When Love Goes Wrong

Chapter 20: Hidden Guilts

Adeen walked outside by herself with her hands in her pockets. It was pretty nice out for April. It was almost 90 degrees outside; a very dramatic change in the weather they had been having. A lot of things were going through Adeen’s mind about her position on the team, the text from Rain, her psychologist bring up her overseas missions and PTSD; everything was just beginning to hit her hard. She needed to clear her mind before she would snap at someone so she escaped to the outside where no one could interrupt her thinking process. She stopped suddenly when she felt someone was following her. A frustrated sigh slipped from her lips and she closed her eyes.

“Clint, leave me alone…” she quietly told him, keeping her eyes shut.

“Adeen, I just want to talk…”

“I said, leave. Me. Alone!”

Adeen began walking again, clenching her hands into her fists and her eyes opening, staring ahead of her. At the moment, she wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone really, and Clint was not at the top of her list at that exact time.

“Adeen please let me talk to you.” Clint begged, walking right behind her outside, trying to get her to listen.

            “Well it’s pretty obvious I’m not in the mood to be talked to at the moment so if ya don’t mind.” Adeen told him in a very annoyed tone.

            Clint grabbed her arm and pulled her around grabbing both her arms so she would have to look at him. Adeen looked up at him and saw pain in his eyes. He looked down at her as if she was the only one there. She looked at him confused and annoyed by his sudden action.

            “Adeen, I just need to know one thing! That’s all!”

            “What, Clint?! What do you want?”

            “I want to know if you are happy with that monster!” Clint answered angrily.

            “First of all, Bruce isn’t a monster! And he’s sweet, kind, understanding, mature, and is always there for me unlike someone! So if you don’t mind, I want to get away from my father’s murderer.”

            Adeen tried to get away from Clint without using her strength but it wasn’t really working out the way she thought it would. He stared down at her wanting to talk to her, wanting her to listen. She had no idea how terrible he felt in killing her father. He thought Leroy was trying to pull her down with him. Not the opposite of that. Clint didn’t even know if Adeen would ever forgive him for this. Before Clint knew what he was doing, he kissed Adeen, pulling her closer to him. Bruce saw this from a few feet away and started walking angrily towards Clint. Adeen pushed him away and glared at him with intense dislike.

            “What the hell is your problem?” she snapped at him.

            “I’m sorry…I…”

            “Clint, get away from her!” Bruce angrily exclaimed, pushing Clint back with a massive shove.

            “You want to try that again man?”

            “I will if you don’t leave her alone.” Bruce threatened, standing in between Adeen and Clint.

            Adeen was taken aback by Bruce’s sudden change in behavior. He never usually was this defensive or protective towards anybody. He usually tries to avoid trouble when it begins to stir. Bruce’s eyes were filled with a valiant and protective glare that Adeen could feel pulse through his veins. She wanted to calm him down but thought to stay back in case that would start another fight. She crossed her arms and began rubbing them as if to keep her warm but she only really did this when she was extremely nervous about the outcome. The emotions emitting off the two guys were far too strong for her to read fluently. All she could feel was hate, anger, and defensive mechanisms.