It wasn't you, lastochka. It was Loki. Nothing that you did was your fault. Nothing. And if you continue to insist it is, like an idiot, I have no qualms about delivering more cognitive recalibration until you understand.
[ He all but sort of growls. He doesn't have his online translator he doesn't know what she's saying. ]
I'm at the tail-end of a concussion...hit me some more 'n I'll probably forget the last five years of my life. [ Actually...that would be sort of nice. ] How wasn't it my fault? I practically helped the bastard plan the entire thing.
Also...no fuckin' shit. Coulson says you've gone bipolar on us. Shooting him one minute and helping him out the next.
[ Clint stands up where he was sitting, legs swung over the edge before looking down at his friend. His friend who was dead "apparently". He couldn't help but think if he had been there the difference in all of it would have made sure Phil didn't end up dead. ]
I...you died, Phil. Or you will die. [ None of that made sense. ] What am I supposed to do? [ Without Phil covering his ass back home. Without Phil. ]
I know. [He takes those last few steps, closing the distance between them.] I don't know what to do, either. Tasha slapped me. You could do that, if it makes you feel better.
[He sighs.] It's not like I want to die, Clint. I don't want to leave you--either of you.
[Losing either of them would hurt so much. He's afraid of dying, but it's so much easier to focus on them. They need him. Who's going to give Clint orders that he actually takes or understand what Natasha's saying when she isn't talking?]
'm not slapping you. Only women slap people. [ Men punched...or just hid on top of a lighthouse because reality hurt. ]
You weren't supposed to die, Phil. [ Clint's voice cracked a little. But otherwise he maintained his composure. How else would he manage life in SHIELD. Nat and Phil made it livable. He knew the moment he went back and Phil wasn't there he was going to be forced to deal with people staring at him accusingly. Everyone knew the damage he did and it was easier to have someone physically there to blame rather than some alien off on another planet. ] You're supposed to be smarter than that. Fuck where everyone else was...Phil.
Yeah, well, maybe I'm not that smart. You weren't supposed to get brainwashed, either.
[He's not sure if he should hug Clint or not. He'd hugged Natasha, but that was different--maybe because Clint wasn't as good at hiding the way he felt and it made things just a little weirder for Phil. He sighed again and wrapped his arms around Clint.]
You're...smarter than a lot of people I know. Smarter than me. [ Clint respected the fuck out of Coulson for a reason. ] Didn't really have much of a say in that, sir.
[ He froze up when Phil wrapped his arms around him, slightly unsure of what to make of it. This, as far as he was concerned, was not normal. ]
I led the attack. Offered up weaknesses. I practically held the door for him on the way into the helicarrier, Phil. Don't tell me it wasn't my fault. It was. I knew everything that went on. [ He hadn't shot Fury in the head from close range...it was a small miracle he had been able to do that. ]
You weren't in control. I don't blame you and anyone who does is going to have to deal with me.
[Phil lets go quickly, arms dropping to his sides, but he stays close. He's not sure what else he can say. He doesn't blame Clint. He couldn't possibly blame him.]
If I wind up back there, you want me to just walk away and risk everything?
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