Chapter 5
As Clint wakes up for the second time, he's alone in bed.
It's definitely not his bed.
But Phil's smell is everywhere, so he instantly relaxes. Until he remembers what happened the evening before.....
Fuck, he kissed Phil, no wonder the other man left him here alone now...
In that moment the door opens, and Phil is looking into room.
Clint can't help grinning at him despite having to blink against the sudden brightness.
"Hey Clint, did I wake you? I'm just about to leave, buy you're welcome to stay until you have to go if you want to, I'm actually glad you slept this long"
Phil smiles at him, leaning in the doorway.
Wiping the sleep from his eyes, Clint suddenly notices that a sweeter smell is mixing into Phil's.
Ignoring Phil's questions, he asks: "You made pancakes?"
"Yeah, I thought maybe we could eat breakfast together, I'm sorry that I have to head out now so maybe another time?"
"You made pancakes so we could eat breakfast together? And you still let me sleep in? Aww, Phil, that's so sweet!"
Phil actually blushes at that, and Clint hops out of bed to pull him into his arms and into a chaste kiss, all initial self-consciousness forgotten.
"When are you gonna be able to get out of work today?"
"No idea, honestly, I still have to go to med checkup inbetween so I'll probably have to shift some meetings..."
Clint nodds "I get it babe... Text me when you're done? Or better, can I stay over again? I already have your spare key..."
Phil tilts his head. "Babe?"
Clint shrugs. "You didn't seem to oppose the kissing, so I take it you're on board with this thing?" He tries not to show his insecurities, but he can't quite help the way his eyes flicker from the wall to Phil's face and back, not wanting the man to see his emotions but on the other hand wanting to catalogue Phil's.
Phil moves in even closer, caressing Clint's face in his hands.
"I am definitely on board with this, and if we want to name what this is I would like to be in a relationship with you, Clint. I love you- I don't need you to say it back, I know you enough to know you feel something for me, too. I just need to say this- you're it for me, Clint" he leans in to press another soft kiss to Clint's shock still face. "I guess the pet name just took me by surprise, been a while since anyone called me anything like that..."
Clint blinks at him owlishly. Then he wraps him into a bone-crushing hug, hiding his face in Phil's neck and mumbling "Love you, too, Sir".
Phil smiles, holding him close and pressing a kiss to his hair.
"Glad we're on the same page, love. As for you staying over again, I thought maybe we could go to your place tonight?"
"The tower?" Clint makes a face. "I don't really want this to get overanalyzed by Tony right now. Don't get me wrong, babe, I'm not gonna hide you, but just- not yet, okay?"
Phil keeps smiling, stroking Clint's back reassuringly.
"I didn't actually think of the tower at all, I still think of bedstuy when I think about your home... But of course we can go here instead if that's what you like better"
"Nah, bedstuys fine, but I think we might have to buy a bigger bed, and I think Kate's still camping out on the couch..."
Phil laughs. "Why don't you let her move into the spare room? Then Lucky can get his couch back"
Clint giggles "Because you don't need the spare room anymore now, babe? And damn, I swear that dog likes you two better than me, I bet you bribed it or something!"
"Lucky just likes us because he knows we're your friends" Phil shakes his head. "That dog adores you, and you know it"
"Well, I do bribe him with Pizza" Clint grins, moving past Phil into the hallway to the kitchen, trying to ignore the emotions welling up inside him, because Phil really needs to stop motherhenning him and get his ass to work.
"And talking bout food bribes, I think I'll help myself to some pancakes, and you should probably get going if you don't want to be late" he calls over his shoulder.
Phil chuckles, slowly walking after him.
"Alright, love" he grabs his jacket and the bag with tablet and documents before going to the kitchen to catch Clint in a honey-sweet kiss- literally, as Clint's lips are sweet from pancake syrup.
"Love you, babe"
"Love you too, Clint. Text me if there's anything you need"
Phil's out of the flat, and Clint standing there completely dumbfounded staring after him with a big smile on his face, fork with a piece of pancake forgotten in his hand.
He's in a relationship with Phil, and he's the luckiest man on earth.