Author Note – Just a quick note (I know it's been a while, sorry, writers' block combined with a hectic real life are the only reasons I have to offer) – these snippets aren't in chronological order, I've written them as the ideas originally came to me rather than with a clear timeline – sorry for any confusion. One day I may go back and give them some sort of order.
As always, special thanks to my beta Black' Victor Cachat.
Chapter Three – Lila Barton, spy in training
Lila Barton hums happily to herself as she pulls the brush through her aunts' hair. In her aunt's room - Lila will never consider it a guest room - surrounded by the pictures they've all made for Auntie Nat over the years, she stands on a small wooden stool behind Auntie Nat, who is sitting patiently on a chair in front of the vanity dressing table with Nathaniel squirming in her lap.
Lila figures it isn't all Nathaniel's fault, he's not too fond of wearing the suit Mom had to wrestle him into, and now Auntie Nat keeps tickling him whenever he tugs at the collar of his shirt as he tries to loosen the tie he is determined to lose before the wedding. None of them were allowed to make a mess of the smart clothes they were wearing, Auntie Nat included – Mom's orders – which is why they were sent to Auntie Nat's room. That, and because Mister Stark insists Auntie Nat isn't allowed to see Uncle Bruce before they're married.
Not that Lila minds, she loves the soft pink dress she's wearing for the wedding, but she's not convinced by Mister Starks' reasoning of bad luck if they see each other, because they've been living together for a few years. Auntie Nat wasn't impressed when he announced it this morning. Lila doesn't know what else was said 'cos Auntie Nat covered her ears while she argued with Mister Stark about it. But Lila figures she lost the argument, since they were all sent to her room soon after Auntie Nat and Uncle Bruce shared a quick kiss, and then auntie glared at Mister Stark as they proceeded up the stairs.
It was a win-win situation for Lila: she gets to wear a pretty dress and spend time with her auntie, (even if Nathaniel had to tag along), as it is something they haven't been able to do while they've been getting the house ready for the wedding. Lila's own hair is braided and tied with ribbons which match her dress. It's pretty but isn't like the dress her aunt wears. Long and white, strapless, a little plain for Lila, yet Auntie Nat looks as beautiful as always. Her vibrant hair rests on her shoulders in soft loose curls, which she graciously agreed to let Lila brush for several long minutes.
Every so often, Auntie Nat looks over at the open window to the field at the side of the house where everyone is waiting for the wedding to start. Lila had been over the moon when Dad and Mom offered to have the wedding at the house as it was one of the few places where they could bring all of the Avengers together without being bothered by the outside world, especially the press. Apparently, everyone arrived early so they wouldn't miss it.
"As nice as it was for your parents to let us have the wedding here, I think your mom and dad forgot the kind of mess the Avengers can make when they're all in the same place," Natasha muses when she hears a crash of chairs and boisterous yelling, making it apparent Thor is demonstrating a move from a recent adventure to Steve.
Lila giggles at her aunt. It is fun having the Avengers here, they've been much more entertaining than last time. Unfortunately, they do kind of take over everything, and they're more competitive than she and Cooper are when they fight over the TV remote.
"I want to go out and play," five-year-old Nathaniel grumbles as he cranes his head to look out the window.
"Me too, buddy," Natasha answers and tickles him again. Nathaniel squeals and squirms on her lap. "But we're stuck in here till it's time for me to say 'I do'."
"What does that mean?" Nathaniel asks, only for Auntie Nat to laugh and blow a raspberry on his cheek.
Lila laughs again and resumes brushing her aunt's hair. She loves having her aunt home, even if it's just for a little while. Now that she and Doctor Banner live far away, Lila doesn't get to see her as much. She still argues about not being allowed to video call Auntie Nat to check in on her like Dad does, but he's too worried about someone hacking the stream. Holidays and birthdays don't really count; they're mandatory attendance.
It also means they don't have time to do what they used to. When she was little, Auntie Nat would sit for hours as Lila brushed her hair; or anything else Lila wanted to do – colouring or telling the wildest bedtime stories, which Lila could never figure out if they were true or not. Lila doesn't like the thought of them leaving in a few days after the wedding. Mom says Auntie Nat and Doctor Banner are going on a vacation called a honeymoon, chuckling at Dad's scowl whenever it's mentioned.
Her thoughts are interrupted by clicking of the lock as the door is pushed open. The three occupants turn to see Uncle Bruce poke his head around the door just the hinge creaks, alerting the rest of the house to his whereabouts.
"Really need to find some lubricant for this door," Uncle Bruce mutters just as someone from downstairs calls his name before he can step over the threshold. Bruce sighs dramatically. Lila watches Auntie Nat smile fondly as Bruce shrugs at them and backs out of the room looking heartbroken, "This is what happens when I try to be spontaneous and romantic; scuppered by a creaky hinge."
"It's the thought that counts," Natasha consoles him as he disappears from view.
Lila giggles till she spots her aunt looking at the reclosed door. "What's wrong Auntie Nat?"
"It would've been nice to talk to Uncle Bruce," Natasha replies while glancing at the door. "Kind of miss the dork even when he's just downstairs."
