shards - pietro maximoff

chapter seven ; arguments and apologies

Dahlia laughed at her concern. "I'm fine, Laura, I promise."

Clint cleared his throat and the two looked back at him. "Hello? Husband returning home here who at sill hasn't gotten any sort of recognition?"

Dahlia stuck out her tongue at him. "I'm her favorite, suck it up Clint."

Laura moved to embrace Clint, kissing him
on the cheek.

"This is an agent of some kind." Tony hissed to Thor.

"Gentleman, this is Laura." Clint introduced his wife to the men, who were standing very awkwardly in the doorway.

"I know all your names." Laura laughed and an awkward silence ensued.

"Ooh, incoming." Clint said as his son, Cooper, came bounding up to him.

Lila came running from the other room and before Dahlia knew what was happening, Lila had jumped into her arms and began rambling about practically everything.

"Auntie 'Lia! I missed you a lot, Momma said she didn't know when you were coming back, and not to get my hopes up, but I still did because Poppa says I have a problem with rule following so I got all excited even though no one else thought you were coming, but you're here!! I can't believe it, I missed you like..." Lila stopped to think of a big enough unit of measurement. "I missed you like how big the sun is!"

Dahlia chuckled and kissed the top of her head, letting Lila lead her away into the playroom.

"These are... smaller agents." Tony said.

Dahlia returned to the room, wanting to know all she could about the situation before she ran off with Lila.

"Sorry for barging in on you." Steve apologized.

"Yeah, we would have called ahead, but we were busy having no idea you existed." Dahlia hit Tony on the arm at his words.

"Yeah, well, Fury helped me set this up when I joined. He kept it off S.H.I.E.L.D.'s files. I'd like to keep it that way. I figure it's a good place to lay low."

"Honey, I missed you." Laura smiled.

Natasha stepped forward, touching Laura's stomach. "How's little Natasha?"

Dahlia scoffed. "I think you mean how's little Dahlia, but it's okay Nat, we all make mistakes."

"Shes... Nathaniel, or Darren. Haven't decided which one yet." Laura said quietly.

"Traitor." Nat playfully glared.

Thor left the house abruptly and Dahlia followed him out to the porch.

"Thor? Where are you going?"

"I saw something in that dream. I need answers. I won't find them here." Thor replied, looking up at the sky.

"Be careful, please. I'd like my best friend to return in one piece."

He smiled at her slightly. "Always, Lady Dahlia."

He spun his hammer and flew away, leaving Dahlia alone with the clouds in the sky.

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