Comic booking it

[from_a_distance]

Clint was not one to frequent comic shops. In fact, he usually stayed as far away from them as possible--not because, like the other Avengers, he was afraid he might be recognized, but because he was pretty certain he wouldn't be, and that got a little old after a while.

But Coulson had been moping because he couldn't get in to get his Captain America comics for a couple months, and Clint didn't like to see Coulson moping, so he decided to stop by and pick them up for the agent. He'd probably just drop them on his desk when Coulson wasn't around, but at least he knew it would make the man smile.

Comments

[mediumdrip]

"And you can meet Cooper too."

[from_a_distance]

His smile shifts into something a little more serious. "Yeah, I'd like that."

He wants to see what this guy is like if he's gonna be in Blaine's life.

[mediumdrip]

Blaine thought for a moment. "Will dad be able to come too?"

[from_a_distance]

Clint takes in a deep breath and lets it out slowly.

"No," he says quietly. "No, he won't be coming with us."

[mediumdrip]

"Why not?"

[from_a_distance]

"Because..."

He has to stop and think carefully about his answer. "Because you're dad is not a good man, Blaine. I know you love him, and that's...that's okay. You're supposed to love your dad. But he's not a good man."

His grip on the steering wheel tightens as he speaks.

[mediumdrip]

"What do you mean? He's a little strict and... and he's mean sometimes, but he's been through a lot. He wasn't like that when my mom was alive..."

[from_a_distance]

"He's more than a little strict," Clint says. "The way he treated you is not okay. I don't care what he's been through. That is never okay."

[mediumdrip]

"Oh... okay."

[from_a_distance]

"Hey," Clint says, more gently, and reaches over to touch Blaine's shoulder lightly. "I'm sure he...wasn't always like that."

[mediumdrip]

"He wasn't, so maybe he can change back? If I'm good enough, he can change back."

[from_a_distance]

"That's not how this works, kiddo. You're good enough. You've always been good enough. But he isn't. Not anymore."

[mediumdrip]

"Are you sure?"

[from_a_distance]

"Yeah, Blaine. I'm sure."

[mediumdrip]

"Okay, if you say so..."

[from_a_distance]

Clint sighs because he knows Blaine doesn't believe him, but he didn't really expect him to just yet.

"I do say so," he remarks anyway, and then they're coming up on Avengers Tower.

[mediumdrip]

Blaine frowns a bit and looks up at the tower. "Are we going there?"

[from_a_distance]

Clint smiles over at him. "What do you think, kiddo?"

[mediumdrip]

"If you're really an Avenger... Maybe we are? Is your friend there?"

[from_a_distance]

He laughs. "Yeah, he should be there. Unless he got called in to work."

[mediumdrip]

"I'd like to meet him."

[from_a_distance]

"I'm sure you will," Clint says, pulling his car into the entrance for the parking area of the Tower, pressing a button to relay his security information. "He will definitely be around. You should ask to see his comics."

[mediumdrip]

Blaine sits up, trying to see everything.

[from_a_distance]

As they pull past all of Tony's (really quite impressive) cars, JARVIS' voice comes over the PA system saying, "Welcome home, Agent Barton."

Clint is pretty sure he will never get used to that, but he answers, "Thanks, JARVIS. This is Blaine Anderson. He's staying for the weekend."

He pulls into his parking spot as JARVIS says, "Good afternoon, Master Anderson. I hope you'll enjoy your stay."

[mediumdrip]

"Hello?" Blaine said, looking around. "Where are you?"