Chapter Text
As the helicarrier took off, Steve lowered himself into a chair, holding back a groan of pain. Luckily for him, no one noticed - however for the others, this was unlucky.
Steve knew he needed medical attention but he needed to know that his team was okay before he even thought about himself. He tried to assess the damage, knowing he would heal - super serum and all that - but his vision was getting darker by the minute. He knew he had at least three broken ribs, many pretty deep cuts and a concussion. He also knew he was going to pass out within the next 10 seconds.
He could feel people’s eyes on him even through the haze, and he heard a muffled voice say something along the lines of, “What’s wrong?”
All he could reply with was a slurred “I’m fine,” before he blinked but didn’t open his eyes.
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Tony knew something was up with Steve. He always seemed to know, as if some kind of sixth sense. He knew if he was happy, sad, angry, disappointed, and everything in between. He knew that his real smile made his eyes light up and dimples appear, whereas his PR smile was almost the same the the human eye, but it was the small differences that make him different to Captain America. Because he was so much more than a superhero, he was kind and thoughtful and an amazing person (and so what if he was biased, that was his boyfriend - his whole world).
But he couldn’t figure out what was wrong. Maybe it didn’t work for physical injuries. Because as he walked over and sat down next to him, and asked if he was okay. But there was no response.
Tony knew he heard, he had super hearing for crying out loud. So if he could hear him, what was the issue?
He turned his head to look at him and he knew something was wrong when his head was hung low and his eyes were almost closed.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, not quite keeping the panic out of his voice. At least that got the whole team’s attention, as they all came rushing over immediately at the sight.
They were all quiet that even people without enhanced hearing could hear a pin drop. “I’m fine,” said Steve’s slurred voice, barely above a whisper as blood dripped down his chin, before his eyes closed and he slumped onto Tony’s shoulder.
That’s when everyone seemed to snap out of their trance simultaneously, racing into action. Tony held Steve’s hand while moving him to lay down.
Natasha was driving the ship, saying the AI wasn’t going fast enough. Sam was getting medical help at the landing site, while also trying to calm down Bucky, who had no clue what to do and had no training in anything medical related. Everyone was doing their part.
“JARVIS, can you do a medical scan?” asked Tony.
“Of course, Boss,” the AI replied, “the medical scan shows three broken ribs, 16 deep cuts and 30+ smaller ones, severe blood loss, concussion and sprained right ankle and left wrist.”
Everyone fell silent for a minute before JARVIS said, “his heart rate and breathing is slowing, if Captain Rogers doesn’t get medical attention within 3 minutes he could fall into a coma, and any longer-“
“Okay, thank you, JARVIS,” Clint cut off.
“Message from Natasha, ‘We will arrive in the tower in roughly 4 minutes’,”said JARVIS. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife.
After a few minutes of rushing around, they had at least stopped the blood loss from getting worse, but it wasn’t enough.
“Breathing has stopped,” informed JARVIS.
Tony tried, so hard, to give him CPR but his hands were shaking so hard and his breath was short.
By some miracle, they had landed and the medical immediately sprang into action. Tony tried to follow after but ther team stopped him. They understood that he wanted to stay with him, they all did too, but they knew they would only get in the way. They had to let the professionals do their job, do what they do best.
But that meant they were all in the lobby of the medical floor of Stark Towers, waiting in anticipation, left in their own thoughts.
Tony was hurt. He blamed this on himself, against the rational part of himself, he knew he couldn’t do anything, but he felt like he should’ve just known. He thought his boyfriend would tell him if he was injured. But he didn’t. Maybe that’s what made it hurt more. But could this hurt more? He felt like he was crumbling, spiralling, anything that made him feel anything but human but so human all at once. It was too much, too many thoughts. He needed Steve, he needed someone, someone to tell him it would all be okay.
As soon as the Doctor came out, with a grave expression, he was pulled out his thoughts. They all let out a gasp. The doctor must’ve realised this and immediately said, “he’s alive.”
Tony let out a breath he didn’t even know he was holding, but was still anxious. He knew there was going to be a but. And as if on cue, she said, “but he is in a coma. We still don’t know if he will make it. It’s a miracle he is alive, fast healing and all that. We don’t know what will happen as we’ve never dealt with super healing before, but we did have to reset some bones because of it. He was healing too quick and they set in the wrong way. He can have visitors but the max is three, we can maybe negotiate later, but the rules still apply. Only three.”
Tony immediately stood, and turned towards the others, “who else wants to come?” he asked.
“We can go later,” replied Nat, although Bucky looked ready to protest, “I think you might just need a minute alone.”
Tony left without another word, not trusting himself to talk without either crying or just not being able to talk. He followed a nurse to a room with the numbers 483 on the door, and took a breath before stepping inside.