Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Mornin', kiddo," Clint greeted, hearing the distinctly soft pitter-patter of Loki's footsteps enter the living area, "Breakfast?" He prompted, already reaching for the box of frozen waffles he'd intended to get for himself.

"Yes, please," The kid said around an admittedly adorable yawn, "Waffles, again?"

"Yep, waffles again," Clint echoed, kicking the freezer drawer shut on his way toward the toaster, "And everyday until someone who can cook gets back from working."

Steve, Bruce, and Natasha had all been called out to a mission somewhere across the country, not that Clint was really listening. He'd been delegated babysitter-- not that he minded. Thor was back on Asgard, still smoothing out the knowledge of what had happened to his suddenly baby brother, and Tony...

Tony could not cook. To say the least.

"I see."

They sat in silence, waiting for the toaster to cook away the frost. Clint eyed Loki for signs of any nightmares-- they'd lessened, with adult Loki taking a massive step back from the reigns, but that didn't mean they'd left.

Loki noticed his attention, offering a small smile. Not long after that smile smoothed out to an irritated expression Clint was growing frustratingly familiar with, "Your pitying looks are grating, Agent Barton," adult-Loki sneered.

"Play nice," Clint drawled, earning a deeper scowl. He was learning to roll with it. Having semi-adopted the kid, and his evil adult alter ego, he was most exposed to adult-Loki's biting remarks. That were quickly losing their bite.

Just because he was mostly content to let kid-Loki live the life he never got, didn't mean he didn't have his moments of feeling the need to surface. Hiding in the mind of a child for eternity would be pretty boring.

The toaster popped out freshly toasted waffles, and Clint watched Loki's face flip in an instant to a happy, childish smile, "Sorry," he offered, like he always did when adult-Loki popped his head out, but it didn't hold the same, pained guilt that Clint hated to see on such a young face that it used to. "Do we still have chocolate syrup?"

Clint let a smile grace his lips. It was good to see that his reminders that it wasn't the kid's fault was starting to sink in, "I'm sure we do. You brushed your teeth?"

He glanced back from where he was plating their waffles and saw Loki's abashed expression, "No..."

"Go on, and wash your hands. Your waffles will still be here when you're done, kiddo," he gestured to the hall, smiling when Loki sighed like he was being tasked with holding up the world.

"I will return." he hopped off the kitchen island stool, "Do not eat my waffles while I am absent!" He called over his shoulder.

Chapter Text

With Loki becoming a more permanent resident of the tower, Tony had took it upon himself to make his room a little more him. When he’d announced this, Clint and Bruce had also brought up the fact that Loki didn’t have a lot else to his name.

No books outside of the ones he’d borrowed for their research, no toys or games, no clothes he chose himself, and no personal hygiene products. Everything he had was borrowed, except a few articles of clothing Pepper picked up.

How it turned into a trip to the mall involving Tony going along with Clint and Loki to pick things out, he wouldn’t ever know. He’d tried to convince the man to stay behind– he’d just bring attention to them– but he’d made a snide comment about Clint maxing out his credit card and insisted.

Which, was that even possible? It felt like those things had no limit.

Not to mention Loki insisted on being helpful, and reminding them that he’d– she’d, actually, since the kid had insisted on wearing a girl body that day Clint figured a switch in pronouns would be apt– been practicing the shapechanging magic, and promptly turned Tony back into a woman.

(“Oh, sweet!” Tony grinned, looking down at his no longer properly fitting clothes, “Thanks, kid. There, Clint, now we won’t be recognized, will we?” He asked rhetorically, cocking his hip and crossing his arms. Clint raised a brow pointedly at the glowing light in his chest.

“You’re welcome, Mr. Stark!” Loki bowed, her hair falling down around her face. She scrunched up her nose at the feeling, pushing it all back over her shoulder, “Apologies for not yet understanding how to change your garments, but surely you’ll be able to find some replacements?”

“Yeah, I’ll find somethin,” Tony threw Clint a wink. The archer groaned.

“Nothing provocative. We’re taking m– the kid out, not picking anybody up,” he demanded, getting an eyeroll and a huff from the billionaire.

“You’re no fun. Fine, I’ll meet you two in the garage. Wearing normal clothes.”

“Agent Barton–” The kid tended to bounce between calling him Clint, and Agent Barton. Clint figured it was good days and bad days, or something to do with the evil God dancing around in her head, “--You wouldn’t happen to have a hairtie on your person, would you?”

“I do, actually,” he reached for his wrist. He’d started keeping them when Natasha’s snapped on a mission with him some years back. Then it just became habit, even when they went their semi-separate ways, “Want me to tie your hair up for you?”

“Yes, please.”)

So, they were in the mall. Tony had pulled on some more casual clothing, wearing a thick hoodie to cover up the glow from the arc reactor that looked big enough to be Steve’s, “Where to first, Lokes?” Tony prompted, hand landing on the girls shoulder. Loki was looking around the mall with her mouth agape, looking overwhelmed.

“Clothes first, I think,” Clint answered instead, when she didn’t speak up after a few moments of staring around, “Then some decor for your room, that sound good?”

Loki’s jaw snapped shut, a light blush spreading across her cheeks, “That sounds satisfactory,” she muttered, ducking her head, “Where will we be heading first?”

“For kids clothes? Let’s see…” Tony glanced around, before starting off in a direction, “This way!”

Clint took Loki’s hand, “Let’s not lose you in this crowd, yeah?” He said when she gave him a confused look, “Come on, or he’s gonna leave us behind,” he grinned, getting a giggle out of the girl.

