The Hunters and the Prey - Chapter Forty-Three
Author: Milady Dragon
Daisy loved the idea of having a little sister.
She just hadn't expected to ever have one.
Crystal was a shy, quiet little girl. She'd been through so much, so that was understandable. Daisy had to wonder just how many times she'd been punished for being the least bit noisy before her parents had kicked her out of the house. The very idea of that made her want to track down Crystal's parents and kick them around as well.
She wouldn't do that. She'd leave it up to the authorities. Besides, she knew what the punishment was for harming a magical child. Daisy thought her Dad might get a kick out of meting out Wizard justice.
Dad has eaten breakfast and then headed out of meet with Ianto and Stephen, taking the Truth Bomb with him. Andrew had made oatmeal for them all; Crystal had obviously never had it before, because she wasn't sure how she liked it. Daisy had been more than happy to explain about cream and fruit and honey and other variations, until Dad had simply smiled and helped Crystal dump a bunch of strawberries over the cooling cereal, saying she could try it any way she wanted every morning until she'd decided how she preferred it.
Crystal had given him a hug for that.
Having two more dragons in the house made the kitchen area seem a little crowded, which was insane because the room was way too big usually. Both Lola and Skye had taken it upon themselves to show the new arrivals the ropes, especially for meals; Lockjaw seemed a little uncertain at first, but Lola had simply pushed a turkey leg toward him and that was enough to let him know it was fine to eat.
Lucky, though, helped himself. Then begged at the table for more.
Apparently, the silly dragon adored oatmeal…even if it got caught in his teeth.
Alright, it was just plain strange that Clint now had a dragon. Non-magical people shouldn't be able to bond with one but, if anyone deserved a dragon, it was Clint. Just from the short time she'd known him Daisy could tell how much he adored them, and it wasn't because he was an Elf. He'd been devastated by killing Raina's dragon despite it belonging to Hydra. If anyone who wasn't a Wizard deserved a dragon, it was Clint Barton.
Daisy wished she'd been able to meet the Queen of Air and Fire, though. That would have been fantastic.
Dad had left after he'd finished eating, kissing both Daisy and Crystal on the head before going to work. He also kissed Clint, but not in the same way…his kiss involved tongue and had Crystal giggling and Daisy rolling her eyes. Lola had followed him, giving cuddles to everyone, and Dad had to call her when she was taking too much time. He wasn't angry; in fact, even though Daisy couldn't see him, she was pretty positive he was laughing.
"So," Clint said after Dad was gone, "do you lovely ladies have plans for today?"
"As a matter of fact," Daisy spoke up, "Dad gave me a money pouch and permission to skive off classes today so I could take Crystal into Triskelia Town to get her new clothing and other things." He'd caught her out in the hall before breakfast, pressing the heavy pouch into her hand, giving her directions on how to us it…which was along the lines of clothes and other sundries, and whatever toys or books the little girl might want. At the moment, Crystal was wearing one of Daisy's own hand-me-down tunics and a skirt that was far too long, with the shoes she'd been wearing back at her old home, since Daisy's were all too big. She really did need new clothes.
"I don't suppose you'd mind a little company?" Of course Clint would suggest it. After all, Hydra was still out there and they'd already kidnapped Daisy once.
"Well, as long as you don't mind us shopping until our feet hurt…then shop some more!"
Clint laughed. "I've been shopping with Nat. It can't be any worse than that."
Daisy didn't want to imagine it, especially after seeing that dress Natasha was wearing last night. It had been spectacular and the young woman had wondered if there was one just like it in purple.
"You don't need to get me anything," Crystal denied softly. "I don't need anything new."
Daisy's heart went out to her. She reached out, stroking her blonde hair; there was an odd band running through it, black against the brightness. It was natural, but it made Daisy want to get something like it in her own hair, only purple. She'd been wondering about doing that for a while now; colored streaks like that were the newest fashion. Even Jemma had been considering it, only she'd wanted hers in either blue or red, and was dithering over the idea that her parents might not approve. "You're ours now, and Dad wanted to make sure you're spoiled rotten. He did the same for me, when he adopted me."
