𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍 || 𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘎𝘰

   JAXON INHALED SHARPLY WHEN HIS EYES OPENED. Not making any sudden movements as he realized they were back in D.C. He blinked a few times, adjusting to the sun that blared down on his unkempt features. Dirt sank into the cuts that were scattered across his face. He was a complete and dishevelled mess.

"She's still alive." Jaxon turned his head to Steve, finding the man glancing over at him. Jason then looked in the back seat to find her laying with his jacket wrapped around her. "You got her out in time before passing out."

"Where are we heading?" Jaxon sighed.

"A friend's place," Steve replied. "He's clean and I trust him. Probably one of the only people we can rely on right now."

"One of the few that isn't dead and buried."

Steve didn't reply. Allowing Jaxon to think back to the dream. To what Zola said about Augustus. He was right, Jaxon had let it burn because of his destroyed moral compass. If he could take it back, he would. He killed two other agents to make sure he got that girl out of there. In return, a whole city went up flames and hundreds of thousands died.

"I saved a president's daughter trying to get the launch codes for the missiles that destroyed Augustus," Jason said. "I hoped that if I kept her alive, maybe she would give us what we needed. But I found out she was working with the Chinese and by the time I realized it, they had already hit the city."

For whatever reason, seeing Steve staring at him under that heated gaze back in the bunker left him feeling guilty. A bit ashamed of himself. "I never wanted those people to die."

"I never said you did."

"But the look you gave said enough," Jaxon replied just as fast. "You're Captain America. The protector of America, the Earth, you might as well be the protector of the universes." A short laugh fell from the man's lips as he ran a hand through his dusty hair. "And if I've lined these pieces up, I failed you."

Steve didn't respond. Opting to try and find the right response to give. But it slowly slipped away from him the longer they sat in silence. With the replacement of silence coming from Natasha, who finally awoke from her sleeping state. Jaxon didn't say anything, instead reaching back and taking the woman's hand. Feeling her squeeze in response, he glanced back at her.

Her hair was a mess and her eyes were barely able to fully open. Dust covered her cheeks with a few cuts here and there. She'd definitely seen better days, but still as beautiful as ever.

"You broken?" He asked as she inhaled and exhaled deeply.

"No. I'm good," she reassured with a smile. "Where are we going?"

"Steve's got an asset that we can hunker down with," Jax stated. "He's clean and isn't someone gunning for our heads."

"Oh, well, that's great to know," Natasha groaned as she slowly laid back down. "Wake me up when we arrive."

Jaxon smiled faintly, adjusting himself in the passenger seat and leaning back in his seat. Letting his eyes flutter shut in hopes of catching some sleep as well.

Eventually, when the three of them did arrive, Jaxon had retreated to the kitchen. Snaking a beer from the fridge and settled at the table as he discarded his jacket. Not caring about the constant glances from Sam, Steve's asset who stood by the stove cooking breakfast.

Judging by the pictures and medals in the special displays, Sam had been a pilot. Jaxon never liked the idea of planes or helicopters. He always saw that as the worst way he could possibly die. But he held high respect for the ones doing the job to transport troops in and out of the battlefield, or fighting in the skies.

"You served with the SEALs?" The question shook the man from his gaze. Glancing at the pilot who motioned to the tattoo on Jaxon's upper right arm.

Nodding, Jaxon sipped from his beer. "Um, yeah. Served with team 6. Then I worked in the Quantum program."

"No shit," Sam chuckled. "I thought that shit was a myth. Heard stories about the division, but never thought it to be true."

"Well, don't be too quick to pass stuff up like that," Jaxon said. "Very real and very real pain in my ass for the past couple of days."

Sam brought over two plates of pancakes and hashbrowns before taking a seat. "Off the book type of ops?" He inquired quietly, noticing the slight pain in Jaxon's eyes.

The man glanced at him before nodding silently, taking a swig of his beer. "Can't remember anything before I woke up outside of New York. None of the ops besides the ones that my mind allows me to see and no prior knowledge of my past besides my name and all my individual shit," he said. "Next thing I know, I got people on my ass."

Not much could be said any further as Natasha and Steve came from Sam's bedroom where they had taken turns showering and getting themselves cleaned up. Natasha saw Jax's dishevelled state and frowned as she came to his side. Her hand rested on his shoulder softly with her thumb lifting up to wipe some dirt from his cheek.

The touch made him look up at her, giving a small smile as she smiled back. "You should get cleaned up," she told him.

"I'll be alright," he reassured. "I was primarily focused on you getting cleaned up. But I'll be alright, don't worry."

She wanted to protest, but that same convincing smile of his won. Her hand brushed against your shoulder softly before she stepped away and grabbed herself a plate of food. All the while Jason finished his dish and put it in the sink as everyone got settled in the living room.

Natasha sighed as she sat down on the couch. "So, the question is, who at S.H.I.E.L.D. could launch a domesticated missile strike?" She questioned aloud.

"Pierce," Steve answered.

"Who happens to be sitting on top of the most secure building in the world," she also added.

"But he's not working alone," Steve stated. "Zola's algorithm was on the Lemurian Star."

