Arrows - Animo Sequel {Completed}

Chapter Four: Hangover

Chapter Four: Hangover

Mo's P.O.V.

Rogers arrived right around the time that I'd finished eating my breakfast. I'd already heard Pepper scolding Stark for last night, but they were polite enough to keep their voices down so my head didn't throb as badly. As I carried my empty plate and glass out of the bedroom, though, I realized that Rogers wouldn't be half as understanding.

"What the hell were thinking, Stark?" he shouted, getting up in the billionaire's face. "She's only seventeen!"

Pepper rushed up to me and grabbed the dishes from my hands so I could clamp my palms over my ears. "I'm glad you had fun last night," she said in a whisper. "But please don't make that a habit. It just encourages him." She threw a pointed look at Stark, which he happened to look over his shoulder and notice. In the process, of course, he saw me.

"Ah, there she is!" he said with a grin, coming over and throwing an arm across my shoulders. Pepper chuckled and went to the kitchen as Stark ruffled my hair. "Feeling better after breakfast?" I shrugged.

Rogers looked furious. "I can't believe you're proud of this!" he yelled, his angry eyes pointed at Stark. "This is not a lifestyle she needs to be getting involved in. I don't want her ending up like you!"

Stark wore an expression of mock hurt and pressed a hand to his chest. I, on the other hand, squinted my eyes and wailed, "Not so loud, Rogers. My head his killing me."

He looked like a nervous wreck. His blonde hair was sticking up a little on the right side, like he'd tossed and turned the whole night. His shirt was wrinkled and he kept anxiously tugging at the hem, pulling it down even as it stretched as far as it would go. The bags under his eyes that I hadn't noticed the night before were fully visible now, sticking out against the pale sheen of his face. Instantly, I felt bad. "You're not sleeping well," I said quietly. "What's the matter?"

He pressed his fingertips to his forehead. "What isn't the matter?" he sighed. "First the aliens don't show up for months, then Barton gets taken and they scramble his brain, and now the only trump card we have is getting drunk at her leisure."

"It was one time," I said in a tense voice, folding my arms across my chest.

"Barton wouldn't like it."

"Barton doesn't give a shit about what I do anymore!" I snapped, my voice so loud and screechy that it made my ears ring. "He doesn't care about any of us! You may as well just put him down now!"

Then my words hit me and I caved in on myself, holding the soft skin of my forearms against my face so he couldn't see me cry. Stark laid a gentle hand on my shoulder blade before disappearing. He was back mere seconds later, offering me a glass of water and some pills. "Here," he said in a low voice. "For your head."

I swallowed the pills down with a long sip of water and handed the half-empty glass back to him. He patted my back and went to return the glass to the kitchen. In the meantime, Rogers was now directly in front of me, holding his arms open ever so slightly, inviting me in. I wrapped my arms around his neck and leaned into his chest, squeezing my eyes shut. It was obvious that he didn't care much for hugging, but it meant a lot that he tried for me. It was a few lengthy heartbeats before he hugged me back, his strongs arms holding me tightly and nearly crushing me against his ribs.

"I'm going to assume by the way that you're crying that you don't mean what you just said," he murmured, resting his chin on top of my head. I shook my head against his collarbone, whimpering a little. "We're going to figure out what's wrong with him. We'll make him better."

I pulled away from him, curling one arm around my torso and wiping my tears away with my free hand. "Everyone keeps promising that," I said with a short, mirthless laugh. "What are the odds that we actually will?"