"So, uh, why are we here?" Bruce asked. Everyone - except Natasha, who was on a solo mission, which mad Clint extremely nervous - had been gathered in Stark Tower's Common Room (Surprisingly, everyone turned out to be Harry Potter buffs, and even Thor and Steve had enjoyed the movies) and had no idea why.
"Well," Director Fury started, leaning against the bar and eyeing the various types of alcohol, looking like he desperately wanted a drink. Tony knew that whenever Fury personally visited, shit was going down. Important shit, at that. "Something... odd has happened to Agent Romanov, pertaining to her solo mission."
"What kind of odd?" Clint asked, suddenly paying attention at the mention of his partner.
"Like, Coulson in a bikini odd, or orange aliens that speak pig Latin and anceday the acarenamay?" Tony asked, getting an eye roll out of Steve and a confused expression from Thor.
"Something weirder," Fury responded.
"What could be weirder than Coulson in a bikini?" Clint asked, glancing at Tony.
"Okay, you know what, stop! You are going to give me nightmares," Bruce joked, causing Tony and Clint to snicker.
"All of you, shut up!" Steve exclaimed, his voice echoing in the silence that followed. He settled back on the couch next to Thor, who almost looked intimidated by the soldier. The other Avenger looked at Steve with wide eyes, and he grimaced and motioned for Fury, who stood unfazed, to continue. "So, some strange occurred on Natasha's solo mission, which is why she has not been back here."
"Even though she was scheduled to be back sixty-three hours ago," Clint mumbled, glancing at the clock. Fury merely sighed.
"Well," Thor asked, breaking the tension, which was so high-strung you could've played it like a harp. "What happened."
"Agent Coulson will explain," the director replied, his one eye flickering to the elevator door as it opened and the suit clad agent walked out, something cradled in his arms.
"Phil? Is that..." Steve trailed off, straining to see the bundle in his arms.
"A toddler?" Bruce finished. Coulson nodded, turning so everyone could get a clear view of the child. It was a small girl, with porcelain skin and emerald eyes, the color even brighter in contrast to her ruby red hair. She wore an all black outfit with a small black skirt, leggings, and shoes, and a t-shirt with a SHIELD logo on it. When did they start making those so small? Tony wondered.
The men all stared at the small, happy little girl, who smiled brightly at then and held up her hand to wave. They all waved back, seeming entranced. Fury glanced at the alcohol again, wondering why his 'team of extraordinary people' could make the connections, though as he eyed Clint he noticed shock and disbelief in his expression.
The archer slowly stepped forward, towards Coulson and the girl. "Phil?" he asked, a questioning look in his eye. The agent nodded slightly, which cause Clint to look at the girl.
"Nat-Natasha?"