Warning: the relationship between Clint and Fury could be considered border-line domestic abuse; not because of the dom/sub dynamic, but Fury isn't as emotionally invested as Clint, and neglects him in a number of ways. He doesn't realise he's doing it. If this could be a potential trigger, please don't read it. Happier fics will come, I promise!

"Notes"

"I hate that goddamn song."

Clint froze for a second, staring at the tall, dark guy with an eye-patch and a leather coat entirely inappropriate for the upper class surroundings. But he pulled himself together and continued to sing, strolling around the room and flirting with both men and women through the medium of song. It was part of his cover, being an interactive singer, although the interaction was to give him an opportunity to scope out any potential suspects. Every number he performed was one he knew by heart, could pretty much sing through muscle memory alone. He ended back on the stage, and bowed in response to the applause.

Then bad things happened. Understatement of the month. His cover was busted within two hours, but at least he took out the baddies. Three women and two men. They'd tried to use children as a shield, but there was no way they were getting away with that. Clint took them out without the kids ever being aware of it. He was glad that his soulmate wasn't one of the bad guys.

Now Clint just had to find him. Guy ticked the tall, dark, and handsome boxes, along with exuding authority and dominance. Clint wouldn't mind misbehaving if he got put over one of those sturdy knees.

"Barton, at your two o'clock, come meet me," Coulson said.

"Roger that," Clint replied. He climbed down the side of the building – hey, it was quicker than taking the stairs – and ambled along to the corner. He did a double-take when he recognised the man with Coulson.

"You haven't met the Director," Coulson said, indicating eye-patch guy. "Director Nicholas Fury. This is Clint Barton, who I've told you so much about."

"Uh…" Clint was out of words. Fury – Nicholas? – eyed him up and down.

"We saw each other inside," he said. "You recovered yourself quickly, Barton, but I saw a moment of hesitation. Sure you didn't recognise me?"

"Nope," Clint said. "Kinda threw me when you said my soulmark words."

"What?" Coulson blurted. "Nick, you didn't tell me—"

"Well, this has been fun and all, but you've got a debrief to do, and I've got some bodies to clean up," Fury said (definitely Fury, not Nicholas).

"Sir, you know you can skip that to be with your soul—"

"We've all got jobs to do." He frowned at Clint, whose stomach flipped nervously. "I'm in a position of authority over you, Barton."

"Yeah, you sure are," he said, dry-mouthed. Holy hell, better than he'd thought.

"You'll understand that we can't bond because of that."

"…Wait, hang on. Fate put us together for a reason. Look, I don't have to join SHIELD at all. I could… I could go someplace else—"

"No," Fury said. "You're good. I want you at SHIELD."

"But…" Clint looked to the ground. "It's me you don't want."

"Nick," Coulson said, his voice tight. "What the hell are you doing?"

"He's just a kid. Extremely competent, but not ready for a life as my soulmate."

Clint scowled. "How would you know, sir? You don't know anything about me, `sides my background, and you don't seem to be objecting to that. Are you?"

"Hell, kid, I run an organisation of the biggest misfits—"

"Then why don't you want me?"

Fury pursed his lips. "It's not you. It's the fact that being my soulmate is dangerous. You're a target—"

"Right, like I'm not already a target—"

"And you're not the right fit for my… my personality."

Clint raised an eyebrow, and stepped closer. Fury didn't move, probably refusing to be intimidated by Clint. Ha. Like that could happen.

"Like I said," Clint murmured, "you don't know anything about me, sir. You wanna know what I want? I want to be told what to do. I want someone who can take care of me in the bedroom. I want someone worth dropping to my knees for. From the moment I saw you," he leaned in closer, hands barely touching the leather coat, "I knew I wanted you to dominate me. Punish me if I needed it. Put those big hands on my waist and lift me against a wall. I want you inside me. Knowing you're my soulmate sweetens the deal. And being the director of SHIELD? Makes me wanna suck you off in this alley, then bend over and let you take me against the wall. Mark me up real good. Show everyone I belong to you, only you."

His voice had dropped further by the end of it, and he was all but pressed against his unmoving soulmate.

"Make me leak you for hours," he added. Fury growled.

"Coulson, take over here," he said. "I need a word with my soulmate."

