Fallen Hawk
The three Avengers sat tense outside the gloomy grey hospital room, waiting, waiting, waiting for the news of their fallen teammate. No, brother. After all, they were family.
Steve, being the captain, obviously felt guilty. It was supposed to be his responsibility to make sure they were safe, were alive. And now, Clint might not be. Cap was slouched on his chair.
Tony was pretty much the same. But of course everyone thought he was just this arrogant, self-centred brat. Or at least they used to. But ever since New York, since he carried that nuke into space, they'd realised he actually cared. And he did. Clint was like a brother to him. Tony could only hope he was gonna be okay.
Bruce was missing. No-one had seen him or the Hulk since the battle ended.
Thor was away in Asgard, having left the day before Avengers tower was attacked.
That left Natasha. Slumped on the chair closest to the door, next to Tony, she had given up trying to hide her thoughts, her feelings, her emotions. She had forgotten what emotions were like. Now she wished it had stayed that way, because the mixture of emotions running through her head at that moment were torturous.
She couldn't lose him.
Clint had been her partner for almost as long as she could remember, her brain just simply couldn't imagine what it would be like to not have him there, all the time, for her. Of course she'd never admit it, but Clint meant everything to her.
She loved him.
But she never got the chance to tell him that.
Natasha was jolted out of her thoughts by the door right next to her opening, and a doctor stepping out wearily. The three of them were at attention immediately; Natasha leaping to her feet. The man cleared his throat, before announcing,
"He's in surgery, but-"
He was cut off by Nat pushing roughly past him into the viewing room. She stared through the glass at Clint's deathly pale body, bruises all over, and a deep gash running right over his heart. She pressed her right palm against the glass as if reaching out to him.
Natasha felt a hand on her shoulder, and flinched away, turning to see Tony Stark. Tears suddenly clouded her vision as she looked back through the glass.
Doctors swarmed around his body, desperately trying to keep him alive.
It's not enough, her mind said to her.
But it has to be...
More frantic movements caught her keen eyes, and she looked up to see, to her horror, one flat line on the heart monitor.
No. No. NO.
"No. No. No," she muttered, unaware she'd been saying it out loud. "No, Clint!" she cried, more audible this time as she banged her fist against the cool glass and tears flooded down her face. "Clint!"
"Natasha..." Steve tried to calm her down, but he too had tears on his face, and he too was angry.
Steve spared a glance at Tony, and instantly regretted it. Tony had an expression of utter shock on his face, tears neatly running down. His hands were shaking by his sides.
"CLINT!" Natasha screamed, losing control of herself.
"Natasha," Steve said, more firmly this time, and Natasha's head whizzed round to look at him, her hair flicking, and Steve remembered a moment, a lifetime ago.
Her hair danced round her face as she turned to face Steve.
"Why was Fury in your apartment?"
"I don't know."
"You're a terrible liar."
Steve opened his mouth to say something, but faltered as he saw Nat's expression. She looked so desperate, so in pain. She sobbed harder than ever as she held out her shaking arms to no-one in particular. Both men ran into her arms instantly, and they all embraced, clinging to eachother like lifelines.
For they had lost one of their own.
An Avenger.
A warrior.
A brother.
A father.
A husband.
A friend.