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[redrooms]

"You've reached Natasha Romanov. Please leave a message."

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action, day 186, evening probably

[awwnoun]

[ He's been quiet all day, distant, with his hearing aids turned off. The night before was... a mess. He's not doing well and he feels like he's going to explode if he keeps going the way he is, and - well, Natasha's right here. She's always here. He doesn't know who else he trusts more to get his head on straight.

So wherever she is, Clint heads over to her and sits down next to her, curling up against her side and resting his head on her shoulder. His hearing aids are in, now. He doesn't say much, just leeches warmth and comfort. ]

[redrooms]

[It's a little unexpected, and Natasha glances up in surprise as she sets down her tablet.]

Hi.

[She winds her arm around him, leaning close.]

Are you alright?

[awwnoun]

Yeah. [ A beat, as he curls more fully into her side. It's probably silly, since he's like six feet and she's... decidedly not. He aches so bad - his jaw even worse, after Lutha punched him. ] ... No.

[redrooms]

[Natasha smoothes his hair down absently.]

Do you want to talk, or just sit?

[awwnoun]

Did you talk to John? [ Talk, apparently. ]

[redrooms]

Yes. I'm supposed to scold you, but I didn't think it would do you much good right now. Why?

[awwnoun]

[ He shrugs lightly. ] I just figured he'd tattle to you.

[redrooms]

He thinks you're refusing to take the painkillers as a way to punish yourself.

[Which Natasha absolutely believes, but she's leaving him an opening to confirm or deny it.]

[awwnoun]

It didn't - occur to me until he said it. [ Clint mumbles. ] Maybe that's part of it, but I really don't want this place to run out of painkillers when I can function fine without them.

He reminds me of Steve sometimes, it drives me crazy.

[redrooms]

[Natasha rolls her eyes.]

Function. You're in pain all the time. I can tell.

[She's not going to turn this into an argument, really, but it bothers her. She hates seeing him like this.]

[awwnoun]

Yeah, and? [ Alright, so he can't hide it from her, he'll admit it. ] It's no different than falling off a building onto a car. I can deal. Other people might not be equipped to handle pain like this.

But whatever, the two of you won, so.

[redrooms]

Clint, this isn't an injury. How long have you been hurting like this? And it isn't a competition, either. We're trying to help you, not hold you down and shove pills down your throat.

[awwnoun]

I don't know. A while. [ He pulls his arms in closer, like warmth is going to help them stop aching. ] You could just believe me when I say I'm fine enough.

[redrooms]

[She knows she's right, but she doesn't want another fight so soon after that mess a few days ago.]

I'm not going to force you to take them, Clint. I'm going to strongly advise it.

[awwnoun]

[ He mutters something, and then sighs. ]

I just - I hope this doesn't keep being a thing after we get out of here.

[redrooms]

I hope so too. How bad is it, really?

[Come on, Clint. Don't lie this time.]

[awwnoun]

[ Weh. ]

Constant. [ He admits. ] Like someone threw a boulder on top of me and I flattened out cartoon-style. It's really - present in my fingers and wrists. I have a headache a lot, too.

how dare you use that icon on me

[redrooms]

[Oh, Clint. Natasha runs her fingers through his hair again, mouth twisting.]

Take the pills. Even if it's only a half dose.

[She's been couching all this in terms of how stupid it is not to from a survival perspective let alone a superhero perspective, but the truth is, she hates seeing him like this.]

OuO

[awwnoun]

[ Clint shifts and leans into those fingers. That feels nice. ]

I can't. [ It just feels wrong. ]

[redrooms]

[Natasha lets out an annoyed sigh.]

Why not?

[awwnoun]

It just doesn't feel like the right thing to do.

[redrooms]

If our situations were reversed, would you tell me to take them?

[awwnoun]

[ Stubbornly: ] Not if you told me it wasn't bad enough to warrant taking pain pills, Natasha, don't start.

I didn't -- [ He sighs and pulls away from her, trying not to wince as he attempts to drag himself to his feet. ] I didn't come over here to get scolded, jesus.

[redrooms]

[Sometimes she just can't help herself, but she regrets it as soon as he pulls away, and she makes a gentle grab for his hand.]

I'm sorry, Clint. I'll stop.

[It's a rare apology, but she's sick of fighting with him.]

[awwnoun]

[ She actually apologizes, which is why he stops and looks at her for a long second before letting out a little sigh and settling back down. He's tired of fighting with her too.

Another long pause, and then he turns to press his face against her neck and wrap his arms around her. It hurts, yeah, but he needs the physical comfort more. ]

... Al died, last night.