"I'm retiring," Clint said, sitting on the floor of their quarters knitting. Phil frowned at the needles – Clint only tended to knit when he was upset.

"Why are you knitting?"

"Because shooting arrows didn't help, so I came up here to knit and I realised that I only really had one option that I wanted or could live with."

"The knitting still concerns me."

"I want to finish this beanie."

Phil looked at the ear flap that Clint was currently working on and just knew it was going to be for him. "I'm only wearing it at the farm."

"And we might even be able to visit more often when I'm an…oh my god, Phil, do you realise that I am going to be an old retired man with you paying for me…I am finally a proper toy boy."

Phil slapped his forehead with his palm and groaned; he was going to hear about that again…and Tony was going to bring it up as well…a lot.

"I'm going to send an official letter to Ross tomorrow."

Phil nodded and moved into the kitchen to pull the leftovers from the night before from his small fridge and arrange them on two plates.

"He is apparently quite critical about the fact that we've misplaced Bruce…and he put it like that; misplaced."

"Well, it's not a surprise, is it?" Phil debated making some fresh garlic bread to go with the leftover lasagne.

"Why isn't it a surprise?"

"Given he's Betty's father."

"Who's Betty?"

Phil turned around and frowned at Clint. "Dr Elizabeth Ross," Clint shrugged. "She was engaged to Bruce, she was involved in the experiment that created the Hulk, she was the only thing that we know for sure could reach the Hulk until he showed a fondness for Tony and the team."

"Bruce was engaged?"

"This cannot be news," Phil said. "He must have mentioned Betty, from my intel he was deeply in love with her."

"Deeply in love?"

"Yes," Phil said slowly, deciding he'd definitely make them some garlic bread. "I'm surprised she never came to the Tower."

"Seriously?" Clint asked. "How did Bruce, Bruce Banner, keep this huge secret from two of the world's best spies…and JARVIS?"

Phil shrugged. "Perhaps he asked JARVIS nicely not to mention it."

"Tony programmed JARVIS, do you honestly think that asking nicely is the way to get around the programming?"

Phil smiled. "I've asked JARVIS nicely before."

"And did it work?"

"Yep."

"Your powers are mystic and unknown."

"Your power is annoying people when you think it's funny."

Clint laughed. "Make me garlic bread, husband, I need to do some research on Betty Ross."

Phil left him to it.

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