His Songbird

chapter 15

"ZARA! ZARA! WAKE UP IT'S CHRISTMAS!"

"DAD! ITS 7 IN THE MORNING!" I yell at him as he jumps on my bed.

Dad has always been excited and loved Christmas, my first Christmas after being rescued he played with Cooper, Lila and Nathaniel all day while Laura did the cooking and where was I? I watched from the window at his happy family, I felt like a burden. It wasn't until the next day that he realised I wasn't there and he tried to make it up to me but was called away for a mission. Every Christmas since then I would leave for a few days and spend it alone. Today however I didn't get the chance thanks to Tony's party last night.

I shoved dad out my room so I could go for a shower. I stood in the shower and remembered the last few Christmas, I had spent them roughing it in the woods and connecting to nature. I couldn't get out of the morning with the team but maybe a could get away for a day or two afterwards? sighing I got out the shower and rummaged through my draws. Shit, I don't have any clean long sleeve shirts. I threw on a normal shirt and found a black jumper to wear, I was going to sweat thanks to Tony turning up the heat but at least my arms were covered.

I grabbed Bucky's present and put in the jumper pocket and left my room, I ran into Bucky coming out of his room and he smiled at me until he saw what I was wearing and I tensed under his gaze.

"Aren't you going to sweat in that jumper? Tony has the heat turned up" he said.

"Yeah I know but I'm covered"

It clicked in his brain that I was trying to cover my scars.

"Don't worry doll, ill be there if anything happens"

I gave him a smile and a kiss on the cheek before heading to the elevator and leaving him standing there. I felt a hit of confidence overcome me when he told me he would be there so I gave him a kiss, but now in the elevator my confidence disappeared and fear set in, what if he didn't like that I kissed his cheek? What if he was mad?

The elevator doors dinged open into the party room, the couches had been moved and positioned near the tree and a family style set up. Dad and Tony were already on the couches being all excited while Pepper stood at a coffee station near by laughing at their childishness. I walked over to Pepper and she handed me a cup of coffee and gave me a smile, I nodded a thank you and sat down on the far side of the couch. The rest of the of the team came in soon after all getting coffees and relaxing on the couch, Bucky's eyes meet mine and he gave me a grin as he sat next to Steve.

Tony and dad sat on the floor waiting to hand out the Presents and once everyone sat down they wasted no time. Soon the others had multiple presents in front of them and they were tearing into them, I was happy with watching them opening their gifts and seeing their smiles. I wasn't one to like gifts to much but Nat surprised me by handing me a gift, I opened it to find she got me a new set of daggers, they were black but with a detailed blue pattern on them.

"Thank you Nat" I smiled at her and she gave me a smile back in acknowledgement.

Dad had received some new arrows made of vibranium from Tony and he was testing them out, I had just gotten up from the couch to get more coffee when he accidentally shot an arrow. I fell against the wall as the arrow sliced threw my jumper and gave me a deep cut on my shoulder.

"Shit Zara!" he yelled and ran over to me, my shoulder was bleeding through my jumper.

Bruce came rushing to my side trying to check my arm.

"Zara I need you to take your jumper off so I cant look at your shoulder" he said softly.

Panic went through my mind, if I took it off they would see my scars. I tried to tell Bruce that it wasn't necessary and that I was fine but he insisted. I looked up at Bucky with a pleading face, he instantly came over and stood ready to help me. He knew the reaction wasn't go to be good.