Chapter 2
The coffee shop was changing. Clint realized that the first night as Coulson was getting ready to leave for the day. Two agents were currently setting up shop in the back to arrest anyone that came to the back door. They’d been introduced as Trip and Melinda. He paused, studying Clint. "Did you go home with Garrett?“
"No, Kaminsky or Peters might need something, so I was expected to stay.”
Coulson blinked, before sighing. "Well, those two have been arrested and I’d rather you not be here if one of Garrett’s other customers react badly to the change in management.“
"Oh.” Clint’s face fell. "I don’t… there’s a cot here…“
"No, you’ll just have to come home with me,” Coulson stated.
“Are you sure?”
Coulson nodded. "Do you have any things?“
"Just some clothes.”
“Go get them.”
Clint hurried to gather them up. He wasn’t sure how long Phil would wait. Clint followed behind Phil.
Phil had two bedroom apartment. The second bedroom had been converted to an office, so Clint had to sleep on the couch. It was still comfier than the cot. Of course, first Phil had to shift things off the couch to make room. His place was rather messy. Phil ordered enough food for both of them from take out. Clint tried to protest, but Phil declared, “Happy workers are more productive.” When the food got there, Clint couldn’t quite resist. He did insist on cleaning up and do some additional cleaning in the kitchen.
That set the tone for the next few months. Phil would hand things over to Melinda and Trip each night (eventually they went from agents to Phil’s employees) and then Clint and him would go back to his place. Clint may have been cleaning, but they also talked.
Phil had found Clint’s contract and his debt, so he together they worked on a plan that would allow Clint to pay back his debt. It was rather disheartening to realize that Clint might be debt free before he died. However, life with Phil didn’t seem so bad. Phil was teaching him how to run the business and do so much more.
Clint was happy, except for the fact that all those quiet moments had led to Clint to one truth. Phil was a kind and gorgeous man and there was nothing that Clint wanted to do than kiss him. Something that Clint had no idea how to do or even if Phil was interested.
It bothered him enough that he actually admitted it to Natasha, multiple times. Natasha thought he should just tell Phil, but Clint just wasn’t sure.