A/N:Okay, confession time. I lost my iPad. The one with all the story notes for this and my Cherik ballet!au. So I couldn't update either of them.
Plus my dad got into a car accident, (two accidents in the space of eight months) though it was nowhere near as bad as the life-threatening motorbike accident in April. But yeah, I sorta stopped writing around November completely, and without my iPad I couldn't update anyway. But I found it so yay updates!
"So you're telling me that Xavier won't take him?" Fury asked. Demanded really.
"Well, he is eight," Clint said awkwardly.
Fury shot him a look. "I don't care if he's a goddamn newborn. We were banking on Xavier."
"Surely SHIELD has a daycare system?" Tony mocked. "A place for all the little Nick Fury's and Maria Hill's of the world? Nap Time at 3, Covert Operations at 4?"
Fury glared at him. Tony held up his hands in surrender.
"How about you take him then, Stark?"
Tony scoffed. "No way, José. We got enough troubles with Peter."
Steve folded his arms.
"I mean," Tony said quickly. "Our lovely, wonderful son whom I love so much."
Steve rolled his eyes. "You don't have an agent to take him?" he asked Fury.
"This isn't exactly an everyday occurrence," Coulson commented.
"Pfft," Tony said. "What's 'everyday' for SHIELD?"
"The usual," Phil retorted. "Ancient curses, alien wars, mutant uprisings, end of the world stuff."
Tony laughed.
Then there was silence.
"I don't suppose…I mean, it needs to be said, right? We could put him in the system."
Nick shook his head immediately. "Too risky. The kid was in close proximation to a HYDRA base for who knows how long? I still find it…hard to believe… that a mutant kid with a healing factor just happened to be in the area. If they got his hands on him, they could've done stuff to his head. The kid could be a ticking time bomb for all we know, and I'd prefer to make sure that no civilians get caught in the crossfire."
"Xavier said-" Steve chimed in.
"Xavier doesn't know everything."
"And agents?"
"You think I have the ability to force an eight year old, possibly brainwashed child onto my agents?"
"Yes," Steve and Tony said in unison.
"That may be, but I'd prefer to find a more stable solution." He scowled. "We'll keep him here till we can find something permanent. At least until Xavier can take him in." He looked at the group assembled. "Dismissed."
"Phil wait," Clint said as he jogged slightly to catch up to his boyfriend.
Phil turned and waited, tapping his foot. "Yes?"
Clint rolled his eyes and dragged Coulson into the closest empty room, wanting to dispose of faux professionalism.
Though, when he found himself in the empty meeting room with just Phil and himself, he wasn't quite sure where to start.
"Are you okay?" Phil asked. "You were pretty quiet in the meeting."
Clint searched his face. "Do you want kids?" he finally blurted out.
Phil blinked in surprise. "I haven't really- Are you pregnant?"
"What? No, how…." Clint asked, shocked. He shook his head. "No, it's about that kid. Wade."
Phil frowned. "Why?"
"It's something Xavier said. About us. And Wade. And…."
Phil tilted his head. "You…want to adopt?"
"I don't… I mean, we're ready right? And I like him. Wade. I feel bad for him and…" He suddenly felt a bit overwhelmed. The thought of putting someone into the system. Another orphan on the street. He felt a hand on his arm.
"They're not going to let him get hurt."
Clint shook his head. "You think SHIELD cares about a single kid?"
Phil frowned. "Okay, let's not focus on that. Let's focus on us. You think we can handle a child?"
Clint nodded and shrugged. "If Tony can do it."
Phil raised an eyebrow. "We're not married, Clint."
"Is that a problem?" Clint replied confused.
"I don't know," he leant against the table. "We couldn't give that child a stable life."
"Wade's a mutant who's been basically burnt alive. He can't have a normal life. You heard what Fury said."
Phil looked down. "You're an Avenger, I'm a spy, they'd use him-"
"Healing factor." Clint retorted. "And he'd be protected by SHIELD and the Avengers. And he's a mutant. Xavier is willing to take him in a few years…"
"It's an emotional investment too Clint."
"I know. But…I sorta already like him. And I know you do too. And he likes us…"
Phil gave him a look. "This seems… odd. This should be more…complicated."
Clint nodded and shrugged. "We could give it a test run?"
"He isn't a new car. We can't take him on and ditch him. He's a person."
"I'm not planning to ditch him."
"Lots of things have happened that we didn't plan."
"Phil, I'm not going to argue with you. I just think we have a chance to help him and I really think it'd work."
Phil raised an eyebrow. Then he sighed. "I'll tell Fury we'll be willing to look after him for a while. Take him home. I'm not agreeing to anything. This is temporary."
Clint grinned and leant in for a kiss. "I knew you'd see it my way."
Fury raised his eyebrow, looking over Coulson. "I must be getting old, because it sounded like you said you want to adopt our security threat."
Phil rolled his eyes. "It was Clint's idea. Or Xavier's." He shook his head. "And I'm not adopting anyone. I'm not convinced that we could provide a stable life for any child, mutant or otherwise. But it would solve our housing problem. Since our apartment is highest level security clearance. Clint and I would both be able to deal with any problems that arise with the child."
"You'd have to take time off." Nick reminded him.
Phil shrugged. "I know." He looked down. "I think it could work."
Nick looked him over and sighed. "Agents Coulson and Barton looking after a kid. God help the boy."
