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[bettercallit]

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[bettercallit]

[ Clint is humming some tune or other to himself when Phil walks in, and he turns his back on whatever he was doing, not at all looking like a boy who's been caught doing something he probably shouldn't. ]

It wasn't me.

[debrief]

[ Normally, Phil would try to find out what it was that has Clint on the defensive like that, but the conversation's shaken him, and so he just nods. ]

Do you know Serrure?

[bettercallit]

Never met the kid, but I know of him. Something happen to him?

[debrief]

[ Swallowing dryly. ] He's the reincarnation of Loki.

[bettercallit]

[ Lips curling up with amusement, Clint chooses to ignore the way that he flinches from the inside out at the mere mention of the name, but the smile quickly freezes in place, slowly falls away. ]

You're serious about this. [ Glancing from Phil to the living room where his bow is and back. ] Is he a threat?

[debrief]

I am. [ He wouldn't joke about that. ] He promised that it didn't happen in his world and won't, here. He seemed sincere. [ No necessity to explain what he is referring to. ]

[bettercallit]

[ He knew from the delivery of it that he's not joking around, but he was hoping he could avoid this topic entirely.

He steps closer, as if he expects him to jump out any minute. ] As much as I respect your judgement, Coulson, are you sure?

[debrief]

[ Flexing his fingers by his side, as though he's wishing for a gun. ] Reasonably sure. [ Not entirely. How can he be. ]

[bettercallit]

I'm not hearing a hundred percent certainty here, sir. [ And this is Phil, a man he's already lost once, he's not really sure he wants to take the chance. ] I'll keep an eye on him.

[debrief]

[ He needs to pull himself together. A little more strongly: ] 80% certainty.

[ A beat. ] Be subtle about it.

[bettercallit]

Always am.

[ He tries to make it sound cheerful enough, bringing out the usual confidence in his abilities. But there's concern written all over his face. ]

You good?

[debrief]

[ Phil nods, shakes his head, nods again. It's a level of shaken he doesn't often show and he shouldn't now, should be holding it together better than this, but it's just made him remember what it felt like to be stabbed, to be dying.

Stepping closer, hand twitching as though he wants to reach out. ] Fine.

[bettercallit]

[ Because it is so out of character, Clint watches, takes note, and he can tell he's as about as comfortable with this as he is himself.

He tries to hide it, but the urge to protect, to shield him the way that he wasn't there to do that day is strong, and he takes a step of his own, as small as it is, hand making contact with his shoulder. ] One wrong move and I show no mercy.

[debrief]

He's just a kid, usually. [ Not today, though, with the curses, but usually.

He leans into the touch slightly, searching Clint's face. He's not certain what for; reassurance? a hint of how Clint feels? ]

[bettercallit]

[ Seeing vulnerability when looking back into that face is unnerving, he's the one person he turns to when he's not sure what to do, to get the final call from. It stirs up things he didn't know were there or chose to ignore. ]

With all due respect, sir, I don't care. If he becomes a threat then we do what we always do. I'll stick close, watch your back.

[debrief]

[ Phil's expression remains open a moment longer, strangely vulnerable, before he does finally manage to pull himself together, squaring his shoulders and standing up straighter. ]

All right.

[bettercallit]

[ If this were an appropriate moment for it, Clint wouldn't fight off the urge to laugh and claim that Coulson's back. But he's glad to see that dying's not keeping him down, and it's a relief when it's business as usual. ]

You said he's usually a kid, right? So this's a curse, and the curses wear off if it follows the usual pattern.

[debrief]

Must be a curse. But he'll still be Loki's reincarnation when he's a child.

[bettercallit]

And I'll still be there, watching him like a hawk. [ He hesitates, a hint of thought crossing his face. ] You planning to go out today?

[debrief]

[ Mouth twisting sardonically. ] No, I don't think I will.

[bettercallit]

[ The hand finally lowers from Phil's shoulder, some of the stiffness leaving. ]

Coffee?

[debrief]

Please. [ Smiling a little wryly. They're both entirely too predictable, in this. He can't bring himself to mind. ]

[bettercallit]

I'm on it. [ He shuffles by the coffee machine to brew it the old fashioned way, grabbing a couple of mugs. ]

[debrief]

[ Phil settles on the kitchen table, checking his network device again. It pays to keep on top of things, to be aware of what's going on. That's always been his end of the deal.

And if he stays close to Clint while doing so, well. No one can fault him for that. ]

[bettercallit]

[ Living in an apartment means that there's a better vantage point when checking out the windows, which he does around getting the coffee into the mugs, and when he goes to join him at the table, pushing a mug towards Phil, he perches on the chair so he can see. ]

Just how you like it.