𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍 || 𝘜𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵

JASON NEVER UNDERSTOOD OR WANTED TO UNDERSTAND HIS BROTHER. Raph had been an enigma for as long as he could remember. His older brother not only was an asshole, but also a selfish bastard. When the Blip happened, not once did Jason get a postcard or a visit from the man. For all he knew, since the funeral, the guy could be dead. But Jason knew better and knew his brother would find a way to ruin his life and everything encompassing it.

It wasn't like he wanted to hate Raph. It had never been his intention, but the thought of his older brother made his blood boil. Just seeing the family photos, his fake smile, and the moments when he showed an ounce of love, all pissed him off. Because he didn't know if any of it was true. All he got for an answer was Raph up and leaving without a word to him. Not a goodbye and not an "I love you, kid."

But still, to this day, Carlton and Lilian brought him up like no problem. Able to reminisce on the times when the guy had been around and when he was happy. But at this point, Jason was beginning to find his brother unrecognizable. He saw one side and they saw the other.

Walking into the mansion, Jason stood by the door waiting for his mother. She hadn't said a word and neither had he for the entire ride. And even now, she didn't make eye contact or exchange anything.

Carlton appeared, entering the main hall with a sigh of relief. "Where the hell did you go?"

She didn't answer, walking past him and towards the kitchen. Carlton followed his sister with his gaze until his attention snapped to the front door that slammed shut. Jason tore off his jacket and hung it up and walked in the direction of the living, Carlton slowly following in tow.

"What happened out there?" The man asked.

"Well, my mother decided it would be a good idea to come searching for me when I went M.I.A." Jason let out a laugh as he walked to the alcohol tray and began to pour himself a drink. "A funny thing happened as well. One of my drivers was working for Joseph. Tried to kill me in the car."

"Fucking hell." Carlton ran a hand through his hair. Although he was against what Jason did, when his sister was involved and threatened, he would do the same as he suspected his nephew to have done. There are just some lines you never cross and that was with your own flesh and blood. "Did you kill him?"

"What else was I supposed to do? Talk to him and ask him to lay down his weapon?" Jason asked sarcastically. "But yeah, I killed him. I need you to run background checks on everyone within the Samson umbrella. Drivers, Maids, Chefs - everything. The last thing I need is to be killed in my bed."

He didn't hesitate to start doing so, leaving the room and likely going to the cave. Jason stayed in the living room, sipping his drink for a few moments. But it was quickly short-lived by the sound of the front gate buzzer.

Making his way to the monitor near the front doors, the camera broad view gave him a sight of who was waiting. None other than Clint sat on the edge of the vehicle, a cup of coffee in his hand as he yawned tiredly.

Jason could just ignore it, and act like they weren't there. But he knew to expect Clint of being unpredictable. If he left him at the gate, the Avenger might just hop over and make his way on foot. It just confused him why the hell Kate wasn't accompanying him.

With a side, Jason pressed one of the buttons and the gate began to slide open. Clint looked up at the camera, raising his cup in thanks before making his way back into the vehicle and disappearing from the view.

"Would you like me to welcome the guest, sir?"

"Would you, Felix-" Jason cut short when he turned around and found the man is not there. His eyes widened in the realization of his mistake.

He closed his eyes. Lips clamped shut as he inhaled shakily and shook his head. Reopening his eyes and swallowing the lump in his throat. He hadn't even noticed but his hand shook uncontrollably. Squeezing his hand into a fist, Jason bit his bottom lip.

It'd been a week or so since Felix had passed and Jason hadn't taken a moment to grieve. If anything, it fell on the backlines of his mind. Now beginning to infect and erode into his daily life where he was starting to find it hard without his loved one by his side. First; Bethany. Then his father and finally; Felix. Two are dead and one has fallen off the face of the Earth and living elsewhere in the world. He was beginning to feel like he was the bad guy.

Standing outside with his glass of Whiskey, Jason sat on the front steps of the Estate. Heard the engine of the vehicle approach until finally reached the front. Driving around the fountain in the centre of the driveway and stopping opposite to Jason.

