brandingproblem | open post

Oh, Phil's looking. Looking very hard. "I can be subdued. I've been to funerals."

"In what? A rental?"

Clint...coughs a little and says nothing.

"A travesty." Leah seems to finally be somewhere close to satisfied as she steps back, adjusting her glasses and humming to herself. "I hope you've got some nice shoes to go with."

"Don't worry about my shoes, no one should be looking down there."

"It's an ensemble. Tell me how it feels?"

That's at least a much more practical question. Clint rolls his shoulders, stretches his arms up, twists around. Unbuttons the jacket and does the same thing, gives a few little jabs at the air. He does not anticipate a fight. But just in case... "Feels good. Like I can really move around in it."

"Why is he punching?" Leah looks towards Phil. "Do you plan to take him to a bar brawl in a suit?"

It is possible that could happen even at a nice dinner. Trouble has a way of finding Clint no matter where he goes. He smiles as he looks at Clint. "It's a good way to check mobility and the fabric. He approves, Leah, that's all that matters."

So did Phil but the choice is still Clint's in the end when it comes to wearing them. If this is how he wants to test them Phil's not going to stop him. He shifts a little in his seat.

"It looks good," he says with a small nod. "Excellent work as always."

"Yeah? If it's got the Phillip seal of approval, then it's okay by me."

"I hope it's more than just okay."

Clint rolls his eyes. "It's wonderful, it's delightful, it's a miracle."

Leah gives him a pinch and then shoves the other bag at him. "Go try on your other miracle, kid."

"Ohhhh, did you hear that?" over his shoulder. "I've been downgraded."

"Act like a child..."

Clint sticks his tongue out at her and disappears back into the changing room.

The next suit is of one of the darker greys Phil had been initially looking at. All the better to let the much bolder purple stand out. He's still worried his little joke had gone a little far, that it's going to be much, but he doesn't dislike it when he throws it all together.

"Now for this one," he hears Leah outside, "I'm thinking some accessories. Amethyst type cufflinks, perhaps, or collar pins are really starting to come into vogue for the shirt, or even--do you have any piercings?"

"Uh. Not anymore?"

"Oh, I like that answer. Speaks of some wild younger years; I know how that is. Well, there could have been some fine matching earrings, but a ring or two might do the trick. And never doubt the power of a fine tie bar to bring a piece together."

Clint steps out, tugging at the sleeves. "I'll keep that in mind. Probably going to be light on accessories, but I'll see what I can do."

She sets her hands to fussing. "And naturally, mix and match as you please. You can absolutely work this vest with the lighter suit without it getting too loud or drowned out, so on, so forth."

The second suit is somehow better than the first. Perhaps because he's used to seeing Clint in black but this is entirely different, entirely new. The bold colors and the cut of the suit itself are incredible on him. Phil only just stops himself from dragging his lower lip through his teeth and looking at him with outright hunger.

"I have cufflinks and tie bars at home. None are purple but I'm sure I have something that will work." And it'll be another sign of how Clint is his. If it is edging into sugar daddy territory again, fine. Fine. Whatever. Phil will live with that. He likes seeing Clint like this and wearing his things.

"Of course you'll have something." Leah waves a hand at him. "But you should get the young man some of his own. He can't keep taking from you every time he wants to go out."

Clint absolutely could and Phil would not complain. He simply nods in agreement. "I'm sure you can suggest some things for him."

Clint's eyebrows raise slowly during the back and forth. Trying to keep his mouth shut. Has she figured it out yet? Because it's sounding like she's figured it out, if she is assuming that he borrows Phil's things. To go out.

Time to be a tease. "What do you think, Phillip? Do these pants make my ass look fat?"

"Your ass looks amazing so long as you get properly tailored trousers. I wish my husband had ever had a backside half as nice as yours."

Okay, so he's got a match in the little old woman, noted. "It's never too late to start getting into an exercise regimen to give him the firmest glutes to bounce quarters off of."

"And give myself more work having to alter all of his pants?"

"But think of the satisfying sound of giving it a firm smack."

