CHAPTER 8 - Fight and Injury
"Clint," Bucky warned, looking between the two combatants. Even the other Commandos looked a bit worried for Clint's sake. Dugan and Gabe most of all. Bucky seemed to be unable to decide who to be more worried about. "This isn't a good idea."
Clint ignored the others. He hadn't even shown any of them half... No, a quarter of what he could do in a fight. And he sincerely doubted that Steve's fighting style from this time was even close to matching how he fought in the future. With a smile, Steve lunged forward, ready to punch Clint in the jaw. Clint ducked, stepping partly to the side and instead hitting Steve in the ribs with a flat hand. Unbalanced, Steve nearly fell over onto the ground.
"Guys!" Morita said in an attempt to stop this when he realized the duo was serious. Steve spun back to look at Clint, his eyes narrowed as he realized, Clint might actually have some training. He ignored it even as he moved to charge and punch Clint again. Again, Clint ducked it, but this time when he did, Steve switched direction on his punch and tried to elbow Clint in the temple. Without a word, Clint raised both arms up, blocking the move and sliding backwards so it wouldn't hurt or bruise afterwards. A skill Natasha had tried teaching him but Bucky drilled into him. Wait a minute...
"STEVE!" Bucky shouted, making Clint refocus on what Steve was doing. Clint ignored the rest of whatever Bucky said and dug his left foot into the ground and twisted, bringing his right leg up to catch Steve in the back. The force sent Steve a few steps away. With a grunt, Steve tried his own spin kick but Clint just caught the Captain's leg, using Steve's own momentum to twist it around and get Steve to fall face first onto the ground. Without wasting a second, Clint dropped on Steve, his knee on his neck. The whole area fell silent. Watching to see what would happen next.
Steve huffed, pushing himself up lightly but was surprised when Clint kneeled down further, the motion making Steve's face begin to drag on the dirt. He paused, dropping back down to think. After a moment, Steve rolled, twisting away from Clint, moving the archer off his neck and more down to his chest. The archer followed but before Steve could try and move his arms, Clint delivered a well placed and hard punch to Steve's face. Stunned, Steve laid there, staring at Clint as the archer straddled his chest.
"Gonna give?" Clint dared. Steve snorted. He kicked his legs up into the air before slamming his feet down to give himself lift off from the ground. Clint pushed off with his own legs, twisting himself to get his ankles locked in Steve's armpits and as the archer placed his hands on the ground, he pulled with his feet. Again, Steve fell into the dirt, dazed. This time, rather than pinning Steve, Clint backed off. "I can do this all day."
Steve paused, tilting his head to look at Clint as the archer smirked. The Captain figured Clint was either mocking him or just pointing out yet again that he knew Steve from the future. Likely Future-Steve had video footage of his own fighting style. Slowly, Steve got to his feet. Clint put himself in a relaxed but wary stance as Steve sighed and turned to face him.
"Stevie," Bucky snarled. Steve let out a small laugh, eyeing Clint now. Bucky knew that Clint had some training in fighting from the future where as Steve only had the examples he had gotten from getting beat up, or watching Bucky or in movies. There was gonna be no way he could compete. Strength or not.
"Don't know why you wanna keep the floor so bad," Steve admitted, holding a hand out to shake. Clint smirked, moving and taking the hand. For a moment, both men wondered if Steve was going to tighten his hold and attack again but Steve ended up not doing it. They shook and stepped away. "Where did you learn all that anyway?"
"My childhood left a lot of blank room to learn a bunch of different talents. Fighting, acrobatic skills, and shooting skills among them," Clint replied, a blooming smile on his face making sure to sound like his childhood was as happy go lucky as many people thought. Dugan and Bucky frowned, knowing that his childhood wasn't what the archer was making it seem like. "And sides, that isn't anywhere close to what I can do."
The rest of the week saw the Commandos testing Clint with anything from hitting a bottle cap into someone's drink on the other side of the room, telling tales of his past (mostly about the circus and his missions with S.H.I.E.L.D), and to showing them some fighting moves. Without really thinking about it, Clint began easily teaching Steve and Bucky their own personal style of fighting from what he knew of in the future. It never occurred to him that this was how they learned to fight. The others tended to get just an overall experience that didn't focus much on anything.
