LATER THAT DAY, Clint, Maggie, and Kate stopped by Grills's apartment, which was a place the fireman was more than willing to let them hold up in.

The man fed Pizza Dog and made him do tricks. Kate was in awe as Clint sat down and ate his cereal.

"Let me try," Kate said and grabbed a treat. She faced Pizza Dig. "Dance."

The dog didn't listen and simply held out his paw.

"No, dance."

Again, he didn't listen. She gave him the treat anyway.

"You made it look so easy and cool." Kate told Grills, to which he responded with a laugh.

"Yeah, Grills is cool." She added before looking back at him. "You can cook, you can LARP, you can put out fires."

"Ah. Stop it." He chuckled and continued eating.

Kate's phone vibrated again and she got a text message mid-call. She looked at it and saw that it was from an unknown number.

Kate Bishop. I found out who hired Masters.

With her name alone, she knew who it was from: Yelena. She glanced at Maggie.

"Dude, it's Yelena. How'd she get my number?"

"Like she said, she has her ways," Maggie answered. "But most likely the internet. Everything's on the internet nowadays."

Kate awaited her next message as the three dots continued to load.

Eleanor Bishop.

Thought you deserved to know.

Kate let out a gasp after reading the message. Seconds later, Yelena sent a video and the thumbnail shook her to her core as well. Clint raised a brow upon seeing her reaction.

"Kate?" Clint asked.

She let out a shuddered breath and slid the phone toward him. "Look at this. Who's that with my mom?"

Clint looked at the video's thumbnail. He scratched his chin and nodded.

"That's the guy we've been worried about this whole time..."

"...Kingpin."

Kate let out an exhale and took the phone back. Immediately, she played the video that was sent to her.

Wilson Fisk walked into the room. It was already occupied by Eleanor Bishop and another enforcer of his who escorted the lady to the office. The building they were in wasn't his tower but a smaller building that he owned nearby.

"Ms. Bishop." The large man with a cane greeted.

"Mister Fisk." She greeted back with a handshake.

Wilson motioned toward his enforcer. "Leave us."

He obliged and left the room. Fisk sat down behind the desk and Eleanor returned to her seat across from him.

"What can I help you with, Eleanor?"

"We've had a good relationship, haven't we, Wilson?"

"Yes."

"I've never asked questions. I've always done what was told."

Fisk nodded. "What I'd expect when there's a debt, and your husband owed a small fortune."

"Which I have repaid tenfold by now." Eleanor replied.

"All the while doing pretty well for yourself. Like you said, it's been a good relationship...which is why I'm pretty confused where you're headed with this. We could've...spoken...during the festivities tonight."

"I handled Armand like you asked. I hired the mercenary for you to divert the attention away from your business. My fiancée is taking the fall for Sloan. But my daughter...my daughter is home now and she's getting too close. And that's where I draw the line."

"There are no lines in this business." Kingpin responded with a shake of his head.

"And that is why I have to leave this business." She shot back.

"Eleanor, don't be rash."

"I want you to know...that I have been keeping an insurance policy."

Fisk stared at her, knowing where she was getting at. "Eleanor..."

"Copies of everything. From dealings you made at the onset of the Blip to more recent transactions. They are all in a safe place."

"Is this a threat?" He asked.

"Just leverage." She replied.

Kingpin's lip twitched. The man's tone raised despite trying to hold back his anger.

"In the spirit of the holidays, I'm gonna give you a minute to think about what you're starting right now."

She shook her head. "I don't need a minute."

Eleanor got up and left the office. Fisk watched as she removed herself, and then stared at the wall ahead...his lip continuing to twitch.

The video concluded. Clint and Maggie overheard the conversation while Grills had already left the room with Pizza Dog.

"Yelena sent that?" Clint asked.

"Yes," Kate answered. "Apparently my mom is the one who hired Masters to kill you." She shook her head, not being able to believe it. "It doesn't make any sense. My mom doesn't even...she doesn't even jaywalk. And now she's working for the mob? She killed Armand?"