Crystal's pale eyes widened. "You're adopted?" she gasped in wonder.
"Yep. And Dad went nuts when he found me." She leaned forward, speaking conspiratorially. "In fact, he got the Keep for me, because at the time we didn't even have a place to live. Uncle Nick gave it to him when he asked."
"He doesn't have to get a Keep for me!" the little girl squeaked.
"Well, he already has this one, and we both want to share it with you, if that's alright."
Crystal nodded, eyes bewildered yet happy, as if she couldn't imagine anyone would want to share anything with her.
Yes, Daisy really wanted to find her parents and come up with the nastiest curse ever to cast upon them. Kinda like the way she felt about Dad's folks and her own birth parents, actually.
Clint obviously felt the same way, but he covered it up easily. "I get why you want me along…you need someone to carry the packages." He was laughing.
"That's exactly right," Daisy confirmed, joining him in laughter. Really, she wanted him along as a bodyguard, but being a pack animal was a bonus.
She'd been thinking about asking Melinda to go with them, but this would work out much better. Because, while Melinda was a great person who'd been the one to help out a teenaged Daisy when it had come to womanly things, and who was currently teaching Daisy to kick ass, the Steward really hated the idea of shopping. She'd have gone, though, because it was the safest thing to do, and because Daisy had been the one to ask.
If she'd ever had a mother, Melinda May had been the closest one to it. Even if she denied having a single motherly bone in her body.
"And," Daisy said to her soon-to-be little sister, "you need to meet Uncle Nick. He looks a little scary, but he's really nice."
That got a disbelieving snort from Clint, one that was choked off just as suddenly as he'd let it out. Daisy wanted to take offense, but at the same time he'd known Uncle Nick back in his Marcus Johnson days, and probably could tell stories that would turn her hair white.
"We have an Uncle Nick?" It was as if she couldn't believe her sudden good fortune.
Maybe that was the case. Daisy could recall how she'd felt when Dad had said he wanted to adopt her, and Crystal had to be feeling the same. Both of them had been unwanted by their parents, the only difference being that Crystal remembered hers, and her abandonment was still very fresh. Daisy had been dropped off at an orphanage as a baby, and didn't have any memories of her mother and father. She'd been transferred all over the place, finally running away after her fourth one. She had no memories of them to make into nightmare fodder, not like Crystal had.
"He's not really Dad's brother," Daisy explained. "He and Dad were friends since Wizard School, and they're as close as brothers could be."
"Uncle Nick is a Wizard too?"
No," she answered. She could understand the confusion. "Uncle Nick's Mom worked there. Uncle Nick doesn't have a lick of magic in him, but he did stay there while his Mom taught Math."
Describing Uncle Nick would have been an adventure, so Daisy didn't even try. Crystal would just have to meet him and draw her own conclusions.
"We can teleport to Uncle Nick's castle," Daisy declared. "Then we can go into Triskelia Town and do our shopping. Maybe we can even eat lunch there."
Crystal was starting to look excited about the whole idea. "I'd love to go shopping with you."
"Great! Finish up your breakfast, and we'll head out."
The Teleport ring Daisy used to get them to Triskelia Castle deposited them into the sitting room in Uncle Nick's quarters. The room was empty, but it was still early in the morning and Uncle Nick would most likely be in Court. Taking Crystal's hand, she led the little girl out of the room and down the corridor toward the ornate staircase that led down to the main hall, Clint on their heels, their three dragons accompanying them; Skye in her usual place on Daisy's shoulder, while Lockjaw and Lucky trotted along beside them.
The stairs circled down to the main hall and before they could even get hallway down the sounds of voices echoed up at them. Uncle Nick had the Court doors open a couple of hours every morning, and from what Daisy could tell there was quite the argument going on in there. Well, more like someone was raising their voice at either Uncle Nick or someone else; her Uncle wouldn't yell at anyone, unless provoked. He much preferred being quiet and intense. It was pretty impressive what he got people to do when he was like that, because then you could tell he was really dangerous and not willing to put up with anyone's bullshit.
