What is Fitz and Clint knew each other from way back.
Fitz was visiting Operations and said something too smart to a musclehead, he was about to get a very physical reminder of what happened on the elementary school playground, when Clint dropped out of the rafters. He had no patience for the wet-behind-the-ears-think-they-are-so-smart-because-they-medals crew that in his new recruit class at Operations and this looks like the perfect opportunity to put them in their place.
Fitz is kind of in awe of his unexpected guardian angel and talks Clint’s ear off the whole time babbling the way only Fitz can when he’s too excited to actually think. And Clint is only half listening until Fitz starts talking about how he could modify that bow so that it has more tensile strength when it’s collapsed so that he could use it in a pinch to shoot before expanding it.
He’s not book smart, but he knows a lot about bows and they have a fascinating conversation.
It’s the start of an unlikely friendship carried on mostly by email and online chat because they aren’t in circles that cross paths very often.
Fitz tells Clint all about how great the Academy is.
Clint tells Fitz all about how boring his new handler is. Agent Coulson is just a suit who probably couldn’t find his way out of a shopping mall without a map. Only good for paperwork.
Fitz tells Clint that being the smartest kid is still kind of lonely but the tech is great.
Clint tells Fitz that his handler might not be so bad after all. Turns out he does know he way around a gun and when everything went to hell, he still stayed as calm and cool as he is in his overly air conditioned office. Clint is a little impressed.
Fitz tells Clint how amazing his new lab partner is. Jemma is the sun and the stars and everything brilliant.
Clint tells Fitz he needs to get laid.
Fitz gets back at Clint by asking him how his cool-under-fire-handler is these days
Clint is embarrassed about the three page answer he types up without even trying. He deletes it all and just sends “He’s good.”
Fitz tells Clint he is ridiculous
Fitz writes Clint a fourteen page diatribe about the foolishness of abandoning his role and risking everything with SHIELD for a woman
Clint asks Fitz what he would do if it was Jemma
Fitz: You can’t love her. You just met her.
Clint: I don’t love her. Not like that. But she needed someone and I couldn’t be the guy who killed a woman in cold blood when she looked like she had nothing to live for
Fitz: what did Coulson say about it?
Clint: He defended me against the review board like I was a damned hero. But he hasn’t said two words to me that weren’t on the record since I got back.
Fitz: have you apologized for going rogue?
Clint: I didn’t go rogue!
Fitz: I’m not even going to dignify that with a response
Clint: I wasn’t going rogue on him. I was going rogue on SHIELD. Besides. It’s obvious he doesn’t care about me as more than an agent. If he did he’d be glad I’m back.
Fitz: I might be love’s bitch when it comes to Jemma, but at least I’m man enough to admit it
Clint:… Buffy? You’re quoting Buffy at me?
Fitz: I KNEW YOU’D WATCH IT *cheers* you loved the whole show right?
Clint: no one can ever know I know you. You’re turning me into a dweeb
Fitz: You’d make an amazing dweeb. Besides, I bet Coulson watched Buffy.
Clint: He’s more of a comic book super hero kind of guy
Fitz: There’s a lot of blending between the two. He might be impressed by your Buffy knowledge
Clint: he’d have to talk to me again to be impressed by it :(
Fitz: I know this is usually your line, but you need to get laid
Fitz: Jemma has a crush on her professor. It’s disguisting. He’s at least ten years older than her
Clint: Coulson is dating a cellist. He’s got a damn picture in his wallet
Clint: Coulson requested me to join him in New Mexico
Fitz: That’s good! It took over a year, but you’re finally out of the dog house
Clint: I’m terrified I”m going to fuck it up.
Fitz: Jemma and I got fasttracked again! We are going to graduate next month!
Fitz: Clint, are you there?
Clint: you spent the whole last week locked up in your lab didn’t you?
Fitz: yes…. why? What did I miss?
Clint: Coulson died and aliens destoryed new york
Fitz:… I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry
Clint: It’s my fault. Look, they probably aren’t going to let me near a computer any time soon. Take care of yourself okay? And say something to Jemma before you lose your chance. I know I wish I had.
Fitz: Clint, we need to talk. Somewhere offline. Please. It’s important. I hope you’re still checking this old inbox. It’s the only way I could think of to get a message to you that wouldn’t be monitored. Please. I’m on a new team and there is something I need you to know. Someone I need to tell you about. Please. It’s the most important favour in the world that I’m ever going to ask for. Please contact me.
