The Dark Archer

Chapter 32

Kylie POV

The van stopped. I assumed that meant we were at our destination. The sound of the front doors opening caught my attention before I heard talking and tuned in, nudging my new friend in the back.

"Cap," I heard my father say, muffled.

"You know I wouldn't have called if I had any other choice," Steve apologized by way of greeting.

"Hey man, you're doing me a favour. Besides... I'm on your team," Dad replied.

"Thanks for having my back," Steve said, most likely to Wanda. I'm still upset that she got to ride shotgun.

"It was time to get off my ass," Wanda brushed it off. I waited, wanting to hear that two syllable word come out of Cap's mouth. I was giddy for it. Wait for it, and...

"How's our new recruit?" Is all he said. WHAT? No 'language Wanda'? What is this world coming to? They officially broke Uncle Steve. Why am I on this side for anymore? I am on the side of appropriate word choice.

"Recruits, actually," Dad corrected.

"What?" Steve deadpanned.

"Yeah they're ready to go. I had to put some coffee in 'em, but they should be good," Dad explained, before I heard the van door creak open.

Thinking ahead, I blocked my eyes from the harsh sunlight. My companion was not so lucky. As Scott shot up, he made a grumbling noise and nearly hit his head.

"You brought Kylie to this?" Steve demanded.

"Yeah, I don't know about this Clint, Cap said she was just helping to bust Wanda out," Sam concurred.

"She did. And she deserves her place here. I'm her father, not her warden, not anymore. She's an adult. She can make her own choices. If I didn't let her come, how would that be any different than the situation with Wanda and Viz?" Dad defended.

"He has a point," Wanda agreed.

"What time zone is this?" Scott groaned as we both climbed out of the van.

"Come on, come on," Dad chuckled, pushing Scott forward to meet Steve.

I, however, noticed Bucky standing all alone behind the little bug that Steve must have arrived in. I immediately bypassed Scott's awkward attempt at formality in favor of talking to Bucky. He did not look like the same man that had bailed me out of SHIELD. That confidence and boyish charm that I loved about one of my favorite uncles was gone, replaced by a blank stare that just screamed a guilty conscience.

"Hey," I greeted softly, approaching from the front so he wouldn't startle. I needn't have worried. No matter how shook up Bucky may have appeared, he was on high alert after all that had happened.

"Hey squirt," Bucky mumbled.

"Are you alright, Buck? I know a lot's happened but—" I soothed.

"—But nothing, Kylie. I lost it and I killed people. I thought I had a handle on everything but I don't," he growled.

"Buck—" I sighed.

"I don't," he said quieter. He seemed to tune back into the main conversation and butted in.

"We should get moving," he suggested loudly.

"I've got a chopper lining up," Dad stated.

Suddenly an alarm started going off and someone said something in German over the PA.

"They're evacuating the airport," Bucky translated.

"Stark," Sam mumbled.

"Stark?" Questioned Scott.