Clint Barton believed that there were many many definitions of hell. Hell was high school. Hell was being 'the new kid' in a high school in a small town. Hell was being carted off to a new orphanage at the age of sixteen.
Hell was what his life was.
At the age of sixteen he'd long given up the hope of being adopted. It wasn't even an upsetting topic to him it was just a fact of life. And after being swapped around his entire life from orphanage to orphanage he did appreciate finally being placed somewhere with the promise of it being permanent. He had only two years and then the government was done with him anyway.
Still, he thought, clenching his teeth and lugging his backpack off the bus and through the pouring rain as he trekked towards the school building, how on earth did they find this place?
The village itself, the aptly named Downsville, wasn't far from New York City, but it was a far cry from it. There was only one school within the area, Downsville Central School; and the people within the area had been given the nicknames 'the flat noses' because they loved to press their noses against their windows in an effort to know each other's every dirty secret.
When Clint entered the building he attempted to shake some off the water that clung on to him off, before asking directions to the principals office. After a long chat in which he received his timetable and was given a speech about finding inner enlightenment, the principal himself escorted Clint to homeroom.
Because that would help ease him in. Christ on a crutch, this was a really small town. Did these people have nothing better to do?
He had to go through the mandatory stand-at-the-front-of-the-class-and-say-your-name and because he could hear a bunch of kids giggling at the scowl he knew he wore.
He had walked through pouring rain in cheap clothes. He'd love to see anyone try to hold back a scowl when they had to go around in wet underwear.
He was forced back to reality when he realized the teacher had asked him a question. "What?' he said dumbly, drawing more snickers from the class.
The teacher, Ms Hill gave him a tight smile. "I asked you to tell the class three things about you, so we can start to get to know you better. Everyone here has known each other practically all their lives".
Wow. Way to single me out as the outcast, Clint thought as he blinked incredulously at the teacher. He turned to face the class who were all staring at him expectantly.
You've always got your foot in your mouth Barton, you're the resident asshole. This is a chance to start over. Clean slate and all that bull.
"My name is Clint Barton, it's 9 fucking AM and I have soaking wet underwear, and this town is a fucking nightmare straight out of a crappy horror movie".
Clint slammed his lunch tray on the counter and the lunch lady cast him an unamused look. "Chicken please" he muttered. He picked up his tray and sauntered over to the tables, boycotting the salad bar and hunching down in response to some of the smirks cast his way. It turns out people didn't like to hear their homes bad mouthed and didn't want to know about the state of his underwear. After a curt "Sit down" from Ms Hill that morning he'd been subject to hushed whispers and giggles all day.
He really didn't see what the big deal was. High school sucked.
He cast a glance towards a table full of goth kids, and various other 'rebels', all who were giving him barely concealed sneers. He didn't even fit in with the misfits.
He didn't fit anywhere.
With that thought in mind he stomped over to the nearest table, which was empty except for a kid he recognized from homeroom and Biology. The kid gave him a wary glance as he lowered himself in to the seat next to him.
"Mind if I sit here?' Clint asked.
The kid shrugged "They're calling you 'Piss pants' " he said in lieu of an answer.
"That's my stripper name, but since I can just tell we're going to be good friends I'll let you call me Clint" Clint responded.
The kid gave him a hint of a smile. "I'm Phil. And this is good news for me. Maybe they'll finally stop calling me 'Piss pants'.
Clint gave him a solidarity grin. "Did you get caught in the rain too?"
"No" Phil answered glumly. "I pissed my pants when I was nine during class by accident. People around here have good memories and not much to occupy themselves with".
"I thing this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship".
Clint operated on a theory. His life was a bad soap opera, a teen flick monstrosity. He followed ever cliché in the book in the rags to riches plotline. Orphan. Unwanted. Bullied. Outcast. Only defense is sarcasm and a sharp sense of humor. And if so far, all had gone according to plan, the turning point would have to go according to plan as well. There were several possible scenarios of course. He'd meet the love of his life who he'd have to go through hell and high water to be with making everything else inconsequential. He'd discover this amazing talent he never knew he had that would attract awe and would land some amazing opportunity. Or he'd meet and bond and save the world with a group of people every bit as fucked up as he was. That was how the story usually went anyway. It happened in Aladdin. And Harry Potter.
Rejection from society is what made the X-Men.
And if Clint didn't childishly believe that the universe was holding out for something amazing for him, he'd lose his fucking mind. And till it happened he'd go around acting like a sarcastic, sour little shit.
Still, he felt like casting a glance upwards to ward of any tricks when what he hoped was scenario number one sat next to him the next day in Biology.
He did what felt natural and so stared creepily at the red headed beauty for what must have been a minute straight.
Probably tired of feeling his stare boring in to the side of her face beautiful green eyes turned and met his stare calmly.
"I uummm, I" Clint sputtered "I,uuuhh there was no one sitting here yesterday".
"I had to miss the first day of school, my family just came back from camping, hope you don't mind" the redhead told him with a small smile.
Clint nodded dumbly. "I'm Clint " he blurted out.
Her smile turned in to a full blown grin, "I know who you are, news travels fast around here Piss pants".
Clint expected to feel pissed off but he didn't. She wasn't being malicious; she honestly thought the gossip mill was fucking hilarious, judging by the sparkle in her eyes. And he honestly suspected that she could call him every dirty name in the book and he could care less.
Teenage hormones were a bitch but he could honestly say this was a first.
Class began right then so he couldn't resume their conversation. When the bell rang she hurried out of class but not before giving him a smile and wave goodbye.
Why was it always the science partner that became the subject of romance?
He asked Phil for her name later when he discovered she was also in homeroom, and so consequently in English and Math with them. He'd exchanged a few more sentences and gotten more smiles out of her, but hadn't gotten her name.
"Natasha" he mumbled while he rummaged through his bag. "She's nice, we don't talk much, but she's actually nice and" Phil looked up from his bag suddenly and stared at Clint wide-eyed. "Why?"
Clint shrugged and grinned goofily "I don't know, I mean we barely spoke two words and its stupid but, I don't know. Usually I could care less about girls and none of them ever give me a first glance".
"Forget it" Phil deadpanned.
"What?"
"I said forget it. Nat doesn't date".
"Why the hell not? She's really nice and looks like a freaking princess".
"Yeah and there's more than one dragon guarding that tower'' Phil said. "She has big brothers. Like, shit loads of them. Really really over protective ones. They've skewered any guy who has come near her so far. Cut your losses before you get too attached man".
Clint snorted "Over exaggeration much? I told you that I could care less about girls and they me. I like her".
"You don't even know if she likes you back".
"Its not that big a deal, god its not like im proposing. I just met her and I have a small crush".
"That could be even worse!" Phil exclaimed, "If you're going to go after her you'd better think about proposing someday, do NOT lead her on!"
Clint gave Phil a concerned look, "You alright man?"
"I'm serious about her brothers" Phil said grimly. "They will fuck you up, whether its because you're serious or you're not serious enough.
"I feel like the Jaws theme song should play whenever you mention them. Its not like they're some huge threat. A lot of people have it in for me. It's practically a school sport".
"Go like someone else" Phil suggested. "Someone who likes you and doesn't come with a death penalty".
"None of them will like me back. I may as well like the one I really want."