for theshield_agent

[beenunmade]

Running had become second nature.

Clint hadn't been a wolf for long, he had counted the weeks. Days. Hours. All since his life had been turned upside down and he didn't quite know what to make of anything anymore. Several months ago he had fell into a state of relaxation when he was out with a group of his own friends before he had been attacked. The attack had killed two of the men he had been traveling with at the time, it was not so pleasant waking up in pools of their own blood. Their mangled bodies surrounding him and all Clint could think was 'why aren't I dead too'. It was a miracle, his friends and brother had said. A fucking miracle he had walked away from that, but it didn't feel so much like a miracle the following month. Or the month after. His brother had been the first victim of a 'wild animal attack' and it hadn't been something Clint was entirely proud of. How full he had felt the day afterward, how disgusted he felt with himself. No amount of vomiting or therapy could take that away from him.

So he ran. It seemed the logical thing to do. He left his friends behind. The life he had come to know, even if he had always been running. The circus was always something that didn't logically mean that someone had settled down in their life and was happy with everything. It just meant they had no where to go and that was the only option.

The man had just hitchhiked from Arizona to New Jersey over the course of three months. Every time the full moon would come around and he would feel it's pull. He would just simply...disappear out of sight for a couple days. Then back on the road he went. A little sore, but okay. Alive. His mind had literally abandoned the rules of a normal person's life. He didn't believe it was going to ever be like that again. He chewed on his bottom lip as he contacted the friend of his he had ditched when he was on the road with the circus. The man had been someone who...arrested him and his older brother when they had gotten into a mess. Barney had been at fault but apparently being eighteen in a bar automatically meant that he was in trouble as well. There had been no excuse for the beer he had in his either but...still. It ended up with Clint alone in a holding cell because Barney had tried to choke him with his belt and the teen laughing along side the man who had remained straight-faced until he allowed the tiniest hint of a smile to leak through.

That guy had bailed Clint out of a couple situations he didn't know about. The last he had heard from him (through postcards) was that he was off to the Army. He hoped he would be where Clint had last seen him. Living the nice sort of life...it almost made him feel guilty that he was bringing this to his doorstep but there was nothing he could legitimately do about it. He didn't have anyone else he trusted. Clint scaled up the wall of the two story house that he had...sniffed the other man out at. For all he knew? This was his girlfriend's house or something and he was still off. He didn't strike him as the settling down type. Phil had been married to his job for far too long and pushed people away from the phone conversations they had. It was the perfect place to hide as he pushed the window on the top story open before slipping inside.

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[theshield_agent]

Phil had a strict idea of what kind of person he wanted to be. He worked hard to be that person. He wanted to be a good person. The kind of person others could look up to. "Why wouldn't I? You need help, Clint. I want to help you." Being that person wasn't really very much of a struggle for him, if he was honest. He really did want to help.

He rested his hand on Clint's shoulder to guide him into the hall and down the stairs so they could get his bag. He wasn't surprised that Clint couldn't cook, either. It wasn't as if he lived in conditions that encouraged it. Phil had no excuse other than a lack of effort. He was just too busy to bother learning more than the basics. "I'll get you a towel and then I can order a pizza while you shower... unless you want something else. Is there anything you're in the mood for?"

[beenunmade]

"I know...it's just...why?" Clint was just curious to see what his answer was. Clint just wanted to know what made him tick or come up with something like this when all Clint wanted was the easy way out inside of the pain of living through it. It was painful. Not just life in general. But the stuff he had to go through typically caused him to black out. He figured after a while he'd just get used to it. "I'm jus' some guy you met at a bar once. Now you're offering your home to me."

Clint would put some effort into it now that he was there. He didn't have any skills that made it marketable for him to get a job and he didn't want to deal with people until he was steady on his own feet. "Pizza's good. The kind with everythin' on it. Haven't had much of anything but doritos and gas station food. Not a fantastic diet plan." Clint was in the mood for a lot of things. Sleep. Potentially just ending up with his arms wrapped around Phil again, breathing him in and allowing the other man to take over every sense in his body. It was what kept him from grabbing the gun from his hand and just shooting himself when Phil had initially said no. Clint stepped over to the door, holding it open for a moment as he turned towards Phil again. "'ll go grab it. You can go get the towel...we'll meet in the middle." He winked with a smirk tugging at his lips.

