Winter's Veil || BUCKY X FEM!OC

*CHAPTER 15*

His face turned to see me halfway over the threshold as he released his grip on the bow, an arrow flying directly into the centre of a target on the other side of the room.

"Holy shit!" I exclaimed, surprise written on my face as I clapped a hand over my mouth. I had no idea Barton was that skilled in archery, "I mean, sorry for disturbing you, I'll just go." I spun around to leave just as Clint spoke out.

"You can stay if you like," he muttered as he returned his attention to the assortment of arrows by his side, "I promise not to shoot you anywhere major."

A small smile flitted over my lips, "I mean, you do look pretty lonely without Natasha attached to your hip." I slid into the room, my eyes drifting over the platforms sticking out of the walls rising up to the ceiling and the targets uniformly organised against the walls. I thought this room was just for target practice, but the rising platforms and poles sticking out of walls looked similar to a parkour arena.

"Watch it," he teased, pulling back his arm to release another arrow, "What are you doing up so late?" Clint muttered, releasing the arrow, we watched as it flew through the air, piercing a near-invisible target.

"What are you doing up so late?" I countered. There was a brief pause as Clint adjusted his aim to another target.

"Waiting for Nat to get back."

"Oh. They're not back yet?" He shook his head in response. Panic filled my head, chaos ensuing as my half-formed plan to reassure myself that I was gonna be fine, collapsed. I took a deep breath before swallowing down the lump in my throat.

I just need to stay calm and wait it out. I can do that, can't I?

Another arrow embedded itself into the bullseye adjacent to the former target.

"I was looking for Stark." I sat down on a bench not too far from him, but also not too close. He turned slightly, a questioning look in his eyes, "Issues with the bracelet," I declared, shaking the wrist with the band on, it still felt warm against my skin.

"What was your nightmare about?"

"What nightmare?" I replied a bit too quickly, his lips quirked up and I knew I'd been caught. I sighed deeply, slumping into the seat, "Just an old memory from when I was a kid."

Rabid eyes flashed before me, making me blink rapidly to get rid of the bitter feeling running crawling beneath my skin.

I turned my head up to the ceiling, staring fiercely into the fluorescent lights. I traced my fingers over my neck tenderly, making sure that it was just a dream, he couldn't hurt me anymore.

"What was it? Parents?" His back was still turned towards me, attention primarily on his next target. My eyes burned as my vision became unfocused under the harsh bulbs.

"Something like that," I muttered, finally tearing my gaze from the lights as splotches danced in my vision. His body was now fully turned and facing me, the bow in his hand pointing to the floor. "Foster parents." I had no idea how he was able to pull the answers out of me, but he had a comforting air about him, it was similar to how a father would've felt; if I had one of those.

"Ah." He nodded, "Yeah, They suck."

"How would you know?" I blinked rapidly as my head lifted up to reevaluate him, eyes watering from the temporary blindness I gave myself.

"I had them for a bit after my parents died," I cocked my head, I guess he was full of secrets.

"At least you had parents," I retorted, lowering my chin into my chest as my arms folded over.