Chapter Text
Natasha and Clint exited the Stark Tower elevator and entered the large, round room with little Kate Bishop.
Kate looked around, enchanted.
She lived across from Stark Tower, she had always imagined what the inside was like, and now she was there.
"Why are we here?" Kate asked curiously.
"The redhead and I just have to take care of a few things, then we're going home." Clint said, crouching down to the little girl's level.
Home.
That simple word still sent a shiver down Kate's spine.
"Great, you're back." A voice caught their attention.
They looked in the direction the voice came from and saw Tony Stark himself.
Kate's eyes widened, it was Iron Man. She sometimes saw him flying through the skies of New York in his gleaming red and gold armor.
Tony stopped in front of the three. The man looked down, seeing a strange little girl he'd never seen before. The billionaire raised an eyebrow, looking at Natasha and Clint, confused by the situation.
"You were gone for a few hours and came back with a child." Tony chuckled. "I'm impressed."
"It's not funny, Stark." Natasha retorted, her expression serious.
"This is Kate." Clint introduced them.
"Nice to meet you, kid."
"You... you're Iron Man." Kate stammered, still paralyzed in front of the man.
"The one and only. Want an autograph?" Tony boasted, pulling a pen from his pocket.
"She doesn't want one." Natasha cut off the man's little "fame" vibe.
"Always ruining my vibe Rushman." Tony huffed, frowning at the redhead.
"Someone needs to do this."
The three adults continued their little discussion for a few minutes, and Kate was starting to get bored
So she decided to explore the place.
The little girl looked up and saw that the three heroes were still busy talking; she took the opportunity to sneak out.
Kate walked through several corridors, she didn't know where she was going, but she was curious. She had never been inside Stark Tower, she had to take advantage of the opportunity.
Kate turned into the corridor but stopped when she felt her body bump into someone. The little girl looked up, still a little dazed, trying to focus her eyes.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
The child's vision finally returned to normal, Kate's eyes widened when she saw the blond man with blue eyes standing in front of her.
"You... are Captain America!" Kate exclaimed excitedly. She couldn't believe she was facing Captain America in the flesh.
"Oh yes, I am." Steve Rogers gave a small, shy smile.
He didn't know what that girl was doing in the tower, but he had to admit she was cute.
"How did you get here?"
Kate couldn't answer. She was still paralyzed by the sight of Captain America. Millions of thoughts flooded the girl's head at that moment.
I thought he'd be taller.
Yes, she liked Iron Man, and she got excited every time he flew over New York in his armor.
But the guy in front of her was a legend, he literally came from another century. Kate couldn't believe she was actually in front of him.
Her father was a big collector, and he had several Captain America figurines.
Kate's shoulders slumped at this thought.
The memory of the afternoons she snuggled with her father while he showed her Captain America figurines and told her various war stories.
Kate felt that pang in her heart – now so familiar – returning once more. So that was all that was left? Just sad memories of happy moments?
That thought sent shivers down Kate's spine, she didn't want to think about that reality.
"Ah... are you okay?" Steve looked at the girl who seemed lost in her own thoughts.
Steve didn't know what was happening. Before, the little girl's gaze seemed shocked, but with a hint of enthusiasm in it as she stared at him with her mouth open.
But now, she was downcast, it even seemed like she was about to cry.
"Kate!"
A voice caught Steve and Kate's attention, finally snapping the little girl out of her little trance.
The child turned around, seeing the source of the voice.
"Kate, thank God you're here! I turned around for a minute and you were gone." Clint bent down checking the little girl's face making sure she didn't have any new injuries.
Kate noticed that Clint's voice exuded concern. It was clear he had run a little, probably looking for her.
"You can't leave without telling me!"
"Are you angry?" Kate asked worriedly. She didn't want him to be angry with her.
"No, Kate. I'm not." Clint sighed calming down and letting his worry fade from his shoulders. "But you can't leave my side without telling me."
Kate simply nodded in agreement.
She knew she shouldn't have left the archer's side without telling him, but her curiosity had gotten the better of her.
"Hey girl, are you okay?" Clint asked, noticing the little girl's downcast look.
Kate just shrugged. She didn't want to say she remembered her father, not now at least.
"It's clear you've already met the boy from America." Natasha approached the three of them along with Tony.
Kate nodded, a small, now softer smile returning to her lips.
An idea quickly came to Kate's mind.
"Mr.Stark, do you still have that pen?" The little girl stared at the billionaire with her big blue eyes.
"Of course I do." Tony displayed a smug smile on his face, taking the pen out of his pocket.
He knew the little girl would want his autograph at some point.
"Where are you—"
Kate snatched the pen from his hand, completely interrupting his sentence.
"Can I have an autograph?" Kate turned to Steve with a shy smile on her face.
Tony's jaw dropped in indignation, that had certainly hurt his ego more than a Chitauri attack.
"Now I'm annoyed and hurt." The billionaire grumbled.
Natasha put her hand to her mouth, trying to stifle a laugh that threatened to escape her lips.
She was loving this little girl.
Clint watched the scene, amused by the smile. He was relieved that Kate was smiling a little.
