Frostbitten

Chapter 27

I looked at my hand as I summoned a chunk of ice shaped like a dagger. I threw it and watched as it missed the cloth dummy and shattered on the wall, the pieces melting into a puddle. I had been able to create these ice daggers for a couple days and was working on honing my powers better, such as making it snow in a small area, creating various ice weapons, and making sheets of ice appear on the ground or walls. But my aim was not something I could perfect. I heard footsteps behind me and drew out a long icicle, ready to attack. I swiftly turned and sliced through the air, just missing Clint's head. He jumped back and threw his hands up, apologizing for scaring me.

"I just wanted to know if you needed any help with anything." He said warily. "Have you figured out your powers anymore?"

"No." I replied, "My aim sucks when I throw. Might you be able to help with that?" He nodded and walked over to the weapon station and picked up a bow and a couple of knives. Clint walked over to a target and began explaining, "I know a knife is different than shooting a bow, but I can give you some tips for aiming while using my bow. The main thing to remember is make sure you're looking at your target. Unless you are confident in your ability to hit the target." I nodded, understanding so far.

He continued, "Remember that you want an accurate throw before you want a fast one. Visualize where you want the attack to be centered and it will most likely end up in that general area." He showed me a few more aiming tips before moving on to actually throwing knives. I summoned a standard shaped icicle and prepared to throw it when Clint stopped me and suggested starting out with real knives so I could get a good feel for them and know exactly what I wanted in my hand. He handed me a medium sized blade explaining that balanced knives are easiest for beginners and I took it with my right hand, being dominant toward that side.

"Lets start out with a hammer grip." Clint said and showed me how to do it. "The handle goes across your open palm near your knuckles and you wrap your fingers under and around the bottom edge of the handle. The thumb goes on top behind the back of the blade."

He walked over and gently took my hand, moving my fingers into the correct position. I tensed slightly when he touched my hand but the feeling soon went away. He had me step back and laid his hands on my shoulders, positioning me about 12 to 15 feet away from the target. I held my breath as he slid a hand down to my waist and positioned my arm above my head with his other hand.

"When you're this close to a target, you'll want to slightly bend the wrist back toward the forearm." He said by my ear, making me gasp quietly. "This will increase the speed of the knife and it will turn over in the air a lot better." I felt his warm breath on my cheek and a shiver ran through my body.

"Now put your weight on your dominant leg and rest your other foot in front of your body with no weight." Clint instructed, "Keep your upper arm perpendicular to the ground and bend at the elbow so the knife is next to your ear. Be careful not to be too close or you might cut yourself."

I followed the rest of his instructions very carefully, shifting my weight forward to create momentum, stretched my arm out fully and let the knife go, watching it stick close to the middle. Clint congratulated me and gave me a soft pat on the back and we continued to perfect my techniques for close to an hour. We were very close with Clint adjusting my body stance and by the end of our training, I was very comfortable around him.

I began to pick up the knives and laid them out on the table when Clint snuck up behind me and whispered, "I've really enjoyed this time together." I squeaked in surprise and turned to face him. "Might you want to go out for lunch tomorrow?" he asked.

"Like a date?" I croaked. "With me?"

Clint chuckled softly, "Of course with you! You're an amazing girl and the most beautiful person I've ever seen. No one compares to your beauty, you are perfect."

I jerked my head up and stepped back, "Don't say that to me! I know you're lying. I can hear it."

Clint insisted he was telling the truth and reached for my hand but I slapped it away and glared at him. His eyes widened and he stepped closer to me, "Don't you want someone to love you?" He asked, "Someone to care about you and to give you a home?"

I kept backing up until I hit the wall and Clint came closer until he was practically on top of me.

"You and I could make an amazing family together!" he whispered.

I yelled, "No! You don't understand! I've been hurt by other men, men like you who only want me for pleasure." Clint tried to convince me he was different but I realized he wouldn't understand unless I told him everything.

"Hydra drugged me so I could never have kids!" I shouted, "Even if I find someone who could love me, they would never want a woman who can't give them a child."

Clint stepped back with a look of regret and horror on his face. I collapsed on the floor in a heap of tears. I heard the door to the training room bust open and heard muffled voices yelling at each other. I looked up from my sobbing to see Steve shouting in Clint's face.

"Stop fighting, Please!" I cried, "It won't help anything!" They both turned around and saw my tear-stained face pleading with them. Steve tried to apologize but I couldn't deal with either of them right now. I got up and ran to my room, locked the door, and flung myself onto my bed. I ignored any knocks on my door, skipped supper, and cried myself to sleep.