The Light in my Darkness

Chapter 21

A moment passed in which Clint wasn't certain you were going to respond to him at all. He almost wished you hadn't when you turned away from his touch and the light caught the sheen of tears in your eyes. Son of a bitch. His urge to beat the shit out of Rumlow was increasing by the moment.

"Don't worry about it. It's over."

Anger flared through him that you would still protect your father after everything he'd done, but before he could protest, Maria spoke up. "I know you'd rather just forget it, but you can't honestly expect us to let this go? This is too far."

You shrugged and gave a little laugh. "It doesn't matter. He's finally done what he wanted to do from the moment he met me. He has officially declared he's not my father. He's had me written out of his life. Happy Holidays and all that."

Clint saw easily through the carefree tone of your voice. As much as you and your father didn't get along, you were heartbroken. Damn it, Rumlow.

"What do you mean he's written you out of his life?" Nick asked. The dark tone to his voice had Clint hoping he never pissed the man off to that extent.

"I'm not his daughter anymore, okay? No money, no home, no nothing. Not even when he dies. He said we could discuss it when I come to my senses and do what he wants." Clint rubbed his hand down your arm and you pressed closer to his side.

There was a stretch of silence while they all digested what had just happened to their friend. At least that's what Clint assumed until Nick Fury leaned his head back in laughter.

Maria smacked his arm with the back of her hand and hissed his name. "What are you doing?"

The man struggled to get himself under control and wiped a tear from his eye. Clint glanced down to find you smiling in amusement at Nick. Well, that was something, at least.

"Sorry," he said and pulled himself together. "Not to put too fine a spin on it, Rumlow just fucked himself and it is a beautiful thing."

"So, are we kicking his ass or what?" Tony asked as he looked around the group.

"Oh, we are, but he's not even going to see it coming," Nick assured with a sinister grin.

You shivered against him and glanced up. "That's his evil smile. He has a plan."

The group found a table in the corner and settled in as Nick explained his contract with Rumlow's company rested contingent on you taking over for him, either before or after death. As Rumlow had disowned you and written you out of the will, that was no longer a possibility. When Fury backed out of his contract come Monday, it would cost Rumlow's company millions. It was a blow to the part of his anatomy Rumlow treasured the most, his wallet. You thought it was brilliant, but Clint still wanted to beat the shit out of him. A couple of discreet inquiries later, he'd discovered that Rumlow left as soon as he finished his conversation with you. Coward.

It wasn't much later when Natasha and Bucky joined them. Natasha greeted you with a hug and Clint arched a brow. He had no idea the two of you were that close and the knowledge had him shifting his weight in his chair uneasily. You glanced at him with a soft smile. "You okay, handsome?"

He forced a smile. "Of course."

You looked at him a moment longer before nodding your head once and turning back to the conversation. Clint spent the rest of the evening in quiet contemplation only occasionally contributing to the conversation.

At the end of the evening, Scott had barely shut the door behind the two of you after getting in the car before you turned to him, arms crossed. "Okay. What's up with you? You're broodier than normal."