istillbelieveinheroes | Problems: From Rookies to Babies.

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Problems: From Rookies to Babies.

They were on a mission in Canada. Nothing too bad about this one it seemed. Or so it was meant to be pretty easy. There was word of a device being set up there by some unknown group, that was putting off strange readings. For one, they had no intil on the group, for another they had no idea what kind of device. Both things they needed to know about. Why? Because it’s SHIELD and they need to know everything.

It wasn’t top priority however. A training mission, really. Scout and Scoot as Coulson would call it. Since the events in New York, (and, you know, living and all) Fury had been placing him on smaller training missions, when he wasn’t keeping an eye on the Avengers. He had been officially moved to the ‘Ambassador to the Avengers’ as Sitwell laughed.

The point being? This was a simple training mission that won't stay so simple. Because of the need for eyes from a distance, Clint was pulled along as well, which suited Coulson fine, really, and it might have suited Barton fine as well.

But as I said, the mission was simple that didn’t stay simple. One of their rookie Agents got himself into a spot of trouble, captured by a dart to the neck and dragged inside. Another Agent followed him in, tracking. Phil knew she was a good tracker, but he didn’t like the next problem that followed.

Communications ceased to function once the Agent’s stepped inside the small base set inside the hill side. Great.

“Barton. Lost Meyers. Lost Hutchinson. Do you have eyes on Jackson?” Their third rookie who was with them.

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"I don't know anymore. I thought I had it figured out there for a minute, but now I'm not so sure."

If they weren't driving, Clint would have taken that opportunity, but now...

He took a moment to let that sink in. Alright. Okay, he was pretty sure now.

"If... I said I don't... think it would ruin the relationship in anyway, would you feel better about it?"

Only now he's not going to look at Clint, just in case he's wrong.

Okay, if he weren't driving, Clint would be freaking out a little right now. As it was, his heart was beating a little too fast.

"I...yeah. It would help a lot."

This had been a very long day, a very tiring mission, and he had a baby in the back seat that only stayed calm if he was near. At the moment, all he wanted to do was stop and figure this out better. But...

He smiled as he heard the man. Looking out the forward window he said softly. With a bit more confidence. "I don't think it will ruin our working relationship."

Clint smiled a bit as well. "It wasn't our working relationship I was worried about," he said, then laughed in delayed surprise.

"You tell me this now, Coulson? In the middle of nowhere? While I'm driving?"

That made him chuckle, softly at first, grinning more. He was just going to take this for two very delayed, beat around the bush to get to it, confirmations that yes, they were talking about... well, them.

"Better here then not at all?" He offered with a light tone.

"Yeah, okay, but..."

He shakes his head, still smiling, though. "Better still somewhere I didn't have to concentrate on doing something else."

Alright, he gave him that. A bit of a cheap shot to bring this up while driving after a shitty failed mission. He gave a small nod, as if to say that was fair. "I'm surprised you didn't pull over to the side." They were in the middle of no where anyhow. "If you need to take a break, I wont stop you."

"If I pull over right now, I will be in serious danger of forgetting there's a baby in the back seat," Clint offered. Of all the ways he'd imagined this conversation going, this one never even crossed his mind.

He opened his mouth to say something about being able to watch the baby while he took a break---ah, but then it hit him and he settled into his seat a bit more comfortable. "Yes. Right. That's what started this conversation to begin with."

He glanced back to the sleeping girl, no longer looking angry, just asleep. There was a bit more fondness for her now, that was for sure. "It's going to be a really long trip, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it really is," Clint grumbled, glancing over at Coulson and then in the mirror at the baby.

"But not as long as if you hadn't said anything when you did," he conceded.

He settled in his seat more, pulling the switch to lower himself back a couple more inches, a relaxed state. Something he can't do with many other people when they drove. He rested his arms on his middle, half crossed half not. Getting comfortable.

"Someone had to say something. I figured it I was wrong I could blame it on the mission and misunderstandings."

"I'm glad you did," Clint said, smiling over at him, briefly taking in the sight of him. He likes to see Coulson relaxed like that.