"Kate—" Maggie spoke.

"My God, I need to talk to her."

"Kate, wait. You gotta calm down, okay?" Clint reassured her. "Let's talk this out. Just take a breath. But your mom needs our help."

Kate composed herself for a moment and faced Clint. The archer continued.

"That video, Kate, it's not good. The Kingpin will not take this lightly. He is going to react, and he's going to do it in a big way."

"Guys...this is my mess to clean up." She began. "You two should go home, you should be with your family. You can still make it in time for Christmas."

"Kate, you're my partner," Clint emphasized. "Your mess is my mess. I'm not going anywhere until this is finished."

Maggie agreed.

"What the old man said..." She held out her hand toward Kate. "We do this together."

Kate softly smiled after their determined statements. She looked back at Clint, who gave a nod. She then shook the redhead's hand.

• • •

THE DEAF WOMAN walked into the office. Christmas music played softly within. Inside, Wilson Fisk sat at a table with Kazi.

"There she is." He said as he got up and walked toward Maya.

The two joined up in the middle of the room. Kazi stood beside his boss-slash-uncle figure, ready to translate his words into sign language for Maya.

"I've seen you at the end of some tough matches, but this? Do you want to tell me what's been going on?"

Maya didn't respond, simply glancing at Kazi. After what Clint revealed to her earlier that day, she's been suspicious of her friend and uncle figure.

"I always taught you to keep a low profile." He added.

She signed as Kazi translated. "I'm sorry. I got carried away. You know what my father meant to me."

"To all of us." Fisk replied.

"I've come to my senses. I need to focus on the job. Stop chasing ghosts."

Fisk glanced at Kazi for a moment before meeting Maya's stare.

"That's quite the turnaround." He said.

"I've realized no matter what I do, I can't bring my father back. Finding whoever killed him, that won't change anything."

"He would've wanted you to move on. He always wanted...the best for you. I only wish he could be here now to see you and all your accomplishments."

There was a pause before Maya replied. "If it's okay with you, I'd like a couple of days off, to clear my head."

"Yes, that's reasonable." Fisk responded.

Maya turned around, but Fisk grabbed her by the shoulder and stopped her before she could leave.

"Maya." Fisk chose to sign the next three words. "I love you."

"I love you." She signed back before leaving the office.

Fisk watched as the woman left. He looked down and exhaled before turning around and facing Kazi.

"The Ronin is running around the city. An Avenger along with the Captain's daughter has taken an outsized interest in our operations. Then there's Masters....who thinks he can walk away after such blatant disrespect."

He glared and continued.

"And now the Bishop woman...she thinks that she can quit her job as if she works for Goldman Sachs! And Maya...my Maya...she's turned on us."

Kazi nodded, sensing the woman's tone from before. "Yeah."

"What will we do about it?" Fisk asked.

He stood at attention, looking forward and not at Fisk.

"I will handle them, sir. Denning and I."

Fisk nodded.

"The people...they need to be reminded...that the city belongs to me."

• • •

AFTER AN ENTIRE evening of perpetration, Kate Bishop, Maggie Carter, and Clint Barton arrived at Rockefeller Center. The girls and the retired Avenger wore formal attire for the event, blending in perfectly with the rest of the attendees.

They walked into the building and made it to the floor where the party was taking place.

"Wow. I've never been to a party like this."

"Really?" Clint asked.

"I don't think I've been to a party in general."

Kate spoke up. "I don't see my mom, yet."

"Well, what do you see? Threats, assets, tell me." Clint replied.

"Threats?" Kate looked ahead at one of the employees. "That guy. That's Gary. Fired me from one of the only jobs I've ever had. Assets? Well, we have those all over the party."

She glanced around, seeing the LARPers in their disguises as servers and waiters. Clint handed Kate and Maggie an earpiece and put one in his ear as well.

"Stay on comms, all right?" Clint told the two. "I'm gonna go take a lap."

The trio surveyed the area. Moments later, Yelena Belova entered the venue as well.

