Clint x Daughter! Reader |Threat| WW

Needless to say, you weren’t particularly thrilled. After a dozen make-up artists and twice as many dresses were circulated through your temporary room in the Avengers Tower, you were dolled up for a party you had no intention of attending.

Tony stated it was mandatory all the Avengers show up, and being Clint’s daughter it was only natural you had to make an appearance as well. There were a couple “bird guys” you could talk to, in reference to Rhodey (whom had no connection to birds, save for flying), and Sam (who had a pair of wings similar to yours,  but hadn't made them like you).

Due to your intelligence being on an entirely different level, you opted not to speak with them. So you huffed to yourself, sitting by yourself as you watched the others socialize with a total lack of interest. Your dad was chatting with someone a ways away, which you were fine with.

’There’s absolutely nothing to do here.’ You thought to yourself with a groan, resting your cheek in the palm of your hand with the most bored expression you could muster. Maybe Tony would take pity on you and let you escape.

“Maybe I can just run off…?” The thought crossed your mind, but it didn’t stick. Mostly because it was interrupted by someone else.

“I doubt it. Tony Stark’s a stickler for keeping his guests entertained. He doesn’t appreciate it when they leave early.”

You glanced around the room, searching for someone who might be communicating with you. It wasn’t until a finger tapped your shoulder that you realized who it was.

“Hi.”

A young man, dark hair and dark eyes, stood above you, head cocked in a playful manner. He didn’t seem much older than you, which piqued your interest. Your eyes narrowed as you gauged him, straightening yourself up.

“And how would you know about Stark’s parties?”

“I’ve been to a fair share of’em in my day.” The boy responded, coming to sit in the chair across from you. “He’s an old family friend. My folks got invited to this kind of stuff all the time until they got tired of it. I still enjoy a good hoe-down though, so I figured I’d accept the invitation to this one.”

“...Huh. I wasn’t aware Tony had ‘old family friends’.” You repeated with a suspicious tone that made him chuckle.

“There aren’t many of them, trust me. I’m a relative of Helen Cho. You should know her, since she sort of saved your dad’s life not too long ago.” He told you, and the thought of seeing your father lying on the table with some weird machine building a new chunk of flesh on where a hole resided. Not your favorite memory.

“Funny, not too many people know that.”

“Like I said, I’m a relative. Aunt Helen tells me just about everything she comes across. Real excited about the fact her tissue generating machine worked, y'know.” He mused, before turning his attention back to you, “But enough about them. I wanna hear more about you.”

You snorted. “I’m sure you would. Nothing gets that across better than a weak pick-up line, right?”

“Hey, who said anything about a pick-up line?” He raised his hands in surrender with a grin. “I was just wondering why a girl like you would be down at a party like this. You know, it's hosted by a billionaire? Only the best of the best allowed?”

“Uh-huh, sure. And what did you mean by ‘a girl like me’? You’re hitting on me!” You called him out, making him laugh.

“No, I’m not! I just meant, like, you’re young, and you’re pretty, and-”

“Hitting on me!!” You repeated, making him laugh harder. He tried to wave his hands and shake his head, the tiniest chuckle escaping your lips.

“I swear, I’m not. I just thought it was weird another young person wouldn’t enjoy a huge party.” He gestured around, and you followed his hands. In the background, your eyes locked with your father who was standing on the other side of the room and apparently been watching you interact.

’He doesn’t look particularly thrilled.’ You thought to yourself, noting how he looked away when you raised an eyebrow at him. You brushed it off, returning your attention to the handsome teen smiling.

“I’m just not a big fan of parties.” You explained simply, leaning back in your seat, “Never been fond of the noise. Well, that, and...I’ve never actually been to one. Kind of hard to enjoy when you’re not sure what to do.” You joked with a hint of bitterness in your tone.

“Whoa, seriously? How’ve you never been to a party before? You can’t know Tony Stark and never go to a party.”

“We haven’t known each other very long, trust me. A couple weeks, at best.” You assured him, making him quirk an eyebrow himself.

