"I was just talking to Nat the other day about how little appreciation the IT department at SHIELD gets." Clint compliments the Agent trying to get him to do something for him. He is at the HUB something he rarely does, a fact that has only increased due to SHIELD not existing for awhile. He's so distracted by the conversation that he runs right into another agent. "Sorr..." He trails off his has going slack when he sees the man he nearly knocked over. The other man also recognizes him and stops moving forward.
"Nice to see you Agent Coulson." Clint deadpans. "Kind of surprising though seems how you're supposed to he dead and all."
"You're Agent Barton." A girl squeals from behind Coulson. "My name is Skye by the way. I'm a huge fan."
"Clint... I can explain." Phil says motioning toward a nearby conference room door. "Just give me a chance."
"That's the same thing Tasha asked me to do a few weeks ago." Clint barks a brief humorless chuckle. "Trouble is, you know me, I hate chit chat." Clint pushes past Coulson jogging to catch up with his original conversation partner. They go inside the man's office where Clint makes sure to seal the door behind him.
Clint comes out of the office hours later. He is 90 percent sure that Coulson will no longer be waiting for him outside. And he's almost right. Coulson isn't waiting for him, but the girl that was with him is.
"Hey, I'm sorry about my fangirling earlier."
"It's fine." He says gruffly pushing past her.
"Look I need to talk to you… it's about Coulson."
Clint stops in his tracks. "Did he send you?"
"No, I, uh came on my own. He thinks that I'm waiting on some lab results for him, which I was, but that was done hours ago… sorry I tend to ramble when I get nervous."
"It's fine. But may I ask why you want to talk to me if Coulson didn't send you?"
"You mean a lot to him."
Barton licks the front of his teeth. "He told you that did he? Cause if he did, you should learn pretty damn quick not to believe a word out of his mouth. I assume you work with him. He your SO or something?"
"Or something, I guess. I work in a specialized team he's in charge of… it's not important really what I do with him. What is important is that you need to listen to me. Coulson cares for you."
"Yeah, well I've learned that if what you say is true, I'm not much better off than if he was dead."
"You have got to be the pain in the ass stray he always talks about bringing home. You're impossible to talk to. Look, just come with me. All I want is for you to give him a chance to explain himself. You're passing judgement before you even know the story. Hear him out, if you don't like it, then you can pass all the judgement you want."
"You're not going to leave me alone, are you kid?" Barton sighs running his hand through his hair. "Alright I'll come with you. But the minute I don't like what I hear, I'm leaving. Do you understand?"
Skye squeals. "I can't believe I actually convinced you. Ward said I could never do it. Even Coulson said you wouldn't go for it…"
"Look kid." Clint cuts her off. "Either take me to Coulson or let me leave. It's nothing personal at this point, but I've had a long few months and I don't want to be at the HUB any longer than necessary. So I'm leaving one way or another."
"Right, right just follow me."