Chapter Seven
"Good morning," Tony said stiffly to Fury. Fury had interrupted their Disney Movie session last night with the complaint of a headache and insisted they all go to bed. Molly was already asleep but Thor wanted to watch the movies.
"Morning, Stark." Fury boomed. He had a voice that could match Thor's in loudness. "I trust you, Banner and the child shall be going back to Stark Towers today."
"In the evening. I think Natasha and Clint are coming back and then we're all going for tea at this expensive Italian restaurant."
"Does Miss Potts know this?"
"She's booking the table." Tony said proudly. "I have already informed her and gave her specifications for the celebratory cake. Aren't I organised?"
"What are you celebrating?"
Tony looked guilty. "Uh, that's classified, sorry."
"Okay." Fury frowned. What was up with the scientist this morning? He was normally so depressive in the morning and…he didn't have a coffee in his hand. "Stark, are you feeling alright?"
"Yes, why?" Tony asked innocently. Fury shook his head and walked off. Something was going on with the Avengers and he figured it was to do with Molly.
….
"Uncle Clint, please can you teach me how to shoot? Aunt Nat said you're a master archer."
"I am." Clint nodded at his 'niece' and considered it. "How about we ask Bruce and see what he says?"
Molly grinned happily and held onto Clint's hand as they walked into the lab. Bruce was sat on a chair, leg propped up on a stool, reading the news. "Hi, guys. Who woke you up, Molls? I was going to let you have a lie-in."
"Uncle Thor was yelling about something." Molly giggled. "He swore a lot, I think someone's been teaching him Midgard swearwords because he seemed fluent."
"Earth. Earth swearwords, Molly. Don't call it Midgard around other people."
"Aw, why not?"
"It will confuse them, sweetie." Bruce told her then Clint nudged Molly's arm and coughed.
"Molly?"
"Oh yes! Bruce, please, please, please can Hawkeye, not Uncle Clint, because Aunt Natty said that when Uncle Clint is using his arrows as weapons or training for fights, he is Hawkeye, teach me how to use a bow and arrow? Can we go shooting? Like Merida in Brave?"
Bruce looked confused. "Who's Merida?"
"Princess."
"Ah, okay, I don't know that film. We'll watch it tonight."
"Can I shoot then?"
"Maybe when you're older." Bruce said regretfully. Molly's face fell but then Tony limped into the lab and she hugged his good leg.
"Morning, Uncle Tony! Are we going for dinner tonight?"
"Sure thing." Tony looked at Clint. "You're back! Where's your lovely partner?"
"She is here." Natasha said and suffered through Molly hugging her. Then Molly, sensing an adult conversation, ran back to Bruce and started chatting about being a Princess. Natasha was looking serious. "There's something wrong."
"What?" Tony asked, frowning.
"Fury is acting strange. Ever since we defeated Loki, he has been asking us weird questions about the Avengers and our plans." Clint explained. "We were sent on a mission to get some information but as soon as we reached Budapest, Fury called and told us that the information had already been collected so we could spend a day there and come home."
"Budapest?" Tony grinned momentarily. "What did happen in Budapest?"
"None of your business." Natasha retorted as she usually did. Clint just blushed and fidgeted. "Anyway, what should we do about Fury?"
"Ignore him, Barton, Romanoff. Hopefully it's nothing." Tony said and Natasha saw deep conflict on his face. She knew that it wasn't nothing and that Tony would tell them what he was thinking later. He was a genius billionaire; he had to have a way of finding out.
"Maybe you could hack the…" Clint trailed off at the warning look on Natasha's face. Molly tapped his arm.
"Hawk, Bruce said that you could show me your skills as long as I didn't participate in the archery. And Spider, pretty please can you show me how you can beat up Hawk?" Molly asked eagerly.
Natasha grinned and looked at Clint. "My pleasure, Molls." She said and led the little girl off to the training room.
Tony went over to Bruce and hugged him. "Oh, fellow invalid, the plan is set. We will announce it tonight over Italian and cake."
"Great." Bruce said broodingly. "Hm."
"What?"
"Will Molly want me to be her dad?"
"Of course, you saved her and she loves you."
"She loves everyone, she's seven."
"But she loves you more than others."
"Okay. Thanks, Tony, you're a good friend."
"No. I'm a greaaaaat friend!" Tony gave a thumbs up. Bruce gave him a blank look. "Like the tiger? For the cereal? Tony the tiger? No? Well this is awkward."