Clint (in the body of Captain America) must fulfill a promise made by Steve Rogers.
Clint, plus a roomful of children.
What could possibly go wrong?


"You're wearing sunglasses?" The man- Sam, Clint reminded himself- was looking at him curiously. Clint took off the sunglasses, putting them into one of the ridiculous amount of pockets attached to the Captain America outfit. Seriously, so many pockets. How does Steve find anything?

"Yeah, it's sunny outside." Clint's response received a raised eyebrow from the other man.

"I have never seen you wear sunglasses. Ever."

Clint rubbed his neck nervously, before dropping his arm. Steve wouldn't be nervous, so I can't be. Looking the man in the eyes, Clint couldn't stop his answer sounding like a question. "I'm trying something new?"

"Something new, huh?" Sam didn't look convinced. Thankfully for Clint, his interrogation Was interrupted by a tug on his leg. Looking down, Clint saw the bright eyes of a young girl, no older than six. Thank you kid, you just saved me.

"Hi there," Clint bent down so that he wasn't towering over the small girl.

"Are you Captain America?" she asked, still looking at him with impossibly wide eyes.

Do all kids have such wide eyes?

Clint gave a small chuckle. "Apparently so."

"Apparently?" Sam echoed from his position above; Clint ignored him.

"Are you coming inside?"

"Sure kid, lead the way." Clint stood up. The girl held out her hand, which Clint looked at momentarily, before taking it.

"Lea! Where are you?" A door at the end of the corridor opened, with an out of breath woman coming out of it. A quick glance down the hall, and she ran up to Clint and the little girl.

"Lea, what have I said about running away?" The woman said, bending down and scooping up the girl.

"But I was safe mama. I was with Captain America," Lea pointed at Clint, who smiled at the woman.

"Hi there," he gave a little wave.

"He remembers me from last year, mama," Lea drew the attention back to herself. Her mother smiled at her, before turning to Clint.

"Is that so?" She raised an eyebrow.

Damnit kid, first you save me, now you're throwing me in the deep end again. Clint gave a smile he had seen Steve give dozens of times, which he personally referred to as the 'I'm Captain America, every word I utter is the truth.'

"Of course, how could I forget Lea."

"See mama, I told you he would remember me," Lea's smile continued to grow.

"I hate to interrupt this reunion," Sam walked over, entering the conversation, "But there are other kids who want to see the Captain too, Lea. You can't hog him all to yourself. How about you go on back in with your mum, we'll be in there soon."

"Okay Sam. Come on mama, gotta do what Sam says."

"Of course we do honey," the woman smiled at Sam, mouthing a thank you, before returning to the room.

"Do you really remember her?" Sam asked.

"Would I lie to a little girl?" Clint raised an eyebrow.

"I don't know, sometimes you surprise me. Come on, there are other kids to see."

Well, if they're all as calm as Lea, it shouldn't be too bad.


How wrong I was, Clint thought as he drank some water. The event was finally over, and this was the first opportunity he had had to have water.

As soon as Sam had opened the door, Clint had been surrounded by children. A quick count had placed the numbers at twenty.

Twenty children, all under ten. Clint groaned at the memory.

Every child had a recollection from the previous year, and they each wanted to recreate a treasured memory. It had started off fine, with photos being posed for.

But then, Tommy had happened. Tommy, with his loud voice, had reminded the room that last year, Captain America had held every child on his back while doing push ups. After this revelation, twenty pairs of young eyes, as well as many adult pairs, had turned to Clint expectantly.

Seriously Rogers? Clint had been apprehensive, before remembering that he was in a super soldier serum enhanced body.

Clint got into a push up position, before looking to the children. "Well, what are you waiting for?"

Luckily for Clint, Sam made sure to arrange the children on top of the shield on Clint's back. Once all the kids were on, Clint began performing push ups.

This is actually easy, Clint thought to himself. Steve is ridiculously strong.

Apparently, the kids only wanted fifty push ups. Once he had reached this number, Clint was told to stop. Once the kids were off of his back, they surrounded him again.

"You know, you were faster last year," Tommy stated.

Clint rolled his shoulders, trying to come up with a response. A response that won't get Captain America into trouble.

"Well, you know Tommy, I am an old man. My age is catching up to me." Clint rubbed his arms for emphasis.

Tommy raised an eyebrow. "You don't look like an old man."

