He took a deep breath and entered the hospital wing of the air ship. He hated coming here even worse when he was a visitor. He could see Natasha through the glass door of her room. She was still asleep, thank god. He was so bad at hospital visits it was usually just better for everyone if he stayed away.
"I'm sorry." He said to Natasha though her eyes were closed. His hands were in his pockets fumbling with a thread that had come loose in the stitching. "I shouldn't have yelled at you. You saved my life." He turned around and headed for the door. He couldn't do it. He couldn't watch her like this. He would come back when they were releasing her.
"Apology not accepted." It came as barely a whisper but it still had bite.
"Natasha?" He turned around. Her eyes were open now and she was slowly trying to shift to a more comfortable position.
"I said apology not accepted." Her voice came a little stronger now. "You were a total dick. You need to bring me flowers at least."
"I'm sorry" He ran a hand through his hair.
"Stop saying that and help me sit up." She started trying to push herself up on her own. But before he reached her to help she let out a yelp of pain and fell back on the pillows.
"Maybe we should try that later." Clint commented as he watched her grasp the sheets until the pain subsided. Perhaps he should have offered his hand to squeeze.
"Stop patronizing me and help me sit up." Clint quietly obeyed. But once she was settled upright against the pillows he recognized agony washing over her face again. This time he offered his hand to hold. Instead she batted it away.
Natasha was used to being alone. She was used to grasping at the sheets until her knuckles turned white instead of holding someone's hand. It was a bit lonely perhaps but she certainly didn't accept pity. She had survived people fishing bullets out of her with out anesthetic and without a hand to hold.
The pain cut her breath and she closed her eyes hoping it would fade soon. She felt Clint's calloused hand force its way into her smaller one and hold on tight.
Natasha supposed that just this once it wouldn't kill her. She squeezed back.