-04 Days : -09 Hours : -25 Minutes
"How is he?" Bruce shivers under the multiple blankets swathed around him, followed into our living room by Natasha and Tony. Steve had already stopped by, giving us the updated intel on our operation and the police reports over the last few hours. Fury hasn't even called querying the situation, I'm not sure whether to be pleased or worried but my son is safe and in my arms once more so I'm not going to complain.
"Dehydrated, exhausted and terrified of being alone. But safe. Thank you, all of you…" I whisper sincerely and James tugs us both closer into his arms on the sofa. We were able to calm Clint enough to clean him off, put him in some pyjamas and wrap him in a blanket between us with Max at our feet. We both were able to rid ourselves of blood and dust, into some clean sweats awaiting our family's return.
Amongst the commotion of the rest of the Avengers seating themselves around our common room for a debrief of sorts, Clint snuffles himself awake, unshed tears sparkle in his eyes as he glances around the people who love him before finally landing on me.
"Hey bud, it's okay. You're okay…" I murmur softly as I pull him onto my lap, rubbing his back to quiet him once more.
"M'sorry…" Clint sniffles some more.
"What for? Clint, do you want to tell us what happened?" I ask and Clint whimpers softly, I instinctively hold him tighter.
"Clint, ace, we promised we weren't gonna leave you. Whatever you tell us, whatever you did wrong, it's alright. But we need to make sure you're okay, please?" James talks softly, holding onto Clint's hand as he does.
Clint finally nods his head against my shoulder and everyone seems to straighten up, waiting for the explanation as to why this little boy felt the need to put himself in so much danger.
"From the start?" I offer as Clint seems to struggle with where to begin, settling into the crook of my arm, facing the rest of us.
"Barney 'ways said ne'er trust th'cops… Th'Swordsman started trainin' Barn n' I hadda sleep 'lone n clean th'stables 'lone… Barn said we're gonna have n'adventure in th'Big Apple but-but he kept sayin 'bout a plan n' ne'er trust th'cops 'part from Phil. Kept sayin' I had ta trust a 'Phil' but I didn wannu. I wanned t'go back, t'circus. Then Max foun' me n Barn was gone. Then Daddy foun' me, he was Phil and I had t'trust 'im but I was scared. Then Daddy was super nice and I met Dad n they pinkie promised they'd keep me n I'd be safe. N' I learn'd lots've thins 'bout SHIELD n 'vengers n' special things. Then Barn came back! He kept visiting me n tellin me all 'bout a brand new circus with a new job f'me. But I hadda tell him about Daddy an' Dad an' Uncl'Nick an' Tasha n' everybody. I din wannu. I swear! Bu-but Barn said he'd leave n' Daddy would get hurt n' then I had to help 'im into th'tower n' Dad got hurt cos I said no, so I hadoo. They said they jus' needed some stuff n' they wouldn take anything important f'the new circus bu' I knew Tony had to be asleep cos' they'd hurt 'im n' Dum-E. I tried to make JARVIS be quiet cos they'd take Tony's Project n' tha's dan'g'rous. But! But then they started fighting and they shot Steve and Bruce and they took me n' tol' me you din want me and I was stupid n you wern my Daddy but you said you were! You said I could choose you an' you pinkie promised! M'sorry m'sorry m'sorry sorry sorry…" Clint wailed, heaving breaths and I wrapped him tightly between James' torso and my own, tears leaking down my own face at the utter unfairness in Clint's life, a life where he could be manipulated so cruelly by his bastard brother and the people who were supposed to protect him.
"It's okay, shhh, baby, we've got you. You're right we promised and we never break our pinkie promises in this family. We are your daddies if you want us to be and if you do then that'll never change. I'm so sorry you got hurt Clint. We'll keep them away from you, it's not gonna happen again. We love you so much, baby," I repeated as James petted his hair and back until Clint finally settled into a fitful sleep again.
The others were in various states of upset, anger and exhaustion and at James' nod they all said they good nights, acknowledging Clint's safety with kisses, soothing touches and cooing noises before leaving for their own individual rooms and beds. Not one of them had a moment to spare to mention my engagement ring, not even Clint, but now that everyone's home at last, I don't expect that to carry on much longer. James kisses my lips tenderly and then grabs another blanket before arranging the three of us in a nest of sorts before we snuggle down for a night of gut wrenching nightmares, tears and utter relief.
After hours of half sleeping and nightmares, James, Clint, Max and I finally decide to make our way to the communal kitchen at six thirty am. We shuffle to the elevator, Clint in my arms, Max ahead of me and James clutching at my t-shirt from behind. We make quite the scene as we enter the kitchen slash dining room with every other avenger staring at us in various forms of alertness.
"Is it time to mention the ring yet? Tony's still taking bets," Natasha smirks around her mug of coffee as my head simultaneously snaps up with James' whereas everyone else mumbles in confusing gazing at every hand in sight.
"What the hell Secret Agent man? Did Robocop put a ring on it?!" Tony shouts, suddenly awake.
"Daddy why's Tone shoutin'?" Clint asks, just fully waking up himself. And James is as literate as he ever is at this time in the morning with zero caffeine…
"Uhhhhh…." Thank you, sweetheart.
"Calm, Stark. Okay, team, I think we do have an announcement to make. James asked me to marry him when we went out that night, and I said yes," I announce, as stoic as ever, trying very hard not to move in fear of bad reactions; certainly not thinking about any such betting pool.
"You're gonna marry Dad?!" Clint realises and reacts first, shouting right into my face with clear joy written all over his own face.
"Yeah, buddy, I'm gonna marry your Dad," I finally say it to myself, hear it for the first time. I can no longer hold back my overwhelming ecstasy, embarrassingly toothy smile gripping my face, at finally having everything I've ever dreamed of in one single room.
"Yay!" Clint hugs my head so tight I can only vaguely hear the others make their way over, giving their congratulations and joy to both me and, a very out of it, James.
"Who wants pancakes and waffles!? I think it's time to celebrate my best guy getting married and our little guy being home!" Steve cheers wrapping an arm around Buck, leading him towards the wondrous coffee as Tasha lifts Clint onto her lap, plopping me down at the table next to her.
A wedding and a son and a family. Holy crap, I have so much organising to do!