His fight or flight response was beginning to kick in. The pros and cons Clint was already listing in his head when it came to staying here with Phil was that the cons were an extremely LONG list while the pros were extremely short. He could run. He knew he could. He'd feel bad about it. But it was in Phil's best interests. Clint wanted Phil to help him. He wanted that safety. But he didn't want to put Phil in danger for his own mental health over all of this. The decision made itself as Clint shut the door behind him and started moving around the house. Grab his bag and go. It was for the best.

[theshield_agent]

After Clint left the room, Phil grabbed an extra towel and some sweats for Clint. He set them in the bathroom and started the shower so the water would have time to heat up. Next, he went over to his takeout menu pile to figure out dinner.

Then he realized that Clint was taking an awfully long time to run downstairs and just grab his bag. "Damn it."

Phil sprinted down the stairs and out the door, nearly tripping over his own shoes on the bottom landing. He'd never forgive himself if Clint just ran off and he was out there alone when Phil could have helped him. He couldn't go through this alone. He shouldn't. Not when Phil was here. Why be alone for no reason?

He was out the door before he realized that he was barefoot and in a T-shirt, cool breeze hitting his skin. He ignored it. "Clint!"

[beenunmade]

A stab of guilt had went through him as he had stopped, picking up his backpack and silently musing over his mental list of pros and cons. Phil didn't know what he was getting himself into. He didn't expect Phil to realize the severity of the situation and the danger that Clint posed to, well, everything. He had shouldered his backpack and started moving. He didn't run, apprehension about leaving was still settled in his gut. He (subconsciously) knew if he ran then Phil would never see him for as long as he lived. Unless he went out looking for him but still, Clint knew how to disappear and he could for long periods of time. He had a good habit of keeping his head down. He knew how to live off of whatever he needed too at the time even if he didn't believe in taking advantage of the kindness of strangers.

Or Phil.

Clint was already half-way up the street when he knew Phil must have put everything together. He nearly stopped in his tracks when he heard his name called and knew he had to keep moving. "Sorry, Philly." He muttered under his breath as he started to run. He had been fast before he was bitten. When he was just some normal guy. But now that he was a werewolf he was faster than...well, a lot of people.

[theshield_agent]

Phil knew that if he let Clint run, he wouldn't see him again. He wasn't stupid. He took off running after Clint, ignoring the cold ground and the pebbles his bare feet were hitting. He needed to stop Clint from running away. He didn't even really know why. He just knew.

"Clint! Stop!" He was so thankful for his army training. There was no way he could have kept up when he was younger, but he was in great shape now.

He'd pulled the door closed on the way out. It was unlocked, but he wasn't even worried about anything but getting Clint to stop and come back. He'd worry about the cold and his apartment later.

"Please!"

[beenunmade]

Clint briefly glanced over his shoulder to see the other man running after him before starting to move faster. He didn't know why he was even following him. Most people would just let a guy go considering all the baggage he was carrying through their front door. He wanted to scream back at him 'no' but words failed him. Instead he just turned the corner, continuing to run before turning another street. Essentially...he was going in a circle around the block. He could have just been trying to throw the other man off. Or he was just...listening to the nagging voice in the back of his head that said 'well, maybe we need him'.

He didn't listen to people. He told himself what he did was all because he wanted to do it, fuck everyone else. Clint slowed to a stop. The only good thing about this was he hadn't broken a sweat and he didn't need to stop and catch breath as he double-backed. He found somewhere to hide since he was out of the other man's line of sight long enough to hide and watched him as he ran passed him. Now he didn't know if he should just slink off into the darkness or apologize profusely to Phil for making him run barefoot after him. Undoubtedly damaging his feet as he rolled out of where he had tucked himself in, staring at Phil for a moment as he bounced from one foot to another. Making it apparent that he was ready to move when he could before finally speaking up.

"You know, it's cold 'nuff that you could get sick running around barefoot like that Phil." He didn't feel any safer that he had remained ground level as he looked around the houses that lined the streets. He chewed the inside of his mouth for a moment, still bouncing. Close to begin pacing. "You should go back home 'fore you get sick."

[theshield_agent]

"Well, I wouldn't be running around out here if you had come back inside instead of trying to run away." It was natural cause and effect. If Clint was going to run, Phil was going to chase him. He said it as if he had no choice. He really didn't think that he did have one. He'd said he would help Clint, so he would. He was a man of his word.

Now that he was staying still, though, it really was chilly. He wrapped his arms around himself, rubbing at his bare skin and trying to keep the warmth he'd built up from running.

