tasernanny | Dream of Californication

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[with: pissant]

Dream of Californication

It’s a gorgeous California spring day. The sun is shining, the air warm and softly scented with flowers. And fresh produce. The farmer’s market sprawls across the lush manicured lawn of a city park. There’s a gazebo in the center with a live bluegrass band. Honestly, it’s a perfect morning straight out of a movie.

Phil has a travel mug of coffee in one hand and Scott’s in the other, fingers laced together because Phil is a sap. He likes holding hands. And after putting Scott through his sexual paces last night it’s nice to be sweet and gentle with him.

“You know,” he says, studying the market through the lenses of his sunglasses. “I should bring something back for the team.”

They were very curious when he said he was taking leave for the weekend but he also refused to say where he was going and what he was doing. He imagined it was driving them all crazy back at base.

They’d better not use the satellites to spy on him. Phil’s told them not to abuse the tech. He’ll worry about that on Monday. When he goes back.

He smiles at Scott. There are a lot of stalls to see. Somewhere someone’s selling bread. He can smell that in the air but they only just got here and Phil doesn’t want to rush.

“You’ve got to have a vendor you always visit.” Phil’s guessing but he has a good read on Scott. The man would absolutely pick favorite vendor who’s fruits and vegetables were better than anyone else’s.

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While dangerously close to a scene out of a movie, this is very much real life and that part was hard to believe. But here he was, holding hands and drinking coffee while moving at an absolute turtles pace as they casually make their way together through the early afternoon gathering of vegetable enthusiasts. And he knew that was real because he was real because every now and then he'd squeeze Coulson's hand and remind both of them that this moment truly existed.

And Scott loved it.

"There's woman here who makes literally the best coffee cakes you've ever had. But only if you're looking to make sure you don't get any." The amount of times he'd brought one in for a breakfast treat only to discover that Luis, Dave and Kurt only to go and have a slice and find it completely wiped out. Scott can only imagine Phil's team doing a similar clean out in maybe record time.

And may only serve to make them more curious about what Phil was doing if he came back with the worlds best coffee cake. Scott smiles at the thought with a soft chuckle before lingering at one of the booths taking a mental note of its offerings. When it comes to favourites that's one of them for certain. And there's one guy that does roasted chilies to die for. And one guy that has the worlds best okra but it’s not quite in season. Scott may have a lot of favourites…

"Well it depends. I've got a few, you out any thought into what you want me to make for us tonight?" They'd spent the last couple of nights utterly distracted. Scott had done up mostly grab and go options, full charcuterie spreads that made it easy to grab what you needed in the moment and come back for seconds if need be between marathon sessions of some of the best sex Scott had, had in a long while. But he wanted to actually get a chance to cook for him this time around and Phil was more than willing to indulge Scott a little.

"They might have earned coffee cake," he muses with a fond smile. His team might be too curious for their own good but they were a good group of people. May really liked coffee cake too.

It wasn't that late in the morning. There was probably still plenty of stock at the booths. "We could do a lap around and see what people have. That could give us some inspiration."

The sex was mostly out of their systems now. Given the pleasant soreness and general sense of satisfaction Phil felt it would settle down for awhile. They might have a very normal day where no one got tied up.

"Is that homemade olive oil?" He tugs on Scott's hand as he changes direction, completely distracted by the idea of someone making their own olive oil. He could be very single minded and focused but feeling relaxed Phil is much more inclined to go wherever he wants. Or let Scott decide.

"Well before we leave we'll grab one. I'll get us both one?" He offers, he knows he doesn't have to but he'd like to. Mostly because they let their boss take a moment to himself without pester, who knows what Phil will come back to on Monday but at least over the weekend they left him be. He knows it's not easy for either one of them to make time. Their career choices don't exactly offer the best time off packages. As it turns out bad guys and strange doings don't ever take sick days or time off.

He likes the idea of doing the hot lap first and offers a nod up at the suggestion. Usually that's what he does, but there's still a lot of aspects about Phil he doesn't quite know when it comes to such personal preferences. He never imagined things ending up quite this way, but there was not a complaint in that thought. The pace at which he sets is comfortable and a stark difference to the 24 hours leading to it. That's part of the beauty of this that they have, how Coulson can go from barking orders and kicking legs out to make Scott buckle and mind to finding great joy in infused oils out and about on a beautiful California morning is an absolute turn on.