Clint grinned deliriously as they passed Coulson, whose face was buried in one hand while his shoulders shook. Probably laughing, the asshole.

As soon as they stepped inside the overly-secure apartment, Fury shoved Clint against the wall beside the door. He shrugged off his coat, leaving it in an untidy pile on the floor. Clint itched to reach down, pick it up, dust it off, and hang it on the coat rack.

Fury had other ideas.

"Get outta your goddamn clothes," he hissed. Clint complied quickly, stripping with unsteady hands. He took a few calming breaths, hitching when Fury removed his shirt and displayed a broad, muscled chest. Clint could imagine all of that pushing him down into a bed, or a sofa, or a wall, or the shower…

"Yes, sir," he said, finally pulling off his underwear. He tried to pick his things up, but he was lifted into strong arms and pushed against the wall again.

"Sure you can handle this?" Fury said. "Last chance to get out."

Clint shivered at the storm in the director's eye. "I'm sure, sir," he said. "Fate paired us. She must know what she's doing."

Before he knew it, hot lips were devouring his, and Clint's knees trembled. He moaned, arching against Fury.

"Tell me what to do, sir," he whispered, meeting Fury's gaze. "Anything. I'll do it."

"Safe word?"

"Notes, since I sang my words to you."

Years later

"Sometimes I worry that your relationship isn't healthy," Phil said, glancing at Fury while they worked on reports. "Isn't balanced enough."

"How the hell would you know, Cheese?" Phil pursed his lips to hold back an insubordinate retort.

"I'm observant," he said. "Clearly you two have worked something out, but the honeymoon phase ended within weeks. I can appreciate that you're his boss, but then you're everyone's boss here. What you do at home—"

"He's a sub, I'm a dom. There's nothing else to say."

"Outside of the bedroom?"

Fury didn't shuffle in his seat. The closest he got to a fidget was a periodic tightening of the grip on his pen.

"We work," he said. "Being director's a full-time job."

"Do you ever date?"

"Not a relationship built on romance."

"Huh. And he has no problem with that?"

Fury frowned at Phil. "Of course not."

"So… you've discussed it."

"Why are you so damn invested in this?"

"Because you're my friend, Nick, and Clint's an excellent agent. I brought him in myself, and we get on well. I don't want to see him hurting."

"Any bruises he gets from me are ones he specifically asks for, and he enjoys it."

Phil sighed, and he corrected someone's mistake. "Can I run a couple of seminars on the English language, and how to use grammar and punctuation? Because this is ridiculous."

"Don't try to change the subject, Coulson. You started it; say what you haven't said yet."

"It's just that Barton seems like the type who doesn't show it, but wants a bit of romance. Not saying the typical wining and dining, but something between soulmates that isn't just about sex and bonding."

"We haven't bonded yet."

Phil nearly broke his pen. "What? But you've been together for nearly ten years! Didn't it ever occur to you that it was in your – and his – best interests to make sure that you're connected like that?"

"And have one of us in pain because the other is?" Fury said, scowling. "Not gonna happen."

"So you do care about him? Or is it only your own health you're concerned about?"

Fury stood abruptly, and loomed over Phil, who just stared back at him.

"Don't you dare judge my relationship with my soulmate," he murmured. "Not until you're in one yourself. Life isn't like a movie, Coulson."

"I never said it was. I'm worried that you're neglecting Barton's emotional needs because you like to pretend that you don't have any yourself."

There was a crack, and wood splintered under Fury's fist.

"Conversation. Over," he said. Phil paused.

"Want me to finish these reports in my office, sir?"

"I think it's for the best, don't you?"

"Yep."

"He's alive?"

Fury watched Clint calmly, too calmly. Clint paced back and forth, hands shaking as they rarely did. He skittered away from Fury when the man stepped closer.

"I've been beatin' myself up about this for three years," Clint whispered hoarsely. "All this time, you could-a said something, but you didn't."

"It wasn't Coulson's fault."

"No." Clint shook his head. "No, I'm not blamin' him for the secrecy. Yeah, he shouldn't've kept it up this long, the jerk, but you. You're my damn soulmate, Nick! You should've told me! Couldn't you see how it was eating away at me? The others did! You're the one who's supposed to provide me with support. I had to lie to the others, tell `em you were doin' your best to help me. I was lyin' through my teeth, Nicholas. You've never been there for me, only using me as a housekeeper and… and a toy. Take me out, have your fun, then put me back until the next time you're feelin' playful. Never even thinking I might have feelings, or, God forbid, talk about them."

