Rise of the Champions - Chapter Twenty-Nine

Author: Milady Dragon


Clint couldn't really communicate just how relieved he was when they were done with the curse breaking for the day.

Seeing Phil, noticing how weak he looked sitting in that chair, had torn him up inside. His lover, usually so very strong, had been felled by an overuse of magic two days in a row, and that was something he never wanted to see again.

Even the most powerful Void Wizard in the world, Void's Champion, had his limits. Clint hated that notion with every fiber of his being, but then no one was all-powerful in the end. And all he could do was pray to any and all Gods that would listen that he somehow could lend some of his own strength to the man he loved.

And, at one point, he thought he was. At least, that was what it had felt like; a draining, however slight, and if he'd been seeing things Phil had seemed to regain a little of his own strength back.

No, it wasn't possible. There really wasn't any way for him to do that sort of shit. He was just a mortal, an Elf, and not someone with any sort of magic. Still, it had been a nice thought, that he'd be able to support Phil in some sort of capacity besides encouragement.

Anyway.

For now, all he could do was watch, and worry, and hope that Phil really did know his own limits and would understand the need to back the fuck up if he needed it. Although, as familiar as he was with his lover, that might be asking a little too much. Despite his really excellent attempt at hiding it away under the guise of the Dark One, Phil Coulson was quite possibly one of the most self-sacrificing idiots he'd ever met, and he'd do anything to help Sir James be free of what Hydra had done to him over the centuries.

By the time Ianto stepped back, deactivating the Containment Artifact they'd been using to hold Sir James, Clint was almost overcome with anxiety for his lover. Phil was grey, his normally steady hands shaking, slumped in the chair that had been pulled up for him, his eyes almost silver with fatigue. The usual miniscule black flecks that floated in them now were almost gone, which was disturbing without all the rest of the physical symptoms adding to it. All Clint wanted to do was bundle him up and take him home, and he could tell that Daisy felt the same about it, in the way she hovered behind Phil's chair, her dark eyes worried and her own hands twitching as if she wanted to reach out and grab him.

Lola was seated at her Wizard's feet, head resting in his lap, her own scales so pale they were almost pink and grey. She was reinforcing Clint's own opinion that his lover was almost beyond the end of his endurance. He met Stephen's eyes; they were concerned as well, and he motioned Clint off to the side as Ianto was busily checking on Sir James…or Uncle James, as Daisy had dubbed him. Honestly, the Elf could think of worse people for that honor, and if anyone needed family around him, it was the former Winter Knight.

He supposed that meant that Steve was also going to be an unofficial Uncle. He was gonna be buying that man all the drinks he wanted after this was all said and done, because if anyone needed to get blindingly drunk, it was Steve Rogers. He'd managed to stand still and let things happen, and that had to have been killing him.

Clint made his way over to Grand Master Stephen, who led him away from the group a little ways. "What is it?" he asked softly, because he was a little afraid that what Stephen was about to tell him wasn't something he wanted to go loud with.

"I'm worried about Phil," he answered. "Not only has he overextended himself for the second day in a row, he's also taken into himself all of that tainted Void that Pierce had used to reinforce all those old Hydra curses. It's sick, Clint, and he's going to need to expend it as soon as possible."

Clint was appalled. He'd known it was bad, but this…Pierce had warped the very Void and, while he'd understood that Phil had had to get that out of Sir James, he hadn't really known that it would have affected his lover. After all, Phil was Void Champion, and this had been Void he'd dealt with. "Is it really that bad?"

Stephen nodded. "When we went into this, I'd fully expected Phil to pull all that Void out, but to release it into the world to join whatever Void there was around us. I hadn't expected him to take all that into himself, although I understand why he did it." He ran a hand through his hair. "It needs to be sent back into the Void, where it can heal. The problem is…"

"Phil's exhausted himself," the Elf finished.