He beams as he easily lets himself be led along to where the oils are lined up taking a note of the different kinds. "You ever do oil dips for your breads?" Scott inquires as they settle in to peruse labels.

"I spent some time in Apulia for work," he explains as he browses the bottles. "There was a little farm near where I was based out of and they made their own small batch olive oil. It was incredible."

So incredible that even after all these years and all the work he's done internationally he still hadn't been able to find anything close. Finding that olive oil is a white whale for Phil Coulson.

"And I've been to Italian restaurants where you dip bread in olive oil." He smiles over at Scott after studying a bottle. "It's never captured that same taste. Fresh oil, fresh bread and a little bit of cheese and fresh herbs? Incredible. The only part of that work I remember fondly."

The rest of the mission was something of a mess that almost resulted in capture. There was a minor explosion that had to be covered up but they managed to pull it off. He managed to pull it off.

He listens quietly as he gains a little more insight to the other man. He's truly fascinated to hear these things if he's honest. He smiles as he gives him space to look, his hand finding its way to rest on the small of Phils back. Everyone has those moments, if Scott ever finds out he would willingly participate in the 'quest for the perfect oil'.

"Not off the farm, for certain. Especially if they do it all there. Fresh herbs, fresh cheese, fresh bread." He might as well be Homer Simpson, looking hungry and drooling as he envisions it all. "I truthfully love pretty basic foods." He admits, you could honestly give him a plate of fruits, meats, bread and cheeses every night and he'd be perfectly contented.

"Traveling is a pretty nice bonus to work, most of the time." It can also get you in a hell of a lot of trouble. It's a shame they'll probably never let him back in Germany. What he wouldn't give to have real sausage. "Do you do plan, or infused when you're looking for it?"

"I think it's a sign of a good cook if you can do basic well." Or maybe Phil's a simple man and he likes simple things because he agrees with Scott. There's a lot to be said for fresh ingredients and a simple meal made with them.

Instead of answering Scott's question he pays for a bottle of plain olive oil which he expects will be answer enough. If he wanted infused oil he would get it but he wants very simple.

"I have seen some very beautiful places and tried a lot of different foods." Phil carefully tucks the bottle into the tote bag they brought for carrying things. "But there's always the other side of the coin. Some trips are rough."

He will never forget the three days spent in a literal hole in the ground with a metal sheet over his head in the middle of a wasteland. There have been a lot of bad missions over the years. "I still can't really imagine what else I would have done if Nicky hadn't recruited me."

Between texture and tastes you can't go wrong, simple is good. In all it's forms.

Including olive oil.

They thank the shop owner as they pack everything away and fold their way back into the crowd. Scott keeping his hand on the others back as they walk.

"I can only imagine, given what little I know." At least he's honest. Their pace continues to be slow, exploratory. Scott becoming distracted a couple of times stopping to look at strawberry offerings mostly. He wants small, juicy. They're technically in season and he's dying to have some.

"I can imagine." He nods, knowingly. His traveling days were still relatively new and the worst things that happen usually is weirdos at book signing. Though… Scott had been admittedly getting in a little bit of crime fighting while he was out and about signing books and doing interviews. "How long have you been doing this anyway."

Phil makes a note every time Scott stops and what catches his eye for future gift giving or a pleasant surprise. He can't help but catalogue details about the people he meets. It's in his nature at this point. This he plans to use for good, however.

"I was recruited as soon as I graduated college," Phil says and makes a face as he does the math. It's a very, very long time or feels like it when he looks at a calendar. "I went into the Army first to gain some skills before officially joining. My first field mission was '95."

And he still remembers it well and how he had trusted Fury over protocol. It was the start of a long last, deeply important friendship. He still, occasionally, misses having him around for advice and a drink.

"Like I said, I have no idea where else I could've ended up."

He listens quietly as Phil explains to him 'how it started' admittedly he is sort of curious how someone gets into a field like this. But he isn't surprise that Phil is dedicated and good at what he does.

