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The world is dark to Hank. Sounds of shuffling and the beep of a heart-rate monitor are the loudest sounds. There is a muffled conversation that Hank can’t quite make out clearly.
“Hank?” A voice says. Hank hears this, but it doesn’t register with them right away. It takes a few moments for them to open their eyes, which they squint immediately due to the bright overhead light above. A blurry figure comes into view, casting a shadow over them.
“Hey, can you hear me?” Hank manages to groan quietly. The figure leans back a tiny bit, looking off into a different direction for a brief moment.
“Hey Doc, they’re awake.” Footsteps approach aside, and another figure leans over the side of the bed. As Hank’s vision becomes clearer, they can make out the faces of 2B and one of the Fellows that Doc works with.
“Okay good. You’re dismissed. I’ll call you if you need anything,” 2B says.
The Fellow nods and walks out. 2B still stares down at Hank.
“Morning sunshine, let’s get you up.” As 2B adjusts the bed into the upright position, Hank realizes that they are in the medical bay. No one else is there except the two of them. 2B stands straight, looking at them intensely.
“Don’t get up, I swear to God,” 2B warns. 2B walks away, leaving Hank to look themselves over. They are bandaged from head to toe. All the bandages are stained fully red with blood. They wince with every slight movement. Hank doesn’t notice 2B again until He thrusts a granola bar in front of them.
“Eat,” He commands. Hank looks up at him; He’s holding the granola bar in his hand. They lean forward slightly, taking bites until the granola is gone. 2B crosses his arms down at them, his expression unchanging. The two stare at each other before 2B pulls his chair to the bedside. He grabs a medical kit from under the bed.
“I need to re-bandage you, and you will cooperate. Understood?” 2B is not asking, but Hank nods without complaint anyways. After a moment, He begins to cut the bandages off and gets to work disinfecting and re-wrapping.
Eventually, Hank is wrapped in fresh bandages. 2B shuts the medical kit somewhat harshly. He grabs the discarded bandages and stands up. He throws them in a container before working on cleaning up everything else. His shoulders are tense and He walks with heavy steps. Hank stares at him, their face a look of curiousness and confusion.
“2B…” Hank calls, voice hoarse. 2B doesn’t respond, He doesn’t even acknowledge if He heard them.
“2B” They call again, a little louder this time. He quivers softly, but He continues.
Hank throws off the blanket and exits the bed. Immediately, they collapse to the ground with a thump. Their arms also give out as they try to get up. Tobi rushes down next to them, pulling them off the floor and back to bed.
“Dumbass, I fucking told you not to move!” 2B yells, his voice wavering as He does so. Hank looks at 2B’s face for a brief moment—his eyes are filled with tears. He quickly turns away but Hank grabs his wrist. This doesn’t stop him from attempting to pull away.
“Let me go, Hank.’”
“What’s wrong?”
“You don’t remember?” 2B asks, slightly irritated.
“Remember what?”
“Nothing.”
“Not nothing,” Hank insists.
“I’m…fine. It’s not important…” 2B‘s voice breaks and He starts trembling again.
“Doc—” He whips his head back toward them. Tears are rolling down his face.
“I said it’s nothing! Stop fucking asking me!” He rips his arm out of their grasp and takes a step back. “I’m FINE! I’m fine…Everything is perfectly fine…”
After a moment, Hank opens their eyes wide, whispering as they do so.
“What’re you doing?! You’re gonna tear something!”
“Hug?” Hank asks. 2B takes a second before accepting the embrace. He breaks after a moment, bawling into them.
Some time has passed. 2B is sitting in his chair next to the bed as he leans on Hank. One of his arms is wrapped around one of theirs. His frantic crying has devolved into small sniffling. There are a few seconds of silence between them.
“I’m sorry Hank…I didn’t mean to snap at you,” He says quietly.
“What’s wrong? Please?”
“You remember that supply raid you went on with San and Dei?” He asks hesitantly. Hank nods. “You remember the ambush?”
“Not much…”
“Honestly, I don’t know the full story…but from what they told me; the Agency had a ton of explosives that they deployed—“He breathes deeply—“You were in the heart of the blast radius.”
2B grabs their hand, gently thumbing over the knuckles.
“San and Dei are mostly unharmed—managed to take out every one of ‘em. They found you blacked out and bleeding under a bunch of rubble. If you weren’t brought back when you were…”
2B sits up, looking Hank in the eyes.
“We almost lost you again…I almost lost you again…”
“Sorry 2B—” 2B shrugs his shoulders—“Are you mad?”
2B stands out of his chair. He softly grabs Hank’s face and leans down to kiss them firmly. He meets their eyes.
“It’s not your fault, there’s no way you could’ve known,” 2B assures.
“You okay now?” Tobi smiles, it’s small but still noticeable.
“I’m just relieved you’re alive.” Hank pulls his in for another hug, nuzzling into his shoulder.
“I love you.”
“I love you too, you big lug.” 2B presses a kiss to their cheek before pulling back. He glances at the clock with reads 9:37 pm.
“You should probably get some rest. It’s getting late.” He adjusts the bed into a flatter position, giving Hank another kiss on the forehead. “I’ll leave you to it, I’m gonna get some work done.”
Hank once again grabs his arm.
“No work,” Hank states.
“Hank."
“You need sleep.” They tighten the hold they have; a pleading, puppy-eyed expression is on their face. 2B visibly falters and sighs.
“Fine. But only for a little while. And before you ask, no I’m not getting on the bed with you, I’m not gonna risk infecting your stitches.”
Hank’s eyes light up as 2B pushes one of the extra medical meds up next to them. He covers them with a thin sheet before He lays down too. He grabs their hand again, placing a small kiss there too.
“Goodnight Hank.” He throws a thin blanket over himself, closing his eyes not a moment later.
“Night 2B.” Hank follows suit, closing their eyes as well. The two still hold hands as they succumb to sleep.