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avengers - phil coulson

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Ignore the weird format, I am cursed.
less than 10 minutes ago from Network

The Loki we know. Not to be confused with his reincarnation.
about 15 minutes ago from Network

Loki is in the City. I suggest gathering information first, do not engage.
about 15 minutes ago from Network

» filtered to the Young Avengers

What do you know about Loki?
less than 10 minutes ago from Network

» unfiltered

My first curse seems harmless. Hoping it'll establish a pattern.
less than 10 minutes ago from Network

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Didn't know my dog doubled as chaperone.
less than 5 seconds ago from Network

Someone's got to keep us both in line.

I hardly need keeping in line. You, on the other hand..
less than 5 seconds ago from Network

I'm not that bad.

So you think.
less than 5 seconds ago from Network

It's a good thing I've got you around to sort me out.

Of course. So, when did you want to watch the movie?
less than 5 seconds ago from Network

It's hard to believe, but I'm free all day.

All right then.
less than 5 seconds ago from Network

We'll be waiting.

[ Coulson wanders into the living room a few minutes later. ]

[ Lazily sprawled out across the sofa, Clint looks up with a grin. ] Took your time.

[ Raising an eyebrow, even as he settles next to Clint.

Look, he's left his jacket in his room and his shirtsleeves are rolled up. ] I was busy.

[ Clint's still getting used to the odd times when he gets to witness this, Phil without the blazer covering everything up, hiding him away, and the shirt, as good as the quality is, shows through in places. He doesn't waste the opportunity to admire. And those arms, if his gaze drops to them and lingers a moment too long he's not going to mention it. ]

You didn't get desperate and start doing other people's homework, did you?

[ If Coulson's aware of the gaze-- he's not going to comment, but there may be a hint of a smile curling at the corners of his mouth. ]

If anything, I did my own homework. Or assigned it to people.

You were so that kid at school who saved my ass.

[ His effort to shift up and make room is a lazy one, leg still hanging over his side and body angled weird, but he knows Phil will make him move if he wants him to. He's testing the waters. ]

What makes you think that.

[ He assesses the space on the couch for a moment, before taking Clint's legs and lifting them by the trousers, sitting down before letting them drop again. Yes that means Clint's legs are stretched over Phil's lap now.

How's that for testing the waters. ]

Edited 2012-07-16 22:42 (UTC)

It's the general vibe.

[ He can control himself enough to keep the grin from breaking out wide across his face, but the smile in his eyes no doubt shows. He makes no attempt whatsoever to move them. ]

I didn't do anyone's homework. I tutored.

[ Resting one hand over Clint's ankles. It's both innocent and— not so much, given that it's just one more step, one more sign, like an unspoken answer to the question of whether they're really doing this.

Not that the question was asked, directly. ]

I'd act surprised, but we'd both know it'd be a lie. [ There's a brief pause. ] French one of your subjects, sir?

[ It's reassuring, to have Phil take initiative and everything to be easy, comfortable, as if it's normal for them, natural, and he knows it's only a touch, simple, but he takes comfort from it, as much as he knows how to, relieved that after everything he's done, in control or not, he's still touchable.

And it expresses that he's not in this alone, that it's not something he's imagined. ]

I've done a few languages. Why? [ Carefully phrased because knowing Clint, he may well be setting himself up for some dirty joke by admitting to knowing French.

Of course he's still touchable, and Phil— Phil's wanted this, him, for a long time. He still can't quite believe that they're doing this and with Loki's arrival, he's started to question that decision (even though nothing's happened yet between them, nothing except a few touches that were out of the ordinary, but they both know what it means). He's still their handler, if less officially now. He might still have to make a decision that puts Clint in harm's way and he'll have to be objective about it.

Then again, he hasn't been objective (compromised) when it comes to Clint (and Natasha, to a lesser extent, and Captain Ameria) in a while. He's only human, he can't switch off his emotions.

Fingers tightening over Clint's ankles. ]

[ For once, Clint is genuinely interested, although hearing Phil speaking French could be sexy. He tries to imagine it, an odd look on his face as he does, and it ends with a smirk. ] No reason. Always wanted to learn more languages. [ Except Russian. Learning Russian ends in painful things.

Everything falls quiet in the room, and Clint's watching him, an odd expression about him, as if he's contemplating what Phil could possibly be thinking about, the firmer touch confirming his guess. He knows he pushes his luck, and he never would have dared outside of this environment, but he's wondering if it's fair. He wants to not care, to be selfish, but he knows this is it for Phil, this is all he's got. ]

We don't have to watch the movie. [ The double meaning to the statement is probably obvious. He knows what it is to sacrifice things for what they do, it's one of the reasons why he signed up - if they're not close to anything, anyone, then they can't get hurt. Or so he thought. ] Sometimes there's more important things than sitting around watching stuff. I get that.

[ He does speak a few languages, some fluently and some enough to pass as a well-meaning tourist and to understand enough of what is happening around him that he can blend in and gather some basic information if it's necessary.

After a moment. ] I could teach you.

[ Phil's jaw clenches visibly for a moment -- he gets what Clint is saying, what he's offering and the understanding that's there is something that he couldn't have asked for but is glad to receive nevertheless.

And at the same time he hates it. He doesn't want for things to end before they've given them a chance to get started. He isn't perfectly objective, but he wouldn't be even if they stopped now. Or so he thinks, and he isn't sure whether he's just grasping at justifications or actually having a point there. Either way.

Clearing his throat, and then, deceptively light: ] I was rather curious now. You made the plot sound so engaging.

[ Thumb rubbing small circles into the skin over Clint's ankle. ]

[ Clint expects nothing less. It's the one thing about being kicked out of school early that he regrets, the lack of extra skills to get by in this business. But he can read body language well enough to get the gist of things.

Still, learning the lingo can't hurt, and he's open to find as many excuses to follow Phil around as possible. ] It'll be a learning experience all around. It'll be a true test of patience.

[ He doesn't take his gaze away, intense, but soft, as if he's holding onto the hope, waiting for everything to be decided for him, a future he never thought he could have, would never have allowed himself to imagine. But there it is, in a few words, and if he looks down, taking a moment to smile secretly at the relief, then he doesn't try to hide it.

The touch sets goosebumps crawling over his flesh, but it's nice, reassuring. He wants to offer the same, but the best he manages is reaching for the remote to press play. ] Haven't come across anything with as much appeal as this in a long time, but something tells me it's gonna be worth it.

[ Phil took what languages he could get in school and college and picked up a few more after joining SHIELD. Body language is one they're both fluent in, at least. ] You wouldn't make it too hard on either of us. [ Said as a challenge, but also with conviction, because he doesn't think that Clint would be a bad student at all.

Clint's smile is the best reward and the warmth it makes blossom in Phil's chest tells him it was the right decision, for all that there's reasons against it. ]

I'm aflutter with anticipation. [ Perfectly deadpan and dry, but his thumb's still rubbing circles into Clint's skin. He doesn't much care for the movie. ]

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bettercallit - 2012-07-20 14:33 (UTC) - Expand

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