Chapter 9
[Emily's POV]
It was extremely cold in the room when I woke up, so I pulled my blankets tighter around me, yawning. Last night totally sucked, but it did have its perks. I wonder where Bucky is…I pondered to myself. I pulled myself to my feet and walked over to a closet. Instead were mostly muscle shirts, but I found a red plaid lumberjack shirt and some small jeans that would fit me. I slipped inside the bathroom and changed, washing my face to rid myself of the insanely red face. I added some light makeup before stepping out, heading downstairs. The sun was just beginning to peek its way over the trees and I smiled briefly. I grabbed an orange juice from the fridge and settled myself on one of the single chairs, bringing my feet up beside me. I rested my head wearily against the armrest and I heard a sigh. Instantly, my head flung back up and I scanned the room. There was someone else here. I glanced over at the couch and noticed a lump there. I breathed out a sigh of relief. It was only Bucky. He twisted around once more before yawning and opening his eyes. He spotted me watching him with an amused expression and raised an eyebrow.
"First shirtless and now watching me while I sleep," he mused. "Someone's developing a crush." I rolled my eyes and stuck my tongue out towards him.
"Yep, I might swoon soon. Better be prepared," I teased back, taking a sip of my orange juice. "Listen…I wanted to apologize about last night. I didn't mean to go…you know, prima donna."
"Emily," said Bucky, seriousness filling his voice. He sat up and looked at me in the eye. It made me want to squirm. "Never apologize for opening up. I learned more about you than I did two days ago, and I'm satisfied with that." He shifted awhile before he was comfortably and then asked, "Am I the first person you told about your…background?" I gulped and glanced at my feet, nodding slightly.
"My only friends were Lizzy and Arlene…but…Arlene was killed…" Bucky sucked up a breath and asked quietly, "How did it happen?"
I took a shaky breath and whispered, "The day I met Natasha, Sam, and Steve…a guy came in…I went to ask what was wrong and he spat at me. Arlene was my boss, so she came to see what the commotion was. The guy was a mutant, with the ability to kill people by turning them to ashes. That's what he did with Arlene. I looked away before I could adapt his powers. I managed to defeat him, but…" I stopped when I realized I was crying. "Now it's pretty much Lizzy." I wiped my eyes on the plaid shirt and shook my head. "Arlene was really nice." I felt a gentle touch on my hand that was lying on the armrest, and I glanced up. Bucky was kneeling by my chair, gently squeezing my hand.
"Well, now you have me," he told me, nodding. "And Wanda, and Clint, and Sam, and Steve…maybe not Tony, but you get the point." I laughed, and he smiled. "I don't think anyone has told you this, but you have the cutest laugh I've ever heard. Reminds me of a retarded seal." I gasped and grabbed the pillow I was leaning against, whacking Bucky with it.
"That was uncalled for," I told him, and he laughed. He grabbed a pillow from his couch and we raced around the living room, throwing pillows at each other. There was footsteps coming down the stairs, and eventually, we had two teams fighting against each other. All the trainees were down here too, and it was awesome getting to know all of them via pillow war. We had three girls, Melina, Abby, and Olivia on our team. I wasn't aware of their powers, but it seemed they had good arms as they pelted Bucky and Thor in the face with pillows. We were all giggling and laughing until Tony came down and clapped his hands. We all fell silent and glanced at him.
"Children, children, Uncle Tony has come to the rescue," he said, bowing. "I've talked it over with The-Man-Who-Has-A-Plan," I noticed Steve roll his eyes across the living room, "and it has been decided. We shall be taking eight lucky initiates and sending them to Germany and London for some special field tests." He clapped his hands once more, and Vision appeared through the wall, carrying a list. I yelped slightly and everyone looked at me with a raised eyebrow.
"The ones heading to Germany shall be," he began. "Bucky, Dixon, Melina, and Pearl. The ones heading to London will be Emily, Abby, Olivia, and Scott." I turned to face Bucky sadly and he smiled weakly. "Wait…there's a problem." Vision whispered something urgently to Tony and he scrunched up his face.
"Change of plans kids," said Tony. "Emily, you'll be switching with Pearl." I grinned and winked at Bucky, who returned my gesture with a smile. "Go get packed. You'll be leaving on the QuinJet in a few hours." Everyone went into chaos as all the initiates raced to their room. I waited until everyone had dispersed before I walked up the stairs. I met Bucky up at the top, who was leaning against his door.
"Excited for Germany?" I asked him, and he laughed, shaking his head.
"Couldn't be more terrified," he said. "Germany and I have some…interesting experiences together." I raised an eyebrow and he shook his head. "Never mind. What about you? Excited to get out of the country?"
"Definitely," I told him. "I can't…" I paused, and let out a tiny gasp. "Oh no, oh no, oh no…" I turned to Bucky, terror entering my eyes. "Where's a computer? I need a computer." Bucky opened his door and headed to his closet, slipping a sleek black laptop from the top of his closet. I grasped it in between my fingertips and turned it on, entering the internet and going to my email. I had nearly ten different emails, all from my mother alone. I read them all quickly and started typing a response.
To: Charolotte Salgado
From: Emily Salgado
Subject: SORRY!
Mom,
I'm sooooo sorry I haven't been able to reply to your messages. Activities at this finishing school have been crazy! I've met a bunch of people who are super cool, and are just like me! So, I've been selected from all the kids, along with seven others, to go to Germany. I'm not sure how long I'll be out, but I'll definitely try and email you when I land in Germany. I presume that some of my teachers are coming along. We're going to be learning about in-field studies, so I'm totally excited.
