ATTF: Little People!

[jacedesbff.livejournal.com]

NOTE: I am going to talk extensively about the fics “Make the World Brand New” by whiskeyinmind and “Only Human” by anuna_81 which shall include huge, whopping spoilers. You’ve been warned! :-)

I was inspired to put forth this topic by two stories that took very different yet equally unique takes on the whole “little people” trope. The first is Make the World Brand New, by whiskeyinmind, written for anuna_81 for Secret Santa 2013. In it, the first time Natasha sees Clint, 11 years before he actually brings her in, it’s because she set up a trap for SHIELD with the sole purpose of handing her newborn baby girl over to them. She wanted the beautiful baby she knew she was about to have to be brought up in a good place instead of in the Red Room so she took steps to ensure the desired result. I love that the entire concept of this fic is that Natasha, young as she was when forced to have a baby by the sick puppies at the Red Room despite all of the conditioning they tried to twist into her, knew that her baby deserved better. She knew that and she acted on it, no matter how terrifying it was. She knew how to be a mom.

Second – Only Human by anuna_81. I’m going to point out upfront that one of the underlying concepts of this particular story is actually kind of douchebaggish on Natasha’s part, although Clint does admit later that he could have put a stop to it if he had wanted to. A long time ago, the Red Room made Natasha miscarry a pregnancy and she never really got over it. After she and Clint become a couple, she comes to want a child with him but can’t really put it in words to herself, and she at-first-unconsciously-but-then-not manipulates them into no longer using birth control (which is the fairly douchebaggish part.) When she admits to it (because she doesn’t get pregnant and has a mini-meltdown), he tells her he pretty much knew what was going on, and she apologizes. Then they decide together to work to have a baby. It’s a beautiful story about her reclaiming her body in defiance of those who would try to dictate to her what she could and could not do with it.

I love the idea of one or both of our favorite assassins coming to decide they want a child. Now I also like a good “unexpected kid!”fic, because you know, I like me some babies in general, but what about when it’s a purposeful thing? All kidding aside, I don’t think the Red Room, unless they were the ones behind it, would ever allow one of their assets to go on maternity leave. That’s just who and what they were. But to quote Jurassic Park, nature finds a way. (See Miracle by Frea_O to read a particularly awesome take on that take on how our OTP ends up with child through a bizarre series of biological mishaps – it’s pretty freakin’ awesome.) What makes two people with their kind of background decide that children are a good idea? Would they? Children being a purposeful thing isn’t a common trope, so I’m going with the thought that most of us don’t think most of the time that they would do that. What would change that and/or inspire it? What about when the pregnancy is unexpected? What brings them around to thinking it’s an okay idea (or do they come to that?)

So what do you think? What prompted this was the concept of trying to have kids, but again, the associated question is what do they do when children come when they’re not trying (‘cause we all know it happens!)? I’m sharing some of my favorite examples below. Please share yours, and feel free to throw in some comment fic!

[Edit: the awesome fic "Only Human" is by anuna_81 and *posted* to head_on_home. :-) ]

Things to remember:
1) Always label NSFW (Not Safe For Work) stuff in the title and post under a cut.
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4) Have a damn good time! (Because if that’s not happening then this post has clearly failed.)



Make the World Brand New, by whiskeyinmind. See above!

Only Human by head_on_home. Also see above!

Assassin Baby series by shanachie – in my own personal headcanon, this series is the sequel to Only Human (but really – it’s just in my head.) At one point we learn that Ariana was planned for and not an accident; it always seemed a natural progression to me (and it's a great series.) :D

5 Times Clint Woke Up in the Middle of the Night + 1 Time Natasha Did by SidheRa – to me, this is the epitome of the unexpected pregnancy fic. It’s the one against which I still measure all of the rest. Just is. :D

Someday, Maybe by Starrika – Natasha’s thoughts throughout the film given that she just found out she’s pregnant.

