Promise - Kate Bishop

2.7 - Voice

"I'm going to be late, thanks to you two," Kate said in mock annoyance.

"You're going to be alive thanks to us." Jasin countered.

Someone on the street tried to offer them a paper, which was declined by Jasin, "No thank you sir, but thank you for asking. Have a blessed day!"

Clint gave her an amused look before going on Jasin's right, being closest to traffic whilst Kate was the farthest.

"Being a gentleman, walking on the outside. Nice." Kate commented.

"No, no, it's just so I can hear you guys." He answered, assessing his surroundings. "And to be clear, not cause I want to, just cause I need to."

"Oh." The girls answered in union.

"What happened?" Kate asked in curiosity.

-Clint went to shoot an arrow in the accursed snow, only to get roughly run into, causing him to fall.

-Clint jumped through a window, shattering it, and landing roughly on the ground with shards littering it.

-A large, loud explosion went off, Clint groaning.

Jasin shook her head in disbelief. Had she just seen what Clint had been thinking?

"What the hell was that?" She whispered to herself.

"Uh, too hard to tell." Barton replied to Kate's question.

"Mommy, mommy, a superhero." A kid's voice rang out, soon running by to a group of people dressed as the Avengers.

"Hey look, that one's you." Kate said, motioning to a female in a skin tight all black suit with a bow and arrow, along with a quiver.

"No," Clint denied. "That's Katniss Everdeen. Let's go."

Jasin snorted at his comment, following the pair soon after.

"Your problem is branding," Kate said seriously.

"No, his problem is you." Jasin answered simply.

"And this ninja suit," Barton added. "And the people trying to kill you cause of it. The whole thing is a problem that I'm going to solve today, so I can go home to my family."

A bag was ripped off his head, duct tape around his hands as he sat on a.. pony??

"What the hell?" Jasin questioned aloud, the other two looking at her. "Sorry."

"No, it's branding," Kate continued. "Your whole thing is that you're low-key. It's a very hard brand to sell."

"Well, I'm not really trying to sell anything." Clint concluded.

"It should technically make you cooler, but with the scary stuff that's happened since the Avenger's appeared, people don't want that cynical, cool thing anymore. They want sincerity." Kate ranted.

"Is that right?" Clint asked with fake interest, but yet it sounded so close to being real.

"Not self-seriousness, but a heart-on-your-sleeve sincerity." Kate finished.

"I see." Clint said, trying to keep the conversation to a minimum.

"You are very contained. Keep your card close to your vest, which you wear over a suit of armor and, like, 16 other layers of self-protection. All of which, under, finally, is your heart." Kate spoke. "So, not exactly on your sleeve."

"Again, not really trying to sell anything." Barton answered once more.

"But you do anyway."

"Yeah, okay, Kate. What am I selling then, huh?" He sighed. "It's certainly not Halloween costumes or toys off of the shelf."

"Inspiration, Clint." Kate answered, pausing her stride, causing everyone else to stop. There was a tense silence before Kate spoke again, "The office is here. Shall we meet at the safehouse after work?"

"Uh, if all goes as planned today, Kate, this is probably the last time we see each other." Clint said.

It won't be, Jasin looked emptily at the wall, annoyed.

Kate shook her head, "The only thing you've taught me is how to lose a tail and I almost already knew that."

"Right, maybe I taught you how to bandage a wound. How's that?" Clint asked.

"What about trick arrows?" Kate questioned, a twinkle in her eye.

"There are no trick arrows, Kate." Barton said solemnly as he took his phone out, "Here, put your phone numbers in here. For emergencies only."

Jasin and Kate both obliged, putting in their number.

"Just go inside and stay safe." Clint said to Kate, who nodded. They stood there awkwardly as the line rang.

"Just letting it ring through, so I have your number." Kate answered.

"Gotcha." Clint acknowledged.

Kate closed and handed his phone back, "Emergencies only, or I'll block and delete you."

Kate and Jasin nodded.

"Um, this is goodbye." Clint stated awkwardly.

No it's not, Jasin roller her eyes.

"Okay." Kate said.

"Great. Merry Christmas."

"All right." Jasin answered.

As Clint started to walk away, Kate called back, "Cool. Call you later."

She will, Jasin decided to ignore the voice this time.

"No, please don't." Barton said, sounding almost afraid.

Jasin watched as Kate entered the building and Clint jogged away, once she was sure they were gone and out of sight, just pulled out her phone. She smirked as she now saw two red dots.

"What was his number again?" Jasin thought, trying to remember the numbers once portrayed on the small screen.

(###) ###-####, the voice rattled off.

"Thanks- wait who or what are you?" Jasin asked in her head, walking the opposite way as Clint, but back to the safehouse.

I take great offense to your absentmindedness, I created you.

This got a chuckle out of Jasin, "Oh really? Are you the father I never had in my life?"

Oh, you had them. Two actually, little one. You just don't remember them.

"Two? Why wouldn't I remember them?" Jasin mumbled with a furrowed brow.

Because of the accident.

Flashes of blood spewing, bodies being thrown, and six glowing spots appeared in a flash, before they were gone. Jasin stumbled, catching herself on a wall.

Breathe Jasin, you need to calm down. Things will not be pretty if you choose not to.

The female nodded, taking a deep breath in, then exhaling. She did this a few more times till she felt calm.

Very good, dear.

"What's your name?" She questioned softly.

I, my dear, am Loki.