chuckled a little. "Shouldn't you be over there mingling?"