Day 4 Prompt - Letter

Clint sat at Bucky's bedside, willing him to wake up. "Come on. You can do it. You've overcome so much other shit in your life. This is nothing. You're tougher than this and deserve so much more." Day after day, Clint was planted in the chair, refusing to let anyone take his place. He would only eat when people brought him food. It got to the point when the nurses came to give Bucky a sponge bath; they would bring extra items for Clint. Finally, Steve had had enough. One day, he picked up Clint, flung him over his shoulder, and carried him out of the room. "What the hell are you doing, Steve? What if he wakes up and I'm not there?"

Steve refused to answer him until they reached Clint's room. Steve tossed him onto his bed. "You're not doing him any good sitting and moping at his side, Barton. He'll tell you the same damn thing when he wakes up."

"You don't understand, Rogers," Clint spit back in a hateful tone.

"Then make me understand," Steve growled, hovering over his teammate, hands on his hips.

Clint shot up from the bed, towering over Steve. "It's my fault he's in the damn bed, to begin with! If Fury hadn't had me on desk duty or off training babies, I would've been there and not him!"

Steve's shoulders dropped, and he sat on the bed next to Clint. "Take it from me, Clint. You can't live in what-ifs. I've spent too much time wondering what would've happened if I hadn't taken the serum or if I would've been able to save Bucky. I finally realized I wouldn't be who I am now and wouldn't have met the people I've met if any of that had happened." Steve turned and clasped Clint's shoulder. "Live in the moment, focus on the here and now, on what you can control."

Clint knew all that. Hell, he'd probably given himself the same spiel in different versions too many times to count. Still, it had the desired effect. "I know," he sighed. "Doesn't make it any easier, though."

"No, it doesn't. Now change clothes and head to the gym. Take out your frustrations, then grab a shower before going back to your boyfriend's side. Captain's orders." Steve smiled.

"Sure thing, Cap. Let me do one thing first." Clint reached over to his nightstand, grabbed a piece of paper, and scribbled something on it. When he finished, he folded the note and handed it to his teammate. "Give this to him for me?"

"You got it." Steve left and returned to the medical wing. He walked into Bucky's room and noticed him stirring. "Bucky?"

Bucky's eyes fluttered open. "Hey." Bucky's voice was hoarse and scratchy from disuse.

"Welcome back."

"How long?"

Steve sighed. "Five days."

Bucky moved his head and looked around. "Clint?"

"Grabbing a shower. Hasn't left your side." Steve pulled the note out of his pocket. "Wanted me to give you this." Bucky took the piece of paper and, with shaking hands, unfolded it. He smiled when he saw the message. "Something you'd like to share with the class?"

Bucky shook his head and held onto the note until he was released later in the day. Clint was waiting for him as he got off the elevator. Bucky smiled and held up the paper, then signed with his left hand in ASL what Clint had scribbled down.

'I love you, too.'