Chapter 5
The little suburban library was dark, quiet, and long closed, or long before opening hours, at three in the morning.
The perfect time and place for an assassin of over sixty years experience to do some quiet research on the people that the friend from his lost and vague childhood had given himself to.
Howard Stark & Wife Killed In Car Crash!
The newspaper headlines shouted out catching the soldier's eye unexpectedly from amidst the list of hits on the internet search.
'That's not right' His memory may be missing a great many number of things but Howard Stark's death was sharp and clear.
'.." Now, you bastard! Do it!"...'
A Mercy Killing. Compelled from an assassin who had no mercy.
Howard Stark(JR) and his wife Maria-....
Howard's son. That explained things better.
...coroner reports state that both drivers were heavily intoxicated-...
" Tony's got way better computers at The Tower." The archer broke the silence the same way his arrows did targets. " Although with JARVIS and all I guess I can see why it would seem like a bad idea to try and dig into Stark's past there." Barton continued talking even as he noiselessly hopped off the top of a high and heavy old bookcase into sight.
" I could have shot you both just now." The legendary killer pointed out unfazed without even glancing in the direction of the redhead coming up behind him.
"Naw, you really couldn't have. You could have tried though."
Stalemate.
A newspaper article with a large picture of a group of aircraft flying in the distance popped up next on the still continuing to scroll screen.
"Many people thought all that fuss was made because Tony was very wealthy and that the military wanted its top weapons designer back. Only a handful realized it was Rhodes, Potts, and Jarvis....as well as JARVIS who would not stop searching using any and all resources they could to do it." Romanov tilted her chin indicating the preserved image of an event none of them were involved in as if he older assassin was meant to see some significance there.
" Steve was trapped in an iceberg Barnes. That doesn't count as giving up." Barton softly continued.
" It wouldn't have mattered. James 'Bucky' Barnes was already dead." And yet he still felt something frozen inside him crack and break.
" Bullshit. So is Clint Barton and that kid still does most of my talking." A maniac grin flashed wild, dark, and broken across the easygoing face before melting into something softer as the archer flicked his eyes over to take in his partner when her movement caught his focus.
"Now lets get you back to Steve. He's having a Tony and Loki inspired freak-out that would probably end better if you were there to ease him out of it."