“I guess that explains it, then. How’d you two meet?”

“Oh, that’s a bit of a story…” He continued to ask questions, and you continued to answer them, though your answers grew shorter the more personal they became. His countenance was always friendly, but you could’ve sworn there was something off about him.

People didn’t just approach a strange kid sitting by herself, not unless they wanted something. And you highly doubted he was looking for a new friend. You were eventually saved by his watch beeping under the sleeve of his jacket, and he paused mid-question.

“Uh-oh. I think it’s time I took my leave.” He stated, standing from his seat and approaching you. “It was nice meeting you, uh…”

“Oh, um...Marigold.” You lied quickly, feeling a sudden twist of your gut that maybe these personal questions weren’t exactly the kind a newly met person should be asking. Better safe than sorry.

“Marigold.” He repeated the name, the smile broadening on his lips. He extended a hand for you to take, giving yours a quick shake. “My name’s Yong Soo. It was nice to meet you. Hopefully it won’t be the last time.” He shot a wink at you before leaving you be, apparently walking towards Helen to leave.

“I knew you were flirting with me.” You muttered under your breath, watching the mysterious boy disappear. It was strange for him to ask your name before he left, and you didn’t feel like endangering yourself by giving him your real name.

Besides, maybe you wouldn’t ever meet again. You hoped and prayed that’d be the case, particularly when Clint walked towards you with a tense expression on his face.

“So,” He started, sitting beside you, “Do I need to shoot the walking hormone before he gets too far or what?”

“No, Dad.” You shook your head with a small chuckle, “Maybe do a little research on him, though.”

“Already on it.” He held up his phone, and sure enough the name “Yong Soo” was being run through the archives. You stifled a full-on laugh at the sight.

“I heard you could be protective, but I didn’t think you’d take it this far so soon.” You told him with a brilliant smile he was happy to return.

“I told you I’d keep you safe and I meant it. No matter how cute you think the threats are.” He added, making you roll your eyes.

“Sure, he was ‘cute’, but not my type. Trust me, he seemed a little...too pushy for my tastes. Whatever my tastes even are.” You said, referencing the fact you literally had no romantic experiences with anyone, whatsoever.

Clint nodded curtly, a small frown dipping onto his face when he read between your lonely lines. He came forward and took your hand, lifting you from the seat to wrap an arm around your shoulders. “Don’t worry about it too much, Whip.” He assured you, walking towards the party people. “It’s not worth it to date until you’re in your thirties, at least.”

“Now that’s too late.” You looked up at him, protesting, “Tony said I could start dating whenever I wanted, and then Bruce told me at least until I was 18.”

“Now that’s too early. Boys are in their sexual prime at 18, and I’ll be damned if I let you get involved with one at that age.”

“Fine, we'll compromise later.” You waved a hand dismissively, finally smiling for the first time since the party started. Suffice to say you would be glad when it was over.

To be honest, you were more than happy when it was. It was rare you got to spend some time with all the Avengers, after all. You sat quietly next to your dad, who had found a pair of drumsticks (somehow), and was showing you how to twirl them around your fingers.

“It’s easy. All you do is flip it.” He had explained with a chuckle, watching you fail after multiple attempts. A smile was on your face regardless of his teasing, the lot of you in good spirits after the hefty party.

“You’re making that up.” You dismissed him over the musings of the team, who were interested in the hammer Thor set on the coffee table.

“How’re you gonna leave your realm’s ‘most powerful weapon’ lying on a table?” Tony gestured to the hefty thing, and Thor shrugged as he dropped onto one of the chairs nearby.

“I am not concerned. It’s not as if one of you could take it.” His response sent a rumbling through the group, a grin breaking onto your face when you sensed a challenge in the making. “Only I can lift Mjölnir.”

“Not true! What about that prophecy your dad made?” You pointed out, making your own father scoff beside you. “You don’t think it’s true?”

“‘Whosoever, be he worthy, shall have the power’, whatever man!” He laughed, nudging your shoulder, “It’s a trick!”

