Dark Arrow

Chapter Forty Four

Writing my letter to Tony was possibly the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I loved him, more than he would ever know but I couldn't agree with him on this. Not even a little bit.

With shaking hands I carefully wrote down the words that could very well be the last I'd say to him.

'Hey Shell Head,
I know you're in pain right now and I can understand that.
Just know that I am truly sorry for how this played out. I can't condemn someone for actions they didn't choose.
Deep down neither can you, I know in time you'll realise this too. Until then we'll stay away, give you space to grieve. It doesn't mean you can't call me. I will always be there for you.

Stay safe.
Love Legolas x'

I carefully folded the letter up, placing it in the FedEx box along with a burner phone programmed with my new number. I had to give Tony the option to reach out if he wanted. I couldn't just disappear on him.

Steve came up behind me as I finished, wrapping his arms around me. I relaxed against him, closing my eyes. The last few days had been hard, the letter to Tony was my way of having some form of closure. We weren't on the run, technically we could go home any time we wanted; but none of us were willing to take the risk when it came to Bucky.

"You okay sweetheart?" Steve asked, gently kissing my shoulder.

"Yeah I will be. It's just a lot y'know?"

"Why don't we go out tonight? Just the two of us."

As nice as an evening out with Steve sounded, I just couldn't bring myself to act as if I hadn't lost more than I wanted to. I needed time, time to adjust to what my life now was.

I leant back against him. "Can we stay in tonight? I'm just not ready yet."

"Whatever you need sweetheart."

***

Six months later

Steve and Bucky weren't used to a fight or a mission, so they had decided to help Sam fix up the family boat. Something to keep them occupied while the girls were busy.

"How are things with Nat?" Steve asked, pulling a rotten plank of wood from the deck of the boat.

Bucky took the plank, snapping it in half before he threw it onto the dock. As he turned back around he chuckled slightly.

"Constantly trying to convince her not to go after Tony."

While he adored just how much his feisty red head wanted to protect both him and Rain, he wouldn't let her try and convince Tony to change his mind. In time he hoped he'd have a chance to make Tony see that he wasn't the Winter Soldier anymore, until then they would have to deal with the cards that they had been dealt. At least with Nat at his side he had a slither of hope, one she wouldn't let him let go of.

"Sounds like a handful."

Bucky smiled. "She's worth it." He sat down on the edge of the boat, flicking a screwdriver back and forth in his hand.

Steve pulled a beer out from the cooler, passing one to Bucky. "It's good to see you happy Buck, you deserve it."

Bucky didn't know how to take the compliment, even after all these years together he was used to being the one to look after Steve, not the other way around. Instead he changed to subject.