Chapter Text
The familiar sound of ringing steel sings through the air as Coulson pulls the broadsword off his back and swings it down and through an attacking harpy. There is no break in the agent’s fluid movement as the sword is brought back up and over Coulson’s head, taking the next harpy’s head clean off in another graceful motion.
“Fucking harpies!” Coulson crows, clearly having the time of his life.
Aaron can’t help a corner of his mouth from lifting in amusement and risks a slight glance over even as he fires another volley towards the rest of the approaching harpies. His partner is beautiful like this, all controlled movement and deadly steel. Aaron wishes he were higher up and more able to enjoy the view - it’s been awhile since Coulson’s been able to use the sword.
Coulson’s laughter can be heard above the commotion of battle and it sends an unexpected spear through Aaron’s heart. He knows it’s an artefact of seeing a different, softer version of Coulson, but Aaron can’t help but wonder how someone with his partner’s background can still laugh so openly. Abandoned by his father before he was born, orphaned by a drug-addicted mother at the age of five, and left to fend for himself in one of the nastiest orphanages in New York until SHIELD swept him up into Project Sling.
Aaron doesn’t think that Coulson’s life within SHIELD has been much better, but tries valiantly not to think too much about it. Going there means admitting to himself that life at the orphanage was that much worse and Aaron really doesn’t think he has the self control not to raze it to the ground.
At least Aaron had had a childhood, even if he could no longer stake claim to it. Unlike Coulson, who had gone from constantly defending himself against other orphans to being trained and defending himself against other child soldiers, Kenneth had a mother and a younger brother who had done their best to protect him. Aaron puts no blame on Barney for thinking that enlisting was the best option for Kenneth after their mother died. A seventeen year old with a full college scholarship should not be expected to care for his slow older brother.
“Sanborn - get down!” Coulson yells and they’re all at close enough quarters that it echos over the comms.
Aaron doesn’t need to glance down from his perch on top of the SHIELD mobile command van or hear the sound of a broadsword being placed back in its scabbard to know that Coulson has run over to cover the fallen junior agent. Aaron moves automatically - jumping from the top of one vehicle to another until he has a vantage point to cover Coulson’s six. Coulson doesn’t so much as flick a glance behind him as Aaron takes out a nose-diving harpy. It’s only when green blood splatter from a second harpy lands in Coulson’s hair does the agent glance up at Aaron with fond annoyance.
Love and trust, Aaron thinks and is once again struck by everything Coulson shouldn’t be, but still manages to be. As far as Aaron knows, only three other people have ever really cared about Coulson - Fury, Hill, and Stark. Fury had protected Coulson when he’d finally aged-in for field assignments and managed to keep Coulson from going insane like the rest of Project Sling, but it far from absolved Fury his original involvement in the project or the other soldiers that they’d been forced to terminate. Besides, Fury was the director now and, therefore, couldn’t be fully trusted. Hill’s death had left Coulson without a way to separate lover and handler in his head, leading to a series of unhealthy relationships that are still haunting them today. Tony Stark had been the one person to give Coulson unconditional friendship, only for Tony to be betrayed by the one person Stark thought he could always trust.
With Coulson’s history, he should be a cold-hearted, embittered man, incapable of trust or love. Aaron was well on his way to becoming exactly that before he’d unexpectedly fallen in love with Phil and Aaron’s history was downright jolly compared to Coulson’s. Instead, Coulson is loyal, caring, and quick to laugh or lend a helping hand. Aaron knows firsthand that his partner has not come through it all unscarred, but Phil never lets it overwhelm his basic humanity.
“Hey Cross!” Coulson hails, jogging over as Aaron jumps down from the van at the end of the battle. “You mind taking my things back to HQ? I want to check on Sanborn.”
“Stop spoiling the pups,” Aaron responds, but takes Coulson’s weapons off his hands. Coulson is infinitely patient with all the junior agents, but Sanborn is one of the few who haven’t continued to keep Coulson at arms length. Aaron knows Phil won’t be satisfied until he sees for himself that the junior agent is being well cared for.
Aaron makes quick work of getting both their weapons cleaned and stored, just finishing up with everything but the broadsword when Coulson walks into their office. Aaron hides a smile and turns when he hears the locks engage. Coulson is often hyped on adrenaline after missions, especially when he gets to use the sword, which usually means nothing but good things for Aaron. The amount of sex they have in this office is one of the few rumors the junior agents have actually gotten right.
Coulson captures Aaron’s lips in a brutal kiss, fingers digging bruises into the younger agent’s hips. Aaron kisses back just as hungrily before shoving away from the desk and using his entire body to manhandle Coulson across the room. They hit the wall hard and Coulson groans as Aaron grinds their hips together. Aaron shoves forward fiercely one more time before gentling the kiss and easing the press of his body against Phil’s. His hands roam slowly up Coulson’s arms to cradle his jaw lightly before pulling away. His eyes make the request Aaron cannot voice - let me love you, let me cherish you.
Phil looks into Aaron’s eyes for a beat before giving him a small, shy smile that he shares with nobody else. He leans forward and softly nips at Aaron’s bottom lip. Love me, it answers.