The Potter household was alive with joy after dinner. Lila and Cooper darted around the living room with their arms overflowing with Christmas decorations. Harry had charmed some of the ornaments to float in midair, and Lila was delightedly chasing a mischievous bauble that kept dancing just out of her reach.
"Uncle Harry, it's getting away again!" she squealed.
"That's because you're not saying the magic word," Harry teased, crouching down to her level with a playful grin.
"Please!" Lila shouted dramatically, causing Natasha to chuckle from where she was untangling a string of lights.
"That'll do," Harry said and magically the bauble floated into Lila's waiting hands.
Meanwhile, Cooper was perched precariously on Clint's shoulders, holding a star high above his head. "Higher, Dad!" Cooper insisted, giggling as Clint pretended to wobble.
"Kid, if you want to go any higher, you would need your Uncle Harry to float you," Clint whined as his hands steadied Cooper as he placed the star atop the massive Christmas tree in the corner.
Laura, standing nearby shook her head with a fond smile. "You're just stalling so you don't have to hang up the garlands."
"Uncle Harry, can I fly?" Lila asked.
With a wave of his hand, Harry gently lifted her off the ground, her delighted giggles echoing through the living room. She floated over to the bannister, carefully hanging a string of glittering tinsel along its length.
"This is so much better than using a ladder or riding on Dad's shoulders!" Lila exclaimed, throwing her arms out and pretending to swim through the air.
"Let's not give her too many ideas," Natasha warned, smirking as she adjusted a wreath on the wall. "Next thing we know, she'll be asking for a broomstick."
"I'll take that under advisement," Harry quipped, lowering Lila safely back to the ground as she twirled in midair.
As the last ornaments were hung and the tinsel shimmered in the night lights, Harry stood back, surveying the living room with a satisfied smile. "I think we've outdone ourselves this year," he declared.
"Speak for yourself," Clint said, pointing to a crooked ornament. "That's definitely on you."
Harry smirked, with a tiny flick of his hand, the ornament righted itself, and Clint let out a mock groan.
"Cheater," Clint muttered, but he was grinning.
Natasha clapped her hands lightly, drawing everyone's attention. "All right, kids, time for hot chocolate and cookies in the kitchen. Let's give the adults some time to finish up." The kids cheered and darted toward the kitchen, leaving Harry to clean up the mess with his magic.
This was the first time that both the Bartons and the Potters were spending Christmas together. Usually, Harry and Natasha spent the holiday season in England, where they celebrated with the Richards and attended the New Year's Ball at Harry's old army base.
However, this year with Harry's new role as Chairman of the Stark Industries Board of Directors, his schedule was packed, and the demands of the position meant that for the first time, they had to forgo the army base tradition. Instead, Harry was obligated to attend the Stark Industries' New Year's party. Pepper had insisted, rather firmly, that he make an appearance for the entire event, especially since it marked his inaugural year in the role.
Natasha had been grumpy about the change for weeks. She'd been invited to the Stark Industries event as well, but it wasn't the same. She loved spending New Year's at Harry's old army base, hanging out with his squadron, and sharing stories with people who had come to genuinely value her presence beside Harry. Their warm acceptance, especially the way they rallied around the couple after their engagement, made her feel like she truly belonged in that part of Harry's life.
By contrast, the Stark Industries crowd was not as welcoming. Some people at these events couldn't seem to let go of the idea of what might have been if Harry and Pepper had been a couple. It gnawed at Natasha's insecurities, even though she knew better than to let it. Harry had been patient with her feelings in the past, but he was no longer as forgiving after the short break up that they had. "Grow up and sort it out, Nat," he'd told her once when her whining about Pepper had reached a tipping point. And she couldn't fault him for that. She knew she was being immature.
Despite her initial frustration, Natasha found solace in spending the holidays with the Bartons. Watching the children light up as they decorated the Potter home made her heart lighter. This wasn't the holiday she'd imagined, but it was still good.
