*Authors note: I rewrote this chapter as I'd rushed this chapter and didn't feel like it was up to scratch, sorry for any confusion - CW
10:30 am: The Avengers tower - Clint's POV
"Barton sir?, I do believe you requested an alarm call" asks Jarvis in his usual polite voice.
Groaning from underneath his covers Clint replies with a groggy "wha…", he stops and clears his throat. "What's going on" he asks his voice less sleepy than before. He hadn't gotten much sleep.
"Sir your alarm call? It's 10:30am" Replies Jarvis swiftly.
"Right right" answer the archer tiredly getting out of his bed, he feels strange, then he see's why. His bed and his clothes are soaked with sweat, groaning Clint strips the bedding and strolls towards his shower but on the way there he is forced to stop and clutch the wall for support, he sways dizzily for a few moments before gritting his teeth and taking a shower, but the shower offers his aching muscles little relief, it's like every movement he made was causing his entire body to shriek in protest.
Whilst drying off he catches sight of himself in his mirror. He looks dreadful, his under eyes dark purple and his skin is much paler than normal and his wound looks awful too, swollen, the bruising has spread down his arm making any moment to that arm painful. Pulling on some jeans and a t shirt the archer leaves his room to go and ask Banner to look it over, it's probably nothing but the archer cannot afford any damage to his bow arm.
Strolling into Bruce's lab he see's that he has been beaten to the scientist. Tony and Natasha are already with him, Tony and Bruce are in deep conversation whilst Natasha sits on a table sipping coffee and making odd comments. Sighing Clint decides to come back later but it's too late Tony spots him and gives him a friendly wave "Morning sleeping beaut... Woah Katniss you look like crap" exclaims Tony, his dark eyes showing a mix of concern and amusement at his own joke
"Wow always the charmer Stark. Didn't get much sleep last night" Clint replies bluntly narrowing his eyes at Tony and pouring himself some black coffee from the lab's coffee machine, Tony shrugs and looks away supposedly satisfied with his answer, but Bruce isn't as easily convinced. "Then why are you holding your arm out like that?" He asks, crossing his arms and looking genuinely concern for the younger man.
"Because the bruising has spread a bit" Replies Clint, praying the doctor making a huge fuss, he hated looking weak even in front of his closest friends so he quickly put on a front.
"May I see?" asks Bruce in a tone that suggested Clint didn't have a choice anyway.
Clint goes to roll up his right sleeve and Natasha looks away tactfully and nudges Tony to do the same. Nodding gratefully Clint pulls up his sleeve and Bruce's eyebrows knit closer together "hmmm there shouldn't be this much swelling, the arrow didn't go that far in. Did you take your anti-inflammatory pills?"
"No i completely forgot" Admits Clint embarrassed at his forgetfulness.
"Well that may have something to do with the increased swelling but the bruising and fever is still unexplained..."
"I don't have a fever" argues Clint, annoyed.
"Jarvis. What is Barton's temperature?" Asks Tony sharply, eyeing the archer's pale sweaty face.
"38.5 degrees sir and his pulse is slightly slower than average. I suggest he remain well hydrated and gets plenty of bed rest" Replies Jarvis, earning a smirk from Tony and an eye roll from Natasha "well you can't argue with Jarvis" says Tony smugly, he never misses an opportunity to irritate his fellow avengers.
"knock it of Tony" snaps Natasha, glancing at Clint judging his reaction, but Clint says nothing.
"God Clint... why didn't you say anything?, you must feel awful" asks Bruce sympathetically. Clint doesn't take his eyes of his shoes, he's feels weak and childish.
"Alright everybody out" commands Bruce tactfully sensing Clint's embarrassment of having the other present, Tony opens his mouth to protest but Natasha grabs him by the ear and pulls him after her which Clint returns with a grateful nod.
Once Tony and Natasha have left Bruce tests the younger man's temperature, heart rate, reflexes all of which he judges to be and take a much closer look at his arm and come to the conclusion that Clint's wound is becoming infected or this is the beginning of a nasty bout of flu brought on from exhaustion, so he administers a large does of antibiotics just in case of infection and orders Barton to bed banning him from straining himself too much "That includes going on missions" Bruce sharply reminds him before Clint leaves to return to his bedroom.
Natasha is sitting in the hallway waiting for Clint. "You alright? Don't tell me you're fine" she asks standing up and looking Clint straight in the eyes. He tells her what Bruce told him and excuses himself to go and take a nap but to his surprise Natasha follows him.
"What are you doing?" he asks confused.
"coming with you, someone's got to look after you" she replies with a small smile
"I can take care of my..." Clint starts
"Clint you couldn't keep a cactus alive" Natasha cuts in "and besides I'm returning the favor, you took a freaking arrow in the arm for me yesterday"
Seeing he won't win he allows Natasha to finish making his bed and makes him breakfast, then tucks him back into bed. She hums softly whilst she does this. She turns back to Clint who is grinning despite his fever. "what?" she asks defensively, crossing her arms.
"Nothing. I've never seen you so... nurturing?" Clint says, still smiling slightly
"Well I've never seen you so docile so there's a first, what was that in the lab?" Natasha shoots back reflectively
Clint smile falters and he looks away "I hate being seen as weak" he replies
"But we wouldn't judge you, I especially wouldn't judge you, Clint you took a freaking arrow in the arm for me" Says Natasha, sitting down on the bed next to him. He doesn't reply, Natasha begins to stroke his hair softly causing the archer to finally drop his guard and close his eyes and eventually falls asleep but not before mumbling "night Nat" into his pillow. Natasha smiles and Clint is sound asleep in seconds, Natasha can feel his fever through his hair after a few moments of stroking it and a nagging feeling starts to stab at her stomach, she tries to swallow the feeling "it's just the flu or something, this going to be a long couple of days" she thinks to herself she curls up beside him.