Clint laughed. This kid is trouble. "Well, I am."

"I reckon I could beat you at a race," Tommy said; several other kids also stated that they thought that they could beat Captain America in a race.

Clint smiled widely. "You think so?"

Tommy shrugged a shoulder. "I beat you last year."

"On va voir," Clint muttered under his breath, before saying louder, "Name your distance Tommy, and anyone else who wants to race."

Clint had won the race. It wasn't really a race. Clint was doing no more than a light jog, really. But he did enough to keep the kids, especially Tommy, at bay. He had received some looks from the parents, but he didn't care.

I just couldn't let that kid win.

"Did you really have to beat the kids at that race?" Clint's thoughts were interrupted by Sam, who took a seat next to Clint.

Clint shrugged his shoulders. "Why not?"

Sam laughed. "I think that's the first time I've ever seen you beat a kid at something."

Clint smiled. "I'm glad you approve."

"Still. You did good today. I thought that kid who wouldn't let go of your leg would be a problem. How did you get him to let go?"

"It wasn't easy," Clint admitted, remembering the kid. He had held on to Clint's leg for over an hour, following Clint everywhere.

"Let me guess, you offered the kid a Captain America signature."

Clint snorted. "No, I gave him sour straps."

Sam looked at Clint. "You," he pointed at Clint. "Captain America, purposefully gave a child a sugar rush?"

Clint shrugged, smiling a little. "What are you going to do about it?"

Sam burst out laughing. "Man, sometimes you really surprise me Rogers. Just when I think I've got you figured out, you do something completely out of character."

Clint smiled nervously. "Well, that's me, full of surprises. Now, I should probably be getting back to the Tower, you know?"

Sam stood with Clint. "Make sure Clint hasn't started another war with Tony right?"

Clint looked at Sam, confused. "What?"

"You told me about their last prank war, remember? You said you were going to stop it from ever happening again."

"Oh yeah." Clint smiled. "Well I guess I'll see you around."

"Sure Rogers."

Once Clint had exited the room, Sam pulled out his phone, sending a text.

[Somethings up with Steve.]

Pepper rubbed her head, glad that the meeting was finally over.

I should really learn. They'll never change.

As she collected her papers, her phone vibrated.

[Somethings up with Steve.]

Pepper raised an eyebrow. She and Sam had been in contact, what with their shared hobby of babysitting superheroes in the real world.

[In what way?]

She didn't have to wait long for a reply.

[He definitely wasn't acting like himself.]

[Now that you mention it, Tony was a bit strange today too. Like he had had a personality change.]

[You don't think?]

[I think we should probably meet. Send me your location, I'll meet you there.]

[Okay.]


"JARVIS, where is Steve?" Clint asked as he entered the elevator of Stark Tower.

"In Sir's lab, with Sir."

"Take me there?"

"Of course, Agent Barton."

Moments later, Clint exited the elevator, and found Tony and Steve sitting at a bench. As he entered the room, he placed the shield next to the door.

"Well, you will be pleased to know that I successfully convinced everyone that I was Captain America," Clint announced, taking a seat across from the pair, on a table.

"Really?" Steve asked.

"Did you ever doubt me? Steve, I am a world class spy. I am able to blend into any situation that I need to. How could you ever doubt me?"

Clint received two suspicious looks, before JARVIS interrupted, stopping any possible retorts.

"Sir, Ms. Potts is on her way up to the communal floor. A Mr. Sam Wilson is with her. They both wish to speak to all of the Avengers."

"What did-" Tony started.

"You do?" Steve finished. Both men were now glaring at Clint.

Clint held up his hands innocently. "Hey, who says it's my fault?"

"Barton, it's you," Tony said as he stood up. "It's definitely your fault."


Thank you for reading :)
In response to ErinKenobi2893: Of course Pepper would figure it out. And so would Sam. The Avengers may think that they know each other, but they don't know each other that well.
And in case it isn't overly clear, these chapters overlap in terms of their time frame.
Any comments are appreciated; they seriously make me happy.

Coming in future chapters:
-Loki & Natasha take on Asgard (this will be next. I keep putting it off, but it is coming. In response to Armand- I'm glad that you enjoyed the last chapter. And I hope that this future chapter will be fun, its definitely fun in my head.)
-Thor & Bruce vs the Hulk.
-Pepper & Sam vs the Avengers.