As the evening wore on, the Barton kids, tired from hours of laughter and excitement, began to yawn and rub their eyes. Laura and Clint gathered them up with gentle smiles, ushering them upstairs for a round of bedtime stories and warm hugs. During that time Natasha whipped up a batch of spiced rum punch. The blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and citrus filled the room, mingling with the faint scent of pine from the beautifully adorned Christmas tree.
While Natasha was busy in the kitchen, Harry approached her, slipping an arm around her waist. She leaned into his touch, resting her head lightly against his shoulder.
"I know this isn't quite how we imagined spending the holidays this year," Harry began. "And I'm sorry I couldn't take you to the UK like we usually do. I know how much you love seeing Charles, Dorea and the old squad and how much they love seeing you."
Natasha let out a soft chuckle, tilting her head to glance up at him. "They do love me, don't they? It's almost as if I'm more popular than you are."
Harry grinned. "Don't let it get to your head, Romanoff."
Her laughter bubbled up before she grew more thoughtful. "I won't lie, Harry. I missed going back, seeing them, and being part of the traditions you've built there. But this?" She gestured to the cosy room behind them, the faint echoes of laughter from earlier still lingering in the air. "This is special too. It's our first holiday season as an engaged couple, and spending it with the Barton family isn't so bad. I mean we are honorary god-parents to the kids after all."
Harry tightened his hold on her, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple. "Not so bad at all," he murmured. "You're right. It's different, but it's still ours. And I suppose I can tolerate Barton's terrible jokes for the sake of seeing you smile like this." Natasha chuckled as she continued to work on the hot rum punch.
Once the children tucked in, the adults reconvened in the living room. Once everyone was settled, glasses of rum punch in hand, Laura turned to Harry with a look of concern. "How are you holding up, Harry? With everything on your plate?" In the past few years, Harry's life had undergone a whirlwind of changes. Consulting for S.H.I.E.L.D., fighting alongside the Avengers, and now stepping into the demanding role of Chairman of Stark Industries' Board of Directors. All of it, while still finding time to occasionally work at the café. It was a balancing act that even a wizard might struggle to maintain.
"I'm managing," Harry said, offering her a reassuring smile. "Thanks for asking, Laura. It's a lot sometimes, but I've got good people around me to help keep things steady."
Clint leaned back, smirking as he swirled his drink. "If things ever get too crazy, I'm sure his magic could whip up a clone or two. Imagine, Harry in two places at once problem solved."
"If only," Harry said with a chuckle, shaking his head. "My magic doesn't work like that."
The comment drew laughter from the group, but Clint wasn't about to let the moment slide. "Yeah, thank god," Clint said, grinning mischievously. "Otherwise, Natasha here would have her own personal Harry Potter clone tailing her everywhere. Honestly, Nat, can you tone down the 'I miss Harry being next to me' spiel? It's getting to be a bit much."
Natasha's face turned an uncharacteristic shade of pink, and before anyone could say more, she grabbed the nearest pillow and launched it at Clint with precise aim. "You're insufferable," she muttered, though the corners of her mouth twitched into a smile.
Clint ducked, barely avoiding the flying pillow. "See? Violent tendencies. I rest my case," he quipped, earning a laugh from Laura.
"So, Harry," Natasha drawled, clearly eager to steer the conversation away from Clint's teasing. "Any leads on AIM yet?"
Harry let out a sigh. "After five months of digging? Finally, yes, but it's been maddeningly slow. Tracking anything about James or what he was involved in has been like chasing shadows. His records after leaving the army? Completely wiped. And AIM? It's like they're the ghost of a ghost. No website, no public-facing information. Honestly, they're so hidden it feels like they're auditioning to be the next Bond villain organization."
"Sounds exhausting," Laura said sympathetically. "So what's the progress?"
Harry leaned forward, dropping his voice conspiratorially. "Get this: their CEO, Aldrich Killian, came to Stark Industries today. Walked right through the door to pitch his 'revolutionary' Extremis project to Pepper."
Clint raised a brow, leaning back into his seat with a smirk. "Wait, so you've been scouring every nook and cranny of the world looking for AIM, and they just waltz right into your office? That's some detective work, Potter. Top-notch."
Natasha rolled her eyes at Clint's quip while Harry shot him a mock glare. "Very funny. But it's not Stark Industries that has a history with AIM."
