After Jason's story the flight became as silent as the dead. No one really knowing how to start another conversation. Most of the heroes finding something else to focus on, or allowing themselves to drift off to sleep. Outside, the bright light of day drifted into the cool blacks and blues of night. Leaving the cabin bathed in the blue light of the holo-map in the common area.
Jason shifted. Rocking his form forward before relaxing back into a more comfortable position. Nuzzled against the corner of his seat and freeing up his legs. His sword was moved to lie against the bulkhead. His body forming a natural barrier between it and the common area. He had also long ago disengaged the lights that represented his eyes. Not wanting to bother the others around him. He was just about to fall asleep when a low, hesitant voice interrupted him.
"I'm…. sorry. For lashing out and yelling. I'm also sorry for the loss of your friend." Talon said. Looking a bit awkward and embarrassed.
Jason turned his head to give her his full attention, before speaking, "Thank you…. I'm sorry I didn't explain myself." He conceded.
Talon chewed her lip. Her face panning between her mentor, passed out on the floor, and him. Examining and choosing her words carefully before she continued. "I've been…..trained to be the best. Part of that was being compared to the best…. For years, all I heard was how much better he was. How he would have done things. How he would have acted. How I was an inferior copy. How I was just a shadow, meant to fade away into nothing."
Jason shifted again. This time turning his upper body towards her. "It's rough, isn't it? The comparisons, the criticism, the hurt of never being enough. When all you ever wanted to be was him."
Talon snapped to him. Staring at him with barely masked shock. Only for Jason to continue.
"I remember the first weeks of training. Every hard landing, missed punch, or ungraceful tumble would be met with, "He would have done it this way" or "Why can't you seem to grasp this? He did it on his second try." It's…..aggravating. Especially when the "him" would rather run you over with his car than actually take the time to talk to you….. But you want to know….the best advice I ever got?" Jason asked. Looking over to the girl who hadn't peeled her eyes away from him the entire time he talked
"You'll never be him. It wasn't said kindly or even politely. It was spat at me from one of the few people I thought to be my friend. But it was a wakeup call. I was trying so hard to be him that I lost me. So….. when I went back to training I started adding new and far more complicated fighting styles. Completely breaking from his acrobatic flare, in favor of more aggressive moves and strategies. I also trained harder, faster, and longer. No longer wanting to limit myself to just being him. I wanted to be better; I wanted to be me." Jason finished. Letting her digest his words.
She stared at him for a second. Before looking down at her mentor and then her suit. Wondering for the first time if she was trying to be Logan or Laura…... The bright yellow suit held no answers to her ponderings. So, she shoved away the thought. Locking it away until she was back in the tower with Gabby. Where she could ponder in silence.
"It's a good speech." She conceded with a blank look.
"Maybe." Jason answered with a shrug.
"This doesn't make us friends." Laura protested. Gaining a distorted chuckle from the man.
"Wouldn't dream of it. But I'll leave you with a final thought. No one is anyone's replacement." He responded. Letting his mind go back to his journey of learning that lesson.
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The plane touched down with a loud click. Before the cockpit was shrouded in the cover of some sort of building. Jason could hear the whirling of small motors and gears as the plane was pulled backwards. The heroes around him standing to their feet and migrating towards the ramp. Jason stood as well. Grabbing his sword and clipping it onto his back before following it up with the rifle. He then turned and waited with the rest of the group.
Eventually, they came to a halt and the ramp descended. Letting the Captain out first, who was followed by Widow and Iron man. Jason followed next with Talon on his right and the kid behind him. Bringing up the rear were Winter Soldier, Wolverine, and Hawkeye.
As they emerged, Jason looked to his left. Spotting a familiar building in the city's skyline. The Empire State Building lit up in the night as the lights of cars and other buildings passed below and behind it. He then turned again and spotted two new figures standing by the entrance to the tower.
One was another redhead. A bit older looking and dressed in a proper, white business blouse and black, pencil skirt. She was carrying some sort of tablet and was glaring at Iron Man a bit. Next to her stood another woman. Dressed just as professionally but in a black form fitting dress with long sleeves and ending just above the knees. She was also carrying a tablet but seemed to be splitting her attention between the captain and him, shooting him furtive glances every couple of seconds.
Jason stiffened and strode forth. Coming to a stop a few feet away from the group. Talon also joined him on his right, while the kid just passed them all completely. Mumbling something about being tired before Hawkeye brushed by to escort him inside. Wolverine then stepped forward to fill the position on Jason's left.
Talon looked over and said, "I'm going to go check on her and head to sleep. You good with him?"
Wolverine just snorted before answering, "I got him. Have a good night, kid. And say hi to the gremlin for me." With Talon nodding before turning to him and leaving him with a nod, which he returned. She then walked off into the tower. Leaving Jason with Wolverine and Winter Soldier.
Jason waited as the group debriefed. Casually looking around and back towards their jet. Which seemed to have folded up its wings and contorted itself onto a helipad behind them. He was pulled back towards the ongoing conversation when the short haired woman mentioned him.
