Dark Arrow

Chapter Twelve

As I walked through the museum I noticed all the little kids getting excited. Pointing with huge enthusiasm at a large picture of Steve saluting. I walked round the corner, looking for the story of how he became the man he is. I found it.

A picture of a small boy who looked like Steve yet completely different. The words 'PRE SERUM' sat displayed under the photo. I read every word, how he tried to enlist multiple times and rejected each time. Until a doctor took a chance on him.

Clint was right, it was changing the way I looked at him. I'd always assumed his life had been easy. Now I wasn't so sure.

I walked further in, seeing a video of him and Bucky in their younger days. They looked so happy and carefree, completely oblivious to the horrors that were coming. My heart ached as I read every little thing I could. The information melting the cold exterior I put up around Steve.

Sitting on a bench nearby I leant forward on my knees. "I hate it when he's right." I mumbled to myself, knowing I'd never hear the end of it from Clint.

***

The next day I'd finally decided to get my own back on Bucky and Nat. Their little stunt had gone unmentioned for long enough.

"James!" I yelled out as I walked into the main living area of the compound. All eyes turned to me as I walked in.

Nat looked over at Bucky shrugging her shoulders. "First name, could be fine."

I got closer. "Buchanan!"

Bucky looked back at Nat, shaking his head. "Middle name. Not looking too good."

"Barnes!" I pulled the bow off my back, just in case he decided to try and run.
"You're in trouble." Nat muttered with a smug smile on her face.
One I soon wiped off as I turned my attention to her. "You too Natalia Alianovna Romanoff!" Her face dropped as she realised I wasn't forgetting about her part in all this.

"I love you Nat, but you're on your own!" Bucky called out as he started running. For an ex assassin he was insanely predictable. I pulled one of the new arrows out of my quiver, lining up my shot. "Nice try Buck," I smiled as I released the arrow.

It was a good job Stark tech was ingrained in every surface of the tower. The arrow exploded to the left of him, not inflicting too much damage to the living area but it still sent him flying to the right. I put the bow back on my back with a smile.

From his spot on the floor he looked up at me as I held my hand out to help him up. "Did you seriously just shoot me?" As much as he tried I could hear the smile in his voice. He may act offended but he knew me well enough to know what my reaction to him running would be.

I shrugged my shoulders. "In my defence, you tried to run." It was then I realised I could still hear after the explosion went off. I turned to Tony excitedly. "Hey T! The adaptations worked, they didn't break."

Tony didn't say anything, he simply rolled his eyes at me.

I put my hands on my hips, annoyed at his less than enthusiastic response.
"Could you roll your eyes any louder there shell head?"

"The deal was that you don't blow up the compound." He looked bored and annoyed but I could hear the teasing in his voice, something the others would miss.

"Then don't give me exploding arrows!" I snapped back.

"Rain? Sweetie? What's going on?" Nat tried to give me her most concerned voice as she gave Bucky the cold shoulder. She apparently wasn't happy about him trying to throw her under the bus.

"Don't 'sweetie' me Natasha. That set up with Steve had your name written all over it."
It may have been Bucky orchestrating it, but I knew it was Nat that was pulling the strings.

She didn't even bother to deny it, which was probably the best thing she could've done at this point. She shrugged her shoulders, not an ounce of regret on her face.

I should've known that if you say his name too many times that he would appear. He took in the damage along with the arrow in the wall. "What the hell is going on?"

Tony laughed, knowing how easily Steve gets wound up with things like this. "Oh just Rain shooting exploding arrows at Barnes."

His attention turned to me, his face stern. "Seriously Rain?"

I sighed, wishing I'd got more of the arrows on me so I could shoot one at him too. "Oh relax Vanilla, he's fine."

"Is everything a joke to you?" He stepped closer, a little too close for my liking.

"Here we go," Clint muttered with a roll of his eyes. He knew I'd been to the museum, that I'd started to change the way I was thinking about Steve. Seeing him in front of me, looking at me like I was nothing more than a problem. That whole entire mindset disappeared out of the window.

Bucky came over, slightly stepping between us. "Relax Steve, I'm fine."

"See! He's fine." Just like I knew he would be. I never would've shot the arrow if I thought it would really hurt him. Bucky meant too much to me for me to do that to him.

Steve shook his head, clearly still pissed off with me.

Turning to Tony I reverted to sign language, knowing Steve wouldn't have a clue what I was saying. 'Yeah it was definitely the alcohol.'

He let out a small laugh. 'Did you ever doubt it?'

'For a moment. Not now.'

I almost completely forgot that Bucky was in the room and could understand everything we were saying to each other.
'I think we need a catch up.'

Steve looked between all three of us, clearly not knowing about my hearing impairment. "What's going on?" I couldn't tell if he was annoyed at not knowing what was being said or if he was curious. Either way his tone sent my walls up.

Before I could say anything, Bucky jumped in. "Rain has problems with her hearing. We learnt ASL for when she turns her hearing aids off. You'd know that if you spent any time actually getting to know her."

It was the first time I'd heard him speak up about the feud between Steve and I.

I placed a hand on his chest. "It's fine Bucky. My life's not as important as yours, right Steve?" I let a glimmer of the insecurity I felt shine through. The feeling only getting worse when he didn't tell me I was wrong.

"Rain, sweetie. You know that's not true." Nat tried her best to chase the thoughts away like she had done a few times in the past.

Those around me knew how hard it is for me to find things I like about myself. Situations like this only bring it out more. Usually I'm good at hiding it, but it was something about being around Steve that brought that wall down.

"No Nat. I don't." I could feel the tears pricking at my eyes. I didn't want anyone to see me crying, least of all Steve. So I ran, as fast as I could back to my room. Shutting the door, willing the world to leave me in peace. I didn't want to explain how I felt or why I felt that way.

It all linked back to my Mom, the piece of shit that instilled in me from a young age that I was useless. I would amount to nothing. It's why I'd fought so hard to become the best at what I do. I know I'm good, but it doesn't chase her voice away. The one that constantly tries to make me feel like that little girl again.

A knock at my door was the last thing I wanted. The person stood the other side even less so.

"What do you want Steve?"