I started to pull my arrow back on my bow, focusing on the center target. In place of the practice piece, my mind started to imagine it as one of those horrible alien creatures that crashed into my house and got rid of everything in my sight. And when I mean everything...I mean my parents. They protected me from them as much as they could, saying that I got to hide in my bedroom, before the aliens grabbed them and dragged them out of the house. And that was the last time I saw them.

                I blame Loki. But most importantly...I blamed the Avengers, at the time. If they were so great at what they did, then how come they didn't come and save my parents? I remember it like it was yesterday. After the explosions stopped and the people's yells subsided, I took the opportunity to grab my bow and arrow that was hidden in my room and headed outside. Before me, I saw the bodies of dead aliens and buildings that were once homes to dozens of people destroyed. My childhood memories of the town that I grew up in were now shattered pieces of nothing.

                The image burned into my mind as I was racing down the road trying to find my parents, but I couldn't make my feet move more than they could. I slumped against a crushed car and I let my tears flow. Everything was dead and I felt betrayed. I wasn't sure if I was being selfish, but why was it that I was the unlucky one? I heard a rustling in the distance and I readied my bow and arrow and pointed it towards where the noise was coming from.

                From behind the rubble, an older guy, who I recognized as Hawkeye, looked at me and put up his hands.

                "Whoa, there," he said calmly. "You can put that down."

                Tears were at the edge of my eyes and I shook my head. "No! I want to know why you couldn't be there! Why you couldn't save my parents?!"

                Hawkeye looked at my position holding my weapon, and even he noticed that I was starting to shake. "Look, I know it's hard, but there are only so many of us and so many people that we could get-"

                "But you didn't look hard enough!"

                The only things that ran through my mind were anger and pain. What made me think that he would go through the same thing? I'm sure that his family was far away from getting into any danger, so how would he know?

                "We try, just understand that-"

                Behind him, an alien started to rise from the ground, gun in hand. Obviously he didn't hear me as he kept rambling on. But I couldn't let this alien get away with getting another person. Keeping a poker face, I started to pull my arrow. Hawkeye's eyes went wide, but I moved my bow just slightly so it could go past him, and it hit the alien where the armor wasn't covering.

                Hawkeye moved around to see the alien fall back onto the pavement as he finished the job. I looked down and noticed what I just did. Falling to the ground, Hawkeye came over and comforted me.

                "Look, I'm sorry what happened to your parents, and I'm sorry that none of us were there to save them." He whispered, as I cried into his chest. There was no doubt that this guy reminded me of my own father; protective and loving. "But what you just did...that's pretty impressive."

                I wiped the tears from my eyes as he helped me up. Looking at my bow, I thought about the time that I first got it. My mother completely despised it, while my dad kept teaching me how to use it. I've been inspired to try bow and arrow ever since I captured my eyes on fantasy and sci-fi movies. I kept it hidden from my mom ever since to not have her think I'm practicing it without either of them home. Despite how she hated it, she did, however, think that it would help me with the bow and arrow segment in my gym class in high school.

                "Thanks." Was all I said.

                "Look, I'll take you to a safe place in the city." He smiled as I followed him. Soon, my anger for them died down.

                A few years later, a man named Nick Fury came to me privately asking if I wanted to join the Avengers, wanting to take Hawkeye's place.

                I tilted my head. "Is he ok?"

                He nodded his head. "He just wants to retire, to spend his time with family. I asked who to find in place of him, and he told me about you. How you killed an alien on the first attack."

                "The first attack?" I repeated his words. Since when was there another attack? Well, I have been away from media for awhile, so I haven't really kept my eyes on the Avengers.

                "Well, don't you have a lot to catch up on?" He shook his head.

                I bit my lip, thinking about the offer. "I'll...I'll have to think about it. I made a promise that I don't think I can-"

                "Now's not the time to think about it. I'll need an answer now." Nick warned.

                "Alright. I'll do it." I agreed.

                And now we're back to the present. I was in the training grounds where Hawkeye started; shooting arrows at big plush targets. Each time I would get closer and closer to the bulls-eye, but something wasn't right. I know that I was aiming there each time, and my skills haven't died down. What could be...and then it hit me. I put down my bow and folded my arms.

