They had just got settled into the plane a couple of hours ago and he was currently sat in his office drinking a cup of coffee catching up on old times. He had forgotten how much he had missed his friend since she had retired from the field.
"So how's Clint these days, still climbing around in vents?"
That question caught him off guard, since the battle he hadn't spoken to Clint as the avengers weren't allowed to know he was alive.
"Good I guess, I only know from what I read in the reports as he's not allowed to know I'm alive"
May frowned at his response "Clint doesn't know you're alive?" she questioned
"No, he's an avenger now and only level 6, he can't be told" he said confused at were May was going with this, she knew no one below level 7 knew, Fury was adamant on that even if he wasn't particularly sure why.
"Your husband doesn't know you're alive?" May asked slowly causing Phil to choke on his coffee.
"My what!?" Phil wheezed still choking on his coffee.
"Your husband, you know the guy you got married to after mess in Budapest" May replied staring at Phil with criticizing eyes, making Phil feel like he was being interrogated.
"What?! Me and Clint never got married I'm with Audrey" he relied, he was pretty sure he would have remembered marrying Clint. He may have had a huge crush on the guy before he met Audrey but they damn well never got married.
May looked even more confused, even worried now "Phil, Audrey was a cover up; no one was allowed to know you guys were together, let alone married because you were handler and asset. You were both best friends with her, you used her as a cover up for where you went all the time. Clint used to joke about how it was the perfect cover story considering they both used bows" May said softly, wondering how much the operation had messed around with his brain.
"But we had dinner at the Richmond and why didn't Clint have a cover story….." Phil trailed off trying to remember more, he knew he was with Audrey it all made sense- didn't it?
"You did, you and Clint, you would have dinner with her there after you had watched her play in the orchestra. Clint never needed a cover story, you however did because people were noticing that you suddenly weren't spending every waking hour in your office doing paperwork" May chuckled at the last .
"I….." Phil was so confused, if he was married to Clint why didn't he remember? You wouldn't forget something like that. Surely he would have something to prove he was married and he didn't there was no ring nothing, May had to be wrong.
"I don't have a ring" Phil stated
"Neither of you do, you both knew they weren't practical with your jobs so you got each other something else instead" May replied a small smile on her face now.
"What?"
"Look at the back of your dog tag"
"Why" asked Phil really confused now, why did she want him to look at that?
"Just do it, you'll see" May said smiling even more which was freaking Phil out as May rarely smiled like that.
Knowing May was waiting for him he pulled his dog tag out from underneath his undershirt. He wondered where his other half was, but dismissed it thinking he must have given the other half to Audrey.
"Look at the back" May repeated
Turing it over Phil let out a small gasp, there was an inscription on the back. Reading the inscription Phil got confused, it didn't make sense, or did it? Suddenly a rush of memories came back to him, memories of a small apartment, a three legged dog, muscular arms, late nights watching Dog Cops on a small apartment curled up with a Blond haired man resting his head on Phil's chest. "Clint" Phil whispered.
"How could I forget?" Phil asked weakly. He didn't understand how he had forgotten, what kind of husband was he if he just forgot he was married? He stared at the inscription again Yours forever- Clint he stroked the dog tag feeling a tear roll down his face.
"I need to tell him" Phil said determined to see his husband. Now that he remembered he was determined to see him, Clint had to be told he was still alive, Phil needed him. He now understood the ache in his heart, it was Clint. He knew he hadn't fallen in love with Audrey yet so he didn't quite understand the pain, but now it all made sense.
"I know Phil but you can't just go rushing over there, Fury knew you guys were married so he knew what he was doing. You're going to have to do this quietly otherwise he's going to find a way to stop you" May said sternly, probably knowing Phil would just storm over to the Avengers tower and find Clint.
"Also remember Clint's been thinking you were dead for six months, this isn't going to be easy for the guy" May reminded him.
Phil felt his heart drop, six months, Phil felt awful. What if Clint's moved on? Clint might have mourned him and found somebody else. He might think Phil's been hiding from him and not care about Clint anymore.
"I'm not saying don't tell him, I'm just meaning you're going to have to be gentle about this. Don't go banging on his door shouting that you're still alive, he'll probably think you're some imposter or something" May said coming around to place a hand on his shoulder.
"What if he's moved on?" Phil whispered.
"He won't have, the guy was head over heels for you" May said rubbing his shoulder "There's no way he's moved on, he's probably still mourning you hiding in the vent above your old office" causing a slight chuckle from Phil who was fondly remembering Clint's love for vents.
Phil gripped the dog tag tightly in his hand and started planning on a way to tell Clint, he was not waiting any longer than he had to. It would be a miracle if Clint forgave him as it was, let alone him finding out he didn't tell him as soon as he could.
"I need to think" Phil said to May hoping that the moment understood that he wanted some time by himself.
"Okay but I'll come back in a couple of hours to make sure you haven't driven yourself ragged over this" she smiled giving Phil one last pat on the shoulder before walking out his office and closing the door, leaving Phil alone to think.
…..
Phil was brought out of his thoughts abruptly by a knock on the door making him jump. "Come in" he answered a couple of seconds later after he had composed himself. The door opened to reveal Agent Ward standing there looking slightly apologetic that he had disturbed him. "Yes?" he questioned as Ward just seemed to be standing there.
"The Rising Tide have arisen again Sir" He said looking a bit uncomfortable.
"Okay I'll meet you out there in a minute agent" He said to Ward who nodded in reply and left his office. He sighed knowing he was going to have to abandon his plans for telling Clint for the moment. He seriously hoped this mission wasn't going to take long, he thinks as he places his dog tag back round his neck and under his shirt. He is going to get his husband back after all and nothing is going to get in the way of that.
Notes: Don't worry I'm still writing my other story but this idea came into my head so I had to write it down. I'll probably finish the first part of my other story first before I carry this one on which I had been thinking of doing if people like it. I know this kind of story has been done quite a bit but I love the Clint/Coulson and wanted to do my own take on it.
