Work Text:
After the doorbell rang, Clint opened his apartment door to Coulson and said when he saw his handler, "Awwwwwww, sir, I only have 3 classes left. I wanted to finish."
"I didn't know you were taking a class, Barton," Phil said.
Clint nodded and asked, "Do you want to see?"
"Sure," said, following Barton into his apartment and asked, "What are you taking."
"Pottery," Clint said. "I know it doesn't help with the job or help make me smarter or with my reading, but after seeing Ghost I always wanted to learn how to make pottery. I thought it looked--"
"It's okay, Barton," Phil said, "learning any new skill or something new can't hurt. It's always good even though it may not help you on the job."
"The syllabus says we're going to learn how to make Grog clay today," Clint said. "It's supposed to help hold your pot together. It has something to do with texture."
"I'll enjoy seeing what you make," Phil said.
"But, I have to go to work," Clint said. "You need me."
"It can wait," Phil said, putting his hand on Clint's cheek, "I'm proud of you for wanting to learn."
"Even if it doesn't improve my aim?" Clint asked.
"You already have perfect aim," Phil said. "You don't need to worry about that. It's never a bad thing to be well rounded."
"I don't know if I'll ever be well rounded," Clint said. "I'm not smart. I can barely read."
"You have made so much progress since you joined SHIELD," Phil said. "Being dyslexic doesn't mean you aren't smart. One day you're going to believe me about that."
"Could you love someone like me?" Clint asked.
"I'm your handler," Phil said. "I shouldn't have those kinds of feelings for you, but that ship has sailed."
"You love me?" Clint asked.
"When you get proficient with throwing pots--"
"You're going to let me recreate that scene," Clint said.
"I think that can be arranged," Phil said, "as long as you make me something for Christmas."