Chapter 4
The next morning, Clint wakes up back to back with Phil, subconsciously having taken the position that leaves both of them on guard of potential threats. Yeah, sometimes the job does sure get to your head.
But he doesn't mind, and with the warmth of Phil's skin seeping through his shirt, he feels safe in a way he hasn't in ages.
Slowly, Clint turns around, trying not to disturb Phil in his sleep, and cuddles closer. He knows he'll have to get up at some point, there's an Avengers team meeting he shouldn't miss and he also kind of re established the tradition to go sparring with Natasha at least twice a week... But he's still got time, and right now, in bed with Phil, the world seems way too hushed and comfortable to move.
His internal clock will probably wake him up in like an hour anyway, it's alright to go back to sleep.
When Phil wakes up, he immediately feels that something is different than usually, that someone is in his bed, spooning him.
But he isn't afraid, because he immediately recognises Clint's calloused hands on his chest, the distinctive smell of the other man in the air, and memories of the last evening rush through him.
Clint kissed him.
Phil can barely believe it yet.
While he's always known that he was attracted to and later also definitely in love with the man, he'd have never thought that Clint reciprocated the sentiment.
They've grown close to each other over the years, and while Clint, after growing out of his initial discomfort in the Agency, has been flirty with Phil like he had been with everyone, there had never been anything but friendship between the two of them.
Which alone shouldn't be seen as being somehow less, Clint had always been the person Phil trusted most in his life, no matter how their relationship looked like. It was more that a romantic relationship felt more right for him, his feelings for Clint always on the back of his mind.
But he had also believed that Clint deserved more than him.
Knowing that the other man was also attracted to women, Phil couldn't help but wonder whether Clint would have a better life with someone else, someone he could maybe start a family with some day... And why would the archer want to be with a middle aged normal SHIELD agent, anyway?
Now, Phil can believe his rational side, which is telling him that they're good for each other. They keep each other sane, they know how to deal with each other's problems, how to help and when to step away. They're better whenever they're together.
Snuggling closer to Clint, Phil squints at the display of the alarm clock on the bedside table.
It's nearly 6am, and while he really doesn't want to leave Clint's embrace, he knows he had to go to work at some point, it's already later than he usually makes it to HQ. And he doesn't want Clint to wake up from the alarm at 6, the other man deserves to relax for a few more hours, and as far as Phil knows he doesn't have any obligations until noon.
Thinking about it, he realises how strange it is that he even slept that long. He's been plagued by insomnia for a long time, even on good days waking long before his alarm, and lately it had been getting worse again. Seems like they really are better together, trusting each other enough to truly let go and find sleep.
Slowly, Phil untangles his limbs from Clint's and sits up, silencing the alarm before getting out of bed. Clint moves after him in his sleep, hugging Phil's pillow to his chest in place of the other man. Phil sighs, it won't be long until the other wakes as well.
After using the bathroom, he walks into the kitchen and decides to make breakfast for them both. It's not really something they've been doing so far, usually when they stay over at the same place at least one of them leaves in the early hours of the morning without the other noticing, but now Phil figures it doesn't hurt to change another part of their routine.
And should Clint sleep uncharacteristically longer than Phil can wake before going to work, he'll at least find a nice breakfast to tell him that he didn't do anything wrong the previous evening. Because Phil knows Clint well enough by now to know that no matter how good Clint knows someone, no matter how long he stayed in a place, his insecurities still tend to flare up, and Phil really doesn't want a repetition of the misunderstanding after Clint's transfer to the Avengers.
He takes a look into the bedroom, Clint is still peacefully asleep. Smiling, Phil goes to start on pancake dough, waiting for his love to wake.