"So, if you're worried about me, maybe you shouldn't make me chase you out into the cold." He gave Clint a look. "You can't just show up and ask for help and then bail. I'm not going to let you do that. Come back and take that shower and eat pizza with me. We'll figure this out. You and me."

[beenunmade]

"Well...for all intents and purposes, I was hopin' you wouldn't have noticed for another ten minutes." He was going to steal one of Phil's neighbor's cars and disappear into the night. It wasn't a good thing but he figured it was much better than going the way that he initially thought up and looking to Phil for help. His brow quirked up when Phil started rubbing his arms before moving to shrug off his backpack, pulling off his jacket and holding it out to him.

He gave Phil a look right back, pulling his backpack over one shoulder. "I...don't think you want to get messed up in all of this, Phil. I was tryin' to give you a quick way out." Even though Phil had said already he didn't want a way out. He just wanted to help him. Somehow, Clint thought he was under-qualified for the task. He figured he would just have to deal with the repercussions on a later date as he nodded in agreement. "You're pretty quick, didja know that?" He looked over to him as he walked over to his side, figuring Phil might feel a little better that he wasn't going to run away if he stayed somewhat close.

[theshield_agent]

Phil hesitated before taking the jacket and pulling it on. It was stupid, but it felt kind of nice to have someone offer him a jacket for once.

"I was in the Army. Of course I'm quick. And of course I noticed faster than that. And... Clint, I told you I want to help. I'm not looking for a way out. It seems like you're the one doing that. I didn't tell you I didn't want you here. Don't assume that I want you gone when I just offered you a place to stay." He was still a little worried that Clint might try to slip out while he was sleeping, but he guessed that if Clint wanted to get away from him that badly, he should let him, even if everything in him is screaming to help Clint.

"Give me a few days, at least, without trying to bolt. Please?"

[beenunmade]

It was nice being able to give it to the one person he's always wanted to give it too.

"Does that mean I have to call you 'sir'?" Clint's head tilted to the side as he pondered this silently. Clint had...zero military background, while he did have weapons training. It didn't really amount up to what Phil had done with his life prior to Clint showing up on his doorstep. He tucked his hands in his pockets as he walked beside the other man before hanging his head a little. "I just...I can deal with Barney's blood on my hands. He was my brother, but there is no way in Hell I mourned him." Did that make him a bad person? Clint had mourned him a bit. It was more guilt of killing another person than it was killing his older brother at this point. "I don't want yours. I like you too much." Clint nudged him a little with his elbow as he continued walking.

"Okay, I promise not to run. I'll probably start scoopin' out places I could go to during the full moon, but 'll be back before you're done...doing whatever army guys do during the day. Can't imagine your day-to-day life is that difficult, right?"

[theshield_agent]

Phil walked close to Clint, not because he was afraid Clint would bolt, but just because he wanted to. It was nice to feel Clint's arm bump his. It was a reassurance that he was still there and maybe he wouldn't run again.

"I just go to class now." He hoped Clint was just joking about calling him 'sir' though.

"Clint..." He reached out for Clint's arm, toes curling against the cold pavement as they walked. "I'll be fine. You'll be fine. You can't deal with all of this alone. You shouldn't have to. It's going to be okay. You just have to let me be here for you. I'm not going anywhere as long as you aren't."

[beenunmade]

The closeness made Clint feel...at ease, more or less. He didn't want it to go away. He didn't want Phil to go but it seemed as if the only person who wanted him to leave was himself. He didn't hate it. In fact he liked the thought of having someone there. Phil had always grounded him from miles and miles away, now it was something more in the immediate vicinity. He wished he made the decision to find him a little earlier in life.

"Class? Aren't...you too old for school?" Clint looked confused. It wasn't a good look for him in his opinion.

He turned his head towards him, trying not to meet his eyes. He knew the resolution he would find in them. He didn't quite know how to react to it yet though. "I...really want to believe you, Phil." But he didn't. He knew what he was capable of and he knew what normal people were capable of. "I'm gonna try to believe you. You just...gotta bear with me a little." Clint wanted help. He just didn't like admitting that he ever needed it.

[theshield_agent]

"Are you too old to need a leash?" Phil shot back with a wry smile.

As they turned up his walkway, he raised his hand to the small of Clint's back, guiding him gently towards the door. If Clint was coming back, maybe that meant he would stay. Phil really hoped that he would. He wanted Clint to be safe and he couldn't be safe out there on his own. He needed support. He needed someone.