Clint stepped out, eyes taking in the beautiful architecture. It'd been built by Jason's great-great-grandfather when he came into franchising the company. Originally, Samsom Enterprise wasn't solely tech research. Once, it used to represent superheroes and give upcoming supes a chance at stardom and to be sought upon for things normal humans could do themselves. But that quickly was dissolved when Jason's father came into power.

"Where's Kate?" Jason inquired, regaining Clint's attention as the Archer shrugged his bag over his shoulder with his bow in hand.

"Uh, family problems," Clint replied. "Listen, is there any chance I can bunk here tonight? The wife suggests that I kick my feet up and rest. Can't exactly do that in a city where there are people looking for me."

He watched the young man tilt his neck, closing his eyes as cracked his neck. Rolling his shoulders back before silently shaking his head and standing to his feet and opening the front door and motioning for the archer to come in.

Doing his best, Jason had gathered everything that was practically cold and hauled it down to the cave where a proper living space could be found with a TV, couch, small bar, and kitchen. Meanwhile placing all the frozen food down on the coffee table, Clint scanned his surroundings with a deep fascination.

The cave was huge and it made Clint wonder how the estate above hadn't caved in and crashed down in here. But the multiple stations for intelligence, food, weapons, and practice, really were something for a hero. It made the whole idea of Jason's prior explanations that much real. Not only that but Jason's genuine outlook on life and the lifestyle he lived. Evidence boards with an interconnected thread of the Tracksuit Mafia. Reach up to a picture of Joseph Martello, who now seemed to be one of the heads with one other with him.

"I didn't build this place." Clint turned to the young man, who crossed his arms over his chest. "My friend, he, uh, he built this place from the ground up. Taught me everything I know." Jason laughed, grabbing a nearby quarter and twiddling it between his fingers. "Besides how to help people."

Snapping his fingers, the quarter soared through the air and stabbed into the evidence board. Clint looked between the quarter and the man and hummed. "Where is he now?"

Jason pursed his lips. "He's dead," he answered quietly. "Killed by Joseph."

That made Clint grow silent as Jaxon moved past him and towards the kitchen. And that's where he stayed for a large priority of his time whilst Clint rested, watching the news. Clint felt weirdly worried about the kid. Jason could handle himself on his own, but Clint felt an obligation. A silent contract that he hadn't been aware he signed off on. As well as that, he wanted to help. If it is teaching Jason how to be a better hero or helping him with his emotions.

It wasn't hard to tell the kid was a hothead at times. He still had that part of him he had to harness. But as well as running from things of his past. Jason shook them off like they were no big deal, Clint picked up on it quite easily. And it reminded him a lot of what Jaxon felt the last time he saw him. So quiet and reserved with himself. Hiding so much underneath his thick skin and orange whisps.

"Hey, uh, Jace?" Clint called out, gaining the kid's attention from the smoothie he was making. "Can you come and sit for a second?"

Doing as asked, Jason whipped up the smoothie and walked over. Handing it to the archer before collapsing on the couch with his feet kicking up onto the coffee table. "If you are about to tell me what is going on with my mom and you then-"

"Your mother and I were together a long while back." The upfront answer left Jason's eyes wide and mouth ajar. Staring at the archer who held nothing but a deadpan expression.

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me?"

Despite the sudden outburst from Jason, who was now pacing, Clint continued. "She was former S.H.I.E.L.D. when we met. She was a tech expert and helped Fury with a lot of what came to fruition. We were together 24 years ago, it's in the past."

"And what about your wife now?" Jason asked. "Does she know that you are in the house with your ex?"

"Well, uh..." Clint blew a raspberry, leaning back in the chair and avoiding all eye contact with the man. "Your mom is kinda her ex as well?"

"What the shit?!"

Jason's mind was beginning to overload with all this information. All the touching, the information of them still have one another's phone number, Lilian hinting at her having more experience in this field than Jason had seen. It's all connected. But it did surprise him that his mother was able to score Clint Barton, as well as Clint's present wife. He was quite impressed, honestly.