“It is more than that, my friend!” Thor grinned, “But by all means, if you would like to try…” He waved a hand at the hammer.

“What, really?”

“Come on, Dad! You should give it a try.” The mischievous sparkle in your eye almost convinced him to try, but it wasn’t until everyone else on the team cheered him on that he gave it a shot. And after about six seconds of tugging, it didn't budge.

“Told you it’s a trick.” Clint muttered before coming back to your side. You put a mock-comforting hand on his shoulder, watching the rest try.

“If I get it, I’ll be reinstituting Prima Nocta.” Tony said before giving his try. You leaned over to Clint, asking what it meant. He responded with “Don’t worry about it. Tony’s gonna have an arrow where the sun don’t shine in a minute, though”. You decided to look it up later.

Bruce and Steve gave it a try, too, to no avail. Natasha declined, and all eyes turned to you. Immediately sensing where it was going, you went into full-on escape mode.

“...Don't even think about it.”

“Come on-”

“-I’m not trying it-”

“-You made your old man do it, now it’s your turn-”

“-Okay, but I’m a rebellious teenager. I do what I want!” You giggled, rising from your seat, “And I have decided that I suddenly need to use the restroom. I’ll be right back.”

“Wimp!” Tony called after you, earning a drumstick to the head. “Don’t throw your stick around at me, Clint!”

“Don’t insult the man’s kid.” Agent Hill cut in, making you smile once more before leaving them be. You headed down the hall, deciding a little detour would be nice. After all the excitement of the evening, you could use a breather.

You walked along the corridor appreciating the gentle silence. The group’s laughter grew quieter, mere background noise as you traveled further and further away.

’I love you guys, but man can you make a lot of noise.’ You think to yourself with a shake of your head. You head for the lab, deciding it’d be a good place to chill.

Besides, you had work to do; your mother wasn't going to find herself. They didn’t let you in the last few days for reasons unknown, and now that most everyone was drunk and distracted, you had the perfect opportunity. While you were curious why they kept you out, you were more concerned with finding Christa. Though you couldn't deny the questions eating at you about their secret work.

It was strange for them to keep things from you, after all. You weren’t one to tell secrets and while they had theirs, you knew most of them already (thanks to the super brain that lets you hack things).

“...You’re different from the rest of them, aren’t you…?”

A soft, robotic and dangerous-sounding voice suddenly caught your attention from the dark down the corridor. You whipped around, eyes wide. That didn’t sound like anyone you knew. It was an intruder.

“I...heard about you. You don’t have anything tying you down to...anyone. No...strings.”

“Who are you?” You boldly asked, taking a protective stance in front of the perpetrator. A  suspicious, rusty clanking echoing louder the closer they came.

“I’m nobody. Nothing, not now. But, soon...I’ll be something. I’ll be something big.” A jagged steel hand snapped around your throat, and you choked out a yelp. A pair of eyes suddenly flickered to light, inches from your face.

Arc reactor glow had never looked so menacing.

“Wouldn’t you like to help me?”

“L-let me--”

“Go? Oh, no. No, no, no...it’s too late for that.You don’t have strings, just like me. I think it’s time to set us...free.”

It was when your vision blurred you saw Tony’s androids crawl out behind the one holding your throat. Your heart pounded wildly, knowing you were in danger. Your friends and family were in danger. And you couldn’t do anything about it.

~*~


“It's biometrics, right? Like a security code. ‘Whoever is carrying Thor's fingerprints’ is, I think, the literal translation.” Tony joked, hands in his pockets. Thor just shrugged when the others chimed in, stepping up to the hammer that barely moved on the coffee table (he made a mental note to keep Steve away from it).

“Awww, come on.” Clint laughed, while the others jeered around Thor.

“That’s a very, very interesting theory. I have a simpler one,” He picked the hammer up with a smirk, spinning it in his hand, “You’re all not worthy.” His statement was met with a load of groans, which only made his smug grin worsen.

That all stopped when a loud, screeching sound pierced the floor. Steve cringed, everyone immediately on the defensive. That didn’t sound like a pleasant, simple technical difficulty kind of sound.

