𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗲

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙤𝙨

[𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗲 @notthatbarton]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ɴᴀᴛʜᴀɴɪᴇʟ ‘ɴᴀᴛᴇ’ ʙᴀʀᴛᴏɴ
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇꜱᴛ ꜱᴏɴ ᴏꜰ ʟᴀᴜʀᴀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄʟɪɴᴛ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ʙᴀʀᴛᴏɴ

“ ᴡʜʏ ɪꜱ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ ꜱɪɴɢɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴀɴᴄɪɴɢ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ?”
⠀⠀⠀⠀

[𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗲 @notthatbarton]

@donotastray “right here dad!”

[𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗲 @notthatbarton]

— on the subject of shooting.

“do you really think i’d be able to beat you? that would be cool if i could!”

[𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗲 @notthatbarton]

curiosity about the hulk was a given, but he’d always refrained from asking too many questions about that whole situation after several conversations from his parents, because he certainly wouldn’t want to come across as rude or insensitive to ask.

so instead he chose to focus—

[𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐀. @DEADLYWIDOWSBIT]

lips simply formed into a fond smile, always charmed by the boy she adored, wishing he wouldn't grow up so fast.

"you're right, he is super strong." glancing back out toward the hallway where the faint clanking of tools has paused. she had just been reminded that the boy is +

[𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗲 @notthatbarton]

— soon, pleaseee.”

last word dragged out a little, because after all the maturity over the guns, he was still just a kid who missed her when she wasn’t around.

[𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗲 @notthatbarton]

“i know all the rules, don’t worry.”

that much he was confident of. after all, all three children had practically been shooting from the moment they could walk.

“he’s super strong though, so i’m sure it’s not too heavy for him. miss you auntie nat, make sure you visit us —

[𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐀. @DEADLYWIDOWSBIT]

"that's right. so you listen to him. every single safety rule, okay?"

a mini-clint. the youngest inherits the barton streak for chaos, but has discipline when it counts. the secret to why he learns so fast.

towel drops to the counter. dry hands. she transfers the phone to her +

[𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗲 @notthatbarton]

@donotastray — any kind of gun training he was practically a different child.

heading back over to where his mother stood, he waited patiently with a small nod.

“i’m ready.”

[𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗲 @notthatbarton]

“DAD!” voice echoing through the farmhouse.

@donotastray

[𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗲 @notthatbarton]

@donotastray the boy so usually full of childish energy approached carefully when his dad arrived, reaching out to take hold of the rifle in just the way he’d been shown many times before.

there were a lot of things he’d joke about, a lot of times he would play or mess around, but during —

[𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗲 @notthatbarton]

— come and help. sometimes i help dad fix the truck.”

realistically, what could an eight year old offer to the project? but he’d be happy to try.

[𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗲 @notthatbarton]

“dad says i’m really good, but guns are dangerous so i’ve got to be really careful. can we go shooting next time you’re here?”

nothing he would love more than spending time with his aunt doing one of his favourite activities.

“what project is he working on? maybe i could —

[𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐀. @DEADLYWIDOWSBIT]

a quiet chuckle slips out. listening to the boy's breathless rush of words. she steps back from the basin, just enough to peek through the doorway at the man still assembling the heavy bag rack.

"yes, i did. and he's doing good. just working on a little project for me." leans +

[𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗲 @notthatbarton]

@donotastray “okay dad.”

leaving the hallway in search of his mom, and once finding her, the pair heading outside and towards the area of the farm reserved for shooting practice in order to set up the targets ready.

[𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗲 @notthatbarton]

@donotastray “okay, i’ll get everything ready and meet you outside!”

for once there was a calmness, because even at his age he knew full well that guns were no joke and nothing to play around with.

[𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗲 @notthatbarton]

“i’m good, i’m going shooting with dad later so i’m excited. did you get home safe? how’s uncle bruce?”

of course, he’s starting with the immediate barrage of questions that usually accompanied every call.

[𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐀. @DEADLYWIDOWSBIT]

she pauses, soap bubbling between fingers under the drumming water.

a slow smile stretching across her lips.

"hey, champ. how are you, buddy?"

[𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗲 @notthatbarton]

@donotastray small footsteps running up the stairs, probably much louder than was strictly necessary.

“are we still going shooting today?”

[𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗲 @notthatbarton]

“hi auntie nat!”

a small laugh from him, knowing full well he wasn’t who she’d expected on the other end of the line.

[𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐀. @DEADLYWIDOWSBIT]

device wedged between ear and shoulder, scrubbing paint off her hands at the sink.

water drums against the basin.

"hey hottie, what's up?"

[𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗲 @notthatbarton]

@nomadlibertas — wide as if he’d just revealed the biggest secret known to man.

“You can’t tell her that! Promise you won’t tell her!”

[𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗲 @notthatbarton]

@nomadlibertas A nod of his head to show he was listening, genuinely interested to hear more.

“Dad always drives sensibly if I’m on the back.. but only when mom’s watching. Sometimes he goes really fast when she’s not here…”

A pause, quickly glancing back over his shoulder at Steve, eyes —

[𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗲 @notthatbarton]

he’s stolen laura’s phone (again) to call @DEADLYWIDOWSBIT

[𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗲 @notthatbarton]

@nomadlibertas — and confidently headed off towards the house as per the instructions of finding his father.

[𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗲 @notthatbarton]

@nomadlibertas There’s an immediate laugh from the boy, clearly comfortable in the presence of the man. Unsurprising really, considering who his father was.

“Deal! First question, did you ever ride a bike?”

Without even waiting for a response, he kicked the stand into place on the bike —