"He has. He's going to have to carry that tainted Void around with him until he's regained enough strength to pull open a Void Point and send it back. However, we all know how much power that takes…"

They did. Clint had seen the aftermath of Phil's exile of Alexander Pierce. Opening that Void Point had taken a lot out of Phil. If he had to wait… "Just how long can he carry that shit around inside him?"

"I don't know. I'm not as familiar with the Void as I should be." He sounded frustrated, but Clint couldn't blame him for his lack of knowledge on the subject. After all, Stephen was a Great Wizard, and not used to dealing with either the Void or the Deep Ways all that much. "Clint, you'll need to watch him for any ill effects. With the bond you both share, it should be simple for you to tell, if anything does happen before he can expel the Void safely."

The archer frowned. What did he mean by bond? Yes, he loved Phil more than anything, but how would that help if anything came up that wasn't obvious?

The Grand Master must have noticed his confusion. He cocked his head, his eyes examining Clint closely and then softening a little. "You don't know."

"Know what?" He was a little frustrated by all the mystery.

Stephen rested a hand on his shoulder. "There is a bond between the two of you. A magical bond. I don't know where it came from, but I believe it's a form of soul bond…which is very rare. The only other one I've ever seen is between Jack and Ianto. It means you're connected in a way no one really understands, but it's a permanent thing."

Clint's jaw dropped in shock. A bond between him and Phil? And it was magical? How had that happened? Did he want that sort of thing? "Will it…will it hurt Phil?" He was desperately worried about his lover. If something like that would do any harm…

"Oh, no. Not at all. Look at Jack and Ianto. They're perfectly fine with it. No, Clint…this is a blessing. The bond between you hasn't fully matured, but when it does…it's going to be magnificent." He smiled. "Then the support you gave Phil through it when he was in distress was completely unconscious."

"I…felt it," he said in wonder. "I thought I was imagining it." That sharing of strength, the one that he'd prayed for. And Clint had thought he'd seen Phil rally a little afterward.

He heard Lucky cooing at him; glancing down, he saw his dragon staring up at him, his brown eyes whirling in delight, as if Lucky had known all about the link and was glad that Clint had finally figured it out. And maybe he had. Who knew what dragons could tell about a person?

"You are at the beginning of something, Clint," Stephen said, "some sort of destiny, but I couldn't begin to say what that was. You're the only non-Wizard ever to be granted a dragon by the Queen of Air and Fire herself. You're the lover of the very first Void Champion in written history. My friend, you are in a unique position, one that we can't possibly explain."

A destiny…the words sent a small shiver down his spine. That was what Barney had said, wasn't it? The message given to him by the UnEarthly Child. That she would find him, and tell him his destiny. Clint hadn't really believed it; as part of a traveling show, he'd seen all sorts of hokum where fortune tellers were concerned. Most of them had been con-artists who'd only told the shills what they'd wanted to hear.

Yet, the UnEarthly Child was always right, even if she only spoke in riddles and it wasn't obvious until all was said and done. At least, she was according to every story he'd heard. Even Jack had claimed the same, having had first-hand experience with her. She was also supposed to be the Balance to the Deathless, which was pretty hideous, truth be told, since she would have had to become that at such a young age to still resemble a child, and why would the Gods do something like that to a kid, anyway?

"I think I know who might," Clint said slowly. He explained about meeting his brother – without all the emotional upset involved with it – and how he'd been given a prophecy by the UnEarthly Child, and that she would be coming for him at some point.

Stephen was nodding at the end of the tale. "I've not had any dealings with this mysterious being myself, but I am aware of her. I'm certain either Jack or Ianto will be able to fill in some details, if Jack hasn't already."

Jack had, but it wouldn't hurt to ask for more information, if either had it.

Still, Clint was having a hard time with this whole destiny thing. He wasn't really anything special; just an Elf who'd had a shitty life and who'd lucked into a relationship with the man he'd loved for years and who'd thought was dead, until he wasn't. If anyone, Phil was the special one. Clint was there to help him as much he could, to raise the family they'd gathered around them, and hopefully live a long time.