"Oh yes... of course I can." Steve agreed, still a little surprised by the girl's sudden request.
"Can you write on my arm?" Kate asked, rolling up the sleeve of her shirt, which, as a consequence of the battle, had a piece missing at the arm.
Steve frowned, this wasn't a very normal autograph request, at least not in his day.
The blond man looked at Clint for permission, he wasn't sure if he should really autograph a child's arm. Clint nodded, giving the soldier permission, the archer had a look that said: "It's okay, this is normal."
Steve then shrugged, bending down to autograph the girl's arm. He finished signing and handed the pen back to Tony, who received it with an eye roll.
The little girl smiled, looking at the brand-new autograph on her arm.
"Thank you, Captain!" Kate thanked him, making a small gesture of admiration.
"You're welcome." Steve laughed, returning the gesture. He liked that little girl.
"I saved the city and I'm being forced to witness this scene." Tony threw his hands in the air, indignant.
Footsteps were heard in the hallway. Thor, Maria Hill, and a handcuffed Loki appeared in the five's view.
Seeing Loki approaching, Clint quickly pulled Kate behind him. This action was stronger than him. It was almost instinct, after all, the archer didn't trust Loki at all.
"Battle buddies!" Thor exclaimed, smiling, his voice louder than a normal person would speak.
"I see you have annoying little versions of yourselves too." Loki smiled falsely, making everyone roll their eyes.
"Who's this?" Kate asked, looking at the man who was handcuffed from head to toe. Still hidden behind the archer's legs, Kate found the man frightening, and she felt safe near Clint.
"This is my brother Loki." Thor replied, patting his brother on the shoulder, making Loki roll his eyes.
"Also known as the reindeer man." Tony mocked.
"Or also known as the guy who brought an alien army to New York." Steve declared seriously, crossing his arms.
Kate's eyes widened in shock.
She looked at Loki again, but this time with much more fear.
So it was because of this man that my parents died?
Because of him, am I an orphan now?
Kate took a deep breath, feeling the air begin to escape her.
No, she didn't want to be there, she didn't want to be near that man.
Kate quickly hid even further into Clint's body.
"Kate, what's wrong?" The archer asked, worried.
Clint glanced at Natasha, the redhead had a compassionate look on her face.
She had an idea of why Kate was like this.
"Hill, how about you take Kate out to eat something? I bet she must be hungry." Natasha said, receiving a disapproving look from the agent. Hill definitely didn't want to babysit.
Natasha huffed at her friend's expression, the redhead quickly pointing to Loki and then to Kate, still hidden behind Clint.
Maria sighed in defeat, finally understanding the situation.
"Kate has a vending machine downstairs." Hill suggested, trying her best to be gentle with the frightened little girl. She wasn't very good at dealing with children.
Kate looked at Clint, seeing the archer nod. She slowly stepped out from behind the man's body and walked towards Maria Hill.
The agent walked beside Kate, guiding the girl to the elevator in the direction of the vending machine.
But Kate stopped suddenly in the middle The path, her breathing heavy.
Keep walking.
Keep walking.
Keep walking.
She knew she would regret doing this, she would probably get into trouble. But she wanted to make that man feel a fraction of the pain she felt watching her father die in front of her.
"Girl?" Hill called.
Kate knew she was powerless against a man who brought aliens to New York.
But she simply couldn't stand by and do nothing.
Kate turned her back and ran back towards the others.
She stopped running, standing in front of the man, and with all the strength a 10-year-old could muster, Kate kicked Loki in the shin.
Everyone groaned at the kick the girl gave the god of lies. It certainly hurt.
"Arg, you little..." Loki closed his eyes, groaning from the sudden pain in his leg. He looked down, seeing that the cause of his pain was a little girl with blue eyes that looked like they were on fire.
"You deserved that, brother." Thor laughed. He liked the little Midgardian girl, she had an inner fury.
"Okay, let's go get those chips now." Hill approached the girl, pulling her towards the elevator.
When Kate and Hill disappeared into the elevator, the Avengers looked at each other, still shocked by the little girl's sudden action.
"Now I want her autograph." Tony crossed his arms, smiling in surprise. That girl was a box of surprises.
Clint smiled proudly, looking at the elevator. He knew there was something special about that little girl, and maybe they had more in common than he imagined.
"Good luck dealing with her adolescence." Natasha laughed, patting her best friend on the shoulder. Clint's smile quickly disappeared from his face.
"That's a problem for future Clint, Nath." The archer retorted.
"Then future Clint better get ready." Steve chuckled, playing along.
In the elevator, Hill and Kate were silent. Maria had to admit she was surprised by the girl's small – but shocking – action against Loki.
"You were very brave, girl." Maria said, her gaze still serene.
"Thanks." Kate shrugged.
She didn't know how to feel at the moment, but she knew that kicking that man had somewhat alleviated her fears.
Kate now looked more closely at the woman beside her. She was tall and had a very short, above-the-neck haircut.
"Your hair is cool." The little girl complimented.
"We're going to get along very well, little one." Maria chuckled, looking at the younger girl.
She may have changed her opinion about children a little now.
Or at least that kid was an exception.