"Go upstairs and take a shower. It's already running and it should be hot by now. I left you some clothes on the bathroom counter. I'll order a pizza." He held the door open for Clint. "Okay?"

[beenunmade]

The look Clint shot Phil was enough of an answer he imagined.

Clint wasn't as resolved in the fact he was staying. He knew the dangers. He just didn't think Phil knew the dangers. It didn't exactly allow confidence to grow in him when Phil was adamant about helping him through this. He didn't think the fear was ever going to go away though. At least he was going to have someone there to help face it. Whatever happened after that was up in the air as he sucked in a deep breath nodding as he started moving up the stairs. Dropping his backpack at the door before moving towards the bathroom.

"Everything on it, okay?" Clint looked back at Phil after pulling off his shirt and looking outside the bathroom door with a smile crossing his face. "Don't lemme down, sir."

[theshield_agent]

Phil rolled his eyes and went to go order the pizza, leaving Clint to shower. He'd gotten a bit of an eyeful when Clint had removed his shirt and he was trying to not think about that too hard. Stop being creepy, Coulson. The guy needed help, not some older man ogling him.

He went out to the living room and called the place that he knew would deliver the fastest. Then he went into the kitchenette area, sighing as he pulled off Clint's jacket reluctantly and putting it neatly on the back of a chair. He turned on the TV, keeping the volume low, and settled on the couch to wait for Clint. His feet were really appreciating the carpet and the warm apartment, at least.

[beenunmade]

He might have enjoyed the ogling, Phil. He did feel the other man's eyes on him for a brief moment and it wasn't a bad feeling that settled inside him. If Phil recalled, when Clint was younger all he was doing the night they first met was trying to get into his pants. In a subtle, not obvious way. He reappeared ten minutes later, pulling on the clothes Phil had set out for him before he headed into the living room and hopping over the back of the sofa and taking a seat next to Phil. He shifted a little in his seat as he spread out, dropping an arm behind Phil and still...not putting too much thought into the fact that he had just done a hostile take out of the older man's personal space.

"I never got to ask...what are you going to school for? I thought you were an army man." Clint kicked up his feet on the table in front of them, relaxing (for once the entire night). Or seemingly relaxing. Clint didn't really relax as much as he just thought about something in the back of his mind for an awful long time. "Last time I checked you were..." He thought back on the postcards, attempting to think back of Phil had sent him something he had quit the army to become like...a doctor or teacher. The younger man sat there for a moment before moving to his feet, going to snatch up his backpack and sitting back where he was. Nearly pressed up against Phil that if he had been any closer he would have been sitting on his lap. He opened it, flipping through the postcards he had put in there instead of...some necessities like another change of clothing.

He'd half used them to track Phil down. The other reason was because it helped making him less lonely.

[theshield_agent]

Phil didn't mind the personal space invasion at all. He didn't really let himself lean into it, but when Clint moved and came back, he did move his own arm to the back of the sofa behind Clint. Just because Clint had hit on him as a kid didn't mean he was still interested, but Phil didn't think physical affection was a bad idea when he was in a situation like this.

"Political science. I want to join the FBI." He smiled and let his arm press against the back of Clint's shoulders just a little. "I can't believe you kept all of those, Clint." It wasn't bad. Phil was flattered and more than that, it just made him happy to know that he mattered a little to Clint.

He shook his head. Dangerous topic, Phil. "The pizza should be here soon. Is there anything you want to watch?" He wants to ask Clint about his life, but given everything he's been through, Phil figures that might not be a safe topic just yet.

[beenunmade]

When he felt the movement of Phil's arm behind him, Clint didn't feel as awkward as he had felt when he did it himself. It felt, welcoming. Honestly, he was usually the type of person who didn't allow opportunity to just slip past him. But with Phil it was different. Their initial meeting was different and the fact that Clint had gone out of his way to find him again was way different. Usually he wanted to forget people who he met in bars or who had seen his and Barney's sibling rivalry at it's best. Phil was really different.

