"Ian, please stop wriggling like that." Phil sighed, trying to wrestle his son's arm into the jumper sleeve.
"But Daddy- "
"- No. I know you're excited, but I'm not having you catch a cold because you're not wrapped up properly." Finally, he managed to pull the jumper over Ian's head.
"But I wanna see the snow!"
"We will, but it's very cold… don't make Aunt Nat tell you the horror stories about little boys like you losing fingers because of the cold." Harsh, but Ian let him put the gloves on pretty much straight-away, so that was something.
"Can I bring Blog?"
"Of course Blog can come along."
Ian wriggled free, racing into his room and grabbing his favourite teddy bear, before pausing… and grabbing a Build-A-Bear teddy, rushing to get it's coat off.
"Ian… what are you doing?"
"Blog can't lose his fingers! He has to be warm!" Socks were pulled out of the draws and shoved onto poor Blog's hands and feet. Once done, Phil couldn't help but smile at the sight.
"Just let me grab a scarf for you, and then we can go."
"Can Blog have a scarf?"
"I don't think we have one small enough."
Ian was clearly not happy with this, but remained silent anyway, taking his Dad's hand as they headed out the door. They drove to the main SHIELD base, where Nick Fury was waiting for them.
"Uncle Nick!" Ian ran ahead, ignoring how Coulson called out for him, "Do you have a scarf for Blog?"
Nick stared down at him for a few moments, before bending down to the toddler's level. "No… but you can put him in your coat. That'll keep him warm."
"Okay!"
Nick chuckled fondly, before turning his attention to Coulson, "Come on, before the snow melts."
"In the middle of winter? Really?"
"Alright then, let's go before your son grabs a sled without us."
It probably wasn't dignified for the director of SHIELD to be found sledging down a hill, but Fury didn't seem to care as he grabbed a sled large enough for the three of them and dragged it towards a large hill. Once at the top, they all climbed on, Phil pulling Ian onto his lap.
"Daddy!" Ian screamed at the top of his lungs.
"Indoor voice Ian, I'm right here." Phil tightened his grip on his son, gently taking Blog and making sure the teddy was secure in Ian's coat, seconds before Fury pushed them down.
It was a short trip to the bottom of the hill. The snow on the ground was invitingly soft and glittering in the sunlight. Unfortunately, it wasn't completely smooth, so when the sled landed with a gentle bump at the bottom of the hill, it sent a heavily bundled Ian flying up into the air, landing face first in the snow.
Within seconds, Phil was jumping to his feet and scrambling after him, as Fury hissed in sympathy.
"Ian!" Phil scooped his son up out of the snow, setting the toddler on his feet and wiping snow out of his eyes.
"Daddy, m'okay!" Ian protested, running away before tripping and going sprawling once again.
This time, Fury couldn't hold back his laughter as Phil sighed and went to pick his son up again.
"You can't run like that." Phil gently scolded, "What if you really hurt yourself next time?"
"I won't!"
Phil resisted the urge to point out that Ian was a Barton and getting injured was in their nature.
"Leave him be." Fury made his way over, "If he gets hurt, he gets hurt and he learns something from it." He gestured to the sled, "Stop being a stick in the mud and let's go again."
After some fussing from Coulson about the size of the next hill, they headed to the next hill.
"Alright." Fury pulled Ian closer, before looking up at Coulson "I'll hold onto the kid, and you'll push us, deal?"
"…. I can't see this going well."
"Don't be such a stick in the mud and push!"
"Yeah Daddy, push!" Ian said, craning around his godfather to look at his Dad. His eyes were big, bright and full of excitement, and Phil couldn't help but smile.
"Alright, hold on tight!" He gave them a push and they went flying down the hill, with Ian let out a startled but delighted watched them anxiously until they came to a complete stop at the bottom. He heard Fury's chuckles as the pair of them got up, and Fury lifted it up to carry it back up, with Ian running in front of him.
"Daddy! Did you see? Did you see?" The toddler asked in excitement, and once again, Phil couldn't help but smile.
"I did, was that fun?"
"Yeah, it was like flying!" Ian then turned to Fury, "Again! Again!"
For the next couple of hours, Ian giggled and laughed as he skidded down a couple of different hills, one of which was so steep, that Fury and Ian were thrown off halfway down, the pair just laughing it off.
By the end of the day, Ian was completely worn out as Phil carried him to the car… he still protested though.
"Nooooo…" he whined, eyes only half-open, "No, I wanna keep playing!"
Phil just continued to rock him, humming a soothing lullaby in order to try and get him to go to sleep sooner.
"Daddy… can we do it 'gain?"
"Someday, yes."
After Ian whined for Blog through another yawn, Phil chuckled, strapping the toddler into the car and kissing him on the forehead. Ian made sleepy, lip-smacking noises as he finally snuggled down to sleep.
"Ready to go?"
Phil winced at the loud tone, "Sssh." He hissed, jerking his head towards his son, who was slumped forward in his seat, completely asleep.
Chuckling, Fury lowered his voice, "Did you see his face when he went down that last hill?"
"He's a Barton…" Phil groaned, "… I can see him leaping off buildings in the future."
"Oh yeah, 'cause you're so calm and well-behaved."
"More than Clint."
"A lemming's got more survival skills than Barton."