She smooths down the vest and rebuttons the jacket closed. "Are you the devil on my shoulder, young man? Don't tempt me to smack yours instead."

"Well, you've already pinched it; might as well take another little step. Unless your partner in crime here wants to give it a go instead."

It's possible she figured it out the first time they were in here. She's very observant and they hadn't been perfectly careful. Phil hadn't been perfectly careful. It's very difficult to be careful now when Clint's deliberately taunting him.

"I'm sorry, Clint, I didn't bring any quarters to give a demonstration," he says with a slight smirk. "I'll make sure to do better next time if you want to show off your talents."

He looks at Leah with the same expression. "I promise his exercise routine does wonders for his ass so it would work on anyone else's. If you need me to step in and make sure he behaves let me know."

"Keep it out of my shop, you two. I run a respectable business."

"Do you see how downright dapper I am? Is there anything not respectable about me?" He does a little spin.

She points to her eyes and points at him.

"You've performed a miracle and made a respectable young man out of this rapscallion." He shrugs out of the jacket. It might be deliberate. To show off how he looks in a vest properly. "Well, if nobody's going to smack my ass, I guess I'll just go back to commoner clothes while you two take care of whatever business is left." He does a dramatic turn back to the dressing room, jacket thrown over his shoulder.

Leah gives Phil a look. "Black tie event, hm?"

"Don't look so skeptical. They do happen."

They're friends with Tony Stark. A black tie event will happen in their future and they will arrive to it together, arm in arm looking incredibly well dressed. It will absolutely floor Stark.

He follows Leah to the counter to pay for both suits, not the least bit bothered by the price tag. It is entirely worth it. When they do go out for their dinner Phil will really enjoy himself.

He hopes Clint does as well and has the confidence of a good suit and his good looks. Phil's already picked out the steakhouse which will be smaller and more intimate than perhaps what Clint is expecting.

Phil waits for Clint to finish changing back into his usual clothes with both suit bags draped over his arm.

Rest assured that Clint can't wait to confuse and arouse every tabloid the first time he shows up to a Stark event all decked out.

When he comes back out, all normal and not swank, he leans over to give Leah a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you for putting up with me."

"You just have to make sure you come back anytime you need something nice to wear. And send me pictures if you end up on any red carpets."

He doesn't know about that, but some of Stark's events do get big names, so...not exactly out of the picture. "And thank you, Phillip."

Nope, not going to get tired of that while they're here.

"You're welcome, Clinton."

Phil takes Clint's hand as he leads him out of the shop, Leah laughing warmly behind them. He's quite pleased with the way this fitting had gone.

"You seem happy with the suits," he says as they walk together. "Do you like them?"

It's a complete reversal of the past few days. Now Phil's a little unsure and perhaps overthinking. Clint had fun with the fitting which Phil took as a sign that he likes the suits but it'd be nice to hear it as well.

"I'm definitely happy you took me to her. I don't think she ever realized who I was. She's great." Phil was asking about the suits, but Clint would be remiss not to talk about the experience as a whole. "I really might have to swoop by and get an actual tuxedo and really knock your socks off in something traditional as hell."

He's glad now to hold his partner's hand. There are still nerves in there, somewhere, buzzing about, but there's a giddiness, too, that can't be denied. "And I like the suits. It's different, but hey, now I've got options. Even on missions. Don't expect me to wear them a lot; you're not gonna turn me into you. Just on special occasions. Or when you tell me to, sir."

"I don't know if I'm ready to see you in a not rented tuxedo." It might actually break Phil entirely. He may do something stupid and reckless like declare his undying love and ask Clint to marry him.

He looks good in a rented tux. He would be devastating in a tailored one. Especially now that Leah knew what Clint liked. Oh, he had made his own downfall.

"Don't worry, I don't think we'll be going out to too many steakhouses." Phil gently nudges his shoulder against Clint's. "I prefer our usual haunts but I feel we should indulge now and then."

"I'm thinking a fancy one, with coattails, and white gloves." He's not, actually, but there's room to tease.

"You don't indulge enough." ...Hm, hold on, let him rephrase that. "You don't indulge in anything that isn't me or your suits enough." They might potentially maybe go on vacation together someday. Now that would truly be an indulgence. "That said, how did you like me in suits?"

