saone: (;P)
[personal profile] saone
Title: What Are Friends For?
Author: [livejournal.com profile] saone77
Pairing: pre Clint/Coulson
Fandom: pre-Avenger!movie 'verse with Marvel 616 Battle Scars
Summary: Phil and Fury have a history, and Phil is definitely not above using said history to get what he wants.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings:Not betad, grammarians beware. Contains lots of salty language, mentions of nefarious deeds, and a tiny bit of Hawkeye-related objectification.
Word Count: 1384
Disclaimer: This is indulgent, cracktastic fiction.

AO3






Phil is a man on a mission.

Phil is usually a man on a mission, though, so no one really blinks or looks twice at the sight of him striding purposefully through headquarters. Everyone just does their best to get out of his way and avoid eye contact.

Sometimes being Phil Coulson has its perks.

One such perk, much to the consternation of Fury's two assistants, is being able to enter the Director's office without a prior appointment and living to tell the tale. Phil knows that his legend grows a bit more after every time he barges in and leaves Fury's company with all his limbs attached.

Phil doesn't think of himself as a narcissist, but he does love the tales of his badassry that get passed along amongst the Junior agents. He'll have to get Sitwell to bring him coffee and the latest scuttlebutt later.

Now, though, he needs to ask a favor.

Fury's sitting at his desk making an unimpressed face at a tablet when Phil enters his office.

"Agent Coulson," Fury says, the corners of his mouth drop down into a deep scowl. "I don't recall you being on my calendar. Is there a particular reason I shouldn't have Security escort you to the-"

"Marcus," Phil says, taking a seat in one of the chairs across from Fury's desk, "I appreciate a good bluster from you as much as the next person, but could you cut it short today? I'm on kind of a schedule."

"Oh, you're on a schedule, are you? Fuck you, Cheese." Fury huffs as he leans back in his chair and crosses his arms over his chest. "And fuck your schedule. I'm trying to run a super secret spy organization here! I can't have just anybody barging in, willy nilly, without-"

"I'm sorry, did I just hear you use the phrase 'willy nilly'?" Phil asks.

"Shut up."

"And I'm not just anybody now, am I?"

Fury closes his eye and puts a hand up to his forehead. "Goddammit, Phil, if you're doing this to encance your mystique, or whatever, I will personally-"

"March 15, 1996." Phil watches Fury's face as the date sinks in. Then it's his turn to scowl as Fury barks out a loud laugh.

"Ha! No, no, no. I am sorry, my friend, but you have already cashed in March 15, 1996."

"What?" Phil says. "No, I haven't."

"Have too."

"Have not."

"Have too, dammit!" Nick says. "Or did I just imagine having to spend the weekend of Penny's wedding regaling the rest of your family with tales of Dave, your imaginary boyfriend?"

"Huh," Phil says. "I can't believe I forgot about that." He sighs. "Mom still asks about him."

"I know," Nick says, adding his own sigh. "Anyway, March 15, 1996 has already been used. Tough shit. Get out."

Phil narrows his eyes and keeps himself planted right where he is. "March 16, 1996."

"Oh hell no!" Fury says. "You can't call in two favors for one mission!"

"This isn't about missions, Marcus," Phil says, "this is about you doing something idiotic and me having to save your sorry ass. Now, that usually only happened once per assignment. Thankfully. However, if you recall, during that particular-"

"I remember what happened," Fury snaps. "Dammit." He stews for a minute or so. "If I don't agree, you're gonna be an ass about things, aren't you?"

Phil's left eyebrow raises just a tic. "What do you think?"

Fury glares at him. "Fine. Just... Fine. March 16, 1996. What do you want? And, I'll tell you right now, if it's to help you hide a body, my back's been a little tetchy lately, so..."

"Clint Barton," Phil says.

Fury blinks, obviously startled by the name. "What about him?"

"That's what I want," Phil says. "Or, rather, who I want."

"What the hell do you want him for?" Fury asks.

Phil grins and closes his left eye in a wink.

"What the hell? What's that supposed to..." Fury's jaw drops as a look of horror sweeps over his face. "Oh, for the love of... No," Fury says. "I don't care what kind of leverage you have, I am not going to... to... pimp out my newest sniper."

