I Love You Prompts - part 1
“Please,” Clint’s words form sloppily around gasping, wet breaths that reach into Pietro’s chest and squeeze his heart. He doesn’t need a doctor to tell him what those gurgling, wet sounds mean. It’s nothing good and Pietro needs to get help here now - hell, he needs to get help here five minutes ago - but Clint is clutching weakly on to the skimpy material of Pietro’s uniform and begging him not to leave.
“Please, Pietro, I don’t wanna die alone.”
Pietro blinks back the tears from his eyes and lashes out with the hand that isn’t currently cradling the back of Clint’s head, his fist crashing into the trunk of the oak tree that he’s laid Clint against, the pain of broken skin and chipped bone a distant echo compared to the pain of watching Clint bleed out internally without being able to do a damn thing about it.
He can’t carry Clint, not like this. The strain that the speed would put his already broken body under would kill him faster than his injuries could. No. His only choice is to leave Clint, to get help, to come back, to pray that he gets help in time.
He’s not sure he’s fast enough.
Clint would get such a kick out of that, he thinks; him, finally admitting that he’s not infallible, finally admitting some self-doubt. The old man had always thought he was too cocky.
God, he wishes he could muster some of that surety now.
As blood bubbles up around Clint’s lips, Pietro muffles a sob. He has to try. He couldn’t live with the guilt if he didn’t. Never mind, that he’s not sure he can live with the guilt if he fails.
Clint can see it in his eyes, the decision to leave, and he tries one last time, using what little strength remains to grip Pietro tighter, to make him stay.
“No, don’t, please.”
Pietro pulls free and with one last, one first, kiss to Clint’s damp, sweat soaked forehead, he turns to leave.
“I love you, please, stay.”
Pietro lets the tears fall. Love is exactly the reason that he needs to go.
He’d like to believe love is the reason that he’ll make it back in time.
He’s not that naïve.
He wishes he was.
“I love you too.” A whisper.
Pietro runs.