5 Times Clint Slipped Into Daddy Mode In Front of the Avengers...
3.
Honestly, Natasha never liked wearing dresses. She found them to be rather impractical, but tonight was one of those nights where she had to wear one. She wasn't supposed to call too much attention to herself, as she was only going as part of the security detail, but she had to blend in and was well aware of what to expect at Stark's opulent galas.
Natasha snorted, wishing she was Clint, who got to watch the proceedings hidden in the rafters. Stark, because he wanted to see Clint in a tuxedo, had argued that putting him on sniper duty was entirely unnecessary, but Fury had overruled him, pointing out that a gala of this scale may attract some unwanted attention and "good old Agent Barton does see better from a distance." Then, he turned to Clint and quipped, "Have you broken down and bought reading glasses yet?"
Clint just shrugged. "At least I have two good eyes, sir."
Lucky bastard, Natasha thought bitterly as she slipped on the silver heels Pepper had picked out for her because they matched the sash on her sapphire blue dress. Pepper had also tried to pick her dress, but Natasha wasn't going to be caught dead in white, even if part of her had to admit the dress was breathtaking. She told herself it was because white stained too easily, but that wasn't the real reason.
Ready to go, Natasha grabbed her silver clutch, which carried one of her two handguns, and turned to leave. She jolted when she saw her partner standing in the doorway (she had to admit, he was almost as good as her), leaning against the frame with his bow hanging loosely in one hand.
"You look beautiful," he said quietly.
Closing the distance between them in seconds, Natasha socked him in the shoulder, hard enough to make him flinch (and hopefully snap him out of his trance). "For the record, you are not sending me off to prom, you sentimental goof. You'll have to wait until Lila grows up."
Clint only cocked his head and smiled a warm smile that reached, and softened, his normally unnervingly alert eyes. Natasha caught herself smiling with him, but then she punched him in the shoulder again.
The second time was the charm. "Ow, what was that for?"
"If you keep this up, you're going to compromise yourself," Natasha warned, her tone teasing but her message clear. She doubted she was the only one who thought Clint had been acting like he was the team dad lately. He still hadn't shifted back into Hawkeye mode after taking a full month off to be home with his family.
Clint chuckled lightly and replied, "Alright, Nat. Whatever you say."
But, as usual, he didn't heed her advice. Because, when he handed her off to Banner, her date for the evening (Stark insisted, and Fury actually signed off, the bastard), he just had to call after them, "Make sure you get her back by 10!"
Thanks for reading the latest installment! I hope I didn't make Clintasha fans upset. For the record, I looked at Clint and Natasha's ages on the Marvel Cinematic Universe Wikipedia, and there's a 14-year age gap between them. I kind of interpret it as Clint "rescued" Natasha when she was in her early 20s (and when he was already dating/married to Laura) so he was always more of a big brother to her than a love interest. Though, as this story shows, he can slip into daddy mode with her too haha.
Anyway, what did you think? Do you like it? Do you have suggestions for the next chapter? I LOVE hearing what you think, and it's been great this has been getting so much traffic. Until next time. ~Moore12