                "Alright, Pietro, come out." I sighed.

                Running up from the forest, he stopped by my side, his arms folded with a smirk on his face, "You really didn't see that coming, Kat?"

                "How many times did I tell you not to call me that? That's not my real name." I rolled my eyes and lightly hit him. All he did was laugh back at me; typical Quick.         

                "Neither is Katseye." He smirked looking at the targets. "You know...after the first few shots, you think you would notice?" He asked, turning around to look at my results of him moving my target, little by little.

                "I had my mind on something." I answered going over and taking out the arrows. "So, part of it was my fault."

                Pietro appeared next to me the next second, looking concerned. "What were you thinking about?" Now he was in his serious stage. Ever since I came here, he told me his story about his past and how he died, but healed overtime. In a sense, he was like me in so many ways; it hurt, but it excited me to know that someone else, along with his sister, shared my pain. We were both in that same position of anger towards the Avengers, for almost practically the same reasons. Only Pietro and Wanda both went against them for a little while before they saw what Ultron really wanted to do to the Earth.

                But one thing that stood out was that Pietro had someone with him. I didn't. I was alone for those next three years; my high school was completely gone after that first battle that I just ran away from that city to not be in danger anymore and to not see anyone that I care about and love get hurt. I couldn't contact any of my relatives because they never came to me, wondering if I was alive. And I never found them, either. It was for the better. If there was another attack like that... The moment I joined the Avengers, I knew that that promise I made myself to not see anyone that I care about get hurt was going to be broken. But Hawkeye was there for me when I needed it, when my mind was completely going insane because of the outcome that was brought onto my parents.

                "Kelly?" He asked again, getting me out of my reverie. He hardly ever uses my real name as I was introduced to him as my Avenger name to begin with, except for that little nickname that I'm not fond of 'Kat'. My name that is used for the Avengers was supposed to be Hawkeye, but I wanted Clint to keep that name with him. There was no other Hawkeye like him, and I couldn't possibly take that name away from him. So they just call me Katseye. Yeah, they wanted to keep the 'eye' thing going.

                One other thing that happened when I first joined; Quicksilver and I got close, but it was more one sided than anything; I told him I understood him when he told me about his past, but I didn't tell him a word about mine, so he's been getting me to tell him ever since we met. I tried not to get close to anyone here in fears of losing them, but there was no exception for Quicksilver. But I just couldn't tell him. I wasn't able to bring myself to do it only because if I told him and then something happened between us only to have something destroy one of us...I wouldn't be able to forgive myself. That would just be another person that I care about get hurt.

                Wanda keeps bugging me to tell him how I feel, but I keep telling her no. She doesn't know why, either.

                "Sorry, but I can't tell you." I gathered the last arrow and put them in the bin so the others can practice if they wanted.

                Pietro sighed and I could tell that he was irritated. He wanted to know my past so bad, but I refused. I felt his hands go around my waist and he turned me around to face him. My cheeks felt like they were burning. His blue eyes stared intensely into mine, questioning me in an unspoken way.

                "Why are you so determined to keep whatever you're keeping from me a secret?" He whispered.

                I brought my hands up and cupped them around his, which still had a hold on my waist, and pushed him away. I couldn't bring myself to look at him as he was lightly rubbing his thumb against my hand.

                "Can you please..." His voice came out barely a whisper. "Just tell me?"

                I bit my lip and let go of his hands completely and started to walk back to the main building. One thing I was wondering...did he feel the speed of my heartbeat? I looked back to see him still standing there, like he was a frozen piece of ice. If he knew me well enough, he would leave me be for a while until I was me again.

                When I got back to my room, I noticed that some of my own personal arrows were missing. Pietro must've done his annual pranks on me again. He always does this whenever I don't tell him or admit to my past. I always get back at him, though. Setting my bow on the holder on the wall, I counted how many arrows were there. Four...that means he took sixteen.

                "Why must he do this everytime?" I questioned myself aloud.

                "He does it for many reasons." A familiar voice came from the doorway.

                "Hey, Wanda." I said, turning around and sitting on my bed. "Some reasons I got down...the rest..."

                "You know the main reason why he does it." She sighed, folding her arms. "And I wouldn't blame him. I'm curious as much as he and everyone else are."

