Whumptober Day 19

Just a Scratch

Prompts: bitten/bleeding/stabbing

"OK, who had mutant dogs on their bingo card?" Clint said through the comms, letting multiple arrows loose at a group of the creatures who were flying (yes, flying) toward the roof he was standing on. The things made a sickening splat sound as they struck the ground.

"Does that mean I win something if I did?" Sam asked, flying by Clint heading toward another group.

"Whenever we finish taking care of, whatever these things are," Tony quipped, "I'll check the prize closet."

"Guys, could we maybe focus on said things, please?" Steve could be heard grunting as one of the creatures snorted fire toward him, which he could block with his shield.

"You've always been a party pooper, Stevie," Bucky chimed in as he smashed one of the creatures with his arm. "Lighten up, geesh."

Clint knew Thor would love to be here for the fight, but he was off-world dealing with something on Asgard. Mikayla had been severely injured on their last mission, Bruce was in DC helping Rhodey with something, and Natasha was on her own mission, so Dr. Cho Friday was monitoring her. "How's Mikayla?" Clint asked.

"Sleeping peacefully, Agent Barton. She woke up earlier inquiring about you, and I updated her on the battle."

"Thanks, Dr. Cho." Clint shot several more creatures down, trapping others with a putty arrow. "Stark? Did we ever figure out what these are and where they came from?"

"I can answer that, Agent Barton. You were correct in your previous statement about them being mutant dogs. They were sent from Latveria by Doctor Doom. He created them for what he believes to be the next generation of weapons. The doctor (and Friday sure sounded like she put quotation marks around the term) believes that if there can be mutant or lab-created humans, then there should be the same in the animal kingdom."

"He's like a cockroach," Tony said. "Why can't we ever seem to get rid of him?"

"Clint, behind you!" Sam screamed into the comms.

Clint spun around and saw one of the creatures flying directly toward him. The creature was so close he wouldn't have a shot with his bow, so he grabbed some arrows to stab it. At the last moment, he thrust an arrow into one of the creature's eye sockets and another one into center mass of its body. The arrows slowed the beast down, but it still carried enough velocity that, as it opened its mouth, it was able to bite Clint, taking a large chunk out of his thigh and abdomen. Clint screamed, collapsing to the ground. Sam was able to shoot down the creature, and for good measure, Bucky blasted it with his machine gun. Tony and Sam landed on the rooftop next to Clint. "Friday?"

"Boss, I've alerted Dr. Cho and the medical team. They are awaiting your arrival."

"We're on our way." Tony and Sam picked up the archer. Tony carefully carried Clint and sped to the tower.

Each team member went to the medical bay without stopping to clean up after the battle. Another SHIELD division was rounding up the mutant dogs still alive, and local authorities were charged with the cleanup. Sam had stopped off to update Misty, who was working on redesigning an office building in Newark, then went to stay with Mikayla.

Later, Steve came into Mikayla's room. She had stirred off an on, but not enough to let her know about Clint. "Dr. Cho gave us an update. Clint's been in the cradle for treatment, and it's helping. He's still had to have blood transfusions, but he'll be OK. If we didn't have the cradle, though." Sam nodded, knowing the outcome could've been much different without the technology. "I'll spell you, go take a shower. I'm not taking no for an answer." Without a word, Sam nodded and disappeared up to his suite.

A couple of days later, Clint woke up, trying to figure out where he was. The last thing he remembered was watching over his team, protecting them from dogs. "Hey." He turned his head toward the soft voice of his wife.

"Hey," he replied, voice raspy from not being used for a few days. "So, I'm home."

Mikayla smiled and nodded. "You're home."

Clint, finally awake enough to open his eyes and focus, noticed Mikayla was still bandaged up but was sitting in a wheelchair. "How are you?"

Mikayla moved the wheelchair closer, grabbing the cup of ice chips and feeding him a few from a plastic spoon. "Alive. Can I maybe have a pass on dealing with gun runners for a while? I'm not fond of being used for target practice."

"I'll make sure that happens." Clint grimaced, remembering what shape she was in after the mission. He swore she had bullet holes in every body part, and looking at her, Clint saw more blood than skin; not even the bit of super serum she had coursing through her body helped her. She'd been touch and go for the first few days, so for her to be sitting up in a wheelchair next to him was another miracle in his life he would be ever grateful for. "Babe? You look exhausted."

"Like you have room to talk." There was a damp washcloth on his nightstand, so she picked it up and began wiping his face.

"I thought I'd lost you, Mikayla." Clint reached up and clasped her hand.

"You didn't, though." Mikayla smiled.

"Ahem." The couple looked up to see Steve at the door. "I hate to interrupt this moment, but I'm here to take someone to physical therapy."

"Aw, therapy, no," the Hawkeyes said in unison.

Steve grinned. "Aw, therapy, yes." He walked around the bed and put his hands on the back of the wheelchair. "Don't worry, Clint. I'll return her as soon as she's done."

"Thanks, man." Clint picked up Mikayla's hand and kissed it. "If you fall, I will catch you."

"I'll be waiting." Steve wheeled Mikayla out of the room and down the hall.

Clint plopped his head back on his pillow. "I still don't know what I did right to deserve her, but I will spend every moment letting her know how much I love her." His thoughts were of Mikayla as he drifted back to sleep.