188 Trick 187: The life of a normal man

A few months later

Ace, Sharon, Jack, and Margaret were sitting in a Chinese restaurant in New York.

Ace poked at the chinese food with a fork, saying "You know… I happen to hate chinese food… Bad experience…" Sharon rolled her eyes and tucked her hair behind her ear as she used chopsticks, replying "Deal with it."

Jack poked the food with a chopstick and Margaret ate happily with a fork. Ace leaned over and whispered "Hey kid, how about a burger?" Jack's eyes lit up and he nodded frantically, replying "Anything but this…"

Ace rubbed his nose and grinned, he pulled out a hamburger from behind Jack's ear while looking around as he said "Merry Christmas." Jack giggled and opened the packaging, eating the burger happily.

Sharon glared at Ace, who leaned his elbow on the back of his chair and grinned at her. She rolled her eyes and continued eating as Margaret said "That musical sucked…" Sharon choked and smiled sweetly, "You didn't like it?" Margaret pouted and said "No magic! Also, why was Daddy black? Doesn't make sense…"

Ace rolled his eyes and looked around replying, "They're all for diversity nowadays, kid. You get used to it…" he saw Clint across the room and his eyes lit up as he snapped his fingers, saying in Mandarin "Waiter, hey buddy!"

The Waiter stopped and walked over, smiling as he replied in Mandarin "Yes, sir? How may I help you?" Ace pointed at Clint and said "You see that guy and his family over there? I'll pick up his bill." The Waiter looked over and said "No problem." before walking away.

Sharon looked at Ace and wiped her lips, saying "You're paying for Clint?" Ace turned his head and shrugged "It's Christmas. Plus…" he looked her up and down, teasing "You don't look broke." She snorted in amusement, replying "I don't remember having a joint account."

Ace laughed and retorted "Yeah! How many joint accounts would we need? Over a hundred, right?" She giggled and Ace asked "By the way, how's that Wizard stuff going?" as he tapped on his water cup, turning it to wine before drinking.

Sharon looked at the miracle and side eyed Ace, replying "It's going good, Jesus." Ace paused and looked at the glass before saying "No, no, no… It wasn't on purpose!" She raised her brows and gave him a sarcastic look, "Yeah, sure, honey! Are you gonna walk on water next? You already came back from the dead…"

The waiter came back, all smiles, saying "Sorry, sir. The Restaurant will pick up his bill." Ace looked back and said "Oh yeah? Then send him your best drink… and juice for the kids. I'll pay for it." as he raised his hand, extending two fingers with a 100$ bill in between them.

The Waiter paused before taking the 100$ and smiling, "Very well, sir." as he left.

Ace turned to Sharon and pursed his lips, "Do I look like a business associate yet?" Sharon laughed and tilted her head, smiling "They're not so handsome." He grinned, "You're not too bad yourself… So what's a hottie like you doing in a place like this?"

Jack and Margaret retched on the side while Sharon laughed, saying "Alright, Casanova. The kids are about to puke, how about you follow me home instead?" Ace pulled on Jack's ear, chuckling "No problem, lady. What's your deal, kid? You know, when I was your age-"

Jack held his ears and said "I know! I know! You already had a job, mortgage, house, career- I get it! Ow!" Ace pulled on his ear, saying angrily "Where did you learn what a mortgage is!? No son of mine will have a mortgage! You pay for houses in full, got it!?" Sharon burst into laughter and Margaret giggled while Jack held Ace's wrist, saying "Okay! Okay! I get it!"

There was a voice behind Ace, saying "You still pay for housing?" Ace turned his head and grinned "When necessary. How's it going, Clint?" Clint snorted with a smirk "Not too bad, the old bell's still ringing."

Ace raised his glass, saying "Merry Christmas, what's this I hear about you retiring? Got tired of being the normal guy?" Clint rolled his eyes and put his drink in front of Ace, replying "Something like that, how much for the drinks?"

Ace looked at him, saying "I bought them for you. Normally, you don't go and pay for them…" Clint rolled his eyes and looked at Sharon and the kids, smiling "Hi there. Sharon. Little bastards."

Sharon and the little bastards smiled, "Clint. Uncle Clint!" Ace sipped his wine, remarking "Not bastards anymore, right?" before turning to Clint, asking "Where you going after this?"

Clint tilted his head, "The tree." Ace raised his brows, looking at Sharon saying "It's not too late." Sharon smiled and nodded, "After that musical, I need to see something nice." Clint smiled and said "Perfect."

A little bit later

Clint and his kids were walking with Ace, Sharon, and the kids, looking at the Rockefeller Tree.

Jack looked at Lila saying "Do you have superpowers?" Lila's lips twitched and she replied "No, what do I look like?" Jack put his hands in his pockets, saying flatly "An idiot." Margaret punched his side, saying "You're the idiot! Her dad is Uncle Clint, why did you ask such a stupid question?"

Jack rubbed his face and said angrily "I'll beat you to death, Peggy! Call me an idiot one more time!" Magaret snorted "Idiot!" Jack jumped at her while Lila and Cooper held him back. 

The little guy, Nathaniel, clapped and laughed "Fight! Fight! Fight!" Margaret made a face at Jack, saying "Idiot! Idiot! Idiot!"

Ace, Sharon, and Clint looked at them as Ace sighed "He's really an idiot… He must've gotten it from his mother." Sharon elbowed him, saying "Yeah! It's definitely not you!" Clint laughed on the side, agreeing "Oh yeah, for sure not you…"

Ace sucked in a cold breath, rubbing his side as he replied "You guys are something else. Agents stick together, eh-OW! FUCK!" Sharon chuckled and Clint laughed, "Just like always, nice to see you guys again."

Ace rubbed his stomach and coughed as he replied "Yeah you too… ugh… This is domestic abuse by the way!" Sharon smiled happily and retorted "Who's gonna arrest me?" before turning to Clint, adding "You too. It's been a long time! How is everything?"

Clint put his hands in his pockets, smiling slightly "Oh, you know. Getting by. Not much to do except wait for Gods to come and destroy the Earth, you know, the usual stuff." Sharon laughed and nodded, "Yeah, I miss the old days where it was only nazi terrorists trying to take over the world."

Clint chuckled and sighed, "Times have changed… You fight Thanos and everyone seems to have forgotten." he looked out at the people walking by, continuing "Sometimes I walk on the street and people ask me for pictures…" he paused before forcing a smile, "I guess I'm not used to it."

Ace straightened out and leaned on a railing, sighing "People forget. It's what they do. I think it's better they live in ignorance…" he chuckled and added, "I don't think they like to imagine aliens can come down at any moment…"

Clint sighed and Sharon pursed her lips together before changing the topic, saying "Wanna go skating?"

A few weeks later