Clint rocked lazily in the white rocking chair he'd recently repaired. His blue-grey eyes scanned the grassy plains surrounding his family home. It had been almost four months since the battle with Ultron, and he was relishing in the time he got to spend with his family. A warm weight rested in the crook of his right arm, content suckling noises and baby grumbles emitting from the one month old every now and again. Clint smiled at the sight of his newest son battling to keep his eyes open after his bottle of milk.
"Just like your older sister. She used to fight sleep too. Cooper just passed out." He told Nathaniel quietly, who just blinked at him warily with his big brown eyes, the nipple of the empty bottle falling out of his mouth.
After moving the bottle onto the small wooden table beside him, Clint wriggled on the chair a little and tucked the baby's hand back under the wrap, getting them both comfortable. It didn't take more than five minutes in this position for Nate to become a dead weight in his arms, quiet baby snores falling from his mouth. Clint blinked heavily a few times and contemplated having a nap himself.
"Daddy! Daddy look! I can see a plane!" Lila announced excitedly from her previously quiet position on the steps of the porch, her book now forgotten.
Cracking open an eyelid, Hawkeye followed his daughter's finger and frowned at the sight of a fast moving object in the sky. It was too small to be a jet, too big to be a bird.
"I don't think that's a plane, baby bird." He replied, becoming more alert as the shape seemed to be approaching the farm "Can you take Nate's bottle inside for Daddy?" he asked his daughter, whose eyes lit up at the chance to help look after her baby brother.
Once she was safely inside, Clint snapped his eyes back toward the sky and immediately let out a scoff, his body relaxing. He knew exactly who was approaching the farm.
It was a minute later when he landed. Hawkeye found himself musing, not for the first time, how exactly Thor's hair stayed perfect all the time. The Asgardian approached with an enthusiastic wave and a thousand watt smile. He did not have his regular attire on, instead he was wearing a hoodie and…skinny jeans? Clint held back a bark of laughter at that. Jane must do the shopping.
"Greetings, Barton!" Thor boomed.
Clint glared at him and flicked his head down to the sleeping baby in his arms. Thor smiled sheepishly "My apologies. I am sorry I have intruded on your home unannounced."
The archer shrugged "It's all good. Just keep your voice to human tone."
The God of Thunder nodded and smiled toward the door, following his gaze, Clint could see his two older children eyeing him widely.
"It's okay guys, you remember my friend Thor?" He soothed them.
Cooper was the first to perk up, the nine year old walking out onto the balcony "Dad's told us stories about you!"
Lila approached a little more cautiously, the five year old hid behind her brother slightly "I don't like thunder, it's loud." She said in her quiet voice.
Thor ascended the porch before kneeling down to their height "I shall not make it thunder, Lady Lila." He promised before reaching into the pocket of his hoodie.
"I must apologise for my rudeness when I first met your family, Clinton. I was determined to find answers," Thor said to the archer with a frown "I have brought gifts from Asgard for your children in apology."
The children's eyes lit up at the prospect of gifts from another planet. Clint could only chuckle "I get it, we were all high strung that day. You guys aren't upset with Thor?" he asked his children, predicting their response.
Cooper shook his head firmly "You were saving the world."
Lila reached out and placed her little hand over Thor's large one, her silent way of assuring.
Thor smiled gratefully at the Barton's before handing the two children a velvet pouch each. Cooper managed to pull his open first, and gaped at the small orb inside.
"It looks like outer space!" he exclaimed. Lila let out a small 'ooh' in curiosity as she held her own orb.
"You are correct! Children of Asgard are given one of these orbs – when it is dark, the orb glows and projects the stars and planets."
Clint arched a brow "So it's like a super fancy night light?" he queried.
"An astrologically accurate night light. They are very durable, so they shall not break if dropped." Thor confirmed.
The children let out a small flurry of thank-you's before scrambling inside. Clint could hear them chattering about finding a dark room in the house to try them out.
