Authors Note: I'm glad you all enjoyed the first chapter, thanks to those who reviewed - DBhawkguy30, Qweb, Makurayami Ookami, sammygirl1963, Lollypops101 and kimbee! You guys rock! Also thanks to those who added to your fabourites or are following the story. It means a lot.
So now for that pesky bully!
Clint sat on the sofa next to Tommy, their shoulders touching in a familiar show of support as the younger boy explained to his mom and Phil what had happened. Phil's gaze hardened when the younger boy told them what Gavin had said. The agent really hated bullies and was pleased that Clint had managed to get the younger boy to open up about what had happened. Phil was certain that with Clint's own experience with wondering whether or not Phil was going to make it home from a mission would make him the perfect person to give Tommy advice.
Trisha leaned closer, taking both of Tommy's smaller hands between her own and squeezed gently. "You know you didn't have to hide this from me, Tommy. You could have told me, I wouldn't have gotten angry." Her son still wouldn't meet her gaze, so she released his hands and reached out and tilted his chin up so they were finally face to face. "Just promise me you won't shut me out again?"
Tommy's bottom lip trembled as he stared into his mom's loving gaze and nodded slowly. "I promise."
Phil wasn't sure how many times he'd sent concerned glances toward his sister but it must have been too many because she finally turned to him, arms folded over her chest, a look of annoyance splitting her features.
"Stop it Phil."
The younger man smiled sheepishly. "Sorry."
Trisha sighed deeply. "No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you. You and Clint came all the way out here to help and you did. I just…..I don't know what to say to him. You know?"
"Paul? Or Tommy?"
"Paul, you idiot." Trisha couldn't help but smirk at her younger brother's hurtful expression. She knew he'd done that on purpose just to get a smile, it was just the kind of man her brother was.
"All you can do is talk to him, Trish. Tell him what's happened and that he needs to start spending more time at home."
The older woman must have seen something in his gaze because she finally asked the question that had been burning on her lips for a long time. "Is that what you did? For Clint?" She tried to gauge his reaction but Phil had thrown up his guard as he usually did when anything was hinted towards what he did for a living. "I'm not going to ask what you do, because I don't want to get into that argument again, but can you just tell me, is it dangerous?"
Phil wanted to run, to be anywhere but here. Yet he couldn't do that to Trisha, not when she was already looking so hurt and confused. It would be so easy to simply spill all of his secrets right here, right now; he trusted his sister and the rest of his family above everyone else, although that wasn't the reason why Phil never told them, it was more to do with protecting them, not wanting them to worry about the dangerous situations he found himself in and on top of all that, he was a man of honour and he'd pledged an oath to SHIELD to keep it a secret. If only the brother part of him could accept that, instead he found himself wavering, his heart fighting with his head over why they shouldn't know. What if something happened to him? Could he really leave his family behind wondering what had taken him from them? All he'd leave behind would be unanswered questions and a devastated son. He decided to give her something, just to ease the pain within his own heart. Leaning back against the counter he raised his eyes to meet hers. "Yes." It was said so softly, so quietly, that Trisha thought she'd imagined it.
"So why do it? Why risk not coming home, of leaving that boy who has already lost so much on his own. Is it really worth it?" She knew she wasn't pulling any punches if the anguish that flashed on her brother's face was anything to go by.
Phil seemed to pull himself together enough to answer her. His tone so quiet and broken that she almost didn't recognise the man in front of her; her strong, determined, loving brother.
"I do it because I'm good at it. I even considered giving it up about a year ago, for Clint, and you know what he did?"
Trisha shook her head.
"He begged me not to. He didn't want to be the reason I wasn't out there stopping the bad guys. So I compromised, I took a desk job so that the risk of something bad happening and me not making it home was reduced considerably." A fond smile appeared on Phil's face. "I love Clint more than anything, would do anything to make him happy. Paul will do the same, Trish. Believe me."
Trisha couldn't contain the tears anymore, they left tracks down her cheeks and she suddenly found herself wrapped up in her brother's warm embrace. It was safety and comfort, something she realised she needed more than anything right now and was certain that while in her brothers arms, nothing could hurt her.
"You sure about this, Clint?"
The teen turned to Phil with a playful smile. "Yeah dad. Don't worry, I'm only going to make sure Tommy gets to school without this kid harassing him."
Phil gave a doubtful look, knowing just how skilled Clint was at taking down agents, making him slightly apprehensive about his boy getting into a fight with a kid two years younger than him. It wasn't that he didn't trust his boy to know when things were being taken too far, but Phil hadn't agreed to let the teen be trained in hand to hand for him to start beating up bullies. "Don't break anything, you hear me?"
"Yeah, yeah. I hear you."
