This story has been much more popular than I expected, so I thank you all for your support! :)
Natasha was back in school by Wednesday, and by Thursday sixth period Clint still hadn't asked her about coming to meet Phil Coulson with him on Friday. He knew it was because he was worried Phil wouldn't actually turn up, that it was all a mistake and he'd got the wrong kid; he had abandonment issues and he knew it. But he promised himself he'd ask her before they left school, he'd have to, or he wouldn't really have a chance...
She'd given Clint her mobile number but told him never to text her unless she text him first; she was nervous enough about letting him have her number and had refrained from saving his number in her phone, choosing to memorise it instead. Clint suspected this had something to do with her uncle, and that's what the others had guessed when she'd given them the same ground rules to them before giving them her phone number as well.
The bell rang signalling the end of the school day and Natasha, as always, quickly packed away her belongings
"Hey Tasha" Clint called, rushing to keep up with her
She turned and smiled at him, once again causing him to walk right into her
"I need to ask you a favour"
"Shoot?" she said with a grin, and for a moment Clint was so lost in it that he forgot what he wanted to ask
"Tomorrow during sixth period , I erm, I'm supposed to go to Fury's office to meet someone. Will you come with me?"
"Meet who?" she asked, a look of concern quickly overtaking her features
"A erm, a guy who might be interested in fostering me"
"Oh Clint that's great!" she smiled, shocking him by wrapping her arms round his neck and hugging him tightly. Clint returned the hug and realised that this was actually something Natasha could probably relate to; she'd lived in an orphanage for years in Moscow
"Natalia!"
Natasha turned so abruptly that she dropped her bag and all her books once again. She scrambled to pick up her things quickly and Clint caught his first glimpse of Natasha's Uncle Ivan; he was tall and large, covered in tattoos and had a nasty scar down the left side of his face. He looked, quite frankly, terrifying.
"I'll be there, I promise" she whispered before running off across the car park and climbing into the back of her uncle's car
XxX
It was Grant's last night at Shield's Children Home and they had a bit of a party for him, including a very delicious cake (which was a rarity in itself).
There were also two new kids joining them, so it was like a joint welcome party for them as well. One was a little six year old girl with long dark hair who refused to tell anyone her last name; her name was Skye and Clint thought she was weird. The other was the youngest kid Clint had known to come to Shield; she was four and her name was Anya Corazon; she had long blonde/brown hair and was pretty adorably, watching the other kids with quiet curiosity
She had the room next to Clint's and late at night he could hear her muttering to herself.
XxX
Friday morning soon came and Clint got up early to say goodbye to Grant; as much as he hated to admit it, he'd kind of miss the kid
He hadn't told anyone other than Natasha about the meeting that afternoon; he was still convinced that even if this 'Coulson' did turn up, he wouldn't want him; he'd probably change his mind and end up adopting someone like Skye or Anya instead
So when Natasha didn't turn up to first period history Clint began to panic
She had promised, and she'd never used that word before. Deep down Clint held out hope that she'd still turn up.
After third period he approached Carol Danvers to ask if Natasha had been present in German; which she hadn't, so at lunch Clint considered asking Steve to come with him instead, but changed his mind; if Natasha couldn't be there he'd rather go alone.
He was quiet during lunch, too nervous to really eat much
"Hey Clint, where's Red?" Tony asked taking his usual seat
Clint shrugged
"Is she okay? She's been absent a lot" Jane added
"I think so, I haven't heard from her today" Clint answered, wanting lunch to end so he could get maths over with
XxX
When Sitwell handed him his test back with a lousy 5% mark and a large red 'F' scrawled across it Clint wasn't surprised.
"I see Miss Romanoff is absent yet again, please give this to her"
He handed over her test she'd had to take to yesterday at lunch to make up for missing it on Monday, and there was an impressive '100%' written at the top along with the comment 'Nice job Romanoff, somehow'
Clint rolled his eyes, only Sitwell could find a problem with an A* student
"Clint, you heading over to French?" Bruce asked after Sitwell had dismissed the class
"Erm, no actually; I'm not"
"You're not ditching too are you?"
"Bruce I-"
"Not it's okay. I'll see you Monday right?"
"Monday" Clint confirmed as Bruce followed the rest of the class out
XxX
Slowly, Clint started towards Fury's office and was surprised when he heard a familiar voice shouting his name
He turned to see Natasha's red hair as she dodged through the crowds of students to catch up with him
"Tasha?"
"Hey" she smiled at him
"Where have you been?"
"I- I couldn't- I'm here now" she told him, the smile disappearing from her face
Clint felt guilty for wiping the smile off her face so he wrapped his arms around her and whispered "Thank you Nat" into her ear. He could smell the apple of her conditioner and the sweet smell of her perfume and he realised how much he needed her here with him for this
As he backed away he noticed the smile had returned to her face; "I promised, and I never break a promise"
Clint took her hand; "Come on" he smiled, and together the two of them made their way to Fury's office
XxX
Clint walked straight past the old lady at her desk, earning himself a glare; and knocked on Fury's door. After a moment or so the door swung open revealing Principal Fury looking down at the two of them; "Ah Miss Romanoff, so you did make it"
Natasha glanced at Clint, who squeezed her hand reassuringly and she remembered that she was supposed to be there to support him, not the other way around
Fury stepped aside to let the two of them into his office. There was a guy sat there in a suit, smiling at the two of them
"Barton, this is Phil Coulson. Phil, this is Clint and his friend Natalia"
"Natasha"
"Right, Natasha"
Fury excused himself and left the three of them alone
Conversation was slow and awkward, so Clint got right to the point
"No offence Mr Coulson"
"Phil"
"Mr Coulson, but why me? Why are you so eager to foster a teenage boy when the homes full of younger kids?"
"I believe in second chances Clint, and I think it's about time someone gave you one"