Steve was surprised at how useful his shield could end up being. He hadn't used it much to throw at anything yet, but with Clint's guiding, he started trying it out. The rebound on the thing was amazing and fun to calculate as Steve went on. It wasn't long before Clint didn't even have to try and coach the man on the throwing. Instead, Clint focused on using it to throw, catch and block within seconds of each other. Distantly, he kept finding himself wonder if Steve had learned all this from the archer himself. Or had Steve figured it out on his own in a different timeline? Damn time travel confusion.
Bucky was a different manner entirely. He already was an amazing shot and since he was the sniper, he hadn't really needed hand to hand combat. But, Clint refused to let the man sit it all out. The archer made mention that any Hydra agent could possibly sneak up on Bucky while the Sergeant was watching the other team member's back. Everyone agreed that Bucky should learn some things. As Clint trained with Bucky, he accidentally found himself making Bucky favor his left arm for defense and offense. Thankfully, no one mentioned it, if they even noticed. Which was doubtful.
During one particular training moment, Peggy had come by to check on everyone. Clint was fighting Steve once again and at the sight of the agent, Steve had stilled. As an assassin, Clint couldn't help but take advantage of the moment and harshly tossed Steve to the ground. Peggy snorted before clapping. Clint spun. He hadn't realized she was actually watching, never mind actually being there. His spy skills sucked lately. Natasha would murder him. If Future Bucky didn't get a hold of the archer himself.
"Bravo, gentlemen," Peggy praised. Clint moved away, wanting to hide. But Peggy's attention was more on Clint than on Steve. Then she turned to look at the rest of the Commandos, who had stopped fighting now and instead watched the woman. "Where did you learn all this?"
"From Corporal Barton, ma'am," Falsworth answered, nodding in Clint's direction. Clint winced before rubbing a hand against the back of his neck.
"Childhood wasn't particularly normal," Clint admitted. And while it was true, Clint had to be careful with what he told people. No need to let them know everything. In fact, he really shouldn't have told Steve and Bucky the very edited versions of his life from when they knew him.
"Well, that is... Interesting to hear," Peggy said, hesitating on the word she needed. Then she nodded, getting herself back on track. "Colonel Phillips would like a word with you, Captain Rogers."
"Yup, okay," Steve called, quickly getting to his feet and trying to wipe the dirt off of himself. Peggy rolled her eyes before turning on her heel and walking away. Steve meekly followed. Bucky and Clint traded a look before busting out laughing. The other Commandos ignored it, getting used to the trio knowing 'hidden' secrets about each other. An hour or so later, Steve triumphantly walked through the doors of the hotel. Everyone turned to stare at him, surprised. "Gentlemen, we are headed to Bastonge tomorrow."
A general cheer rose up through the Commandos. They were all itching for an actual fight soon and were getting sick of waiting for a supply drop before they could move. But now, the drop had happened and they were to be on the move. That night, the group (sans Steve) got 'drunk' and 'partied' into the night. Steve just watched over all of them with a smile before getting them to the hotel when it started getting too late.
"Captain Killjoy," Clint muttered the moment Steve suggested they head to the hotel. The archer made sure to intentionally slur his words a bit so that no one suspected anything. He reached for his glass, swirling the half filled liquid around. Steve blushed as Bucky and Dugan cracked up laughing.
"Il devrait se saouler avec nous," Dernier argued. Gabe answered this time and Dernier winced. "Pardon." (He should get drunk with us) (Sorry)
"Come on guys, we have to go in the morning. Do you want to do it hungover?" Steve questioned. Clint and Dugan traded looks before looking back to Steve.
"Yes," they retorted, even if Clint actually really didn't want too. Hell, he would never allow himself to get drunk enough to have a hangover. Well, unless Natasha was involved. She always found a way to nicely get him to keep drinking until he could hardly think straight.
