Middle School Heroes

Chapter 13 - Shooting, Fighting and Baseball

When Skye got down to breakfast the next morning, she found Clint waiting for her at a table with Sam and Oliver. "Hey guys." She took a seat between Clint and Oliver. "Nat's going to be along later."

Clint grinned. "I'm not surprised in the least. She doesn't like archery."

Skye looked at Sam and Oliver. "Are you guys coming too?"

Oliver nodded while Sam explained that he had flying practice. "Rhodey and Tony should be along shortly. We like to get out there before people like Kent show up and start showing off." He laughed at Skye's expression. "Yes, we practice flying. You didn't think that we were all just here for our sparkling personalities, did you? Tony actually created Rhodey's suit. You should come by and watch if these guys will give you a break."

"Think Skye wants to come see you stuck in a tree again, Falcon?" Oliver chuckled over his oatmeal.

They finished breakfast and headed outside toward the archery range. Skye spent the next couple of hours pleasantly with Oliver and Clint teaching her how to use a bow safely. They were both amazing shots, but Skye couldn't help thinking that Clint was just a little better. Neither of them really ever missed, but Clint always hit dead center of any target that he aimed for. Skye, on the other hand, couldn't hit any part of the target.

She was finally hitting around the target consistently by the time Natasha showed up and looked at her progress appraisingly. "Looks like you're getting the hang of it, Skye, and these boys haven't driven you crazy, so that is another check in your favor." She smiled as Oliver invited her to take a shot with his bow. "Oh no, my friend. You know that bows aren't my thing. Speaking of that, shall we go to the range?"

They cleaned up and returned the archery equipment to its shed before heading inside to the gun range. Skye noticed that a few of the STRIKE team and members of the Suicide Squad were already there. Bucky was shooting by himself in a corner cubby with what looked like a rifle, and when Natasha saw him, she grinned at Skye.

Coach Garrett was sitting at a small desk reading a book and he looked up when they walked in. "Hey Sunshine! You here for training, I take it? Get to it. Romanoff and Barton will do the job properly, I imagine. If you aren't getting it, though, let me know and one of my guys will be glad to help." Skye thanked him and followed Natasha into the range, with Oliver and Clint trailing behind them.

"Man, that guy really has it out for you, doesn't he?" Clint glanced back through the glass where Coach Garrett had resumed reading his book.

Skye shrugged. "I guess so. I have no idea why."

"Well, let's make sure that she does well, so that she can pass without Rumlow getting ahold of her. Not that he wouldn't be a good teacher, but we can do better." Natasha checked the weapon that she'd selected, and loaded it.

Skye paid attention to everything her three teachers said. First of all, she really didn't want to end up in a situation where Rumlow or Grant Ward was teaching her, and second, she didn't want to end up shooting herself or anybody else. She actually wasn't sure which one of those she worried about more.

This was definitely Natasha's area of expertise, but like with archery, Clint was good. Oliver wasn't as good at this as he was archery, but he certainly knew what he was doing. After going over the rules of the range, Nat handed her a school weapon.

Soon she was taking shots, although she was hitting very little. She noticed Adrienne and Rollins watching her from behind, and they both laughed as a loud cough by Rollins caused her shot to go so wide to the left that she was surprised she didn't hit the target next to hers. Natasha turned to them and glared, and they both slouched off with surly expressions on their faces.