There was a small crowd around the open door, and they all looked toward the three of them as they came down off the staircase and toward the court room. Daisy could feel Crystal tense up beside her, and without thought she reached down and picked up the little girl, holding her close as she proceeded past the group of courtiers and into the room beyond.
To be honest, Daisy didn't care all that much for the Court. It was a long, high room, gray carpet leading up to the dais where the Baronial throne sat. Uncle Nick had confided in her that the damned chair had been purposely made to be uncomfortable, because it kept him from falling asleep.
The rest of the room was pretty empty. The people who came there to petition the Baron weren't expected to sit in his presence. There was a pair of men standing at the base of the dais, yelling at each other, while Uncle Nick sat on his throne sat and listened, his single eye dark with boredom.
To Daisy's surprise, Mistress Maria Hill was standing on the dais just behind the chair, resplendent in her blue Wizard's robes, also watching the argument. Although, she seemed more amused than anything else at what was going on. Her dragon, Iliad, was curled up at her feet, seemingly asleep, however his tail was twitching slightly which told Daisy that he was actually awake and paying attention.
"Look," Uncle Nick's voice cut across the verbal sparring like a sword through paper, "the way I see it, you both have valid points in this…" Then his gaze found the three of them at the end of the hall, and he grinned. "I'm almost done here," he said, "then we can talk. Why don't you all go back up to my sitting room and I'll join you there shortly."
"Alright, Uncle Nick," Daisy agreed brightly, even though she'd sort of wanted to see him in action.
Clint also gave him a salute, just a touch of a finger against his forehead. Crystal had buried her face in Daisy's shoulder, although the young woman thought it was more out of shyness than any real fear.
"Have Carter get you all a round of hot chocolate," he called out as they were leaving.
Daisy couldn't help but grin at that. Uncle Nick's Steward, Sharon Carter, made the best hot chocolate ever. Even better than her Dad's, not that she was ever going to admit that.
Steward Sharon had gotten them the mentioned hot chocolate and some snacks and they'd all just settled in – Daisy on the sofa, Crystal leaning against her, and Clint in another chair nearby, all three dragons in a pile at the hearth – when Uncle Nick sailed in, accompanied by Mistress Maria and her own dragon, who aimed unerringly toward the dragon pile because everyone knew that was going to happen. Dragons did love to cuddle.
"One sec," Uncle Nick said, ducking into his bedroom. When he came back out, he'd removed his ceremonial cloak, and his sword had been put away as well. "Now," he said, getting his own hot chocolate from the pot, grabbing a handful of cookies, and taking one of the other chairs, "what brings my favorite girl here? And who is this young lady with you?"
He didn't mention anything about Clint's presence, but then the archer didn't seem to expect it. The Elf just kept right on sipping his chocolate, a plate of cookies balanced on his knee.
He also didn't mention that Crystal was far too thin and dressed in clothes that were far too large for her. Daisy couldn't pretend that he hadn't noticed, because Uncle Nick noticed everything.
Mistress Maria had also taken a seat, but none of the snacks or drinks. Honestly, Daisy didn't care for her all that much, mostly because of her beliefs about the Voids and Cardinals, but Uncle Nick loved her. Dad claimed that her Uncle would ask her to marry him at some point. So, Daisy thought she should at least be polite.
But she didn't see herself ever calling her Aunt Maria. Nope.
Crystal had turned shy once more, burrowing into Daisy's side, both hands wrapped around her own mug of chocolate. Uncle Nick could be intimidating, even though he was at least attempting to be gentle, so Daisy could understand why she was overly quiet.
So, Daisy gave the introductions. "This, is Crystal…soon to be Crystal Coulson, my new sister, and that's her dragon, Lockjaw." She pointed toward the dragon named, who raised his head, chirped a welcome, then laid back down, halfway draped around Lucky.
No one had asked about Lucky yet, but it was only a matter of time. Daisy was looking forward to it.
Uncle Nick's eyebrows went up, and the smile that graced his features softened his expression tremendously. "Well, hello young lady. I'm going to be your Uncle Nick."
Crystal sat up a little. "Hello, Uncle Nick," she said softly.
"Dad gave me some money so we can go shopping," Daisy explained. "Clint's along for moral support and carting services."