"Wanna check your coat?" A LARPer, Orville, asked the blonde.

"No, thank you." She quickly said and walked away.

"Okay, then."

Maggie was the first to see her. She informed the others.

"Yelena's here."

"She is?" Clint asked.

"Yeah. I'm gonna chat with her."

As Maggie went over to the blonde, there was suddenly a collective murmur as the city's prominent figure finally arrived...Wilson Fisk. He was joined by a security detail.

"Heads up. Big boy is here." Clint informed them.

"Yup, I know. Really hard to miss." Kate replied. "See my mom anywhere?"

"Nope."

After a couple of minutes, Eleanor Bishop finally arrived. Kate spotted her and informed her partners via comms.

"Found her."

She walked over to Eleanor, who was happy to see her daughter. She quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her aside to talk with her.

Maggie finally went up to Yelena who was standing around enjoying a drink. The redhead stopped beside her and discreetly chatted.

"Fancy seeing you here."

Yelena nodded. "Speaking of fancy, you're looking nice."

"Trying to get into this dress sucked."

"If only your mama and papa could see this."

"They see me in this I'll literally die." She remarked. "So, what's your angle?"

"I'm here in case Masters stops by. I'm thinking maybe I can talk him out of this."

"You think?"

She nodded. "There's a chance that what he's doing is a result of...seclusion. Guilt for something."

Yelena felt like she understood since she had those same feelings when Pietro died. She knew Masters as an honorable man so for him to go straight for Barton with seemingly no hesitation told her something had happened to him personally.

"And if that doesn't work..." Yelena shrugged. "Then I'll just have to stop him myself."

Suddenly, a shot was heard. Clint grabbed the tray Wendy held, who stood beside him, and deflected the bullet that came through the window before it could hit. They dove for cover and patrons began to scream in panic.

"Get the people out of here!" Clint told Wendy before running through the room.

Kazi, the sniper across the street, kept shooting at the fleeing Barton. He had seen Kate previously and was now seeing Maggie run off with a blonde.

"Barton's here with the girls!" Kazi informed Fisk via his earpiece.

Inside the venue, Fisk had his enforcers around him. He was irate that the heroes ruined the assassination attempt on Eleanor Bishop.

"You will not leave your post until they are dead." Fisk muttered into his comms.

He then gestured toward one of his security detail and was handed a burner phone. He phoned in immediately.

"They're here. Make yourself useful."

Guests clamored as they ran out of the venue. Kate left her mother in the kitchen for one of the LARPers to help escort her out while she went to assist Barton.

Maggie and Yelena had made it to the ground floor and made it outside to the venue. Instead of their formal attire, they now sported their tactical gear and new suit, respectively.

The redhead, thanks to the LARPers, had an improved version of what she wore during the battle versus Thanos over a year ago. Now with her staves as well, she honestly looked pretty badass.

The Tracksuit Mafia had arrived at the venue on Kingpin's orders to try and stop the heroes as well. Yelena and Maggie took them on as bystanders ran off.

One Tracksuit aimed their gun at Maggie. Before he could fire, Kate, who was rappelling down the building, landed on the enemy and knocked him down. The raven-haired girl also sported new and improved archery attire.

"Damn!" Maggie exclaimed. "You come from up there?"

"Had to. Clint and I were supposed to rappel down together but—"

The arrival of more Tracksuits interrupted their exchange. But they were surprisingly joined by Jack Duquesne, who brandished a sword and took down a Tracksuit member.

"Jack?" Kate asked in confusion.

He beamed. "Hello, sweetie."

"Behind you!" Kate pointed.

Jack parried a strike from an enemy and knocked him down with a punch. Another man came to attack Jack but he dodged his hit and slashed him across the back.

"Holy crap," Maggie muttered. "You Zorro or something?"

"Look, Jack, I'm so sorry my mom put you in jail. Are you okay?" Kate apologized.

"Never been better. But I've seen to lose track of your mother."

Kate exhaled. "You and me both."

Meanwhile, Clint was stuck in the Rockefeller Christmas tree after his fight with Kazi. Kate spoke to him through the earpiece.