Jaxon sighed. "Whilst that may be true, there are multiple people in his pocket, Steve," he pointed out. "But if it's someone he trusts, it has been someone with higher authority. Maybe someone that he keeps close and has been within S.H.I.E.L.D. for a while."

Natasha's lips parted in realization as she glanced between the two men. "That would mean Jasper Sitwell. He was on the Carrier when we reclaimed it."

"So, the real question is, how do the three most wanted people in Washington kidnap a S.H.I.E.L.D. officer in broad daylight?" Steve inquired.

"The answer is, you don't." Sam came over, placing down a file and picture in front of Steve. Jaxon rose from his spot and joined Natasha's side to get a better look.

"What's this?" Steve asked.

"Call it a resume."

Taking the photo, Jaxon saw it was a picture of Sam and what seemed to be his co-pilot. But the location seemed familiar with the stickers on the back of the Humvees.  Clenching his eyes shut as his head ached from the sight.

"13 confirmed dead."

The voice rang through his head as he exhaled heavily, blinking rapidly. It was so familiar, this photo. Only guessing that it had some connection to him somehow with his time serving with the SEALs.

"Is this Bakhmala?" Natasha asked. "The Khalid Khandil mission, this was you? You didn't say he was a Pararescue."

Steve took the photo and glanced back up at Sam. "This Riley?" Sam nodded with a quiet confirmation.

"I heard they couldn't bring in the choppers because of the RPGs," Natasha explained. "What did you use? A stealth chute?" She inquired.

"No. These." He handed the file to Steve before looking at Jaxon. "Riley and I actually came through and helped your squad out. You were there to capture or kill Khalid. But I'm guessing you don't remember, right?"

The man shook his head, swallowing the lump in his throat.

Looking through the files, Steve raised a brow and looked up at Sam. "I thought you said you were a pilot?"

"I never said pilot," Sam replied with a smirk.

There was a clear doubt in Steve with the offer, mulling the options over if he wanted to bring another person in on the mission, who didn't deserve to possibly die because of this. "I can't ask you to do this, Sam," he said. "You got out for a good reason."

"Dude, Captain America needs my help. There's no better reason to get back in."

Taking the file from Steve, Jaxon scanned over the photos of the abstract intricately designed flight pack. "Where do we get our hands on these?" He inquired, eyes flickering up to the man.

"The last one is at Fort Meade," Sam said. "Behind three guarded and a 12-inch steel wall."

Glancing at the two former assassins, they gave a casual shrug and Steve sighed. "Shouldn't be a problem."

Before the conversation could go any further, Sam snapped his fingers in remembrance as he pointed at Jaxon. "I also got something for you."

Frowning, Jaxon watched as Sam jogged back down the hall and to what he guessed was his office. Soon returned with a brand new file and motioned him over. "Now, I remembered you said something about not letting some of the myths go-"

"Did you encourage him to be a conspiracy nut?" Natasha whispered to Jaxon.

"I did no such thing, red."

"And I remembered before I left, a buddy of mine came across some classified files that he gave me." Flipping open the file, Sam motioned the paper.

Jaxon still wore a frown, walking over and staring down at the paper and eyes widening at the sight of the suit. His mind became jumbled with the sound of voices and Sam's mixture in as he heard the man say, "The designs were made by Stark before hopping out of the military business. I think whoever is at the top of the food chain for the Quantum Program made his designs come to life."

"Hey, Carter! What do you think of the suit, brother?" The yell could be heard over the intercom as the young assassin rolled his shoulders.

"Tight fit, but quite interesting."

Hurley laughed softly over the intercom. "Don't get too attached. This suit is only going to be used for important missions," he announced. "Catherine and I thought it to be good that you ran through the specifics instead of throwing you out to the wolves."

Jaxon's body was covered in armour plating that was extremely lightweight but had been proven to take many rounds of ammunition. His head had a balaclava and a set of NVGs that appeared from nanobots. Underneath the armour was casual camo clothing that would change the environment he was in. Currently, he was in a grey testing room, so, the amour and clothing turned to the same grey. "And you said the suit's other functions derive from my powers."

"That's right, kid,"  Hurley said. "So, the suit contains a large majority of your powers. So, when you use them, they'll automatically tap into what it is you need. This is why the implant in the back of your skull connects to the helmet."

Pulling a knife from his thigh sheath, he looked down at the blade that was pristine silver steel. On the spine of the blade, jagged edges of grooved-out teeth were before it thinned out near the end. But the edge is what caught his eye. From the hilt and 3 inches, it was steel. The rest glowed an orange that seemed to have essence slithering from it.

"Your knife derives from the power of the special gloves we made for you that help you control your powers and imbue the blade, as you can see," Hurley explained. "Everything is connected to you."

"Jax?" Natasha's voice freed him from his memory. Breaths were being choked up as he stared down at the all too familiar suit. He stared at her for a moment before looking at Sam.

"Is that at Fort Meade as well?" He asked, quickly earning a nod.

Jax sniffled, inhaling deeply as he turned to Steve and Nat, who wore worried looks. But all they were met was a determined look in your eyes.

"We're getting that suit."