He glanced back at his lover. Phil was unsteady, but he was on his feet, hovering over Sir James and checking on him as best he could where the arm had once been attached, but was now locked away in its new storage box. Ianto stood beside him, hand just below his elbow, not quite touching but ready to catch Phil if he happened to fall…which was a distinct possibility, as weak as he looked. Daisy was standing not that far away, her hand stroking Lola's head, Skye around her shoulders, biting her lip as if she was trying to keep herself from saying something she would regret later on.

There was a sparkle of silver on Phil's hand, and Clint couldn't help the smile that pulled his lips upward at it. It was the ring, the one Ianto had enchanted for him, the one that would give them the chance to, one day, have a physical child of their own. That would be a long way off, and Phil still hadn't asked Clint to marry him like he'd said he would, but the Elf knew it was only a matter of time before that occurred. Accepting and choosing to wear that ring had been Phil's promise that it would happen someday.

Clint was looking forward to it.

Stephen was smiling when Clint turned around once more. "You have a family, Clint. They love you very much."

"And I love them," the archer hastened to add. He did. He'd had no idea what he'd done to deserve such a family, but it was his, and he would cherish everyone in it, and protect them with his life.

"Of course you do." The Great Wizard managed to make that sound not at all condescending, which was a trick Clint really wished he could learn. "You deserve it, and I hope one day you'll see that."

Trust the powerful Wizard to get what Clint had been feeling.

"But you have a place in events as well," Stephen continued. "What that place is, I cannot say. I don't have that gift. But, I do think you should meet with the UnEarthly Child when the time comes, and see what she has to say. I'm not telling you that you have to take her advice, but just listen. It might be something good."

Maybe he would. And maybe Stephen was right: whatever this strange kid had to say might very well be in Clint's best interests. "I'll consider it. But," and he took a deep breath, "at the moment I think it's time I took a certain Wizard home and put him to bed. I'll keep watch on him, too, like you suggested."

"Ianto planned a meal; however, there's nothing that says you have to stay. I'm not sure Phil will be up to staying, really. But he should eat something before sleeping, to better to replenish his reserves. And, if you can get him to stay around the Keep tomorrow and relax, I think that would be the best. He'll need to regain his strength before he can dispel the sickened Void into an opened Void Point, and we both are aware he'll need to be at near peak to do that. But Clint," he rested a hand on the Elf's shoulder, "watch him. Make certain the tainted Void doesn't affect him in some way. He seems to have it under control for now, but we cannot be certain if that control may slip."

Clint nodded. "Alright. I'll watch out. But what do I do if something does happen?" He was suddenly very afraid for Phil, that the Void that kept him alive would turn on him in some way.

"Use your bond. You might not have been aware of it before now, but now that you do, it will come when you need it. Have faith in it, and in your love for Phil. That will see you through."

"Stephen," Ianto called.

The Great Wizard gave him a wink, then headed over to the rest of the group. Clint followed, intending on letting them all have one final conference then whisking Phil away back to Shield Keep, where he would proceed to take care of his lover to the best of his ability. He knew he'd have an ally in Daisy if Phil tried to disagree with him, and Crystal too, who would be down as soon as they sent the word up to Eirlys. And there was no way Phil would be able to resist Crystal's emotionally lethal gaze.

"It looks good," Phil was murmuring when they drew up. "The original wound was long healed, and there's hardly any irritation in the shoulder or chest."

"It feels sore," James admitted. "But it also feels…right. The arm was never mine, and it shouldn't have been a part of me."

"Exactly," Ianto agreed. "And it's not a part of you any longer. We'll take care of it now."

James' eyes were wide, and were lighter than Clint had ever seen them. "I…can't thank you all enough. I know all the curses aren't gone yet, but I can't remember feeling like this. I'm free, for the first time in centuries."

"I'll get to the last of them tomorrow," the Cardinal Wizard promised. "For now, I have food upstairs, then we all need sleep. Especially Phil."