Apparently part of that is how long he's been doing it. He makes a sort of wow face and laughs, giving Phil a playful little squeeze. "You were way more responsible than I was in '95. I was living on my own, but that's about where me being responsible ends."

It took him a daughter to get his shit together and even then, he's still not sure. "But I get that feeling. I'd probably be back in jail if I didn't have Hank and the Avengers." I mean he'd been locked up because of them too but there was a huge difference to Scott before the Ant-Man suit and after and he's incredibly thankful for it.

"Plus, if you didn't I wouldn't have met you and that would have been quite the bummer." It's a tease but there is actually a lot of truth to it as well. They'd known each other professionally for a few years and intimately for only a short while but Scott hadn't been this delighted in a long time. "It's truly a tragedy not to know me."

"I got all my rebellion and anger issues out early. I was ready to be a very serious man in a cheap suit." He didn't get the good suits until later when SHIELD could pay him better and he could afford them. "I only occasionally disobeyed a direct order and lied."

It is a little surprising how nice this is. He's genuinely amused by Scott's jokes and there's no denying how much he likes looking at him. There's a levity Scott brings to his life that Phil knows he can forget unless someone's around to remind him.

"It would have been," Phil agrees in his most dry and serious tone. "I'm a delight to know."

He leans over and brushes his lips against Scott's temple, lingering just a little bit so Scott can feel the smile on his face. Phil's life would certainly be a lot less interesting if he didn't know Scott.

"What electrical engineering?" he asks. They've talked about Phil's past a little bit and how he got into this but he's noticed Scott doesn't talk about his own skills outside of being a former thief and criminal. It's interesting but Phil tries not to poke at it.

He is on a date with his lover? partner? boyfriend? not in the middle of an interrogation. The secret agent side of himself can take over.

"As it turns out, there isn't much money in engineering." And oh man wasn't that the truth. Every time he tried to bet a little more a member of normal society he found it had to not go back to easy money, taking it from people who had far too much of it had always been a bad habit of his. "A lot more money in the... Repo business." That's an interesting way to put B&E's Scott. "That's a tidbit you won't find in the book."

The VistaCorp incident was far from his first job. He made a lot of money breaking into mansions to steal things that were previously stolen from other people who also had far too much money and who paid Scott good money to do it 'quietly'. Which meant he'd mostly floated under the radar of the police, the items in question usually being things they ought not to have in the first place so no one ever reports them missing but they do want them back. That's where Scott came in.

"I used to make a lot of money stealing from the rich and giving to the... Richer. I was really good at what I did. I figured out a lot about how things work, and how to make them not work." Security cameras, alarm systems, safes, locks, sensors. The list goes on and on. But he never took more than he needed, and never from anyone who couldn't really take that hit. He'd always toed that line fairly well until he'd been sent over the edge by VistaCorp taking from people who couldn't handle those losses.

"And at least you got it out of your system. I don't think I've gotten there yet, as you know from last night." He teases giving the others backside a playful squeeze as Phil closes distance between them. "I'm still such a little shit, and have a bad habit of getting my ass in trouble."

Oh, there's a lot he knows about Scott that isn't public record even before they started sleeping together. SHIELD has extensive knowledge on a lot of people, especially ones that could be useful assets in the future. Scott walked the same line as Clint before he was recruited. A criminal who could be useful but wasn't a large enough threat to take out. Maybe one day he'll let Scott read the file SHIELD has on him. From before Pym.

"I wouldn't say it's completely out of my system. It's there when I need it." Phil very deliberately presses his fingers against one of the bruises he left on Scott last night with his teeth. It's a perfect example of how Phil can use that aggression.

"You would probably like the hacker I have on my team." Which was why Phil was a little nervous about the team meeting Scott. It will happen eventually. His team is nosey and he likes spending time with Scott. The paths will cross. Phil just has to be ready when they do. "She also likes to break into electronic places and take things from people who are so arrogant they don't think anyone can."

Clint and Scott were cut from similar cloths. Maybe that was why they got along. That and the fact that they'd been locked up together while going through the works awaiting their plea deal for their involvement in Berlin. You get to know people pretty decently when you're stuck in a small square with them for a few months. Hence why Luis is still one of his greatest friends.

