Chapter 14

Natasha made me chocolate chip pancakes. I grinned and ate them. "There's more people from the team coming up here later on today Clint, okay? I am warning so that you don't get a fright", Natasha explained. I should have known you don't get chocolate chip pancakes for no reason. "What's there names?" I asked. "Scott, Wanda and Vision", Bruce replied. I frowned slightly, "vision is a weird name". Bruce laughed into his tea. "It's not nice to slag other people's names", Natasha told me off. "I'm sorry", I said before smiling.

"Can I go explore?" I asked Natasha. She nodded and told me to stay on this floor. I pouted because I wanted to check out the roof. My smile quickly returned when I found a games room, I played pac man. I heard more voices coming from the common area. I stood in the door way watching as Tony, Thor and Steve made their breakfast. Natasha and Bruce were talking to a man and a woman and a robot? "Is this the Clint, we've heard so much about?" The man, Scott called to me. He kneeled down in front of me. "I brought you something", he told me as he pulled a Hersey bar out of his jacket pocket. I grinned and thanked him. I sat on the couch and ate it. "See I'm great with kids", I heard Scott bragging. I like him already. "I can't believe that's Clint, how does that even happen?" Wanda asked. Tony and Bruce splurged a lot of science talk at her. I looked around and noticed that there was 9 people in the room, that's too many.

Vision sat down beside me. "Are you okay Clint?" Don't lie. I shook my head. "Too many people", I told him. I'm not sure why. I noticed my nest and ran straight over and crawled in. I'm safe, I'm in my nest. I could still hear the guys outside. "Natasha?" I called, I really want to go upstairs. Natasha didn't hear me, I climbed out of my nest and pulled her arm. "Natasha", I called wanting her attention. Natasha sighed, "what Clint?" She looked mad, I noticed the glass in her hand. I stepped back, "nothing, I'm sorry". I walked over to the lift and took the lift up on my own. I went straight to my room. I took out a book, Harry Potter. I began reading it and I couldn't put it down.

When I was half way through the book, Jarvis told me that Natasha is looking for me. I sighed as I carried my book with me. I took the lift down to the common floor. I read in the lift and dint notice the doors open until Jarvis pointed it out. I searched for Natasha. She came straight over to me. "Clint what did I say about leaving the floor?" Natasha asked me. I looked at the floor. "I'm disappointed Clint", Natasha told me before sitting down on the couch beside Steve. I frowned. "Disappointed?" I pulled at Natasha but she ignored me. "Why can't you just hit me? I don't want you to be disappointed. I heard Wanda gasp, the room went silent. I hugged Natasha but she stayed still. "Tasha I'm sorry, I was scared, I even tried going into my nest but I couldn't be brave enough. I'm sorry Tasha. Please just hit me instead. I don't want you to be disappointed in me", I sobbed. I could feel Natasha's heart beat on my hand. "Just hit me!", I was screaming at this stage.

I continued to sob into her shoulder. I eventually stopped. "Are you done." Natasha asked me. I nodded and relaxed when she wrapped her arms around me. "Clint, don't you dare ever tell someone to hit you", Natasha warned me. I cuddled into her, refusing to let go.

"When are we going to Iowa?" I asked Natasha. "Next weekend", Natasha answered. "Now" I want to go now. "Everything is booked for next weekend so that is when we are going Clint", Natasha explained. I nodded in understanding. "I can't wait!" I exclaimed.

I smiled when I woke up cuddled into Natasha. "Are we going today?" I asked her. "After a whole week I can finally say yes to that question", she replied with a smile. I stood up and jumped on the bed. "If you fall don't come running to me", Natasha warned me. I grinned and landed beside her. "Ahh, that's my arm", Natasha practically growled. "I'm sorry Tasha", I mumbled as I gave her a big hug. Natasha smiled, "it's okay". I wiggled out of Natasha's hold and got dressed.

I went back in and found Natasha asleep again, "Jarvis who's in the kitchen?" I looked up at the ceiling when I said it. " and Sir". I giggled because Jarvis called me a sir. I headed down to the kitchen, I could feel the hunger in my stomach.

I silently exited the lift and walked up to Pepper, "Good morning ". I put on my best British accent. She laughed and ran her hand through my hair. "Good morning ". I grinned as I sat up behind the breakfast bar. "Can I have poptarts for breakfast Pepper?", I asked her with the best puppy dog eyes I could manage. "Okay but only this one time", Pepper gave in to me. I grinned as I watched the toaster waiting for the pop. "Do they taste good?" I asked Tony who was sitting beside eating waffles and blueberries. "You've never had poptarts before?" Tony sounded surprised. I shook my head. "What about twinkies?" Tony asked, I had never heard of them. I shook my head again. "Wonka, Herseys, peanut butter cups?" Tony listed of the bars. I have never heard of them. "Nope", I replied as the poptarts popped. I jumped slightly. I went to take one out of the toaster. "Ahh", I pulled my fingers back and put them in my mouth. "Pepper I burnt my fingers", I told her as I reached for the tap. "Here put this on it", she said as she rubbed burn gel into it. Tony took out my poptarts, I thanked him and took a bite. My eyes lit up. I can't believe I never tasted this its just as good as ice cream.

