UNKNOWN GUEST

#6 Five versus One

When we got back to the parking lot to get our car, I spotted a few men lingering beside a nearby vehicle. They approached us, their intentions far from friendly. One man with a mustache looked at Lila and sneered, "Hey, little girl. Share some with us?"

Lila grabbed my hand tighter, sensing the danger. I sighed, my voice steady and confident, "Hey, don't you have any common sense? You grown a*s adults standing before a little girl for some candy? Go buy one for yourself, or beg for some money on the street."

Another man, a bulky one, glared at me. "You're running your little mouth so swiftly, boy."

I rolled my eyes, trying to stay calm despite the tension. "Yeah, so do us all a favor and move along."

Then, another man in the group pulled out a knife, his face cold and threatening. "Give me whatever you've got—keys, wallet, everything."

I raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "Whoa, really? A weapon just for a cotton candy?"

I looked down at Lila. "Lila, do you want to share your candy with these pigs?"

She shook her head firmly. I turned back to the intruders, "Sorry, mate. She doesn't want to share."

The knife-wielding man stepped closer, his patience wearing thin. "Enough of your sarcasm, kid. Hand over the keys and wallet, or else—" He reached for Lila.

Without hesitation, I grabbed his hand and twisted it, using a swift strike to his neck to make him drop the knife. He stumbled back, clearly in pain. The other four men pulled out their knives, the situation quickly escalating.

This was getting ugly fast. I turned to Lila, who was still standing near the car, her eyes wide with fear. "Lila, take these keys, get inside the car, and lock it. Go!" I instructed urgently.

She nodded, clutching the keys, and sprinted towards the car. As one of the men tried to run after her, I stepped into his path, dodging his knife with a quick sidestep and delivering a solid punch to his nose. He staggered back, clutching his face in pain.

Another man came at me, and I slid down between his legs, showing off some of my mom's skills. You ugly pigs might not be aware of this, but I was the son of badass Black Widow. 

I quickly got back to my feet, ready for the next attack. The men circled around me, their eyes filled with anger and surprise. They clearly didn't expect this level of resistance from a "boy."

Author's POV-

Clint paced back and forth on the porch, his movements sharp and deliberate. The wooden floorboards creaked softly under his boots with each step. The cool evening breeze ruffled his hair and fluttered the edges of his shirt, but he barely noticed. His mind was consumed with a whirlwind of thoughts.

He tried to remind himself of the trust he had once placed in Natasha. Back when she had first appeared in his life, standing there with her gun aimed at him, it had been a leap of faith to believe in her. She had earned his trust through her actions, proving herself to be more than just a threat. And she had gone on to become one of the most reliable allies he could ever ask for.

Jason, despite being a stranger, evoked a similar sense of trust. There was something about him—maybe it was the way he carried himself, or the way he had acted under pressure—that made Clint think he could be trusted. But it wasn't just about him. There was also Lila to consider. His little girl's safety was paramount, and trusting Jason with her, even if just for a brief time, was a huge risk.

The worry gnawed at him. What if Jason wasn't who he seemed to be? What if there was something he wasn't telling them, something that could put Lila in danger? Clint's protective instincts were on high alert, especially since Lila was involved.

As Clint kept an anxious watch on the driveway, he saw his car speed around the corner and head towards the fence. His heart skipped a beat, especially when he noticed Jason stepping out of the car, gripping his left elbow. A streak of crimson was seeping from Jason's hand, and it wasn't hard to guess what it was.

Clint's first instinct was to check on Lila. He dashed over to her as she hopped out of the car, her cotton candy still in hand, the sugary pink treat seemingly untouched by the commotion. Seeing her with the candy and looking unharmed was a relief. He quickly turned his attention back to Jason, his eyes narrowing with concern.

"What happened?" Clint demanded, his voice sharp with worry. "Did you get into a fight?"

Before Jason could respond, Lila piped up with her innocent tone, "No, Daddy. Some pigs attacked Jason for this candy." Her eyes were wide with a mix of fear and concern. 

Clint shot Jason a look of confusion, trying to piece together the story. Jason sighed, clearly tired and a bit exasperated. "Should we talk inside?" he asked, his voice carrying the weight of a story that needed to be told.

Clint nodded, his expression softening as he motioned for Jason to follow him. He guided him inside the house, his mind racing with questions. Once they were inside, he led Jason to the living room, motioning for him to sit while he fetched a first aid kit.

As Clint and Laura emerged from the bedroom, Laura's eyes widened in shock at the sight of blood staining Jason's hand. "What happened to you?" she gasped, her concern immediately evident.

Clint, ever the practical one, took a seat next to Jason on the couch and started working on cleaning the large cut on his elbow. Jason sighed and glanced at Lila, who was still hovering nearby. "Lila, go play with Cooper," he said gently, encouraging her to give them some space.

Lila nodded eagerly and trotted off towards the other room, leaving Clint and Laura alone with Jason. Clint's focus was on carefully cleaning the wound, his brow furrowed in concentration.

Jason took a deep breath and began recounting the events. "Don't know who they were, but they asked for the keys and wallet. So, I had to get us out of that situation." He winced slightly as Clint began stitching up the cut.

"How many were there?" Clint asked, his tone steady but curious.

Jason winced again as the needle worked. "Five."

Clint's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Those five and you alone?"

Jason nodded, avoiding eye contact. "Yeah, well, I managed somehow and drove us out from there."

Clint finished up the stitching and gave Jason a reassuring pat on the shoulder. Laura, who had been watching with a mix of concern and relief, spoke up. "Okay, have some rest, Jason. Because of me, you got—"

Jason shook his head, cutting her off. "Don't say that. It's fine. I volunteered."

Laura nodded, still looking a bit guilty but accepting Jason's reassurance.

With the immediate concern addressed, they left Jason to rest on the couch. He lay back, glancing at his freshly bandaged hand. The pain was dull but present, a reminder of the confrontation. As he stared at the bandage, the events of the day replayed in his mind. The cut might heal, but the tension of the encounter lingered.