Wrestling
Clint loved wrestling, especially with so many super soldiers in the house. He loved attacking people from behind and catching them off-guard.
So when the team were settled in the den and heard a shout from Clint and a grunt from Tony down the hall, they knew the genius must be the archer’s next victim.
They quieted the movie they were watching to listen and make bets on the winner. There was a lot of scuffle heard, but after a large ‘Ooooof’, they heard Clint shouting in happiness. “Damn it babe!” Steve shouted, handing Natasha a $20.
Just as they went to turn the movie back on, they heard Clint’s confused voice. “Tony? Tony?” Immediately, Steve experienced a hot flash as a horrible feeling came over him and he dove off the couch, running down the hall to Clint’s location.
He froze in the doorway of the room and watched Clint slide off of Tony, who was faced down on the floor. Tony didn’t move. “Tony?” Clint asked again. It was then he heard it- a choked gasp. And another.
Steve’s eyes widened and he dove over to Tony’s limp body. He quickly turned his boyfriend over like a limp rag doll. He almost fainted as Tony’s blue face and blood-shot eyes stared back at him.
“Tony?” Bruce said, from where he appeared next to Steve. Tony’s response was another weak gasp. “He can’t breathe.”
Steve’s mind was swirling as fear froze through his body like ice. Bruce ripped open Tony’s shirt to examine the arc reactor. “He was face down,” Steve supplied, his voice detached.
Bruce nodded and tried to catch Tony’s frantic eyes. “Look at me Tony, you need to take some deep breaths.” Tony responded with another gasp. He looked like a fish out of water and Steve could not tear his gaze from Tony’s almost still chest. Tony’s fingers reached up to scratch at the device in desperation and Steve held them back. “Come on Tony, you can do it, breathe in.” This time a tight wheeze lit up the air. “Sit him up,” Bruce said to Steve.
Steve nodded and moved towards Tony’s head. He lifted the man up and braced him against his chest. Tony wheezed again, and this time a small bit of air whistled through. “Good job, Tones, another one,” he encouraged. His heart was slowly relaxing from its tense state when he saw Tony’s face start to lose it’s blue tinge.
Tony took a few more breaths but they still seemed to be taken through a thin straw. “Tony, i’m going to have to take out the arc reactor for a second,” Bruce said.
Steve took Tony’s hands in his as they fidgeted in protest. “Calm down, breathe, baby,” he said. When Tony went limp again, he ran his fingers through his husband’s hair to distract him as Bruce examined the reactor. Tony had his eyes clenched shut as he continued to wheeze.
Tony grew tense as Bruce’s fingers touched the device. “I’m right here, Tones,” Steve said firmly. He could see the anguish in Tony’s eyes as flashbacks fought to drag him under.
Immediately as Bruce twisted the device out, Tony’s breaths started to get deeper as his lungs used the extra room to expand. His diaphragm unclenched and his breaths started to come easier. “That’s it, baby, you’re doing great,” Steve smiled.
Just then, Clint and Natasha arrived with a nebulizer. Clint put it around Tony’s face as Natasha turned it on and the loud machine’s stream of air filled the room. Small tears dripped down Tony’s face as he was reunited with air again.
It wasn’t long before Bruce had to replace the reactor into the genius’ chest. Tony coughed at the pain but his breaths remained steadier. His eyes drooped as the fear of dying drained out of him.
Steve pulled Tony closer to him and lifted the man up bridal style. Tony’s hands remained limp in his own lap and his head lolled on Steve’s chest. Clint ran ahead to get the couch set up and Bruce picked up the nebulizer, making sure the mask was still secure on Tony’s face.
Steve carried Tony to the living room, paying careful attention to his boyfriend’s steady breaths. When he lowered Tony onto the couch, Clint kneeled next to the genius, taking on of his hands. “I’m so sorry, Tony,” Clint said guiltily.
Tony pulled the mask to his chin. “It’s okay, birdbrain,” he rasped.
“Are we still friends?” Clint pouted.
“Best friends,” Tony smiled lopsidedly.
Steve waited until Clint was settled on the head of the couch before taking his spot in kneeling next to Tony. “How do you feel, baby?” He ran his fingers through Tony’s hair.
“M’ okay, just sore.” Tony ran a lazy hand over the arc. Even Steve could see it was red around the edges from where Tony’s bodyweight had pushed the machine in uncomfortably.
Bruce helped Tony swallow some pain pills while Natasha fluffed up his pillows. “Get some rest, baby. It’ll feel better in the morning,” Steve smiled.
Tony let out a snuffle and melted into the cushions.