Life Happens

Cooper

It had been almost a week since Tony had left. Everyone had been talking in hushed voices and tried to hide the fact that something was wrong. Sure having a Halloween party was fun but it wasn't exactly hiding that something was off. Cooper had learnt a few things growing up with a spy as a dad; one of which was sneaking around the vents. Sure the Tower had hidden them pretty well with fancy covers but Cooper knew exactly how wide they were and the layout. All it took was looking up the ceiling of each room and writing the locations down. Cooper lay in his bed waiting for the right moment to make his move. Lila and Nathaniel had both been asleep for over an hour meaning he'd have to make a lot of noise in order to wake them. All he had to do now was wait for his mom to come in and check that they were asleep. He lay with his back to the door waiting. After another half an hour Clint walked in the room instead. He slowly shut the door and walked over to Coopers bed.

"Cooper there's no point pretending I know you're awake." Clint whispered as he sat on the bed.

"How could you tell?" Cooper replied knowing he'd been busted.

"First of all, you spent way too long looking up at the ceilings the past couple of days and you didn't breath when I opened the door."

"Are you going to tell mom?"

"Not this time. But I do have something... a mission so to say." Cooper sat up straight in his bed. "I need you to be very quiet. And follow me."

    ****

The pair sat in complete silence. Cooper wasn't exactly expecting his dad to take him out in the middle of the night on a "mission" that he knew nothing about. Cooper starting playing with the hem of his old t-shirt not paying attention to whatever old rock was playing. "Dad..." Cooper started to talk but stopped himself. Clint turned the music off and sighed.

"I know this is weird for you."

"Bit of an understatement."

"Well... everyone has something weird that happens to them and for us... it's a hell of a lot crazier. You're eleven now and I know you don't want to be treated like a kid but... we were just trying to keep you safe. Your mom doesn't want you to know but I know better." Clint paused for a second. "This past month... it's all been a bit... look it's bad."

"Is this about the mission or?"

"I'm getting to that."

"Sorry."

"Cooper do you remember what happened last year in DC?" Cooper remember watching all about DC on the news. It's when everyone found out about S.H.E.I.L.D and The Winter Soldier and the destruction that was caused. Cooper nodded. "Well one of the bad guys might be back and he might be the reason me and your mom got hurt. Everyone is a little stressed at the minute and... we just didn't want to worry you." Clint tried to explain it as best as he could for Cooper without worrying him.

"So the hospital thing was him?" Cooper started putting the pieces together in his head.

"We think so. But... you see.."

"Is this where Steve and Tony come into this?"

"Er yeah. When Steve and Tony found out they had an argument and Tony got... upset and so he went away. I'm sure you already knew the last bit though."

"Do you know where he went?" Cooper looked at his dad. He could see the bags under his eyes a lot more. Cooper knew his dad was stressed but he didn't think his dad would lose sleep over it.

"I think so. That is why you're here. Tony... although he won't admit it he loves you. He loves kids. He won't talk to us adults because... well he's angry at us but you... you're innocent." Clint explained.