"You doing good up there?" Kate asked.

"What do you think?" He replied.

Maggie looked up and saw him in the tree. "How'd that even happen?"

"Long story..."

"Cable snapped and he swung in there," Kate answered. "That's what I was going to tell you before."

Maggie shook her head. Suddenly, the LARPers come out of the building. They immediately ran toward them.

"Guys, guys, where's my gear?" Kate asked. "I need my gear."

"Missy!" Grills called out.

"Here! Here!" She exclaimed and handed Kate the bag.

"Any eyes on my mom yet?" She asked.

"Not yet."

"No? Okay. Look, we need to get Clint out of that tree. Clear the civilians for me."

"What about that guy?" Missy pointed at Jack ahead. "He doesn't seem to..."

The man was fighting the Tracksuits and having the time of his life doing so.

"Take that!"

"He's on our side, but we should probably get him out of here, too." Kate replied.

"All right."

"All right. Good luck."

The LARPers did their best to get the civilians out of the area, thanks to their sudden costume change. Afterward, Kate ended up getting Clint out of the tree by knocking the entire thing down with an acid arrow.

Clint was now in the ice rink. Kate joined him there and kept the incoming Tracksuits at bay. Clint fired his own bow and used a magnetized arrow that disarmed every goon in the area of their firearm.

"That should hold them off." Clint said as he took cover with Kate.

He removed his button-up shirt, revealing the suit Kate had the LARPers make him. She was shocked.

"Oh, my God! You wore it!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah."

"Oh, my God, it looks so good on you, I told you."

"Yeah."

"You should see Maggie's. It looks awesome—"

"Listen to me." He interjected. "We need to get off this ice, okay? The only way off this ice is up those stairs."

Kate looked back at the steps. She saw a whole lot of Tracksuits coming their way.

"Great. There's only about a thousand of them and two of us."

"And Mags?" He asked.

"She's on the road with Yelena dealing with them too."

"Okay. Here, take these."

Clint took some trick arrows out of his quiver and put them in Kate's. Her eyes widened.

"No way. Is it time?"

He nodded. "It's time."

The two stood up. Clint took an arrow and drew it into his bow.

"All right, Kate. Let's give 'em hell."

While the two archers dealt with the Tracksuits on the ice, Yelena and Maggie fought off the stragglers on the road.

The former Widow used her own batons and Widow bites to take down any goon that came toward her. Maggie landed blows with her staves to attack the Tracksuits and used her acrobatic prowess to dodge and evade their hits and even gunfire.

The bumbling fools were surely no match for the badass young women.

The numbers for the Tracksuits dwindled immensely. Meanwhile, Kate was informed by Grills that he spotted her mom leave the venue through a side door. She went to confront her, leaving Clint at the ice rink.

Kazi arrived with backup and fired at Clint. He took cover and immediately shot a trick arrow that split into three. Two of them took his colleagues down but Kazi ended up grabbing the arrow before it could hit him.

"Nice shot!" He shouted sarcastically.

Clint shouted back. "Yeah, no shit!"

Kazi raised his rifle and aimed at Clint. Before he could shoot, Clint was suddenly tackled by Taskmaster, who came out of nowhere.

He then heard the sound of a motorcycle and turned to see a vengeful Maya. She jumped off her bike and let it crash into two Tracksuits before running at Kazi. He dropped the gun at engaged her.

Back in the ice rink, Clint got up and faced Taskmaster. He had his sword drawn and attacked but the archer was able to evade it. The mercenary spun it around and stared at Clint.

"You're dying tonight, Ronin."

"I'm not the Ronin." He shot back.

"Liar!"

Masters attacked again. Clint jumped back and avoided the swing before hitting him in the abdomen with his how. Taskmaster grunted before countering with a hit to Clint's face with the crossguard of his sword.

Clint tried to hit back but Masters parried his punch before hitting him in the stomach. He then tripped Clint and stabbed down but the archer rolled away as the sword pieced the ice.

