strings of destiny → age of ultron

[6]

The sun had started to rise past the trees when the jet finally landed. Zoza was asleep in the co-pilot seat, curled up tightly. Tony gently shook her awake, then helped her up from the tight fit. Steve helped Blossom up, and the Banners stood shakily. Clint opened the hatch, and they all filed out, following Clint up a pathway to a farm house. Clint opened the door while supporting a weary Natasha, and allowed everyone to enter behind him.

"Honey? I'm home," Clint called, stepping into the living room. A woman came out of the kitchen, holding a few sheets of construction paper, and she relaxed when she saw Clint.

"Hi. Company. Sorry, didn't call ahead," he said, greeting the woman with a kiss.

"This is an agent of some kind," Tony said, and Zoza gently elbowed him.

"Gentlemen, and ladies, this is Laura." Clint held Laura close, and she smiled, giving a friendly wave, which was returned, but hesitantly.

"I know all of your names," she said with a chuckle. From down the hall, footsteps could be heard, and Clint smiled a little.

"Ooh, incoming," he chuckled. From around the corner came a little girl and boy, and they were swept up into a hug. There were pleasant greetings all around, and Tony looked at them.

"These are smaller agents," he said, and again, Zoza nudged him. Clint smiled and set his daughter down, and she looked up at him.

"Did you bring Auntie Nat?" she asked.

"Why don't you hug her and find out?" Nat asked, and the little girl giggled and went to hug her. Clint then turned to his wife and smiled.

"Where's Alex?" he asked, and Laura shrugged. Then, as if right on cue, an older girl came down the stairs and peeked around the corner, brushing hair out of her eyes. Clint smiled and opened his arms for a hug, and she ran to him, hugging him tightly.

"I missed you," she mumbled, and he rubbed her back.

"I missed you, too," he said, kissing her hair. He pulled out of the hug and faced the rest of the team, smiling a little.

"Sorry for barging in on you," Steve said, pulling Blossom closer.

"Yeah, we would have called ahead, but we were busy having no idea that you existed," Tony added, and Zoza rolled her eyes, nudging him again. Alex caught this and giggled, then hid her face behind her hair.

"Yeah, well, Fury helped me set this up when I joined. He kept it off SHIELD's files. I'd like to keep it that way. I figure it's a good place to lay low," Clint said softly, squeezing Alex's shoulder. Alex smiled up at her dad, then watched as Thor stepped on a LEGO house, and gave Steve a knowing glance before catching the attention of Lila, Alex's sister. She looked up at him, and he held her gaze, before the toaster dinged.

"Aw, finally," Cooper sighed, going into the kitchen. Thor turned and left the house, and Steve let go of Blossom to follow him.

***

"You both worried for nothing. Can't even feel the difference, can you?" Clint asked after Laura lifted his shirt to check on his wound, the one Helen had healed.

"If they're sleeping here, some of them will have to double up," Laura said, and Clint fixed his shirt,

"I guess so. The Rogers will take a room, the Banners, and we can figure out the rest," he said. Alex sighed and crossed her arms, looking outside, and then at her parents.

"Nothing feels right," she said softly, and the two adults nodded. Laura and Clint pressed a kiss to her hair, and they urged her to go outside, try and talk with Zoza. Reluctantly, she got up and left the room, knowing the discussion was about to get serious. She went outside and paused, seeing Zoza near Blossom, two people she didn't want to really interact with. But, she took a deep breath and walked over, sitting near them.