Clint continued rummaging through his bag for his favourite t-shirt. He could feel his dad's gaze boring into the back of his head but he ignored him, pulling his t-shirt on before turning back to face him with a raised eyebrow. "What?"
"I'm serious Clint. I don't want to have to be called to Tommy's school because you got into a fight." That would seriously put a damper in the works of them telling Tommy that fighting wasn't the answer.
"I know dad and I promise I will try to behave myself, but if this kid starts anything I'll take him down a peg or two. No permanent damage." Clint smirked at the glare being sent his way. "I'm just going to be there for my little cousin. He needs someone to have his back and I promised."
Phil sighed, shaking his head fondly. "Alright." He stepped forward, pulling the unsuspecting teen into his arms. "I'm so proud of you, kid."
"Da-ad!" whined Barton, pulling back and fixing the hair that Phil took great pleasure in messing up.
"Go on then, before I change my mind."
The young archer paused at the door of the spare room. Glancing over his shoulder he could see the worry still showing on the older man's features, but there was also affection as well. "Love you, dad."
Coulson stood unblinking in the centre of the room, a goofy smile plastered across his face once again. He had no idea how the kid did that, although he knew for certain he would never tire of hearing those three words come out of Clint's mouth. Pulling on a fresh t-shirt and his comfortable jeans, Phil decided that he wasn't going to stand around waiting for his son to return from the school, he'd head downstairs to start making breakfast. At least that might keep his mind off what could be happening between his boy and that bully.
"So how long are you staying?" Tommy asked as they walked down the side walk towards his school. It was only a ten minute walk, so he wanted to get the answers to as many questions before they got there.
"I think we'll be heading back home today. Not sure if it's going to be after dinner or before, though." Clint saw his little cousin's downcast expression and gave him a gentle nudge. Once the smaller boy raised his head, Barton gave him a knowing smile. "I'll make sure I can still pick you up after school."
Tommy nodded, his face brightening slightly at getting to see Clint before they had to leave. "What are you getting for your birthday? Do you know yet?"
Barton chuckled. "I think dad's going to help me get a car, but I'm not one hundred percent yet."
"Cool. Does that mean when you can drive you'll come and visit more?"
"Of course."
Tommy pumped his fist in the air and grinned. "Yes!"
The teen couldn't keep the amusement from his features at the younger boy's enthusiasm. Tommy always made Clint feel like the coolest big cousin ever; his blue eyes still lit up with delight when Barton came to stay, just as they had from the first moment they met.
Clint could see the school when they turned the corner on to the next street. Large groups of children were heading towards the front gates while other older kids chose to stand outside not wanting to seem too eager to get inside until the bell rang. Turning to the smaller boy, Barton noticed that Tommy was gripping the strap of his school bag so tightly his knuckles were turning white.
"Hey bud." He waited until the small blonde met his gaze and gave him a brief nod. "I'm right here Tommy. I'm not going anywhere."
Tommy's lips quirked upward slightly, taking a deep steadying breath he started toward the gate with his big cousin by his side. They had almost reached the entrance when the younger boy froze, the blood draining from his face.
Clint was immediately on alert. "What is it?"
"That's him." Tommy pointed to a dark haired boy standing with a small group of boys.
Barton's eyes narrowed as he watched the bully messing about with his friends. The boy was nearly twice the size of Tommy, his slicked back hair and irritating laugh made Clint think of those creepy drug dealer types in the movies. Gavin was built a little bigger than the teen but looked a bit shorter. It didn't really matter to Clint, he'd taken down agents twice his size. This kid, if he started anything, wouldn't be any problem for him.
The group of boys noticed Tommy as he and Clint neared the gate and nudged Gavin. The bully growled when he saw the kid responsible for punching him in the face, giving him a bloody nose and leaving him with a lot of questions to answer. He stalked forward, his hands already reaching out to grab the kid and teach him a lesson when he suddenly found himself lying flat on his back, the wind knocked out of him. His face was scrunched up in confusion as he tried to work out what the hell just happened.
A taller blonde stood next to Tommy, his fists clenching and unclenching. The boy looked like he was trying to keep himself in check. It wasn't until Tommy said the boy's name that Gavin guessed who this was. Pushing himself upright, the bully glared at the smaller boy before turning his head toward Clint.
"So you're the homeless kid Tommy boy's family took in." He smirked at the anger that flashed in the other boy's eyes before it was quickly hidden. "I guess this is how you make up for it, you're like the guard dog, is that it?"
"Let's just go Clint," whispered the Tommy, feeling the rising tension between the two, and he didn't want Clint to get into trouble.
"That's right, do as your master says…street rat."
Barton felt the blood drain from his face. This bully clearly wouldn't have known that the mere mention of that name would cause horrible memories to come flooding into Clint's mind with the force if a tidal wave, and that it would cause such a noticeable reaction, but he took advantage of it.
