Painkillers
“(Y/N), wake up, it’s time to go,” a voice whispered in your ear.
You opened one eye to find a smirking red head by your side with a handful of clean clothes. It was then you realised that you had been wearing a hospital gown and groaned, you probably looked so weird in it. You opened both of your eyes and sat up as a nurse came into the room with a smile so bright and happy that it could blind someone.
“Hey hun, how are you feeling today?” he said, fiddling with your drip and unhooking you from the machines.
“Bit of headache, any chance of some painkillers to go?” you asked hopefully, still barely awake but feeling the burn of your injuries.
“No problem, I’ll just leave you and your friend to get you ready and meet you in the lobby with them okay?” The nurse winked playfully and left the room. Natasha helped you get up and into a pair of shorts and a t shirt, taking care not to brush too hard against your leg. Once you were ready, she wheeled the forbidden chair out from the corner and you cursed under your breath.
“I can walk fine, Nat,” you glare at the damn chair, hopping up onto your feet, only to have your knee buckle and crumple to floor before Nat caught you.
“You and your pride. Just get in the damn chair,” she growled with a smirk. You sighed as she heaved you up and placed you in the chair. As she wheeled you out of the room, you passed the bitchy doctor from yesterday and called out to her. She turned around and you could almost see the distain in her face.
“Oh yes, Miss (Y/L/N), you’re checking out now?” she said, a little too cheerily.
“Uh yes, I was just wondering, did you find out when Bruce Banner could leave yet?” you said hesitantly.
“He’s being transferred, a Mr Tony Stark just went to pick him up a few minutes ago,” she replied, stalking off down the hallway again.
“The Tower has an infirmary, probably more high tech than this place” Natasha explained as she pushed you towards the reception desk. The friendly nurse sat behind the counter and grinned, holding out some papers for you and Nat to sign. Just as he was about to hand you the papers, Tony came racing around the corner with a panicked Bruce in a wheelchair. He skidded to a stop beside you and smirked smugly at his driving skills.
“Hey, we’re wheelchair buddies!” you exclaimed delightedly. “Let’s have a race!”
“Somehow I don’t think that will work out,” Bruce laughed, raising his injured hand.
“Who’s this hun, your boyfriend?” the nurse asked with a mischievous wink. You blushed and looked at Bruce, who had turned as red as you. The nurse giggled (actually giggled!) and handed a bottle of painkillers to Nat. You reached out and interlocked your fingers with Bruce’s on his good hand as both Tony and Nat turned the wheelchairs around and pushed you out of the hospital.
“Um Tony, didn’t your Tower get destroyed during the… incident?” you asked cautiously.
“I’ve got a renovation team on speed dial, they already started working on it as soon as you, Bruce, and Clint got out,” he said matter-of-factly. You shrugged and leaned into your wheelchair. You would never admit it, but it was nice having someone drive you around, even if it did make you feel just a little bit pathetic. You must have had a strange expression on your face because you felt a squeeze on your hand and looked at Bruce, who was staring at you, his face full of concern.
“Are you alright?” he asked, worry filling his voice. You smiled sleepily and stuck out your tongue.
“It’s a bit early, isn’t it,” you said vaguely. Did they have you on painkillers while you were asleep or something? Bruce just laughed and nodded. You were wheeled towards Natasha’s black Chevrolet and broke away from Bruce and Tony as they made their way to Tony’s car. You heaved yourself out of the chair and balanced on one foot, using the car to keep you steady until Nat unlocked it. She waited until you had gotten in safely before folding your wheelchair, throwing it in the back, and jumping into the driver’s seat. The engine drummed to life as she turned the keys.
“How are you doing?” she asked as you pulled out of the car park.
“Fine, all things considering,” you replied nonchalantly, gazing out the passenger side window.
“Fine? You were bombed by HYRDA and you’re fine?” she stated with disbelief.
“I said all things considering, didn’t I?” you joked. “Nat, honestly, I came out with a banged up ankle and a few scrapes, I’ve had worse.” She pursed her lips and nodded slowly. She was quiet the rest of the journey back to the Tower and helped you out of the car. She went to pull out the wheelchair before you grabbed her arm and looked at her desperately. She rolled her eyes and wrapped an arm around your waist, standing on your right side. You gave a small smile but grimaced whenever your foot touched the ground.
Natasha helped you hobble all the way through security and into the elevator.
“So, we’re going to your floor?” she said, her voice slightly higher than normal, making you give her an ‘are you serious’ look.
“You know damn well we’re going to the infirmary, now pass me those painkillers,” you commanded. The short walk from the car park to the elevator was surprising draining. Bruce was probably already in the infirmary, seeing as Tony doesn’t like to abide by speed limits. The elevator ascended smoothly when Natasha touched some buttons and you leaned against the railing, taking a moment to catch your breath. Nat handed you the bottle and you flipped off the lid, struggling momentarily with the safety lock, and dry swallowed some of the painkillers. The lift slowed to a halt and the doors opened with a *ding*.
Natasha latched onto you again and you leaned into her grip as you hopped into a room that seemed (impossibly) even whiter than your hospital room. There were several beds lined up against one wall, all complete with bedside lockers, chairs and curtains. Only one bed was occupied as Bruce sat awkwardly on one at the very end. Tony was talking animatedly to a young nurse in her early twenties. She started to twirl a strand of blonde hair between her fingers and you rolled your eyes.
“AHEM,” Natasha said loudly, making Tony jump and put a hand over his heart.
“Just put me over there so I don’t have to talk to him,” you whispered to Natasha, indicating towards Bruce. She nodded and you walked towards him with her. She set you down on the bed beside him and smirked slightly when he took your hand in his. You grinned and rested your head on his shoulder.
“I’m so sleepy, Bruce. What’s with that?” you asked, sighing.
“(Y/N)… did you have any painkillers?” he asked suspiciously. You nodded against his shoulder and he laughed lightly. He let go of your hand and wrapped his arm around your waist, hugging you against him. You glanced over your shoulder to see Natasha pulling Tony’s ear and dragging him out of the room, with the nurse’s glare boring into her back. You giggled and cuddled back up to Bruce.
“Can we sleep?” you asked, yawning.
“Thought you’d never ask,” Bruce said, shifting so that you could both lie down in the bed, wrapped in each other’s arms. You lay your head on his chest and hummed softly as the familiar thump of his heart was beating softly beneath his shirt and skin. Your eyelids began to flutter and close and soon you fell asleep as he kissed the top of your head softly.