But his pacing stopped when he squinted, licking his lips and pointing at the man. "You said you two were last together 24 years ago, right?" The man nodded, brows beginning to scrunch together. "Now, don't give me all the details, but, um... Was there any chance you three had parted ways - um - sensually?"

Clint stared at the man in shock at the question as Jason made a circle with his index and thumb whilst lifting his other index and slowly beginning to move his finger through. "You know-"

"Yes, we did!" Clint exclaimed. "Don't do that - Ever!" He added as the boy swallowed the lump in his throat. "Why does that matter? Why do you wanna know that?"

"Because I'm 23," Jason answered. "Now, I'm not going to jump to conclusions and such because I don't need to have a heart attack, but-"

"You think I'm your real dad."

The question hung in the air and neither were wanting to grab ahold of it. If it was the case, Clint could finally chalk up all the precision Jason had to born genetics. But that was a big if. After all, it was hard to lay out the timeline after Lilian left him and Laura. The two felt like the time dragged on longer than both of them were capable of even admitting. A small depression was what Laura had called it one night where they had missed the addition of warmth that used to lay between them.

Clint stared at the young man and could see the desperation in his eyes for an answer. A confirmation or a denial. Either or, Jason would take it. Just something to ease his mind that was beginning to fizzle with all the possibilities.

So, he inhaled deeply and stared at Jason. But before he could say a word, a honking could be heard in the distance. The pair turned to see a beat-up truck come from the entrance of the subway. Kate emerged from the cab and smiled brightly at the pair. A tree in the flatbed with a box of lights able to be seen. "I come bearing gifts, friends!"

Jason bit the inside of his cheek, glancing at Clint before looking back at Kate. About to walk over before the archer caught his arm. "Let me follow this up with your mom," he whispered. "We'll figure it out."

There was a small glimmer of hope there. Jason didn't know why he cared. But maybe it was the hope for his mother to finally be happy again. Get back what she left behind. Or maybe it was just Jason wanting a family again. Something to look forward to after a long day.

But Jason pushed that to the back of his mind as Kate had come over handing them both a Christmas embroidered shirt, a box of pizza, and a bag full of movies. A whole Christmas marathon. Somewhere in that time, Clint had told the pair about Jack laundering money for the Tracksuits under the Sloane company name.

Although it was big information, Jason didn't let it bother him too much. It just meant that Jack was part of an evergrowing list formulated in his mind that he would scratch off with time. But Jason was quick to pull out the beers and situate himself on the couch where he cracked open a cold one.

"Okay, cops," Kate began, finishing her small illustration of their current situation on Jason's evidence board. "We need to get the cops off my back. TSM, we need to get them to leave us alone. And we need to figure out why and how Jack is connected to it all."

Clint, who had stopped listening to feed the dog, perked up his ears. "Yeah, right."

"This is the part where you finish my sentence with a plan," Kate whispered.

"Planning's really not my thing. Are you sure that's dry erase?" Clint's question caused the girl to try to wipe the marker away, to only have it stick.

She looked to Jason, who glared at her playfully. "You're paying for my new evidence board," he joked. "But yes, figuring out how Jack is connected is important. But I think we need to figure out who is at the helm."

"Well, other than Martello, we have very little to go upon with," Kate pointed out. "But I have a feeling that they're somehow connected with Maya. If she doesn't listen to Kazi, then it has to be someone close, right?"

The boy shrugged, leaning back into the cushioning of the couch and turning his attention to the TV. Feeling the couch dip with Kate laying her head down on his thigh, staring up at the rocky ceiling. He looked down at her with a small smile, tilting his head to stare down at the girl. Her gaze flickered to him, lips curling into a grin.

It'd been a long time since he got to experience Christmas with people. Or anyone for that matter. It always ended with him hiding away in this cave and working on his vehicle until he eventually passed out on the couch. And even then, he didn't get gifts from Carlton or his mother.