"Then" Clint asked curiously.
"It's Pepper," Harry replied dramatically. "Apparently she was Aldrich Killian's PA back when she started her career. Apparently, the guy had a thing for her. Spent more time trying to charm her during the meeting than explaining his pitch. I felt more like a third wheel than an attendee."
Laura chuckled. "Sounds awkward. So did she have any useful info on AIM?"
"Big time," Harry said, a spark of excitement in his tone. "Pepper being Pepper, she's got backups of everything she's ever worked on, and JARVIS sent me all the files she had access to during her time there. Looks like I'll be spending a lot of time sifting through them for clues."
Natasha gave a satisfied nod. "Looks like your first big break."
"Yeah," Harry agreed, though Clint was quick to pipe up again.
"You know," Clint said, grin widening, "it's hilarious. You've been chasing AIM for months, but all you had to do was check your own living room. Really makes you wonder about your observational skills, doesn't it, Mr. Wizard?"
Harry shot him a dry look. "Oh, ha ha. Very clever, Barton."
"But seriously," Harry continued, "what really raised a red flag is how obsessively secretive they are. According to Pepper, all ex-employees have to sign these ironclad NDAs, so much so they can't even list AIM on their résumés. They get a fat severance package and instead list a shell company as their former employer. That level of secrecy screams 'something to hide.'"
"I'm sorry I haven't been able to help with your investigation, Harry," Natasha said regretfully. "The issue with SHIELD runs deeper than any of us could have anticipated."
"Yeah," Clint agreed, leaning forward with a frustrated sigh. "This whole 'SHIELD being infiltrated' thing? It's so covert that we can't even catch a whiff of it. There is not even a lead we can chase down. We've got no way of knowing who's compromised and who's not, and it's driving me nuts."
"I've been trying to help too," Laura chimed in, her tone equally frustrated. "With Clint and Natasha bringing scraps of intel home, I've been sifting through it all, trying to spot patterns. You know, put my old counterintelligence skills to use. But nothing. No signs of external influence, no clear evidence of tampering. If SHIELD's been infiltrated, whoever's behind it is an expert at covering their tracks."
"Are you sure about this hunch of yours, Potter?" Clint asked skeptically.
Harry sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Honestly? I'm starting to doubt myself too," he admitted. "My instincts are screaming that something's wrong with SHIELD, that it's been compromised. But we can't trace anything. No evidence, no leads, nothing to confirm it. I don't know who's behind it, when it started, or even how deep it runs. It's like chasing shadows."
He paused, his gaze dropping to the swirling amber liquid in his glass. "I'm not used to feeling like this. And every day without answers feels like a day closer to something catastrophic happening."
Laura comforted Harry. "Hey, don't beat yourself up. You're asking the right questions, and that's more than most would do."
Natasha chimed in softly. "We've all been chasing shadows lately, Harry. If it is there, we'll find it. And if it's not well, at least we'll know."
"I don't even know what to believe anymore," Clint admitted, his voice heavy with exhaustion. He stared into the fire as the flickering light cast shadows across his face. "After the whole mind control thing I don't even know if I'm still me."
Laura's gaze softened as she shifted closer to him, but she didn't interrupt, sensing he needed to get this off his chest.
"I feel different," Clint continued. "There's this constant paranoia, this gnawing anxiety that never goes away. I'm hyper-aware of everything. Every sound, every shadow, every movement and it's exhausting. The only time I can focus, the only time I feel even remotely like myself is when I'm holding a bow. It's like the rhythm of it, the draw, the aim, the release, gives my mind something to latch onto so it doesn't fry itself from the sensory information overload."
Harry tilted his head as his brow furrowed in thought. "Doesn't that actually make you better at your job being more attuned to your surroundings?"
Clint let out a dry chuckle, but there was no humor in it. "Yeah, it does. On a mission, it's definitely an asset. But once the mission's over?" He shook his head, his fingers tightening around his glass. "The paranoia doesn't stop. It's like there's this constant voice in the back of my head, whispering that something's out there, waiting, watching, ready to strike. I wonder, in my paranoia, if will I go on an uncontrollable killing spree just to shut all the voices in my head. Then there is the guilt of everything that I did when mind-controlled and I worry that I might just lose myself again."
