Login with:

Facebook

Twitter

Tumblr

Google

Yahoo

Aol.

Mibba

Your info will not be visible on the site. After logging in for the first time you'll be able to choose your display name.

Can't Handle This

Chapter 17

Pamplemousse ran up to Bruce and tugged on his sleeve excitedly. "Did you see it? Did you see it?" she asked quickly.

"Yes, I did," the scientist replied with a smile as he took her hand in his.

"That was the biggest turtle I ever saw!" she exclaimed with a smile.

"That is nothing compared to the large aquatic mammal we witnessed an hour ago!" Thor bellowed. "What is that creature called?"

"It's called a whale, Point Break," Tony added as he strolled quietly at the back of the pack. "It's what this place is known for."

"And did you see that shark!" Pamplemousse added as if she didn't even hear Thor or Tony. She looked up at Bruce who, in turn, looked back down at her. "It was almost as big as you when you're grumpy!"

CJ howled with laughter as Bruce blushed slightly, feeling a little ashamed that the Other Guy had been brought up. “That’s true," he said sheepishly.

"But I like you better," Pamplemousse added as she snuggled close to him, feeling tired all of a sudden. "You're the best daddy ever."

Bruce effortlessly picked up the young girl and carried her on his back. He was surprised that she had managed to stay awake this long. The whole gang had spent the entire day at Sea World and the surrounding area moving from one place to the next with all kinds of excitement and energy.

All the Avengers and company filed on to Tony's private jet. The billionaire followed directly behind Bruce, who was still carrying the now sleeping Pamplemousse on his back. "Best daddy ever, huh?"

Bruce gave a small smile. "She probably didn't mean to say 'daddy,'" he replied. "She knows better than that."

"She doesn't have a father figure," Tony quickly interjected. "That's kind of the reason why adoption was created."

****

Toni held a hand of cards as she sat directly across the small airplane table from her father. "Got any sevens, Thor?"

"I do not," the god replied. "Go fish."

Toni took a card and looked at the remaining cards in her hand.
"Brother!" Thor bellowed as quietly as possible, so he wouldn't wake Pamplemousse or Bruce. "Do you have any fours?"

"How many times must I tell you that I am not playing that game?" Loki asked coldly as he inched his way towards the miniature kitchen. “I will not associate myself with such foolery.”

“Then what’re you doing?” Toni asked as she squinted over at Loki.

A devilish grin spread across his face as he opened the fridge. “I am proving to the young one that I am indeed the best.”

Toni sighed and shook her head as she turned back to her hand of cards. She squinted at the cards and moved them closer to her face.

“Having trouble?” her dad asked with legitimate concern.

She sighed again and shook her head. “I’m just having trouble reading the cards.”

“Maybe you need glasses.”

“What are these glasses you speak of?” Thor asked. “Certainly glasses are for drinking, not seeing.”

Toni and Tony chuckled to themselves as they continued to play their game.

****

“I can’t believe I lost her as quickly as I found her,” Clint mumbled to Nat.

“I know it’s not easy,” she replied as she poured her friend a glass of water. “But I’m sure it’s for the best. I don’t think Tony could’ve handled you dating his daughter.”

“But Nat, I really do care about her. I just don’t know how to show it.”

The Russian spy sat next to the archer and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. “I’m sure everything will turn out okay. Just give it a little time.”

“I’d hate to see her with anyone else.”

“Welcome to my world,” she muttered bitterly.

Clint looked up at his lifelong friend and saw the lost little girl she had been trying to hide from everyone all her life. It was then that he realized what she meant. “Nat, I’m sorry. I…I didn’t realize…”

She shook her head and stood up. “It’s not a big deal. I knew it would happen eventually.”

Clint stood and pulled her into a hug, holding her as close as he could. He could feel her warm tears through his t-shirt as she hugged him back.

“It killed me to see you chase after her,” she mumbled into his shoulder. “I wanted nothing but to be her. But it killed me even more to see the two of you split up so quickly. I felt like I had been the wedge that drove you apart.”

“Shh,” he muttered softly in her ear. “It’s okay. It wasn’t your fault, I promise.”

The two S.H.E.I.L.D. agents stood there in a warm embrace, wishing things could be this easy again.

****

Loki crawled over to where Pamplemousse and Bruce were sleeping with a bottle of whipped cream and a long, elegant feather.

“Loki?” Toni asked from the table. “What are you doing?”

The god of mischief uncapped the bottle and shook it a couple of times. He leaned away and put a large pile of the creamy goodness on the young one’s hand.

“That kind of thing usually backfires,” Tony added as he set down a couple of cards in his discard pile.

Loki, still leaning away, started to tickle her nose with the feather, trying not to giggle.

Like Tony had predicted, the Asgardian’s prank backfired. Instead of wiping her face with her hand, she rubbed her t-shirt sleeve across her face and accidently put the whipped cream covered hand into Loki’s face.

The god shouted an Asgardian curse in frustration, which caused Bruce to startle awake and Pamplemousse to stir uneasily.

Her eyes fluttered open and saw Loki standing right next to her. “Loki?” she asked sleepily. “Why do you have whipped cream on your face?”

Loki sighed and hung his head. He opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Pamplemousse licking the cream off his face.

“What?!” he shouted. “What was that?!”

“Rule number 13, don’t waste perfectly good whipped cream,” Pamplemousse said as innocently as possible. “Right, Brooke?”

Brooke gave a thumb’s up as she exited the kitchen with a cup of coffee. “Righto.”

“Do you ever stop drinking coffee?” Steve asked from the other end of the aisle. “I feel like every time I see you, you have a cup in your hands.”

Brooke opened her mouth to retort when Loki stood up looking infuriated. “I’ve had enough of this ridiculousness!”

“Cool your tits, Frosty Paws,” Brooke practically hissed at Loki. “You don’t need to get all pissy because your plan backfired.”

Just then, Clint and Tasha entered the room as everyone fell completely silent. After just standing there for a few minutes, Clint finally broke the tension. “Well, this is hawkward.”

Toni tried, but failed, to hold back giggles and pretty soon, she was full on howling with laughter. One by one, all the others in the room joined in, feeling free and happy after a long couple of days.

Tony looked at his daughter who returned his gaze. This was the freest the genius ever felt, and it was, essentially, because of her.

Comments

Chapter 28 is sad because Cj says "Let's just say I've got red in my ledger and I physically cannot wipe it out.". That's sad because Natasha says that in Avengers.

Natasha Barton Natasha Barton
10/17/16

I am going to cry. Natasha is my favorite Avenger and SHIELD agent. I've always looked up to her character. I almost cried during chapter 25 and got some weird looks from my family. Well they don't understand so if they have a problem then they can suck it.

Natasha Barton Natasha Barton
10/17/16

MAJOR SPOILERS! Unless you finished chapter 24

OH MY GOD!!!!!!! NATASHA"S DEAD!!!!!!!! AND SHE HAS A SISTER?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Natasha Barton Natasha Barton
10/17/16

CLINT SAID HAWKWARD!!!!!!!!! THAT"S AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!! BEST PUN EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Natasha Barton Natasha Barton
10/17/16

Are you planning on continuing in a sequel?

Anonyme_Amour Anonyme_Amour
3/20/14