Chapter Text
Matt laid back on the bed, face aimed at the ceiling as he listened to the orphanage waking up around him. He was partly nervous and partly, mostly, skeptical of what the day would bring.
He’s been at St. Agnes for over four years now and several times families showed momentary interest in Matt, until they learned he was blind and not at all subtly backed out. After the year with Stick and then being left behind, Matt honestly didn’t have much hope for anyone sticking around for him. Father Lantom and the nuns were obligated to put up with him, didn’t mean they chose him in any way. So, he really just never considered adoption as an actual option for himself.
He was a “disabled, problem child” to quote one couple who’d asked about him a previous year and were completely unsettled by his attitude and history of “issues”. Sister Maggie had tried to talk to him about how he should act and behave, but that honestly made it worse.
Matt was prepared to live at the orphanage until he went to college. He didn’t necessarily want to, but he was prepared to. Which was why he was so shocked when Father Lantom approached him last week about a couple that would like to meet him, already knowing he was blind. They were Laura and Clint Barton, probably in their early thirties if he had to guess, and when he met them, it wasn’t at all like he’d been expecting. They knew he was blind, so he was expecting pity at the very least, but what he got was the same sort of feelings he’d overhear from couples talking with other kids; just general concern and empathy about a lonely kid. And they seemed genuine in wanting to know more about him and were completely unfazed by his attitude and wariness.
It was the first time anyone had shown true, pure interest in Matt and he wasn’t sure how to feel about it. He remembered the conversation Father Lantom had with him that evening on the steps of the church, when he tried to persuade him to give it a try, use it as the opportunity it is to start anew. In that sense, Matt tried to see it as the opportunity it was to get away from the noise of the orphanage.
He loved Hell’s Kitchen, but the orphanage was sometimes too much when he couldn’t block out the children crying all around him every night.
He’d promised Father Lantom that he would give it a try, knowing his dad would probably want him to, too. That didn’t mean he had any sort of hopes it would last. They may have seemed interested in him at first, but Matt knew his anger bottled up inside him would explode sooner or later. He’d been keeping a tight cap on it for a good year now, trying more to just focus on school and ignoring all the other kids. He was tired of getting shit from the nuns for picking fights against kids who deserved to be taken down a few.
However it went down though, Matt was sure this wouldn’t last and he’d be back in this room by the end of the school year at the latest, which was only three months away.
He wasn’t thrilled about transferring to a new school either, but rather dreading it. Kids at his current-or old now-know better than to fuck with him or talk shit about or to him. They knew to just leave him alone. Now he has to start over.
The main thing that really intrigued Matt about all of this, was that Clint Barton was deaf. The hearing aids he used were pretty quiet but the buzzing of them still sat in his ears after they left. He was pretty sure that was why they were interested in adopting Matt of all kids; disabled parent to parent the disabled teen. Matt was grateful in a way since they’d understand him a little better and be more empathetic than others could.
Matt was suddenly pulled from his thoughts by approaching footsteps. It was Father Lantom. He furrowed his brows at the memory of hearing Sister Maggie stop outside his door in the middle of the previous night. He didn’t think he mattered all that much to the nun. Sure, she showed a little more interest than the others, but it really just seemed like obligation to him. He shook his head and sat up on the mattress.
Father Lantom knocked politely three times then opened the door as there wasn’t really much privacy given.
“Good morning, Matthew,” he greeted warmly.
“Morning, Father. Are they here?” He replied blandly.
The man shook his head with a light amused smile. “No, but they will be shortly. Please gather your things then meet us at the front.”
“Us?” Matt asked.
“Sister Maggie has elected to wait with us and to meet the Barton’s as well.”
Matt huffed and stood up. “Wow. Didn’t think she cared that much.”
Father Lantom’s heart rate jumped slightly, probably from nerves but it was odd and made Matt still as he spoke quietly. “Of course, she cares, Matthew.”
He didn’t bother responding and moved to his meager wardrobe to pull out the two bags he’d packed yesterday.
“We’ll see you in a few minutes,” Father ended, walking back down the hall. Matt took a deep inhale and pulled out his backpack first to make sure everything was still in it: his few clothing items and book. Then he crouched down and placed his hand on the small duffle bag. He took a deep breath then finally stoop up, swung the backpack on and placed the duffle on his shoulder. He held his cane in his right hand. He paused for a minute and just listened. He heard Sister Maggie approaching Father Lantom who was waiting in the open doorway of the church.
