Lights Will Guide You Home

1; THE ONE IN WHICH COOPER LEAVES AND LILA IS NOT AN EVIL SISTER

There is something really weird in the way the sun is hitting Cooper's face through the curtains, but perhaps he's the only weird thing in that almost empty room. He has been awake for hours now, mentally checking that all the things were already packed and all the clothes he needed were in his bags.
He is scared as hell, to be honest, and the draw Nathaniel has given to him the day before was only worse. Rubbing his face with his hand, he got up, and trying not to make noises, goes downstairs. In all that silence, he can actually think about all the things that are changing in his life, and suddenly he isn't so scared anymore: he's going to have an hard time at the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy, but maybe – probably – that is not all that matters... he has always a backup plain if being like dad doesn't fit him.
For the first time since he has told his parents about his life choice, Cooper feels relieved. He probably shouldn't, but he does, and to him this is totally fine. Going upstairs again, he stops by Nathaniel's door, slowly opens it and smiles a little watching him sleep just in the same way aunt Natasha does.
Cooper stays there for a few minutes. Despite being just eight years old, Nathaniel is an awesome kid, and he will probably miss him a lot – particularly his draws, to be honest. He closes the door and gives a look to his watch; it's only 6am, but he's quite sure Lila is already awake, doing something somewhere.
He stops by her door and knocks twice, since she always complains about how impolite he and Nathaniel are by entering in her room without even ask if she's at least dressed (and for the record she is, she just likes to be on her own when she is in her room).
When he doesn't hear any sound, he enters in the room, but only finds an open window, her bag on the floor and her school books open on the bed. He perfectly knows where she is, and it doesn't took a while before he jumps on the window and climbs the wall until he reaches the roof.
When he's finally stable on it, he gives a glance to his sister, who promptly returns. Lila is the most similar to Clint of the three of them, and it's actually weird, because nobody would never tell. Anyway, she's sitting on the top, headphones in her ears and Cooper is pretty sure it's too damn loud, so he signs her to lower it. Reluctantly, she does, and then waits until he sits next to her to share them with him.
"So you're leaving." She finally says when silence seems to be louder than Taylor Swift's voice.
"I'm just getting closer." He states, and Lila's blonde hair swish a little when she turns her head to see his profile. She perfectly knows what that means, and she can't help but envy him a little (not much, she will eventually get closer too in two years or so).
"You sure don't want to stay? Cassie will come visit tomorrow."
"What a... does she really waits until I leave to come? Just when I'm going to the same city as her?"
"Well, she didn't know you were actually going to be a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent..." Lila mumbles, and she barely keeps to herself the 'nobody would have ever thought that to be honest' part. "Mom's upset by the way. Dad's upset too."
"Phil's not."
"Just because you're his godchild – I don't think he really matters you know?"
"Well when Nick will see you kicking asses he won't be proud of you?" He asks, and Lila actually thinks he has a point.
"Nate will miss you, dumbass."
"You won't?"
Lila smiles. It's a small smile, but Cooper notice everything and that one doesn't make exceptions. "You know, you and I have been through a lot." She begins to say, and Cooper would rather leave now that wait for Natasha, Melinda e Barbara to come pick him and see Lila be vulnerable.
"Don't even..."
"Let me finish jerk, I am talking." She says and for a moment she has the same look as Clint when he's mad for something. "When we lived in that small apartment in Brooklyn and dad was always sick worried for us because of burglars you were right there next to me." She pauses and a big sigh escapes her lips. "Then we moved here, and dad said we were finally safe – then he got brainwashed."
This time is Cooper who sighs heavily, because he remembers too well of her mom's expression seeing his dad so frightened, aunt Natasha right next to him telling her that she would have done everything to protect the family if something with him could have gone wrong. He remembers his mother cry in the kitchen when she thought everybody was fast asleep, the news turned on and God, everything there looks like a mess and where the hell is Clint.
"And then Ultron came along – but we gained Pietro and Wanda at least, so maybe something good from it happened. The thing I mean is that... you were always by my side and now I'm losing the target."
Again, Cooper totally understands her point. "You can start with Nate – he's a mess maker, it will be believable."
"But you are my big brother, it's my job to give you hell. And if you leave I can't."
Smirking, Cooper rests his arm around her shoulders, since a moment like this in which damn Lila Nicole Barton is trying to be a nice little sister won't come around in a while.
"Have you heard dad lately?" She finally asks, hugging him tight.
"Nope, and I'm not sure he wants to hear me, so..."
"Call him."
"Sure."
"Promise me you'll call dad as soon as possible Cooper Francis Barton." She says again and God, not that look Lila, you're scary.
"I told you I will!"
She looks at him and raises her eyebrows because she know he will totally not call their dad, but they will eventually meet, so there's no point in insisting. When she gives a look to her phone, Lila almost jumps.
"I'm late."
"For what?" Cooper asks frowning.
"Normal teenagers things I guess." She replies, shrugging a little. "Coop?" She finally says, ready to jump in her room again.
"What?"
"Don't die out there, okay?"
"You know I won't be thrown in a mission on my first day, right?" He asks, and Lila can feel all the sarcasm but she gets away with it – she's too used to it.
"You know what I mean."
Cooper nods and she quickly disappears, leaving him alone with his thoughts. When the Quinjet arrives he's tempted to run in his room and hide under the bed, but then Natasha shows off, and things go definitely better.
He's ready and he knows that. His parents knows that, and Nathaniel and Lila too. Damn, even Natasha knows he's ready to tear everything down, because he's Cooper, but before being Cooper he is a Barton. And everybody knows you can't mess with any of them.