Characters: Steve Rogers & Clint Barton
Summary: Mistaken identities and helpful snipers.
Thank you to everyone that's read thus far, and thank you doubly to everyone that's taken the time to review. As with yesterday's update, I'll be sending out review replies in the morning.
IV. Memory
The crack of a rifle from afar startled him, and he whirled around, shield at the ready for any incoming enemy fire. Steve smiled as the man trying to sneak up behind him fell, bullet through the head and body hitting the ground moments later. Steve took the opportunity to toss his shield, ricocheting it off a concrete wall to strike the last enemy in range.
"Thanks, Bucky," he said with a grin, giving the sniper a thumps up as he caught his shield. He waited a beat too long for Bucky to reply, smile slipping as the realization hit him. Again, he had allowed the mixture of adrenaline and pain to fog his mind, clouding his memory.
Steve let his shield drop to the ground, weariness clogging his every pore. He rubbed at the back of his neck in embarrassment even as Clint replied, "No problem, Cap."
The archer didn't take the opportunity to point out his slip, instead simply accepting things as they were. There was another crack and Steve turned to see a man several feet away sent staggering, a hand to his throat. He followed the path the bullet must have taken and saw the sloppy mock-salute Barton threw at him when he caught Steve looking his direction.
"Is that all of them?" Steve asked, prodding the stinging bruise developing on his jaw from a lucky shot.
Barton paused, and Steve could sense his cool contemplation. "Unless I missed something."
Hawkeye didn't miss. They all knew that, which is why Steve felt safe returning his shield to his back. Mission completed, Steve took a moment to reorient himself. 2012, he thought firmly, trying to fix it in his memory. Not World War II.
Hope you enjoyed! Thanks for R&R (do cookies count as review bribes?).
-V