Code (anon/spec ops x reader)

Time

Another trauma warning❤️

It's been a few days, Athena urges riot to go for checkups on his lungs. A nasty cough remains and he struggled to sleep till late nights/early mornings. He tested negative for covid but the copious amounts of tear gas were starting to eat away at his lungs, it was best that he stayed in bed and kept it monitored.

You took care of him, having a burnt hand and wheezing like he's been smoking for 11 years made it uncomfortable. It's about 4am and he's getting ready for bed, his eyes sunken. A crash comes from the bathroom.

You run in and see the rinsing cup is on the floor, broken glass scattered everywhere. He goes to pick up the pieces but you grab his hand.

"Hey I told you to wait for me." You smile while  diligently picking up the pieces.

"Sorry, I just didn't want to bother you so much." He leans down and places a kiss on your forehead cusping the side of your face gently with his bandaged hand.

A prick, drip drop. Crimson and rich.
You continue to pick up the pieces.

"Y/n..."
Nothing

"Y/n"
Silence

"Hey!"
You break out of a gaze, "Im sorry, what was that?" You throw the glass in the trash can next to the toilet.

"Y/n your hand is bleeding, let me se-"
You pull your hand away, your eyes shaking as you smile.

"I'm ok." You rinse it hurriedly underneath the faucet.

You help riot tuck in for the night or technically day, you lay there until he falls into a deep sleep. It's about 7 in the morning. You tip toe out and make your way to the hospital.

Same protocol, the nurse comes out and escorts you to his room. He still lays in the same position you left him in yesterday morning.

You place your bag down and get to sitting beside his bed on a couch in the room. This was where you've been every time riot falls asleep. Back and forth between the two.

Eventually you started talking to Tank, about your day. Or what's happening around him like how nurses complimented his tattoo. For some reason, you never want to make him sad. You try to talk about cheerful things like the bright colors in spring as the flowers bloom a magnificent yellow. He never replies, but you try anyways.

His heart monitor is at a constant pace, at some point your mind cancelled out that noise. It's more comforting knowing that he's still there somewhere inside his hibernation.

Riots been to the hospital on request of Athena a few times, but he's never stopped by tanks room. He just asks about him as he falls asleep and you fiddle with his dreads trying to sooth his discomfort.

"Hey tank, they're pulling down statues isn't that funny?" You scoff to yourself, tears fall but at least he can't see.

The room never stops being cold, so cold. At least with you here he's not so lonely. Or at least that's the most you could do, guilt never fails to leave you fatigued.

You stay up all night making sure riot isn't hurting himself, and you're coming here early mornings. At some point even an active mind can't conquer a drained body. You fall asleep.

~~~

You hear the door open but you can't move. Footsteps approach tanks bed but you can't open your eyes. When you lack enough sleep, you're unable to wake up completely.

You feel a blanket being draped over you, you're still unable to move or speak.
There's a muffled voice but you can't hear through rustling, who is that? Who's talking? Is it a nurse? Why would a nurse talk to Tank? Is it? Can't be. It's riot. 

A heavy sigh escapes his struggling lungs.
"I." He pauses

"I'm sorry for not coming sooner, I just." His voice cracks. He sighs harder

"I just can't see you like this man." His voice quivers, he sniffs a couple times. He inhales a few times and composes himself.

"Y/ns been taking care of me. She comes here when she thinks I'm sleeping...but how could I sleep." He pauses for a while.

"Isn't it crazy? We met her the day before and...now she's here running back and forth for us. Fuck man, I think I'm going crazy.."

You could see now, suddenly riot comes into view. His bandaged hand held onto tanks as he leaned over the bed perching himself on a bed side table.

Tears streamed down his sunken cheeks, which he wiped away quickly with his sleeves.

"...I haven't seen you that happy in a while. Not after the last girl or the one before her. What was so different huh?....I guess I see that in her too." He pauses a lot, maybe his emotions are overwhelming him.

He smiles through his tears, " I know you were fighting with me over her man. I felt the tension." He scoffs

His smile turns into a full sob, "I would give anything for you to wake up man...I'd rather be in your place while y/n looked after you...I don't ask for much.."

If devastating was a moment, it'd be in moments like these.

"I guess I just had a feeling...like...like I had to come today. Like you wanted me here, so I grew some balls and came...I'm gunna get going before she wakes up...you know she's sleeping on the couch over there?."

"I'll be back soon, fight hard in there ok?" Riot lets go of his hand and tucks it under the sheets. He stands up and wipes his face for a while before actually leaving the room.

Suddenly tanks heart monitor beeps, it speeds up before dropping. No, please

Your body jolts awake and you slam onto the floor, a line runs through his monitor.
You press the red button rapidly and run out to the hall.

"Nurse! Can I get a nurse?!" You panic as you try to reach for the nearest staff member. Riots not so far and you run for him, he turns around  and you drops to your knees.

"Riot...tanks flat lining." You choke out in sobs, he's been stable thus far, why now?

Riots eyes widen and he runs towards tanks room. Doctors and nurses rush in to try to jumpstart his heart again, riot is held back by a few nurses.

If he wasn't in his condition he would've broke through any barrier and just rushed in, but riots just as broken. He's in just as much pain. He breaks, you could see it. Everyone can feel it, he falls to the floor in a sob.

You walk up to hold him. It hurts. He hasn't shed a single tear until now. He doesn't speak on things that make him anxious.
Yet here he is, broken in your arms. With your just as if, if not more broken mind.

Again the chaos of the hospital ceases to exist. You can't hear nothing but riot. You can't see nothing but riot. You don't want anything right now, but for riot to be ok.

Sorry for the late chapter, I forgot Issa holiday🥺❤️