Soulmates

“We should get you checked out by a doctor,” Clint murmured, her hand still tucked inside his as they walked through the lobby of the tower.

“Honestly, I just want to take a shower. Wash away all the….” Her voice trailed off as she shuddered with a faraway look in her eyes, as if she was seeing something they all couldn’t see.

Death, he finished for her in his mind and he shuddered too.

“I’d rather do a scan first,” Strange spoke up in a quiet voice.

Natasha groaned. “I’m fine,” she insisted. “You guys healed me.”

Rhodey shook his head. “You still took a traumatic fall and suffered a traumatic head injury.” He pointed to Strange. “This guy’s a head doctor.”

She looked up at Clint and nodded silently, realizing that she wasn’t going to win this one.

“We can head up to Stark’s lab, on the ninth floor,” Bruce directed.

Clint followed Banner and Strange into the elevator, placing what he hoped was a comforting hand at the small of her back.

He smiled slightly at the look of awe on Strange’s face when he instructed F.R.I.D.A.Y. to power up the x-ray scanner and the room literally came to life around him.

Natasha hopped up on the empty table, her face solemn as a flicker of sadness washed over her features.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Stephen said. “But the health stone that repaired your injuries and allowed us to bring you back was created in this very room. Much of our future is indebted to Stark’s legacy, and I doubt he’d have it any other way.”

Bruce leaned against the doorway. “Where’s the health stone now?”

“Disintegrated,” Strange answered without looking up from his patient. “It was designed for a single use and it has served its purpose. And it’s much better that way.”

Clint nodded idly as they turned away to give them some privacy.

“How are you holding up?” Bruce asked.

Clint shrugged. “Better now that it worked.” He frowned. “What about you? I figured you’d be heading out by now.”

Bruce shook his head. “Nah, Thor and I decided it would be best to stay here tonight. Get whatever’s left of us in one place, for her sake. Besides, I wanted to chat with her before I turn in.”

His eyebrows furrowed together in alarm. “You planning on trying to get back with her?”

Bruce chuckled. “As if I’d have a chance now that you’re back around. And single.”

Clint was quiet as he crossed his arms over his chest, his face face flushing slightly as his eyes flickered inside the room.

Bruce studied him intently. “Can I ask you a question? Friend to friend?” He asked gently after a few awkward moments of tense silence.

Clint shrugged, not taking his eyes off of her.

“This…. thing, with you and Natasha. …” He gestured awkwardly with his hand. “Why’d you marry Laura in the first place?”

He sighed, finally meeting the other man’s gaze. “Laura was pregnant when I brought her in. And Natasha…. she was barely nineteen. I was just trying to do the right thing. Guess I don’t really know what that is.”

Bruce whistled slowly, a strange smile spreading across his features. “Love is for children,” he murmured.

Clint pressed a hand to his temple, annoyed with himself for his revelation and equally annoyed that Bruce knew that phrase.

“Look, Barton,” Bruce said. “We just brought someone back from the dead. And in our line of work… who’s to say what’s wrong or right? Sometimes you just gotta do what you do and hope for the best. Right?”

He was grateful when Natasha made her way over to them, slipping her hand back into his. He squeezed it hard, raising it to his lips, his gaze trained squarely on hers as he pressed a soft kiss to her hand before breaking contact. “I’m going to catch up with you in a second, okay? Bruce wants to talk to you.”

He stepped all the way in to the lab, not at all surprised that Strange was waiting for him. “Physically, she fine,” the other man said without needing to be prompted. “The stone we created has done its job and she does not appear to be in any danger.”

“But?”

“But she was dead, and we brought her back. It is impossible to predict any sort of effect.”