Something in you

My name is Kate Bishop, I’m 16 and I’m the adopted daughter of Derek and Eleanor Bishop. My adoptive father died during the Chitauri invasion which literally broke my mother. Since that day I decided I will become stronger in order to protect what’s left of my familly. I practised fencing, archery, and a high amount of martial arts. You probably think my childhood was pretty great, you would be wrong. No one knows even my parents don’t. 

It all began when I was 7, both of my parents were working really hard and couldn’t pay enough attention to me -we had households but they weren’t paid to take care of me- so they took me to one of my aunt and uncle -from my mother’s side- to pass the time while being surounded by familly and attention. I was going at their home each hollidays and week-end, sometime I would spend an entire semester with them without seeing my parents. At the beginning everything was quite normal, calmness, gentleness and a bit of authority here and there. After some time they began to be mean to me, never physically hurting me -I still went to school I had to be bruiseless- they didn’t need to, their words alone could have destroyed me easily if it was not for something or someone. Hawkeye ! I saw him that day during the invasion, I was 10 and I couldn’t stop thinking about him eversince. Without him knowing, he was keeping me sain, the thought of him alone made me stronger than ever. He was the light in the despair of my life and he still is. I always felt some kind of connection with him, someting I never felt for any other avengers or anyone else for that matter.

As the mean talk and daily harrassment weren’t working they decided to be more cruel. Each time I did something that displeased them -I think my mere presence displeased them actually- they had the habits of locking me in the cellar without light, food, drink and chamber pot. When this was not enough they had me strip naked and do all the chores while watching me, -don’t worry nothing sexual has ever happened to me, they were mean but not that mean- I couldn’t defend myself cause I was young and fragile, I couldn’t tell my parents they would never believed me. Moreover, since the death of my father, my mother completely abandonned me and her mother’s role, so I was still stuck with the other two while in parallel I trained harder to become the person that I am today, strong and independant and free of perpetual humiliations. I had to stay with them until my 14 birthday where I was considered old enough to stay at home alone and do my schoolwork while my mother was at work. 

At the age of 16 -some months ago- I asked my mother to be emancipated without telling her the real reason -didn’t want to disturb her already trouble mind even if she’s getting better an better, especially since she met that new guy Jack- she accepted and so did the judge. Now I Iive alone, free and with a dog who still doesn’t have a name.

Now that you’re aware of my background, let’s get to the real deal...I met Clint Barton, the light of my day, my favorite hero, my favorite avengers !! We’re actually working on a case together, we’re like partners ? besties ? Whatever it’s serious, it’s about...

“What are you doing ?” Ask Clint 

“I’m writing on my diary, I’ve got many things to write down.”

“A diary ? How old are you 12 ?” He doesn’t really know what to think of my childish behavior.

“Noooo ! I’m 22, I told you, how could I have a loft for myself if I wasn’t more than 18 ?” I don’t like lying to him especially since I feel this strong connection each time I’m near him, but if I tell him the truth I know he would ask more and the complete story of my unfortunate life and I’m just not ready to do it.

"Had a loft, don’t forget he blew up and now you live in the house of your lost aunt from your father’s side !” The sarcasm in his tone was evident for me so I don’t add anything and continued writting.

Sorry diary I was interrupted ! The case we work on is about some avengers and aliens objet being sold on a black market which is problematic when one of this thing is the Ronin costume that stired up some bad guy... [TIME SKIP ON THE DIARY] The further we work on the case, the closer we became with each other. He actually compliment me on my archery skills, something I’d never think he would do. I appreciate him a lot and I know I shouldn’t, he has a familly that he will rejoin once the case is solved. I don’t want to think about it though.

After joggsuit mafia fight

After having partly defeated them by fleeing in a subway I understod that the relation we have build together coudn’t stand that long anymore. His hearing aid is broken, trampled on actually which renders any discussions very complicated and one sided.

“Oh gosh I totally forgot to walk the dog, it’s been two days, I hope he is okay and hasn’t destroyed the appartment !” I tell Clint while being stressed and also ecstatic by all this new adventure.

“We’ll have to walk the dog, it’s been two days since he last go out the appartment, it’s a long time for a dog, let’s hope he is okay.” Says Clint watching me with so much seriousness having no idea I already mentionned this.

“You’re right !” I give him a thumbs up to make him understand that I hear him, even if I myself am not deaf.

Back at the apartment we each take a warm shower, eat dinner and disussed what we learn new about the case. I was in the middle of reading a report when I heard his phone ringing. I don’t really pay attention to it, until I hear it was on speaker and a small voice was talking.

“Hey babe, listen I can’t really talk to you right know heuu, cause...look do you have time to text ?”