“No...worthy? How could you be worthy?” And that wasn’t a pleasant voice. “You’re all killers.”

“Stark?” Steve glanced at said billionaire, who couldn’t look away from his malfunctioning creation. He called for JARVIS, but there wasn’t a response.

“Sorry, I was asleep. ...Or...I was a dream…” The droid continued to speak, which only made everyone more uncomfortable. Clint instinctively reached for his gun, deftly like the other agents who carried theirs. Of all the times to leave his bow and arrows downstairs.

“Clint.” Natasha whispered fiercely, “Where’s (Name)?”

He tensed. It didn’t take much to see you were nowhere to be found. His grip tightened on the gun, and his jaw clenched. "I don't know." He murmured, scanning the room for any sign of you. His heart pounded when he realized you were gone.

Tony tapped his phone, looking a little more nervous than he was willing to let on. “Reboot, we got a buggy suit.”

“...There was a terrible noise… And I was tangled in… In strings. I had to kill the other guy…”

“You killed someone?” Steve’s question made the spies exchange an intense glance. It took all of Clint’s willpower not to jump on the robot.

“Wouldn’t have been my first call. But, down in the real world, we’re faced with ugly choices.”

“Where’s (Name)?” Clint demanded, taking a step forward. The suit turned to face him, its glitchy arm jolting as it moved towards his form. Every Avenger turned to look at him too, realizing that the girl was nowhere to be found.

“‘(Name)’? She’s that...girl. The one who’s got no attachments to any of you. No data...nothing. Special little thing. I like her, you know...smart kid. Real smart. Don’t know how she got tangled up with the likes of you, but…” He signaled behind him, “I’ll be sure to take care of anything you might have poisoned her with.”

The moment the words came out of his mouth, a second android appeared, stepping up behind its spokesman to reveal you, dangling from its hand. You looked terrified, struggling in its grip. His face paled at the sight.

“Dad…!” You whispered, staring at him with fearfully wide eyes. Clint’s heart dropped. They had his baby bird.

“Let her go.” He demanded fiercely. Clint tried to move forward but Natasha held him back, particularly when the robot’s other hand came to close around her head. “Let her go, now!”

“Ah-ah, no brash moves.” The lead droid said in an almost mocking tone, “I’d hate to waste a brilliant mind. That, and I don’t think you want to see her...splattered all over the place. It’s a real nice room and I’d hate to mess it up.”

If only Clint could get his hands on them. Nat stared at him, feeling him shaking under her grip, cold sweat beading on his forehead. The entire team was visibly tense, knowing one wrong move could spell the end for their little genius.

“Who sent you?” Thor questioned, hammer ready in his hand. The robot didn’t move, playing back a very familiar voice as if it were a recording.

”I see a suit of armor around the world.”

“Ultron.” Bruce breathed, earning the attention of all his teammates. The robot seemed to nod, the one behind him jerking forward. You fought against its grip, letting out a strangled yelp when its fingers closed tighter around your neck. What Clint would give to rip it apart.

“In the flesh. Or, not yet. Not this...chrysalis...but I’m ready. I’m on a mission.” Ultron declared, facing them all evenly.

“What mission?” Natasha asked coolly as possible, though it didn’t last.

“Peace in our time.”

The words hadn’t left its mouth before three more robots burst out of the wall and launched themselves directly into the team. Clint leapt to the side, narrowly escaping one of the careening bots while Steve protected himself via coffee table.

The rest were scattered in a lame attempt to defend themselves from berserk AIs. Clint flipped on his side, eyes wide as he searched for you among the chaos. Standing next to Ultron, watching the scene unfold it held onto you. He swallowed thickly, moving to avoid taking a hit from the formless droids.

“We have to get (Name) out of there!!” He shouted to his teammates, not before firing solid rounds into the face of one of the robots, which seemed unfazed by the attack. Tony leapt onto another and God knows what was happening with the rest.

