Father And Son

Disclaimer: I do not own the Avengers…..Joss Whedon is sooo lucky!

I just sit and stare at my Hawkeye poster and wish he was really here : (

Authors Note: I am a huge fan of Phil Coulson and Clint Barton as father/son relationship. I am working on a few other stories….Please keep an eye out.

Hope you enjoy!

Clint was bored, so bored in fact that he had scrunched up most of the paper from his workbook and made them into paper balls which he fired towards his trash can in the far corner of his room. He knew he should be studying but really, who needed to know who killed who like a gazillion years ago. It was in the past.

Were most people not always going on about not looking to the past but focusing on the future. Yeah, that would be his comeback when Phil scolded him for not doing his homework.

Phil was a good guy. He adopted Clint when he was nine years old. Clint's parents had been killed in a traffic accident when he was six, he and his brother Barney were taken into care. It was two years later when Clint was eight and Barney was twelve that Barney decided to run away, leaving Clint behind. It was then Clint knew he could only count on himself. He had been there another year after Barney left him when he met Phil.

At first glance he thought the man seemed a bit boring, not really the father type. But after meeting with him with him a few times, Clint realised the guy had a wicked sense of humour, much like his own. The older man had told him about wanting to have a kid but not meeting the right woman. Something to do with his work, he said.

It was a few weeks later Phil had returned for him, he had filled in all the paperwork and had made sure his home was up to scratch.

Clint remembered walking into the house for the first time, Phil had seemed as nervous as he was. He took him upstairs to check out his new room. He struggled to contain his emotions as he walked around the room. It had been painted white but Phil told him they could paint it whatever colour he wanted, the carpet was dark blue and there was a desk in the corner with a computer set up on it. A bunk bed sat against the far wall and had a cupboard underneath and a futon chair. The room itself was quite large, bigger than anything Clint had ever had.

Phil had walked up behind him and gave his shoulder a comforting squeeze. "You like it?"

Clint nodded and glanced up at his new dad, tears glistened in his eyes as Phil pulled him into a hug. For the first time in a long time Clint felt safe.

Now at the age of thirteen, Clint considered himself a pretty laid back teenager. He didn't really give Phil much trouble or attitude, well…..not all the time. He almost jumped when there was a knock at his door. He watched in horror as Phil stepped into the room and glanced at the pile of scrunched up paper that was overflowing from the trash can. Well at least he never missed…

Phil arched an eyebrow at him. "Aren't you supposed to be doing your homework?" he asked the teen.

"Ummm….well you see…." Damn.

"I know you don't like history Clint, but you still need to do it. It's part of learning." Phil walked over and sat on the edge of the futon.

"But Phil….." He pleaded. "Aren't people always saying to look to the future and forget the past?" Yes, that was it.

Phil huffed a laugh. "Is that what they say?" Clint nodded enthusiastically. "Well what about this?…You do your homework or….you won't be going to archery school through summer."

Clint's face twisted in shock. "What?..Nononono…you know how much I want to go Phil," he whined.

Phil got up and made his way over to the trash and picked it up, he then placed it in front of the annoyed teen. "Well do your homework and you can go."

Clint grumbled under his breath about everything being unfair. Phil smirked and headed out of the room but stopped at the door. "Finish that and we can have what ever you want for dinner." He knew he was blackmailing the kid but it was usually the easiest way.

The teen perked up a bit. "Can we get pizza from Alfredo's?"

Phil sighed in exasperation. "Clint you are going to turn into a pizza." Clint just grinned. "You said whatever I wanted."

Phil nodded and headed for the stairs. "That better be finished before you get any pizza Clint."

Staring at the huge pile of paper, Clint grumbled as he started pulling it out and flattening it.

He focused on the silver lining, he was getting pizza.

The weekend flew in and then it was back to school. Clint truly hated it, except that he got to see his friends. Tony and Bruce were the science geeks but while Bruce was shy and quite quiet, Tony was like Clint, sarcasm being their second language. They constantly teased each other, but all in good fun.

Steve was in the football team and was heavily built because of all the training he did. Then there was Natasha and Pepper. Tony had a major thing for Pepper even though he often denied it. Clint knew he had a huge crush on Natasha. She was beautiful, her fiery red hair was silky smooth and smelled of berries, he was often mesmerised by her emerald-green eyes. She also had a quick wit when she wanted to show it. But her scary side was something to watch out for because you really didn't want to piss her off.

He made his way to his first class, Maths. He was playfully punched in the shoulder by Steve. "Hey Clint…how was your weekend?" he asked.

Clint rubbed his shoulder, even though it was playful Steve still packed a punch. "It was alright…had to do my stupid history homework though. Phil was going to ground me through summer if I didn't get it done."

Steve nodded, understanding his friends predicament. "Yeah I hear you…my dad said I couldn't go to football training through the holidays if I don't get good grades. It sucks."

Together they entered the class. Clint and Tony fist pumping each other before taking their seats. Clint glanced at Bruce's empty seat. "Where's Bruce?"

Tony gave a half shrug. "I think he's still ill after our party weekend at my house…think he ate something that didn't agree with him…..sucks you couldn't come Clint." Tony pulled out his phone and quickly text his friend to make sure he was ok.

Clint slouched in his chair looking back at Tony. "Yeah sorry man…Phil's been on at me about homework and grades lately. And I really want to go to archery camp this year."

Tony knew his friend loved archery, it was one of the first times he'd seen a genuine smile on his face. Tony gave another half shrug in understanding. "It's cool….you'll come to my birthday party though…right?"

