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All I'm asking is that you give me a chance to make things right. You don't have to trust me right away...but I want to.....I need you in my corner. Fury didn't just hide things from you and the Avengers...but he's been hiding things from me too.

[Clint frowns. It's one thing for Fury to hide things from his team, but another to be hiding things from Coulson. The other part he leaves hanging, needing to think for a moment.]

What do you mean? What's going on? And I'll always be in your corner, boss. Always.

Something is going on...Fury locked all my personal files. I can't access anything and there have been things happening that don't make sense.

[Clints moves closer to Phil, brow furrowed.]

Okay, so we find out what's going on, then I kill Fury. In the meantime, get Stark to start work on unlocking those files, find out what the bastard is hiding.

I still haven't forgiven you for stealing my research.

[Phil gives Jane a slight smile, yes a smile.]

Would an I'm sorry help?

[Phil nods.]

Just Stark...if Fury catches wind of what we are doing my team may suffer....you and Stark too.

Hang on. Your Team? You have a whole other team? God Coulson, you couldn't have told just one of us you were fucking alive!

[The anger is back and Clint can't help it. He's felt such a burden of guilt for so long, and not only was Coulson alive, but working with another team, for fuck's sake!]

Fuck.

[His anger deflates and he's left with an overwhelming sadness, that the man he'd trusted most in the world could do this, just carry on with another team, letting them all believe he was gone. Letting Clint believe that Loki had killed him. He'd thought he and Phil had a kind of bond between them built on years of trust and solo confinements on missions. But now, he didn't know what to believe and he could feel the color draining from his face and he felt like he was going to be sick. He bent over, bracing his hands on his knees, focusing on his breathing.]

[Phil moves into Clint's personal space without thinking about it. He suddenly needs to touch the other agent He lays a shaking hand on the younger man's shoulder and leaves it there unsure of what else he could do to help Barton deal with this, when he is struggling himself.]

[Finally, he puts a hand over Phil's, squeezing it tightly.]

I don't know how to handle this and apparently killing Fury is off the table. I just...god Phil I missed you so much and I blamed myself for so long. I want to trust you, I'm just...god it hurts.

[Phil squeezes back and swallows hard.]

I missed you too, having my own team is wonderful I'm working with May again, but it isn't like working with you, Natasha and the Avengers. I miss that excitement and wonder.

[Clint speaks softly, still hurting.]

May's a good agent. At least I know someone will keep you alive out there.

[Phil laughs.]

Believe me she has already had to yell at me several times. In her own way of course.

I think the only person not afraid of May is Tasha, and that's only because they have some weird girl code I'll never understand.

[Clint squeezes Phil's fingers, then let's them go.]

Now what? Are you going to disappear again?

[Phil shakes his head.]

No Clint I'm not.....some things happened recently....and I needed some down time....I'm here until the Bus is ready to go again.

So, can I buy you a back from the dead dinner?

[Clint shifted awkwardly, staring at his shoes before looking at Phil.]

We can...talk.

[A slight smile and a nod.]

I'd like that.....we do need to talk about things...in private.

Since I'm not supposed to know you're alive, maybe a road trip is necessary to get out from under Fury's good eye. No flights to catch for awhile?

Bus has been grounded for a week while I get looked over. Long story that involves Asgard, kidnapping and crashing a plane.

Well Coulson, I hate to tell you, but you're about to get kidnapped. Again. Maybe for a week. Maybe two. I really want to piss Fury off, and I can't think of a better way.

[For the first time, Clint genuinely smiles.]

Since I'm not allowed to kill him.

[This draws a laugh out of Phil.]

You won't hear me saying no to that....the team needs a break too. Maybe if we run off they'll get one.

God it's good to hear you laugh, Phil.

It's good to laugh again....almost forgotten what it sounded like.

Fuck it.

[Clint wraps Phil up in a very tight, hard, hug.]

I missed you.

[Phil hugs back just as tightly.]

I missed you too Clint.....I....I love you.