Work Text:
9:15pm, April 19th
The building was already engulfed in flames by the time your ladder truck finally rolled around. Ambulances were amuck in the street, bussing out civilians half as quick as they flooded in.
"Y/N!"
You whip around to your Lieutenant, Hobbs, as you pull your respiratory kit over your shoulders.
"EMS is way overrun, you're reassigned. Take the medical kit, Calvin's meeting you on the East side of the building," Hobbs says quickly, rounding behind you to pull the tank off of your back.
"You got it, Hobbs. I'll radio when I'm over," you reply, taking the medical bag off of the truck and hauling it over your shoulder. Glancing to the building, you decide to leave your bunker gear and helmet on. Glass was blowing out across the facade, and if the acrid smell was anything to go by, there might be some debris to dodge.
Side-stepping a few EMS as they evacuate patients, you start rounding the building. Even through your gear, you can feel the heat radiating off of the brick and mortar of the building. The nearer firehouse had been battling this one for damn near an hour before calling in your crew for backup.
"Calvin! Incoming!" you shout as you round the building into the next street. A makeshift medical tent had been established outside of the collapse zone, and the street was closed off by police at both ends of the block. It was one of the only times you were thankful for them on scene.
An explosion crashes out above you from inside the top floors of the structure. Reflexively, you duck, ears ringing slightly as you recover. You squint against the light of the fire, looking desperately for its source.
Through the smoke billowing out of the foyer door, you see a pair of silhouettes, one supporting the other. Ignoring Calvin calling out for you, you dart forward through the doors. The heat of the room hits you first, and then the distinct realisation that you're not wearing your respirator.
You see them, just barely, and you reach out to take the weight of the casualty. Taking them in a fireman carry, you take the arm of the other, heaving the pair out of the door. Clean air has never smelled so good.
"Go! Keep going forward," you say hastily to the walking one. "Calvin! I got two casualties, prep medical! Smoke inhalation, among other things!"
Calvin's already on his way over, taking who you now see is a woman out of your arms, putting her on a medical bed and placing a mask over her face. You sweep your surrounds quickly, taking in the scene more fully this time. You spot your other casualty, resting her hands on her knees to catch her breath. She was in an odd purple costume, with a quiver and bow slung across her back.
"Ma'am, I need you to keep walking forward to the medical tent," you say, approaching her.
"What? No! No, no, I'm fine, I swear!" She's rather insistent, coughing a few times. On her shoulder was a scorched part of her uniform. Rather than argue, you take her forearm, leading her away from the debris zone.
"What's your name?" you ask, unzipping your medical bag to pull out antiseptic, gauze, and a few other tools. The woman watches you carefully, almost lost in her inner monologue for a moment.
"Ka- I mean- Hawkeye! I'm Hawkeye!" she rushes out, interrupting herself. You huff a laugh, reaching out to inspect her shoulder.
"I thought Hawkeye was a dude." You'd seen him recently with a sidekick, but you were doubtful they would both choose the same name.
"Yea, well he is... But I'm the other one," she mumbles, wincing slightly as the antiseptic makes contact with her burn.
"You're lucky this isn't a bad burn. Shouldn't have gone into that building, hero or not," you say, laying the gauze on top and using a bandage to affix it more firmly to the site. "I'm gonna check your throat real quick with this light. You cool with that?"
She nods, opening her mouth. You click the medical light on, taking your helmet off to get closer without smacking her in the head. God knows you've done that too many times. Thankfully, it didn't look raw.
"Looks like you're all clear, you're a lucky one, Hawkeye," you say, placing your equipment back into your bag and zipping it up. You glance over to her, noticing how she looks at you; with a strange sort of transfixion.
"I, uh-" she starts.
Calvin calls out your name from the street, where fresh casualties were being evacuated from the building. You swear under your breath.
"Sorry- I'm gonna need to go..." You trail off, as in the small amount of time you looked away, your mysterious Hawkeye was gone. In her place was a small note.
Call me
(phone number)
- Hawkeye
You tuck the note into your jacket pocket, before running over to where Calvin was ushering away civilians.
12pm, April 30th
The cafe you were currently situated in was a rather lovely hole-in-the-wall place, about a stone's throw away from Central Park. You were waiting on your date; your second date, actually, with a lovely girl named Kate Bishop. The very same girl you had helped out during a structure fire on the 19th.
The bell to the cafe chimed, and you looked up from your table. You smile as you catch Kate's eye, beckoning her over.
"It's so good to see you again!"