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Barton was never the type of person to overshare about anything. Heck, Tony wasn't sure he even knew the guy full name. Well, guess it's what happen when you only reunite to fight against some world-threatening bullshit every two years-ish or so, no one really knew who they were working with. Except for Natasha, of course. She knew everything about everyone. Somtimes, Tony worries that she knew even more about the team than herself. After all, the Avengers are her family, even more for her than him or Steve. Wich isn't the case for Clint apparently, since he was now piloting the Quinjet into an unknow direction, but the billionaire had already assumed that it was toward the Avenger Tower, too busy on checking if the rest of the team has somehow regain conciousness and ensure everyone had everything they need for te flight to bother to care in wich direction Clint was taking them.
Oh how wrong he was.
The Quinjet was dead silent since they took off. And Tony didn't like it. Not. At. All.
The brunette's life was never quiet. Andd he didn't wanted it to be. There was always the faint buzzing sound of an old classic rock song playing somewhere in his lab, or the voices of people chattering around him at events he was attending. He was always busy working on metal or solding two wires together or coming up with new updates for the Iron-Man suit. He hated when it was getting quiet, when it get quiet, he was let alone with his thoughts. And he knew how dangerous it could be when someone is let alone with their thoughts. Especailly for someone like him, someone with the genius, the money and the power to bring to life his most dangerous idea's. And they just had a taste with Ultron.
It was a tough battle. They should never had underestimed how far Ultron was capable to go for his project of destruction to be brought to life. He recruited two manipulated teens into a battle that wasn't theirs to fight and he made them even more enraged against them. Now, thy were out for blood. And now, the whole team have to pay for his mistake. What a mess. the part of them who had been affected by the girl's magic were still silent, processing whatever the witch had made them watch. And honestly, the billionaire didn't wanted to know what it was. After experiencing it himself, absolutly not. But still, the quietness of the ship made his anxiety spikes up uncontrollably and he knew he would start spiralling any time soon if he didn't do anything about it right now.
And with that, he got up and offered to Clint to switch places, so at least he'll have something to do. The archer blank the proposition away before opening his mouth to give a proper answer.
''If you wanna get some kip, now's a good time because we're still a few hours out.'' Clint suggested. ''Few hours from where?'' Tony asked, a pang of suspiciousness hanging in his voice, and a bit of embarassment for not thinking of the wonderful idea of sleeping. ''A safe house.'', the agent simply replied, without any further explaination. Tony raised a curious eyebrow, but didn't push it as he made his way to the back of the Quinjet. After all, a nap should be helpull. At least that's what he thought when he closed his eyes thinking he could rest for five minutes. Turn out he was wakn up by a very annoyed Clint Barton four hours later has the rising sun was shooting lasers at his eyes and he could feel his migrainewas getting progressivly worse.
He took a quick glance outside, you know, for good mesure, and what he saw left him...intrigued to say the least. Don't get him wrong now, he already had been in way weirder places then this, but to come to the fact that Clint Barton, the very know agent of SHIELD who kills people with a bow and arrows for a living, the guy that was sent to eliminate Natasha Romanoff for god sakes, owned a family sized farm in the middle of nowhere, it was a thought to be quite taken aback from. Well, at least, it was a good hideout, Tony couldn't deny that.
''What is this place?'', the asguardian asked,clearly confused by this enormous place their friend never bothered to told them about.
''A safe house.'', the billionaire replied to him, as much confused has his teamate.
Clint, who helded Natasha close to applie pressure on her wound, gently opened the door of the house that Tony clearly miscalculated the lenght of and peeked his head trought the door frame as if he expected to be attacked by an angry Ultron bot. He sighed in what Tony recognizeed as relief before taking a big step into the house and annonce in a scream that totally not startled Tony at all, nope, don't know what you're talking about!
''Honey? I'm home!''
Wait, what?
Honey? Home? What the hell??.