"I think I should be getting Phil home, actually," Clint put in. He wrapped an arm about his lover's waist; he could feel the fine tremors that were wracking Phil's body. He was also cool to the touch, which was worrying. "I'm not sure he'll stay awake through a meal, really."

He didn't want to add that he didn't think Ianto would, either. Their friend was haggard, but it wasn't nearly on par with Phil's exhaustion.

As for James…yeah, he wouldn't be up much longer, either.

"I understand." It was obvious that he wasn't just saying that, either. "I'm going to feed James and Stephen, then, and show James where he'll be sleeping tonight. And it's not going to be in that damned Zero Cabinet, either."

"I can't remember the last time I slept in a real bed," James admitted. "But then, I can't remember a lot of things, so there's that."

He was trying to make jokes. Clint considered that a good thing. Because if the man could joke about his amnesia, the Elf thought it was going to eventually be alright.

"I'll send Eirlys down with Crystal," Ianto said, as he helped James to his feet. The former Winter Knight stumbled, unused to being…well, lopsided, was the best term Clint could come up with. That arm had to weigh quite a bit, and to suddenly be missing that…yep, Clint would have stumbled, too.

Phil nodded. "Thanks. I don't honestly think I could make it up the stairs at this point."

Ianto gave him a worried smile. "Promise me you'll get rid of that bad Void as soon as you possibly can. I worry about you, Phil."

"I promise. I don't want it inside me anymore than anyone else does. It…itches, I suppose."

"I suspect it does more than that." Ianto touched him on the shoulder. "Rest well, my friend."

"You as well."

The three of them waited until Stephen, Ianto, and James – with dragons – were gone, the door closed behind them, then Phil called softly, "Steve."

There was a shimmer in the area where Steve had taken up temporary residence, and suddenly the Knight appeared, the Perception filter in a hand that was visibly shaking. He was shocky, his face sweaty and pale, and to Clint it looked as if it was only sheer willpower keeping him on his feet.

"I'm sorry you had to see that." Phil truly was, but Clint figured it hadn't been his fault. Steve had insisted on being present for the curse breaking, he should have been prepared for the worst.

And yet, Clint suspected it hadn't been as bad as it could have been, which was frankly terrifying.

Steve's mouth moved, but nothing came out. After a couple of heartbeats, he managed, "I was told it was going to be bad…but, Gods, it was so hard to just stand there and let it happen. But I wanted to witness it, for Bucky…"

"I know." Phil was being totally understanding. Clint felt the same way. Steve loved James, and seeing someone you loved to be so hurt had to have been horrific.

Hells, Clint was currently holding his lover up, so he knew exactly what Steve was going through.

Daisy made her way toward Steve, taking his hand as soon as she could. "Hey, it was bad but at least the worst of the curses are gone now. Ianto can remove the rest fairly easily. You don't have to be there for that."

Steve nodded jerkily. "I think I've seen enough of that, thanks." His expression was pitifully grateful, as if he was embarrassed to be so glad not to have to be present for the rest, happy that someone was giving him permission to skip out on it all.

"Why don't you go home, Steve," Clint suggested. "Go and talk to Sam. It might make you feel a little better if you do." Sam was a good man. The archer had been impressed with him from the moment he'd met the half-Elf. If anyone could help Steve deal, it was Sam Wilson.

"Yeah. I think I will." He swallowed, his gaze going to Phil. "I can never repay you for what you've done."

Phil shook his head. "There's no need for repayment. James didn't deserve what he'd got dealt, and as Void Champion it was my responsibility to help since it had been Wizards of my own Order who'd done this to him."

"And Dad just likes to help people," Daisy added, grinning. Then she smirked. "Uncle Steve."

Steve was startled by that, and Clint had to chuckle at his gaping like a fish. "What?" he finally spluttered.

"Well, if one of you is my uncle, then the other should be, too."

"You have family, Steve," Phil said. "It might not be the one you were born with, but I think we can all safely say that it's the family you choose that's more important."

Clint couldn't argue with that.