To Be Held
Summary: Reader is injured.
Warnings: Angst, blood, and wounds
Notes: Thank you so much @arctrooper69 for the request and @promptsbytaurie for the prompts! :D
Prompts:
“You did so good. Don’t worry, you-you did so good.”
“Hey, hey, shhhh. Shhhh. You’re okay.”
“I know, I know it hurts.”
Gn!reader
Word count: 1,019
Tech often held you like this. Your head tucked against his neck and shoulder, his arms wrapped around you, holding your chest to his, you were safe. Sometimes the two of you were curled up on your bed, sometimes you were seated atop the Marauder, Tech quietly mumbling about the stars, but never before in a pool of your own blood. You tried to drift away in these good memories, let go of the pain.
A surge brought you back. Tech’s hand pushed against the wound on your upper back. The blood quickly seeped through his fingers.
“Aah.” You writhed at the pain.
“I know,” He said, “I know it hurts. Just stay awake. Please.”
“Did…” You started to ask. “Did we do it?”
“Yeah,” Tech said after a moment, amazed you could be thinking of the mission while bleeding out “You did it. You did such a good job.”
“Really?” You asked, a slight waver to your voice.
“Don’t worry, you–you did so good.”
“I-is anyone else… hurt?” You managed between shaking breaths.
“No,” Tech held you tighter. “The rest of the Batch is fine. They’re on their way. They’ll be here soon. You’ll be okay…. You’ll be okay.”
“Oh,” You said, taking another deep, shaky breath. “It’s that bad?”
You leaned back, pushing away from him so you could see his face. His front was soaked with blood. Your blood. You looked up at his eyes, but they were focused on the horizon.
“They’ll be here soon,” He repeated. He sounded like he was trying to reassure himself more than you.
“Hey.” You said, reaching a hand up to his face and tilting it down to face you. Your bloody fingers left four lines on his cheek. He lifted his similarly bloody hand from your back and grasped your fingers.
“We need to keep pressure on the wounds,” He said, “Or else… or else you’ll …”
You nodded, and allowed him to pull you closer. His chin was tucked on the crown of your head, your cheek pressed to his collar. Seeping into the ground was your blood. Too much of it.
“Tech,” you started, surprised at how weak your voice sounded, “I love you.”
“Shh, no, no. Don’t talk that way.” He shook slightly as he soothed you. “Shhh. Shhh. You’re okay.”
“Please,” You pleaded, “Just say it back.”
A few moments passed. Tech seemed to be mulling it over, coming to terms with something.
“I love you, too,” He eventually whispered, as if the words were so fragile that saying them too loudly would shatter them.
Reassured after hearing that, your breathing changed. The slow shaky breaths became shallow, and too fast.
“I love you,” Tech continued. “And all the little inside jokes we have. And how you can always find a way to make Omega laugh. And how… how you listen when I ramble. And when you talk about the future and your eyes fill with life. And when you smile.”
When he said that you smiled weakly against his shirt. Listening to him, you almost didn't mind the cold numbness spreading from your fingers and toes. Or the pain in your torso. One again, you could be lost in his voice.
Your body was slowly shutting down in a last ditch effort to save you. Your entire being went numb, every muscle and tendon relaxing. At least that meant your breathing finally slowed. Your eyes drifted closed. The coppery taste of blood faded, along with the burnt smell from the ash and rubble.
“Hey?” Tech squeezed you tighter. “Stay with me. Please.”
As your hearing – your last lifeline to the world of the living – faded, you faintly heard the sound of the Marauder flying low.
Then there was nothing but darkness and a dull ache that you couldn’t quite place. You felt it deep inside, like you had been gutted, and smoldering coals had replaced your insides. It was the deepest grief you’d ever felt. It started to fade away, but you heard a familiar voice.
“Stay with me. Please.”
Tech. You thought. I need to get back to Tech.
Although it felt like your limbs were made of lead, and weighed down in tar, you fought. This dark abyss wasn’t it for you. Not yet. You tore yourself from the inescapable stillness, despite the coals burning from inside.
You had to see Tech again. Hug him. Hold him. Tell him it would be alright. Save him from the pain you’d seen in his eyes.
After what felt like a lifetime, you heard something. It was muffled voices, ones you recognized, which slowly became crisper. You smelled sterile medical supplies, and felt your chest rising up and falling down with each breath.
Pain accompanied consciousness. You could stop fighting, slide back into the abyss, but that would mean never seeing Tech again, so you soldiered on.
With one last push you flung your eyes open, and you were back. Breathing, living, hurting. You’d escaped from the void, and you were back in your body.
You turned your head, and saw Tech in the seat next to your bed. He hadn’t changed his clothes, as evidenced by your dried blood. You didn’t know if it would ever come out. He had a faraway look in his eyes. The same one he had while waiting for the rest of the Batch to come save you two.
You shifted slightly, and he snapped to attention at the sound.
“Cyare,” He whispered, reaching out to take your hand. “Welcome back.”
His eyes scanned your face, as if he was trying to make sure you were real. You squeezed his hand to reassure him.
“I am,” You said, voice scratchy and weak. You cleared your throat, which triggered a sharp pain. You let out a small gasp.
“Are you okay?” Tech asked, his eyebrows furrowing together. You looked at the lines in his face, deepened by a lack of sleep and surplus of concern. Reaching one hand up, you cupped his face.
“I’m fine, love,” You smiled up at him, and he returned a weary smile.