I woke up the next morning to music being played outside in the courtyard. I sat up and got dressed, making my way outside.
I leaned against a pillar when I realized it was Dani. She's got the speaker system blasting music from her phone and she's dancing to it. She's got on a pair of jogger sweatpants and a crop top, her hair tied up in a bun and a simple pair of high top sneakers on.
"Who knew she could dance too, huh?" Nat asked as she sat down at the table on the patio. Clint joining her.
"Oh yeah. She's very talented. She can sing. She can dance. She's learning very quickly how to fight too. I've been giving her lessons every weekend." Clint said after taking a drink from his coffee.
I watched as Dani picked up her phone and scrolled through it for a moment before the song changed and she put it back down on the ground. The song was a slower one and her whole dance style changed. I watched her every movement, taking in the way her body moved and twisted.
"Someone's mesmerized." Nat commented.
"I can't look away. She's just so beautiful. The way she moves is just incredible. I don't know how to explain it." I said, not looking away from Dani.
"Looks like someone's falling pretty hard for the new girl." Nat giggled.
"Dude. Honestly, she could use a real love in her life. The shit she's been through.. it would be good for her to fall in love. Experience something new and wonderful." Clint said, coming to stand beside me now.
"You got my blessing the minute I knew you were the one who saved her, Barnes. Get the girl when it's time." He said and clapped his hand to my shoulder.
"Who is blasting music and why was I not invited?" Tony asked as he came outside to join us.
"It's Dani. She's dancing." Nat said and Tony sat down across from her, turning to watch Dani.
"What can't this girl do?" He asked but I don't think he was looking for an answer. I can't stand their chatter so I walked closer to Dani, sitting on a concrete half wall.
—Clint's POV—
"A month in of knowing her and he's done for. I've never seen him like this before." Steve said as he came outside.
"Hey, there's no measure of time when it comes to love. Sometimes it happens slowly, other times, usually when you know it's true, or happens fast and you fall hard." Nat said from beside me.
The song changed and Dani let herself fall flat onto her back. This is normal. These are the things she does to keep herself in check. She's terrified of that bomb going off again. The last time it did, she didn't know how to control anything. Had I not seen the blast and followed it to her, I'm not sure where she would be right now.
I could just barely make out that she started singing along to the songs playing while she laid there.
"She really does have a beautiful voice." Steve said and took a drink of his smoothie.
"Right? When I first heard it, I couldn't believe it. The words just come out so smooth. Did anyone else hear her last night?" I asked. I knew I heard her with her guitar out on the roof. I had my window open and could hear her. She was sad. Which unfortunately happens.
"I did. She sounded really sad." Nat said.
"Unfortunately she deals with a lot of depression after what she's been through." I said.
"What happened to her, Clint?" Steve asked, taking a seat next to me.
"Well, she's never had a mom. Never even got a name growing up. And her dad, he left when she was 10 so she barely remembers anything about him. She went from foster home to foster home, not one wanting her. She had been all alone from the age of 16 to 22 until I found her. I took her under my wing and she became like a sister to me. I'm the closest thing to family she has. She had a boyfriend once who beat her and cheated on her. Had I been around for that, I would have killed him. She's broken. She has troubles controlling her emotions and feelings.. so I taught her how to channel all that into music and dance. When it came down to anger, that's when I started giving her fighting lessons. She's been doing really well but I know she still gets nightmares. She won't talk about them but any time I would crash at her place for a night or two after shows, I would sit down on her bed and hold her hand. I'd rub circles into her palm or on the top of her hand. I never spoke, just gave her time to calm down and fall back asleep before I would leave her be." I said, remembering the first time I encountered it. God it was so bad.
"Wow, Clint. You probably saved her life, you know.. taking her in like that." Nat said and rubbed my shoulder.
"I really don't think so. She still suffers from the nightmares. And if you pay attention to how she sings some of these songs or how she dances to a song, you can see the real pain she has just in her voice or her movements." I said and they all turned to face her as one of her favorite songs came on. Also one that always makes her cry.
It's a song by a band called I Prevail. My Heart I Surrender is the name of it.
Dani sat up and started singing along with it. We all watched and listened to her.
"I'm a ghost in your eyes
A shadow you can't seem to recognize
I have a thought of you for every star in the sky
But I'm scared, I'll never cross your mind
Yeah, I'm scared
Will our stars ever align?
Will two hearts beat in time?
These words you should always remember
To you, my heart I surrender
Chasing love that can never be mine
Maybe one day you'll realize
These words you should always remember
To you, my heart I surrender.." she sang, the pain in her voice evident. I could see the tears beginning to trail down her cheeks. I watched Bucky hop down from the wall and walk over to her, sitting beside her and taking her hands in his. She turned to him and continued singing.
"And I can't count the times
I stayed awake pretending you were mine
Now I'm left here with this emptiness inside
And why can't I make you mine?
Will our stars ever align?
Will two hearts beat in time?
These words you should always remember
To you, my heart I surrender
Chasing love that can never be mine
Maybe one day you'll realize
These words you should always remember
To you, my heart I surrender
My heart I surrender
Will our stars ever align?
Will two hearts beat in time?
These words you should always remember
To you, my heart I surrender
Chasing love that can never be mine
Maybe one day you'll realize
These words you should always remember
To you, my heart I surrender." She finished the song and collapsed into his arms. He wrapped his arms tightly around her, resting his head on top of hers.
"Was that just a moment?" Nat asked, eager to see their romance bloom already.
"I think so? She's never and directly at someone like that before. I've never seen her like this." I said admittedly.
YOU ARE READING
Time Bomb
FanfictionDaniella Ackles is the daughter of one and only Soldier Boy. She's 22 and has only just recently discovered that she unfortunately was born with the same abilities as her father. Thought she doesn't remember him much. She hasn't seen or heard from h...