Steve send him a shocked look from aside , wich the dark haired man didn't respond to immediatly. They were all sandwiched in the living room in an akward line, as if they were kids doing an oral exam about petrol exportation or something like that.
Hurried footsteps could be heard trought a door nearby, and when it opened, Tony was sure it made a hole in the wall with how much force was applied to it. A figure appeared at the door frame, it was a young man, curly brown hairs going in all sort of directions, lab glassess still on, midly covering his honey gaze and with the brightest fucking smile Tony ever looked at in all his life.
''Honey! You're back!'', the guy took off his glasses, threw them on the kitchen table near him and literally threw himself in Clint's open arms and started to nuzzle in his neck.
''This must be an agent of some kind.'', the genius commented, wich made the man lift up his head, only now aknowledging their presence. No one misse dhow his eyes lit up in complete admiration, as if some stars were actually shinin in them.
Clint took a step aside, clearing his throat loudly befor finally introducing the stranger (well, not for him, as it appears) to them.
''Gentlemen's, this is Peter, mu husband. And, hum, Peter this is..''
''You are the rest of the Avengers!'', the young man exclaimed, as excited as a child who's been given to meet his idol's. A nervous laugh escaped from him as soon as the words leaved his mouth, visibly ashamed of his outburst of joy.''Hum...yeah...I know all of you. To be honest...I'm a big fan...'', his eyes locked themselves on the ground, shame taking over the smaller man. ''I was wondering when Clint was going to bring you over...I've been asking him for a while now...'', he threw a glare at his husband. (his husband holy shit Tony thinks)
Tony decieded to interverne again, despite the begging look on Clint's face.
''Well, we would have call ahead but we were too busy having no idea you existed.''
All colors drained from the archer's face. And then Tony realized he sould probably not have said that.
''You didn't tell them!?? I told you it was fine!''
''Wait, Peter...''
''Shush it, I'm talking. Clint you can't just do that to your teamates, come on!''
''It's really not against you honey, really, but your father is really...persuative.''
Peter gaze seem to soften down after the statement.
''Oh....Really? Ha I see.....just ignore him, and don't let him intimate you again! I guess he's just worried about me after all, but he, more than anyone else know that I can protect me and the kids just fine.''
Steve chocked on air, Thor destroyed some Legos who were left on the ground for plot revealacy, apparently, Bruce looked at Clint as if he just revealed the cure for cancer, himself had his eyebrows reached so high he was sure they could dissapear in his hairs and Natasha...
Well, Natasha definitly knew something about all of this and at this point, Tony shouldn't be surprised, but he would be lying if he said that.
She was grinning as if she just won one of those stupid games she and Clint challenge each other from time to time (and knowing her, Tony would say she did). The annonce of Clint being a father did nothing to her at all, and he dare say, made her happy a little, but Tony may go a bit far by this statement.
Little running steps were heard from upstairs, alongside with the laugther of two children.
''Ooooooooh incoming.'', the father commented before detatching himself from his husband, just as two little figures appeared in the hall.
''Dad!'', exclaimed a little girl, her older brother on her trail, before jumping into her father's arms.
''Hi sweetheart! Hey buddy!'', Clint responded with the same energy, hugging both of his childrens.
''And those are...smaller agents.'' Tony proudly joked, pointing at the two children.
''Did you bring auntie Nat?'', asked the younger sibling.
Every eyes turned at the ginger spy, each pair asking a different question.
You knew???!
Since when are you doing this??
Auntie Nat?
What the fuck is going on?
''Why don't you hug her and see by yourself?'', the spy said as she lean in for a hug.
Like that they seemed like an happy, perfect family,or at least, this is the idea Tony has of a perfect family. Something he never had and something he probably never will have himself neither, cause generational trauma is a bitch.
''By the way, my dad said he's going to come for dinner tonight.'', Peter interrupted, looking lovingly at the scene.
''Again?'', replied the archer, visibly at unease.
''Grandpa is coming tonight!!! Yay!!'', screamed the siblings in unisson.