"You're right Rogers. I'm gonna head to BED," Morita reported, making sure the 'bed' was said loudly. Falsworth chuckled rapidly getting what Morita was saying. It was supposed to be Morita's turn to lay on the floor but if Dugan didn't pay attention, he was going to be on the floor. Cause Falsworth sure as heck wasn't going to give up his bed for more beer.
"Yeah, BED sounds nice," the man added. Dugan took a moment before realizing what his friends/roommates were saying.
"Ah, hell no! Morita it's your turn tonight!" Dugan cried, the trio getting up and rushing off to the hotel. Gabe and Dernier said their own good nights, leaving Clint, Steve and Bucky.
"I'll take the floor if you don't get moving," Steve threatened. Clint glanced down at his drink before looking to Steve.
"You gotta have a better argument then that. Cause that, ain't gonna work tonight. A bed sounds great," Clint replied the slur leaving him just a bit now that everyone else was gone. Steve took a moment before snorting. Bucky frowned, carefully watching Clint. With everyone else gone, Bucky could see a change in Clint's body language.
"That's all it would have taken to get you on a bed? Getting you drunk?" Steve laughed. Clint smirked before Bucky tilted forward. He had begun to think he figured out what happened.
"You ain't drunk, are ya?" the Sergeant wondered. Bucky had long since began sipping at his own drink, knowing that Steve would be ruthless with him if he drank himself stupid. So, he was of enough sound mind to notice this. Clint stiffened. "How'd ya manage that?"
"This is only my second glass," Clint admitted, lifting it a bit into the air, dropping all pretenses of being drunk. If Clint took a moment to really think about it, he likely would have noticed that he didn't even have a slight buzz going on like he normally would on two glasses. Instead, he was stone cold sober. Steve and Bucky furrowed their brows. They had seen at least six being delivered to the archer. Clint shrugged. "Whenever Dugan needed a refill, I'd slip him mine."
"Huh, how did I not notice that?" Steve asked. Clint sighed, looking away from the duo, his mind flashing toward his early childhood. Drinking always caused Clint to remember the old man. Typically it took about two drinks to think about it but there were some attempts that it took nearly half a glass. Really depended on the alcohol level in whatever he drank.
"You okay?" Bucky questioned. Clint snorted out a laugh. Talking about his father wasn't going to change the future. Steve would have still been frozen and Bucky likely wouldn't have remembered this conversation even if Hydra hadn't got a hold of him.
"My dad was an abusive drunk. I... I don't wanna end up like him," Clint whispered. Steve and Bucky winced.
"I'm sorry," Steve murmured. Clint huffed, draining his glass in one shot before getting to his feet.
"I'll see you guys at the room."
Belgium was a shit show. Since the attack on the facility in France, Hydra was now on guard. They made it to the doors and Steve kicked it open, everyone opening fire behind him. Just like in France. But this time, Hydra was pretty ready for a fight and Gabe and Clint got clipped with bullets. Clint also ended up getting a minor concussion when a grenade went off near him and tossed him into a wall.
"You've got-" Morita began with Clint carefully watching his mouth. Somehow the blast had done something to his hearing aids. Must not have been a normal grenade. Given it came from Hydra, Clint wouldn't have been all that surprised.
"A concussion, I know," Clint slurred, waving Morita away. He didn't want to guy to get too close or become too worried. Clint had also secretly been hiding a small stomach ache that had been getting slightly worse. He knew it was a simple stomach bug. Something he'd be over in a few more days. As for the concussion, he should be good by the time they get back to camp. Hopefully. "Had enough of 'em to know."
"That's not as comforting as you think it sounds," Gabe pointed out but Clint hadn't seen it. Instead the archer shifted away from Morita once again, pulling on the wound in his side. He tried not to wince but it did slip out. Morita checked on that as well. It was deeper than the shot Clint had gotten hit with when protecting Josh but still not as bad as it could be. Gabe's wound hardly looked like the bullet hit him, outside of a minor graze and traces of blood. He'd be scabbed over by night. Clint turned to look at the duo before he noticed their eyes widening and then he felt the ground vibrate. He spun around to see the remnants of an explosion.