So Scott gets that slight nervousness. Eventually, and he can almost hear Luis' voice in his head as he explains that he heard from Ignacio who was out with his old lady after he got stupid at the club the night so was treating her to a nice breakfast and they'd seen saw Scott out at Zazies for bunch with a man who looked a little like some sort of golf buddy; but they were definitely not playing golf cause his old lady seen him playing footsies under the table and she 'thought that was real progressive'. He can see the whole thing already. Eventually Scott will probably just tell Luis, at least in the most basic of ways of what they are. Because he's not ashamed of what he feels for Phil it's just, complicated, given their careers.

"Yeah? I probably would, cause that's a favourite hobby of mine, hence why I'm one of the best security consultants on the West Coast. We'll have to trade secrets some time." Its an earnest sentiment, because he would like to meet them if only because already the Phil goes on about his team they're more than coworkers. They're family, and Scott gets that. But when the time is right and right now, it's easier to just focus on the thing in front of him;

A very handsome man pressing into a bruise left the night before. It gets a soft moan from Scott, cutting it so it gets trapped in his throat as a low noise no one can hear but Phil. "I like you haven't completely lost it, and that your military days have left you with some interesting take down methods..." He speaks very softly against the other, making sure no one walking by can hear his little confession of admiration.

Edited (FUCK ME) 2023-04-30 16:21 (UTC)

It will be a whole thing and an interesting one. Phil's faced down bombs, torture, and Asgardian Gods so he imagines Scott's ex-convict friends are going to be an interesting stand off. He already expects none of them will really like Scott dating essentially a cop.

He's more nervous about the fact he might meet Scott's daughter one day. That's the person he wants to like him. Cassie's the one that matters.

Not yet, though. They're still in the early, mostly honeymoon phase of their relationship. Things could change. Work could get in the way. There are a number of factors to consider on why this won't work out.

None of which are on Phil's mind right now because Scott makes lovely noises and complimenting his skills. Any man would like it.

"You can hold your own," he murmurs back just as soft. "Some of those moves are a little underhanded but I like the challenge."

A perfectly obedient person would be boring in bed. He likes Scott's spirit, kind of like how he enjoys Scott's jokes. He still shifts them away from talk of kinky sex in public. He can tell Scott's having to control himself.

"Have you seen anything that inspires you?" he asks gesturing with a hand to mean the market as a whole. "I'll admit I'm curious about the homemade chorizo we saw earlier."

"Chorizo huh?' Scott welcomes the distraction because Phil will have to keep him focused, he's a very distracted person and can easily get himself wrapped up in a moment without much thought to the outside world. But it's probably not best to try and jump the other man in the middle of the market, so it's good someone has more than the two braincells.

"What about Mexican soup with it?" He seems to have a light bulb moment. "Yeah. That'd be actually really good! We can get some fresh veggies and cilantro. I have some veggie stock I have to use up anyway. Perfect." Well hope you want soup Phil cause Scotts just decided that's what they're having, it's been a long time since he's made it. You can thank Luis for it, even if Phil is right. He probably would be 100% weirded out by Scott dating Phil, not because he's a man but because he was a cop.

But he also thought it was weird Scott still hung out with Woo sometimes when he was in town so there was that.

"There's a guy in the back who has like the best herbs and even does like rubs and mixed spices and stuff."

"We can make fresh bread to go with it." Phil is perfectly fine with soup. He drapes his arm over Scott's shoulders and steers him towards the back of the market. What he assumes is the back but Scott can correct him if necessary. "Although, what should we do for desert?"

He is planning to stay that long. At least one more night before his own sense of responsibility pulls him back to work. It's a miracle he's taken a weekend off but that whole dead business did really change his view on a lot of things. He wants to be here and the world can wait for two days so he can. Even thinking it feels like tempting fate.

It's worth it to watch Scott get inspired and embrace that inspiration without any hesitation. He brightens, his handsome face lighting up so Phil can see some of the wrinkles around his eyes and the corner of his mouth. He's a really handsome guy.