''This is what you got for marrying an scientist from SHIELD.'', answered the young man.
**
having to digest everything that has been yet has been...difficult. Tony had the terrible impression to not actually know who he is working with. Yes, it was still important to be able to keep some things to yourself, but after learning that one of his must trusted companion hid an entire pang of his life to everyone for years, he was questioning how much the other members of the team can keep secret.
With the hope of getting everything out of his head, he agreed of helping Steve choping wood outside of the house. It worked. Mostly. But like everytime he is in the same place as the all mighty Captain Amercia, everything goes down to shit. It always does. As if it was the only end possible to all of their interaction.
''Thor didn't said where he was going for answers?',, Tony seddently asked, when everything became too quiet again.
''Sometimes my teamates don't tell me things.'', Steve responded arshly, the control he tried to keep on his voice betrayed nothenless the frustration he kept undercovber in front of Clint' family, you know, not to be rude.''KInd of hoped Thor would be the exception.''
''Yeah, give him time, we don't know what the Maximoff kid showed him.''
Steve choped another log in half.
''Earth Mightiest Heroes, pulled us apart like cotton candy.''
And Tony Stark being Tony Stark he couldn't let this slide without him replying some nasty comment on top of it.
''Seems like you walked away all right.''
Aaaannnnnddddddd....there. The moment everything escalated.
''Is that a problem?''
''I don't trust a guy without a dark side.'', Tony did once and he will never do it again.''Call me old-fashioned.''
''Well let's just say you havn't seen it yet.''
''You know Ultron is tying to tear us apart, right?''Every time someon tries to win
''Well I guess you'd know. Wether you'd tell us is a bit of a question.'', Steve immediatly replied.
''Then how are we doing research?'', Tony followed.
''That would affect the team.'', Steve warned.
''That would END the team.'', the genius tried to explain.''Isn't that the mission? Isn't nothing why we fight, so we can end the fight so we get to go home?''
Steve, tired and furious, absolutly destroyed the poor log he had in half...with bare hands. The atmosphere was so tense around them they could cut it with a knife.
''Every time someone tries to win a war before it starts innocent people die. Every time.''
As if the situation couldn't get worse. But. Steve got a point.
''I'm sorry...Mr.Stark?'', the gentle voice of Peter interrupts them before they could actually throw hands (Steve would have won anyway). ''Clint said you wouldn't mind, but...ehm...our tractor, it doesn't seem to want to start at all. Would you mind...?''
Tony saw in that the perfect way to escape the situation he got himself into. And so he took it so gratefully.
''Yeah. I'll...uh...I'll do it.''
''Ah, thank you, I really appreciate it!'', Peter responded with a smile only him can make shine that bright.
**
The tractor was located in a large barn, so large in fact, he expected to find one or two cows peacefully grazing on tghe remaining grass. He was half-dissapointed to see that they were none, but he did find the famous tractor. It was an old thing, all rusty and covered in dust, but still functional.
''Hello deer. Tell me everything. What ails you...?
The billionaire suddently saw something moving from the corner of his eyes. The figure stayed in the shadows, lurking, analysing. The more he looked at it, the more he was able to define the edges of it. And he found it disgustingly familiar.
''Do me a favor.''
Of course that son of a bitch is still alive.
''Try not to bring it to life.''
And of course he would find out about Ultron.
''Why, Mr. Barton, you little minx.''
Fury looked...well, differnent. A little more old but also more...calm? Relaxed? It was hard to tell, for being honest, because Fury being Fury, he always wear that cold face as if he's going to beat the shit out of you by any second now. But his clothes were betraying him. He was dressed as if he was going on a casual family meeting.
''I get it. Maria Hill called you right? Was she ever not working for you?''
He never showed any emotion.
''I guess you met my son by now right? he was the one who tell me, called me the moment you landed.''
Okay, okay, okay, wow. Stop. Going back of 15 seconds. Replay.
...