I couldn’t let him like that, he seems rather distressed by all this, I took a post-it and write down little boy on it then poke his shouder so he could see what this is. 

“Nataniel ? What are you doing buddy ? Is everything okay ? Where is mama ?” He asks while looking at me expectantly. I couldn’t transcript everything so I have to choose the most important stuff such as everyone is asleep, he’s bored. “Oh you’re bored”. He laughs a bit, it’s obvious that he loves his familly so much, I’m kind of envious of them. “Yeah yeah you’re the early bird I I miss you ! Why don’t you go get some breakfast read a book or something until mama wakes up ?”

I continue to listen to the little boy while writting what I can to ease the worry of Clint’s face, home tonight for movies ? I know this one is gonna make him sad, it’s like a tradition in their family and he’s gonna miss it, partly because of me.

“Ah yeah it’s tonight the movie marathons that’s right, heu, I really wish I could be able to be with you buddy, you know how much I love that...well I’m not gonna make it bud, I think I’ll be back in the next day or so, I’ll be in time for our ugly christmas sweater party. You’re ready for that ?”

The boy, Nathaniel seems a litte sad by hearing it, I’m happy Clint couldn’t hear it, it would have certainly broken his heart, says it’s okay if you can’t be home for christmas.

“Heum, I’m gonna be here buddy. Hey you know I’m gonna be there like I said right ? I’m so happy to hear your voice ! Ok I just gotta go, I love you...I love you more. Good bye.”

Toward the end he has tears in his eyes, a proof of the amount of love he feels for his family. 

This morning I received a text from my mother asking me if I could come have lunch with her and Jack. She actually wants me to meet her boyfriend ! I don’t really have a choice, plus I love my mom and having been witness of Clint’s sadness yesterday evening convince me to go to this lunch. Since I’ll be out Clint would be able to go repare his hearing aid in the asian shop nearby, it’s a win-win situation.

The lunch passed really slow, This Jack...something is weird about him I don’t know what just yet. The fact that he might be with my mom only for her money, the fact that I saw him during the black market incident, and the fact that he had a small fight with Armand that night and he’s dead and there was some scottish caramel wrapper next to the body !!! Coincidences ? I don’t think so ! Calm yourself Kate, breath in breath out. Don’t say anything until there is proof. 

My mother talked about the importance of not being alone on christmas and all, I just thought about Clint all alone in the apartment, I got to do something.

I leave Jack and my mother to go buy christmas things. My arms are full so I have to use the ring for him to open the door

“Hey, it’s me, I come bearing pizzas and holliday cheer let me in.” He chuckles at my antic but open the door none the less.

We decorates the christmas tree, eats candies and watch some classic christmas films. At one point we begin to talk about our past, he talks about how he met Nat -it’s still a touchy subject so I don’t ask more- but prefers to ask me questions about myself and my family.

“How come you’re not closer to your mother ?” He asks me with full interest in his attitude.

“Things happened...when I was younger...plus she’s my adoptive mother maybe it adds more to it I don’t know.”

“You’ve been adopted ? Did you know this since you were a child ?” 

“Apparently my biologial mother didn’t want me and there was no father in the picture. All I know is her name was Melissa Forland an she died from drug abuse.”

Clint POV

This name pops in my mind like thunder in the sky, it’s sudden and it makes my spine goes stiff. Years ago I had a relationship with her, before Laura. She left me abruptly without explanations. I never succeed reaching her... And now her name reappeared in the mouth of a young girl...it can’t be...woud it be possible that you’re my... No you have 22 you told me that. My daugter Lila is 14, Cooper is 15 and Nathaniel is 8. I never cheated on Laura so you can’t be. Coincidence ? It has to be...

Return to Kate/Reader POV

The evening continues has if Clint hadn’t have the worst case of headache since long. The day after, I tell him we should go to my mother’s penthouse as she is the boss of a security agency, it would be easier to find informations we need thanks to her system without her knowing obviously.

We found what we were looking for but Jack caught up as well as my mother so i have to lie to her a tiny bit, explaining that Clint and I were partner on a case blah blah blah ! Before we could take our leave my mother wanted to have a word with him, I don’t know why. She lead him toward the elevator, press the button for the down floor, look him in the eyes while speaking to him.

“Let me clarify, she’s not a super-hero...”

“Yeah I know that, she’s pretty good and all that but...”

“Natasha Romanoff was pretty good at it wasn’t she ? Interupted my mother. Being good isn’t always enough to keep you alive.”

“I see.” Clint was going to enter the elevator when she calls him.

