Dark Arrow

Chapter Forty One

I groaned, my hangover throbbing in my skull as my phone rang for what seemed like the hundredth time that morning. As I reached to shut it off I realised just how much I ached. Steve's punishment for my bratty behaviour still evident as I moved.

I finally found the obnoxious box that dared to wake me up, wondering if it would still make the same shrill noise if I used it as target practice for one of my arrows. Panning the idea for later I put it on silent.

Just as I'd pulled the covers over my head, Steve opened the door seeing me still in bed. "Come on party girl, we've got work to do."

I snuggled further into the bed not wanting to move and be a responsible adult today.

"Alright." Steve chuckled. "You leave me no choice." He came into the room sitting on the edge of the bed. He pulled his own devil box from his pocket. "Last chance."

A groan emitted from my throat but still I didn't move, begging for him to give up and let me sleep.

He pressed play as AC/DC began blaring out, effectively keeping me from ignoring him.

"Go away." I grumbled.

When the music got louder I threw the covers off me, countering his grin with a scowl.

"You have no idea how much I want to hurt you right now."

Steve rolled his eyes at my dramatics, which let's be honest wasn't the first time.

"You can hurt me once you're up. Fury wants you." He stood up, walking towards the door.

Fury knew better than to call me in for an early morning mission. I would happily be a morning person if morning started at one pm.

"You could always come back and join me." I flirted with him, hoping it would persuade him otherwise.

"No. Up."

"Yeah, I hate you." I grumbled.

"Love you too sweetheart." He called out as he left.

I pulled myself out of the bed; knowing the only way I was going to rid myself of this hangover was with a hot shower and copious amounts of coffee.

I piled my hair up in a high ponytail, pulling on my suit before loading up. If Fury was calling me in the only reason would be for a mission.

Making my way to his office I didn't bother to knock as I let myself in.

"You know how I feel about early morning calls." I complained as I walked towards him. The bright light streaming through the windows did nothing to help the ache in my head.

Nick sighed, turning in his chair to face me. "I know Rain. I wouldn't do it if we weren't desperate."

I could see the concern etched onto his face. The sunken look in his eye telling me this was important. Both my hangover and complaints about the wake up call rapidly disappeared.

"What's wrong Nick?"

"How much do you know about Hydra?"

My stomach dropped. "Only what Bucky has told me. Why?"

He unlocked a draw in his desk, pulling out a file. He slid the brown envelope over to me, watching me as I read what was on it.

"I need your help Rain."

Hydra. Winter Soldier. Siberia. Helmut Zemo.

Four phrases that stuck out at me as I skimmed over the information. This wasn't good. This could end everything I'd fought so hard to protect, the family I'd come to love.

"Who else knows about this?" I asked, closing the file.

"Just me and you."

A wash of relief came over me. If the others found out all hell would break loose. The less people that knew about what was going on the better.

There was one person I couldn't keep this from. I wouldn't. I'd need back up and he would understand the importance of this mission more than anyone else.

"I'm bringing Rogers in on this one."

Nick gave me a pointed look. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" He knew how personal this mission would be to Steve.

It wasn't often I stood my ground with him, but with this I would. This was too big to keep him in the dark. I wanted to tell Bucky too but that would only end in his guilt making things too difficult. Not to mention I wasn't sure if he even remembered what had happened.

"You want my help then we do it my way."

Nick nodded his head in agreement. "Get to the bottom of it. Preferably without it tearing the team apart."

"No pressure then." I sighed.

This mission seemed bigger than any other, there was more at stake. I knew even as I thought it that it sounded selfish. We'd taken on Ultron who was trying to eliminate all of human life. Yet to me this was more of a threat.

I took the file with me, heading straight to my room where I knew I wouldn't be disturbed. On the way I decided to grab a bottle of something strong from the bar. Vodka was the first thing I found, that would have to do.

I closed my door behind me letting out an irritated sigh. "FRIDAY lock the door please. No one apart from Captain Rogers is allowed entry."

"Of course Miss Barton."

Spreading the file out over the small table in my room, I sat on one of the chairs sipping the vodka from the bottle with my feet up.

I didn't know how I was going to break the news to Steve. It was going to take everything we had to keep this from the others.

I didn't have long to figure it before the door was opening.
"Rain?" Steve called out.

"Hey Steve." I smiled back.

"Okay what's wrong?"

"What?" I raised my eyebrow at him.

"You didn't call me Vanilla." 

I threw my pen at him as I rolled my eyes. "Shut up."

He came over to me, placing a kiss to my cheek. Not once did he try and look at the papers in front of me. Something that only reinforced how capable he believed I was. I offered him a drink from the bottle in my hand. He shook his head, pulling up a chair as he placed my legs over his.

"So this what Fury was so desperate for you to see?"

"Hmmm."

His hands started massaging the muscles in my legs, a sigh of contentment leaving my lips as he did. I knew I couldn't put off telling him much longer, no matter how much I wanted to.

Steadying my shaking hands I handed him the document about what Bucky had done.

"We need to talk."