For the Advent! (Sorry I know I am late, no worries if you can't fit this one in!)
Number 15, Gently kissing the other's knuckles: Either Clint or Steve kissing Nat's hand/knuckles as she lays unconscious in the hospital, ending with her waking up Thank you!
@natandwandaseries I love a specific prompt. Thank you for this one - such a fun one to think on and write.
Advent Day 9
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Clint always forgets the sounds of a hospital.
The soft beeping, the bustle of the nurses, sounds beyond the doors of people chatting and alarms sounding.
He hates it.
Steve enters and he looks up to find a coffee in his hand and another thrust at him.
“Thanks,” he says quietly.
“Any change?”
Clint touches her hand, resuming his position next to her.
Steve sits on the other side, grasping her hand and kissing it gently.
“The doctor says she should wake up soon, they reduced the meds and the nurse did something else?”
Clint shrugs again.
“Soon,” he repeats.
“I hope,” he whispers.
Steve nods.
Clint sips the coffee, the arid taste encircling his mouth.
He winces.
“It’s not good, is it?”
He takes another sip, and shakes his head.
“No.”
It doesn’t help that the inside of his mouth hurts; when the punch had come he’d bitten the side of his mouth, taking a chunk out of it.
The coffee seemed to burn it and cool it all at once.
He feels Natasha’s hand twitch underneath his.
Her other hand comes up; the movement spasmodic.
“Hey Nat,” Clint soothes.
“Steve’s here too,” he assures.
“You’re okay,” Steve tells her.
Clint presses the nurses button and watches her carefully.
He worries this could go so wrong.
“You’re okay,” he tells her again, “surgery was quick and you’re all stitched up.”
A huff of breath fogs Natasha’s face mask, and her brow furrows.
“The kids are fine,” Steve tells her, looking quickly to Clint for help.
“Yeah, they’re okay, you pushed them out of the way, and we got them home.”
A cough of awareness, and a small groan.
The two men hover.
“Nat?”
Eyes open slowly, closing again, and then seemingly realisation of where she is.
Clint squeezes her hand and brings it to his lips, making sure it doesn’t do any harm.
“Breathe,” he tells her.
Steve runs his hand over hers.
He seems to know words are too much for her to process as her eyes look around, taking in both of them.
It takes another moment.
She breathes as Clint coaches her again.
“Kids?” she whispers.
“They’re okay,” Steve assures again.
“Mmkay.”
The words come out slurred as the nurse comes in.
There is a vital check and Clint and Steve huddle together in the corner, eagle eyes watching her.
In a quick movement, Steve reaches and squeezes Clint’s hand.
“She’s okay,” he tells him.
.
