"That was brave of you, telling them the truth like that," Phil says, when they're lounging on the bed that night.
Once Clint had recovered his composure he'd told the rest of the Pack about his past - about the circus and the pack who ran it, about the Swordsman, Jacques Duquesne and Trickshot, Buck Chisholm, his Beta. About how they had taken Clint and his brother in after their parents died, when they were too young to know better. How they'd seduced Barney into their life of crime, how Trickshot had beaten him whenever he missed a shot and pushed him off the tightrope, breaking his leg. How Duquesne had beat him to within an inch of his life and left him for dead when he refused to join in their more criminal activities. He'd told it all in a flat, emotionless voice, curled up against Phil's legs, Karl's big hand on his shoulder, eyes on Caroline and the understanding expression on her face.
Clint shrugs, a whisper of movement across the bedclothes as Phil absent-mindedly pets his hair.
"They earned it," he says simply, feeling lighter than he has in years. Phil's hand stills, resting for a moment at Clint's temple before resuming his stroking.
"I'm proud of you," he says finally, and Clint rolls over to look up at him and sees the small curve of a smile, the satisfaction in his eyes.
"Yeah?" he asks, grinning.
"Yeah."
They're silent for a few seconds and if he hadn't been focusing so much on the feel of Phil's hand in his hair, Clint wouldn't have noticed the slight tension that proceeded Phil's next words, letting Clint know that whatever is coming, it is important.
"Clint?" Phil asks. Clint hums in response. "Does it bother you that I'm not a wolf?"
Clint's eyes widen - this is not a question he was expecting. His first instinct is to say 'of course not' but for some reason this is very important to Phil so he stifles his initial response and gives the question some serious thought.
"Yes," he answers finally, "but not out of any distaste for humans or sense of superiority," he assures Phil. Phil doesn't look particularly relieved and Clint wonders how he could have missed that this was bothering him.
"What then?" Phil asks, fingers plucking nervously at the sheets. Clint sits up and moves his hand to rest over Phil's, stilling it.
"I'm scared," Clint admits. "A wolf can survive so much more than a human can, and we heal so much faster. I don't want to lose you, and if we're together, I don't want to survive if you don't." Phil's eyes are wide with shock.
"And if I chose to be Turned?" Phil asks quietly once he regains his composure. Clint has to close his eyes against the wave of longing, the images of Phil broken and bleeding that are never too far from his mind replaced with Phil injured but still standing, wolf-strong.
"I'd want to know that you were sure. And that you weren't doing it just because you think it's what I want," Clint answers softly, keeping his eyes closed, hoping. He startles as Phil places a hand on his cheek, opening his eyes to meet Phil's, nervousness and hope and something else, something stronger, lurking in their blue depths.
"I've been thinking about it ever since Karl offered, years ago," Phil says. "The only reason I didn't take him up on it immediately is that I need to be out there, doing something. I'm not really made for a settled life, and I didn't ever want to be Lone. But now it's different. I want more." Phil stops and takes a deep breath, obviously steeling himself for something and Clint forgets how to breathe at the sheer hoperunning through him.
"Human or wolf I will alwaysbe your Alpha, your Pack, for as long as you want me, Clint," Phil says, voice nearly begging Clint to believe him and Clint does, he does.
"Nothing has to change if you don't want it to, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want more," Phil continues. "I want everything, Clint. I want to take Karl up on his offer. I want to be your mate, and I want us to go back to SHIELD together. I want to work with you and I want to live with you and I want to go on runs with you and I want us to come back here and visit and spoil the pups to death and maybe, maybe one day, I want us to have pups of our own. And if that's not what you want that's ok too, I'll be anything you need me to be I just-"
Clint lunges forward and grabs Phil's head, sealing their lips together and stopping those stupid, ridiculous words in their tracks because how could Phil ever think Clint wouldn't want this, wouldn't want everything Phil is willing to give him.
All the tension melts out of Phil and he clutches Clint's shirt, pulling him close and wrapping his arms around him like he never intends to let go and Clint likes that plan, likes it very much.
"Yes," Clint whispers fiercely when they finally break apart. "Yes to all of it, everything, anything. Phil." Clint buries his face in the side of Phil's neck, inhaling sharply, letting the scent ground him. He can smell Phil's joy and desire and the fading tang of his nervousness and under it all the scent of Phil - the scent of Pack and safety and Alpha and Mate.
"God, yes," Clint moans and pushes Phil down on the bed, laying down next to him and curling into his mate's side, wrapping his body around Phil's and glancing up to see Phil's smile, brighter than he has ever seen it.
"Good," Phil says softly as he holds Clint close and presses a soft kiss to his forehead. Clint rests his head on Phil's shoulder, closes his eyes, and just this once lets himself be truly happy.