"Does this herb guy make any soup mixes I can take back on the plane?" Phil would like to make the food on the Bus as good as possible with a tiny plane kitchen. It's a great plane but it's not the kitchen at Scott's place.

"That sounds absolutely heavenly." He leans into the touch a little as they walk together. Scott taking care to match Phil's pace.

That's one of the moments Scott has been so likened to a retriever in so many way. Just happy to be there. He'll deal with the consequences later of fate catching up to them. Right now he simply nods at the others inquiry.

"Oh yeah he's got all the good stuff." He smiles moving a little in beat to the music. He is honestly that excited, and the good thing about soup is it's very set it and forget it. Leaving them open for other things after all the prep work. "He does dry rubs to die for." Scott's practically drooling as a hand snakes up to meet Phil's own soaking in their closeness. "And I may even have an extra Dutch oven you can borrow. Might help you out." His kitchen is small but perfect for working his magic.

He's excited to cook a good meal for Phil, hopefully getting the chance to repay him for honestly taking such good care of him in so many ways lately.

"That's nice of you to offer but I could only use it at the secret base and not on the Bus where I spend most of my time." Phil still believed in leading from the field and not behind a desk. Desk work was incredibly boring after a long time. Yes, he knew everything about paperwork but that didn't mean he really enjoyed it. It needed to get done.

He lifts his arm enough for Scott to dance a little, watching him with fond amusement. It's like he can't stop himself but the music was good. Okay, he would make a note of that. Take Scott dancing.

"Besides if you give me the means to cook for myself I would need to come up with new reasons to visit you," he teases.

Once Scott settles down Phil puts his arm right back across his shoulders. He doesn't intend to go anywhere and would definitely return for more than Scott's cooking.

"You sure? It's just a little baby one." He teases, it's the one he got when he lived with Luis for a bit. It wasn't very big but it was a pretty nice one, they'll have to revisit it.

Scotts even the sort to dance to the beat in his own head. He appreciates the space for movement and even pulls Phil in for a wave or two of hands before settling back into his arm and finding the booth he was talking about. It's loaded with fresh and dried herbs. Everything from sage to cilantro. Packs of dried mixtures from dry rubs to mix ins for dips.

"Mmm... Can't have that. I have to be good for something in this relationship." He teases, he knows he's more than just a cook but he likes doing that for others. It's how he shows love and dare he say it, he really loves Phil. He wont say it yet but he feels it, he feels it so much. Especially in this moment, it makes him feel like he's walking on clouds. But thankfully the smell of cilantro brings him back and he gives the others arm a squeeze before leaning into to find the best little bunch he can. Small little leaves with potent smell, that's how you know they're perfect.

"No you don't. You just stand there and look pretty. That's all I ask." Phil's expression is perfectly stoic and his tone is almost bored but there's a playful sparkle in his eyes. This is his favorite way to joke. The people close to him will know he's kidding but strangers won't get it. They might really believe that Phil sees Scott as a trophy and not a person. It's fun for Phil. Doubly so when the other person is in on the joke.

The booth smells amazing and the guy is clearly popular. He lets Scott find the herbs he wants for the soup while he browses the rubs and mixes looking for ones to bring back with him. There's a Texas barbeque rub he can't say no to and one for chicken noodle soup that he chooses. He also takes the man's business card. Phil has a PO box for a reason and that is internet ordering.

Phil puts his hand on the small of Scott's back as they finish up. Outside of work he's a tactile person. With the suit off and jeans on Phil's just like anyone else. Sure, he's still one of the most dangerous people in the farmer's market but that's not the person he needs to be right now.

He needs to be a guy shopping with his significant other. They're really going to have to talk about how they want to define this relationship. Calling Scott "mine" is perfectly fine in the bedroom but in public he should be gentler.

Despite being in on it, it still sends a shiver down Scotts spine. The way he speaks so terse in the best of ways. There's two sides to Phil in many ways but when they blend together is simple perfection.

"I think I should be able to handle that." He teases, he knows what he has and what he is. The perception of the people around them may see it as some sort of power thing, and maybe in a lot of ways it is. The two of them using their best 'assets' to their advantages. Phil with his unexpected strength and powerful state of mind and Scott with his punky attitude and good looks.