WHAT THE ACTUAL FU-
'' You!? YOU have a SON we never heard about and you just told me we MET HIM???''
''Well, there was no point in hiding anymore, since you already met him.''
Holy shit it was a family meeting.
''It's the little guy isn't it?''
Fury only nod in confirmation.
''Holy shit I'm telling the team!'', he was already half-out of the barn.
''Stark.''
''I'm telling everyone!''
''Stark.''
''We'll never let you live on this old man!''
''Stark!''
Tony stepped dead on his tracks. He knew Fury wasn't just there to talk about his brand-new revealed son (who look nothing like him anyway, adoption maybe?) he just... wanted to flew from it he guessed. Again.
''Artificial Intelligence, You never even hesitated.''
Tony could only try to justified.
''Look, it's been a really long day, like Eugen O'Neill long, so how's about we skip to the part where you're useful.''
''Look me in the eye and tell me you're going to shut him down.''
''You're not the director of me.''
Dang it. Tony felt like a child now. A child being scolded by his dad for playing past bedtime or something like that. To think this is how Peter spend his childhood . He,s praying for the poor guy.
''I'm not the director of anybody. I'm just an old man. Coming here to spend some time with his grandchildren. And and old man who cares very much about you.''
Shit. Having a therapy session with a sober Jack Sparrow was not what he expected today. Not ever to be honest.
''And I'm the man who killed the avengers. I saw it. I didn't tell the team, how could I? I swa them all dead Nick. I felt it. The whole world too. Becuase of me. I wasn't ready. I didn't do all that I could.''
Fury tried to keep him on tracks. And he knew the voice he was using. It was the voice of a dad.
''Maximoff girl, she's working you Stark. Playing on your fears.''
Tony immediatly cut him off.
''I wasn't tricked, I was shown. Wasn't a nightmare, it was my legacy. The end of the pat I started us on.''
''You come up with some pretty impressive inventions, Tony. War isn't one of them.''
Tony would have lied if he said he wasn't relieved with the way he understood him with only a look.
**
''PETER IS YOUR SON??!!''
''Tone it down Mr.Rogers, the whole world doesn't need to know that information.'', replied Fury, his voice low and dangerous.
Steve backed up, complains dying in his throat has said son chose to speak again.
''Actually dad, I'd like to...''
''No.'', cut the pirate in a tense tone.
''You. Are no fun.'', sighed Peter in a fake pout, coming back to the dishes he was washing just a moment before.
''When were you...planning on telling us?'', asked shyly Bruce, putting very much care into his every words, as if he was asked to disamble a bomb.
''Honestly? Never. Both Peter and this place were kept secret for a reason Dr.Banner. Only a couple of inside of SHIELD knew his existence, including Maria Hill and it was better that way.'', he trhew a nasty look at Clint, wich wasn't unnoticed by Peter.
''Stop harrassing Clint dad. I'm more than happy to host them all. Clint did the right choice by bringing them here, the Avenger Tower was a too much risk for them anyway. Plus,'', he chuckled,''the kids are happy to see you.''
Fury actually paused for a moment.
''Whatever you say, kid.''
''I'm too old for this stop calling me like that dad.''
''Sure kid''
''Dammit.''
Natasha immediatly put her cherry on the top.
''Watch it Steve he said a bad word.'', she smirked playfully.
''You know what Romanoff?'', Steve replied, also smirking.
The bickering started, growed, and soon, the diner room was filled with laugh and insults. Fury took his chance and and took Tony apart of the others for a talk. Yeah. Another.
''I'd appreciate if you could bring back my son's husband from this Stark. It'll be very tragic if he had to raise his kids alone.''
Tony took a look at the kitchen, where Clint and peter were hugging and giggling at the humerous fight happening in front of their eyes. He couldn't keep two children from growing up with their father. He couldn't let peter going through life without his signifitive other by his side. Not for a mistake HE made. He had to fix this however he can. He could not destroy another family.
''Will do boss.''