She starts to sit up and protest that, her neck jerking upwards, but settles down when the movements pull on her burns underneath the bandages. "If you do, so do I," Hawkeye says, her words firm and implacable despite the breaths she keeps having to suck over teeth.

She pauses, wondering if now is the time to tell him. Wondering if she wants to put her heart on the line. "I forgive you," she says instead, feeling her heart pound behind her teeth. "Though there's nothing to forgive; I wanted this."

So much talking leaves her exhausted, and she closes her eyes.