Chapter Text
When Phil had come home 10 years earlier, he’d been welcomed back with open arms and only a little bit of teasing. Fury had taken one look at his friend and known something had happened. He hadn’t’ pushed, though it had been obvious he wanted to and had just watched with his one eye as Phil rebuilt his cottage amongst the birch trees.
Phil was tending to his garden one afternoon when someone came running through the trees. Phil was shocked, with the help of Fury and Maria he had set a barrier on his land to keep people out. No one should have been able to find him. He stood there stunned for a moment before letting his magic rise.
Before he could make them leave, the stranger looked up at him and Phil’s whole world just stopped. It was Clint, again. “Clint?”
Clint’s bright blue eyes widened as he realised it was Phil standing in front of him, and muttered an, “oh my god, you again,” before collapsing on Phil’s cabbages.
Phil stared for a moment, sure this was some joke from Fury. When Clint didn’t disappear or move, Phil sighed sadly and closed the distance between them. As he got closer, he took in the dark clothes and weapons strapped to Clint and frowned. What was the meaning of this? Why was Clint so heavily armed? This was a peaceful place, what possible reason would there be for Clint to have shown up here?
It was only when he knelt down to try and wake Clint that Phil noticed the blood. Clint’s side was soaked with it and he was getting paler the longer Phil hesitated. Jolting into action, Phil slid his arms under Clint and carried him inside.
He laid Clint down on his bed and got to work. Removing Clint’s shirt, Phil cursed in the old tongue. He did not have the skills to heal this. He was going to need help and he needed it fast. Wrapping a bandage around the wound, Phil rushed outside and began running to the fairy mound.
Fury met him outside and stopped him mid-step. “What’s the rush, Coulson?”
“I need Banner, now.”
Phil tried to push past Fury but didn’t get far. “Phil, tell me why you need a healer when you live alone and are clearly fine and I'll send for him.”
Knowing there was no getting away now that Fury had a grip on his arms, Phil let it all spill out. “Clint, he...he...showed up. Crashed right into my garden. He’s hurt, please, Nick. You have to let Banner help him. I can’t heal him. It’s beyond my skills.”
“Clint? The kid from before?”
“Yes! Now get Banner. Clint needs help.”
“Phil, he’s a mortal. You know that, right? They die all the time.”
A low growl started in Phil’s throat. “I am very aware of that, but I will not fail him a third time. Now get Banner. Anything that happens, is on me. Just let me fix this.”
Fury signaled to someone nearby and forced Phil to look at him. “Fine, but you have to be prepared. The kid could still die. Don’t know why you’re wasting this much effort on a mortal, but it’s on you.”
Before he could answer, Banner showed up looking harried. “Sitwell said you needed me.”
“Yeah, go with Phil. He’s got an injured mortal in his cottage.”
To his credit, Banner said nothing just followed Phil home and into the cottage. He took one look at Clint and frowned. “Phil, you know he might die, right?”
“I know that. Please just try. I’ve failed him twice now, and I need to at least try.”
Banner got to work and after what felt like hours he stood and handed Phil a recipe. “He’s stable for now. There was a bullet lodged in his body. I’ve done everything I can, and now it’s up to you. This is a recipe for a potion that should help speed the healing process.”
Phil took the recipe and was relieved to see that he already had most of the ingredients. “Thank you.”
“Take care of him. There’s something special about this mortal.”
After Banner had left, Phil got to work brewing the potion. Clint continued to sleep, face contorting in pain every so often. While he waited, Phil talked to Clint, not caring if the archer could actually hear him. “I’m so sorry, Clint. I should have done more. I’m going to make this right. I promise.” Phil laughed. “And a promise from a fae is a serious thing. I’m going to make things better.”
Once the potion was finished, Phil ladled some into a mug and brought it over to the bed. Sitting on the edge, he watched Clint for a moment before waking him. “Clint? I need you to wake up for me. Please?”
Clint’s eyes opened and when he saw Phil, he jerked and tried to back away. “Where am I? Is this a dream? This can’t be real.”
“It’s very real. You were shot and somehow ended up on my land. Which should have been impossible, but that’s something for another day. Right now all you need to know is that the bullet is out, but you’re still healing and I need you to drink this. It will help.”
Clint took the mug and sniffed it. “This smells horrible.”
Phil shrugged. “Most medicines do. Now drink up. Then you can sleep some more.”
Clint drank the potion without any other protests and Phil was relieved. Hopefully, from now on, Clint would heal and then Phil could send him on his way.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Weeks passed and Clint healed and got better and once he was able to sit up in bed and stay awake for longer than a couple of hours, he started asking Phil questions. Phil did his best to answer them, wanting to be open and honest with Clint. The more time they spent together, the more Phil found himself wanting to keep Clint.
“Phil, why haven’t you aged?”
Phil laughed. “I’ve aged. Trust me, I’ve aged. It’s just slower than mortals.”
Clint frowned. “What kind of fae are you?”
“Usually a solitary one.”
That got a laugh out of Clint and after Phil had helped him to the table for dinner, Clint studied Phil before asking. “Why me?”
“What do you mean?”
“You told me you usually watch over kids, but I’m not a kid anymore. I’m almost 30 and even you were surprised to meet me again.”
Phil looked down at his food, trying to find an answer. “Honestly, I don’t know, Clint. You’re the first I’ve ever run into multiple times. All the children before, I’ve ever only observed and if I had to step in, that was it. It would be only the once.”
Clint smiled and nudged Phil with his foot under the table. “Guess I’m just special then.”
Phil blushed and changed the subject. The last thing he needed was Clint finding out how his feelings had become something more than friendly. Clint was beautiful and as his feelings grew, Phil knew he’d have to let Clint go soon. He was getting better every day and it was not fair to try and make him stay.
Two months after he’d been injured, Clint was helping Phil in the garden when he dropped his shovel and grabbed Phil’s hand. Worried, Phil started to look Clint over for any sign of injury. “Clint? What’s wrong?”
“Phil, can I ask you something?”
“Of course. You know I’ll do my best to answer.”
Clint let out a huff. “Do you like me?”
“Clint? Of course, I like you. You’re my friend and it’s nice having company.”
Clint took a step closer to Phil and laced their fingers together. “Could you ever like me as more than a friend?”
Phil looked into Clint’s eyes and his heart leaped. There was so much yearning and want there and Phil felt it too. “Yes, Clint. I already do.”
Beaming, Clint leaned forward and brushed his lips over Phil’s. “Ask me to stay.”
Phil closed his eyes. “I can’t, Clint. You deserve to live a whole life. You deserve happiness. Not to be stuck here with me.”
Clint kissed Phil on the cheek. “About that, I was talking to Fury when he visited and he said there was a spell and it would only work if we were bound together and I want that Phil. I want that so badly.”
Cursing Fury, Phil cupped Clint’s cheek and brushed away the tear that had fallen. “Do you really, truly want that?”
“Yes, more than anything.”
Phil pressed his lips to Clint’s. “Then stay. Stay with me. Don’t leave me.”
Throwing his arms around Phil, Clint stole another kiss. “Yes, yes, yes.”