Author's Note: I'm not sure if I can keep up writing consistently when I have other deadlines and issues that get in the way. I've been so tired from school that when I get home, I am unable to do anything than the homework I have to and sleep. Anyway, you didn't come here to listen to me complain. So I will let you get to it.

Beyond the Masks We Wear

Bruce woke up and instantly panicked upon hearing someone else's breathing in his room. He wasn't used to hearing such sounds this early in the morning, or at all. Turning to the direction in which the sound came, Bruce saw Clint sleeping in a pile of comforters, pillows and sheets on his floor. Clint was sleeping in the middle of the pile and was surrounded, almost like a bird in a nest. Grabbing a loose blanket, he covered Clint and made his way to the kitchen, having decided on making breakfast. Grabbing the eggs from the fridge, along with some milk, butter, peppers and ham from a leftover dinner, settled on making an omelet for both himself and Clint.

Not knowing if Clint liked cheese on his omelet he passed on it but still put it on the table, in case he did want it. Bruce looked in the freezer, trying to find some bacon to fry up. He started frying the bacon, as he mixed the egg, chopped peppers, milk and ham together in a large bowl. Within a few minutes, the bacon was just turning crispy so Bruce turned off the burner and placed the bacon on a plate before moving it to the table.

Clint woke up to the smell of bacon and the faint sounds of activity in the kitchen. Bruce's bed was made, and didn't look like it was slept in, but he knew that Bruce was there all night. He could hear him talking in his sleep, mostly about the circus and the guy he met there. Walking through the hallway, after folding the blankets and sheets he used last night, he found Bruce in the kitchen cooking breakfast.

'He didn't have to make me breakfast, I'm used to making my own.'

"Good morning Bruce. It smells delicious, is you're mom here? I could take over while you go get her." Clint offered moving towards the origin of the wonderful smell.

"That wouldn't be necessary, she leaves for work pretty early most days. She's already gone. Its just the two of us."

'Why did I have to say it like that?' Bruce thought as he flipped the omelets, his back to Clint.

"That's too bad. Anything I can do to help?"

"I've got it, unless you want to get the drinks ready. These will be done in a minute or two." Bruce said, lifting one of the omelets to check if it was cooked through, it wasn't quite done yet.

"Sure thing! What do you want to drink?" Clint asked grabbing two cups from the cupboard before opening the fridge.

"I think we have Orange Juice in there, I'll have that. Help yourself to whatever you want." Bruce offered as he plated the omelets onto the plates he already had out.

They were sitting at the dining table, making small talk while they ate and laughing about what was on the news. After a few minutes, Bruce had finished his omelet and a few pieces of bacon, while Clint was still eating. Taking this time to openly stare at Clint, Bruce wondered if what he was feeling might be reciprocated.

Later that day, at the circus

Unbeknownst to the two teens, there was a pair of eyes that followed them with malicious intent. Clint thought he was paranoid, as he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched, but whenever he looked there wasn't anyone looking in his direction.

However, people who worked at the circus started recognizing Bruce even when Clint wasn't around and would stop and say hello before rushing off to fix something. Clint smiled whenever he saw Bruce's face light up whenever somebody stopped him and chatted with him for a minute. He gathered that Bruce lead a relatively lonely life, mostly in fear.

That Night

Clint wasn't surprised to find himself following Bruce to his home, with his bow this time. After the odd feeling he had all day, Clint didn't want anything to happen and be unprepared. Thankful that his bow looked like a child's toy, he received some odd looks from the neighbors as he walked down the street that led to Bruce's house. Clint's stomach knotted as he saw the figure looming in front of their destination.

"Hello father. How are you today?" Bruce asked with a blank expression on his face. He knew enough to not address his father but all he wanted to do was hide with Clint.

"I see you brought your fairy boyfriend home with you. Your kind make me sick to my stomach."

Clint immediately readied his bow, he wasn't planning on hitting a vital organ or artery, but he was going to make sure that it hurt regardless. As soon as he saw the other freak ready a weapon, he charged at Bruce. Snapping his eyes shut, Bruce stood there waiting for it to happen.

Clint let the arrow go, just grazing the side of Bruce's father's face. Falling backwards, Bruce's father scrambled to his feet and ran off not before giving a nasty look to both Bruce and Clint.

A/N: Short-ish chapter that makes no sense in my mind, probably because I wrote it over a two week period. Hopefully it makes sense to you all. Please let me know what you thought of it as it makes my school week oh so much better~!

~Ray