Ice and Defenders: The New Age// Book 4 of the Frostbite Series

Safe House

The hum of the engine died down and I opened my eyes, the orange, rising sun shown in through the cockpit window. I raised my hand to shield my eyes, the light blue sky and sun-kissed clouds were replaced with trees as the jet landed. Clint reached up, clicked a button and the back hatch opened, revealing a large, rolling field surrounded by forest and in the middle of the field was a white farmhouse next to a small barn. Clint's home. I had been there a few times before to visit the family. It had been a couple of years since I had last seen them.

Clint left the cockpit and helped Natasha out of her seat, I slowly stood up and stretched my arms up. We filed off the jet with Clint leading the line with his arm around Natasha. I walked behind him and following me were Tony, Thor, Steve and Bruce. I inhaled the fresh air, another flash of the vision came to my mind and I shook my head.

"What is this place?" Thor asked as we walked up the porch steps to the house.

"Safe house?" Tony gave his unsure answer.

"Let's hope," Clint said to us before opening the door and stepping inside. 

I followed right after him, while the rest of the team hesitantly entered the house. The house was quiet and seemed empty, but I knew that somewhere Clint's kids were about to pounce. It had happened before. We walked into the living room, where a piano sat to our right and the kitchen was located to our left. 

"Honey?" Clint called out. "I'm home!"

"Iconic," I mumbled.

From the kitchen, a brunette, middle-aged woman entered the living room with children's paintings in her hand. I looked down at her belly to see it round with child. She looked at all of us, a bit shocked, as you would be when your husband comes home with six other superheroes.

"Hi. Company." Clint smiled as Laura approached him. "Sorry I didn't call ahead."

"Hey," Laura kissed him on the lips and hugged him.

Tony looked at us, dumbfounded. "This is an agent of some kind."

Clint turned to us with his arm around his wife. "Gentlemen, this is Laura."

Laura raised her hand and waved. "I... Know all your names." She smiled at Nat and I, and I waved back at her.

The men stood awkwardly, not knowing what to do in this situation. From the stairs we heard little, quick footsteps coming our way, we all looked to the direction of the sound. 

"Ooh, incoming." Clint turned to the doorway as a little girl and older boy ran into the room.

"Daddy!" The girl exclaimed as Clint picked her up and wrapped his arm around the boys neck.

"Hi, sweetie!" He kissed his daughter's cheek, Lana. "Hey, buddy!" And kissed his son's forehead, Cooper. "How you guys doing?"

Steve furrowed his brow in confusion. Tony tilted his head. Bruce crossed his arms and Thor squinted his eyes. 

"These are... Smaller agents." Tony pointed at the kids.

"Look at your face! Oh, my goodness!" Clint kissed Lana one more time before putting her down.

"Did you bring Auntie Nat and Ellie?" She asked.

Natasha looked up and smiled. "Why don't you hug her and find out, hm?" 

Lana ran towards Natasha, who picked her up and squeezed her with a hug. Cooper walked up to me and I kneeled down to do our "secret handshake", where we bump the top and bottoms of our fists, clap the front and back of each other's hand, tap our elbows together then we reach out, touch each other's cheek and say:
"Freeze."