Miracle by Frea_O – I mentioned it above but wanted to list it again b/c I really do love it! The attackers mentioned throughout the fic, by the way, are referred to as Big-Ass Ugly Bugs. Worth it for that moniker alone. :D
“Baby on a Mission fic” – written for the Secret Santa 2013. Fresh take on “them with a baby” in which it’s not that they have a baby, but rather that a baby is needed for a mission. Heh!

Assumptions by jacedesbff (is it tacky to include my own fic??) – they don’t have a child, but by the end of it, Clint (and it’s implied Natasha) changes his mind about whether or not he would be willing to, and I like that journey. I just read another one that ends with that same concept, and I can’t for the life of me remember where I read it. *facepalm* Anyone??

After the War by ashen_key – World War II ficlet. Gotta be careful about those wartime hook-ups! Seriously, though, I love this little snapshot that hints at a huge movie’s worth of coolness behind it. (I keep telling ashen_key she needs to explore it more!)

I know there are many wonderful examples I am leaving out. I hope you lovely bar denizens will take up the slack. :D

Comments

[alphaflyer.livejournal.com]

Too tired to say anything coherent or thoughtful right now, but isn't "Only Human" one of anuna_81's? "Head on home" is the community where it was posted. I may be wrong ...

Interesting topic -- I admit to being scared by kid!fic although I do read them (if they don't turn our assassins into OOC woobies, that is). I've read all but the last one you recc'd, and they are certainly top of the line! :-)

[anuna-81.livejournal.com]

Yuuuup, Only human is my baby (ehehehehe!). One of my favorite things that I've written :D i'm really happy when i see people remember it, especially because i was pretty much bashed for that fic.

[alphaflyer.livejournal.com]

"Pretty much bashed"?? All the comments under that post were gushing praise, as far as I can see ... it is lovely, I must say.

[happilydancing.livejournal.com]

Whatttt???? I LOOOOOVE that fic!!! I LOOOOOVE Natasha in that one too...she wasn't being malicious. She was just...human. And Clint knows that. I love fics like this b/c I don't think its out of the realm of possiblity with her background and abuse that she would always be thinking as rationally as someone who was raised in a middle-class secure home. Her reference points for so many things are going to be different. That's what makes her so admirable to me, to see her functioning so well (relative term), figuring things out...this woman is all about growth and discovery and that's not going to happen without a few hitches here and there.

[jacedesbff.livejournal.com]

You were BASHED for that?!?! First of all, as evidenced by my use of it here, I love that story!! And while I see that Natasha goes about things in a less-than-stellar manner, I agree with the comment that it makes sense given her background. I love her in that fic. :-)

*mutters and shoots evil glances at the haters*

You go, girl! It rocks!!

[jacedesbff.livejournal.com]

Finally fixed it! :-) I posted last night because I knew I wouldn't be able to get on much in the early part of today. Thanks for the heads up!

Glad you liked the recs. I shared my favorites. :-)

[hufflepuffsneak.livejournal.com]

My god, I'm pretty sure I have cavities after reading some of those recs.

I've said this before, but I really enjoy stories where Clint and Natasha adopt or foster kids, because they are each other's found family, and to me it makes sense to expand that with a kid who needs them.

[franztastisch]

Adoption yes. I love the idea of them adoping kids. But even more, I love the idea of them adopting older kids - like 13+ or something. Partly because I like the idea of everyone having a choice in the matter and partly because I myself am not so big on little kids.

[jacedesbff.livejournal.com]

I have a new chapter mostly mapped out in my head for "Assumptions" in which Clint and Natasha bring home their two wards from the boarding school they are at. Everyone learns about their kids, and the kids are taken into their lives. It's not something I've ever written before, but I'm pretty excited about it. Of course now I have to sit down and actually WRITE it, but that's the plan. :-)

[frea-o.livejournal.com]

I think I called them "Big-Ass Ugly Bugs" because I was writing on Christmas Eve and didn't actually want to put any work into the story, but I'm laughing that this is apparently a draw to read that sucker. Thanks for the rec, and for the other recs! I will give a detailed and thoughtful reply when I have slept and because it is nearly 3 a.m., consumed massive amounts of oversugared coffee.