He scrunched his hair in his hands, unable to stand still. Fury watched him passively, which just made Clint more furious.

"Damn it!" he exploded. "The world really does hate me! Orphaned as a kid, grew up in the circus, abandoned by my brother, became a merc, brainwashed by Loki into betraying the only family I've ever known, feelin' responsible for Coulson's death… and to top it all off, Fate decided to stick me with you as a soulmate. You shouldn't have a soulmate! You don't deserve one! You haven't… you haven't even got a soul, have you? Shit." He strode away, perfectly aware of Fury following him.

"What're you doing?" Fury asked as Clint stuffed the few things he had at their apartment into a bag. He was living part-time at Stark Tower as it was. Best place to hide from HYDRA. Well, the most secure place, anyway. It was lonely with Fury gone most of the time, so it'd made sense to move most of Clint's things to the tower.

"What d'you think I'm doing?" Clint said, slinging his bag over his shoulder. That was it. That was all he had left here. "I'm leaving you."

"You can't do that," Fury said, standing in front of Clint.

"Listen, I put up with this attitude for years, because I thought it was part of the dom and sub thing," Clint said, gesturing between them. "Now… now I don't care whether it makes me a bad sub. I'm gettin' outta here, and you're not gonna stop me."

"You're my soulmate, Barton—"

"And I've never felt like it! Not once have you made me feel like I meant more to you than just some words on the body and one of your SHIELD agents. It took seein' how a real relationship works to realise that I've wasted a third of my life with you."

"What do you want from me, Barton?" Fury said, stalking behind Clint as he made for the front door. Clint punched in the code to disable the lock.

"Love," he said softly. "But I guess it was even too much to hope you liked me." He screwed his eyes closed for a couple of seconds. "Hell, you don't even use my fucking name."

He slammed out the door and ran down the stairs, where Steve was waiting on his motorbike. He climbed onto the back, and they roared along the city streets.

Clint held onto Steve tightly, fully aware that in this state, if he let go for even a second, he would fall and break.

Knowing his luck, of course Clint's soulmark was going to fade. He'd completely and utterly decided to get over Nick Fury, the Great Liar, and move on with his life. The worst part of it, the real kicker, was that he'd actually cared about Fury. Never got around to loving him, not even in those emotionally-charged moments in the bedroom when Nick would be looming over Clint, hard and deep inside him, and make him feel like they were the only two in the universe.

He hadn't been looking for love at first sight. Lust happened, of course. But maybe a date every so often, talking without sex coming in to the equation, and he might've found a reason to let himself fall in love. But it'd never happened.

They were at a bar, a real dive of a place, the kind where Phil Coulson would hate to be seen. But it was the only place they could all meet, the Avengers and Coulson's team, and discuss some kind of partnership. They'd take on Quake and teach her control, and Phil would loan them his scientists.

What he hated most about it? Phil was refusing any other help they offered.

"I shouldn't have let this go on so long," he said. "I only want what's best for my team, but it can't happen in the public eye."

"You need money," Tony said.

"I don't want your money."

"But you need it."

"We have other sources we can tap."

"What, your own personal funds which you've been saving up for years?" Tony asked, raising an eyebrow. "Your parents' house which you've been renting? I guess it's better than robbery, but it's not exactly high finance, is it?"

"I have another source," Phil said.

"Who?"

"That's none of your concern."

"Seriously, I can find out."

"Clearly not, otherwise you would've mentioned it."

Clint snorted. "Leave him alone, Tony," he said. "If Phil doesn't need your money, back off. Offer him something else."

"Who's got the kind of money that eclipses what I could give you?" Tony asked, refusing to let this go. Phil rolled his eyes.

"I didn't say it eclipsed what's at your disposal, but you've always hated SHIELD," he said. "I'm lucky enough to have a generous soulmate."

"Wait, he's your soulmate?" May said, side-eyeing Phil. He shrugged.

"I was even more surprised than you are," he said. "But it has its uses."

