A/N Hey guys! I'm happy to inform you that I've finally found the time to begin writing this story. Just a heads up this is the sequel to my other story Our Worst Nightmare. You will need to go back and read that story before starting this one, otherwise none of this will make any sense whatsoever. Disclaimer: I own nothing but my imagination. So anyway without further ado here's the first chapter of Cold As Ice!
Chapter One: Hawkeye
Recap from Our worst nightmare...
I watch with satisfaction as the arrow hits the center of the bullseye. As does the next one. My injuries have finally just about healed up now, but I still can't stand on my ankle for too long. They removed the casts from my fingers and ankle about two weeks ago and I was able to start walking around even if it was just for short periods of time. My ribs no longer give me trouble breathing as they had in the beginning and the puncture wound in my stomach is finally nothing more than a scar to add to the list of old injuries that I have. The cuts and burns on my hands have all but disappeared and two weeks ago I was finally allowed to shoot my bow again and I haven't stopped since then. I'm in the range every day with Natasha and nothing could make me happier. I let another arrow fly and it splits the previous one down the middle.
"Nice shot, Clint." Natasha's voice fills the room.
"I never miss." I say teasingly.
"Everything's just about healed up. You'll be good as new in no time." I nod and take a seat on the bench, my ankle was starting to protest. She sits down next to me.
"Do you think we'll ever find them?" Her face hardens and I know she knows exactly who I'm talking about.
"I promise, Clint, we will find Loki and Trickshot and everyone else who are responsible for all of this and we will end this." I nod and she places her hand on my leg. We stay this way in comfortable silence for a few minutes when the door busts open and Bruce comes bursting in. There's a urgent look in his eyes and he's breathing hard like he'd been running. As if he'd heard they're entire previous conversation he gives the news.
"It's Tony. He found them." He says between gasps. With that simple sentence the three Avengers take off sprinting towards Tony's lab to find out where their enemies have been hiding all this time.
Bruce, Natasha, and I come bursting through the door of Tony's lab where he, Steve, and Thor are huddled around a computer screen. When they hear us enter the trio motions us over to the screen. The expanse of the monitor is filled with complex equations with more letters than numbers that I can't make sense of and there a map of the world in the background. A small red blip is blinking periodically at the top of the map and without asking I know that that is where our targets are hiding. Stark confirms my suspicions when he notices that I'm staring intently at the dot.
"They started off in Ecuador, I'm not sure why they were there, then they left for South Africa. After that it was on to various spots in Asia and Europe before they ended up in Antarctica. The seven of them have been holed up there for about a week. I would've found them earlier but Loki was using his magic to throw me off the trail. I'll admit he's good, but I'm better." The genius throws us a cocky smile before pointing to the blip on the monitor. "That, my friends, is where we'll find them." A tense silence fills the room. My hands clench into fists as I continue to stare at the dot that indicates where our enemies are. The same people who nearly killed me. My heart rate quickens as I think of Trickshot's sadistic smile as he waiting for the Tower to explode and end my life. You're gonna have to try harder than that. I think to myself. Natasha notices my change in mood and glances at me. When she catches my eyes, a silent conversation passes between us.
Are you alright? The question reflects itself in her eyes and I nod. I'm fine. Or at least I will be, right after I put an arrow through Trickshot's eye socket. We maintain eye contact for another few seconds before Steve speaks up.