"When are we going?" I asked Tony. I took another bite and smiled at how good it tasted. "She's the one that organises everything", Tony told me and pointed at Pepper. Pepper laughed. "Yeah Tony isn't good at that sort of thing. We'll be leaving at 11. It's 8 now, 3 hours", Pepper explained. I sighed. I want to leave now. "I'm going up to my work shop for a bit", Tony told us as he left. "Can I go with him?" I asked Pepper. She shook her head. I finished my poptarts before going back upstairs to find Natasha. "Jarvis where is Tasha?" I asked him when she wasn't in her room. " is the gym sir", Jarvis told me. I got back into the lift and pressed the floor for the gym.

The gym is massive. It consisted of a shooting range, a boxing ring, an area with exercise equipment, a trampoline, a floor covered in mats and track. I ran for the trampoline and started bouncing on it. I couldn't stop laughing.

After a while Natasha found me, she didn't look happy. I stopped bouncing. "Kids aren't supposed to be in here Clint", Natasha warned me. "Fine", I sighed and got down. Adults are mean. I turned around before getting in the lift, "please can I stay?" Natasha said nothing but pointed at the lift. I got in and went straight to my room. I couldn't help but crying. I just wanted to do something fun. I don't see why I wouldn't be allowed on a trampoline. Natasha just doesn't want me. I took down a book and a torch, and got into my nest, in the wardrobe. My rubbed my eyes with my sleeve.

I heard my door open. "Jarvis I thought you said he was in here", I heard Pepper say to the ai. "He's in the wardrobe ", Jarvis ratted on me. Pepper opened the wardrobe door. "Sweetie what are you doing in there", Pepper asked as she kneeled down. "It's my nest", I told her with a slight smile. I wished it was Natasha finding me. Pepper looked sad. I frowned because Barney always told me to go to my nest. I laid my head on my curled up knees. I wanted Natasha. But then again Natasha's angry. I felt tears build up in my eyes as Pepper rubbed my back. "It's okay Clint, you can come out of your nest now", she told me trying to convince me to leave it. I shook my head, keeping my face hidden. I didn't want Pepper to know I was crying. "We're leaving for Iowa soon, we're all ready to leave we just had to find you", Pepper explained. A small smile appeared on my face at the thought of Iowa. We were finally leaving. "I want Tasha", I said with a sob. "Natasha is in the car waiting for you", Pepper said before she stood up. I looked up at her and took in a deep breathe before l stepped out of my nest. I walked past Pepper and looked around the room. "What are you looking for Clint?" Pepper asked me, she had now moved to sitting on the bed. I looked back towards my nest. "Clint it's okay", Pepper reassured me, even though she didn't know what was wrong. "I forgot..I'm sorry, I'm an idiot", I focused my eyes on the ground as I sat beside her. "What did you forget Clint?", Pepper asked me, I searched for any sign that she would betray me and found none. "To pack a bag", I told her as I searched for one.

I found a bag under the bed with adults clothes, fake ids and weapons in it. "What did older me work as?" I asked her as she helped me pack a bag. "I never asked, but Natasha knows ask her", Pepper changed the subject immediately. "Are you excited to go to Iowa". I nodded eagerly as I ran for the lift.

The journey down took forever. "Can I sit beside Tasha?", I asked Steve as he greeted me with a high five. "Of course buddy," Steve smiled and pointed to the car that Natasha was in. I opened the back seat and frowned when I saw Bruce. "I'm right here Clint, I called shotgun", Natasha explained. "And you're letting her do that", I asked Bruce cautiously. He chuckled. "No one 'lets' Natasha do anything. She's free do what she pleases, to an extent," Bruce explained. Steve got in the drivers seat and asked everyone if they were strapped in before speeding out of the garage. I drifted of to sleep.

When I woke up we were in Iowa. It me a second but I quickly realised where we were. I knew this road all too well. I had nightmares about it. No one, not even Barney, knew that I witnessed the crash. I took in deep breaths. "Clint why are you crying, we do don't realise how much you missed this place", Bruce asked me in a calm tone, he was always calm. I like Bruce. I didn't realise I was crying. I pulled my knees up to my chest. Steve pulled over and Natasha got out of the car. "No!" We can't stop here. I felt my voice go. They need to know that we can't stop here. I looked at Steve, trying to plead that he keeps driving but it didn't work. I unstrapped myself and ran into Natasha's open arms. "No...no," I sobbed. "Please tell us what's wrong, did you have a nightmare". I shook my head and continued to sob. Natasha rubbed her hand through my hair. "It's okay, there's nothing to be scared of." I hugged Natasha. Mom used to relax me in the exact same way. I pushed away from Natasha. "No", it hurt to talk, I could feel a lump in my throat. I escaped Natasha's arms and ran into the corn field, beside the road. I kept running until I reached my old house.

