The Price We Pay for Family - 33

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Cont...


AJ wanted to come home from school to a glass of iced tea and TV in the background. He got ex-Captain America John Walker and Torres talking shop in the kitchen. He'd come home after the theater meeting a few hours after school ended to find John Walker teaching Torres how to properly lock a headlock. 

"See how you put the windpipe in that 'v' of your elbow? Then you really put pressure on it, and that's deadly." John explained as he had his arm around Torres's throat. Torres banged on the table vigorously, nodding.

 John noticed AJ and let up with a smile, "Hey, you're one of Sam's nephews, right?" 

AJ slowly put down his backpack, "Yes?" 

"You're-" Torres coughed, "You're a menace."

 Ex-Captain America laughed, "You asked!"

 Torres grumbled as he stood up, rubbing his throat and turning to AJ, "You see what I have to deal with?"

 AJ blinked owlishly at both men, "Sounds like a personal problem?" 

John barked out a laugh while Torres threw up his hands and yanked open the fridge, "Unbelievable!" 

"You got guts. What's your name?" John asked, grinning.

 "AJ Wilson," AJ said, taking a soda Torres shoved in his face. 

"You're the older one, right?" John asked, taking another soda from the fridge and playfully glaring at Torres, who pointedly held his from John's grasp.

 "Yeah. Cass is my younger brother. I thought you were a fugitive?" AJ asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

 John laughed again, "So was the first one. Somehow that won Sam over even more."

 Torres snorted, "He likes menaces, that's all." 

AJ grinned at that. He liked Torres. He'd been coming around more often and was well on the way to being uncle material. On the other hand, John was Uncle Sam's problem, and AJ stood by that. 

"Why are you here?" AJ asked casually to Torres, pointedly ignoring John Walker.

 "Your Uncle asked us to come consult on something. That's all." Torres shrugged it off. 

Two of the most trusted and dangerous people in the remaining super community happened to be at the same place during the same time while the FBI swarmed mom's restaurant? That wasn't a coincidence. AJ raised an eyebrow at Torres and innocently sipped his soda, "Is that why the FBI is here?" 

Torres blinked and shared a look with John. Bingo. "Look, I'm not an idiot. No one calls you," AJ gestured to John, "Unless something's getting ready to hit the fan. No offense."

 "None taken." John held up his hands good naturally. 

"So, why are you both really here, at my mother's house, and why is the FBI at my mom's restaurant?" AJ fixed them both with glares. 

"Dang, you're good." John murmured, "You think I can convince your mom to let you work with us?" AJ sent him an unimpressed look.

 "Look, AJ." Torres said gently, "Your Uncle found out that one of our group was dirty. That's why the FBI is at your mom's restaurant. We came here because we didn't want to be asked questions. Your uncle just needed some second opinions, and it rolled out of control from there."

 "You two are hiding in from the FBI because you don't wanna ask questions?" AJ repeated, carefully pinning them both with a piercing look, "You two, the new Falcon and the ex-Captain America who told the press to shove it? You two?"

 They both looked faintly sheepish under his gaze, "When you put it like that…." 

"Tell me a better lie," AJ said flatly. 

"Are you sure I couldn't convince you-" 

"John!" 

"Alright! Your uncle asked us here because he wanted a second opinion, but no one can know we're here, it was a delicate favor, and no one likes me to begin with." John said, looking chastised. 

"So basically, something's happening, but he's trying to keep us safe by not telling us?" AJ summarized with a sigh. 

"No, your mom knows. He demanded we bring her in," John said in a rush. 

"John!" Torres snapped, smacking him. 

"What?" John whined, rubbing his arm dramatically.

 "Wait, my mom knows?" AJ double-checked, watching them both like a hawk. 

They both looked uncomfortable, and it was all the answer AJ needed. If Uncle Sam told mom, that meant it was both sensitive and personal. Dangerously personal.


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