"Aw, man. I missed it," the archer called. Gabe and Morita laughed at him. Clint thunked his head against the tree Morita had leaned him on. He had briefly forgotten his head injury but once he connected, it sure as hell informed him it was still there. Morita stared at the archer for a moment before shaking his head.
"Thought you had a bunch of concussions," Morita joked but frowned when the archer didn't respond at all. A moment later, Steve jogged up to them. The movement had Clint looked over at him and focus on the man's lips.
"They okay?" the Captain wondered. Clint could tell that Steve was only seconds from 'mother-henning' Gabe and himself. To make sure it didn't happen, he let out a loud and noticeably faked moan of pain.
"I'm dying! It hurts so much!" the archer 'pitifully' whined. Steve chuckled as the rest of the Commandos jogged up. Bucky and Dugan gave him a very unimpressed look that Clint missed when the archer closed his eyes. "My world is graying out! I can't see! This is it! It's the end for me!"
"Oh shove it, Barton," Dugan grumbled but Clint continued to let out a moan of pain. It took a moment before Clint noticed everyone was looking at him and he stopped.
"What?" he wondered. The group traded looks before Bucky focused on him.
"You sure you're okay?" Bucky asked, making sure he actually didn't make a sound. Clint frowned. There was no need to make a big deal out of things.
"I'm fine," the archer argued. Bucky's eyebrows shot up in surprise. Clint's face scrunched up a bit as he looked around at everyone else. They all looked surprised as well. It was then he realized what had happened. "You didn't say that out loud... Did you?"
"What the hell!" Bucky cried. Clint ignored him and looked to the ground, his hand coming up to touch the area behind his ear. He fiddled with something. After a moment, Morita came over. When he touched the archer, Clint jumped, jerking his head to look at the man.
"Can I see?" Morita questioned as soon as he spotted Clint's eyes focusing on his lips. Clint frowned again before sighing and twisting his head a bit to show them all the scars from his implanted hearing aids. Morita gently explored them as if they were brand new injuries even though it was clear the scars were years old. He backed away and Clint focused on him. After a second, Morita turned away and Clint could tell he was saying something to someone. Clint looked up and noticed Steve was looking at him.
"What are the scars for?" the Captain asked. Clint sighed, looking to the ground. When he didn't reply, someone touched his shoulder. He jerked up and noticed Bucky was kneeling in front of him with a concerned look.
"Look, give me maybe another ten minutes or something and I'll tell ya everything," the archer grumbled before getting to his feet and walking off, being certain to not look at anyone. The first one to join him was Bucky, who walked on Clint's right. Steve moved to Clint's left after that and somehow the archer knew that Dugan was right behind him. The others fell into line behind them. As Clint guessed, ten minutes later, he heard a pop that made him wince and stop. With a sigh, he snapped a finger by his ear. When he heard the sound, he looked to Bucky who was staring at him curiously.
"You good to explain now?" the Sergeant inquired. Clint nodded before turning to the others.
"I'm... I'm eighty percent deaf in both ears," he admitted. The group gave a rather loud cry of alarm at that. Clint waved a hand up to stop them.
"How did you slip through the cracks? Being deaf is an automatic 4F!" Dugan cried. Clint glanced to Steve quickly, knowing that out of everyone, he'd know. The Captain winced, automatically knowing what happened.
"Erskine?" the Captain wondered. Clint nodded. Not that Clint would think Erskine would let it drop. The man would likely force him to still go to war.
"Who's Erskine?" Gabe called.
"Erskine is the man who created the serum that made me like this," Steve informed the others before focusing on Clint. "But, I don't understand. Why?"
"I don't know why Erskine did what he did. Hell, I wasn't even really tested for shit before they handed me papers," Clint replied, frustration leaking into his voice. He was still ticked off about what the doctor had done. If it wasn't for him, Clint could have been with another unit. Wouldn't have... He wouldn't have been with Bucky or Steve. Hell, maybe it was a good thing Erskine did what he did. Even if it sucked.
"That doesn't sound right," Morita hissed. Clint shrugged. There wasn't anything he could do to change the past. Well, that past.
