UNKNOWN GUEST

#77 Loyalty And Authority

"Stay focused, guys." Dad's voice rang through the comms, immediately silencing the bickering between Uncle Sam, Uncle Clint, and Wanda.

"Natasha, do you have a sight?" Dad asked, his voice steady as always.

Mom's reply was sharp, almost clipped. "Negative."

"Jason?" Dad's voice turned to me next. I peeked cautiously from behind the wall I had taken cover behind, scanning the empty streets. Nothing.

"Negative, Cap," I responded.

Dad sighed, frustration creeping into his voice. "Sam?"

Uncle Sam let out a resigned sigh. "No sign, Cap."

A low groan escaped Dad. "They anticipated our move." There was a long pause over the comms, the kind that signals everyone's just waiting for the next order. After a few more tense seconds, Dad's voice broke the silence again, "Let's drop it."

Where were we? Zambia. What were we doing? Trying to stop a group called Crossbones, who had been causing chaos in the area. They'd attacked hospitals, public sectors, really anywhere that could stir panic. We weren't even sure what their real motive was yet. All we knew was that they were bad news, and we were here to stop them.

We had intel that they were planning to hit another hospital today, so we'd taken up positions around the building, ready to catch them in the act. But those morons never showed up. Hours of waiting in anticipation, only to realize we'd been outsmarted. They were probably watching us from a distance, laughing at how prepared we looked for a fight that wasn't going to happen.

So, after all that, we had to return empty-handed. Disappointed wasn't even the word for it. The whole mission felt like a waste of time. 

As the jet touched down and we all stepped out into the Avengers facility, Dad and I walked behind the others, a little quieter than usual. The silence between us felt heavy, and I could feel the weight of what I wanted to say building up inside me.

I glanced at him, hesitating for just a second before speaking up. "Cap," I started, keeping my voice low, "Mr. Stark has no idea about this mission, right?"

Dad nodded, his gaze focused straight ahead. "Hmm. He's been away for a while, so I didn't find the right time to tell him."

I nodded, letting out a small sigh before continuing. "I think you should tell him. Everything."

Dad's eyes flicked to me for a moment, a hint of confusion crossing his face. "Everything?"

I nodded again, a little more firmly this time. "Everything you know." I tried to keep my voice steady, but there was a tension there, something unspoken but heavy.

Dad seemed to mull it over for a second, still walking beside me. He looked confused, but he nodded eventually. I could tell he didn't quite get what I was hinting at. After all, how could I just come out and say, Hey, Dad, maybe you should tell Uncle Tony you know about the assassination of his parents? That's not something you just blurt out.

But Dad being Dad, I hoped he'd pick up on the subtle nudge I was giving him. He had a way of reading between the lines, understanding things without needing them spelled out. I just wished I had an easier way to drop more hints—without completely giving it away. Maybe it wasn't the time for full-on confessions, but the moment was coming, and I could feel the pressure building.

That night, Uncle Clint and I were the last ones left at the dinner table. The others had already finished eating, and their laughter and the constant banter between Sam and Uncle Tony echoed from the hall. You could hear their playful yelling all the way to the kitchen, the kind of noise that reminded you how close everyone was—how much this team felt like family.