"Argh!" Masters grunted.

He got his blade unstuck as Clint aimed his bow and fired two arrows. Masters was able to deflect them with his sword and got closer to Clint. Once he got near, Hawkeye deployed his bow staff and fought him close quarters again.

The engagement only lasted a minute before Taskmaster was able to kick Clint down. He raised his sword and was about to deal a blow but was shot with an electrified node.

"Argh!"

Yelena and Maggie came in to assist. The blonde was the first to combat him with her baton. Masters dodged her attacks and ended up catching her wrist.

"Belova?"

"You have to stop this Masters."

"You don't understand!"

He threw her aside. Maggie then ran in to engage Taskmaster herself. Once again, their combat was just mere parries and counters and neither could land a hit. She tried landing a lunch but Masters grabbed and shoved her back.

"I don't want to hurt you, little lady."

"This little lady will hurt you, though." She butted.

She ran at him again. Maggie was then joined by Yelena and they both tried to take Taskmaster down. Since they weren't his priority, Masters didn't deploy his sword and simply tried fighting them off his hands.

Masters ended up punching Yelena and grabbing her, throwing the blonde aside into the wall rather hard and knocking her out.

It was now just Maggie and Tony, but the man finally used something only one of them had that he could take advantage of...his size and strength. He was 6-foot-4 and roughly 250 pounds.

He grabbed her by the throat and held her. Maggie struggled in his grasp.

"You need to remove yourself from matters you don't understand."

"N—No."

Masters seethed his teeth and kept a hold of her...but then started to realize what he was doing. He was choking the girl.

He finally let go and Maggie fell to the ground, coughing and catching her breath. Masters shook his head and looked down, feeling guilty for what he did.

"You don't understand the pain they caused me." He added, trying to justify his actions.

Maggie wondered what he meant. Before she can speak, Clint ran in and tackled Masters. The archer was irate seeing that the man was close to killing to girl.

They rolled around the ice, struggling to gain the upper hand. Amidst this, the mercenary lost his skull mask. Clint landed hits and knees to the man's body but Masters took them like a champ. He ended up headbutting Clint which allowed him to throw the disoriented man off.

Masters went for his sword. Clint ran at him but Taskmaster brought his leg out and kicked him straight in the stomach. He then landed another kick to his face, knocking him down. Masters panted as he grabbed his blade and stood up.

Clint was still on the ground reeling from the hits. Taskmaster stumbled toward him with his sword drawn. But as he neared, Maggie got in between her uncle figure and the mercenary.

"Stop!"

Masters looked at her, ultimately doing as told and staying in place. The redhead continued.

"He—He's made mistakes. He's done things he regrets. And he's sorry for all of it. Whatever he did to you...he's sorry. I'm sorry."

The man didn't say a word. Maggie kept pleading.

"Clint is a good man. He's a great father. A great uncle. And although you might not think so...he's a hero. Not only to the world...but to me. So please..." She held back a sob. "Please don't do this."

Seeing the redhead on the verge of tears and standing in front of him, despite having a sword drawn, was an action that spoke a thousand words in itself. He had lost people...had lost someone important to him before. He started to realize that killing Barton meant that Maggie would lose someone too.

Masters spoke, the grip on his sword beginning to falter.

"I just want to know why...why you did what you did?"

Maggie glanced back at Clint, who was still on the floor and hearing everything. Masters continued rather emotionally.

"New Haven. 2022. Agent Carla Rutherford. She was undercover investigating the Brotherhood and you killed everyone...along with her. You and Y/N Carter. Why?"

Clint remembered the event vividly. He eased his way to his knees. Masters kept watch in case he were to try something, but there was no ill intent. Clint rested his hands on his knees and replied.

"We knew Carla. She worked with ATF. She was the one that gave me the tip about the Brotherhood operation in New Haven."

Masters listened as he held his sword. Barton continued.

"I called Y/N for help. It was actually the first time we spoke in years by then but he was willing to assist. We got to New Haven and things went awry. Carla actually helped us and honestly...kept us alive. But she ended up getting hurt."