"So, what's up with the ears. You've never had issues hearing us before," Dugan pointed out.
"The grenade hit closer to me than normal. Blew out my aids." Or so Clint suspected.
"You shouldn't have continued fighting like that," Steve scolded, knowing the grenade had happened long before the archer got shot. Clint growled, glaring at the Captain. There was no way in hell that his hearing disability was going to make him turn into a fucking damsel in distress. He could handle himself just fine.
"I've done more with worse than this," Clint mentioned, waving a hand down to his wound. Steve eyes narrowed.
"Stevie, he ran like seven miles through the woods with a decent sized hit to the opposite side, while he kept turning around shooting enemies. I think he knows his limits," Bucky informed. Clint nodded, a small smile on his face that at least someone was willing to defend him.
"Didn't even wanna tell us. Only reason we knew was cause we heard him cry out when he got hit. Even tried to avoid getting checked out for a bit," Dugan added. Steve's looked turned dangerous. Clint huffed. This was something he was used to. Still sucked just as much as it did before... Or will? Whatever.
"I can handle myself. Hell, I could still kick your ass," Clint snapped moving as if to threaten the Captain. Morita jumped forward, grabbing onto Clint as if the archer was gonna get himself killed.
"Calm down," Falsworth said, moving to get between Clint and Steve as well. "We don't need to fight right now. We just took down a base and who knows if there are more of those fucks out here."
"Fine, whatever," Clint snarled before yanking his arm from Morita and storming away. Steve let out his own frustrated growl and followed after. The others all traded looks.
"That boy's gonna get himself killed," Gabe muttered.
"And likely not from Hydra," Morita continued.
The walk back to camp was tense as all hell. Steve kept glaring at Clint as if the archer had personally offended him. Clint refused to even acknowledge the Captain. Bucky tried to mediate between his two friends. Dugan... Well, he smartly stayed far away from the whole thing. Morita stayed as close to Clint as he could considering the archer kept growling at him. Dernier, Gabe and Falsworth just trailed behind them all wondering when the infighting was going to stop.
"Barton!" Steve demanded as soon as they entered camp. Clint flipped him off but altered his course to head to the medical area. Steve huffed and said nothing more, heading off for the Colonel's tent. Bucky sulked after the Captain even as Morita headed after Clint.
"What do we do now?" Falsworth wondered once the four had gotten out of earshot.
"Head back to our tents and wait for this whole shit storm to end," Dugan suggested. And that was what the four did. Steve and Bucky ended up being the first to return to the tent maybe thirty minutes later.
"Barton?" Steve questioned after a quick look over the group.
"Guessing still with the medic," Gabe replied. Steve huffed and turned back around to leave but this time Bucky placed a hand on the Captain's chest.
"Morita is with him. It will be fine," Bucky mentioned. Steve's face contorted in anger for a moment before relaxing and heading further into the tent to sit on his cot. Bucky sighed and headed to sit on the bunk across from him. It was set to be Clint's bunk considering Dugan had tossed the archer's bag onto it. "Clint knows how to take care of himself. He doesn't need all this babying."
"Ironic coming from you," Steve grumbled in a playful tone. Bucky snorted.
"I get that. And you know how it feels to be in Clint's shoes. It wasn't all that good a feeling, was it?" Bucky wondered. Steve grimaced. "Yeah, Clint's a big boy. Let him take care of himself."
"Jerk," Steve murmured. Bucky chuckled, reaching forward to hug his friend.
"Punk," the Sergeant whispered.
"So, Barton is going to be spending the night in the medic ward," Morita reported as soon as he entered the tent. "They just wanna watch him for complications with his concussion. Barton disagrees with their opinion so... Don't be surprised if we wake up and he's here."
"I'll go-" Steve started, moving to get up. Bucky placed a hand on his chest and gently pushed him down. Thankfully Steve took it and sat on his bed again.
"You'll leave him alone. Dugan and I can go convince him to stay," Bucky informed.
