Sam and Clint | Cumberland (slightly backdated)

[xp_cannonball]

Sam shows Clint around his hometown and they talk about family. 
TW: mentioned child abuse

Sam leaned into Clint’s touch as they walked through town, one hand shoved into the pocket of his well-worn old Carhartt jacket that used to belong to Daddy, the other pointing out landmarks from his childhood. “An’ that’s where I nearly got arrested the first time. Thank goodness the sheriff’s my old pal Jimmy’s uncle - that’s spared me a whole lotta trouble over the years.”

Clint shook his head, tightening his arm around Sam's shoulders briefly before pulling him in a bit so he could press a kiss to his temple. "Just how many times did you almost get arrested, babe? And then how many'd you actually get arrested?"

Sam grinned. “Are we countin’ bein’ banned from the county fair and escorted out as gettin’ actually arrested? Cause if not it’s only ever been almost. Sheriff Moore gave me a ride home ‘bout once a week for most of high school. Course I graduated at sixteen so it weren’t too awfully long….” Nevermind that immediately post high-school he’d had a full time job and was causing adult problems. Jimmy’s uncle hadn’t hardly picked him up for those.

Sam cheerily waved at a woman around Clint’s age who glared as she passed them on the street. “Merry Christmas Mary, how’s the grandkids?”

He shrugged when she threw him the bird and turned back to Clint with a smile, as if nothing had ever happened. “If we keep walkin’ this way we’ll pass by the place I got you that shot glass last year.”

"I'm fond of that shot glass," Clint commented, watching the woman who'd flipped them off in a window reflection. He paused for a second, then asked, "Hey, I didn't think about it, but are you cool with PDAs here? I mean. I figure you'd've let me know by now if you weren't, but...?" He tipped his head back toward the woman and raised his eyebrows.

“Course I’m fine with it, I don’t care what these folks think of me, they’ve all had their opinions for least a decade now and ain’t nothin’ changin’ it.” He snorted with a laugh when Clint gestured towards Mary. “Mary Cabot? Now I can’t say for certain but I’d be surprised if Mary was intentionally homophobic like that, Hell, there’s a good 75% chance that was personal. She’s the Mama of Mel’s nemesis and I done got her nephew arrested for murder back in July.”

Sam tilted his head up to look at his boyfriend, shit eating grin on his face as he teased. “Or maybe she just clocked you as a city slicker.”

"God, you absolute hoodlum," Clint said, laughing. "There's obviously some redeeming quality I have, since you don't mind being seen with me, even if I am from the city." He paused, then chuckled. "Can you imagine their faces if they found out I actually ran away to the circus?"

Sam laughed and pulled him down for a quick kiss. “I could think of a few redeeming qualities. Though I’d definitely pay to see Lucinda’s face if you told her ‘bout the circus.”

Sam pushed forward a bit and intertwined their fingers tugging Clint along. “Some days I almost miss all this and then I remember what it was actually like to live here….”

"I mean, it's got its charm. And I'm sure most people who live here are completely fine with it. But I guess small towns always have their own issues," Clint offered. "Same way everybody kinda lives in everybody else's pockets at the mansion. Only here there's more... I dunno. Gossip. And y'know, the whole blood feud thing. Glad we don't have that up in New York." He squeezed Sam's hand briefly. "You wanna take me by anywhere else you got up to no good, Samuel?"

Sam wrinkled his nose and laughed. "It's always so weird when you full-name me. But I really got in trouble...everywhere? The mine's up ahead down end of the road. The church I grew up in is down this side street- no more snakes thankfully but I still ain't steppin' foot inside again."

Sam still pulls him through town, pointing out other things, like which businesses are owned by who, and pointing out a sketchy looking trailer where he's determined to have Clint get barbecue with him before they leave. On their way back to the car they passed a couple, Lucinda's age, who glared heavily at Sam before the wife noticed their clasped hands.

There's almost a glint in her eye when she leans in to tell Sam. "God help yer mother, Samuel."

Sam grinned, a wild light in his eyes. "I don't think He'd want much to do with 'er these days. Givin' 'er the silent treatment I fear, Mrs. Cabot. Merry Christmas, must be hard this time of year with the anniversary n' all. Julia's in my thoughts."

The man looked like he might swing but his wife dragged him away, glaring at Sam over her shoulder as they left.

Sam laughed, now jogging towards the car rather than walking casually. "Okay, now we prolly oughta hurry to the car before I get us in a heap of trouble."

Clint paused, turning around to frown at the couple. He tugged Sam back for a moment, then asked loud enough for them to hear, "Julia was Jay's fiancee, right? The one killed by her brother? Who got arrested over the summer? Was it her murder he went down for? Seems like it's those two who oughta be worrying about what God thinks of them."

Sam breathed deeply through his nose and hissed. “Clinton. What part’a ‘we oughta hurry to the car’ ain’t you gettin’? We ain’t pickin’ a fight at Christmas this year.”

He pulled Clint further down the street, now vigilant for Cabot brothers and cousins, but the car was just ahead. “Now you best calm yerself, we got ‘bout an hour drive to Aunt Sis’ and I ain’t havin’ you all worked up at her house.”

