𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗲

"if you keep practicing? absolutely." the youngest barton child was already promising for his age. with the interest he was showing, purely the kid's own initiative, backed by supportive parents there was no doubt he would be out-shooting them all in no time. +

lips simply formed into a fond smile, always charmed by the boy she adored, wishing he wouldn't grow up so fast. "you're right, he is super strong." glancing back out toward the hallway where the faint clanking of tools has paused. she had just been reminded that the boy is +

"that's right. so you listen to him. every single safety rule, okay?" a mini-clint. the youngest inherits the barton streak for chaos, but has discipline when it counts. the secret to why he learns so fast. towel drops to the counter. dry hands. she transfers the phone to her +

a quiet chuckle slips out. listening to the boy's breathless rush of words. she steps back from the basin, just enough to peek through the doorway at the man still assembling the heavy bag rack. "yes, i did. and he's doing good. just working on a little project for me." leans +

she pauses, soap bubbling between fingers under the drumming water. a slow smile stretching across her lips. "hey, champ. how are you, buddy?"

device wedged between ear and shoulder, scrubbing paint off her hands at the sink. water drums against the basin. "hey hottie, what's up?"