Clint kept going. "After everyone was dealt with we were going to take her to try and get some help, but she knew she wasn't going to make it. She also didn't want anyone else to know of her undercover operation because if word got out...anyone she knew would be in the big bosses' crosshairs. So...she sacrificed her posthumous reputation to keep her loved ones safe."

Masters took in the revelation. It made sense that Carla would do that. She feared any retaliation by the higher-ups of the Brotherhood and thought of keeping the people she cared about away from harm...people like Tony.

"I regret it every day...not being able to get her out of there. That regret...was why I kept doing what I did. I kept ghosting Y/N...my friends...family...because of it. It felt like everywhere I go, everything I do, would result in some type of loss."

Maggie was hearing the story too. It came as a surprise that her dad went on some secret mission with Clint during the blip and never knew about it. Carla's death was also a reason why Clint never reunited with Natasha and the kids sooner.

"I'm sorry." Clint finally apologized.

With all that said, Masters lowered his sword. He took in a breath and let it out, holding back a tear as he looked up. He thought about Carla.

"At least I know now." He muttered.

Suddenly, a canister dropped beside them. Clint saw it and quickly grabbed Maggie. They dove away as it exploded but the flash still blinded Masters.

"Argh!"

Masters' sight recovered quickly enough to see a man in purple armor run in with two pistols drawn. It was Paladin.

He aimed at Clint and Maggie. Immediately, Taskmaster activated his shield and threw it at Clint. The archer saw it coming and caught it, where he held it up and blocked the bullets from hitting him and Maggie.

Taskmaster quickly ran at Paladin. He tried aiming at Masters but the man knocked them out of his hands. Paladin quickly drew a knife from his person and slashed the man's arms.

"Argh!"

Paladin thrusted the knife toward his face but Masters kept it back. The man then held onto his shoulder and activated his shocking gauntlet, causing Masters to groan in pain. It also weakened his grip and the knife ended up stabbing into his shoulder.

"Aaah!"

Paladin kneed him in the abdomen and then kicked him away. He drew his gun again and turned around to deal with the two other targets, but was immediately met with the presence of Clint.

He hit him across the face but Paladin was able to dodge his next attack. He did so again and the more agile fighter was proving that his youth prevailed. Clint tried landing a kick but Paladin grabbed his leg and elbowed his knee.

"Argh!"

He punched Clint twice in the stomach and then an uppercut, knocking him down. Suddenly, he heard a bellow and looked to his right to see a charging Maggie.

Paladin was caught off guard by the ferocity of the redhead. She landed quick kicks and punches all while evading his attacks.

"Captain's daughter, huh?" He spoke through his helmet. "And I see you got a little of your mama in you."

"And just like her, I'm not afraid to kill you."

"Touché, little lady."

He drew his knife again and battled her. Again, Maggie was a formidable fighter and Paladin knew that. Amidst the fight, he held out his palm, and a gas expelled at her face.

"Ugh!" Maggie stumbled back and reacted. "What...?"

Suddenly, everything was blurry to her. Her hearing was also impaired and she really couldn't make out her surroundings. Maggie could still somewhat hear Paladin.

"You and your daddy got that thing where you copy what you see. And a fine memory where you pull up different moves and use them at your disposal. Now..."

Paladin walked up to her. Maggie could faintly see him and tried to attack, but he simply stepped back. He continued.

"Try to fight when there's nothing you can see to copy."

Maggie tried again. He dodged.

"Try to remember them...while feeling discomfort and pain."

The effects of the gas were also burning her eyes and making her head hurt. Paladin smirked seeing the girl struggling.

"It ain't that easy, huh?"

He kicked her in the stomach hard and brought her down. Maggie groaned on the floor. The effects of the gas were starting to subside...but she was already at the mercy of the assassin.

"Don't worry, Red. After this, your folks will still be able to have an open casket for the funeral."

Paladin brought out his gun but before he could shoot, Taskmaster came from behind and grabbed him. They grappled and Masters ended up throwing him back. Paladin rolled back onto his feet as well as Masters.