His last gift was a Gewehr 43 and that was from Felix. A weapon passed down from his father and since Felix had practically spent years with the boy, raising him, he saw him as more of a son. So, he gave the boy the weapon as a gift. Jason hid it away a long time ago, seeing it as more of a sacred item than anything worthy of being used in battle.

But spending this time with Clint and Kate made him realize how much he had missed out on. Especially the time he hadn't spent with Kate as their families always got together around this time and celebrated it together. Those were the good days when Jason never thought of having to do anything horrible such as killing someone. But times had changed. Now, all he wanted was to keep the ones he had left close. Primarily Kate.

So, he hadn't thought too hard about allowing his hand to rest on her cheek. Thumb gently stroked her cheek as he put his attention back onto the screen. Kate stared at him for a few moments. Her bottom lip was caught between her teeth, attempting to keep her cool and hold back the flush that adorned her cheeks.

The trio conversed with one another about trick arrows and the snap trick that both Clint and Jason were able to do. And the first time in a while, Jason felt at peace. Smiling and laughing as he watched Kate exclaim and jump around like a kid when she successfully did it. And it warmed Jason's heart seeing Clint just as happy.

Collapsing in her previous position beside Jason, side pressed against her and legs pulled and resting over his legs. "All right. Best shot you ever took?" Kate inquired, sipping from her slushie.

"Uh, the one I didn't take," Clint answered.

"What does that mean?" Kate inquired curiously.

"Uh, it means... Never mind, shouldn't have said it," Clint replied, wanting to deflect the conversation.

"Oh, come on, you can't do that," Kate whined.

"Never mind, it's nothin'."

"What? Come on, consider it my christmas present," Kate tried to compromise.

"No, it's not the right time."

"Yes," Kate said. "Look, it'll be a good story, I'm sure-"

"It's not a good story, okay?" Clint's change in demeanour and tone shifted the atmosphere drastically. But Jason sent a sympathetic look to the older man, who pursed his lips and side. "It's...about the time I met someone. I was sent to take her out. And when I got there, when it was time... Um... I couldn't do it," he explained. "I just had this feeling she wanted out. Turns out, I was right."

Jason pursed his lips, swirling his can of beer. "You mean Natasha?"

The man nodded, sniffling. "Yeah," he answered quietly. "She was the best there was. A great agent, a wonderful mother, and a great wife to Jaxon. She deserved more time with him and Leah."

Kate sighed softly, glancing at Jason who stayed silent. "I'm sorry."

"It's all right," Clint reassured. "It's, uh... When you do what I do for a living, it, um... It's just a game of managing loss, right? So...."

The cave system was quiet, the only sound able to be heard came from the TV. Meanwhile, the trio sat and watched quietly.

"Did you lose your family in the Blip?" Kate answered in a soft tone.

Clint nodded. "Yeah. Like half the world."

Jason swallowed the lump in his throat, reminiscing on the five years. The solitude he felt without his parents around to greet him in the morning. Not only that but not able to find the strength to get out of bed in the morning because of it. Everyone around the world was going through the same thing, but his outlook on it made it feel like he was the only one suffering. When in actuality, everyone felt the same as he did. Depressed and alone.

"God, that must've been devastating," Kate muttered.

"Yeah, there are no words," Clint said with a shaky inhale, shaking his head with pursed lips.

"Is that where you met the Ronin?" The question grasped its hold on the cave like a rope around their hearts. Squeezing and pulling for far too much time as the two young adults stared at Clint quietly. His silence comes as a truth untold and leaves Kate more devastated than Jason. "It's you, isn't it?"

"Everybody dealt with the Blip in their own way," Clint said. "I continued to do what I was trained to do."

"Protect people."

"Hurting people," Clint corrected the girl. "Investigating first, but in the end, my job has always been to hurt people."

"You were a hero."

"I was a weapon," Clint replied. "I was aimed by the right people at the right targets, so..."

"Look, you made mistakes, but those are behind you," Kate reasoned.

"No, it's tied to me." His thousand-yard stare was held before he finally looked at the pair. "Tied to my family. That's why I'm here. And I can't go home till I fix it."

