Quill, Parchment, & Ink

Title: Decorating the Tree
Characters: Clint Barton, Ariana Barton, Tony Stark, JARVIS
Fandom: Avengers 2012
Series: Assassin Baby
Written For: Twelve Days of Fic Christmas
Prompt: This picture from tumblr
Summary: Clint and Ariana decorate a tree for Christmas in the Avengers’ Tower
Rating: PG
Spoilers: just for my series
Warnings: Ariana is too cute, Clint is a great dad, Tony has feelings
Disclaimer: No one recognizable belongs to me, not making any money off this.
Author's Note: So this I the bonus 12 Days story. It came about when someone linked me to this picture from tumblr and I just thought it looked like something Clint would be involved in.


One Year or so After the Attempted Chitauri Invasion

Ariana giggled, clapping her hands as Clint fired the last arrow into the staff he’d set up. “Yay, Daddy,” she called from where she was perched up out of the way. “More!”

“Nah, I think that’s enough, Button,” Clint replied. “It looks pretty good.”

Ariana crossed her arms as she favored Clint with a look not unlike her mother’s most stubborn. “More. Daddy.”

Chuckling, Clint lifted Ariana down from where she was sitting on top of the counter. “That’s way more than enough. I don’t think I can fit anymore arrows on the staff.”

She pouted but threw her arms around his neck. “I like it, Daddy. It’s a good tree.”

“Should we hang decorations on it now?”

“Yes, lots of decorations!” Ariana declared.





Tony wandered into the main room, his head bent over the tablet in his hands. “JARVIS, make a note to tweak the fuel mix ratio on the Bentley. I want…”

“Sir, I suggest you stop walking before you run into the decoration in front of you,” JARVIS replied.

“Run into…” Tony looked up from his tablet as he stopped moving. “Okay. Who the hell let Katniss decorate the tree?”

“I believe Agent Barton made the tree, he and Miss Ariana have not decorated it yet, sir,” JARVIS replied.

Tony tilted his head, looking at it from an angle. “But how?”

“By shooting the arrows into it,” Clint’s voice came from behind him. “Do you have an objection?”

“No just. Are you going to leave it like that?” Tony asked.

Clint grinned as he set a box down on the floor and then reached over his shoulder to swing Ariana to the ground. Tony was frequently amazed at how easily the little girl clung to her father and traveled from place to place. “Nope. We went to get the ornaments.” He opened the box, beginning to dig them out. “Are you putting them up, Button?”

“I need help, Daddy, to reach the high branches.”

“Of course.” Clint scooped her up as Ariana picked up a couple of the ornaments, settling her on his shoulders so she could reach the higher portion of the ‘tree’.

“What do you have there?” Tony asked.

Ariana twisted around to show Tony. “Mommy and Daddy. And Captain and Greenie and you, Unca Tony. And Thunder!”

“What now?” Tony asked.

Clint chuckled. “She has Avenger ornaments.” Clint took one from her hand, examining it. “These are actually pretty good.”

“Daddy.” Ariana tugged on Clint’s hair to get his attention. “Why isn’t there one for Uncle Coulson?”

“Well, I don’t know, Button. Guess we’re gonna have to see about finding one.” Clint motioned for her to put the others on the tree. When she was done, he swung her down. “What’s next?”

“JARVIS,” Tony said quietly as he watched Clint and Ariana continue to put decorations on the ‘tree’. “Let’s see what we can do about finding an Agent ornament for Ariana.”

“Yes, sir.”