Alone ✧ KATE BISHOP

13 - Branding

JASPER WAS WELL AWARE OF THE FACT THAT KATE HADN'T STOPPED STARING AT HER SINCE THEY FINISHED THEIR CONVERSATION. 

It was a strange stare, and Kate wasn't doing too well at hiding it, either. It was the look a kid might give their hero, or maybe the look of a lovesick puppy. Jasper didn't know which one it was, but she didn't want to ask or even find out. But whatever it was, it made her a little nervous. Why was Kate staring at her like that all of a sudden? 

Jasper glanced at Kate, giving her a nervous smile. "Uh, Kate? Shouldn't you be getting the dog's breakfast?" 

Kate seemed to snap out of a trance, blinking a few times before nodding. "Yeah - right. Sorry." She then got up and walked off to the kitchen. 

Jasper sighed, turning her attention back to the television as she absentmindedly traced the tattoo on her shoulder - a habit of hers whenever she was anxious. What the hell had happened to Kate? Why was she acting like this all of a sudden? She looked over at Kate as the girl put a slice of pizza in a bowl and set it on the floor, and Jasper shook her head with a huff. She was probably just stressed from what had happened the night before. 

That was when the door opened, and Clint walked in. Jasper turned to him, her brows furrowing slightly, but her attention was quickly taken away from him as she focused on the news story on the TV. 

"...A major NYPD investigation is underway," the news reporter was saying. "New York socialite Armand Ducane was found dead in his home last night. Witnesses saw a mysterious figure leaving the scene." A picture of Kate wearing the suit then flashed onto the screen. 

Kate's eyes went wide as she sat down next to Jasper. "But that's..." 

"Yeah," Clint said as he joined them. 

"The description matches the masked assailant from last night's auction robbery," the news reporter went on. "These two events have officials wondering if indeed, the Ronin has returned to New York City, if he may be responsible for Armand Ducane's death, and what he may do next." 

"Oh, my God," Kate said softly. "Wait. Wait, they think I..." She looked back at Clint. "They think I'm that... vigilante?" 

"It's been less than twenty-four hours, you've been on the news twice," Clint said. "Impressive."

Jasper's head whipped around to face him as she hissed, "Watch it, hotshot. There's no need to be an asshole." 

Clint huffed, rolling his eyes. "Retract the claws, kid. And relax." He then turned and walked off, calling to Kate over his shoulder, "Told you that suit was bad news." 

Kate spun around, clearly on edge. "Clint, I gotta go." 

Clint turned to her. "Uh, no, no, no. That is, uh, the last thing you need to do, actually. Let's not forget the Tracksuit guys trying to kill you twice yesterday." He threw his bag down on the counter. "I'm going to find this suit, and until I do, the two of you are gonna stay put. It's not safe, obviously." 

"Not showing up at work is not safe," Kate informed him. "My mom is already high strung. Surprised she hasn't called me already." 

Jasper frowned slightly. She'd forgotten that Kate worked at her mother's company. But Jasper herself was on her break, which meant that she didn't have to go to work. However, the last thing she wanted was to be alone with Clint for the day or be holed up in the apartment all day. So she decided to make something up, hoping that the excuse would hold up and get her a free pass for the day.  

"Kate's right, Clint," Jasper told the former Avenger. "We have to show up at work. Especially me. My dad will literally kill me." 

Clint huffed. "Just stay put, please."