UNKNOWN GUEST

#5 Another Redhead

Author's POV- 

Clint dried off the table after doing the dishes and joined Laura on the couch, where she was engrossed in a book. He grabbed her free hand and began to gently press the joints of her fingers, eliciting a contented hum from her. She smiled, glancing towards the hall, "Jason has been a great help. He's keeping Cooper and Lila occupied, otherwise, we would have to deal with them as usual."

Clint rolled his eyes, "As if I don't handle everything."

She chuckled, "You do, Mr. Hawkeye, I'm just acknowledging a fact."

He became quiet for a moment, then spoke, "I'm still not sure about the idea of having him with us for a few more days."

Laura rolled her eyes, "Seriously? You would let that kid travel to DC all by himself? I know kids these days are way smarter than we think, but you're a SHIELD agent. How can you not get the point? What if someone is watching him with you, then they follow him?"

He sighed, "Can't deny that. But—"

She cut him off, "No buts. He seems so... innocent? I don't know how to describe the feeling. It's just..."

She glanced at the hall again, seeing Jason busy with Lila as they played rock-paper-scissors. Laura sighed and continued, "He just seems familiar. Close."

Clint rolled his eyes, "Simply say that you're missing Tasha. And this kid is a redhead, so you're just feeling her around."

She smiled, "Maybe."

Just then, Laura's phone rang, and she laughed, "Speak of the devil."

Clint chuckled as she answered the call, "Hi, Natasha."

"Hi, Laura. You feeling any better?" Natasha's voice came through the line.

Laura smiled, "Yeah. Very much."

Natasha laughed, "I figured when Clint said he wouldn't make it. How are my favorite people doing?"

Laura glanced again towards the hall and saw Jason carrying Cooper on his shoulders while Lila tried to reach something in Cooper's hand. Laura smiled at the sight, "Your favorite people have found a new favorite person all of a sudden."

Natasha sounded confused, "What?"

Clint decided to elaborate, "I found a boy while coming home. Apparently, he was part of some play, so he was around here with his friends, but somehow got lost."

Natasha's tone turned suspicious, "So you sheltered a stranger? Are you insane?"

Clint sighed, "I know, but he's just a boy, and... he asked for help so desperately that I couldn't deny him. It's strange, but the kid looked trustworthy."

Laura chimed in, "Yes, Natasha. He seemed pure-hearted, so I even suggested he stay here until Clint goes on his mission to DC."

Natasha sighed, still not convinced, "So, he's from DC?"

Laura replied, "Yeah. And, you'll be surprised, he's a redhead, much like you."

Natasha sounded even more confused, "I haven't seen any redheads around here since I came."

Clint added, "I think that's why the kids got attached to him so quickly. They miss their Aunt Nat."

Natasha replied, "Alright. Tell those traitors that I'll visit soon."

With that, they hung up.

Laura set her phone down and smiled, "Well, that went better than expected."

Clint nodded, "Yeah, she's just being protective. But I think she'll come around once she meets Jason."

Laura glanced again at Jason, Cooper, and Lila, who were now engaged in a game of tag. "He's fitting in so well with them. It's like he's always been here."