Lost Girl

Chapter 10-A Really Fun Game

After waiting to heal from sword training, you dedicated all training time to archery. It was the only thing that helped you relax and clear your mind. Bucky assisted when he was available, but for the most part you were out at the range alone practicing.

As time dragged on you became increasingly frustrated at yourself for not getting that perfect bullseye. Bucky had said several times that all the other boys took quite a bit of time before they got the perfect shot, and some have yet to be considered decent with a bow.

On your way to collecting the arrows a familiar voice spoke up, "You are the most determined person I've ever seen with a bow."

You smiled and turned around, "Thanks Bucky."

You continued shooting while Bucky perched himself on a post as usual to offer pointers when he saw fit. You kept coming close to the intended target, but failure was starting to get to you, and Bucky easily saw that.

"You're getting angry with yourself." He said jumping down and coming beside you. "Think, what calms you down?"

"Shooting arrows."

"Yeah, that doesn't seem to be working right now. Is there anything else?"

"No, not-"

You were interrupted by the sound of Peter's footsteps coming into the range. "How's target practice going?"

"She's doing very well for the amount of time she's spent on Neverland." Bucky stated moving himself between you and Pan.

"I should think so, she spends all her time here. Which makes me wonder how your other training is going." Peter said tilting his head to the side to look at you.

You avoided making eye contact and instead drew back you bow and said, "I haven't gone back. Those teachers were not nearly as good as Bucky." At the last word you released the arrow and it pierced the target dead center. You gasped and then immediately threw your arms around Bucky.

"You did it!" He cheered returning the hug.

You glanced up at Peter and saw a smile that didn't quite reach his green eyes. There seemed to be a glint of something showing itself within them. It almost seemed like jealousy, but what would he have to be jealous over. Once the hug was broken the look in his eyes vanished.

"Well done. You're quite the shot." He congratulated.

"She's got some real natural talent, and my instruction probably helped." Bucky smirked.

"Watch out the student might overcome the master." You taunted.

"Still got a ways to go." He countered.

Pan then spoke up, "Hey I know, let's make it a game. A really fun game." Then he turned to Bucky. "Do you have an apple on you?"

"Yeah." Bucky responded pulling a ripe green apple from his pack."

"Take that, go over by that tree, and then place the apple on your head." Pan commanded and Bucky uneasily but loyally complied. "Shoot the apple." Pan said to you.

"No I don't want to hit him."

"You can do it. Bucky trusts in you."

"But I don't trust myself to not slip up and end up hitting him."

"Take the shot." Pan said firmer this time.

"No!" You yelled keeping your bow at your side."

Before Pan could yell again, Felix broke through into the clearing. "Pan I've got some news-"

"Felix! Come here." Pan asked and Felix obeyed however he was still hesistent to come near you. "Felix I want you to go and take Bucky's place at the tree." Felix did so and Pan continued, "Okay now take the shot." Without a moments hesistantion you shot the arrow and it nicked the apple causing it to fall from Felix's head and was caught in his left hand.

"You could have hit me!" Felix yelled while marching towards you.

"I was just messing with you. It was a game. I swear." You said mimicking the same words he told Pan at the pond."

Pan was smiling through the whole ordeal, "I suppose you two are even now. Felix, Bucky, your presence is no longer needed here, return to camp." Peter then waited until they were out of sight to continue, "And congratulations to you Jess, you refused to shoot at a friend, but didn't think twice about an enemy."

"So you never going to make me shoot Bucky?"

"Of course not." He said sincerely. "I'd never force you to do something you didn't want to." That earned a sigh of relief from you. "However I would ask that you give training in the other fields besides archery another try."

"I told you the teachers didn't work for me. Hey wait, okay so you always brag about being the best why can't you train me? Too busy?"

This time Peter was the one to glance down at his feet, "I'm never too busy for you. I mean um you need trained so um...I can train soon, okay?"

You took one step closer to him to look up into his eyes. "I'm ready when you are."

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Both make me smile:)