“Clint ? Do you have kids ? I’m gonna assume that you do. It’s been a rough week for my family but I’m letting you know that I can’t lose Kate, she’s only 16 ! I’ve lost people before. I know in your line of work you have too.”

“I understand.” Says Clint full compassion in his gaze. He then turns around, take the elevator and leave the penthouse while I stay a bit longer with my mother.

Clint POV

Did I hear this right ? Only 16 !? I have to be certain of this... I decided to go back to her aunt’s house and try to find remnant of her blood in the bathroom bin from a previous fight. I finally found some bloody gauze in it and call an old acquaintance right away.

“Hi, Doctor Cho speaking how can I help you ?”

“Hey it’s Clint Barton I have a favor to ask.”

“It’s been a long time ! What can I do for you ?” She seems happy to hear from me, since Thanos nothing was actualy the same, even if we succeed to bring back people.

“First you have to promise me to stay discret.”

“Clint, I worked for the Avengers an Shield in the med bay, I always had to be discret and keep secrets from others, you can trust me.” She says her voice calm and soothing.

“It’s a paternity test...I’ll come and give you all the samples you need, all I ask is for this to be top priority.” 

“Ok, come right now !”

I join Cho in her lab, she tells me I should leave cause even if it’s top priority it would take her some time, less than 2 days. I suppose it’s better than nothing.

We were both leading in the direction of Maya’s home the leader of the mafia joggsuit. I’m on the rooftop opposite her appartment while Kate is inside of it. It’s a strange feeling, entering the house of someone without the person knowing. She frisks everywhere and find what we were looking for but something is bothering her...those stupid light flashing in rythm without the music. I tell her to flee, it was an alarm for deaf people...which means Maya now knows of our whereabout. Kate turns around and she’s here ready to fight. Outside I’m not better cause there is someone else fighting me. After a lot of fighting on the same rooftop and a fall on Kate’s part, I discover that beside Maya the other one was actually a widow. Aware of this I decide to let Kate goes home and tell her to never come back because it became too dangeous. 

Early in the next morning, I get a call from Cho telling me the result of the paternity test. It’s positif, I’m her father !

Return to Kate/Reader POV

I came back home to my mother, I was crying out my soul. An other one leaving me all alone. My mother seems pretty please that I didn’t work with Clint anymore. I can’t bear the thought of loosing him... At least, I still have the dog, I know he won’t leave me. I fell asleep with sorrow in my mind hoping tomorrow would be a better day. [TIME SKIP ON THE DIARY] Today is an other day, I’m still sad, but not desperate, I’ll get better one day. I’ll stay with the dog, go on a park and sitting on a bench while watching him play with other dogs. That will be my daily program.

Meanwhile, Clint doesn’t know what to do with this piece of capital information. Should he tell her or not. He decides to call his wife Laura and explains everything to her, she has always been the wiser.

“Hey babe, do you have time to talk ?”

“Yes of course, kids are outside playing, what’s going on ?”

He explains her everything, from his meeting with me to finding out our true lineage.

“I’m lost, I don’t know what to do with this, with her !”

“Love, you were not aware of her existence, go talk to her it’s your daughter and you’re her father. Don’t let her go like so many people do ! I love you and we will love her. I’ll talk to the kids and we could meet after your case is over, hopefully before christmas ! ”

“You always knew what to say, I love you too babe !  Give kisses to the kids, talk to you later.”

After the phone call ends he search for her everywhere. He goes to her old loft but she wasn’t there. He goes at her work, at her aunt’s appartment, at a dinner... He was beginning to think that he will never find her ever again. He walks without knowing where to go, ending his path near a dogs park.

Once he enters he saw her on a bench, alone and watching her dog. He goes to sit next to her.

“You’re a hard young woman to find, I hope you know that.” Says Clint trying to be funny.

“You told me to go and never came back and now you’re the one searching for me ! What am I suppose to understand, that I grow on you ?”

“Kind of I admit. I did it to protect you not because I hated you. I know you’re not 22 which accentuate my desire to protect you from any arm. You worth more than your skills in combat, they don’t define you. You mean more to people than you think !”

“I don’t understand...”

“Listen, when you talked about your biological mother I was in chock cause I knew her...on an intimate level...”

“What does it mean ?”

“You’re my biological daughter, I didn’t know at first, you telling me you were 22 didn’t correspond but when your mom told me you were actually 16 I had to do a paternity test. I used some of your blood and mine to see if we were connected in a way. And we are.” The both of us have tears threatening to spill from our eyes. I’m so happy to finally found someone of my blood and him being Clint Barton, the one I felt an instant connection with since the first time I led eyes on him. It’s clearly the best day of my life ans this time I’ve got a good reason to never stop crying.