author's note: Clint and Phil - d'aaaw - also Steve is awesome ^^

Clint reached Phil's office and knocked. The "Come in" sounded pretty normal so at least a part of the archer's tension ebbed away. He opened the door and entered finding Coulson behind his desk typing away on his laptop.

"Hey."

"Hey." Phil stopped typing and looked at him. He didn't look bad but the usual greeting smile was painfully absent.

Clint took a step into the room and closed the door behind him. "You okay?"

The older man took a moment to contemplate the question. "Yeah," he decided finally.

"So leaving and hiding behind your laptop..."

Phil let out a small sigh. "I'm okay – not good, but okay. I simply didn't have the nerve to talk this through with Stark."

Clint flinched. "Sorry."

"What for?" Phil's tone was mildly curious.

"When you left so abruptly, Tony asked what that was about and I kinda told him."

Coulson studied his sorrowful expression. "And everyone heard you I assume."

Barton nodded. "Tasha's there to keep it under control," he offered.

"Well she does have a better intuition, when it comes to tact."

Hawkeye looked like a kicked puppy. Phil got out from behind his desk and went over to him. He put a finger under his lover's chin and forced him to meet his eye.

"That's a mere statement of a fact not a criticism. I love your lack of tact."

"Most of the times."

"Most of the times," Coulson admitted with a small smile. He leaned in and put a light kiss on Clint's lips. "If I were really uncomfortable with Stark and the others noticing something, I wouldn't have left."

"So you're OK with them knowing?" Clint was surprised. They both were private people.

"Apparently. Believe me I'm as surprised as you, but things have changed. I'm obviously beginning to feel comfortable around our ragtag team of superheroes."

"Better be careful, Sir, or they might come to the conclusion, that you are actually human."

The familiar banter felt good, but Clint was still slightly worried, that Coulson had just subtly steered him away from the real issue.

"So the letter..."

This time Phil's smile reached his eyes as the small wrinkles told Clint. "Not so easily distracted, hmm? We might yet make a SHIELD interrogator out of you." His face grew serious again. "My father is a small-minded idiot. That's nothing new and the reason we haven't spoken in over 25 years. I'm not happy to see he hasn't changed, but I'm not particularly surprised either. And I'm 46 years old Clint – I don't need my father's approval for a happy and content life."

Hawkeye carefully studied the face before him to make sure his lover wasn't trying to bullshit him. There were very few people who would be able to tell the difference, but he prided himself in being one of them. When he was convinced that Coulson really meant it, he leaned in for another kiss.

"You are amazing, you know that?"

"You better not forget that." Phil turned towards his desk. "As much as I love having you here, I need to get some work done."

Clint's fingers brushed lightly against the skin of Coulson's neck, just between his hair and the collar of his suit. "You sure?"

Phil had an extraordinary self-control. He didn't turn around and jump Clint on the spot. He didn't even show signs of a shiver running through him as a reaction to the husky sound of his lover's voice. But Clint could feel the the tiny hairs under his fingertips standing up in response to his touch, betraying goosebumps.

"If you don't want me to spend half the night on paperwork ignoring you later, Agent Barton, then yes I am sure."

The archer sighed. Phil always was the responsible one. His thumb put just the right amount of pressure on Coulson's neck to remind him, that Clint was 'there'.

"Later then," he promised as he drew his hand away.

"Later," Phil agreed and although Barton couldn't see his face, he could practically hear the fond smile gracing his lover's lips.

D*W*T*P

One and a half hour later Phil's work was interrupted.

"Agent Coulson?" Steve showed none of the shyness he sometimes displayed. There was a quiet determination about him that told Phil that he wouldn't be able to distract the man from whatever mission he had set for himself.

"Captain Rogers – what can I do for you?"

"We had a talk."

Coulson leaned back, waiting for where Rogers was heading.

"I'm sure you're glad to learn, that Natasha managed to stop Tony from starting a crusade in your name."

Phil nodded. He was relieved that Agent Romanoff was on his side.

"But we all agreed, that we couldn't let this slide."

Coulson wanted to protest, but Steve's hand came up in a silencing gesture.

"And not just because of you Agent Coulson. As your friends we would love to respect your wishes, but this isn't just about you. What these people are doing is wrong. Their behavior is ruining lives. I think it's important that we as the Avengers take a stand – make our position known. Being a hero isn't just about fighting alien invasions it's about doing the right thing."

Even after living and working with Captain America for months now, Phil couldn't help but being impressed with the man's absolute integrity. At least he had his inner fan-boy under enough control nowadays that he was able to have a more or less normal conversation with Steve Rogers.

"So you've basically already decided and are just here to inform me?" Coulson's smile was amused and friendly, he didn't want the Captain to think that he was seriously annoyed. Steve's answering smile was equally warm and a little devious.

"I've had an idea but it would require your OK."

"I'm listening."