“Workin’ on that!” Tony called from his insane ride, popping a strange pen open and aiming for the neck base of the robot. “Just give me a-- second--”

“We don’t have a second!” Clint argued, just when another droid came flying straight at him. He jumped out of the way before impact, sending himself through a glass pane and working real hard to get himself back together despite shards of said glass digging into his skin.

He was much more concerned with how you were doing. “Hill?! Nat, I need some help!!” He said, pushing up from the floor and searching for you.

“D-Dad, run--!” You called to him, hands clawing at the fingers around your neck. He stared straight at you, realizing you were very quickly losing consciousness. Your face shouldn’t be turning that color.

“I’m not going anywhere.” He muttered to himself, slipping around the wall and moving straight for the pair of robots. His gaze fell on a patriotic shield that could do plenty of damage if he used it just right.

Without a second to lose he snatched it up and rushed for the robot holding his daughter. “Hope you don’t mind if I borrow this a second, Cap.”

And with that he slammed into the one holding you, effectively sending it smashing into Ultron. Its clutch on your neck snapped away, and he caught you before your feet could even touch the ground.

“(Name)? You okay?” He asked, trying to get a look at you. You weren’t moving, and that had sent up a red flag. Unfortunately he didn’t have the time to check.

“Now that’s just unfair.” Ultron said, locking on Clint and moving to take him on. Clint held you away from him, trying to defend himself as he held the shield he barely knew how to use, let alone throw with you in his arms. “You’re the one with the arrows. Who told you to switch up the game?”

“The same freak who tried to kidnap my daughter.” He growled, backing away. Ultron paused, its head jerking to the side.

“Daughter?” It repeated, locking its cold gaze on your body as if thinking. “There aren’t any records of her being your...spawn. It seems I miscalculated...what a shame. No matter…she’ll still be useful to me. All I have to do is take her.”

“Don't bother trying.” Clint snapped. The robot chuckled at his threat, taking a determined step forward. “You don’t get to touch her.”

“'Don't' is a strong word, don’t you think? I prefer ‘might’ or ‘will’, but if you’re unwilling to negotiate then-”

The bot was cut short by a hammer slamming into its skull, sending its body careening into a pile of parts on the floor. “You think...that’s all it takes to finish me off? Just wait, boys…” The lights flickered, “I’m only getting started.”

A haunting rendition of Pinocchio’s stringless song echoed in the compressed, glitchy comm of Ultron’s body before it stopped completely. The droids were finished, and everything was silent, save for the heavy breathing of the team.

“What...just happened?” Steve managed to ask, all of them stunned beyond belief. Clint didn’t focus on the event, more concerned with the child not moving in his arms.

“It had to be a software malfunction, some glitch in the coding, I’m not sure. That wasn’t...that wasn’t what we planned.” Tony said to Bruce, the pair visibly shaken. Thor turned to look at them both.

“This was your doing?” He demanded with the intent to pin the blame on whoever instigated the mess. “Why would you create a monster like that? You nearly cost the lives of innocent people!”

“We’ll pin the blame later, boys.” Natasha moved past them, jogging up to Clint, “We’ve got more important things to worry about.”

You were slowly coming to, fingers curling around Clint’s suit as he settled you to the floor. Your eyes cracked open, finding a very worried Hawkeye staring at you. His hands were on your face, ghosting over your body in search of injury.

“...Dad…”

“You okay, (Name)? You had me scared for a second,” He said darkly, “You passed out. I didn’t know if you were coming back or…”

“Now’s not the time to talk like that.” Nat touched his shoulder, offering you a small smile. “Do you have any idea what’s going on?”

“N-no...I just ran into them...at the lab. They must’ve come-- ow...out.” You choked out, and Clint’s hand came to your throat. He grimaced at the sight of dark, almost black bruises across your neck. Immediately he turned his attention to Tony.

“What did you do??”

“I thought we agreed to pin the blame later.”

“You almost got my daughter killed by those psycho robots! What were you thinking?!” Clint shouted, making a beeline for the billionaire with the intention to clock him. “(Name) could’ve died!!”