"Cap, I thought we said no more assassins." She sighed as she looked at him. Taking in his weapons and armor which clearly screamed "killer".
"He's lost and confused. I thought it best to bring him back here to clear things up." The captain defended. Leaving the unspoken "and keep an eye on him" drifting into the void.
"You're too damn trusting Rogers. Even Tony has better self-preservation skills and he regularly blows up the lab." The woman sighed. Gaining an indigent "Hey!" from Iron Man. Breaking up whatever conversation was going on between him and the redhead.
"I just need a tablet and can be on my way ma'am." Jason said. Bringing everyone's attention to him.
"You aren't going anywhere. At least not until we debrief you and know more." She said as she jabbed a finger at him. Before turning and striding into the building. The heroes following after with Jason in tow.
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They had walked for a while. Passing what looked to be some sort of locker room and other locked doors. Which appeared to be mechanical in nature, if the lack of handles was any indication. The hallway itself had light cherry mahogany floors with white floorboards and navy blue walls. The doors in contrast looked to be solid steel. Breaking from the classy homey vide the walls put off.
Eventually the hallway opened up to a common room and shifted from the warmth of the hall to a more modern looking area. To his left there looked to be a large conference room. Shrouded behind clear glass and containing a long table and plush leather office chairs. To his right, the rest of the room spread before him. The far wall seemed to be made of floor to ceiling windows with a large terrace outside. In front of these windows stood another long table. Sporting a dozen or more chairs. To its right was a sprawling kitchen. Holding an industrial sized refrigerator and large island with a built-in sink. It also had four ovens and a restaurant style stove top.
The kitchen area then flowed into the family room. Which was sat a bit lower and allowing for a clean break from the kitchen. Within this area a large, black sectional lined the divot. With an assortment of matching couches scattered around. All of which faced a large TV and a series of six small TVs that lined the left and right of the main screen. All sat above a large fireplace and an ornate coffee table.
Finally, directly across from him was a large staircase that curved a bit to the right before a gentle curve brought it back to the left and up to a second floor. Which seemed to have similar floor to ceiling windows overlooking the common area. Containing a gym. Off to the stair's right was another hallway that Jason couldn't see.
Jason finished his quick observation before following the rest of the group into the conference room. The captain and black dress lady took a position at the head of the table while everyone else mingled around on the table's sides. Each finding a comfortable place to stand look between themselves, Jason, and the captain.
"Alright, let's get down to business. Who are you?" The black dress lady asked. Cutting through the room like a knife and making everyone turn to him.
Jason stiffened and fell into the "at-ease" position. "Agent Red, serial number ARH-001." Jason spouted robotically.
The black dress lady nodded before setting her tablet down and crossing her arms. "Alright, I'm not doing this with a red wall. So lose the helmet or we're going to have problems." She said, making Jason stiffen and blood run cold.
"Ma'am, project guidelines dictate that agent identities are classified above top secret under President Jackson's authority and ratification by congress." Jason defended and to which the woman narrowed her eyes.
"Well, "agent". Project Sekhmet doesn't exist. Nor does a President Jackson, Secretary of Defense Waller, or Gotham City. So…unless you think you can fight your way out of this tower, you're stuck here." The woman reasoned and further confirming Jason's theory.
"I figured that would be the case." He mumbled before returning to the conversation, "Ma'am, who controls the Avengers and what nations back them?"
The redhead woman now turned a quizzical face towards him, while the black dress lady merely raised an eyebrow before answering. "The Avengers aren't controlled by anyone. Their actions for the most part are currently unsanctioned and their only major backer is Stark Industries and the UN."
"So, a PMC?" Jason asked, a bit surprised at the answer.
The lady shrugged. Not really agreeing or disagreeing. "That's one way to label it. We prefer anti-criminal non-profit. But you're deflecting." She ended. Giving him a pointed glare.
"Ma'am, I'm concerned my identity could cause issues or be leaked to the public. I can't do my job properly if everyone knows who I am. I'm sure the Avengers can understand that." Jason said. Only to be met with a hearty chuckle from Wolverine.
"The only one of us with a secret identity is the kid. Everyone else here has had their faces plastered and pasted on every news site, paper, and blog from here to the moon. So, try again, soldier boy." He laughed.
"What Logan means to say is, that your identity won't become public knowledge if you don't wish it. We have the strongest encryption on the planet and twenty-four seven monitoring. Any breach attempts will be immediately noted and notified to us." The redhead soothed while taking another card away from him.
He shuffled uncomfortably. Trying to come up with another reason but knowing that faking a medical condition would only come back to bite him. With a final, dejected thought of "Shit!". Jason reached up and thumbed the release pads of his helmet. Disentangling his helmet from his head with a hiss.
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Natasha was expecting a lot of things when the man took off his helmet. A grizzled veteran, a disfigured soldier, or even some sort of alien. What she hadn't expected was a kid who was barely a few years older than Laura. His hair black and tousled with a white patch making up the center of his bangs and forehead.
