There was a look on Clint's face at her response, on that said she was both utterly dumb and utterly his with her response. A look that said You are one of my kids. In case it needed to be said, he gruffly put into words what Laura would have said much better. "Family shows up." Kate was that to him, in whatever form she'd accept. Daughter, little sister. Friend. Mentee. He'd somehow acquired a rich street urchin with something to prove and he was glad she hadn't let him shake her. She'd done the Hawkeye name proud. He wasn't so retired he couldn't have her back one more time.

As many times as it took.

"Besides. Laura has gotten into home remodeling. I'm useless if I don't have an opinion, and I'm in the way when I have the wrong opinion on bathroom cabinets." He said it with the much beleaguered pain of a man who was absolutely smitten with a wife who could precisely smash through dry wall and install plumbing. There was literally nothing his wife couldn't do, and he would humble brag about her every chance he got. "So I figured I'd get out of the city while she redid our home."

He stood and got her some water, offering it over before sitting again. She was looking hurt and tired, but resolved. She'd grown a lot while he'd been gone. Grown further into the person he knew she'd become. She reminded him so much of Nat in some ways. That quiet resolve, even if the exterior covering it was different.

"Where's the mutt?"