Clint Coulson (Phlint) Fic Rec: 'Like sick flowers need the sun'
Sometimes Clint is like a pain-in-the-ass kid: he'll annoy and frustrate and piss off everyone until they notice him, and it never bothers him when they get angry. To him, any attentionāeven the negative kindāis good attention. This poses a problem when they all finally learn to just ignore him.Ā This is so angsty... Clint needs a hug! References to depression, insecurity, past abuse and neglect.Ā
http://hoosierbitch.dreamwidth.org/92783.html
Wordcount:Ā 8000 Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Rating:Ā Teen +
Extract:
Ā Heās not used to fighting on a team. Not for more than a mission or two; his specialty is best suited for use on an as-needed basis. He knows that on this team, he has to earn his place, and that most days, he barely pulls his own weight.
Steveās a good team leader. Clintās crossing his fingers that Steveās not quite good enough to realize that Clintās the biggest weak spot on the team.
āI could have made those shots,ā Clint says, when they return from a fight where Clint racked up the fewest kills and fewest saves of everyone on the team. He settles back in his chair and glares at Steve, whoās rubbing at his forehead like heās getting a headache. Clint knows he canāt, though; he knows that Steveās body is practically infallible. āIf youād let me stay in my perch, I could have made those shots,ā he says, glaring at Steve. āThe angle wasnāt that bad. I made a shot like that before, in Hong Kongāweāve got the video of it somewhere.ā
āThatās not relevant to the debrief,ā Steve says, trying to cut Clint off.
āAnd later, when you gave me the order to back up Tony, I would have been more useful if Iād backed up the Hulk. See, Iāve got these new arrows, and since the Hulk pretty much only hits whatās right around him, I could haveāā
āI do not care,ā Steve says carefully, staring at the screen in front of him which is playing every available feed of the fight that SHIELD could find. Right now theyāre all focused on Clintās activities. āI can see what you did. And what you did not do. If I have any questions, I will ask you.ā But Steveās not going to ask Clint about what new arrows R&D had cooked up for him, heās not going to ask Clint if he can do betterāwhich Clint can. He has to. Clint spends the rest of the debrief grumbling.
He wonāt let Steve forget about him. He wonāt go down without a fight.
Steve doesnāt say anything to Clint when he leaves the conference room, which is the equivalent of a fuck you from anyone else.