"Did that strike a nerve, street rat?" Gavin sneered. His friends laughed from behind him, clearly enjoying the show yet not willing to add anything themselves.
The teen felt Tommy tug on his sleeve, trying to pull him away. Clint wasn't going anywhere yet though.
The bully was loving this and smiled at the younger boy. "Don't go anywhere Tommy boy, once I've finished with your cousin, I'm coming for you."
Clint finally snapped out of his daze, the memories of Karl had been buried well, although some fragments were creeping out, assaulting his brain with images of pain, blood and Phil lying on the bank floor with a pool of blood under him. Barton pushed all that to the back of his mind and focused on the dark haired boy in front of him. There was no way he was letting this kid hurt his little cousin.
Quicker than Tommy had ever seen his cousin move, Clint was suddenly directly in front of Gavin, the other boy's eyes widening in shock. The bully didn't even have time to raise his hands to defend himself before Barton was gripping the sleeves of Gavin's hoodie. Pulling Gavin's arms towards him, he turned the bully so he was facing away from him, tying the sleeves into a knot at his back, making it impossible for the bully to fight back, Barton then lightly kicked the boy in the back of the knee, bringing him to his knees. It took place within a matter of seconds, rendering everyone watching speechless.
Clint crouched next to the bully, gripping the boy's shoulder painfully causing Gavin to whimper pathetically in fear. The kid hadn't been expecting Barton to take him down, let alone with the speed and precision displayed. Leaning in close, the teen spoke softly, his voice not betraying the anger rushing through his veins, "If you know so much about homeless people Gavin then you must know that they are willing to do almost anything for food or a warm blanket?" Barton knew the best way to get this bully would not be physical violence but to terrify him. Sometimes the threat of violence worked better than the act itself.
Gavin's face paled, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "I…I uh, yeah," he stammered. He'd heard about people living in the streets fighting over food or shelter and sometimes even killing each other over it.
"So how do you think that a street rat…?" Clint paused, hating to even speak the nick name Karl had given him out loud. He willed himself to be calm, blowing out a steadying breath and turned back to the bully. "How do you think I'd react to you hurting my little cousin? He means more to me than scraps of food or a blanket ever could. He's family and I will do whatever I have to, to protect him? Do you understand me, Gavin?"
The darkness in his eyes made the bully flinch back and gulp loudly. Clint was pretty sure the boy might even have wet himself.
"Y-you wouldn't hurt me." Gavin tried to sound confidant, yet his stuttering voice betrayed him.
"You wanna bet on that?" Clint asked coldly, his gaze narrowing.
They were interrupted by the sound of the bell ringing, signalling the pupils to start making their way to class. Barton turned to the group of boys standing behind Gavin, none of them willing to interfere. The teen was sure they were the type to stand there and call names, but were too afraid to get their hands dirty.
Turning back to the dark haired boy, Clint leaned in close, his lips a breath away from the bully's ear. "You threaten him, touch him or even speak to him and I will make you wish you were never born." He pulled the boy to his feet easily. "I've taken much bigger men down for much less, don't make me come back here and have to show you Gavin. Because believe me, it won't be pretty."
Pushing the dark haired boy towards his friends, Clint tugged on the sleeve behind Gavin's back, untangling him and smirking in satisfaction when the boy stumbled a few steps, before rushing on to the school grounds ignoring his friend's concerned calls.
Turning to his wide eyed cousin, Clint gripped his shoulder gently. "You okay?"
Tommy simply nodded, his mouth still unable to form any words.
"He shouldn't bug you anymore, but if he does say anything to you, tell me. Okay?"
"Okay." Tommy couldn't believe what Clint had just done for him. He knew the older boy was able to fight, to defend himself though he'd never seen him in action and he was certain that his cousin hadn't even been trying very hard. When it seemed he could get more than one word past his lips, he asked, "Could you show me how to do that?"
"Do what?"
"Some moves to defend myself. Just in case."
Clint thought about it for a minute or so, knowing Phil didn't want the younger boy getting into fights but this would simply be showing Tommy a few defensive moves. He didn't think there would be a problem with that. "Sure. I'll see you when you finish bud."
Both boy's bumped fists, then the younger boy ran over to his friends who were still waiting outside the doors for him. They all stared at Clint like he was some kind of super hero, making the teen feel a little self-conscious. He gave them a wave, and started heading back towards the house. Now he could look forward to Phil drilling him for information on what happened. At least he never broke any bones, as tempting as that would have been. He'd kept his promise to both Phil and Tommy. He hadn't let his anger get the best of him and he'd also kept his word to his little cousin by being here and watching out for him. Clint took that promise very seriously.
