Safe and Sound

Chapter 20

Wade sits me on the couch, and Dr. Banner is on his knees in front of me. Mr. Rogers sets my bag and crutches in the chair beside us and follows Mr. Stark to the kitchen to make lunch.

"Where are you hurt?" Dr. Banner asks.

"My back and knee, mostly." I write.

"I'm gonna run to the, uh, med bay to get my bag, and I'll be back. Wade will help you remove your shirt, okay?" he says. I just nod, and he runs back to the elevator.

"You need help getting it off?" Wade asks, sitting beside me. I shake my head, pulling it up on my own. I only get it up to my shoulders before nodding in defeat, not able to raise my arms much higher. Especially now that my adrenaline's gone.

He helps me pull it over my head, and I slip it off my arms. The bandages wrapped around my chest and shoulder have no more dried blood than before which is good I suppose. Just then, Nat walks in with Mr. Barton. She doesn't flinch, but he does.

"Peter what the Hell happened?!" he asks, keeping his voice quiet.

"I'm Spider-Man." I write. His eyes widen, and his face falls. Natasha moves my bag and crutches to the floor, sitting down in the chair next to me as she looks me over. Mr. Barton squishes himself into the chair beside her, looking down when his eyes land on the healing notch he made in my shoulder, and the other scars I have from his arrows.

"I'm so sorry..." he whispers. I just shrug, but wince when I do.

*Not your fault. You didn't know.* I sign. Just then the elevator opens again and Dr. Banner walks in with a backpack over his shoulder. He settles himself on the floor in front of me again.

"I'm gonna take off these bandages, but they may stick." he says. I nod, and he pulls out some scissors, clipping a piece and starting to unwrap the gauze. I flinch when he reaches around me, only for his hand to come back holding the roll, and he does this several more times as he rolls the gauze into itself.

I look down as they stare at me, feeling ashamed, even though part of me knows I shouldn't. It's like half of me is logical, and knows better, and the other half is a self depreciating twat-waffle that I can't seem to shut up.

The scars and bruises completely cover my torso and arms, under my sleeves. It's kind of cold in here, without the shirt. The air conditioner must be on.

"Okay, so it's pretty bad actually. The skin is going to start peeling in the next day or so, and it's definitely going to scar. But given this other scar I assume you know that." Dr. Banner mutters before speaking up, "So, I'm going to apply some cooling ointment which should help draw some of the heat out and soothe the pain. Then we'll wrap it in gauze and another sticky bandage to hold it in place." he explains.

I nod, and he pulls out a spray. At least it'll be easy to apply. I nod again and turn so he can see my back a bit better. I shiver when the cold spray hit's my skin. It's so cold... but it feels nice too. He applies enough that I can feel it dripping down my back. No one talks as he wraps it in gauze, but I wince a few times when he adjusts it, and it pulls on the tender skin.

Mr. Stark and Mr. Rogers come in as he starts to wrap the final bandage, sitting silently in the chair across from Nat and Mr. Barton.

*Can I put my shirt on please?* I sign.

"Of course. Do you want something a little cooler now, with short sleeves?" Dr. Banner stands, shoving his stuff back into his bag. I shake my head. Wade helps me put my shirt back on, and I lean into him, tired.

"So, I know you're probably not feeling so hot, but we do have a few questions..." Mr. Stark says. I give him a thumbs up.

"Okay, I am so, so sorry about what we've done, I know we all are, I am so sorry, we had no idea." Mr. Barton says. In theory, it shouldn't matter who I am, that was rude. But whatever.

"It's fine." I switch to writing, knowing they have a lot of questions and I have a lot to explain.