"Dugan will what?" Dugan asked, looking up from his spot. Bucky turned and gave the man a small glare. Dugan sighed. "Dugan will help check on Barton."
With a nod, Bucky and Dugan got up and headed out of the tent. When they got outside, Dugan looked to Bucky with a curious gaze. Bucky shook his head and headed over to the medical tent. They got to the tent just in time to see Clint trying to sneak out the back. Bucky groaned. Of course the idiot would try and run. But, where was he going to run too? Steve would have turned him back to medical if the archer headed to their tent. And while Clint technically could go out and risk hurting himself more by shooting, where would he stay for the night?
"Barton!" Bucky snapped, worried now that Clint was going to risk injury to go shoot. Clint froze before slowly turning back around with a faux smile. A hand shifted up to rub at the back of his neck. Dugan snorted.
"Hey, Buck," Clint tried to cheerfully call even as he took a step toward the back of the tent again. The medics looked up at the sight and just shook their heads. They were a bit sick of dealing with Clint. If the man wanted to leave and risk dying from complications, they... Well, they would care, but it wouldn't be their fault. Still, they had to do everything in their power to keep an injured man in the tent for healing.
"We're about to cuff him to the bed," one of them warned Bucky and Dugan with an unimpressed glare at Clint. Clint gave Bucky a gigantic smile when the man glared at him. The archer was not going to feel bad. He knew what he could handle. Now that the medics had checked him over, cleaned the wound, stitched it up, and bandaged it, Clint was good.
"You'll be wastin' your time," Dugan informed with a small smile. Clint chuckled, bringing a hand up to his neck. "Guy can likely pick the lock in two minutes."
"Ten seconds, actually. Hadn't done it in a while back there and the locks were different than what I'm used to," Clint replied. Everyone in the tent turned to look at him surprised. Clint shrugged. Again, no one really knew everything about him.
"No offense, but can we test that?" one of the injured troop men in the tent questioned. Clint glanced to him. "Hey, best entertainment I'd have in three days."
"Sure, want hands locked together or hands on either side of the bed?" Clint retorted.
"You have a concussion," a medic needlessly pointed out. Clint smirked.
"I've done it blind, with three fingers broken, and nearly mad out of my mind once before. I can do it with a concussion," Clint snapped. Bucky and Dugan raised an eyebrow at that but said nothing for a moment. Dude got injured far more often than either of them realized. It was amazing the archer was still alive. And that's without them knowing the whole Barton Experience.
"Bed, arms separate," Dugan finally demanded, curious. Clint chuckled before heading over to one of the cots. He laid down and waited. With a nod from Bucky a medic headed over with a set of four cuffs intent on doing hands and legs. Clint smirked. He stayed still as the guy locked him in place. The medic started with his hands and as he shifted to the archer's feet, the medic got one foot in but Clint was already sitting up and watching them. There was a gaggle of laughter as the medic stared on the last foot before he turned to see Clint staring at him.
"Hi there," Clint greeted, handing over the cuffs he had already removed and leaned further to undo his foot before the man could even process what just happened. Then Clint added the other cuffs to his hand and stood up. "Wanna go again?"
"Uh..." the medic replied, unsure exactly what had just happened. Clint smirked, knowing that the medic wasn't going to be able to help, and grabbed the four before heading over to Bucky. Might as well keep up with the show.
"Get them, all of them, on my wrists," Clint dared. Bucky rolled his eyes but complied as quickly as possible. Clint smirked and turned around twice, already free from all four. How he did it so fast, no one knew except Clint. Bucky hadn't tightened the cuffs enough, so dislocating his thumbs was the best way to escape. If the Sergeant had tightened them a bit more, Clint would have had to take at least four more spins to be free. And that was if he had some type of lock pick. Which he did.
"Holy crap man!" someone cried.
"The Amazing Barton, be here... Well, will be around," Clint introduced with a bow. Bucky chuckled as Clint stood back up. He hid his wince as best as possible considering the bow twinged his wound.