Clint's brow arched up as he looked over to him. "A fed? Well...that's new." His mind first went with 'a criminal with a fed'. It didn't exactly offer any good outcomes. "Yanno, that stuff I said 'bout my brother? Yeah, it actually happened at this place call Camp Crystal Lake and this guy with a hockey mask ripped him to pieces. It was tragic." Yes, he went with Friday the 13th but it was the first thing that sprung to mind. He tensed up briefly, but this was Phil. He could trust Phil and it wasn't as if he was a FBI agent yet. He did feel more comforted with Phil's arm pressed against his back as he leaned back into him. He made his hands busy, pulling out two or three postcards that were probably chosen as an afterthought. "Every single one. Gotta admit, got pretty disappointed when they stopped I figured you jus' went on with your life." Got married. Had a kid. All of those things Clint could picture for Phil.

He never pictured them for himself. But he pictured them for Phil. In his dreams, they mostly turned out to be nightmares because it just made Clint feel all the more lonely in the world. "Everyone thought they were from a chick I met and was trying the long distance thing with, so I went with it. Phillipa." Clint winked with a laugh at the thought. "I am not original at all by the way."

That was a lie. He was. He was just amused every time he used that to get people off his back at his collection of postcards. Only a handful of people knew who sent them. Knew what they meant to Clint. "Any campy horror movies on? You could hold me if I get to scared, sir." Clint smirked before tilting his head to the side as he leaned his head back on Phil's arm. "When you get into the FBI, I think you should start The X-Files." He mused under his breath. "I see big things in your future, Agent Coulson."

[theshield_agent]

Phil rolled his eyes. "I'm not going to turn you in, Clint. You're not entirely in control. I understand that. And I didn't just go on. They started to get returned." He hadn't entirely stopped thinking about Clint. How could he?

He let his arm relax, coming around Clint's shoulders to hold him. If they could hug, this should be okay, too, right? Phil had never thought of the post cards as love notes. More than a few times, he'd wanted to, but he'd held back. Maybe it was stupid. It had seemed stupid until he'd gone into the Army. Everyone sent love notes to their significant others there. Of course, Clint wasn't his significant other, so that might have pushed him into creepy territory.

With his free hand, he picks up the remote and starts flipping to the movie channels. "So I'm probably Mulder in this case. Will you be Scully?" He grins. Given the sexual tension on that show, maybe not the most appropriate thing to say...

[beenunmade]

"Well, I dunno...it coulda possibly happened." He shrugged, but he was sure his eyes told it all. He didn't think Phil would turn him in. He didn't know the man that very well, but he remembered that night and he remembered Phil bailing him out of trouble. He had been the first person who didn't think Clint was just some punk kid who got into fights or anything of the like on a regular basis. He was. But he was so much more than that if people just took some time and listened to him. It was easier to open up to Phil in the couple of hours he was at the bar than anyone he had known for years. He didn't think it was just because he was attracted to him. It went deeper than Clint knew and he didn't know how he would be able to handle it. "The circus kept movin', I forgot to do an address...forward, crap. Then I got put in the hospital cos of...the event that caused my condition." The entire time he was there he wished that the next person to open the door would have been Phil instead of a nurse or a doctor. All of which just said 'someone will come visit soon'. No one ever did.

Clint left two nights later, regardless of the fact he had been admitted with "supposedly" mortal wounds. It was a miracle he survived, they said. Most nights now, he wished he didn't. "Is it bad to say 'm glad you didn't go on? Not that..." God, there was no way of saving that, was there? He had hoped that Phil wouldn't have moved on. "Not that...it would have been bad. It just woulda made me breakin' in a little bit awkward." Or the hugging. Or the fact that Clint didn't seem to fight the need to gravitate towards him when he wasn't running away when Phil's back was turned.

For what it was worth, Clint had regretted the idea the moment he stepped out of the apartment and onto the street. Clint was sure that writing Phil back would have just been...a mess. He had sent a couple letters when (apparently) the postcards didn't get returned. A little later, he'd sent some that remained...unsent. At some point he had gotten to the point where he thought he could send a letter that said 'I like you, do you like me? Check yes or no.' like some gradeschooler. But he didn't think it was for the best. Nor did he want the postcards to stop at the time. Especially when he knew that Phil was overseas and he wasn't. He was sure he could've watched the man's back if he was able too. A part of him had stood in front of an army recruiting office for about two hours every day for a week while the circus had been in town, contemplating whether he should just sign up and follow Phil over there.

He decided against it; it might have seemed a little too creepy.

A bit of hope sparked within him when Phil asked that. Stupidly placed hope, but hope nonetheless. He slipped the postcards into the backpack, zipping it closed and dropping it at his feet. "Well, if you want to be into that. I could get a red wig and skirt."

