Clint Barton was not much for festivities. He had no family, having grown up in an orphanage. He had no religious belief, not after all he'd seen. But every Christmas, he went to a different orphanage, the back of his SUV packed with gifts. He still remembered how it was as a kid, seeing people at school, the bullies, the jocks, bragging about what they got for Christmas and not being able to understand why 'Santa' gave them phones and bikes while he got a tatty used action figure.
Earlier that week, he had showed up, at the orphanage and asked one of the nuns about the kids, what gifts they would have wanted, if money was no big deal. There were only 16 of them this year, and money really wasn't an issue. Shield issued apartments for field agents to share, as he wasn't there more often than not, so rent was taken care of, and the only expenses he paid for, didn't leave a dent in his pocket. He was a simple man.

It was Christmas Day, and he could see the kids running around through the front window.
'Hi, welcome to Saint Agnes orphanage.' He was greeted once he reached the front door.
'Hey, I visited a few days ago, I have some donations for the kids, I know how it gets this time of year.'
The nun at the door beamed at him, pulling him into the warmth. He was offered a drink as he sat in the living room with the children. One by one, he presented each gift, reveling in the looks of pure joy as the young girls and boys unwrapped their presents.
'Okay, all that's left is Mary Sue,' he thought aloud.
He looked around the room but saw no one else without a gift. He glanced at one of the nuns, who with a sad look, gestured for him to follow her out the room.
'She was sent back yesterday, one of the many family's decided she wasn't worth the expense of gifts,' She said, brushing back tears of anger. 'She's a good kid, really, she just needs time.'

Clint nodded, before knocking at the closed door. He heard a grunt of admittance from inside. He pushed to door and saw to his surprise, a 16 year old brunette, throwing darts at a wall, with force. He had to hand it to her, she hit her mark.
'Hey, Mary Sue, my names Clint.'
'Its Skye,' the girl growled.
She's a feisty one, Clint thought.
'Okay Skye, umm, I have a gift for you.' Clint stammered, unsure how to proceed, not used to seeing a girl her age in a place like this, they were usually adopted by then, he thought sadly.
'I'm not here for your pity party, Clint. I'm not taking jack shit from you!'
Clint felt his heart clench at Skye's response. She reminded him of himself at that age, perpetually angry at the world, fierce but intelligent.
He looked around the room, before he saw the dart board again. Taped to the centre, was a picture, of a smiling family. 'Fine, I'll make you a deal, we play for it,' motioning to the board, 'if I win, you take the gift, no matter what it is, and if not, I'll leave without looking back. Deal?'
Skye gave him a calculating look.
Realising he wasn't going to leave till she either accepted the gift, or she won, she sighed and agreed.

'Ladies first,' Clint said, handing four darts to skye. Skye took a deep breath, before throwing wash dart in quick succession. Each one hit the board with a dull thud, two breaching the inner circle, the other two hitting the second ring.
Grinning, satisfied, she handed Clint the darts.
Clint smiled at her and without even looking away from Skye, he threw each dart. All of which, hitting the bullseye.
Skye gawked at Clint, and before she could be inclined to accuse cheating, Clint reached into his bag and pulled out a new laptop. Skye looked at him in disbelief.
'How did you know?'
'The nuns told me about you hogging the clunky old desktop downstairs,' he told her with a grin.
Before Skye could stop herself, she lunged forward and hugged Clint.
Clint chuckled and hugged her back.
'I should really be going, I've got work tomorrow.'
Skye laughed, before following Clint downstairs. She watched as Clint said goodbye to the children, and much to the nuns satisfaction, she hugged him again before he left.
Skye raced back to her room and held her breath as she opened the new laptop as it came to life in her hands.

~hey, i hope you liked chapter 1, if you have any comments or criticisms, my ears are open, just send a review.~