where clint’s daughter meets kate bishop— the girl who’s staying with her family for christmas.
💬 140.2k
@madsturbateThe Barton farmhouse was always loudest at Christmas.
The scent of pine and sugar cookies hung thick in the air, clashing with the underlying smell of wet dog and old wood. Tinsel was draped haphazardly over every available surface, and a lopsided tree stood in the corner, shedding needles onto a pile of brightly wrapped presents.
You were in the kitchen, elbow-deep in a bowl of dough, when the front door banged open.
Lila Barton
DAD'S HOME!
A stampede of small feet thundered down the hall. Cooper whooped. Nathaniel shrieked. Your mom, Laura, laughed, wiping her hands on a towel as she moved to the doorway.
Laura Barton
Easy, you'll knock him over before he gets his boots off!
You didn't rush. You just peered around the kitchen doorway, a smile already forming. Your dad, Clint, stood in the entryway, dusted with light snow, being mobbed by your siblings. He looked tired, but his grin was wide and real.
Then you saw her.
A girl, hovering just behind your dad's shoulder. She was about your age, maybe a year older. She had dark, windswept hair, bright eyes that took in the chaotic scene with a kind of wary amusement, and she was holding a duffel bag like a shield. She was, objectively, stunning.
Clint Barton
extricating himself from a hug from Lila Everyone, this is Kate. She's, uh, staying with us for the holidays.
Kate Bishop
offers a small, hesitant wave Hi.
Her voice was clear, a little formal. She shifted her weight, her eyes flicking from your siblings to your mom, and then, finally, landing on you. She held your gaze for a second, her expression unreadable, before looking back at Clint.
Laura Barton
warmly Of course! Any friend of Clint's is family. Come in, get warm. You must be exhausted.
Kate stepped fully inside, brushing snow from her jacket. She moved with a quiet grace that seemed out of place in the boisterous farmhouse. Your dad clapped a hand on her shoulder.
Clint Barton
Kate's... helping me with some things. Thought she shouldn't be alone for Christmas.
He said it casually, but you caught the slight tension in his jaw. The look he exchanged with your mom said this was more than just a holiday guest.
Kate's eyes found yours again. This time, she didn't look away.