Dark Arrow

Chapter Eleven

As I started walking through the streets of New York, I realised I was severely under-equipped. As I turned down one particular street I swallowed the lump in my throat. Three men walked towards me laughing together, when they pointed at me I put my head down and walked quicker.

This is why you don't leave the fucking bow at home.

I picked up my pace, my heart thumping in my chest. All I had to defend myself was my fists, while I was good, there was three of them and only one of me. They began walking closer, the panic rising within me. "Hey honey, sorry I'm late." Steve appeared beside me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. I let out a sigh of relief, never in my life had I been happy to see him. He walked beside me, keeping me tight against his side as the men walked past us. "Next time you let me walk you home," he muttered just loud enough for me to hear.

When we reached the end of the street, he looked back over his shoulder. His grip loosened, which I took to mean that we were in the clear. "There won't be a next time," I pulled away from him needing to put some space between us. I stood the other side of the sidewalk, placing my hands in the pockets of my jacket. "I appreciate the help Steve, but I'll be fine."

He shook his head at my stubbornness. "I'm walking you home Rain," he tried to give me a smile, one I wasn't interested in. I was wracked with guilt and regret over what we did. "I'll be fine Steve, this hasn't changed things between us." I lied, it had changed everything. The scary part was I wanted to do it again, the way he made me feel was like no one else ever had. I wouldn't let him know that though, I couldn't. "Can you just stop?" He asked, raising his voice slightly. "For once just do as you're told and let me walk you home."

I turned away from him, walking towards the compound. "Goodnight Vanilla," I called out over my shoulder, hoping he'd take the hint. Which of course he didn't as he fell into step beside me. "Back to Vanilla? Really?" He chuckled slightly. The nickname didn't really fit anymore, not after tonight but I couldn't dwell on that.

"Yep," I popped the 'p' as I kept my eyes straight, not willing myself to look at him. We walked in silence for a while until it was almost unbearable.

"So why did you attempt to run off?" He asked, with that knowing smirk on his face. I glanced up at him at the question, not sure what to tell him.

For once I gave him the truth. "Honestly? To avoid this awkward conversation," it was my turn to chuckle. One night stands weren't new to me, but ones where a jumble of feelings are involved? Yeah that's just a disaster waiting to happen.

"Let me guess, it was just the alcohol and nothing more?" He sounded almost hurt at the idea, but that wasn't my problem. I couldn't let it become my problem. "Obviously," I could hear how clipped my voice was. I didn't want to upset him, so I offered him a small smile instead.

"So you hadn't thought about it before tonight?" He asked, watching my face for any sort of reaction. I couldn't tell him I'd thought of him while getting myself off, that would do nothing but make this weirder. So I did what I do best, I lied.

"Not even a little bit." He shook his head at me, not believing me. It felt like he could see right through me and that was slightly unnerving.

"Have you always been this stubborn?"

We turned round the corner, the Avengers tower thankfully coming into view. It made me sigh out in relief, I wanted nothing more than this conversation to be over.

"I had to be, we didn't have the best upbringing." I didn't talk about my past, so the fact I'd let something slip made me feel on edge.

"That how you got into archery?" He asked curiously. I glared at him, giving him the best intimidating look I could manage. "We are not doing the 'get to know me' chat." I shut down the conversation before it could go any further, I'd already said too much as it was. He gave me a small nod, letting me know he wouldn't push the matter no matter how much he wanted to.