Phil rolls his eyes. "I'm not asking you to - Christ - pimp him out, Marcus." Phil grimaces. "And, for the record, we are both far too old to use that phrase."

"Speak for yourself," Fury says with a sniff. "Then what exactly are you asking? And, before you answer, let's not forget the little fact that this favor you want isn't exactly known for his sparkling personality. Do I really have to remind you that the only reason he's here is because his only other choices were either a long future spent in a windowless cell or a short future spent on death row?"

"No, thank you," Phil says. "Do I really have to remind you that I'm the one who brought him in, and I'm well aware of what he's capable of?"

"Then why on Earth..." Fury makes a face and shifts a bit in his chair. "All right, I will admit that even I have found myself looking at his ass a few times."

Phil feels his brow furrow. "How many times?"

"None of your damn business," Fury says. "But looking is one thing. What's probably going through your nasty mind is something else entirely." Fury throws up his hands. "Come on, man, there's not exactly a shortage of hot, athletic-types in form-fitting body suits around here. Can't you find somebody non-psychotic to perv on?"

"He's not psychotic," Phil says a bit testily. "He has issues."

"I'm sorry," Fury says, "issues?! Is he an assassin or a periodical?"

"Also," Phil continues, "I'm not just perving on him. I-"

"Don't say it," Fury says, sitting up straight in his chair.

"I think I-"

"Do Not Say It."

"I think I might-"

"Phillip J. Coulson, for the love of my sanity, do not-"

"I think I might have developed feelings for him," Phil says in a rush.

Fury stares at him for a long moment. "Goddammit," he finally says. "How the hell did that happen?"

Phil lifts one shoulder up in a shrug. "He can be really sweet, at times."

Fury's eye widens. "Sweet?! I'm pretty sure Mr. Sweet has a higher kill rate than the two of us combined."

"I said, at times," Phil says.

Fury puts a hand up to his face and rubs at the bridge of his nose. "I am not hearing this. This is not being heard."

"Your concern is noted and touching, Marc," Phil says, "but I'm a big boy. I know what I'm going to be getting into." Phil tilts his head to one side. "Do you really think I can't handle him?"

"I don't want to think about you handling him," Fury says with a grimace. "But one thing I do think is that Barton's not the type to file a sexual harassment complaint, and I'd rather not have your ass, or other parts of you, get skewered just because you decided to make a damn fool of yourself."

"Your trust in my abilities is overwhelming," Phil says.

"I'm just keeping it real."

"Yeah, you're too old to get away with saying that too." Phil says. "Look, all I'm asking is for you to... be accepting,"

"Accepting?"

"Accommodating."

"Accommodating?"

Phil feels the muscles around his eyes tighten. "I'm asking you to not be a hardass and have a snit fit if Barton is amiable to my advances and we decide to start something."

Fury raises his eyebrow. "Excuse me? Snit fit?! When the hell have I ever had a snit fit?!"

"Well, you're getting pretty damn close to one now," Phil says. He watches as Fury's jaw clenches, and he can almost imagine the sound of molars grinding together.

"Fine," Fury bites out. "March 16, 1996. You win. Pursue Barton all you want. But I don't want to hear about it, and I don't want to see it, and if he decides to use you as a pin cushion I reserve the right to say I told you so."

"Deal." Phil smiles and stands up. "Thanks, Marcus."

"Shut the hell up, and get out of my office."

"Of course, sir. Anything you say."

___________

end



Date: 2013-03-03 10:11 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] daria234.livejournal.com
LOL this is terrific. So funny, and I love the parts where they joke about being too old those phrases too.

Date: 2013-03-04 08:53 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] saone77.livejournal.com
Thank you! :D

Date: 2013-03-04 01:50 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jesseofthenorth.livejournal.com
Thank you, Thank You, for bringing us BAttle Scars Phil and Fury!D
They kinda killed me in the comics and I def recognized them Thank you, Thank You, for bringing us Battle Scars Phil and Fury!here. Very Funny:D
They kinda killed me in the comics and I def recognized them here.


Image (http://s1120.beta.photobucket.com/user/jesseofthenorth1/media/cheeseandmarcus2_zpse3eea3d7.jpg.html)
Edited Date: 2013-03-04 01:50 am (UTC)

Date: 2013-03-04 08:57 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] saone77.livejournal.com
I'm really hoping we'll get to see more of these two being like this in Secret Avengers. I'm not saying that a healthy level of snark will help make up for other... things, but it certainly wouldn't hurt, either.

