This story is inspired by and named after the song You Can Close Your Eyes by James Taylor.
I suggest everyone listen to it as some point, it's a very heartfelt little song. This will be maybe 3-4 chapters. You'll notice the other songs are named after James Taylor songs, as well. This will not be as long or detailed as my other fics, especially Dear Agony, but it was just an idea I wanted to write. Now, mind you, this will not be a very happy story eventually, however that's the genre I typically write, and enjoy writing. With that said, I do hope you enjoy, and expect an update soon. Oh, and the words in brackets are what Clint is (attempting to) lip read.
The Prologue;
The old floorboards of the hallway which Clint knew he needed to repair soon, creaked throughout the small farmhouse. The young father who was nearly deaf, whose hearing aid was in the pocket of his combat coat, didn't notice the soft creaks as he made his way towards the stairs. That was, until he felt a soft tap on his forearm, which made him tense up stiffly, as he pivoted around to see who it was.
Despite his son being almost four, he was still getting used to being a parent, and living a life outside of his work. While he should have known better, the Archer's keen eyes noticed his son's wide blue eyes. Exhaling to relax his form, Clint laughed lightly as he shook his head and dropped his bow and quiver. Gently kneeling in front of Cooper, a half gloved hand ruffled his hair as he spoke quietly,
"Hey bud, you scared me. What you doing up?"
Clint focused on Cooper's lips as he worked to place his aid in his ear, and then his son's timid voice was audible to him.
[ I'm sorry, I heard you mooing, moving, down the tall, halls. ] " - but do you leaving again?"
Clint looked down at his black combat boots, before tender grey blue eyes held the gaze of his son, which looked like his blue eyes were about to water with tears.
"Come here Coop." He said as he embraced him warmly, closing his eyes as he lowered his head over his shoulder. Part of the hug was for the kid, but the other part, for the now easily sentimental assassin made father, who was now dreading leaving even more than he already had.
The boy buried his head in his father's chest, as Clint began to speak in a hushed voice,
"I wouldn't leave if I didn't have to, Coop. But it's only for a night, I have to help Director Fury guard the cool glowing square thing from space I was telling you about earlier. But tomorrow Nat will be back, and she can take my shift. It's nothing serious buddy."
Cooper looked up at his father who gently looked down at him, as he held him closer and asked,
"Can I go with you?"
Laughing lightly, Clint shook his head as he placed a hand on Cooper's back,
"I wish you could, but how about this, I'll sneak a picture while I'm up in my 'nest' watching it huh? Just as long as you don't tell anyone though."
Cooper's tired eyes grew large in thought before he softly nodded his head, as if not completely sure what he was agreeing to, but more focused on his father than the object his father was leaving to guard.
Clint got to his feet, and leaving his bow and quiver in the hall, took his son's hand to lead him back into his bedroom.
"It's almost 2am though, you need to get some sleep, little man." Clint said in as optimistic of a tone that he could.
As his father lifted him onto the small bed, pulling the warm quilt blanket over him, the small boy's desperate voice rang out as he leapt up and wrapped his arms around his father's neck,
"But I don't want you to leave." The whine in his voice suggested he was bordering on tears. And continued as he said into Clint's neck,
"I'm scared."
"Scared?" Clint questioned abruptly as he gently lifted his son off him, and sat him down on his bed, as he looked him lovingly in the eye and said,
"I didn't think I raised you to be scared of anything. Why are you scared?"
Cooper's glossy blue eyes looked down at his hands that were clasped in one another, as he said in a quiet, almost ashamed, tone,
"I don't really know why...and I don't want to be scared. But, I'm just scared when you have to leave me and mom."
Clint was silent for a moment, before he stood up and sat next to Cooper on his small bed. Holding back a sad smile, he gently let his hand rub Cooper's back, as he turned towards him and said,
"Well Coop, you know I get scared too sometimes."
Cooper looked up at his father with complete shock in his tired little face, as he waited for further explanation.
"I get scared for you, mommy, Nat, and even myself sometimes. But, I don't let it hold me back, because I know if I let that fear take over me, well I couldn't do my job. I couldn't keep you or mommy safe, and that would make me even more scared."
Lost eyes looked up at the archer as he let his father tuck him in, but he seemed to have calmed enough to let Clint do so. Ruffling his hair one more time, Clint said in almost a whisper,
"We've all got jobs to do, Coop. You're the big man in the house when I'm not here, okay? So even if you're afraid, be brave, for me. Think you can do that? And in return, I'll be brave for you."
A small smile spread across the boy's cheeks, as he nodded his head and let his brunette head sink back into the soft pillow. Clint sat there for a moment before he asked softly,
"Do you wanna hear a song?"
Cooper loved whenever his dad sang, whether it was by the fire inside or out, whenever a good song came on on their radio, or just randomly. Clint wasn't an overly talented singer, he could carry a tune for a few minutes, but nothing extraordinary. But to the boy, Clint was the best singer he had ever heard.
Nodding his head with an excited yet finally calmed look in his eye, he smiled up at his dad as Clint began to sing,
"Well the sun is surely sinking down, but the moon is slowly rising
So this old world must still be spinning round,
And I still love you."
The Archer's voice was gentle and rolling, almost in a folksy lullaby, as his calm grey blue eyes watched his son smile listen to him.
"So, close your eyes,
you can close your eyes,
It's alright. "
The boy as if on command, let his droopy eyelids close calmly to the melody of the sweet song.
"I don't know no love songs,
And I can't sing the blues no more...
But I can sing this song..."
There was a pause before Clint finished as he stood up, in a hushed and almost cracked tone, as loving yet slightly saddened eyes looked at his little boy,
"And you can sing this song
When I'm gone."
The Archer's soft voice trailed off, as he made his way out of the room, and quietly shut the door behind him. Looking back at Laura's room, he grabbed his arrow and slung his black quiver of arrows over his back, as he continued down the hall and the flight of stairs.