Father Lantom did not beat around the bush; “Matthew is gathering his things. Are you sure you want to be here for this, Sister?”
Maggie took a deep breath with a nod. “I’m sure, Father.”
Matt just shook his head and ignored his confusion. It didn’t matter what they were really talking about. He slowly made his way out of the dorms and into the church. The Father and Sister were standing quietly but turned as he approached, the tap of his cane echoing loudly off the stones.
Sister Maggie spoke first. “Good morning, Matthew.”
“Morning, Sister,” he greeted plainly with a nod. “Are they here yet?”
“They should be here any minute,” Father Lantom answered.
“Shall we wait outside? It’s a nice morning,” Sister Maggie suggested.
Matt just shrugged which they took as a yes. She led the way out to a bench just by the road. Maggie’s stature was steady as always, but her heart rate was revealing that she was anxious. Is she always anxious about kids being adopted? Matt thought to himself.
Father Lantom stood off to the side as if to give them space, but Matt had nothing to say and it seemed neither did Maggie. Matt spent the minutes memorizing the sounds and smells of his city. He knew Hell’s Kitchen better than anyone, had walked it with his dad and had walked it blindly, alone. He had his favorite fire escapes to climb and roofs to sit on when he needed to get away. He wasn’t totally sure where the Barton’s lived, just that it was outside of the city. He could already feel an ache in his chest from the knowledge he was leaving.
He was pulled from his thoughts as a car approached and slowed to a stop just in front of them. Maggie stood up and stepped forward to stand by the Father. Matt took a deep breath and got to his feet. The car turned off and two people got out. Clint and Laura walked over, hearts mostly steady but slightly elevated in either excitement or nervousness.
“Hey, Matt!” Clint greeted as he walked over and stood in front of him, the buzzing echoing strongly from his ear.
“Hi, Clint. I’ll assume Laura is behind you,” Matt replied, smirking a little when both of them huffed a laugh.
“Hi, Matt. We’re so excited to bring you home and start this new chapter with you,” Laura exclaimed as she came to stand beside Clint.
“Me too,” Matt agreed, mostly meaning it but not trying to hide his wariness. It didn’t seem to bother them.
“Good to see you again, Mr. and Mrs. Barton,” Father Lantom said, holding his hand out to them. Both Clint and Laura shook it then Father turned to Matt. “Well, Matthew, we’ll certainly miss you around here. But I really hope this works out for you.”
Father Lantom wasn’t lying about any of that, so Matt gave him a genuine smile. “Thank you, Father Lantom.”
Father nodded and stepped back. Clint came over to Matt. “Can I take your bags to put them in the car?”
“Oh, sure,” Matt replied, letting his backpack slide off his shoulder to hand to Clint. Laura walked to the bench and picked up the duffel bag.
Sister Maggie didn’t move closer but her heart rate jumped a little before she spoke. “Matthew, take care of yourself.”
“Yes, Sister,” Matt said, a little confused by how she was acting, especially considering she’s never acted this nervous or uncertain the four years he’d been here, and yet ever since he met the Barton’s, she’d been hesitant around him. He internally sighed and just ignored it, as it didn’t matter, then turned toward the car.
“Okay, Matt, the car is about ten feet ahead and Clint opened the door already so you’ll be able to feel it.” Laura was standing beside him but allowing him the choice to be directly guided or not and he actually really appreciated it. She gave specific directions and after a few steps, his cane hit the open car door. He carefully got into the back seat as Laura and Father Lantom spoke a final time.
“If you need anything, please call us. We’ll happily help with anything for Matthew.”
“Thank you, we will,” Laura replied, sounding like she was smiling. She walked over to the car and climbed into the passenger seat and Clint turned the car on.
Matt buckled in then turned his ear to the orphanage that had been the closest thing to feeling like home since his dad died. As they moved down the blocks, he listened to his city, wondering when he’ll get to be in it again, but strangely hoping that maybe it won’t be soon. There was just that tiny shred inside of him that wanted to be happy, but it was generally overrun by his fear of everything going wrong. But as he took in the peaceful happiness coming from the Barton’s, he couldn’t help but ask himself, what if it all went right?