There was someone else in it, someone else living there. I wiped my eyes with my shirt and sat on the kerb outside the house. Shortly after I sat down a man sat beside me. He was giving me a strange look. "Hey buddy, where's your parents? You've been sitting here awhile." He asked me. "They're dead sir", I told him in a cold, harsh tone. "Is there anyone I can call?" He offered as he put his jacket around me. I hadn't noticed the cold. "You were shivering", he explained. I smiled. "Thank you sir and no sir, I don't know their numbers". I replied. I took reluctantly took his jacket off of me. "I'm sorry for the trouble", I told him as I handed it back. He smiled sadly as he took it and left. Stark pulled up shortly afterwards, he looked relieved. Surely running away and getting lost is enough for a beating. "There you are kid, we were worried sick", he sighed as he hugged me. I froze in his arms. "Maybe coming to Iowa wasn't the best idea", Tony mumbled as he strapped me in. I pouted. I stayed silent as Tony called everyone to let them know I had been found. Tony drove up to a hotel, it was more like a castle. "Am I in trouble?" I asked him cautiously. Tony nodded, "probably". I sighed. I hopped out of the car and walked up to Natasha, keeping my head down the entire time. "I'm sorry Tasha", I told her as I hugged her tightly. Natasha sighed and bent down wrapping me up in a big hug. "No I'm sorry Clint. I should've realised where were we were and got Steve to detour," she hugged me back. I finally relaxed. I whispered in Natasha's ear, "can we go visit my mom and dad?" Natasha nodded and told Steve that she was bringing me out before leading me over to one of the cars.

When we pulled into a parking space, I got out and immediately held Natasha's hand. "It's scary here", I admitted as I stood as close as possible to her. Natasha handed me the flowers that I begged her to buy. It didn't take much she agreed very quickly.

As I walked up to the grave, still holding Natasha's hand. I gulped as I read the name, 'Rest in peace Edith Barton, a loving mother and daughter, and Harold Barton, a devoted father and son. I placed the flowers on the grave. "Can I have a moment?" I shyly asked Natasha. She took a step back, close enough to be able to see me not hear me. I felt the smooth rock and the engraving on the stone. "Dad you always told me not to cry when I'm down", it felt weird talking to a rock but strangely comforting. "But mom there's a tear every time that I blink". I wiped my eyes with my t-shirt. "Mom, every time I fell down you were there, and Dad you thought me how to be strong", I ran my fingers over the names. "Why did God have to take you back? I'm scared Mom, Dad I'm sorry but I I can't be strong. It's tearing me up" I smiled, "I remember what you used to say when I was sad, 'a heart that's broke is a heart that's loved' you were my angel Mom." I looked back to check that Natasha was still there, her eyes were watery. I smiled before turning my attention back to my parents. "Mom I hope that I can see the world as you did, after all we got to love our lives in order to live them, right?" I traced my fingers over the cross. "Are you listening Mom? Can you hear me from up there?" I looked up at the blue sky. "This is Natasha, she was my wife, but I hurt her and I'm really sorry about that. I'm trying my best not to make the same mistakes again. I'm not allowed to lie, that's how I hurt her. I don't remember what happened but I'd say I loved her for real. How could I not? She's really pretty and great for cuddles, but she's more than that she's strong and confident. She keeps me safe. She's really kind. Do you like her mom?", I looked back to Natasha again. She was smiling at me. "I'm sorry Mom, I don't know what happened to Barney. I mean I might have known but I don't remember". Natasha tapped me on the shoulder, telling me we have to go now. "Goodbye Mom, goodbye Dad", I said my final words before standing up, I brushed the dirt off my knees and took Natasha's hand again. I was sad that Bobbi and Hunter couldn't come but at least the guys from the tower came with us. I waved at the grave as we walked back to the car. I wiped away the rest of the tears as I leant into Natasha. "Do you feel better now?" Natasha asked. I nodded.

"I'm tired", I told her as I strapped myself in. Natasha drove back to the hotel. No one was home. "We need to get some dinner into you before you sleep", Natasha told me. I nodded, struggling to keep my eyes open. "Aww somebody's sleepy", Tony mocked. I reached out for him, he carried me up to my room. "He trusts you", I heard Natasha tell Tony. I yawned and fell asleep on his shoulder on the way.

Thanks for reading xx