"Ok now that we know where they are we need to come up with a plan. We already know that we can't just barge in guns blazing, they're too strong for that. Stealth will need to be our ally on this mission, it will be our only advantage against these criminals. They will be expecting us to find them eventually so they'll be ready. Which means there will be extremely dangerous defenses and a lot higher stakes. We only have one shot at this. Let's get it done." At that he turns on his heels and heads towards the armory that Coulson had specifically designed for us in the safe house to use if Avengers Tower ever became compromised. We stand still for a few seconds before one by one we begin to follow the captain. My feet carry me into the large room before I fully comprehend that I'm actually moving. Three walls are lined with guns, grenades, explosives, and a various assortment of other weapons that we might need at our disposal. The fourth wall was designed for our personalized weaponry. Cap's shield, Natasha's Widow's bites, and Tony's suit all sit in there designated places. My bow is still clutched tightly in my grasp after bringing it with me from the range when I'd been given the news earlier. Without hesitation the rest of the Avengers, except for Banner, grab what they need and start to leave the room to suit up. I make my way to my room with a determination that I haven't felt in a long time. My hand wraps around the doorknob that leads to my room and I hastily jerk it open. I quickly walk over to my closet and pull out my suit before pulling on the top. Soon I'm fully dressed and ready to leave. I grab my bow off the bed and walk out the door into the hallway where Nat is waiting for me. She gives me a nod and heads off in the direction of the hangar. I follow her lead and am soon waiting in front of the Quinjet with her and Steve. Stark, Banner, and Thor join us soon after and the six of us start to make our way up the cargo ramp and into the plane. Before I can enter though, Natasha stops me. She give me a look and I raise an eyebrow.
"Are you sure you're ready for this? You just got back on your feet." I nod.
"I'm fine." She shakes her head at me and puts her hands on her hips.
"Clint, this isn't going to be easy and I don't want you to go unless you're one hundred percent ready for it." I let out an annoyed sigh.
"Tasha, I'm fine. Believe me." I don't give her a chance to protest any further as I walk into the plane where the others are waiting. Steve gives me a questioning look and I shake my head, unwilling to discuss the matter any further. I take a seat and place my bow down next to me. Widow enters the plane and takes her place next to me while the others spread out around the aircraft. Stark plops down in the pilot's seat and raises the cargo ramp. No speaks as we take off and fly into the air. The silence settles on the plane like a blanket and the tension is almost palpable. Thor is the one who breaks the silence.
"I'm sorry." Everyone gives the Asguardian confused looks.
"What are you talking about?" Steve is the first to address Thor's sudden outburst.
"If it had not been for my brother our enemies would not have gotten away the first time and we would not be in the position that we are in now." I shake my head.
"That isn't your fault, Thor. You can't control Loki's actions, no matter how much you may want to. Everything that he did is on him, not you." This seems to calm the man and he nods slowly before joining Iron Man in the cockpit to check on our progress. I decide to follow his lead and stand before heading into the cockpit.
"How long before we reach Antarctica?" The billionaire glances at me.
"Since shield designed the Quinjet, and I modified it, this baby can hit Mach 2. If my calculations are correct, which they are, we should be there in roughly seven hours." I nod and return to my seat. My mind wanders slightly as I try to occupy myself during the flight. My thoughts roam back to the Tower. I remember everything from the moment I first tried to open the door to jumping out of the building in vivid detail. I remember kneeling down by the bomb watching as the numbers on the display skyrocket, edging ever closer to that fateful three hundred eighteen degrees. I can almost feel the heat burning my fingers at the memory. My abdomen and leg are haunted by a phantom pain where the arrows had pierced my body at Trickshot's hand. My hands curl into fists and I take a deep breath. A hand lands on my shoulder and snaps my back into reality. Natasha stares at me and I meet her gaze. I can see the concern in her eyes but I shrug it off. She reluctantly looks away and focuses on prepping for the mission. By the time we finally reach the barren land I've already checked all of my arrows three times over, built a couple more, and proceeded to annoy Nat to no end. When Tony manages to land on the ice I stand and head for the door. The ramp descends and the other Avengers join me. Captain America turns to the group.
"Everyone ready?" We nod. He leads the way with Tony correcting him occasionally on the directions to our destinations. Nat glances at me and I nod. This is where it ends.
A/N well that's it. Chapter one is over with! I hope you enjoy reading the latest chapter of Cold As Ice. Reviews are welcome, it would mean so much to have you guy's input. Also I'm starting something new and have started taking requests for any stories that anyone wants to see written. If you leave a request I will try to write it but I make no promises. so if you have a request you can either leave it as a comment or message me personally. Anyway I hope you enjoyed this chapter and the ones that will follow.