Unexpected

Chapter 9:

(2) Five times Jason surprised the Avengers and one time they surprised him

Steve took in the sight in front of him. Jason's been staring at the laptop Tony's given him for a few minutes now. He's not sure if the tower's newest addition has even blinked.

The kid was seated at the table, surrounded by papers filled with scribbles. Steve's eyes were full of concern as he walked toward the vigilante.

"Whatchu' working on?" He asked, flopping himself on the chair next to Jason. "Is it homework?"

"What the-" His head whirled to Steve, eyes shocked. "When did- How did you-?"

Steve tilted his head, ignoring the flurry of uncompleted questions. He repeated himself, "What are you working on?"

"Oh," Jason's face flushed, as his hand gestured at the table. "Uhm- I just." His arms dropped and Jason sighed. "I didn't mean to interfere or cross any lines." Jason said that sentence with practiced ease. It sounded rehearsed. The kid wouldn't meet Steve's eyes. "I'm sorry. It won't hap-"

"Jason," Steve cut him off before he could ramble any further.

Jason tightened his fists, fingernails almost piercing through his skin as he braced himself. He was about to get kicked out. It hasn't even been a month. It's only been two weeks. And as much as he wants to say that that's a new record-

It's not.

"Calm down." Steve snapped him out of his thoughts once more. He felt a gentle grip on his shoulder and Jason finally found the courage to look up.

The man was smiling at him. And it wasn't full of malice or disgust. Instead, it was filled with warmth and affection. And it was directed toward him.

He wants to look behind his shoulder to make sure Steve wasn't making a mistake. Because why?

Why is Steve Rogers-

Why is Captain America looking at him like he cared?

Oblivious to his thoughts, the Avenger kept talking. "I just wanted to know what you were working on. You must'a been so focused you didn't hear me approachin'."

That shouldn't be possible. Jason wanted to say.

Because it was true.

It shouldn't be possible. It doesn't matter who it is or what they are. It could be a super soldier or it could be Cass. Either way, Jason's training allowed him to immediately recognize any new presence that entered the same room as him.

So how did Steve-

He forced himself out of his thoughts. "Yeah, you're probably right." He lied. Jason could dwell on this dilemma later. Right now, his top priority is figuring out why Steve approached him (and why he was smiling at Jason like that). "Guess I was too wrapped up in my own thoughts to sense ya'."

Steve scrunched his eyebrows. The man was worried. About him. What has Jason's life come to? Captain America was worried about him.

Him.

"Speakin' of thoughts," Steve started, eyes roaming around the table. "What type of homework are you workin' on? You've been staring at that screen for so long. That can't be healthy for your eyes."

Jason doesn't know how to reply to that and luckily. He didn't have to. Steve just kept talking.

" Y'know, if you need help, you can ask Tony? He's really good at that type of stuff. Doesn't matter what subject. Plus, he's been wanting to spend more time with ya'." Steve sheepishly said as he rubbed the back of his neck. "We all have."