asthehawkflies | [#000] Appointments

Her tone makes something ache inside him and he's just... he can't let this whole mess come between them. He doesn't know what he'll do without her at his back. He hadn't been lying when he'd told Adele and Barnes that he couldn't lose her. It would probably kill him. He didn't think he could go back to being alone.

"Well, you knew that too." He closes his eyes at the touch but doesn't pull away. He doesn't think he could bear to see that hurt there. He turns around slowly when she asks, because he owes her that much and so much more than he can ever repay. "Hey."

There's still a careful watchfulness in her eyes when he turns around, her gaze searching his face, trying to read him, what he was thinking and feeling. Looking for something familiar or just... anything. His response draws a small, fond smile to her lips as she lets her hand drop back to her side.

"Hey yourself," she replies softly, her gaze intent on his face, holding his. Taking in everything about him. "Welcome back."

It's good to see her and he's so relieved that she doesn't seem to hate him or be angry because he doesn't think that he could bear it. No, he knows that he couldn't. Her smile is just... he doesn't think he's been so glad to see anything in his life and he matches it with a tired one of his own.

"Thanks. I'm... I'm glad to be home." And he doesn't mean the apartment or Luceti. Wouldn't have meant SHIELD of the helicarrier or HQ. He just meant her.

Her gaze softens at the sight of his smile, tired but familiar, and there is something that lights up in her green eyes, something that's been missing for days. Maybe it hasn't all been lost after all, although she's still a little afraid to hope, too worried that this too might be too good to be true. But she tries, because it's him, and he's just as much home for her. The only one she has left.

"I am too." She's not quite sure what else to say, what she can say, and there's part of her that's still terrified to say too much, say the wrong thing, have to watch him go again, and she's not sure she can bear it. She tries to keep her voice light, tries to hide that fear, because she can't predict how he'll take that. So she gives him a faint smile and lets her gaze drop to his bandages.

"Even if you're coming back in worse shape than you left."

Physically, anyway. As for the other... she couldn't even begin to guess.

His smile widens a little at that admission and he wants to hug her, wants to touch her so much, but he can't quite make himself take that last step towards her. He still feels raw and drained. But he smiles at her.

He manages a laugh when she says that, and it's not quite as bright as it might normally be, but it's warm and it's real. "Yeah well, you should be used to that by now. When don't I come back a mess?"

"When I'm there to keep you out of trouble." That answer is simple, and given with playful chiding, feeling almost as easy as it normally comes for them. She was trying. "Although sometimes you manage it even then."

Natasha reaches out then, only the slightest hint of hesitation before her fingers brush against his arm. "You might as well sit down. You're not supposed to be up and doing anything strenuous yet, are you?"

Usually she'd be checking his injuries for herself right about now, but she wasn't sure he'd welcome that yet.

"Oh well, but that's different." His smile becomes a bit stronger at that, and he relaxes a little as they settle back into something that's almost normal. Not quite, but better than the strained silence that had grown between them. "I know I've got you to pull me back up then."

He stays very still when she touches him, hardly daring to breathe. "It's not... it's hardly strenuous. Lying back and doing nothing was driving me crazy."

"You always have me to pull you back up," she countered, her gaze flicking to his face when he went very still beneath her touch. She couldn't read him like that, wasn't sure what that reaction meant, and there's a flare of uncertainty in her gaze as she starts to pull her hand back, thinking maybe that was pushing too far.

"I could hear you in the living room, you know. It was strenuous enough that it hurt. If you want, I'll keep you company?" she offers, searching his face.

He met her eyes for a moment before looking away, but the smile didn't go away. "Yeah, I- I know." He did now at least, because there'd been doubt there after what had happened, after how he'd left. "I'll do the same, if you'll let me." And he wanted to be the person who had her back more than anything else.

"Oh... guess I was louder than I thought. I knew Coulson was out." And when she asked, he nodded. "Yeah, I'd like that."

She tucks her hands in her pockets, rocking back on her heels for a moment. "'Letting you' isn't something that normally factors into this," she counters, a hint of wry humor in her tone as she takes a step back.

"Off your feet then, before I go hunting for Coulson's handcuffs. Should I fetch a deck of cards? A book? A movie?"

"You know you could kick my ass if you didn't want me to, and I'd still probably do it anyway." Until she told him to his face that she didn't want him around, she was kind of stuck with him. He was glad that hadn't changed. So very glad.

"Alright, alright. I know when I'm outclassed." He grinned and went to sit down on the bed, moving gingerly and giving a soft hiss of pain. "Cards would be good."

"That'd be a waste of a good ass kicking," she scoffed quietly, hovering nearby when he sank down, not missing that soft hiss of pain. She winced in sympathy, because she knew that discomfort all too well and she was sorry for it. More than a little guilty for it.

There was more she wanted to say, apologies she wanted to make, questions she wanted to ask. But she bit them all back for now. They had time and he was hurting and she was content with the fact that he was here and she was with him. For now, that was enough.

"I'll go get those cards," she added softly after a moment of thoughtful consideration, her gaze intent on his face. She gave him one more tiny smile before turning and slipping from the room.

"And we can't have that, can we?" he said, rubbing his chest lightly, as though that would make it feel any better. Should have had her watching his back.

"Thanks, Tasha," he said with a small smile. "I- It's good to see you. Really good."

She paused in the doorway and glanced back over her shoulder at him, her gaze softening as it lingered on his face.

"I know," she answered simply, after a moment's hesitation on how to reply. There was more she could say, but she chose not to. It was enough to see him smile like that again.

"You too. Sit tight. I'll be right back." She gave him a wink and slipped from the room.

Edited 2013-03-22 23:52 (UTC)

[#000] Appointments

Re: Action | March 7th

Re: Action | March 7th

Re: Action | March 7th

Re: Action | March 7th

Re: Action | March 7th

Re: Action | March 7th

Re: Action | March 7th

Re: Action | March 7th

Re: Action | March 7th

Re: Action | March 7th

Re: Action | March 7th

Re: Action | March 7th

Re: Action | March 7th

Re: Action | March 7th