The archer rolled his eyes playfully "Now I'm going to have to explain why the kids are hiding in a closet when Laura wakes up from her nap."
Thor chuckled, his eyes twinkling. He then pulled out a small, plush version of his own hammer and placed it on Nathaniel's stomach.
"He is truly worthy of this hammer." He said with a wink.
Clint sniggered and squeezed the top of the hammer, which squeaked "Oh he'll love this. Noisy toys are the best." He enthused.
"It also rattles!" Thor said joyfully.
Shaking his head amusedly, Clint relaxed back into his chair "So what brings you here? Pit stop before you visit Jane?"
Thor lowered himself onto the top step of the patio and leaned against the railing casually "I have returned from the new Avengers base. I am making my rounds to the team to ensure their wellness. The battle with Ultron was a trying time for all." He said lowly.
Clint sighed in agreement "How's Nat and Cap?" he queried.
Thor hummed "Steven is enjoying training the new Avengers. He seemed very comfortable there," he mused before his smile faltered, "Lady Natasha is…"
"She's distracting herself." Clint finished for him, knowing his best friend.
Thor nodded "She misses Doctor Banner I believe. Have we not located him?"
Clint scrubbed a hand over his face warily, recalling his last conversation with his partner "I think she knows where he is, but she's giving him time."
"I see."
The pair fell into silence for a moment before Clint cleared his throat awkwardly, "Well, all's fine here. Just settling in with our little guy." He affirmed before smirking at the God "Hey, you ever held a baby?"
Thor's eyes widened in horror "You trust me to hold your child, Clinton? What if I break him?"
Clint snorted and removed himself from his chair and approached the Asgardian "The God of Thunder, scared of a Midgardian baby. You won't hurt him, babies aren't made of glass." He joked.
Thor seemed to be frozen in place after Hawkeye told him how to position his arms – the archer swore he stopped breathing when he lowered Nathaniel into his arms.
The baby didn't stir, he simply snuffled and burrowed further into his little cocoon, his little face slack. Thor was gaping at his son; he tentatively raised his hand and brushed the baby's soft cheek with his pinkie.
At the sound of a camera click, Thor glared up at his teammate who was looking down at the screen with a shit-eating grin.
"Oooh man, I'm sending this around." He hooted joyfully before showing the image to Thor. The God struggled to keep his face in an annoyed expression at the sight of himself holding the child. It was a nice photo.
He chuckled, "I shall never hear the end of this."
"Aww! All comfy cuddling with Uncle Thor, little man?" a female voice cooed. Clint turned to grin at his wife who appeared in the doorway looking refreshed and a little surprised to see the God on her porch.
Thor visibly blushed and Hawkeye let out a snigger. Laura slapped his arm "How are you Thor?" she asked pleasantly.
"I am well, Lady Barton. Congratulations, your child is wonderful." He replied, recovering from his embarrassment.
Laura hummed "Thanks – we like him too."
The three talked comfortably for a while, Laura re-telling stories of their earlier parenting days. Clint found himself blushing as his wife made it no secret that he was a pushover when it came to their children.
Their conversation was interrupted by several small whimpers from Nathaniel, which developed into a wail; his little face contorted as he struggled in the confines of the wrap. Thor had frozen again, his blue eyes looking worriedly at them both.
Laura smiled comfortingly and reached out to take the fussing baby "Don't worry Thor, you did great. I'm going to take him inside for a diaper change."
Thor shook his head thoughtfully "You are a braver man than I, Clinton. The crying must be unbearable."
Clint shrugged "You get used to it"
Thor chuckled and stood "I am afraid I must depart if I am to visit Stark before sundown." He said regretfully.
Hawkeye held out a hand and shook his teammates hand firmly "Thanks for coming. You're welcome anytime." He said sincerely. The team had well and truly become part of his family.
Thor smiled before picking up his hammer "Say goodbye to Lady Laura and your children for me." He requested before winding his hammer a few times and shooting off into the sky.
"Clint! Why are the kids in our closet?"