Everyone grew silent once more as Kate glanced at Jason, who met her gaze for a moment before shaking his head. She sighed, playing with her nails as Clint glanced at the pair. "I really appreciate what you two did tonight," he thanked softly. "It means a lot."

He sniffled, wiping his chin. "You know, you two should get some rest. You two got a big day tomorrow."

Kate shifted, inhaling deeply before nodding. "Yes, Boss. Good night."

"'Night," Clint muttered, eyes focused on the TV.

She walked away, leaving Jason and Clint to sit in momentary silence. When she was out of earshot, Jason stood to his feet and began to walk away. But he stopped short, placing his hand on the man's shoulder.

The action was a surprise to Clint, who had expected to be seen differently by the pair. But if anything, Jason knew what he went through. "If you need anything, the kitchen is all yours. The bathroom is up the stairs and to your left."

Clint nodded in thanks as Jason gave a sad smile and started to walk away, but Clint called out to him. "Hey, Jace?" The boy turned to him, humming. "I don't want you to think differently of me now with the possibility of you being my son and me being the Ronin-"

"Clint." The man went silent, surprised to find Jason smiling softly. "Nothing will change. You are still one of the most influential people on the planet. You made decisions that aren't great, but that doesn't mean you are a horrible person. My mom sees that. I see that and Kate will see that."

A small smile appeared on Clint's face as he nodded. "I just want you to know, that this path you have gone down for revenge and all that, it doesn't bring back the people you lost," Clint explained. "I just want you to know that because I care."

Sighing, Jason nodded before walking away. He'd heard it all before from Carlton and Kate now. But hearing it from Clint, someone who lost his family during the Blip and killed people, felt more meaningful than anything else.

Jason had taken the elevator up to the ground level and quietly emerged. Walking the empty corridors of the estate until he finally made it to his bedroom. Entering and finding Kate quietly sat upon the edge of his bed, deep within her thoughts.

He carefully tore the embroidered shirt off and walked to one of his dressers and began to pull out clothes. Clearly able to tell that the thought of her idol being seen as a man people feared did change a few things from what she thought him to be. But that was the line of business that they couldn't judge. Clint had been a grieving man and he decided to do what he was made to do. He knew of his mistakes and that was something Jason couldn't judge Clint for.

Walking over, Jason placed a comforting hand on Kate's shoulder, shaking her free from her thoughts. "You can change in the bathroom. I'll go take the spare room-"

"Can you stay here tonight?" Kate asked softly, hesitantly meeting his gaze.

It took a moment, but Jason nodded quietly. Kate got up and got changed in the bathroom. Wearing one of Jason's large t-shirts and a pair of his basketball shorts that practically slid down to the middle of her thighs if she didn't hold them up. When she came out, Jason was already under the sheets with his back facing her. No shirt on and only a pair of shorts.

Kate slid under the blankets, facing Jason to see the multiple scars on his back. Their pale appearance stood out from his usual tanned skin. And with his body blocking the moonlight allowing Kate to see more clearly, she was sure there was more than what her eyes allowed her to see. She wished to reach out and feel them under her fingertips. Wanting to hear the stories behind each of them.

There had been a few things she'd been keeping wraps since she saw him at the auction. But seeing more of him, understanding more of him, everything was coming back to her. The near kiss they shared only caused her feelings to finally reach the boiling point where she was having trouble hiding them anymore. And it seemed that Jason shared them as much as she did.

Suddenly, Jason rolled over and faced her. Her eyes shot wide when he hovered above her, his eyes shut and shaky breaths falling from his lips. But she said nothing, merely laying there and willing to let him make the first move.

And when the silence had drawn on too long and the goosebumps erupted across Kate's skin in anticipation, she gave up and cupped his face, bringing him down to meet her lips. The kiss was instant and all bars were destroyed dividing them. Their tongues clashing against one another and exploring one another entirely.

