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That night: Jack's POV
"AVTF!"
Jack could hear them coming, Task Force. The mayor's warning hadn't been a bluff, yet he hoped his driver would show up soon as he stood in the lobby. It had been foolish for him to even go to the Mayor's ball.
He wasn't going to invest in his stupid Port. Yet, Fisk insisted Jack throw some money his way, now, his goons would catch him.
"Jack Duquesne, you're under arrest by the safer streets act," Powell said, wasting no time cuffing him and tossing Jack into a black van.
Hours later, Jack found himself sitting inside a makeshift cage, florescent light in his eyes coupled with the unfortunate memory of how he got there. No drugs, just task force to take him away.
Beside him, another man sat in the exact same thing short black hair and a skull painted on his vest. 'The Punisher.'
Jack had seen the Bulletin's stories, presumed dead after explosion among other things, but he looked very much alive.
The man turned. "They got you too, huh? Fisk is really cleanin' up the streets, what's your name anyway?"
"It's my fault, shouldn't have attended that ball." Jack said, glancing over at the man. " My name's Jack."
"I'm Frank. Nice to meet you, Jack." Frank replied.
"So what landed you in here?" Jack asked.
Frank chuckled. "Bein' the Punisher, cops couldn't handle me doin' their jobs better. What about you, was it because your the new Mr. Russo."
Jack furrowed a bow. "How'd you know? As for what got me here, Mayor Fisk thinks I'm swordsman; maybe I simply enjoy cosplay."
"There was an announcement in the bulletin'," Frank stood up and walked over to the side of his cell to get a better look. "Is that right? You what they claim, sword boy?"
Jack shook his head. "They have no evidence, just the rumors that surround me."
"Yeah. Ain't gonna be any justice here, Mayor will lock us up, throw away the key. No trial or lawyers."
Jack knew it too, the whole thing had him uneasy. No one even said he'd get a lawyer, just tossed him in this cage no phone call, nothing.
"You're probably right," Jack replied.
Then the guards yelled for lights out no silk sheets, or fancy pillows just the cold cement floor of Fisk's detention center. And company of Frank.
Clint's POV
"Home sweet home," Clint mumbled as he stumbled through the door to the farmhouse, shuffling his letters into a pile. The mail could wait, plus he doubted the Avengers covered the bills while he was gone.
To save the world, again and be hailed as a hero all while he'd lost his best friend. The celebrations- keys to the city -didn't seem right without Natasha, so he retired from the avengers last year.
Reaching into his pocket, Clint pulled out his phone, figuring he'd check on Kate. It had been months since he'd seen her and with her mom in prison she was alone.
"Hey Kate," he greeted her, of course picking up on the first ring.
"Clint!"
"Uh, I know it's been a awhile but how are you?"
"Good, as one can be with their mom in prison." Kate replied.
Clint could hear the pain in her voice, wishing he could race over there to be by Kate's side after all the time he'd been gone.
"You want to come have a coffee? Catch up? I'd love to see you," Clint said
"I'd love that," Kate replied before hanging up.
Within minutes, Kate was coming through the door and Clint hadn't even got a chance to put the coffee on. He pulled her in for a hug, then finally pressed brew on the coffee maker.
"So, have you seen Jack lately?"
Kate nodded. "He's married now. Jack invited me to the wedding, made such a handsome groom. I'm so glad he found love."
"Who's the lucky women?" Clint set out two cups on the kitchen island.
"Not of the opposite gender, actually. Billy Russo," Kate replied.
Clint smiled. "I had no idea Jack's bisexual but I'm happy for him."
"Me neither but he deserves love after what my mom put him through," Kate said with a sigh.
"I'll give him a call later, offer congratulations," Clint said.
Kate plopped down on a chair. "So, where were you all these months?"
"With the Avengers, got called away on another mission but this one was my last," Clint gestured to a duffel bag. "I'm hanging up the costume for good and concentrating on family."
"I saw the headline in the bulletin, I'm so sorry about Natasha," Kate placed a hand on his shoulder. "I knew you were close."
"Thank you, we were childhood friends actually. Just hard to believe she's gone," Clint said shakily.
Kate offered a half smile. "You know I'm here, Clint. I may not know what you're going through but I can be an ear."
"I appreciate it, Kate." Clint glanced over to the coffee maker, "Maybe it's a good thing Hawkeye's done, with this task force out and about."
The headline of the latest issue of the Bulletin caught Clint's eyes; atop the pile of bills he'd brought inside: Wilson Fisk, becomes Mayor in landslide victory.
Clint gulped, this meant Jack, maybe even Kate could be in danger. Any new initiative of the Mayor's would put them in the cross-hairs, if it meant getting revenge for thwarting his frame job with Eleanor.
"So Fisk's Mayor, huh?" Clint placed the cups onto the table.
"Yeah, city has been crazy cause of him. So called vigilantes arrested," Kate said pointing to an article on her phone. "I hardly go out with my bow. I'm not being the next one."
"Wait…." Clint glanced over at the picture above the article's text. "Is that Jack?"
Kate gave it another glance. "It is, though he isn't mentioned just the Mayor's ball that happened two nights ago."
"Says several of New York's elite refused to donate," Kate added.