His teal eyes flicked between them. Taking in their reactions as they were undeniably drawn to his most prominent features. A large, crooked "J" was CARVED into his cheek. Sitting on his cheek bone and directly under his left eye. Another scar began on his right lip and trailed upwards. Past his right eye and disappearing into his mop of hair near his ear. Natasha could hear Steve and Bucky draw in a breath next to her.
"Christ kid! What happened to you?!" Tony all but yelled from his position next to Pepper. Who was looking at the kid sadly.
Across from them, the kid shrugged. Placing his helmet on the table while answering, "Which time? You'll have to be more specific." He chuckled, no mirth to be found in his tone and sending Tony into a mental spiral. Steve, Logan, and Bucky didn't like that answer either based on their stoney faces.
"The "J" kid." Logan growled.
The kid tensed before glaring at Logan like he could reduce him to cinders with a stare. "It was a going away gift. One of many he left."
"He dead?" Bucky asked. Sounding cold and robotic.
"No." The kid growled darkly. While shooting Bucky a glare like he had personally insulted his family.
"How old are you?" Steve jumped in.
"Twenty-two? Maybe twenty-three." The kid answered.
"How don't you know your own age!" Tony yelled, flabbergasted at the kid. Who shrugged again.
"I had something happen a while back and I don't know how to classify six months. Smarter people than me have tried and not one of them could agree with one another."
"How long have you been doing this?" Natasha asked. Having already seen the similarities between him and herself from the Red Room.
"The soldier thing? About two years now. But I've been a vigilante for about a decade before that." The kid answered. Sounding unbothered.
"You've been doing this since you were ten?! Even the kid didn't start until he was fourteen!" Tony said. Losing his mind a bit more with each revelation.
"You can see why I have a problem with it now." He chuckled. Having Tony's sharp gaze snap to him.
"Do you…..Is this something you still want to do?" Steve stumbled. Looking at the boy with a bit of sadness. The kid shrugged again.
"I've been doing only this for about eight years now. I don't really want to stop if I can still help people."
"You don't want to try something else? Go to college? Get a degree or try for some other job?" Steve pressed.
"That all went up in flames a few years ago. Since then I've audited a few college classes and even enrolled in some night classes. But that was mostly for my own enjoyment. I'm not particularly inclined to change." The kid dismissed, a tinge of bitterness coloring his words.
"Kid! What the actual fuck happened to you?" Tony cried.
"I went back for the last fucking tire."
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Jason waited while they composed themselves again. Widow, the Captain, Soldier, Wolverine, and the black dress lady were sporting stoney expressions. Trying to contain themselves. While the redhead just looked at him pityingly. Iron Man on the other hand seemed to be on the edge of a panic attack.
"Ssssooo….Do I mention I'm from a different reality or universe now, or do we want to table that for tomorrow?" Jason asked sarcastically. Completely breezing by the past few minutes and flooring over whatever thoughts the heroes had.
"You're what?" Tony asked. Taking the lifeline of trying to solve a new scientific puzzle like a lifeline to a drowning man.
"From a different universe, or reality. It's kinda hard to tell without more information." Jason answered.
"Fri, scan him please." Tony said. A blue light appearing from the wall and trailing up and down Jason's figure in response.
"I'm detecting three metals which have never been seen on Earth, boss. Further, his resonance frequency doesn't match that of yours. I'd estimate a seventy two point eight percent chance he is telling the truth." A female voice answered the room.
"What's that?" Jason asked. Flicking a thumb towards the scanner.
"That's Friday. Tony's AI. She mans the entire tower and controls its functions." The redhead answered.
"What makes you so sure you're in an alternate universe?" Widow asked. Looking a bit perplexed at the events of the night.
"For one thing, you're not the JLA. Nor are you trying to arrest me for doing my job which is a nice change of pace. The biggest thing though is the year. Where I'm from, it's 2025." Jason explained, catching Wolverine mumble something about cable.
"So you're from thirteen years into the future?" Steve asked. Looking at him strangely.
"Or my reality is thirteen years ahead of yours. Either way it doesn't really matter all that much. I don't have a way back, and I'm guessing you don't either?" Jason prompted the room. Being met by silence before continuing. "So, what's the plan for the night?"
The black dress lady answered for the group. "We'll get you set up in one of the guest rooms. After we have Bucky escort you to the armory to disarm. You can keep your suit and sword, but the sword needs to stay in your room. I'll also have someone bring you some clothes for tonight and tomorrow morning. We can get you some new ones tomorrow. But afterwards, I'm going to ask you to stick around the tower until we can figure out what to do with you. Is that acceptable Mr….?" She trailed off.
"Jason and that's fine. Can I also have a tablet to conduct research in the meantime?" Jason asked. Already picking up his helmet and placing it under his arm.
"Of course. We'll also get you set up with a pass key so you can explore a bit. Finally, I'm Steve as I said before. That's Natasha, Bucky, Maria, Tony, Pepper, and Logan. I'm sure the others will introduce themselves once they know the situation or see you walking around." Steve said. Pointing at each of them in turn.
Jason nodded before looking at them all. "Nice to meet you." he said before turning to Bucky. "Just so you know, we're probably going to need some explosive safe storage for some of my gear." Jason said to Bucky. Who just cocked an eyebrow.