"And you're not with him?" Skye said. "The hell, DC?"

"That's one screwed-up relationship," Clint said, tilting his drink towards Phil. "And not one word about pot-kettle, because that part of my life's done. Fate's changed her mind. I no longer have Fury's words on me."

"Wait, shit, your soulmate is Nick Fury?" Tony said.

"Was, Stark. Not anymore. I'm a clean slate. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go in search of another drink. Top up, anyone?"

They were all fine, so he drifted over to the bar alone. A certain song began to play on the jukebox, and he groaned, burying his face in his hands.

"Crap," he muttered. He felt movement beside him, and moved his hands away. It was one of the scientists, the English one. Clint hadn't spoken to her yet, but he acknowledged that she was pretty. The one Harry Potter character he'd had a crush on was Hermione Granger, and this young woman reminded him of her. He half-smiled to acknowledge that she was there.

"Is something wrong, Clint?" she asked. It was the first time they'd spoken, and he liked the way his name sounded, coming from her. Girl like her probably already had a soulmate, though. He wasn't exactly trying to run from anyone who reminded him of Fury, but she seemed kind, and he needed that right now.

"I hate this song, that's all," he said, signalling for the bartender. He noticed the scientist smiling at him, and he met her eyes.

Something felt like it was being seared into his left wrist. Freaked out by this, and by her similar reaction, he tore off his wrist guard and saw words forming. Another soulmark, right where the old one was. 'Is something wrong, Clint?' What?

"Oh my God," the scientist – and he needed to remember her name – said. "I never thought I'd get one. It's…" She looked into his eyes, and her smile was the brightest he'd ever seen. And it was aimed at him. "You're my soulmate?"

"Shit, I should've left my last relationship a lot sooner," Clint muttered. "You're beautiful."

"Who were you with previously?"

"My soulmate. First soulmate. I didn't even know this could happen, but I'm glad it did. He wasn't good for me."

"He?" she asked, her eyebrows furrowing. "If you're not into women—"

"I'm bi," Clint said. "Was until I met my soulmate, and thought that was it. But he was right from the beginning. He said we wouldn't fit, and I guess we didn't. I lost my mark after I left him. And now I've got you." He smiled, his first hopeful smile in… a long time. "You're Jemma, aren't you?"

"Yes, and don't worry," she said. "I'm not terribly fond of this song, either. So that's one thing we have in common."

He laughed, almost hysterically, and he pulled her close. "Well, Phil's gonna have to accept that a collaboration will be happening, because I plan to spend a lot of time with you. I have a lot of wasted years to make up for."

"That sounds lovely," she said, her eyes sparkling. A thought occurred to Clint.

"How… how dominant are you in the bedroom?" he said. She looked surprised. "Sorry, I know it's forward of me to ask, but I—"

"I don't… have to be, if you don't want me to," she said quietly. Clint noticed her hesitance.

"But if I told you I prefer to sub…?" he said.

"Really?"

"I'm not a doormat."

"I wouldn't want you to be," she said. "There's no fun in that." She looked him up and down, and grinned slyly. "I wouldn't make you wear a collar, but perhaps… matching armlets? Or something?"

"You don't mind people knowing about us?"

She cocked her head. "Of course not. I want everyone to know that you're mine, and I'm yours."

Clint didn't realise how much he needed that, needed this, until she said it. He swallowed the lump in his throat.

"Yeah," he said. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, and I wanna celebrate that. Let me buy you a drink."

What. Happened?

In my original notes, Fury and Clint were platonic until after Clint found out that Fury had been lying about Phil's death, then went off at him in a similar fashion to above, only it led to angry-kissing, which led to angry-other things, and… no longer platonic. But I forgot that. Then I realised that I'd written a deeply unhealthy relationship compared to my usual fluff, and decided to get out of that. And throw in Phil having a soulmate and Clint getting a new one!

Couldn't be bothered to think up a song, and I've no idea who Phil's soulmate is. I did think about Doom being his soulmate, and the possibility of Phil retiring to Latveria after HYDRA is taken down. Then I considered Johnny Storm (`cause they live in the Baxter, and presumably he has a bit of money). Then I thought it'd be more amusing to let you imagine who it might be.

Erm, yeah.

Please review!