"You shouldn't have done that," a medic informed, coming over to check on Clint's bullet wound. Clint danced away. Yeah, it was stupid. But he could tell the wound was fine. Though, Natasha would have smacked the back of his head and called him a Идиот. Hell, Bucky and Steve might have done it too. (Idiot)
"I'm fine," the archer reported. Dugan grabbed the archer's arm, holding him still.
"For our sake, please let the man check," Dugan begged. Clint huffed but lifted his shirt to show that there wasn't even any blood on the cloth that covered the wound.
"See, fine," Clint retorted with a little bit of heat behind it. The medic nodded before looking to Bucky and Dugan.
"Make sure he rests and check him for loss of memory-"
"Nausea, vomiting, slurred speech and confusion," Clint properly listed. The medic paused at that. Clint shrugged. "Not my first rodeo."
"Not as reassuring as you think that is," Dugan mumbled.
The next morning everyone woke early except for Clint. At first no one thought anything of it but when it hit lunch time and Clint still hadn't woken, Bucky and Dugan knew something was wrong. They headed over and looked over the archer. Their nerves had the others sitting around as well. Morita kept checking the archer's stats as best he could. None of them wanted to bring him to the medical tent just in case they were blowing it out of proportion. Maybe Clint was just tired. Hell, they all were a bit tired. Steve met them there after a quick meeting to get permission to move on.
"We're gonna be leav... What's going on?" Steve wondered, pausing when he noticed everyone looking over Clint.
"He hasn't woken up yet," Bucky informed. Steve frowned.
"I think I'm gonna try and wake him now," Morita told them before leaning forward. Inches away from touching Clint, the archer jerked awake with a loud gasp. The group jumped in shock. "Jesus, Barton. You okay?"
Clint's attention snapped to see everyone staring at him. He felt like crap. Not anything he couldn't hide or anything but still one of those things that it was steadily getting worse. The gun shot to his gut had to be making things worse. "Hmm? What?"
"Dude, you okay?" Dugan asked. Clint nodded. "You missed breakfast. And lunch."
"Wait? Seriously? No wonder why I'm hungry," Clint joked, shifting to get off his cot but as he twisted, he winced. Morita pushed gently at him.
"What's going on?" the medic questioned. Clint shook him off.
"I'm fine," the archer insisted. Beside him, out of view, Bucky leaned forward and gently pressed at the wound from before. Clint yelped in surprise, jumping away before paling suddenly. There was half a second for people to connect what that meant before Clint curled over and dry heaved onto the ground.
"Jesus, fuck, Barton!" Morita cried, looking the archer over. Clint shook him off.
"I'm fine," the archer insisted. "It's nothing."
"Clint," Steve growled. Clint looked to him.
"I'm fine. Just a small stomach bug. Nothing to worry about, I promise. The... The bullet just aggravated it for a bit," Clint attempted. Bucky moved forward.
"Clint," he tried. Clint winced. "What is going on?"
Clint shook his head. He didn't want to talk about it. Bucky and Steve both leveled him with a glare. Clint huffed. "I haven't been feeling all that good for about a week."
"A week! Clint!" Steve nearly shouted. Clint sighed and looked to the ground.
"It's nothing. I promise. Not an issue. I'll be fine in a day or so," Clint insisted. Steve leveled him with a glare. Feeling it, Clint looked up at him. "I'll be fine."
"We are staying here until you aren't sick anymore," Steve hissed. Clint opened his mouth to protest but Steve raised a hand. "Be glad I don't drag your ass to the med tent to have them watch you while we go on."
Clint pouted but listened. For the most part.
How is everyone's quarantine going? Mine is going great! Just found out my cruise got canceled. At least I can get the money in full back. Not that we weren't going to cancel it in the first place, lol. Currently sitting here with noise canceling headphones cause I'm getting far too distracted by everyone being home. It's killing me.
Darius is doing good. Still loves everyone being home. Getting upset with me though cause I keep going to bed at like seven. But that's cause I get up at like six or seven in the morning while he won't get up till around noon. If he wants more time with me, he should wake up earlier, lol. He's also been on this extreme Ghostbusters kick. Apparently we have like fifty ghosts in the house. An hour. *sigh* At least he has been having fun.