As the details of the meeting were discussed, everyone went back to drinking and eating. The large living room in Tony's mansion felt warm and relaxed. Plates of food still sat on the tables. Glasses clinked as people refilled drinks.
The team had saved the world. They deserved a moment to breathe.
Kakashi sat in a corner chair and watched the scene quietly. His eyes stopped on Thor. The Asgardian was gulping down beer after beer without pausing. Empty bottles already formed a small tower beside him.
'Truly an Asgardian physique is on another level,' Kakashi thought with quiet amusement. His attention then focused on Natasha.
Natasha walked over to Pakkun with a small bowl of milk. She placed it on the floor and started rubbing the pug's belly. Pakkun rolled onto his back and purred loudly like a cat. His little legs kicked in the air with pure happiness.
Kakashi stared in embarrassment.
'You are not a cat, you stupid dog,' he thought. 'I am sure she is just trying to get information out of Pakkun. She probably wants to know what my face looks like under the mask.'
He was not worried, though. Pakkun was the leader of the ninja hounds for a reason. The little pug was smarter than most humans and twice as stubborn. Natasha would end up telling him more secrets about herself than he told her. And Pakkun would still get all the belly rubs he wanted.
'She has finally found her match,' Kakashi thought with a hidden smile under his mask.
'Speaking of Pakkun, I should check up on Cosmo and see how she is doing.'
His thoughts moved to Cosmo. He had signed a summoning contract with her before sending her to the ninja hound gathering ground.
The pack had welcomed her warmly. Most of the male dogs were especially happy to meet a powerful female. Cosmo could use telekinesis, and that made her special even among summons.
'She will be good for the pack,' Kakashi thought. 'She seems to enjoy the company too. And one day, her puppies with the ninja hounds might be born with good amount of chakra, telepathy and telekinesis. The bloodline of the ninja hounds will grow stronger. They will protect themselves long after I am gone.'
He felt proud thinking about the future of his old friends.
He had already sent a message to the Asgardian ship. Loki was on Earth and had escaped. The ship could return home.
One final task remained.
Kakashi stood and walked over to Clint, who was drinking beer and laughing with Creel.
"Hey, buddy," Kakashi said. "Come with me for a minute."
Clint looked confused but followed. "Sure. What's up?"
They stepped into a quieter side room.
"Remember when you said you wanted a mission partner like me and Pakkun?" Kakashi asked.
Clint's eyes brightened. "Yeah! You found someone?"
Kakashi nodded. "I made a summoning contract for him. Sign it with blood, and you can call him the same way I call Pakkun. You have enough chakra for summoning this guy."
Clint looked excited. "Really? That's awesome!"
Kakashi started to warn him. "The thing is, this guy is—"
"I'll do it!" Clint said quickly. He was too eager to wait.
Kakashi smiled under his mask. 'You will regret interrupting me soon. Let's hope you two get along for your sake.'
He produced a summoning scroll and handed Clint a kunai. Clint cut his finger without hesitation and pressed a bloody print on the scroll.
Kakashi showed him the hand signs.
Clint copied them perfectly on the first try. A puff of white smoke filled the room.
When the smoke cleared, Howard the Duck stood there. He wore a tiny suit, held an energy blaster in one wing, and had several guns strapped to his body.
"QUACK!" Howard shouted dramatically. "Howard the Duck is here! Bow to me, mortal!"
Clint stared at the duck.
"A duck? A talking duck?"
Howard looked Clint up and down with clear disappointment.
"Huh. You are my human summoner? You don't look like much. I expected better after seeing the feats of my saviour, the masked man."
Clint crossed his arms. "Excuse me? I just saved the world from aliens."
Kakashi wanted to point out that Clint did not actually do so. He was unconscious and before that he was being mind controlled.
Howard snorted as he noticed the bow strapped to Clint's back. "With what, a pointy stick? What kind of idiot uses bows and arrows in this century? Guns and energy blasters are the future, featherless wonder."
Clint's eyes narrowed. "Bow is better. Silent. Accurate. No loud bang to give away your position."
Howard laughed. "Silent? You sound like a caveman. Admit it. You just don't know how to use a real gun."
Clint stepped closer. "I could put an arrow through your cigar from fifty metres before you even aim that toy blaster."
Howard puffed out his chest. "Toy? This blaster could turn you into fried chicken, bird-brain."
Clint smirked. "Chicken? That's the best you got, web-foot?"
Howard pointed a wing at Clint's bow. "You carry a string and stick to war. I carry firepower. Who looks stupid now?"
Clint leaned down so they were eye to eye. "The duck who thinks loud toys beat skill."
Howard grinned. "Skill? You shoot sticks. I shoot plasma. Keep up, grandpa."
Clint laughed. "Grandpa? You're a duck in a suit. You look like a rejected cartoon character."
Howard adjusted his tiny tie. "Rejected? I'm a classic. You're just jealous because I have style and you dress like a medieval hunter."
Kakashi watched them bicker with growing amusement. He leaned against the wall, arms folded.
'Ah,' he thought. 'This should liven up Clint's missions. Their skills will complement each other perfectly too. Though poor Clint has no idea what he just signed up for."
-----Author Notes---------
Thankyou Jose Mendez-Oronoz, Nicolas Coleman and Chip for supporting me!
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