The following morning, things seemed to be tense between the avengers.
Especially between Steve and her father, who was currently glaring at the super soldier, as if he was hoping the man would combust, with the others watching with unease.
She also didn't miss the secret looks between Steve and Natasha.
It was strange, and a weird feeling filled her chest, a heavy indescribable feeling that filled her as she watched the pair of them.
So she decided that she needed to clear the air. And she knew just how to do so.
"Dad, did you know that me and Clint met before you knew him?" she asked randomly
Clint raised an eyebrow not entirely sure what she on about.
"You did?" Tony questioned, his narrowed gaze now turned to the archer, who looked very confused.
She nodded.
"I was a bit hurt you didn't remember me, and I didn't want to make things awkward." She took a calm sip of her coffee "I mean we did spend that night together"
Tony choked on his coffee.
"WHAT!?"Natasha turned to her partner looking unimpressed, Bruce was looking slightly horrified, and seemed to be wishing he was back in his lab. Thor, with a pop tart in his mouth had paused in his meal, looking between the two friends in confusion.
Steve's eyes darkened at the archer. The man had spent the night with grace, and hadn't even remembered her? It was the sort of behaviour he expected of Tony, due to his past reputation.
But not Clint.
It also filled him of a dark feeling, and he suddenly felt the need to punch something. He hated the idea of his Grace even being with the archer.
He paused.
Grace wasn't his, heck he hadn't even told her he wanted her to be his girl.
Tony was deathly quiet, something that scared the archer immensely.
It was never a good sign when the usually loud billionaire went quiet.
Because more than likely he was thinking of the most painful way to kill the archer.
And Tony was a genius, so he could probably get very creative.
Clint's survival instinct quickly kicked in, as he noted the judging and pissed off looks he was now receiving from his team mates.
"I DIDN'T!" He quickly denied.
Grace sighed.
"I'd been crying, and it started out as you comforting me." She paused and looked at Clint, almost sadly "You spent the night with me, and you were gone in the morning" She then looked at father
"Didn't even leave me a note." Clint was looking wide eyed at this point.
"This is most unsettling to hear, Eye of Hawk" Thor declared, looking disappointed in the archers actions
"Clint" Tony growled, his usual nick names for the archer was gone. "You wanna come outside with me for a minute" The archer needed a very, intensive talk with him and his iron man suit
"Grace, are you trying to get me killed?!"He squawked "That's completely not true!" Grace looked at Clint in what looked like a smug look, from the usually quiet girl.
"It is" she declared "How else would I know that you're right butt cheek has a scar going diagonally across it?" She hung her head, in what Steve assumed was sadness "You told me it was from shrapnel" Natasha nodded, as Steve pulled the now trembling girl in his arm, while giving his captain America look at the archer, for being so insensitive and for taking advantage of such a young, sweet girl.
"She's right, he does have that scar" No one asked how Natasha knew this, but this confirmation was as if Clint Barton's death sentence had been signed.
Tony slowly rose from his seat, and Clint was a stammering mess, doubt now filling his eyes, as he tried to ward of a very angry Tony, and to apologise to Grace.
However it was then that the laughter came from Grace.
This paused the attempted murder that had been about to take place.
It was full blown laughter, the loudest they had heard from the Steve realised that her previous trembling had been her simply trying to hold back her laughter.
"Grace?" Bruce looked at the girl confused, as she took deep breaths, trying to calm down, as she leaned against Steve for support. She wiped her eyes, that had been tearing up.
"I can't believe you fell for that!" She managed, still laughing. Natasha was looking partly proud and partly amused at the younger girl.
She was a good actress.
Tony for once was speechless, looking at his daughter in a mixture of awe and hurt.
Clint however narrowed his eyes
"Wait, so you were lying!" He cried out. By now Thor was booming with laughter, and Bruce was chuckling, amused at the girl's antics.
Steve had sighed with relief, and also noticed that Grace had moved away from him, and he was enjoying her petite frame leaning against him. He couldn't help but admire her as her brown eyes twinkled in joy, and the signature stark smirk clear on her face.
"You're an agent, shouldn't you be aware of was lying?" Clint gaped like fish.
"How the hell did you know about my ass?" He turned his glare to his partner, accusation clearly across his face.
"Were you apart of this?"
"No, you idiot, though I wish I had been" Clint scowled. Grace smiled
"I know about you butt" Grace began "Because when it happened, Phil sent me a picture"
Clint gaped like a fish out of water.
Natasha smirked
"Phil sent you a picture of Clint's ass"
"Oh yeah, it was hilarious" Clint was looking particularly mortified, not noticing the smug look on the girls face.
"Why would you even lie about this!?"He screeched, horrified that this seemingly innocent girl would even lie about such a thing. The brunette smirked that same stark smirk.
"I was bored"
Tony found himself feeling exceptionally proud of his little girl.
