Dark Arrow

Chapter Thirty Nine

Arriving unannounced at Clint's wasn't anything new for me. I opened the door, expecting the two balls of energy that came charging at me. Lila wrapped her arms around me, Cooper not far behind her.

"Hey you two."

"We missed you." Lila pouted, attempting to make me feel guilty.

"I'm sorry squirt, it's been busy but I'm here now." I kissed her head before giving Cooper a quick hug. "I just need to go speak to your Dad and then I promise you'll both have my full attention all day. How does that sound?"

They nodded eagerly before running outside. I headed upstairs, finding Clint in his bedroom.

"Hey Grinch, you got a minute?" I asked poking my head round the door.

"Always. What's wrong?"

I sat down by the window, the sounds of the kids playing filtering through behind me. I told him about Steve trying to get me to open up and my reaction.

"I want to tell him everything, it's just hard to talk about." I sighed, looking down at my hands.

Clint knew I was struggling since Wanda's attack, but he hadn't realised just how much. He had to push down his own guilt as he thought about everything we'd been through.

"I know it was harder for you, but he's trying to do the right thing."

"I know and I love him for it. I'm just not ready to go into detail about it."

I wanted to. I wanted to let him in, to get him to understand why I was the way I was. The trouble was that opening up didn't come easily. Clint understood that more than anyone.

He knelt down in front of me, making me look at him. "Seriously Rain, have you thought about talking to someone about it?"

"I don't need to. I have you." I half joked, offering him a small smile.

"And you always will. But I can't be the only one you talk to about it."

It was something I'd thought about years ago, but life got so busy I hadn't considered it again. I knew he was just trying to help me, just like he had for our entire lives.

"I'll think about it okay?" It was all I could offer him right now.

He stood up, ruffling my hair like he did when we were kids. "I just want you to be happy."

I knocked his hand away, smoothing down my hair. "I know and I adore you for it."

Clint knew I was done talking about it. He also knew that I needed a distraction, a way to silence the demons rattling around in my mind.

"Why don't you go find Cooper? He's been begging for you to teach him how to shoot."

"He's finally realised who is the better shot out of the two of us then?" I teased, moving out of his reach.

"Stop being annoying and go and find your nephew."

"Fine." I conceded. "Love you Grinch."

"The nickname isn't coming back!" He called out as I walked away.

I found Cooper outside, the sun was high in the sky giving us perfect conditions to shoot some arrows.

"Hey Coop!" I held up the training bow that was leant against the tree. "Want me to turn you into the next Robin Hood?"

I spent the afternoon at Clint's, just enjoying spending time with my family. Laura offered to let me spend the night, but in all honesty I just wanted to get home to Steve.