7. Blood Money

When Laura woke the next day, Clint was still sleeping peacefully. Once she made sure he no longer had a fever, she got up to make a light breakfast. Supposing that he probably wouldn't stomach a big meal, she made oatmeal and added some blueberries and a little granola to it. She made some for herself as well and then decided to wake him, making her way to their bedroom.

Clint was sitting on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands, his elbows resting on his knees and Laura paused at the door at the sight of her awake and overwhelmed husband. She approached him softly and sat next to him, hooking her arm around his. Her other hand rubbed his arm absentmindedly and she leaned her head on his muscled shoulder, sighing quietly.

She was used to Clint's sudden depressions though he was usually bright and full of charm when he was with her. She knew of his work and the danger it involved, her family's legacy was similar. But she had fled from it, whereas Clint, she feared, couldn't.

"I got a new job," he said finally, his voice hoarse from a day of fever.

Laura sighed again. "I love you, but I'm not sure I can love what you do, Clint," and he could hear the tired in her words, the hesitance that he had somehow overcome with flowers and charm and honesty and love.

"I know that you told me... You once told me you didn't want to know about my jobs." Clint had worked hard to earn her trust. He had worked hard to be more than a gun for hire in her eyes.

"Clint," Laura shifted and moved to stand but he held her hands, pulled her onto his lap.
Laura stiffened, not wanting to talk about dark things but then relaxed into the safe embrace of his strong arms.

"I'm working for the good guys, now. I got caught by the government, but they pardoned me and now I work for them."

"The government?" Laura looked up through her dark eyelashes to meet his bluegray eyes.

"Yeah, I'm clean now." Clint met her gaze and Laura could see the usual heaviness of guilt in his eyes was leaving.

Her hand reached to his brow, her fingers ran through his hair, and she kissed him lightly on the lips. Clint smiled at her affectionate attentions, knowing she cared and she was secretly happy for him.

"Come on," Laura stood and pulled at his hand, "I made you some oatmeal."

"And coffee?" Clint hesitated a bit lazily.

"Yes, I made coffee. But you're going to drink from a mug this time, not from the coffee pitcher," Laura admonished.

"Yes, Mrs. Barton. Whatever you say."

So the Bartons had breakfast and Clint told her about Coulson and how he had helped him and Laura told him about her new job in Manhattan at a new restaurant.

But a loud rapping at the door cut their conversation short and Clint motioned Laura to be quiet as he stood up to open the door.
The knocking intensified and Clint glanced at Laura, who shook her head and he decided to take his chances.

Before the visitor could knock again, Clint burst the door open, grabbed the extended fist and whipped the offender around, pulling him inside and into a wall while simultaneously pushing the door closed with his foot. Clint pressed the man's face into the wall before he recognized him and abruptly let go.

"Cooper!" Laura was now standing, surprise covering her features as she recognized her cousin. "What are you doing here?"

Cooper, sharing Laura's brown hair and eyes, only straightened his leather jacket and rearranged the gun tucked in his jeans, glaring at Clint without malice.

"A guy can't show up at his favorite cousins' place without getting mugged, can he?"

"Not when he was trying to beat the door down, cousin," Clint smiled as Cooper walked over to Laura and gave her a warm hug.

"Missed ya, darling."

"You just saw me the other day, but it's good to see you," Laura smiled when she returned the hug.

Clint went to sit on a couch in the living room, gesturing at Cooper to sit.

"You know, I already told you lovebirds but I really like this new apartment, Laura has more space, she doesn't have to walk far to the subway, and when you guys start procreating, I'm sure you'll fit comfortably," Cooper grinned, making himself comfortable in his cushion, and leaned back, resting a leg on his knee.

Clint looked at Cooper with an annoyed expression, and Laura blushed.

"What do you want, man? I know you're not visiting just to marvel at the new place." Clint asked a little suspicious. He knew how to read people and Cooper looked too nonchalant and relaxed to convince him he wasn't in trouble. He knew about Laura's shady family and he knew Cooper ran some black market dealings, maybe even did some drug trafficking. He knew that Laura's father had started some nasty business and since Laura didn't want to inherit anything, Cooper and his brothers had taken over.

Cooper finally let the mask drop and he sat forward, no longer pretending to be unwinded. "Some guys had been following us for the past three days." Cooper spoke seriously, talking more to Clint than to Laura. "I had two of my best bring them in to get information from them. Half an hour ago, they told us they want her."

"Who's 'her'?" Laura asked, frightened for her cousin.

"Why?" Clint asked instead, and when Laura turned to see him, she saw the trained marksman assessing a situation logically.

"They think she might know something about the old man's stashed money."

"My father's riches?" Laura asked, still confused and Clint put a placating arm around her shoulders.

"And does she know anything?" He asked Cooper who shook his head in response.

"Everyone got inheritance from him. He was a family man, he believed in leaving everything to the family."

"But obviously she got the biggest part."

"She didn't get the biggest part because she didn't want blood money." Laura interjected hotly and Clint winced, removing his arm from around her.

Laura turned in her seat to gape at him. "Really?" She stood up and left the living room, and both men grimaced when she slammed the bedroom door.

Clint sighed, leaning back into the couch, and managed to chuckle drily. "Blood money."

"That's what she always called it, once she saw what we did. We never had an easy childhood, you know?"

"Yeah. I know."

Clint had never expected being accepted by Cooper and Laura's cousins, and he had never expected himself accepting them. He supposed it was their mutual understanding of danger and the ugly part of life and business that had allowed them to trust each other. Or maybe it was Laura that had forced them to tolerate each other.

"I hate to ask you, Clint. I know you've got your own agenda. But I'm going to need your help on this one. These men aren't your regular brawlers and...-" Cooper looked in the direction that Laura had taken. "I'm worried for her."

"You don't have to feel bad for asking. You know I'd do anything for her."

Cooper's phone buzzed once in his jacket's pocket and he flipped it open to see the incoming message.

"I gotta go," Cooper stood up and quickly answered the text. "And um. I'll- Tell Laura I said bye and- Don't take her reaction personally, she had a hard time with some of the other family after my uncle died."

"No problem, man. I'll figure it out and if something happens, tell me. I have leave at work, I'll help you," Clint spoke somberly as he opened the door for his cousin.

Cooper nodded a silent thanks and with a final glance in Laura's direction, walked out the door.