Ah, He thought…
Don't they grow up so fast?
After the events of that morning, Grace began to notice the extra company she seemed to have gained.
The god of thunder, Thor and the master archer, Clint.
Clint had suggested a video game marathon, and Thor was watching whilst feasting on a large bowl of M&M's. Though she noticed that the god would repeatedly look at her, and turn away when she stared right back at him. Finally she had enough, and after suffering defeat again against a still mortified Clint, she tossed the controller on the sofa.
"Thor, if you have something to say, please say it" She stated. Clint cursed the lack of subtleness that the blonde god had.
"Lady Grace" He began "What are your feelings regarding Captain Rogers?" Grace immediately began to turn a vibrant shade of red. Clint raised an eyebrow at this.
Hm, maybe Thor's direct approach had been effective. He hadn't planned on asking her so bluntly, but this seemed to be pretty effective.
"Answer the man kid, share with the group your thoughts" Grace turned to the archer with a dark glare, that probably would have been more effective if her cheeks were not so red.
"W-why would you e-even a-ask me that?" She cried seemed to ignore her stammering and turned to Thor.
"You should take that as a yes"Thor nodded in understanding. All of this however seemed to be too much for the smaller stark, who quickly fled the scene.
A silence passed between the pair.
"Eye of Hawk, is there NOW cause for celebration?" Clint smirked.
"Not yet buddy,But there will be."
Tony was outnumbered.
No Suit…and for once, no plan…This was it.
He had no means of escape.
But he would be damned if he at least didn't put up some sort of fight.
"…And you aren't going to interfere at all. Do you understand Tony? Natasha looked particularly smug as Pepper finished her spiel on why he should apparently not get involved with Steve and Grace's 'relationship'.
He scoffed.
There was no relationship between the super soldier and his daughter.
Not if he had his way.
He of course realised he was in this battle alone.
The Widow had already wrapped Pepper up in her web, ensnaring her in their plan to get his daughter and captain spangles together. Bruce, his only other comrade, had made himself neutral ground, not even supporting his science brother.
"Me? Interfere? Pepper it's like you don't know me at all" He retorted. Pepper simply gave him a pointed look.
"Tony, Can't you see how great they would be together? Do you want to deprive your daughter of having a loving relationship with Steve?" So she was trying the guilt trip? Smart, he conceded, but not smart enough.
"He's a 95 year old virgin. Need I remind you he knew my old man? You know…in World War 2?"Pepper didn't budge.
"Doesn't matter" She dismissed his words with ease. "Now that I've told you not to interfere, I thought I might as well tell you, that Steve is going to ask Grace to the Maria Stark Foundation Charity Ball "Natasha felt her lip twitch as Tony made a sound resembling a dying animal, a noise so inhuman that even Bruce stopped his work to look at Tony in concern.
"Jarvis!"
"Yes sir?"
"Cancel the charity ball!" It was run by stark industries, he could cancel it. He grinned at his two opponents. This was a fight he would win.
"I'm afraid you don't have that authority sir" Tony couldn't believe this, not to mention his AI seemed to have gotten Sassier. Pepper was looking victorious, and Natasha looked smug
Even his own creation had turned against him…
He was alone in this fight against the spangled man…
Steve was currently making his way to the elevator.
On his way to go find Grace.
Keep calm Steve, it's going to be fine
His chants did nothing to calm his nerves.
He was ACTUALLY going to ask Grace on a date.
Part of him wanted to at least wait, but he knew that Natasha would kill him.
He was drowning in his thoughts, but when the elevator opened.
Grace was looking red faced in the contraption.
She blinked, before smiling slightly at Steve.
"Ah,hi Steve" she breathed out. Steve frowned noticing her reddish face, and without thinking he stepped into the elevator and placed his hand on her forehead.
"Are you okay Grace?" His frown deepened as she was only getting hotter. "You're not sick are you?" He looked at her face to find she had gotten redder. She was staring at him, before she stepped back, hitting the edge of the elevator which at this point had closed.
"I-I'm fine!" She squeaked. "What floor do you need to go to" Whilst puzzled at her behaviour, he decided that this was the time to ask her to go with him to the charity ball next week.
"I came to see you actually"
"Is everything okay?" She quickly asked. "Has my dad being giving you any trouble? Or did you need me to explain something?" Steve couldn't help but smile as she asked him numerous questions.
She was so kind, so innocent.
He could understand why Tony was so adamant about protecting her.
Heck he wanted to protect her.
"Steve?" Tilting her head slightly, she looked at him with concern.
"Grace" He started firmly "Will you...will you" She stared at him patiently, and that was all he needed.
"Will you go with me to the Maria Stark Foundation ball with me next week?" Grace seemed surprised for a moment, she looked into his eyes, before nodding shyly.
"W-what time should we meet?"
It was in that moment, that Steve felt like the luckiest man in the world.