Dark Arrow

Chapter Four

With the addition of so many Avengers and SHIELD agents, the training room had needed adaptions compared to when I first arrived. What used to be a small section at the end of the room was now a large glass box. A row of bows and arrows sat neatly off to the side next to a keypad. I picked up some practise arrows as I placed the quiver onto my back. The sleek black bow seemed to pop out at me today, smaller than what I'd usually use. Picking it up I told JARVIS to lock down the training room. The last thing I wanted was some idiot agent pulling my focus away. As I stepped up to the keypad to load the archery program, JARVIS called out to me. "Mr Stark has updated the program for you Miss Rain."

I tapped a few buttons selecting the bow and arrows I was using, it would record everything and show me where I needed to sharpen my skills. "Hardest setting please J, I fancy a challenge." It had been a while since I'd trained. Not that I needed to too often, archery was like breathing to me. As I stepped into the middle of the room, the lights dimmed as the program started up.

"Shall I keep the viewing area open?" JARVIS asked in his usual British accent, something about it was extremely soothing. I shrugged my shoulders, knowing I'd draw a crowd as I always did. No one seemed to expect the sassy younger Barton to actually be any good. Every time they left in silence as I showed them a fraction of what I was capable of. "Sure, why not?" I answered back as the program started. Targets appeared from all around me, some up high and some directly in front of me. One by one I took them down, they exploded into orange pixels as I did. I could feel eyes on me as I went, I knew I'd drawn a crowd but my attention was focused on what I was doing.

The trainee recruits whispering around the archery program told Clint exactly what he suspected. Rain was training, walking alongside Steve he turned to him with a knowing smirk on his face. "You might want to come and watch this Cap."
Steve followed Clint, seeing the agents gathered around the upstairs viewing area. He knew exactly who it was just by the flash of her blue hair. "What's she doing?" He asked Clint, his eyes never leaving Rain.

"You think she doesn't take her missions seriously? Just watch her." Clint beamed with pride as he watched his sister hit every target with ease. Just like she had done for their entire lives. Steve had never actually seen Rain in action. To him she was all talk, watching her now his opinion began to change. The way she effortlessly glided around the room, every arrow landing dead centre. "She's good," he admitted more to himself than anyone else, but Clint heard him. "She might be full of sass but she takes her job seriously." The pair stood in silence as Rain continued until all the targets were taken down and the program ended. The lights brightened as Clint turned to Steve once more. "To put it into perspective, I failed that."

I looked up when I heard Clint's words to Steve. "That's because you're getting old big brother!" I called out with a smug grin as I placed the bow back. "JARVIS, tell Tony it needs to be harder." The door unlocked as I walked through it, all I wanted right now was a shower and maybe a very large glass of wine.

Slipping into some pyjama shorts and a tank top, I headed down to the main living area of the compound. I knew this time of night that I would more than likely be alone. Pouring myself a glass of wine, I sat up at the bar. Tucking one leg underneath me, I placed the bottle and the glass down on the surface. Pulling all the various documents out from the mission file, I began reading through them. I was so lost in my thoughts that I hadn't heard Steve come in. I looked over my shoulder at him, the way his too tight t-shirt clung to his stupid muscles. He was in a pair of sweatpants and trainers, I shook my head reminding myself that I didn't like him. "Vanilla." I acknowledged him, before taking a large gulp of my wine.

"That the mission?" He gestured to the information spread out in front of me as he leaned across the bar to grab a bottle of beer before unscrewing the cap. "Yep," I knew we needed to discuss it to come up with a strategy, but I wasn't in the mood to deal with him. I could come up with something on my own, just like I usually did. I didn't need his input, nor did I want it. He sat on the bar stool next to me, looking over my shoulder at the documents. "Here," he pointed to the abandoned building opposite the one that was being threatened. "Gives a good vantage point and we can see who goes in and out." I rolled my eyes, noticing the one thing he hadn't. I pointed to the alleyway beside the apartment block, "unless they enter from down there and then we'll see fuck all."

"Language," he muttered earning him an eye roll. He seemed to be thinking over what I'd told him. "The idea is to bring them in right?" He asked, all hostility gone from his voice, he was focused on the mission. Something I could respect if nothing else. "The main concern is defusing the bomb and getting the civilians out safely."

"Why not just stop them setting it in the first place?" He sat back slightly which I appreciated, I'm not a fan of having my personal space invaded. "Because we don't know if there is more than one. If we take out one team, that gives another the chance to go in and kill hundreds of people."

Steve nodded in agreement, "so what are you thinking?" He asked as I topped my wine glass back up. "You stand watch over here, there's an empty apartment above the coffee shop. I'll go round the back and wait until they leave. I should have two minutes to get in and get things sorted before it goes off."

"Get things sorted?" He queried, his fucking crystal blue eyes staring into mine. "I need to get people out just in case it goes wrong. That's where you come in, you're Captain America, people won't question being ushered out by you. That gives me more time." I told him as I placed the documents back in the folder. Steve finished his beer, playing with the label on the bottle.

When the awkward silence became too much I emptied what was left of my wine before standing up. "See you tomorrow Vanilla." I walked away leaving him still sat staring at the empty bottle, still clearly lost in his thoughts.

"Rain! Wait!" He called out to me as I got to the elevator. With a sigh I turned round to face him. "What is it?" He scratched at the back of his neck for a moment before meeting my gaze. "Why do you keep calling me Vanilla?"

I smirked, "Cap if you don't get the reference, it just proves I'm right." I stepped into the elevator, telling JARVIS where I wanted to go. As the doors closed I couldn't help but chuckle at the look of pure confusion on his face. It really was too easy to get under his skin.