Can't Let Your Guard Down
Natasha was sitting beside Clint's bed in the recovery ward. She herself had been patched up by the medics for the wounds she'd received from escaping the Hulk. She'd been released and there were hardly any visible signs of the altercation, her uniform crisp and clean, her hair neatly brushed. The silence was broken by Clint, who let out a quiet moan, then scrunched up his eyes before blinking them open partly, squinting in the brightly lit recovery room.
"Wha... where am I?" He groaned. "Natasha..." He painful grimace he was wearing subsided as he saw her. He attempted to lift his arm, but the effort was too much for his fatigued body.
Natasha tentatively reached forward and took his hand in hers, "It's ok, you just need rest now. The situation's under control." They lapsed into silence. Natasha watched Clint, who had fallen back asleep, and smiled to herself.
"I'm so sorry." She whispered, squeezing his hand. "It's all my fault you're hurt. I let Loki get to me and I played right into his hands. He knows me too well. I might be able to defend myself, but having so much red on my ledger, I can never be forgiven. I should just stay away from you, or else I'll hurt you too." She brushed back his hair and lightly kissed his forehead before placing his hand back on the bed beside him.
She went to stand up from her chair, but heard Clint rustle in the bed. "Don't go," he whispered. "I need you. You complete me." He sighed.
Natasha smirked. "Got that from Tony did you? I'm not innocent little Pepper Potts, I won't be the girlfriend who stays at home waiting for her brave man to save the world. I've killed everyone I've been with. I know too many secrets to ever trust anyone. I can't let my guard down." A tear escaped her eye before she could stop it.
"Natasha." He took her hand. "Look at me." He leaned up on the arm he was holding Natasha's hand with and reached out his other arm to stroke her cheek. "Please, just understand that I will always be here for you. I know that you have secrets and are afraid to let anyone close because they could kill you, but please, just let me be here for you however I can." He leaned forward and planted a quick kiss on her lips before falling back into bed and letting go of her hand, exhausted.
She let out a small sob, then retreated from the room without looking back. Clint took that as a good sign, coming from the Black Widow.