chapter 4
Dean woke up to the steady beeping of a heart monitor and started to panic. If he was in a hospital that would mean someone’s probably suspicious and they would move again. He heard the steady beep become faster and faster. He shot up and jumped off of the bed, ignoring the way pain flared in his chest.
“Woah, woah, calm down Dean, you’re alright,” Captain America said steadily.
“How the hell do you know my name? Where am I?” Dean asked, anger already lacing his words.
“Look, its ok kid, we know your name because we checked your ID and you’re at Avengers Tower because you collapsed and needed surgery,” Tony calmly explained.
Dean calmed slightly and he didn’t know why, he should be freaking the fuck out but something about Cap and Ironman made him feel better. He immediately hardened his face and went back to feeling angry.
“Well then, I can leave,” Dean said stubbornly and made a move to leave when he realised, he was shirtless. His anger faded away and panic replaced it.
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Steve saw Dean’s face move down to his bare torso and panic flicker on his features. He also saw that it was gone as fast as it came, and a wall was built around him.
“Where’s my shirt?” Dean asked, a little gentler than before, but not showing any emotion.
“We had to cut it off so we could save you,” Bruce added to the conversation.
“What about my jacket? Where is it?” Dean asked, more and more panic seeping through his words no matter how hard he tried to keep it down.
“It’s just behind you,” Natasha said. Dean turned around and the team now saw his exposed back and noticed it was even more scarred than his front. They all stared but kept quite as to not alert Dean they could see.
Dean picked up his jacket and put it on, zipping it up hastily. He turned back around and said once more, “Right, so I’ll leave now.”
“Wait, you just had surgery, you shouldn’t be out of bed let alone moving around,” Steve said quickly.
“I’m fine, I’ve had worse,” Dean said without thinking and immediately hardened his face further.
“Clearly,” Tony whispered to himself, but Dean heard and glared at him. Tony felt an embarrassed flush creep up his cheeks. Dean made a move to leave but Clint put his arm out in front of him, making Dean flinch back, causing Clint to recoil his arm quickly.
“Wait a second, you need to tell us how the hell you took down twenty aliens by yourself,” Clint said after he pulled his arm away.
“I don’t need to tell you a damn thing,” Dean retorted, his angry glare once again appearing on his face.
“Look, you’re 16 years old, you can handle a gun perfectly and you weren’t scared when most people were running away screaming,” Natasha told him. Dean just continued to glare. “You should tell us what’s how and why,” she continued.
Dean was about to retort when he suddenly remembered he was probably late to pick up Sammy. “Shit!” He exclaimed, causing the team to jump a little in surprise.
“Listen lady, I don’t even know you. I don’t owe you or anyone else an explanation,” He said with a glower.
“Well, I’m Natasha, that’s Steve, Tony, Clint, Bruce, Thor and Bucky,” she replied while each of them waved when their name was called. Dean would have laughed if he weren’t so worried about Sam.
“That doesn’t change a thing,” he replied somewhat calmly, trying to hide his worry. He made a move to leave but Clint put his hand out again, this time resting his hand on Dean’s chest.
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Before Clint knew what was happening, he was twisted over Dean’s back and splayed out on the floor. ‘What the hell?’ he thought.
The team rushed to him and didn’t see Dean make his exit out of the room.
When they looked up after helping Clint back up, they noticed he was gone.
“Well shit,” murmured Bucky.
“The boy is a great fighter,” Thor said in his usual happy tone, which felt out of place in the sombre atmosphere of the room.
Tony and Steve just continued to stare at the door Dean must’ve left through. They both felt a sudden urge to protect Dean and keep him safe, but they didn’t know what hardships Dean was facing. ‘And they would probably never see him again’, they both thought.