Jason broke the kiss to nip at Kate's neck. Situating himself between her legs that she spread to accommodate his large frame that towered over her. "Jason," she breathed, chest heaving out air as he moved down her body calculatingly. His hands slipped under her shirt to softly grasp her sides. The texture of his calloused hands caused Kate's heart to thump loudly against her ribcage.

His lips trailed down her stomach, kissing and sucking softly at her flesh with his eyes focused on her features. Watching her face twist and contort in displays of pleasure. He shimmied the shorts down her smooth legs and tossed them to the side. The black pair of panties that clothed her heat were discarded soon after to join the quickly growing pile of clothes.

Kate sat up on her forearms, watching Jason softly kiss the inside of her thighs. The feeling of his trimmed beard scratching gently against her skin caused the girl to hum softly as he ever so slowly grew closer to where she desperately needed him. "I love you, Kate."

The confession was forgotten with Kate moaning, head rolling back with Jason's tongue lapping her slit. Lips comfortably wrapped around her clit where he sucked and flicked his tongue sensually. Kate's body was on fire with her chest rising and falling rapidly, but Jason looked calm. His eyes every so often closed with a low hum vibrating through his chest at the taste of her until his eyes would focus on her.

But Kate didn't care much about what she looked like anymore. One of her hands grabbed the back of his head and pulled her closer. Needing more if even possible.

Now, it wasn't like Kate was inexperienced because she's had sex. But it would be a lie if she never imagined once and a while it had been Jason instead whoever she was with at the time. Over the years, she saw him on TV and saw how much he had grown and how his physique had drastically changed. She had always wanted him.

But the real deal was something she had experienced. No guy had been able to put her mind in a muddied mess and made her enjoy this. Her body felt as light as a feather and her body vibrated with bliss. The only word able to come close to what she was feeling was spiritual.

The growing knot in her stomach tightened with each flick of his tongue against her bundle of nerves and thrust inside her. Moans and choked whimpers fell from her lips with her fingers curling and grabbing a handful of his hair. Legs beginning to twitch and warning him of the impending result of his skillfulness.

"So beautiful," he praised quietly, thumb reaching up to rub the girl's clit. Enjoying the way her body was so responsive to his touch. Her back arching with a cry as he increased the pace. "You are so addictive, Kate."

Hearing Jason's praise, and his approval, sent butterflies tickling the inside of her stomach. Enough that she was sure it would help her fly away. And when her orgasm slammed into her, Kate's throat closed up as her face scrunched up. Her legs tried to clamp around Jason's head, but Jason used both his hands to keep them apart. Enjoying the feeling of them shaking under his hold as Kate moaned loudly, unbothered by the fact many others slept under the same roof.

He just continued to suck softly and help Kate through the high and eventually bring her back down to the ground. When she did, Kate was panting with half-lidded eyes. Jason climbed up and hovered above her with a smile. "How was that?" He inquired softly.

"Shut up," Kate laughed tiredly, tapping his chest. He laughed as well, holding the same position as the girl stared up at him. Her lips curled to a smile as she cupped his face softly. Nails gently scratched his beard as he closed his eyes, humming in contentment with the contact. "I love you too."

The confession, the shared feelings, had been enough for Jason to smile softly. Leaning down and kissing her softly, passionately. Kate's arms slowly curled around his neck and pulled him incredibly closer.

And soon after, Kate was moaning once more with the sheets covering both her and Jason. His soft and slow thrusts showed a side of him she wasn't used to. In fact, none of this was what she expected was capable from Jason Samson.

His lips sucked and his teeth nipped at her neck. Marking her and likely something she would get mad at him for in the morning. But she couldn't much care about much as of right now. Her nails dug deep into his back and crossed over the scars that adorned his flesh. She was so focused on the feeling of his cock filling her to the brim. Bumping the right spots inside of her that were already on track to causing another orgasm to drown her.

But one thing she was sure of was that if this was what had been missing out on for all these years - All of the love that Jason was capable of giving her, then she never wanted to leave or let him go. She needed him as much as he needed her. They were two bolts to the same machine. If they weren't together, nothing would work.

So, she was in love. Shamelessly and helplessly in love with man that she couldn't go another day without.