Love you!
Emily
I sighed as I clicked 'SEND' and Bucky read my email over my shoulder.
"Finishing school?" he questioned and I shook my head.
"Ignore it," I told him, but he grabbed my wrist as soon as I placed the laptop back down. He pulled me up against his chest and my heartbeat starting beating faster than I've ever known. "Bucky…I told you…"
"Finishing school?" he questioned again, and I gulped, trying to step away, but he held tight. "Emily…why are you lying to your mother where you are?" I finally wrenched myself out and walked to the door. "Emily!"
"Just drop it ok?" I yelled back, wiping a tear that had just formed. "I can't explain it right now…not like this."
"Whatever it is, I just want to help you!" Bucky replied, racing to my side. "Em…you can trust me. I swear I won't do anything to hurt you…can you just let me in?"
I turned to him and gritted my teeth, glaring at him and I shouted, "You don't understand anything! You don't know what I've been through! You don't know that woman!" My whole body was shaking, and many other initiates stuck their heads out of their dorms to look at us. I stormed off and eventually find my room, where all my clothes were held and I stormed in, slamming the door shut. I let out a scream which was probably heard throughout the whole complex and fell onto my bed, grabbing a nearby pillow and clutching at it. There was a gentle knock on my door and I silenced myself, glancing above the comforters I had snuggled myself into. Clint was standing awkwardly in the door and I rubbed the tears from my eyes.
"You can come in," I whispered, trying not to start crying again. He walked over and sat down in front of me, placing a hand on my cheek. He leaned forward and gently kissed my forehead. I sniffed and he brought me up against his chest, gently petting down my hair. Clint whispered a few words while I leaned against his chest, trying to match my breaths with his.
"Are you ok?" he whispered after a few minutes. I nodded and pulled myself back from his chest. I brought my knees up to my own chest and rested my forehead weakly against them. "Why were you and Bucky arguing?"
"He saw something and he wanted to know what it was about, and I didn't want to tell him, because it's a touchy spot with me right now, but he wouldn't get the hints and kept pressing," I growled, anger starting to bubble up in my chest. "He's being ridiculous! I mean, if I said I couldn't explain it, he should be respectful of that!"
"Easy there, Eastwood," laughed Clint, gently placing a hand on my shoulder again. "I understand that, and I respect that, but maybe you should give yourself some of the blame too. You should have pulled him aside privately, and gently expressed how you felt about the topic and told him that it was too sore for you." I sighed and dropped my legs down.
I nodded and whispered, "I'm sorry Clint. I should've been gentler."
"Have you always been this temperamental?" Clint asked curiously, and I shook my head, laughing.
"In grade school, kids used to have competitions to see if anybody could make me mad," I told him honestly. "I was like the happiest child in the world, and no one could frustrate me. Then…" I gulped. "It happened." I took a deep breath and instinctively reached for Clint's hand. He gripped it tightly as I continued. "No one knows this in the Avengers group besides Wanda, but…" I brushed away fresh tears and gently whispered, "My dad's missing." I gulped and felt a new pressure on my chest. While crying, I said, "It was during the Battle of New York. He was a cop. He went a few weeks earlier for a National Cop Convention slash vacation thing, but then he was called in to help the people get to safety…he never appeared afterwards. It was said that he was killed during the battle, but…" I sobbed and nearly screamed, "He's not dead! I know that much. I don't know why he's missing. Sometimes I wonder if he hasn't shown up because he doesn't love me anymore…"
"That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard in my life," Clint commented, and I raised an eyebrow at him. "If he's staying away because he doesn't want you anymore, he's a bad father. It's not your fault; it's his. Wherever he is, I'm sure he wants to be with you, but something preventing him from actually literally being here." He brought me close again and whispered, "I know this won't help at all, but consider me your foster father here at Avengers. Just until your dad gets here." I smiled faintly, and wiped the tears from my eyes.
"I would really like that," I told him, smiling. "I think I'll get ready for Germany then." Clint smiled, gave my head another kiss before walking out of the room.
:/:\:
[Clint's POV]
As soon as I was far away from the compound, I whipped out my phone and dialed the first number. An amazing voice filled the phone and asked, "Yes? Who is it?"
I couldn't help it; a full-out grin broke out on my face as I replied, "It's me."
I could see her smile from across the phone and she yelled, "Clint! I can't believe it. Why haven't you called sooner?"
"There have been some problems with one of the initiates," I explained, and then launched into the story about what had just happened in Emily's room. My obedient wife was silent and listened and broke out laughing when I told her about what I had said.
"You just have this thing for pretty girls, don't you," she teased me lightly, and I laughed.
"What can I say? They love me," I teased her. She knew that I was joking. Laura was the pride and joy of my life, including my children. "But…being a bit of a foster father to Emily? Is that ok with you?"
"Well of course!" Laura responded with a laugh. "She sounds like a wonderful lady. During break, you must bring her here." I responded with a yes, said my goodbyes, and walked back towards the compound.
A/N: Hey guys! I feel like I should let you know that Solace's Wings won't get as much chapters as it has been in the last few days, mostly due to the fact that I now have to start writing them, and I'm kind-of on a brain fart. Thanks for all of your patience, though! Please review. I'd love to know what you guys are thinking