"I am calm," Clint said, still calm despite Sam's apparent belief that he was upset. He let Sam pull him on, though. "And I wasn't picking a fight, she started it. I was just gonna finish it. People shouldn't go around being homophobic assholes, that's all. Y'know, especially when they're holding stones and living in glass houses." Then he tugged on Sam's hand again, just enough to get his attention, and said, "Really, I'm not mad or anything. And I'm sure your aunt's great."

Sam sighed and wrapped Clint in a quick but tight hug before unlocking the car. “Dawn and Bobby could be a whole lot worse.” He said with some air of finality. “But Aunt Sis is the best. When Daddy died she an’ Uncle Jeremiah wanted to take in a few of us, Aunt Sis wanted me to go but….I’d talked her into takin’ Paige before the financials all fell through so….none of the siblings know…. She checks up on us fairly often despite livin’ in the next county over.”

Opening the passenger side door, Clint slid into the seat and pulled his seatbelt on. "Sucks that that fell through," he said, frowning a little. "Seems like things might've been... not better, but maybe a little more stable?" He shrugged. "Me and Barney got placed with our grandparents after our parents died, but when they passed Barney went into a group home and I went into foster care. I'm lucky I ended up where I did, obviously."

“I’d’a still been with Lucinda, just less mouths to feed on my salary.” Sam said. “But it woulda been amazin’ for Paige…still kinda glad we stayed together though. That used to keep me up at night, hated the idea of us all gettin’ moved around like that, specially with the twins only bein’ three when Daddy died….”

"Yeah, it was kinda hard for Barney and me to keep in touch. He uh... fell into some bad habits and crowds and things. He's doing well now, but Matt's always gonna hold that grudge for me, even though I'm not upset with Barney anymore," Clint said. "Being separated wasn't great for either of us, but it was really bad for Barney." He chuckled. "It was his idea to run away to the circus. Figured it was the best way to keep us together. And he took the majority of the beatings while we were there..."

“Yeah,” Sam sighed. “I know how that goes. Lucinda ain’t- she didn’t hit us a lot, mostly me when I was bein’ a hooligan but….she’s got some cuttin’ words and says ‘em to yer face with no regard for how old you are or what she’s saying ‘bout you……she’s spent years tellin’ Paige she’s stupid. Still does! Paige!”

"Yeah... the more you tell me about your mother, the less I like her. And I gotta be honest, I didn't really like her all that much to begin with, given her kicking Jay out and everything. Plus, even the guys in the circus never said anything like that to me or Barney. In fact, if it weren't for Trickshot, I wouldn't be an archer," Clint said, shaking his head. "I'm glad all of you moved to the mansion, but y'know. Kinda worried about the littles. Which, it's not necessarily my place, but..." He shrugged, adjusting the seatbelt strap so it wasn't digging into his neck.

Sam reached over and grabbed Clint’s hand, squeezing hard. “Bullshit it ain’t your place. Darlin’ for the last year you have listened to me whine and fuss and worry over them. You worryin’ and carin’ about them, that’s one of those redeeming qualities of yours that I like so much.”

Clint grinned, squeezing Sam's hand right back. "Well, okay then." He frowned a moment later, though. "Seriously, I don't like the idea of your mom treating the younger kids the way she did the rest of you. She's awful to all of you guys, but she's just mean to you. And don't even get me started on how she treated Paige, what the fuck."

"I'm workin' on it." Sam said. "There are some decent folk out here n' Lewis and Ray Sr. have been keepin' a closer eye on 'em for me since July. AndI made it very clear t'the kids that they let me know if she pulls some shit and I'll come an' get 'em. She knows now and they know that I'll take 'em if it comes to it."

He wished it wouldn't though. He really really wished it wouldn't. It would probably be pretty rude to inadvertently force your boyfriend into a step-parent role unexpectedly like that. Because that's what would happen no matter how hard Sam tried to not let it. He knew that. He'd been called Daddy enough times to know that.

"Yeah, you just let me know if you need any help with any of it," Clint said. "I mean, I've never had kids, obviously, or dated people with kids, really... but them being safe and happy's the most important thing, so."

"Yeah." Sam said, trying not to sound awkward. "Yer....really good to me. Y'know that?"

"Sam..." Clint shook his head a little. "I mean, I try. But it's not like it's a hardship. You're not difficult or anything and your family's important to you. I'm not saying it's the bare minimum, but caring about you means caring about them by extension. Cause if they're not okay, you're not okay."

"Yeah but....most folks wouldn't be quite so understandin' of it all." Sam said, offering an awkward smile. "That's all I'm sayin'. Yer taking it all in stride, and it's- thank you."

Squeezing Sam's hand again, Clint smiled. "You don't have to thank me for being a decent human being, but you're welcome anyway." He nudged Sam's arm with his elbow, then nodded toward the windshield. "Now, aren't you gonna introduce me to your awesome aunt?"

"We're on our way there." Sam huffed, muscles in his chest loosening with the change in subject. "She lives in the next county over, it takes a minute to get there."