[jacedesbff.livejournal.com]

I LOOOOOVE that fic. Seriously, one of my favorites. :D Because I do think that the Red Room would sterilize their "assets", because they are frakking evil. And I thought that was an incredibly inventive and - within the setting of The Avengers - completely believable manner in which this could come about. Love it!!!

[happilydancing.livejournal.com]

Wait, wait...I didn't read this one. Must rectify!

[franztastisch]

I'm not a fan of kid fics personally, but I'll read them occasionally. Mainly I feel that neither would want kids enough to make in a reality - based on their work, their own childhoods and their personalities etc.

However, as I said above, I love the idea of them adopting older kids for some reason. See Not A Day Goes By (Not A Single Day) by _samalander for many of the reasons I like this idea, even though it's AU.

[spyforaday.livejournal.com]

Honestly, kids scare me. Really scare me. Even my two gorgeous, sweet, (way too) smart, energized nieces. I give my sister and brother-in-law -- and anyone out there who came to the conclusion that they want kids -- all my respect and admiration. I knew from a young age that that rite of passage was not for me. So that's probably why that genre doesn't appeal to me. BUT, if a story is well-written, generates lots of buzz and gets rec'd on this site -- you better believe I'm giving it at least a peek at the first few 'graphs just to see if it catches my interest.

As for our fav assassins, my puny little mind can't conceive of a situation where, no matter how much they love each other, they would have a baby. Logistics, terrible pasts, unknown futures. It just seems like too much to overlook. However, I love the idea of them secretly being involved in kids-related organizations to help out kids in bad situations. Foster programs, funneling money, getting kids out of abusive homes, kicking the butts of deadbeat dads. THAT makes me happy.

[jacedesbff.livejournal.com]

I love fics with that approach. And it's probably more ACCURATE. My favorite thing is when an author is able to make them wanting and/or having children come across as believable. I definitely agree that it's a hard sell. When it's done well, I love it. :-)

[happilydancing.livejournal.com]

I really like kidfics...I have two little ones of my own and when its tough its the toughtest thing out there --ok, being in the Redroom or coming from an abusive household or being a SHIELD agent or an Avenger is probalby tougher--But like it really does a number on you. At least it did a number on me. So I like the idea of this thing turning their lives around...suddenly priorities are going to be way different. I can see how that doesn't appeal to some people, but I think its interesting to read how they would make it work.

Also, they would have some gorgeous children. That is reason enough for it. ;)

I also like the few fics I have read with Clint having older kids...a couple he had an adult aged daughter, which for some reason I could just see as a possiblity.

The kid fics I'm not fond of are the ones that the characters don't seem like Clint or Natasha...like they can be any Joe and Mary with their kids living happily ever after.

[jacedesbff.livejournal.com]

ITAWTC. :-) I love when authors really sell the idea of them having children.

AND they would indeed have some BEAUTIFUL children. :-)

I really hate when fics are written and it's like the author just used the names but the characters have nothing to do with *these* people. So yeah, ITA. :D

[anuna-81.livejournal.com]

Eeeeep, paint me guilty for writing a ton of these - kids and babies in fics, it's something I love to write about, not because it's OMG happy happy fluff, but because I believe nothing makes a person stretch and bend and change like having a child does. I also love writing families and family dynamics and all the happy and hopeful, good things that come with that. I've written quite a few baby fics for this couple (I started writing for this fandom with a big ass baby fic), and they're a pairing where you can take baby scenario in many different directions and discuss if they would have a child, how that would affect them, what they think of themselves as possible parents etc. And I think I've tried out few different approaches - certainly more than I've done with any other pairing I was writing for. I love the first C/N fic that I've written, but I think that the one I'm most proud of is Learning to play the song in my heart (http://archiveofourown.org/works/801909/chapters/1511339) - in which it's Natasha who has a kid (not Clint's kid), in less than ideal circumstances, and Clint is along for a ride as a supportive friend whose emotions are turning out to be surprising and unexpected. Their relationship changes and Clint changes along and I really love how this journey was hard for him (but not because he was jealous - things are more complicated) but at the end it turns out good. Like, really really good. :D