If anyone could pull off coattails and gloves it would be Clint. Phil could find him attractive in just about anything he wore. It's a curse of being in love with the man.

Phil leans in close so that Clint won't miss a single word of what he says next nor the way he practically growls it. "I cannot be held responsible for my actions when we're alone and you're in that vest, agent."

The trim line of Clint's waist will pleasantly haunt Phil's memories for years and years to come. If he wore that and rolled up his sleeves? Phil would have to drag him to the nearest closet and ruin him.

He drew back and settled comfortably back into his unflappable agent role.

That shoots straight to his dick. And Clint grins slyly even as Phil tries to settle back to normal business as usual.

"We're gonna have fun with this. You've given me so much power. And I can't promise to use it wisely." His turn to bump shoulders. "Maybe you're the one who's gonna have to pay for dry cleaning, too. If you treat my clothes rough."

"I'm aware of what I've done to myself." Phil very subtly licks his lips. It's rare that the power dynamic between them shifts so firmly in Clint's favor but well...

Phil's done this to himself.

"We have reservations for Friday night." So that's when Clint can absolutely test all of Phil's control.

Clint laughs to himself. "Down, boy." It's so small. It's so subtle. Literally only he can tell any of this is happening, and he's going to milk it for all it's worth.

"Friday night. We're gonna roll up on the scene like two very handsome men in a very handsome car, and you're not going to do the chivalry thing and open doors and pull out my chair or anything." Just to warn him now. In case Phil gets any ideas. "Are you gonna help me get dressed? Pick out which combination of everything I'm gonna wear, pretty me up with some accessories?"

"Does that mean you want to keep the suits at my place?" Phil didn't want to presume anything. He would gladly keep the suits at his place. He would also happily dress Clint from head to toe if the man wanted to him.

He brushes his thumb across his knuckles. "I would be happy to help you dress. If you want me to."

"What, no, they're my suits now; they're staying at my place. But you've seen what I got. You can come over and come help me out and bring some of your shiny accessories over. So that I can then be your shiny accessory on your arm."

"So, we're going to your place tonight." To drop off the suits and whatever else they felt like doing. It's been awhile since they've spent a lot of time together. "But I'll come over early to help you dress before our date."

He has to go get Lola detailed for this. They are going to be flashy and totally noticeable. Some blog is going to lose their minds over the two of them.

"We could go to your place, and then I'll be dragging some suits with me back to my place after, but yeah. Easier if we go to my place." Is that...unexpected? Is that disappointing somehow? He glances at Phil, then back down the sidewalk. "You don't hate my place. Been a while since you've spent time over at mine, though."

"I don't hate your place." Phil doesn't mind Clint's place at all. It's not always the most clean but he can live with that. It is very much Clint's place and there's something endearing about it.

"Why bother with the extra step? Let's just go to your place." As long as he is with Clint Phil is generally happy. After letting him have his space he is very happy to spend time with him again.

Clint had made the joke. That if they moved in together and took that extra step, it would just be his floor of Stark's gaudy tower. They are absolutely not at a move in together point, and there's no real expectation that they ever will, because they need to do this one step at a time before they trip and hurt themselves and each other.

But he can see the writing on the wall clear as day. If anyone's moving anywhere, it'll be Clint in with Phil.

"You want me to give you a bit more of a fashion show, or save all that fun for a very special Friday night?"

The temptation is there. Phil wants to say yes. He does because God, Clint is unfairly attractive in a suit. However...

"Let's wait." He squeezes his hand. "I could always wear one of your flannels if you want a fashion show yourself."

Clint's clothes are big on him, especially across the shoulders but he has borrowed a shirt or two in the past. He maybe stole one once or twice because he liked how they smelled like Clint, especially when he was away oversees.

"I do love it when you get casual. It's downright obscene." And free to borrow as many as he'd like. So long as Clint still has some. "Or," with a lean in nice and quiet, "just skip the idea of clothing altogether."

He imagines Phil's got a certain amount of energy that might like to get burned.

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