rodrikstark's headcanons (part 3)

j. torres + "quit playing with your iv."

joaquín shoots you a look and fiddles with the sleeve of his hospital gown instead. "are you still mad at me?"

"of course i'm still mad at you," you force through your teeth. "stupid boy."

his curls fall back on his pillow in exasperation as he explains this for the fourth time. "no one else was gonna do it—"

"joaquín—"

"no one else had the wings, it had to be me."

the grainy clip from today's morning news has burrowed itself in your mind. a sunny sky, two puffy clouds, a single winged creature soaring. just mundane enough that you almost didn't look twice at it, until you saw the trail of smoke, and heard the rapid narration describing the new falcon flying away to discard a live bomb.

then, an explosion interrupted the peace.

"one second later and you would have died," you hiss.

"cariño." he sighs sharply. "do the math. one life versus dozens—"

"no." with a swipe of your hand across your face, you shake your head over and over. "no, i don't do that math. you know that."

"well, i have to," he returns firmly. "you know how many of those guys have already put their asses on the line for me?"

no. truthfully, you had forgotten all his teammates' names the instant that bomb sparked alive. you didn't know who to call, who could help you, who to scream at.

your eyes close, blocking the harsh lighting of the med bay. "estoy preocupada por ti, joaco." with curled knuckles, you apply pressure between your brows to relieve the pressure, your brain replaying that flashing, the booming. "¿no tenías miedo?"

you stare at him now, and watch the firm set of his jaw disappear.

"claro que sí."

stubborn idiot.

at least he's yours.

"i just want you to come home. every time." your face scrunches at the touch of his hand on your cheek. "maybe it's selfish."

he sighs. "it's normal."

"i love you too much." your frown meets his palm. "for you to keep being so brave."

then you sink further, until his wrist presses against your ear. you think you hear his heart beating. or maybe it's just yours, echoing back at you.

"i love you too."

you smile, just a little. thank god. thank god, he's here, you're together again, that's all that matters.

still, you smack his hand when you catch him itching his elbow again. "déjalo."