Dark Arrow

Chapter Twenty One

Steve subtly walked up behind me as I kept my focus on getting us to Sokovia.
"You be careful out there." He whispered, still not seeming to understand that this was my job. That this was what I enjoyed doing.

I flicked a couple of switches, acting as if I wasn't talking to him. Clint could hear us but thankfully he chose not to comment on it.

"Not my first rodeo Cap, I'll be fine."

I could almost hear his jaw clenching at my throw away comment.
"Just try and do as you're told."

"Stay out of my way and we'll be fine." We really needed to have a conversation about me going on missions. No matter what was going on between us, I wouldn't stop doing my job. Saving people was what I enjoyed, I wouldn't give that up for anyone. Not even him.

Clint gave me a look as Steve walked away, I shook my head not wanting to talk about it. I knew he wouldn't let it go, but he knew better than to push me before I was ready.

We landed the jet in the forest just out from the Hydra base. After everyone had triple checked they had what they needed, we all headed out. I was on the back of a truck with Clint as Nat drove. It wasn't long until gunfire started to rain down around us.

Clint and I were firing off arrows as quickly as we could, trying to keep the path clear.

"Hey Vanilla! You mind dealing with him?" I called out to Steve, not being able to see the asshole that was shooting at me. He took a detour, holding an already injured soldier before throwing him at the problem.
"Thank you!" I sang sweetly down comms as we continued advancing on the base.

Tony flew towards the main building, ready to engage the targets inside. He was stopped rather quickly by some type of force field.
"Shit!" He called out as he collided.

"Language!" Steve retorted, causing me to laugh.

"Oh I'm not letting that go any time soon!" I warned him as I jumped off the truck to hide in the tree line. I began firing off arrows, every single one hitting their target.

"Focus Rain," Steve called out through the earpiece.

"I am focused."
I lined up my next shot, loading up an explosive trick arrow. Aiming at the bunker in front of me, I let go. I ducked back behind the tree, waiting for the explosion. It never came.

What the hell?

I lined up another shot, but just before I could let it go something threw me onto the ground.
"Son of a bitch." I muttered, pulling myself back to my feet.

"You didn't see that coming?" A man with silver hair walked smugly past me. Before I could say anything back he was gone, the air whipping up around us as he ran.

Before I could alert anyone to what was going on, there was a jolt of pain through my ribs. I fell to the floor with a cry. I knew that pain, I'd been hit. The burning sensation was like a pain I'd never felt before. It was a different kind of wound, one that was beyond painful.

"Rain!" Nat's voice came through my earpiece before she appeared at my side.
"Rain's been hit!" She alerted everyone as Steve informed them that there was an enhanced in the field. I groaned out, mumbling every curse word you could imagine as Nat pressed onto the wound.

"Get her out of here Nat." Steve hid the concern he was feeling, he needed to concentrate on the mission. Once it was over he would allow himself to worry about Rain.

Gunfire continued to fill the air around us.
"I need that bunker taken care of before I can move her." Nat called out, hoping someone was nearby to handle it. Not two seconds later Hulk roared past us. The ripped through the concrete bunker as if it was made of wet paper. "Thank you." Nat sang sweetly through comms.

I could hear a loud thud as someone landed beside us. "I've got her." Thor placed his hand on Nat's shoulder before scooping me up into his arms. I bit back the scream I wanted to let out as he moved me.

Clint patched me up the best he could once we got to the jet. He didn't say anything, he didn't have to. I knew he was worried but we both knew it was part of the job. It wasn't because I'd been reckless or taken an unnecessary risk, none of us knew there would be an enhanced male in the field.

The second the others got back to the jet, they placed the sceptre into a case. I relaxed knowing the mission had been a success. That was all that mattered.
Steve made his way over to me, double checking the antibiotic drip that Clint had set up.
"I told you to be careful." He muttered just loud enough for me to hear.

"Oh bite me." I gritted out through the pain. "It's just a scratch." I turned away from him, not in the mood to deal with his alpha male bullshit.

The second we landed at the compound I was wheeled out and straight into Bruce's lab. Dr Helen Cho was waiting for me, she smiled as she started setting up a machine over me. She numbed my injury before a weird humming sound filled the air.

"Are you sure she's going to be okay?" Nat asked, watching as my injury was repaired before her eyes.

Dr Cho nodded with a smile. "A few hours and she'll be as good as new."

Tony chose that moment to walk in carrying a tray of smoothies. I knew I'd taste like crap but they were good for helping recover after a mission.
"Can you make some improvements? Like a mute button?"

I rolled my eyes, hiding my smile. "Only if you get one too."

"You know I can sign sarcasm too?" He countered, passing me the drink.

"So can Steve." Nat smirked before walking out. I nearly choked on my drink, glaring at her as she winked at me over her shoulder.

Tony's mouth opened and closed a few times, clearly not sure what to make of Nat's comment. I was in no mood to deal with the stream of questions that were begging to be let loose.
"Okay, that's enough. Everyone out."
Tony raised his eyebrows at me, apparently I wasn't being clear enough for him. I glared back.
"I mean it shell head. I'll see you at the party tonight."

Thankfully he left without too much complaining. I finished the smoothie, wanting nothing more than to wash it down with a bottle of scotch.
I spent the next few hours waiting for my injury to finish being repaired. I made small talk with Dr Cho, finding out she had a rather big crush on Thor. Something I banked to tease him with at a later date. I knew he was dating Jane, but that was never going to last. Dr Cho was closer to our lives, maybe she'd be a good match for him.

Dr Cho gave me the all clear, with a promise we'd grab a drink together at the party later. "Just take it easy for a few days and you'll be fine." She reassured me before I left.

I headed back to my room, hoping I'd have time for a nice long bath before having to get ready. Why we needed yet another party, I wasn't sure but there was no way Tony was going to let me get out of it.

I'd barely closed the door when Steve's voice boomed out behind me.
"What the hell was that today?"

Here we fucking go.