Clint smiled and nodded, turning to face the front as the teacher walked in.

The other classes flew in, Clint headed out for lunch and smiled when he saw a flash of red. Tony was suddenly next to him grinning from ear to ear. "Clint and Natasha…sitting in a tree….K.I.S.S.I.N.G…" He laughed as Clint pushed him away. "Shut up Tony!" He hissed, his face already burning red. Tony pointed and laughed. "Look you even match….her hair…your face.."

Clint grabbed him in a headlock and Tony kicked out with his foot, catching the back of Clint's leg. The two of them crashed to the ground in a tangle of limbs. Natasha and Pepper were already running over when Clint gasped out. "You're an ass!"

Tony sat up slowly massaging his neck. "At least say something I don't already know." He bit back.

Natasha glared at them as she got closer. "What the hell is wrong with you two? Can you not act like idiots for one whole day?"

"Now that would be absolutely impossible." Tony argued. Pepper helped him stand and Natasha held her hand out for Clint. He took it and smiled sheepishly as she glared. "Sorry Tasha….Tony was just being his usual annoying self."

Tony grunted at his friend. "So…you are all invited to my party." He informed the group, then glancing back at Clint the quipped. "Your invitation is pending Barton." Clint sighed and followed as they made their way to the picnic benches.

By the next class Clint and Tony were back to their usual antics and when home time finally came the group walked together. Pepper lived the closest, then Natasha. They said their goodbyes and the boys headed to the park to hang out for a bit before heading home.

Clint heard Tony groan and as they headed to the swings, he muttered a curse when he saw why. Barry Driscol and a few of his gang were hanging out at the swings. Two of the boys pushed and shoved each other roughly while Barry and the other two stooges laughed, all of them with a cigarette at their lips.

"Maybe we should head back?" Tony suggested. "Those guys are ass hats."

Clint hated to agree with Tony but he really couldn't be bothered dealing with Barry. The boy was a total jerk, he bullied anyone that looked at him the wrong way. And he had made Bruce's life a misery for almost a year before Clint came to the school. He also knew that even though Steve was built like a brick house, he didn't like fighting. Didn't want to risk getting injured and not being able to play his favourite sport.

They were about to turn back when they heard him. "Well, well….look who came to join the party."

The three friends groaned and turned round. "If this is what you call a party….it sucks!" Tony laughed. "Do you boys want some alone time? We can come back later."

Barry was immediately out of the swing and heading towards them, his friends following him like lost puppies. "What did you just say to me?" he spat

The three boys looked at each other, then back at the five advancing on them, turned and bolted. All of them splitting up. Clint knew he and Steve were pretty fast runners but Tony not so much. So Clint hung back a bit making them think they might actually catch up with him and once three of them were heading towards him he put on a burst of speed. After five minutes the shouts and curses behind him disappeared and he knew he'd lost them. He walked the rest of the way home glancing behind him every few minutes . Just to make sure.

Clint jumped into the shop just down from his house and grabbed a bottle of juice and a few packets of crisps. He smiled at Joan the owner, she was in her 50's and always gave Clint a freebie because he was such a loyal customer.

"Well hello Clint, how are you today my boy?" she asked, her face splitting into a genuine smile when she noticed him.

"I'm good Mrs Murphy….how's things been today?" he asked.

"Clint…how many times do I need to tell you? Call me Joan." She scolded him playfully.

He shrugged and smiled. "Sorry…Joan." It felt weird calling her by her first name. He paid for his stuff and thanked her when he noticed the candy bar she had stuck in as well.

She just smiled and waved. "Bye Clint…see you next time."

Clint dug into the bag and pulled out the candy bar. He smiled as he took a bite, she always knew which ones he liked.

A hand suddenly grabbed the back of his neck and steered him to the small alley behind the shop. Clint cursed, dropping the bag, he spun around to come face to face with Barry Driscol and two of his friends. Great.

Clint knew this was going to suck but readied himself for a fight. He might be small for his age but he made up for it with his speed. "You are so dead…Barton!"

Barry's two friends advanced on him, he closed his hand into a fist and hit the first one in the jaw knocking him back a few steps. The second looked on in shock, he hadn't expected Clint to try to fight back. He shouted and rushed forward, tackling Clint to the ground, his head cracking painfully on the concrete. He saw stars for a second before dodging a punch aimed for his head. The boy cried out when his fist hit the ground full force.

Clint managed to roll out of the way and jumped to his feet, almost falling again when his vision wavered. Then Barry was on him, Clint cried out as he fell to the ground, fists and boots making contact with his chest and face. He curled into a ball and tried to protect his head as much as possible. It felt like hours when in fact in was only minutes before there were shouts from adults who had noticed what was happening. Barry got another kick into the teens side before taking off with his friends in tow.

Clint felt hands on him, trying to see what damage had been done. "It's ok kid...an ambulance is on its way. Just stay still." He didn't think he would be able to move anyway, his side felt like it was on fire and it hurt to breathe. The man leaning over him must have noticed the change in his breathing as he was back on the phone telling the ambulance to hurry. Clint started to panic as he struggled to take in oxygen. He felt hands on his face holding him still. "You need to calm down Clint..ok….just stay with me." He managed to open his left eye, the other was starting to swell, and looked into the face of a very worried Joan. "I've called Phil sweetheart…he's on his way."

Clint nodded and felt her wipe away the tears from his cheeks, he thought he could hear the sound of the sirens just as the darkness swallowed him.