Save Me! (Clint Barton's Son)

CHAPTER 6

Trigger Warning: Abuse!

*Please skip this chapter if you are sensitive to this subject.

*Please!

Alex can feel that his father wasn't ready to talk about the incident, so he decided that it would be better to change the subject.

"I'm sorry about what happen last night."

This time, Clint look over his son, seeing a guilty look on his face. "There's nothing you need to be sorry for, Alex. Life gives you shit, and shit happens."

The younger Barton wasn't fully convinced with those words, but he just flashes a small smile over his father.

The man groans as he sat up from leaning against the trunk. "When did it starts?"

Alex didn't look on the ground in shame, even when none of it was his faults. He plucks suddenly find the grass interesting as he softly caresses them. "Which one?" He mutters lowly.

Clint silently watches his behaviours but keep going. "The fear?"

The teenage boy hum, nodding. "It was that obvious?"

"Nat point it out, actually."

This answer cause Alex to raise his eyebrows in amuses, making the man snort understanding.

"The scary lady, not the blubbering bubbling burping one."

"I know—" The teenage nods. "Just find it interesting how close their name is."

"Yeah, we kind of promise to name the baby after her if Nathaniel is a girl, but he comes out with something a girl doesn't have so, Nathaniel it is. Now don't change the topic, I may be old, but I still can shoot straight."

Alex chuckles at his words and avoids eye contact once again. "I guess it started when I was eight."

Clint frown at the news but stay silent, wanting to know more.

"Mom has been working late for three-night straight. But that night must have hit her hard, especially after she found out her boyfriend cheated on her. Mom always has a new partner, but that doesn't mean she like being played." He explains, glancing over his father. "She was tired when she comes home that night, and I was quite hungry too. She forgets to buy some food for me, not that I can blame her. Guess I didn't take the hint and keep pestering her, asking her for food."

Clint notice that Alex's hands start shaking, making his frown deepen.

"S-she snap, a-a-and she-she—hit me. That was the first time she ever raises her hands at me."

"And she never stops," Clint adds, hit expression turn blank.

Alex eyes wide open, tears treating to fall. "But she wasn't a bad person. She took care of me when I sick! She bathed me! Clothed me! Feed me!"

"Still doesn't give her the right to hit you." The man state.

"You don't get it!" Alex stood up abruptly, his breathing starting to get erratic, but Clint calmly watches the teenager. "She's my mother—"

"Doesn't mean she can hit you like a punching bag whenever she wants—"

"You don't know her—"

"No one knows anyone more than themselves, Alex." Clint slowly stands up, patting his but to dust away some dead leaves and twigs. "She knows full well of herself and her actions."

"She apologizes—"

"And then what? Did she hit you again? And say she 'sorry'? Again?"

Alex's body starts shaking, but he doesn't know whether it was out of anger or the swirl of emotions tremoring inside of him. "She's my mother. I love her."

Clint slowly approaches his son, placing his palms on each side of the younger Barton's cheeks. "You are a good son. You deserve better than this, her." He can feel that he also on the verge of hitting his limits. He knows fully well Alex's emotions, and he's confused about what the feeling his having. To him, his mother is the only person he has left. Clint knows Lisandra, she wasn't the one who will let her emotions get the best of herself, but that doesn't mean she won't.

Leaning his forehead against Alex's, he let out a shaky breath, closing his eyes. "I know your mother, and she's a beautiful, stunning person. But people change Alex, better or worst. She may be your mother, my former lover, but that doesn't give her the right to hurt you. The blame was on me; she should hate me, not you." Opening his eyes, he meets a pair of reflection similar to his. "You, my son, I have been running around shooting arrows to save others child, yet my own son been hurting, and I wasn't there."

"It wasn't—"

"Alex. I left you, mother; I abandon her, both of you." Clint cut his son's protest, tears falling off his chin. "I was selfish. I thought I could save her, but when I go back, everything was gone, your mother, the circus, the acts."

Alex watches in silent; they are now separated, but Clint's hands still on him. He no longer trembling, only his eyes welling up at his father's words.

"I search for her, but I never found anything. I thought she was gone. I thought— I thought her brother—"

"Mom, have a brother?" Alex intercept, feeling foreigner at the new knowledge.

"She never told you?" Clint frown.

At the question, Alex shook his head, making Clint more confused. He remembers Lisandra and Maynard may not see eye-to-eye, but they were quite close given that their parents were taken away from them at an early age, making them left with each other.

As if something clicking in his head, Clint took a few steps back. "Haven't she said anything about Maynard? Maynard Tibolt?"

The air shifted within seconds, as both Barton no longer tearing but rather standing with frown plaster on their faces.

"Maynard? I—I—" Alex tries to search for any memories of having the name ever mentions but find none. But an image of a person did flash into his thought. "Is he blind with funny moustache?"

In seconds, Clint march forward, hands-on both Alex's shoulders. "Alex, where did you see him?" Clint's eyes wide in shock and worried as he asks in a rush.

"T-the funeral. I meet him at my mom's funeral."

Unknown by the Bartons, a silhouette shadowed by numbers of trees are watching them silently.

The silhouette has its hands' folds in front of its chest.

But just as the gentle breeze shaking the tree, the silhouette disappears, leaving no trace of anyone even stood there.

A/N: This is a short chapter; sorry about that. I also want to add some GIF to these few chapters, but Wattpad won't allow me!

Also, for those who didn't notice, Alex has gynophobia which is fear of the opposite sex. This was trigger by his mother constant abuse. 

So what do you guys think? Another roller coaster of emotions? Yeah, me too. 

Anyways, please leave some of your opinions and vote for it! Thank you!