148 "why do you only kiss me when I'm sleeping?" (thank you for all the lovely Phlint posts tonight!)
The room wasnât quiet enough, Phil thought, watching as Clint stirred restlessly, his eyes moving behind closed lids. Too many damn machines beeping and whooshing and whirring and humming. Nurses in the hallway, conversations seeping through the door, orders and doses and gossip and greetings. The PA system, supposedly muted, with clear clarion calls for people to report and call in and depart. Clintâs rough breathing, the rattle in his chest, occasional cough, and long sighs.Â
Then there was the light level. Red LEDs blaring out readings, EKG blips and lines, nurse call buttons. Cracks that let in the artifical brightness from the hallway, casting shadows towards Clintâs bed, slivers of white that cut across the room, one right over Clintâs eyes. Philâs own tablet and cell phone, turned down to the lowest possible setting, rectangular windows to the world outside medbay.Â
Clint tried to move his arm, rattling the I.V. line and the metal pole the bag of fluids was attached to. A fit of coughing, liquid and deep, ripped from Clintâs throat, leaving him gasping. Beads of sweat trickled down the side of his face, running from his soaked hair along the curve of his jaw and down to the pillowcase. Hands clenched as Clint murmured, still fighting the battle theyâd almost lost. He called Natashaâs name, warning her then his legs jerked as he cursed under his breath.Â
âItâs all right,â Phil told him, standing and taking the cloth from the ice bucket by the bed. âSheâs safe. Weâre all safe. Youâre in medical.âÂ
He wiped Clintâs brow and cheeks, cooled his neck and soothed the heated skin of Clintâs chest. The anger had subsided, his frustration with Clint long gone in the face of a burning fever. Phil had long ago come to terms with Clintâs lack of self-preservation; heâd stay in his post and keep going even with pneumonia wasnât a surprise. Even after all this time together, Clint still had his secrets.Â
A shudder ran through Clint then a deep exhale as Phil pushed the medicine pump, a little more pain relief flowing into Clintâs body. Brushing the locks of hair that clung to Clintâs face, Phil leaned over and kissed Clintâs forehead, barely a touch, the only display heâd allow himself.Â
âPhil.â Distinct and clear, Clint spoke. ââWhy do you only kiss me when Iâm sleeping?âÂ
 Blue-grey eyes, glazed with fever, stared at him through a small slit of lids.Â
ââYouâre sick, Clint. Go back to sleep. Iâll be here,â Phil said.Â
âWant you to kiss me when Iâm awake,â Clint mumbled, eyes already closing again. âWant you.âÂ
Phil picked up his tablet, sat back down in the uncomfortable chair, but never turned the device on. Instead, he watched the rise and fall of Clintâs chest and thought about daylight and laughter and good food and Clint Barton in his arms.Â