Discovery Requires Experim- [GUNSHOT]

Chapter 12

It’s been nine hours since the incision-closing procedure and Tony still sits on his chair next to the hospital bed. Nine full hours he had spent scrolling his phone, drinking coffee and wandering around the medium-sized white room. The one thing he constantly does was watching his husband breathing in his deep sleep and monitoring his heart rate.

It’s also been nine full hours since he last heard Steve flattering him before going under.

Bruce managed to stitch Steve’s incision up in less than ten minutes. Tony carried his body and flew to a S.H.I.E.L.D. medical centre not far away from the ruins of the Triskelion, along with Thor who had created a wind tunnel to travel there faster. He met up with Helen Cho and her colleagues and demanded an immediate check-up on the man. They settled Steve’s body on a gurney and rushed to the ICU, leaving him alone in the foyer, wishing a godspeed recovery for Steve.

The rest of the team arrived shortly after; giving Tony a big hug and waited anxiously for the medical results in the hallway.

Within thirty minutes, the whole team caught sight of Helen walking towards them with a tablet in her grip, eyes full of relief. She announced Steve was safe and that’s all that took for Tony to let out tears of joy. He didn’t listen to her further explanations as he was deep in his thoughts. His Steve was alive and well.

Helen guided them to Steve’s ward on the upper floor and spotted their beloved captain in a hospital gown, sleeping to the static noises of a distant television.

Tony was the first to step into the room, sat next to him and stroked the scruffy blonde hair of his lover. Nat touched Steve’s cheek with Bucky holding her close, Bruce and Thor stood on the corner with a weak smile on their faces while Clint sat cross-legged on the white floor with his hand acting as a prop up for his head. They’re all waiting for Steve to wake up and welcome him back.

Gradually as time went by during the past nine hours, one by one left the room to have some shut-eye in a waiting room specifically provided by Helen herself. Bucky was the last person to leave and invited Tony to come and join them.

“He needs me, and I need him,” he said, maintaining his focus on Steve. “I can’t let him wake up without me by his side. He’s been through a lot… and we promised to be there for each other.”

“You’re a cheesy man, Stark. It’s nauseating,” which earned a hard nudge from Tony. “I’m glad both of you met in this century together.” Bucky smiled and his footsteps faded as he walked away from the room.

His close friends also came to visit his husband and checked up on Tony, including Sam who was asked by Pepper to come along. Happy gifted a chocolate box for Steve, Rhodey and Sam talked about the HYDRA infiltration and Steve’s kidnapping while Pepper sat next to him, giving him two cups of coffee.

“I know you won’t leave this room until he opens his eyes. It’s so you,” she giggled and Tony smiled. “That quality is what we love the most about you. You cared for him and us so much, I don’t know how we should repay you.”

“And what I thought you love the most about me was me being a genius,” he joked and the rest of them chuckled. “Pep, you guys don’t have to. I will always care for all of you. You’re my besties.”

“Damn straight, we are,” Rhodey claimed.

“I don’t think I’m straight, Platypus,” he remarked jokingly, causing the rest of them to laugh and silence surrounded them.

They said their goodbyes to him, with Rhodey reminding him to take a short rest before resuming his lookout activity. Tony offered a position in the team to Sam before he leaves since Steve talked about him in their chats, but he smiled.