Peter walks through the halls of S.H.I.E.L.D. HQ, headed in the direction of Coulson's office. Tonight the agent is departing on an undercover mission in Europe with Hawkeye and it's projected that he won't be back for at least two months. Thankfully, school's out for the summer, so there's no need to explain why the high school's principle has apparently decided to take a two month vacation. Not that it wouldn't have been fun to spread as many rumors as they could think of in his absence, mind you. Still, he's going to be gone and it's going to be dangerous, so Danny had suggested the team get a good luck card and that they all sign it. Peter had been the one tasked to deliver it.
It's eerie how quiet HQ can be at night, but then, he supposes that for some of them, this is just like any other 9-to-5. Gotta clock out sometime, right? He continues down the hall and bears right, only to find that the office at the end of the corridor is dark. Standing outside the door, he wonders if it's possible he's missed Coulson, but he knows for a fact that the agent isn't due to leave for another four hours. Curiously, he knocks on the door, but gets no response.
"Agent Coulson?" he calls, rapping on the door once again.
Nothing but silence. Frowning, he decides to take a walk to the break room on the off chance that the man has decided to grab a cup of coffee. Peering through the glass, he can see that Coulson is indeed in there, but he's definitely not getting coffee and he's far from alone.
It's no secret to him or the team these days that Captain America and Agent Coulson are essentially S.H.I.E.L.D.'s power couple, but actually catching them behaving like a couple is like sighting the Loch Ness Monster. So even though the room is empty aside from the two of them, it's still surprising to see the captain pressing the agent up against the counter behind him. It's strange, though. It's not as though Peter's caught them making out or having sex or anything like that, but somehow… this is worse.
Their foreheads are pressed together, Cap's face tilted down and Coulson's tilted up. They both have their eyes closed, as though opening them means the moment has to end and it's clear neither of them want that. They're so close, slotted together like puzzle pieces, like they were made to fit this way. Cap's hands grip Coulson's hips tightly and though the agent's hands start by resting over the taller man's hands, they don't remain there.
Peter can see Coulson's lips moving silently as his hands slide slowly up the length of the soldier's forearms. They stop when they reach the crook of the blonde's elbows and he squeezes Cap's arms for emphasis on whatever he's saying. Cap frowns, but nods minutely as he says something back. Peter can actually see Coulson's sigh, even if he can't hear it, as Cap's hands circle around the agent's waist and come to lie at the small of his back.
Coulson's speaking again as his hands continue upward, jumping from the captain's forearms to his shoulders. They pat lightly before coming to rest on either side of Cap's face. Coulson pulls away, opening his eyes to look at the soldier still holding him close. When Cap's eyes remain squeezed shut, Peter sees Coulson say something—something that he thinks is the other man's name—as his thumbs gently caress the taller man's cheekbones.
That little bit of prompting is enough to get Cap to open his eyes, which is enough to make Coulson smile. The captain tries to return it, although try as he might, he can't seem to keep the slight shade of sadness out of it. But Cap takes a deep breath and tries again, smiles just a bit brighter as he kisses the other man, once on the forehead and once on the lips.
It's neither wild nor passionate, nothing to suggest that either of them would like to be doing much more than kissing. If anything, Peter would describe it as chaste. But the strangest thing is that witnessing these seemingly simple touches and modest brush of one's lips against another's have left him feeling embarrassed.
There is nothing sexual about their embrace, nothing suggestive in the way they touch each other, and somehow that makes Peter feel as though he's intruded on something deeply private that isn't meant for his or anyone else's eyes. Not… that the two of them having sex would be meant for anyone's eyes either, but this is different. Intimate in a way that sex could never hope to be.
So he turns his back to the door, cheeks a healthy pink, and decides to wait until they come out.
"I'll be back before you know it," Phil says.
"Two months is a long time," Steve sighs. "I just don't know—"
"Steve. Look at me. I'll be fine. My doctors cleared me for a full return to active duty four months ago and I'll have Clint with me for the duration of this mission, as well as several other S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives working undercover nearby," Phil reassures him. "This will be good for me."
"I know," Steve says, frowning. "I'm not trying to imply you're not capable, I'm just… worried. That's all. And I'm going to miss you."
Phil huffs a laugh. "I'll miss you, too. And I promise I'll make it up to you when I get back."
"Just come home," Steve says. "That's all I'm asking."
"I'm certainly going to do my best," Phil answers. "Keep an eye on the kids for me?"
"Of course," Steve tells him. "Although, speaking of, I think we've got company."
Phil turns his head and through the glass of the door, he can see Peter standing with his back to the door. With an amused look at Steve, they break apart so that Phil can see what it is Peter's standing there for.
"Can I help you, Mr. Parker?" Phil asks as he pulls the door open.
Peter flails like he's been caught snooping. "What? No."
Phil raises an eyebrow and hears Steve's chuckle behind him. Peter's face just turns that much redder.
"I mean," Peter tries again, "yes. Uh, here. It's from the team. Danny thought, you know, we should just… wish you luck. So… good luck."
The teen shoves the card at Phil, trying to get rid of it as quickly as possible. Phil accepts the card, a little surprised by the sentiment, but not really showing it.
"Thank you, Parker," he says. He observes Peter's beet red face and the way the young man stares at anything but him or Steve. He holds a hand out. "I'll be back in two months. Stay out of trouble, please."
Peter looks up at that, face still pink and grinning a little as he shakes Phil's hand. "Come on, us? Trouble? You must be thinking of a different group of teen superheroes."
"That's what I thought," Phil answers with a knowing sigh. "Goodnight, Parker."
"And good luck," Peter says. He waves a little around Phil. "Later, Cap."
"Bye, Peter," Steve says with a wave. "Don't forget, training session on Wednesday."
"Yeah! Looking forward to it! Uh…" Peter says. He motions between the two of them. "As you were."
They watch as Peter beats a hasty retreat, face still glowing with embarrassment. Phil turns to Steve and the soldier merely shrugs. Pushing away from the counter, Steve stoops to pick up Phil's suitcase and holds out his free hand.
"Come on," Steve says. "Clint's expecting us for dinner, remember."
"Right," Phil answers, linking his hand with Steve's. "Better get there before he fills up on bread again."
Peter damn near runs through the halls in his effort to place as much distance as possible between himself and the situation he'd walked in on. In his haste to escape, he doesn't notice someone just around the corner and runs headlong into Nick Fury.
"Parker, what the fu—"
"I didn't see anything," Peter shrieks.
Nick stares as the teen holds his hands up defensively before scurrying away. The director sighs and shakes his head, continuing on his way. Fucking kids.