Problems: From Rookies to Babies.

[istillbelieveinheroes]

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.

Comments

[istillbelieveinheroes]

"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.

[from_a_distance]

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.

[istillbelieveinheroes]

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.

[from_a_distance]

"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.

[istillbelieveinheroes]

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.

[from_a_distance]

"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.

[istillbelieveinheroes]

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.

[from_a_distance]

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.

I might have mildly spazzed for a moment at that tag, wtf

[istillbelieveinheroes]

He peeked in on the kid, smiling softly, still asleep. She'd worn her self out crying. Good.

He hadn't opened his drink yet, but at the touch of his shoulder he looked back to Barton and smiled, a bit more fondly. "So..." he said carefully, trying to find the words. "I suppose we should talk about this." While they had the chance.

lol :)

[from_a_distance]

"I'm not very good at that," Clint points out, leaving his hand on Coulson's shoulder, rubbing slightly. "The talking part, I mean."

[istillbelieveinheroes]

A very soft chuckle at that. "I don't want to prattle on, on my own." He informed the other, wondering if he should really like the touch to his shoulder as much as he did. He sat his soda and candy on the top of the car.

"You know, we probably shouldn't even entertain this idea. Could cause us some trouble."

[from_a_distance]

Clint pulled his hand back at that comment. "If you don't want to..."

It's not like he hadn't thought that too. That was way he hadn't ever said anything.

[istillbelieveinheroes]

He felt himself flail for a moment as he scared Clint off, again.

"That's... not what I mean." he reached out, taking the mans drink and sitting it beside his, then reached to take his hand that had been holding it and, while looking down at it, let his fingers run smoothly over rough sports. "Just saying, it could cause us trouble. If you'd rather not, I would understand."

[from_a_distance]

"Coulson..."

He frowns down at their hands. "If I didn't want this, I never would have said anything. If you don't...well, I'm...I can deal with that."

[istillbelieveinheroes]

There is a bit of a pause there, as if he had to think on something. His mouth opened, considered it then said..."Phil." A correction. A softly surprising correction, even in his own head. "When we're alone. Oh, and trust me, I've... thought about it...you, more then I should have. I just want us both to be clear that it could be a problem in the future. That's all."

[from_a_distance]

"You think it's going to be a problem?"

Yep. That was pretty much all he got out of that.

[istillbelieveinheroes]

A problem. Oh yes. If he's kidnapped or tortured, Phil will want to hunt down the bastards and take their scalps. Or if he's hurt he'll want to deal with that, get the man out and better. Make sure he's taken care of. Put him ahead of himself. If someone used him against Phil.... he wasn't sure if he would make the right calls. Some might call it compromised.

Then again... he was already at that state as it was, wasn't he? After a thought on that, he shook his head. "No more problematic then it already is, I suppose." In took a step closer to the man, catching his eyes. "I don't mean it in a bad way. I just want to make sure you're... okay. In the end. So nothing happens to you." He was important, after all.

[from_a_distance]

"What do you think is going to happen to me?" he asked, frowning as he looked at Phil, scanning his face for...something. He didn't even know what. It just sounded like Coulson already wanted out of this thing that wasn't even really a thing yet, and he couldn't figure out why the man would have said anything in the first place if that was the case, but he couldn't get the idea out of his head.

[istillbelieveinheroes]

He sighed, looking down at their hands, his fingers fiddling with one of Clint's fingers (something, Barton will learn is a nervous habit of Phil's), his eyes serious. Not sure how to explain. "You think I'm trying to reject you right now, don't you?"

[from_a_distance]

"Aren't you?"

Not like he hadn't been rejected before. By just about everyone he's ever trusted not to.

[istillbelieveinheroes]

There was the shortest little dry chuckle, and a odd smile that crossed his face. "No. Oh no. I'm actually actively convincing myself to completely breach the lines of handler and specialist and try and kiss you, but, it's... been a while. Haven't got to the point where I just tell myself to do it."

Yes, that is a bit of a boyish hopeless smile on his face.

[from_a_distance]

Clint's free hand came up to rub the back of his neck, and he smiled a bit hopefully.

"If you need pointers on that..."

[istillbelieveinheroes]

"No, not really." He said lightly, pulling the hand he held a bit, to tug the man closer. "I think I remember a thing or two." Before he lifted a hand to tuck into the front of the mans uniform, finger pulling a bit so he could lean in and give a soft kiss to start. A lite touch of lips at first.

[from_a_distance]

Clint sucked in a quick breath at the first touch of lips. His hand moved from his neck to Phil's hip, pressing a bit more firmly, his heart pounding.

[istillbelieveinheroes]

At least someones heart was moving, he was pretty sure his own had stopped. His hand moved from the mans shirt to his neck, as if to keep him in the kiss. Leaning into it a bit more, holding it and then breaking it, barely moving back though. A small huff of breath. "Wanted to do that for some time."