They were a hell of a match. Around others or by themselves.

"You got a preference to veggies?" He asks as he tucks away all their purchases in the canvas tote draped around the others shoulder. "I was thinking of finding some green onions and tomatoes myself." He wraps a hand around Phils waist, looping fingers into beltloops and pushing him out of the fray again so they can walk. He's probably a little too forwards with his affection, but Scott is handsy, both in and out of the bedroom, he likes that connection and simply can not help himself.

They don't get fair though before Scott eyes a whole table with cartons of berries. They look so inviting that he has to stall, tightening his grip to get the others attention. "Strawberries are in season right now. We could do like a sauce with sponge cake and homemade whipped cream?" He'd eaten the strawberries out of the basket Phil had gotten him first, so they could replenish and if they're lucky use both of those items later...

Hell maybe they could forgo the sponge cake entirely. But he wont say that out loud, he doesn't have a bit of an image to protect now that he's a public figure. People don't tend to be nosy in a place like this, but he doesn't need to take the risk either.

"If it's a Mexican or Spanish style soup I'd say roast corn would be good." Phil is musing on the question when they stop for the berries.

It's not hard to see how Scott lights up, how excited he is. They look like good berries. Not huge size like the ones in the grocery store, but decent enough and mixed enough that they're clearly from someone's hobby farm and not a big place.

"For strawberries that good we don't have to do cake," he says, not quite reading Scott's mind but he knows him well enough to put a few things together and figure it out. "We can make the whipped cream and dip them in that. Or slice them up and sprinkle them in sugar. Put the whipped cream on top."

He's already checking containers to see which one has the best berries in it. Phil Coulson has a plan.

"I'm not really good at baking cakes anyway. I make good bread but a sponge cake?" He makes a so-so gesture with his hand.

"You know I've never tried it with roast corn. That's a good idea." Leave it to the other man. He usually keeps it very light but its turning into a delicious veggie heavy soup and he's for it and he's even more down for Phil's strawberry ideas. They're on the same wavelength.

"Or both I mean, we get a couple of cartons and the worlds our oyster." He teases, they're perfectly local ones. Small and sweet with just a hint of tartness that only the little ones can offer. "Me neither. Actually baking in general. I don't have much patience for measuring, I like to measure with my heart." Which doesn't work in baking. He makes it work for bread, because he loves it and its somewhat forgiving, depending on the bread, but when it came to sweets? Scott left that to the experts.

"That's why my science is engineering. It's far more forgiving than chemistry; just ask a ninja turtle."

"You like to do a lot of things with your heart," he says with amusement. It's actually one of the biggest reasons why Phil likes Scott. He believes and feels so strongly about the things he does and the people in his life. He's passionate and warm and almost painfully honest. It's really nice.

Phil gets three cartons because he's feeling indulgent and he likes making Scott smile. Even before they start to walk away he takes one out and holds it out to Scott to eat.

And as soon as there's just a hint of strawberry juice at the corner of his mouth Phil leans in and kisses him, tongue darting out to taste the juice. He hums appreciatively when he draws back.

"Mmm, those are good."

"That's fair. I'm heart over mind for sure. It's how I get myself in trouble." He admits, but truthfully he wouldn't live any other way. It's gotten him in a lot of trouble but it's also seen him through a lot.

He's fully set to find the guy with the roasted chilies that Scott was talking about earlier cause he usually does corn too but then there's fresh fruit being presented to him and he can't help but partake.

He's a sucker for fresh fruit, as Phil has already discovered.

He's also a sucker for being swept up in a kiss. Unable to stop himself from grabbing at the others arms to keep him there for longer than he ought to. Deepening the kiss so they can both partake in the flavour of the berry. When they finally part Scott has to take a deep breath almost forgetting how to breathe for a moment there. "I'll say." He almost purrs out, his voice soft and hazy.

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sorry i'm a little slow this weekend i have a 9 day work week coming up so had a billion chores

Dude, no worries. Tag when you can. I'm chill about these things.

<3 awesome~ i know but still i neeeeeeeed it bad its my new crack

it's delicious crack

*snurfs it down*

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snurfs it down