“But she didn’t-”

“-Don’t give me attitude, get over here so I can kick your-”

“-Dad, stop!” You grabbed his arm, pulling him back with surprising strength. He whipped around, borderline infuriated you would try to stop him. “It’s not worth it. He didn’t make a psychobot on purpose. Right?” You looked past him to Tony, who nodded vigorously.

You breathed out a sigh, letting him go. “It’s over, for now. We should figure out what’s going on and maybe get my neck looked at, because it hurts to talk.” You added, touching your throat gingerly.

”We aren’t going to do anything. You’re going far, far away from here. There’s no way you’re going anywhere near those freaks.” Clint said lowly, taking your hand. “The rest of you should get started figuring out what just happened and where that thing went.”

“There’s no way it just up and died. It was AI, which means it’s most likely hopped somewhere else.” Bruce figured, still shaken from the strange event.

“Like the Internet.” You figured, one of the very few places it could go from an internal computer. Clint guided you away after your contribution, saying talk less and walk more.

“Worry about Tony’s freak malfunctions, later. We need to get you fixed up. Then we’re getting you out of here.” He added, making you sigh.

“We’re not going to see…her, are we?” You mumbled, in reference to that Laura woman he’d told you about. Clint kept walking, hand tight around yours.

“If you’re talking about Helen Cho, then yes. She’ll be able to take care of those bruises.”

“Wait, Helen’s here?”

“Where else would she be?”

“But Yong Soo said he had to leave...with Helen…”

“...I don’t think Yon Soo is Yong Soo.” Clint replied gruffly, shoulders even more tense than before. “We’ll worry about it later. Let’s get you taken care of, and then get you somewhere safe.”

“And where would that be?” You asked, tone filled with dread when you knew what he was talking about. He paused in front of the infirmary, Helen already preparing to get you fixed.

“The farm, where our family lives.”

“We own a farm?”

“We do now. Laura holds down the fort while I’m here on missions. And apparently, saving my kid from being taken hostage by crazy Stark droids.”

You visibly wilted at Laura’s name. While you felt an internal hatred burning for Tony, considering they were his Iron Men who got you hurt and in this mess, the dread in your heart overtook that. You had to meet your “new mom”, and siblings you never knew you had.

Great.

“Here I was hoping I’d become an Avenger.” You muttered to yourself as Clint helped you onto the examination table. “I’m guessing my chances have been slashed, now?”

“You never had a chance to begin with, sweetheart.” Clint said simply, still gripping your hand even after Helen came to check you over. A pout crossed your lips.

’Guess that means I’ve got to put a hold on Operation Find Mom.’ You thought bitterly, making a mental note to pack up all your evidence until later. Using Tony’s computers during your lab breaks had furthered your search at a fantastic rate.

Now that you were being sent out of the Tower to live with a bunch of strangers, you knew your research would come to a standstill.

“Don’t worry, (Name). I’ll get you fixed up in no time. Looks like you suffered some major bruises from that android’s hand, but I think you’ll be okay. Nothing some disinfectant and bandages can’t fix.” Helen pulled you from your planning, and you offered a weak smile.

“Good.” You managed, kicking your legs back and forth. Despite the sudden change, you’d find your mother. Christa, wherever she was, would be found and you could finally have your family back together again. “By the way...you wouldn’t happen to have a nephew named Yong Soo, would you?”

“Yong Soo?” She repeated, brow furrowing, “No, I’ve never heard the name. Is it someone you know?”

“Uh...no, not particularly. Just figured I’d ask.” You replied, sharing a look with your father. “Guess boys really aren’t worth my time after all.”

“Told you so.” Clint grumbled, making you chuckle. “That kid wasn’t even that good looking.”

’Wasn’t that trustworthy, either.’ You thought to yourself, before letting Helen finish her work. Whatever was going on, it was strange.

Lying boy, kidnapping via freaky AI and now, you were being sent to a stranger farm. Not the best Friday you’d ever had.

And it was just getting started.

~Ende~