                I managed to laugh and shook my head. "Trust me. It's better that neither of you know my past."           

                "Is it part of why you don't want to get closer to any of us here? You're already close to my brother...but you don't want to get any closer."

                I stayed quiet and a small smile appeared on her face.

                "Ah, so that is why..."

                I shot my head up at her. "You didn't..."

                "No," Wanda shook her head, knowing what I was going to ask her. "It's just that actions speak louder than words. And you just spoke the loudest answer."

                With that she started to leave, but then she stopped and looked over her shoulder. "By the way...if you want your arrows back, he hid them someplace he hasn't before. I'll give you a hint."         

                She raised her hand and knocked over a piece of my clothing on my floor, using some of her powers of her own. But it wasn't just any piece of clothing; it was one of my shoes. Immediately I knew where he hid them. I just hope that they don't smell like sweat and feet.

                I made my way to the equipment room, running into Ste-, er, Captain America, on the way. I said my traditional hi and waved to him, while he just nodded his head and smiled.

                "Have a good practice session?" He asked.

                "Yeah, missed some targets because of a certain someone..." I sighed. If there was someone that seemed loyal and honest, it was him.

                "He's just a kid like you. He'll learn." Steve nodded and made his way to where he needs to be.

                "We're both just kids..." I whispered as I entered the equipment room. There were uniforms and weapons for everyone lining the walls. The room was dimly lit, but I had a good eye to see in the dark; another reason why I'm named "Katseye". The 'K' was my idea because I thought it looked different. I came up to Quicksilver's section and there they were; one arrow was hidden under each of his folded shirts.

                I was surprised that I didn't take any of his stuff yet...usually we go back and forth hiding each other's stuff. One time I took one of his shirts and hung it in a tree as a flag. Yeah, I got in trouble, but one time he took one of my arrows and got it stuck in one of my practice targets. It took me weeks to finally get it out. I'm surprised that I didn't break it!

                "You know that you're not supposed to take what's not yours." Pietro's voice came from the entrance.

                "Not if it was rightfully mine in the first place." I smirked as I was collecting the arrows. "You know that out of all the hiding places, you had to choose a very common room? The equipment room for hiding equipment? And here I thought you were going to stick them down a drain or hide them in an air vent..."

                He suddenly appeared next to me and caught my hand, which was full of arrows, and carefully plucked them out and placed them in Wanda's space. "There's a reason why I brought you here." He removed his shirt suddenly, my face getting red as I averted my eyes somewhere else. I could see that he put on another shirt and he changed his shoes. "You are moving too fast; it's time that you slow down for a bit."

                "What do you mean by-" but he already grabbed my hand and headed outside towards the forest. "What are you-"

                "Hop on my back."

                I raised my eyebrows. "Like a piggyback ride?"

                "Just do it."

                "Just like your shoes?" I managed a laugh out of him as I went on top of his back and he held me. I placed my hands around his neck and I felt his hands cup mine for a brief moment.

                "Ready?" He asked.

                "What are you supposed to be-?" But then he took off into the forest like a speeding bullet. Just when I thought I would see things in a blur, everything was perfectly still, like we were going in slow motion. Is this what he sees when he goes fast? A bird was flying past us, slowly, of course. I reached out and touched the ends of its feathers. Usually the bird would fear me and fly away, just like all animal instinct. But the bird didn't fear me. It wasn't scared by my touch at all and it went about its way as if nothing had happened; unaffected by my touch. I think I understood what Pietro was trying to tell me... We stopped once we got far enough and Pietro at this time was tired and almost out of breath. Slowly getting off his back, he looked at me leaning against the tree.

                "Do you understand..." He started.

                "I do." I looked at him and joined him by his side at the tree. "I can't let my fear take over me."

                I looked at Pietro and he gave me an all knowing look. Swallowing my nervousness, I nodded my head, ready to tell him. "Alright, I'll tell you."

                A small smile appeared on his lips and turned towards me, still leaning against the tree.

