The Life That Pietro Saved

8.5

Pietro woke up with Clint's hand gripping his.

"You...you okay?" The speedster breathed.

"Oh my god, of course I am. How're you feeling, babe?" The archer stroked the hair from Pietro's eyes.

"Hurt." He sighed. "What is damage?"

"Three broken ribs, internal bleeding that took an hour to stop, severe concussion, minor stab wound, fractured cheek bone, and you sprained your back pretty bad."

"Fuck." He noticed that he had company. "Oh...hi."

"Hey." Mary spoke softly.

"Thanks...thank you so much..." He gave a broken smile, pulling off the cannula.

"Don't thank me. I wanted to thank you, for y'know, saving my life, and my kid's life." She was pale.

Pietro propped himself up on his arms, giving a small smile. "I was only doing what was needed."

Clint put an arm around him and helped him up into a sitting position. He noticed the thick, black back brace strapped over the long sleeve white shirt.

Clint continued to support him.

"It really is not that big of a deal." He assured.

The paraplegic eyed his chair, it was folded and propped against a wall across the room.

"Clint, can you get my chair?" He pulled his legs over the side of the bed, fighting against the covers.

"Babe, I don't think you should be moving around so much."

"I am fine." He sat crookedly. "Just need to get out of medical wing."

Oh shit, yeah.

Clint remembered that Pietro had an intense fear of hospitals after Sokovia.

"Alright." He stood, Mary watching curiously as Clint walked over to the wall.

He picked up the folded wheelchair and spread it to it's full size next to the bed. Pietro looked up at him gratefully, dragging himself into the seat with a slight struggle. He then placed his feet on the footplate carefully, thin legs leaned against one side.

He began to move, only to be stopped by a sharp pain to his lower back.

"How long was I out?" He tried again.

"A few hours. Roads are still closed, so all the kids are stuck here."

Pietro nodded and Clint helped him out of the door. He moved at a slower pace than usual, he was in a lot of pain. His chest, back, and head hurt and his wrists ached.

"I cannot do it..." He murmured so quietly Clint almost didn't hear it.

"That's alright, honey. Can I help you?" He stroked Pietro's messy hair softly.

"Mhm." Pietro looked down, hands in his lap.

He tensed as Clint began to push him, he hated being pushed, but the pain was too great for him to move on his own. He trusted Clint.

The bodies were gone as they crossed the main room, now it was just littered with broken glass and furniture, blood staining the ground.

They entered the elevator and Clint pushed the button to the next floor, a backup floor of sorts with spare rooms and another living room.

Pietro picked at the fuzz on the baggy light grey sweatpants. His shoeless feet were covered in grey socks as well. The darkest thing on him was the ugly black brace.

The door opened and they exited the lift.

Peter ran up like an overexcited puppy. He hugged Pietro gently, pain rippling through the older's body. He flinched and Peter pulled away.

"Did you get hurt?" He asked curiously.

"Yes, a bit."

He noticed another woman that was tending to the kids.

"Oh, and that's Elizabeth. She's Jacob's mom. She managed to get through traffic and she's been watching the kids."

The redhead looked up, jumping from her seat and walking over.

"I heard about what you did earlier. It's such an honor."

They shook hands and he smiled politely.

Pietro gripped the rims of his chair cautiously, a bit of fight or flight kicking in.

Clint's hand was on his shoulder in a flash and he instantly felt safer.

"Where is the team?" He looked up at Clint.

"Over in the other room."

Pietro nodded, softly pushing the wheels at his sides to the room. Clint followed closely, gently pushing when needed.

The couple entered the room where the team was already knocking back shots and celebrating.

Nat appeared before them. "Hey, soldier. How're you feelin'?"

"Like I got my ass kicked." He responded with a smirk.

The archer helped his boyfriend onto the couch. Pietro gasped in pain, biting back a whine as he was set carefully on the cushion.

Suddenly Wanda was sitting on the couch next to him. "Ty v poryadke?" Are you okay?

"I am fine." He glared at her tiredly.

"Why did you not call for backup? Stupid." She hit his arm lightly.

"The team was busy. I did what I had to." Pietro yawned.

Clint sat down with a glass of white wine in his hand, putting an arm around the speedster's waist.

Pietro took the glass from his hand, sipping it and handing it back. Clint smiled and kissed the top of his head, sighing contently.

Pietro laid his head against Clint's shoulder, watching his idiot friends goof off. Wanda's presence in his mind was warm.

'I really am okay.' He thought lazily.

'No, you aren't. I can feel it.'

'Let me pretend I am, just for right now, okay?'

His eyelids were heavy as he drifted off on his boyfriend's shoulder.

The nightmares that plagued him that night kept both Clint and Wanda awake.

He lay in bed, whimpering and tossing and turning, yelping every so often.

She saw his dreams, his memories of being kicked and thrown and all the shit he was put through today. She saw it through his eyes, felt his pain. She saw his limp legs sprawled beneath him, felt his fear as his body told him to run. She felt his pain as he was hit again and again, felt his courage when he fought for those kids and that woman.

Wanda felt her brother's fear when he thought he might be dying and the world went fuzzy.

Clint held Pietro close, stroking his hair and whispering comforting things. He didn't know what else to do, Pietro just kept panicking.

"Baby, it's okay. It's alright. You're okay."

Pietro's blue eyes flew open in horror. He soon realized that Clint was right there and he was okay.

"I am scared." He clung to Clint.

"Shh, it's alright. You don't need to be scared anymore, I'm right here. You're okay."

Their lips brushed as Clint helped Pietro get comfortable and laid down to wrap his arms around him.

"You're okay. You're okay." Clint whispered over and over. "We're okay." He stroked Pietro's soft hair.

"I love you." Pietro mumbled.

"I love you too, babe." Clint felt the younger's breathing change as he drifted into a peaceful sleep.