Uncle Nick laughed. "Well, he's good at both those things."
"Are you a pirate?" Crystal asked shyly.
Daisy stifled her laughter; Clint didn't bother. Mistress Maria snorted, her dark eyes dancing.
"Afraid not." Daisy could tell her Uncle was amused as well. "I'm actually a Baron."
Crystal's eyes widened. "An actual Baron?"
"That's right."
"But you wear an eyepatch and everyone knows that pirates wear eyepatches."
"So do old soldiers who get into fights they couldn't possibly win."
Not even Daisy knew how Uncle Nick had lost his eye, but she did know that it would have been his life if her Dad hadn't saved him, and Dad got a funny look on his face whenever it came up, as if he was trying hard not to laugh. Honestly, she expected to never hear the story, because it had been back in Dad's Dark One days. Those stories hardly ever got told.
"When did this happen?" Uncle Nick aimed his question at Daisy.
So, she explained how Dad, Ianto, and Grand Master Stephen had gone in search of Master Mordo, who'd been the one who'd let Werner von Strucker into the Quorum because Hydra had asked him to. At the name of the Wizard, Mistress Maria had started in shock, but she remained silent as Daisy continued on with the story, about how Dad has sensed someone calling out for help to the Void, where he'd found Crystal hiding under a gazebo, starving and alone.
When she was done, she could tell just how angry Uncle Nick was, even though he was keeping his face as placid as possible. "Do I need to step in?" His voice was low which, Daisy knew, was when he was at his most dangerous.
"Dad, Ianto, and Grand Master Stephen are taking care of it, since Crystal is a magical child and this falls under Guild rules. You might want to contact one of them and see if they need anything, especially when the adoption comes up." After all, Uncle Nick had been the one to make Daisy's own adoption possible.
Daisy was waiting for Mistress Maria to say something. Her opinions were well known, especially those opinions about her Dad. The Head of Great Order was staring at Crystal, who blessedly didn't seem to notice, caught up in eating the cookies that Clint had given her back when the chocolate had been served. She seemed a little less wary, and smiled when Uncle Nick made a funny face at her.
Surprisingly, the woman didn't as a word. Not a single thing about Crystal being Void and being unnatural. Daisy was a little disappointed at not getting the chance to yell at her.
"Tell you what," Uncle Nick said, rising and walking to his desk, "I know your Dad gave you plenty of money, but let me make you out a letter of credit as well. If Crystal is gonna be my new niece, then I get to start spoiling her rotten."
Daisy should have expected that, really. Uncle Nick had often done the same for her and Dad; he'd provided some of the funds and materials when they started reclaiming Shield Keep, after all, even though Dad had had quite a bit of money from his mercenary days. Uncle Nick had claimed that fixing up the old Keep was 'helping to restore the history and infrastructure of Triskelia' which was really just a load of shit, really. He'd just wanted an excuse to help out as much as possible.
"Also, I bet Natasha wouldn't mind going along," he continued as he wrote out the letter. "She knows some of the better shopping places in town."
So, that was where the Widow had gone after bringing Clint home last night; she'd gone back to Triskelia. When she hadn't shown up for breakfast, Daisy had asked Melinda about it, and Melinda had claimed that Natasha had left after they'd gotten Clint to bed and her and Dad had started up on the Truth Bomb again. Daisy had thought she'd just taken one of the guest rooms.
Although, Daisy knew that Natasha was going with them to act as an additional bodyguard. She wasn't about to be ungrateful, either.
"I think she went down to the kitchens earlier," Mistress Maria finally spoke. "I can check."
"Thanks," Uncle Nick said, giving her a quick smile before finishing up the letter with his seal. "Tell her there's some new throwing knives in it for her."
"Bribing her?" Clint teased. "I don't think that's gonna be necessary, Nick."
"Never hurts to give an inducement, Barton."
Mistress Maria got up from her chair, but before she left the room she turned back to the gathering. "I do have one question before I go, though."
Here it comes, Daisy thought, grinning.
"Who belongs to the extra dragon in the room?"
It really had been only a matter of time…
"Lucky's mine," Clint answered proudly.
The expression on Mistress Maria's face was priceless.