There was a brief spasm on her face, “We wouldn’t want to lose that bumbling baffoon, would we? Certainley wouldn’t be any better off,” adult-Loki drawled. Clint paused at the emotional whiplash, watched kid-Loki resurface and make a face like she’d swallowed a lemon, “Sorry, Agent Barton.”

“It’s alright, honey,” he reached over with his free hand to lightly ruffle her hair. Tony, halfway down the hall, turned back and waved.

“You guys comin’ or am I shopping alone?” he called over the din of the crowd. Clint and Loki shared an exasperated, fond look, before heading into the stores.

…

“What about this one?” Clint held up another dress. Loki had gotten a handful of shirts and pants, and even a few skirts and dresses and pairs of shoes at various shops in the last two hours, but she was apparently very picky about Earth clothing.

“No,” the little god pouted, “It’s too… sparkly. A pink. Why are there no greens? Silvers, golds? I would even settle for black, yet I can’t seem to find anything that isn’t cat themed in this dismal place,” she huffed, gesturing toward a nearby dress that was, in fact, black cat themed.

Clint sighed. He shouldn’t be surprised. Loki was a prince. Princess? She was of royal standing, and moreso than that, her people had a very different style of fashion than humans did. She was getting irritated with the lack of ‘good options’.

“Alright, kid,” Tony piped up. He’d been chatting up someone nearby, Clint hadn’t quite been paying attention to the genius other than catching a few words about taking his friends daughter out for some back to school clothes that made his heart swell, “I’ve got a better idea than this place, you up for some more shopping?”

She sighed heavily, having become increasingly more dramatic over her displeasure in the last few hours, “I suppose,” she relented, “So long as it is not filled with clothing such as this anymore.”

“I promise, Horns, we’ll find you something good,” Tony grinned, “Come on, I know just the place.”

Clint stood from where he’d been crouched down going through options with Loki, knees popping. Loki giggled behind her hand, “You sound like Father when he stands from his throne.”

“Isn’t your dad like a million years old?” Tony– oh so helpfully– put in from ahead of them.

“You sure know how to give a compliment, kiddo,” he drawled, “You want me to carry you again?” He offered. This was one of the last stores that sold kids clothes in the mall, and it was on the opposite side of the store as their last stop.

She’d complained about it– apparently fed up enough with the day to put away her brave face, or just comfortable enough around them to do so– and had been swiftly swept up into Clint’s arms for the remainder of their walk, “I try,” she giggled.

…

Tony’s ‘place’ turned out to be some high end fashion store that Clint had never heard of let alone stepped foot in. With them all dressed in casual street clothes, he felt they might honestly turn their group away for daring to walk on their pristine carpeted floors.

Tony charmed their way in, flashing a credit card that Clint assumed was an obvious I have plenty of money to be here, honey, now quit judging me indicator, and got them into a much nicer looking kids area.

The clothes were in more muted colors, and Loki looked much more relaxed in the quiet store than she did in the crowded mall, “Voila,” Tony gestured widely to the selection.

“Much better,” Loki nodded, squirming to be set down from Clint’s arms. When he dress shoes landed on the ground her face twisted again. She mouthed something to herself, then pouted, “Adult-Loki says that he’s impressed with Midgard’s ability to design clothing that didn’t look like a farmhand wore it. With sarcasm.”

Tony snorted. Clint rolled his eyes, “Thanks,” he deadpanned, “Now go on, pick out as much as you want. Tony can afford it.”

(Clint got a look at a price tag, somewhere down the line when Loki had picked out an armful of clothes and handed them off to Clint to hold onto while she continued her search. He felt like it was a crime to even be holding them without paying first afterward, and set them down on a nearby plush couch to guard with his life.

He was glad Loki didn’t quite understand Earth currency yet. Although, the kid probably wouldn’t care, if Tony said he could pay for it. She was a princess, after all, and surely that meant she had plenty of money growing up. Whatever the Asgardian equivalent was to these prices she probably wouldn’t bat an eye at.)

“I believe this will suffice,” she said primly, holding another armful of clothing, “Although I saw some shoes I would like to take a longer look at.”

Tony tutted, “Nope, shoes and accessories are different stores from clothes,” he said. Clint made a face, “Never get all your clothes at the same place. Come on, let’s pay and get a move on. I think that storehand is trying to glare us out of existence,” he quipped, gesturing toward the woman with a tight blonde bun that was, in fact, eyeing them judgingly.

“I’ll never understand you, Tones,” Clint sighed, “You want some help carrying that, sweetheart?” He prompted. Loki shook her head.

“I have it handled. Thank you, Agent Barton.”

“You can just call me Clint, you know,” he reminded needlessly, “Tony’s right, we should get going. Sun’s gonna start setting soon.”

…

They did in fact go to more stores, just two thankfully. One that seemed to specialize in shoes of all kinds, and they got more pairs than Clint had ever owned in his life– sue him for thinking a single pair of boots and a single pair of sneakers was enough, who even needed all of that?-- and a store that specialized in all sorts of accessories, from bags to jewelry.

There were also a few more appearances from adult-Loki, but the older God seemed to be losing interest in their activities as he didn’t bother to steal the body much, instead passing on messages through his younger self instead more often than not.

He’d expected a hassle to bring all their bags inside, but when Tony tossed a request at Jarvis to have someone bring everything up and waved them all inside.

Loki got plenty of compliments from the entire team when she came out of her room the next morning in an elaborate, fancy green dress with silver detailing. She’d then requested that Natasha help her do her hair for the day.

She was well overdressed for going on a walk– the only thing they’d had planned– but that was fine, because she was happy.