Date: 2013-03-04 03:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jesseofthenorth.livejournal.com
I am too chicken shit to read secret avengers yet. I mean I have it on digital dl but.... I am not ready yet.
I only fell back in love with Marvel again after a long, loong uh- hiatus. I am not ready top start being pissed off again.
I', kinda waiting for it(secret Avengers Fury's behaviour) to get less maddening.

In any case bringing that snark would def round off a couple sharp edges.

Date: 2013-03-04 08:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] saone77.livejournal.com
Yeah, I get where you're coming from. I spoiled myself for it online since I didn't know when I would get to my comic shop next, and when I read the actual book it was... not as bad as it could have been? IDK, the premise is definitely in the murky and gray side of things, but as long as it doesn't get any murkier or grayer (and, regardless, I can't help but think there's going to be a reckoning when other characters find out what's happening - that might be fun).

I guess, coming from DC-land and how horrible that company was/is towards some (most? a lot?) of its characters, I've trained myself to accept a high level of fuckery, you know? :P

I just don't want Coulson to be an asshole. I don't think that's asking too much.

Date: 2013-03-05 06:04 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jesseofthenorth.livejournal.com
I haven't read much DC since I was a kid. I found Supes a bit tiresome sometimes. And I know this will win me no friends but I think Batman is a dick. Idid however read and love green arrow at one time. It's all moot now though isn't it? What with DC going on comic ruining rampage and alienating the shit our of their fans.

It never occured to me they might make Coulson into an asshole. That? Would make me cry. NOW I'm scared to read the new run for real. If you are reading it maybe keep me apprised of any elevated levels of douche-baggery?

Date: 2013-03-05 12:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] saone77.livejournal.com
I was an almost exclusive DC fan for about 12-13 years. And, yeah, Batman can most definitely be a dick, but I was all about the Robins (Dick Grayson was my absolute fave, and Tim Drake was my squishy), Birds of Prey, Wonder Woman and Power Girl. So, after over a decade of reading, and a year of quitting cold turkey, I can definitely say I am over that company. I was almost able to say I was over comics completely, but thank goodness for the Avengers movie sucking me back in.

Um, vague spoilers... In the first issue, Coulson was an asshole to Clint and Nat in the same kind of way he was an asshole to Jane & company in the Thor movie. There are secrets and intrigue, and you can understand the reasoning for his actions (I mean, Clint and Nat do both have shady pasts and histories of interesting decision making, even if they are Avengers now), even if you think they're dickish. He does have a little fanboy moment, so that's cute.

Fury is more of a hardass, though he and Clint do share a panel of banter, and by the end, after he does something awful to Clint, you get the impression that he's not down with what's going on.

Honestly, imo, the character that's coming off the worst is Maria Hill. But, it's not really in a villain way, it's in an 'I am a chessmaster and these are my pawns' kind of way. She's not out to make friends, and she's willing to do horrible things to people who think of themselves as SHIELD allies to accomplish her goals. And said goals are super sketchy and will most likely be used for nefarious purposes, but, ugh, who knows...

Date: 2013-03-08 09:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] serenity-pen.livejournal.com
OMG! I am pulling myself back up in my chair now (having fallen off laughing). I love this! Thanks for the very much needed chuckles! I can completely "see" this playing out! LOL!

Date: 2013-03-13 08:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] saone77.livejournal.com
Thank you! Those are the Marcus and Cheese voices that live in my head, and I'm glad I was able to figure out a way for them to come out and play for a bit. ;D

Date: 2013-03-10 11:34 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ncc1701a.livejournal.com
THIS IS TOTALLY MY HEADCANON. Ahem, sorry. But yest, this is 100% how I see their relationship, but I'm not funny enough to pull this off as perfectly as you so a bazillion well dones.

Date: 2013-03-14 08:19 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] saone77.livejournal.com
Thank you! And, yeah, they are total snarktastic bffs with each other. I almost want to write something where someone like Hill or Sitwell discovers them bitching to each other and becomes convinced that the Director and Agent Coulson are Skrulls or something.

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