                "You might want to sit down for this one," I motioned to the ground. We both sat against the trunk of the tree. I started to twiddle with my fingers as I took a deep breath and started out from the beginning of the story. How I was angry at the Avengers, that I moved far away from the city so I couldn't see anyone that I cared for get hurt, and then to the point where I was asked to join. I also mentioned that Hawkeye comforted me when no one else was there. Then finally I got to the point of why I didn't tell anyone of my past otherwise I would get close to them, and my fear along with getting close. When I was done with my story, I looked over at Pietro worriedly, thinking that he might think that I was selfish at the time. But he already told me his side of his past and now he knew how I understood him.

                "You know..." He finally spoke up. "I always get from people saying that they understand the things that I felt when I first lost my parents and were angry with the Avengers. But...I didn't know if they really were, you know?"

                I simply nodded my head, knowing that I would definitely get the same thing from others if I ever told him.

                "And now...I have someone else other than my sister who went down the same road we did." He looked at me and smiled. There was pure happiness in his eyes, and I could've sworn that he would cry.

                "But...you had Wanda to help you guys pull through." I said nervously.

                "Yes," Pietro nodded, "but that's what makes you...stronger. You just had Hawkeye for that brief moment and then you were on your own. Not wanting to make friends because you were afraid that you couldn't protect them if something were to happen to them."

                "I wanted to protect my parents badly, but what they told me, I obeyed." I could feel the tears on the edge of my eyes. "If something were to happen to me while protecting them, I know that they would..." Wiping my eyes before I cried in front of Pietro, I took in a deep breath and continued on. "I know that protecting me was their mission in the midst of all that chaos."

                "Just like protecting us and the rest of the world is now your mission." He added on.

                "If something were to happen to you..." I whispered and this definitely caught his attention.

                "What?" He asked.

                "Nothing..." Shaking my head, I started to get up, but then my back met the ground and above me was Pietro, pinning me down.

                "You were starting to open up about everything, please don't stop now." He pleaded.

                I was at lost for words. His appearance with the sun setting down in the background, casting this silver glow around him, made him appear more handsome than he usually is. "I...I don't want something to happen to you. Well, not just you, but Wanda, the other Avengers..."

                "But why me, first?" he smirked and I could feel his pulse quicken.

                Keeping my mouth shut, I didn't dare to tell him why. But if he was like his sister, he would get it. And with a little laugh, he took a deep breath. "That's the thing with you. You don't have to say anything to let your answer known. Actions speak louder than words."

                With that, he leaned down and kissed me on the lips. A light moan escaped from my throat and I leaned up to deepen the kiss. Pietro slowly moved his hands up to move to my own hands and he intertwined our fingers together and I couldn't tell whose pulse was whose anymore because they matched up together perfectly. We both shared identical pasts and we understood each other on a level that we thought no one else would. Two different people; one same connection.

                The kissing between us deepened as he was lightly giving me kisses on the neck, sometimes he would suck on a spot, leaving a mark. I dug my hands into his light and fluffy hair, sometimes I would give him kisses on the neck, receiving little groans from him. Apparently he was tired of holding up his own weight, he held me tightly and we moved from the ground to my back being against the tree, my hands still tangled in his hair, and his hands were cupping my face. How long has he been waiting for this? All I know is that I've been waiting a long time.

                He removed his lips from mine so we could have a little breather. Both of our breathing was heavy and a light layer of sweat claimed both of us.

                "One thing I want to know..." I managed to say. "How did you know?"

                "Really, Kat? You didn't see that coming?" Pietro smirked. I let him go this time about my nickname and his sense of humor. "I figured it out after we got close. Remember what I said, actions speak louder than words. And during this whole time, you spoke them the loudest when you didn't realize it."

                I smiled, remembering all of those moments and realized that he was right. And I didn't even realize it at the time. "Just promise me one thing..."

                "And what's that?" He asked.

                I smirked. "Don't ever use my nickname again."

                Pietro laughed, which created a domino effect and I laughed in return. After giving me a quick kiss, he hugged me tightly. "I don't know...it's pretty catchy."

                I looked at him raising an eyebrow, but I just shook it off as we both headed back to the main building, walking hand in hand this time. Luckily we weren't too far away. Pietro leaned into me and whispered in my ear, making my face flush bright with red color and I squeezed his hand tighter after I heard his words.

                "I won't ever leave you."

                "I won't either."