[theshield_agent]

Smiling indulgently, Phil leaned into Clint just a little more. There was not way Phil would turn him in, just like there had been no way that Phil would really just forget him. Silly as it was, Clint drew him in like a moth to a flame. Phil was kind of resigned to being a little doomed now that Clint was here. Still, he was going to skirt the issue as long as he could. Clint was upset. He was going through trauma and Phil wouldn't take advantage of him. Clint needed to focus on himself and Phil needed to help him, not give him more to worry about.

"I'm not so sure that you could pull off that 90s hair, Clint. Maybe just stick with what you've got." He ruffled Clint's hair affectionately.

He liked Clint. Of course he did. He also knew that the idea of Clint he'd built up in his head could very well not be anything like Clint. He'd set himself up for so much disappointment. He wanted to push that off for as long as he could. And so he'd sent post cards instead of the long letters he'd wanted to send.

He'd stayed away and written instead of showing up, even though he really had considered just showing up at the address he was mailing the cards to. He'd considered it more than once, including right before he'd joined the army. Had he known that Clint had been hospitalized at the time, he likely would have shown up. He hadn't known. He'd had no way of knowing, of course.

He settled on an old zombie B movie. "This looks promisingly terrible."

[beenunmade]

The ruffling of the hair did not boost confidence in Clint at the idea of anything happening the way he wanted it too. Phil was there, Phil wasn't looking at him like he was jail-bait anymore. Clint was just lucky he had several things on his mind other than what he was dealing with. There had been occasions when he had still been getting the letters to go out and search for Phil. To find him and tell him he was older now and that the past was past. Let's get to know each other. Clint just didn't want him physically. He wanted to get to know more about him which was far more than anyone else he had ever tried to get with. But then again, everyone he tried to get with was usually more into him than Phil was at this point in time. Clint had been upset, yes. But there were other reasons why he had chosen Phil above anyone else he had met and they had tried to keep tabs with him. Most of them he didn't really like. But Phil had already seen him at his worst once already and didn't even bat an eyelash. It was that reaction that kept Clint interested.

And it was that reaction that made Clint want to know about him. Already he knew more about Phil than Phil knew about him; he wasn't sure how Phil felt about that. But he didn't really want to delve into that conversation. Right now, he mostly just wanted to hold him again. Ground himself again before he swatted at Phil's hand with an annoyed look on his face. "Really? 'm flirtin' with you and you ruffle my hair. You might as well have added 'good dog' at the end of that 'n spare humorin' me a little longer." It sounded more aggressive than he intended to sound. He didn't know whether to blame the statement on himself or the fact that really had gotten more aggressive since being turned. Which was still himself, but it was more difficult to keep it in check than everything else.

Clint didn't pull away from the lack of space he had between him and Phil before he just leaned forward, running his hand through his hair and mentally telling himself to calm down a little. "Only Gillian Anderson could pull off the pencil skirts, anyway." He amended, looking back up at the screen before leaning back again. He wasn't going to apologize.

He was going to apologize. He was just holding it off a little bit longer because he didn't want to feel like some idiot who wasn't in control of this. Of himself. He knew he wasn't in control of this that he wanted some control in a tiny aspect of his life. Even if it was just Phil humoring him by flirting back. It would have been a much needed confidence boost as he leaned his head back against Phil's arm, chewing on the inside of his mouth as his eyes turned back to the television screen. "There are...no such things as bad zombie movies. There's a little jem in each of them. One zombie movie I watched when I was a kid...the zombies actually said 'brains' that I didn't think they were that threatenin'. Jus' like with all monster flicks. Yanno, for a while I resorted to watching every single werewolf movie I found for research."

A pause.

"All of 'em are crap. I should write a strongly worded letter jus' cos they don't really hit any useful information other than 'OW SILVER' 'n...other crap." Clint mused on the collection of werewolf movies he had watched cautiously over the past months whenever he got a chance. "I'm sorry....too. I didn't mean to...snap, it's jus' really hard not too. 've wanted to come here for so long. I wish under better circumstances, if 'm honest. I woulda rocked your world." Clinton Francis Barton: will never, ever beat around the bush for too long before actually saying something.

[theshield_agent]

Part of Phil hadn't been sure how much of Clint's flirting was purposeful and how much of it was just the way he was around others. It hadn't mattered before, because Phil hadn't felt right acting on it. It was hard to ignore this, though. How could he ignore Clint blatantly pointing out that he was flirting? Still, there was a conflict inside him. He knew what he wanted, but that didn't mean it was the right thing to do.