Lila ignores her aunt's use of the word 'dork', it's used affectionately rather than to be mean, and looks out the window to where Uncle Bruce has quickly joined her dad and Mister Stark outside. She hears Mister Stark make a whipping sound and gesture and she assumes he's trying to make fun of Uncle Bruce, but she just doesn't get the joke except her dad laughs too.
"You really love him, don't you Auntie Nat?"
"I do Lila-bug," Natasha confirms.
She sees her aunt look wistfully at the window. She may be a kid, and doesn't completely understand how adult relationships work, but Uncle Bruce makes Auntie Nat happy and that's all that matters to Lila. And if Auntie Nat and Uncle Bruce want to talk, Lila will make it happen.
"I have an idea," Lila says, hopping down from the stool and skipping to the door. "Stay here Auntie Nat. Come on Nathaniel," she calls over her shoulder as she peeks through the crack of the door to see if the coast is clear.
"Finally!" Her little brother grumbles, as he slides from their aunt's lap to follow her.
She doesn't answer him as she slips out of the door, and creeps along the hall to the stairs. Her eyes scan the front door and the downstairs hallway for any sign of movement; no footsteps, no shadows cast by lingering guests.
Nathaniel, eager to play now that he's out of Auntie Nats' room, tries to overtake her at the top of the stairs, until Lila blocks him with her arm. Her brother opens his mouth to protest, yet she shakes her and places a finger to her lips. He starts again, only for her to shush him quietly, and point down to the hall where their mom walks past the living room door to pick up some of the flowers for the wedding. Once she retreats again, Lila signals with her hand for Nathaniel to follow her.
"Why can't I just go and play? This is boring," Nathaniel whispers.
"Because I need your help, and I'll get you a cookie from the jar Mom keeps on top of the fridge if you do." That makes him fall in behind her. Her little brother still hasn't managed to reach the jar. No matter how hard he tries, he's just not tall enough even when he stands on a chair.
Her eyes focus on the stairs as she takes a deep breath, she memorised where to step to avoid the creaks years ago. They silently make their way down the stairs, Nathaniel stays close behind her but she can tell from his huffing he's getting impatient with her cautiousness.
"I need you to distract Mister Stark," Lila explains, as they pause on the last step and she checks to make sure no one who is likely to send them back to Auntie Nat has spotted them.
Nathaniel cocks his head for a second before looking around the hand rail, through the kitchen, at their prey: their Dad and Uncle Bruce standing just outside the back door talking. A moment later he moves past her and saunters toward them, assuring her conspiratorially, "I've got this."
Following after her younger brother, Lila is stopped by their Mom just inside the kitchen door. Lila gives her the cutest look she can manage, except it doesn't work as her Mom laughs at her before presenting her with a cell phone. Lila frowns at it; the device makes her plan simpler, even though she was looking forward to trying to pick Mister Stark's pocket – Auntie Nat showed her once but she's never done it to anyone except her family members, and they always knew.
"Make a seamless pass to Uncle Bruce, and you can have an extra piece of cake later," her Mom winks at Lila when she palms the phone. It's a good incentive, the huge chocolate cake with mini Hulk and Black Widow figures on top looks scrumptious on the counter, but it's not why Lila is doing this.
Taking a pause to refigure her approach, she sees Nathaniel has the attention of all three men as he begs their Dad to hoist him onto his shoulders, only to ask the other two men when Dad shakes his head explaining about keeping the suits tidy for the ceremony, which would've been convincing if he didn't look as uncomfortable as Nathaniel does in the buttoned-up shirt and jacket. Nathaniel turns his attention on Mister Stark then, peppering him with questions about the clear interface he uses instead of a phone. The man seems to fall for it and pulls it out to show it to her little brother. Lila uses the chance to sneak behind the man, skipping to Uncle Bruce's side.
She can sense her Dad's eyes on her, yet she ignores him and hums the same tune she was humming when she was brushing Auntie Nat's hair. Uncle Bruce notices her too – and the phone - he's more observant than people give him credit for.
She turns on a skip, Bruce's hand touches her shoulder and she lifts her hand to pass him the phone covering the motion while her back is to Mister Stark. Lila smiles as he winks surreptitiously, and uses Nathaniel as a distraction to sneak around the corner of the house to phone Auntie Nat, who he speaks to without preamble when she answers, "It's good to have the gang back together, but I'll be grateful if we get through this without any structural damage."
As curious as Lila is about their conversation, it's private. Unfortunately, Mister Stark hears the conversation too. "Hey, what did I say about phones? This is gonna end up like the bachelor party," he says as he tries to follow but is blocked by Lila and Nathaniel.
"Give it up Stark," Dad tells the older man. "You won't get past; Nat trained 'em."
Their Dad walks away but the kids stand between Mister Stark and Uncle Bruce as he peers down at them dubiously. His gaze switches between them before focusing on Lila, "You really are Reds' mini-me, aren't you?"
"Don't ever forget it," Lila warns him with a raised eyebrow, just like Auntie Nat taught her.