Natasha reached out, resting a hand on Clint's shoulder. "That was not you, Clint. That's what Loki did to you."
Clint glanced at her, his expression unreadable for a moment, before he sighed. "Maybe. But sometimes, it feels like the line between what's me and what's not is blurred."
Harry leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "You're one of the best people I know, Barton. The fact that you're even questioning this proves you're still you. And I promise, if there's anything out there trying to get you, it'll have to go through me first. Plus I have made sure that there are no lingering elements in your mind."
Clint gave a small, grateful nod, though his expression remained sombre. "How can you say that when you still can't access certain parts and memories of my mind while I was mind-controlled, Harry?" He asked.
Laura reached over, her fingers curling gently around Clint's hand. "Maybe you should think about retiring, Clint. If you're feeling this unsure about things maybe it's time to step back."
Clint looked down at their joined hands, his thumb absently tracing small circles on hers as he considered her words. "I wish I could," he admitted after a long pause. "But this thing with SHIELD, it's eating at me. I owe Fury and SHIELD so much. To think that something's festering inside it, something rotten..." He shook his head, his jaw tightening. "It makes my blood boil. I can't just walk away. Not until we've rooted it out."
Laura's expression softened further, but the worry in her eyes didn't fade.
Natasha chimed in reassuringly. "Right now, we need Clint more than ever. But I promise you, Laura," she said, meeting her gaze with unwavering determination, "I'll make sure he comes back to you safely. Always."
Harry's eyes were thoughtful as he observed the exchange. "If you need help managing the stress in the meantime," he offered, "I've got some calming draughts I brewed up when I was in Asgard. They've been a lifesaver for Bruce."
Their conversation was interrupted by the sudden chime of the doorbell. The group paused, exchanging puzzled glances.
"Were we expecting anyone?" Harry asked, his brow furrowing.
Everyone shook their heads, Natasha and Clint instinctively straightening as if preparing for an ambush.
The doorbell rang again, this time more insistent, the sound echoing through the house. Harry rose from his seat, his wand slipping into his hand out of habit as he made his way to the front door.
He opened it cautiously, only to be met with the sight of Pepper standing on the doorstep, her composed demeanor replaced by visible anxiety. Her hands were gripping Tony's arm, attempting to steady him. Tony, however, was trembling uncontrollably, his face pale and drawn, his breath coming in shallow gasps.
Harry blinked in surprise. "Pepper? Tony? What—"
Pepper cut him off. "We need to come in. Now."
Without another word, Harry stepped aside, gesturing for them to enter. As they crossed the threshold, the warm, festive atmosphere inside the house seemed almost jarringly out of sync with the tension radiating off the pair.
Both Pepper and Tony looked like they were dressed in their nightwear.
Natasha and Clint exchanged quick, concerned glances before joining Harry in the entryway.
"What happened?" Natasha asked, her voice calm but laced with urgency as she crouched down in front of Tony.
Pepper swallowed hard, her eyes darting between Tony and the others. "I... I don't even know how to explain it," she admitted, her voice cracking slightly.
"Pepper," Tony rasped, his voice hoarse as he shook his head weakly. "It's okay. Just give me a bit of time and I'll explain everything to Harry."
Author's note:
As per my initial plan of 10 chapters per arc, I thought we would be at the end of Thor Dark World by now. But that's still far far away. I like to think that Barton is the man who is most affected by Loki and Hydra. He is the one who has the most to lose. And now that they are actively searching for Hydra, he would be facing a lot of psychological issues regarding this. As for Loki's after-effects. I didn't even consider Barton and, like in the movies, I thought he would move on. But my editor reminded me that we should explore Barton's state of mind too. Who wouldn't feel uncomfortable with being mind-controlled? What did you guys think?
With only one subscription tier for $5, you get complete access to the library and up to chapter 187 of this story. So, if you want to read ahead, check out my P.A.T.R.E.O.N @Bivz643.