And you are nearly the only person who CAN see him relax like this. Just goes to show how much trust he has in you as well as your driving abilities. Even if you do drive too slow for him (then again with a baby, this time it is acceptable).

"It might complicate things." He said softly, as he was thinking this over. "I mean, if... you and I were to..." Ah, to what? He didn't even know how this would work, in general. Or if it was anything. Or if Barton wanted it to be anything or--Jesus, it was odd to think about and know the other agreed on. "Not, saying that... it would ruin anything. Just... complex."

Jesus, he felt like he was babbling. A hand raised up to pinch the bridge of his nose, but it was more to hide his face, really.

Clint frowned at that, his brow furrowing, all kinds of doubts cropping up just from that comment.

"Do you...not want to? I mean... we don't have to. Nothing has to change if you want to just...keep things the same..."

"No! ...No." He said a bit faster then he intended in his reassurance. He sat up a bit more, watching the driver. "That's not... that's not what I mean. Or not what I'm thinking."

He rubbed his face a bit, trying to think. He doesn't do well with these things, but at least this one wont be as hard as everything else. "Actually, this might be the least complex, ah, relationship I have. You and I."

"Oh." There was relief in his voice. "Okay, then. We can...we can make this work, right? I mean, it might get complicated, but we can handle it."

He believed Coulson could handle just about anything, and he was determined to himself.

"We can handle terrorists. How hard can..." he waved his hand between them, not sure what to actually call it. "...this be?" He said, giving the man a flash of a smile.

Honestly, none of his relationships lasted more then a month, and all of them were more complex then Clint. Not to mention he knew less about them then he did this man.

Clint arched an eyebrow at him. "Did you really just ask that?"

Tempting fate here, Phil.

Clint couldn't help feeling optimistic, though. Coulson was comfortable. He calmed Clint.

He raised one back. "Did I just jinx something?" he groaned, sliding into his seat and looking out the passenger window. A blue and white sign saying 'Rest Area one mile.' He pointed a finger at the sign as they drove by, as if to tell him he should stop here. One of those road side scenic pull outs with a bathroom and stale vending machines.

"I didn't jinx anything. I'm just saying." He said softly, with a smile.

"If you say so," Clint said, shaking his head with a faint smile. He pulled off the road at the rest area, parking the car and looking over at Coulson.

He wasn't sure what to do now, so he just...smiled.

Legit rest stop actually. He stretched a bit as he sat the chair proper again. He knows they haven't been on the road long, but he always ends up wanting to stop more when he's not driving.

"She should be alright as long as we can hear her. Stay near the rig. Or wait here. I need to make a stop however." He groaned a bit as his body felt today's events seep out in aches form sitting. "And a soda. Want one?" He asked as he moved to get out, pausing to make sure his presence disappearing wasn't going to upset the small thing in the back.

"Yeah, thanks," Clint said. He'd be good to go for a while, and he didn't want to leave the baby at all. Not after everything.

He did get out of the car though, just to stretch a little, keeping an eye and an ear out for any trouble from the back seat.

Hey, it's been since this morning. Also? He needed a moment. Because holy shit, what just happened? He disappeared into the brick bathroom. Used the urinal, washed up and... stared at himself for a moment in the polished metal fake mirror. Seriously, what just happened. His heart was racing.

Taking a breath he went back out, stopped at a machine to grab two sodas and a small back of fruit candies. Returning with the three to see Clint outside the car stretching his legs. It's not like he never looked before... at the man. Normally he'd go to his side, hold the soda across to the other and get in, but he found himself walking over to the driver side, offering the man the bottled drink and then...

...leaning to peek in at the sleeping child. Babies. They got to this point because of a baby. How many ~~couples~~ people get to this point by talking about babies? Oh, and he didn't know what to say. That's good. Awesome... pfft.

Clint took the soda and opened it, taking a long drink before letting himself look at Coulson. He'd definitely looked before but it was different this time. He was allowed to look.

And maybe to touch?

When Coulson moved to check on the baby, Clint hesitated a moment and then reached out a hand, just touching Coulson's shoulder lightly.

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