Few recs? Let's start with honestly (the lies will happen later) (http://archiveofourown.org/works/509585) by ashen_key - in which Natasha talks to her day old son, and she's never been more terrified.

Pregnant silence (http://archiveofourown.org/works/861448) by ABeconingCat - Clint has been deafened during a mission. Natasha has something to tell him. Gorgeously written :)

Pacing (http://archiveofourown.org/works/973326) by ABeconingCat - few days before Natasha's due date she and Clint retire to a hotel, to spend some (final) time alone and face their own hopes, fears and expectations regarding parenthood. This is probably my favorite C/N babyfic ever. Highly recommended!!!

[happilydancing.livejournal.com]

I LOOOOVE PACING!!! It is hilarious. And I love how Clint calls Nat "Kid". You know their daughter will go through a phase where she calls her mom "Kid" too lol.

[wizbey.livejournal.com]

I think kid fics can be written wonderfully but for them I have a hard time seeing it. At the same time if it's written well I'll read it and love it. I don't know if any of that made sense.

I am kind of in love with the idea of Natasha and Clint taking in Kate Bishop. Because that would be awesome (especially when she's older). I don't actually know if something like that exists but I would totally read it.

[happilydancing.livejournal.com]

There is one fic where Kate is actually Clint's daughter. I thought that was an interesting twist! But she wasn't Hawkeye, she was in finance I think.

[jacedesbff.livejournal.com]

I read one - no idea where it is - that was A Knight's Tale AU. The very, very end had them meeting Kate in an orphanage at the end and you knew they were going to take her with them. It was a nice ending. It wasn't developed as it was the end to the story, but still, it was very nice. It like the idea, though, of them taking her in when she's a bit older. Very nice. :-)

[hufflepuffsneak.livejournal.com]

It totally made sense. I love your icon, btw!

And yes, I can totally see an AU where Clint and Natasha take Kate in. For me, a lot canon Kate is shaped by her wealthy background, or avoiding how to be shaped by that, and how she deals with that, so it's interesting to think about how or if her character would change.

[alphaflyer.livejournal.com]

I think kid fics can be written wonderfully but for them I have a hard time seeing it.

Pretty much this. Why when I was prompted to write a kid!fic in this year's Secret Santa, I ended up with a rent-a-kid. Silver Bells (http://archiveofourown.org/works/1121312) -- charting their (respective and ultimately positive) responses to this little life they'd been entrusted with, without having to suspend my disbelief high enough to think that a kid would fit into their lives permanently.

[crazy4orcas.livejournal.com]

When I first ran across a Clint/Natasha kid!fic, I was pretty skeptical, but I also don't have any trouble suspending my disbelief if a fic is well-written and Clint and Natasha are still Clint and Natasha. So, I gave it a shot and was blown away by how good it was and it set the bar exceptionally high for any others, it was Kobayashi Maru (http://archiveofourown.org/works/465017) (mature rating) by anuna_81 and it's AMAZING, seriously amazing. Anuna also has a few others set in this same universe.

My own headcanon has Natasha not able to have children because of the Red Room program. But I do like the idea of Clint and Natasha looking at adoption or fostering.

So, I guess my basic stance is: if it's well written, I'll read it and love it. :)

Another really good one is Chosen Family (http://archiveofourown.org/works/647816/chapters/1177622) (explicit rating) by eiluned, it's an unexpected pregnancy fic.