He smiled indulgently as Clint rambled about movie accuracy. It was cute. It was cuter than it had any right to be. Clint was cuter than he had any right to be. Phil was remembering everything about Clint that had interested him in the first place, back when Clint had really been too young and Phil had honestly been too scared to make a move, even without the age difference.

He angled more towards Clint and moved the hand Clint had swatted at to catch his chin, trying to turn his head to face Phil. It was an affectionate, almost intimate gesture. "You're not a dog." He hadn't thought that touching Clint's hair would be taken like that. "I think you're taking the werewolf thing a little too far with that, don't you?"

He studied Clint's face. "And I'm not humoring you. I like you just fine without the skirt and wig." He didn't need the apology from Clint. He knew that Clint was having a hard time. This had to be stressful... it had to be awful. He just wanted to see Clint smile. He wanted to help.

He leaned in to press his lips to Clint's. He wasn't sure how much it would help or if it might make everything worse, but he wanted to. He was slow and more unsure than usual. He wanted to give Clint ample time to refuse.

[beenunmade]

Clint was a flirtatious individual, that was true. But sometimes, Clint flirted with purpose. Mostly if he ended up at someone's doorstep after years of not seeing each other. Especially when his flirting seemed like a stupid attempt of flirting when compared to whenever he flirted with anyone else. He genuinely liked Phil. He genuinely didn't see anything wrong with him, maybe with himself. But not with Phil. He also knew the gravity of the situation. Someone could say that Clint's interest was purely because Phil 'rescued' him rather than attraction. That person would have gotten knocked out, but still they could have said it. He didn't want there to be any doubts about him in Phil's mind when Clint doubted enough about himself for the entire universe. All he wanted...was to have something tangible to hold onto. It wasn't an impossible request. It was just a pretty weird one.

There was never a moment in this conversation where Clint didn't think to himself he should have came back into Phil's life sooner. Before everything happened to them and maybe they would have been on normal footing if that accident was pre-destined or something and he would have gotten bitten around this place rather than where he had been. Clint allowed Phil to guide his head, offering up a shrug when he said that. "I gotta get into the mindset. Monster, danger to society, etc. I won't be careful without that." Clint unfortunately didn't really see it much like that either, or he believed he didn't. The words left his mouth before he had time to filter anything.

Otherwise he would have still been lamely attempting to flirt with him. "I...huh." Clint tilted his head to the side, a smile tugging at his lips at that. "Good, cos I don't have the legs to pull a skirt off. It'd be embarrassing for...jus' about anyone, sir." Fortunately, Clint didn't take the ample time to refuse. He instead switched it to 'what the fuck is taking you so long to kiss me', leaning in to press his lips against Phil's. And it was just like everything he ever thought it would be (cheesy, yes. But Clint had many years and tons of time to think about what kissing Phil would be like).

[theshield_agent]

Part of Phil hadn't been sure how much of Clint's flirting was purposeful and how much of it was just the way he was around others. It hadn't mattered before, because Phil hadn't felt right acting on it. It was hard to ignore this, though. How could he ignore Clint blatantly pointing out that he was flirting? Still, there was a conflict inside him. He knew what he wanted, but that didn't mean it was the right thing to do.

He smiled indulgently as Clint rambled about movie accuracy. It was cute. It was cuter than it had any right to be. Clint was cuter than he had any right to be. Phil was remembering everything about Clint that had interested him in the first place, back when Clint had really been too young and Phil had honestly been too scared to make a move, even without the age difference.

He angled more towards Clint and moved the hand Clint had swatted at to catch his chin, trying to turn his head to face Phil. It was an affectionate, almost intimate gesture. "You're not a dog." He hadn't thought that touching Clint's hair would be taken like that. "I think you're taking the werewolf thing a little too far with that, don't you?"

He studied Clint's face. "And I'm not humoring you. I like you just fine without the skirt and wig." He didn't need the apology from Clint. He knew that Clint was having a hard time. This had to be stressful... it had to be awful. He just wanted to see Clint smile. He wanted to help.

He leaned in to press his lips to Clint's. He wasn't sure how much it would help or if it might make everything worse, but he wanted to. He was slow and more unsure than usual. He wanted to give Clint ample time to refuse.