Chapter 3
Clint never realized it could be like this. He never allowed himself to even think about how soft Phil’s lips could be, how inviting his mouth was, and how firm his body would feel as Clint pressed into him. He moaned into the kiss, feeling Phil’s hands clench in his shirt, before gently pulling back. He couldn’t resist the urge to kiss Phil quickly once more, and again. He opened his eyes to take it that moment of full blown lust in those blue eyes.
“Clint,” Phil murmured.
“Phil.” Clint leaned in to kiss him again, but found a hand in place. “Phil?”
“We can’t.”
“Why not?” Clint asked, stepping back. "You…“
"You’re my indentured servant.”
“So?”
“So, I have a certain power over you.”
“What?”
“It can’t be consensual. You’re my servant, you work for me, you live with me. I… I own you.”
Clint frowned. "I want you too.“
"I know, trust me, that makes it that much harder, but… I’m still taking advantage of you.” Phil slid away from Clint. "I’m… I’m sorry.“
Clint closed his eyes as the back of the coffee shop fell silent. He was so stupid.
A quick glance at the clock, showed he had five minutes until he had to be out there. He gave himself four minute to wallow in the loss of Phil and one minute to put himself back together. Mask on, a mask he hadn’t bothered with since Garrett, because life was really good. At least it had been until Clint had to go and push for more.
Stepping into the storefront revealed that it had started to pick up. Clint got straight to work, ignoring the looks from Phil and Skye. He was eternally grateful when it started to die out and Natasha showed up. She must have read something in his face, because she talked to Phil a bit and then came over to him.
"C'mon, I need something besides pastries,” Natasha said, inclining her head. "Phil said it was alright.“
Clint nodded and pulled off his apron, before following Natasha out of the building. She led him to a small diner, where they got a table in the corner and ordered food.
"Talk to me,” Natasha instructed.
“I kissed Phil.”
“When? Last night?” Natasha asked, curling forward.
“This morning.”
Natasha frowned. "And Phil didn’t like it?“
"I… I don’t know. He said we can’t, because I’m indentured to him.”
Natasha sighed, considering everything. "So, he didn’t say he didn’t like it.“ She smiled slowly. "We can fix this?”
“How? It’s not like I can quit.”
“But you can go elsewhere.”
Clint arched an eyebrow.
“Stark?”
“No!” Clint said, shaking his head. He’d met Tony several times, but the first time they’d met hadn’t gone well. Tony had leered and made Clint vastly uncomfortable. Clint still tended to steer clear of him.
“He’s not that bad. You just have to tell him no.”
“What would I even do there?”
“We could go find out?”
“I have to…”
“Do you really think that Phil would object to me and you going someplace?”
“But he’s expecting me back at the shop.”
Natasha sighed, before pulling out her cell. She put it on speaker after the greetings. "Hey Phil, is it cool if I borrow Clint for a couple hours?“
"Um, if Clint would like to?” Phil replied.
“Yeah?”
“Clint?”
“Yeah, Natasha put you on speaker.”
“Do you want to go with Natasha?”
“As long as you don’t need me at the shop.”
“Go, have fun, I’ll…. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Thanks Phil.”
Natasha and Clint ate and when they were done, headed over to Stark Tower. The only reason Clint didn’t balk when in sight of the tower was Natasha at his side. He didn’t know how Natasha managed it, but they were shown right in to see Pepper Potts.
A long discussion, a tour, several tests, and another long discussion, Clint had a semi-decent plan to take back to Phil along with some questions. Natasha paid for him to stop and get things needed for dinner. So that by the time, Phil came home, dinner was on the table .
“Hey,” Clint greeted.
“Hi,” Phil said, warily eyeing the table. “You cooked?”
“I did,” Clint said. "I thought we could talk about this morning.“
"Clint,” Phil started. "I already told you…“
Clint flipped Phil a file folder. "Catch.”
Phil caught the folder, giving Clint a questioning look.
“You’ll get a phone call about that tomorrow.”
Phil opened the folder, looking through the first few sheets, before looking back at Clint. "You went to Stark?“
"There have been very few good things in my life. You’re one of them. I don’t… I want you, Phil. Plain and simple, I want to be with you.”
“You’d be working for Tony? You hate Tony.”
“I’d be working for Ms. Potts and I’m uncomfortable around Tony, but Ms. Potts is like Natasha.”
Phil shook his head.
“So, here’s how it’s going to work. If you care about me, if you want to try for an us, then you’ll accept Pepper’s offer tomorrow. If you don’t want to and you just want to be friends, then you’ll turn her down.”
“You realize that by trying to be together. It could become a bad thing?”
“No,” Clint murmured. “That wouldn’t happen. Not with us.”
Phil shook his head, but a smile slowly started spreading across his face. He moved toward Clint, leaning in and kissing him quickly when he got close. "When did you get so smart?“
"Natasha helped. I think she’s rooting for us.”
“I’m putting the money Pepper pays me for you toward your debt, just so you know.”
Clint smiled. “Phil…”
“No,” Phil said. “I get to do this for you.”
“Okay.” Clint tugged on Phil’s arms and Phil leaned into him. This time the kiss was slow and perfect.