Tony picked up his sword from the floor and held it. Paladin, now with his visor retracted, grinned as he held his gun. He looked at the man before him.

"Look at you...helping these folks," Paul said. "I thought the word around you was that you were ruthless."

"Only to those who deserve it," Masters replied. "Not the innocent."

"Heh. It's that Boy Scout blood. I'm not surprised."

Tony arched a brow.

"It was always in you. And I know you knew. Or is it buried deep inside that memory bank of yours? Did you do that on purpose?"

"What?"

Paladin took out a crudely folded sheet of paper from a compartment in his suit and held it up.

"Paid a visit to your motel room. Seems like you carry this around everywhere you go. I wondered why..." He looked at it. "From Juliette. Your dear old mother."

He threw it on the floor and it landed on the ice. Tony looked down at it as he held his sword.

"You received it after she died. A sort of will. She didn't have the guts to tell you while she was breathing so she wrote that for you when she kicked the bucket."

Tony started to get flashes of his past as if some memories he buried were starting to resurface. He shook his head slightly.

"Stop."

"Every little secret she was scared to tell you is in that letter. Where you came from, how you got your name, why you are so special."

"I said stop."

"She was a HYDRA scientist working in Lithuania. Spearheaded a cloning experiment..."

"Stop!"

"Using the DNA of Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter they wanted to make a weapon to pair with the original Taskmaster."

Tony shut his eyes. Paladin continued.

"She had a change of heart and escaped the country with little infant you. Leaving a dozen bodies at that facility."

"You son of a bitch! I said stop!" He shouted.

Paladin shouted back. "You weren't supposed to live the life you did! The family you had was fake! They weren't really yours! You were supposed to be HYDRA's!"

"Stop!"

Finally, all the memories that were once buried deep in his mind resurfaced. When he first read the letter revealing that he was a product of a cloning experiment in Lithuania, how he was biologically the son of Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter, and how they planned on using him and the locked-away Y/N L/N as weapons for HYDRA.

After he read his mother's letter those years ago, he was in major denial. In order to bury that revelation and all the details, he studied and trained immensely, learning languages and various forms of combat for the army so that it could overwrite the memory of the letter. And it worked. He had forgotten about it...

Until now.

Tony fell to his knees and let out a shuddered breath, dropping his sword and looking down at the ground. Maggie, who was on the floor recovering, had also heard everything and was in shock.

Tony Masters was made by the DNA of Steve and Peggy, putting him in direct relation to Y/N. He was also made in a HYDRA cloning experiment, just like Maggie. And he shared the same bloodline as the both of them.

Paladin smirked and walked up to the mentally defeated Tony. He gripped his sidearm.

"A weapon...just like Y/N Carter was supposed to become...who, by genetics, is practically your brother, by the way." Paladin laughed. "Like really, has anyone ever mentioned the fact that you guys look alike?"

Tony didn't respond, still looking down at the floor. Paladin aimed the gun at his head.

"They're paying me a lot of money for this. After I kill you, I'll take care of the archers. Then...I'll kill the little redhead."

Maggie groaned. "Fuck you."

"Oooh." Paladin chuckled as he looked at her. "You got a potty mouth like your uncle right here. It run in the family don't it—"

As he was looking at Maggie, Tony finally acted and grabbed the man's gun. Paladin fired but Tony had moved it aside and forced him to barely miss his face.

He got up and they struggled for the gun until Masters hit him in the stomach and then uppercutted his face with his elbow. He disarmed him and the firearm slid across the ice.

Masters tried to pick up his sword but Paladin ended up kicking it away too. Tony headbutted him hard, cracking the visor of Paladin's helmet. He stumbled back, removing his helmet and throwing it aside.

"You're not going to touch any of them." Masters sternly said with a glare.

Paladin brought out his knife again and held it. Masters brought up his hands and got in a fighting stance.

"I get to kill a rogue Captain America copy?" Paul chuckled. "Merry Christmas to me."