Clint sipped his coffee. "Fisk wouldn't arrest someone for being rich, Kate. But your step-dad helped us take out the tracksuit mafia the video is all over the internet."
Kate gasped. "Do you think? They saw it?"
"Let's not jump to conclusions, but it's a possibility," Clint said.
Jack's POV
"Meal time," Powell barked, shoving a food tray through a slot into the cell.
Mayor Fisk didn't skimp on; food, fancy mac n' cheese accompanied by chicken and veggies were on the menu today.
He jolted up, and took the tray, figuring not eating wasn't an option, Jack wouldn't give Fisk the satisfaction of dying.
Jack's wedding ring glinted in the light as Powell took off down the hall. Just a few days ago he was marrying the love of his life. He often thought of Billy, wondering if he even knew Jack was here.
"They say it gets easier, but it's a lie; couple tours, never once did I not lay awake thinking' of my family," Frank said, once again making conversation.
It had become a habit, but Jack didn't mind getting to know his husband's former best friend. Castle seemed like an alright guy.
"People will tell you anything to make you feel better during hard times," Jack replied and began to eat his dinner. "Thought I heard it all, after Eleanor."
"Your damn right about that, Sword boy. What did your lady do?" Frank asked.
Jack sighed. "Murdered my uncle, Armand Duquesne with a sword and framed me for it."
"Jesus. Sounds like Bill's a step up, good on you kickin' her out."
"I couldn't marry a women who was willing to toss me in jail for her crime," Jack said.
Frank nodded. "No, you dodged a bullet, Jack."
Finishing his meal, Jack set the tray down and sat back in the same spot, watching and waiting for someone to rescue him.
Clint's POV
"How do we find out?" Kate asked.
Clint lifted the newpaper from the table and began to leaf through it. Nothing about any task force arrests. Fisk probably controlled the media but he did stumble upon something that may help them find Jack.
In the corner by the traffic report sat an ad for a law firm; Nelson, Murdock, McDuffy, attornies at law. If Jack was held on bullshit charges then he'd need a lawyer not that the mayor would let him have one.
"This, they're probably the only firm in town not in the Mayor's pocket," Clint pointed to the ad.
"Let's pay them a visit, see if one their lawyers took on a new client," Kate said.
Jack's POV
"Mr. Duquesne, you have visitors," Powell said and unlocked the cell.
Jack stepped out, surprised he wasn't handcuffed straight away. He supposed Fisk trusted there was enough armed guards in here no one would try to escape.
They walked up to another cubicle; dark with one fluorescent light bulb hung over the table like those interrogation rooms from those cop movies. Jack had seen plenty to know how this was gonna go.
"Mr. Duquesne or do you prefer, Jack?" A man spoke, short hair and dressed in a thousand dollar suit, definitely a lawyer.
Jack pulled out the chair and sat down. "Jack, please and who are you?"
"Foggy Nelson, and this is one of my law partners, Matt Murdock," he replied, gesturing to the man on the left with red glasses.
He sighed. Jack had no idea what good these lawyers were going to be, Fisk was the mayor not a cop, he could hold Jack here forever.
Unless he what? Gave up being a vigilante? He had a solid job now.
"Just what do you think the both of you can do for me?" Jack asked.
Matt opened up a file folder and placed it on the desk. "You're being held on charges relating to Fisk's safer streets act, anti- vigilante law violations."
Jack nodded. "You know I'll have no fair trial, he'll pay off some judges, whoever he has to so I'm locked up here forever."
"Your not out of options, Jack. Fisk's goons have no evidence, your swordsman," Foggy replied.
"What are you saying?" Jack asked.
Matt pulled out another folder. "You're the Co-CEO of Anvil and head of Human resources. No reason to assume you have time for vigilantism."
"Plus, your recently married to a US army vet, a family man via your step-daughter, Kate Bishop," Foggy added.
"A deal?" Jack glanced down at the folder, he'd sign anything if it meant getting back to Billy.
"Exactly. You renounce these rumors, contradict them with truth; you're a productive citizen of New York over being this 'swordsman'. " Matt replied.
With that time was up and Jack was brought back to his cage. He no idea if this 'deal' would even reach the District Attorney's desk. But he had to try, every day that passed meant Billy was without him.
"Who were the visitors?" Frank stood up.
"Lawyers. You know a Nelson & Murdock?" Jack asked.
Frank nodded. "Yeah. They represented me years back, tanked the trial .No thanks to Red out beatin' criminals with his ex-girlfriend instead."
"Red?"
"Murdock. He ought to be locked up here too, guy parades around in this red halloween costume calls himself Daredevil," Frank said with a chuckle.
Maybe Fisk had other plans for Daredevil.Jack had heard the man had made quite an enemy out of the new Mayor. There was a history; the horned vigilante had bested Fisk a few times in the past.
"Ah, I had heard of him. I offered a deal, whether Mr. Mayor takes it or not, is another story," Jack replied.
"For your sake I hope he does, shit, Bill and I might not ever be friends again but since marrying' you, he's turned his life around," Frank said.
"Your good for him, Jack."
Jack furrowed a brow. "You spy on my husband and I?"
"I checked in from a distance," Frank replied.
Clint's POV
After coffee, Clint dumped Kate off at home and headed out into the city, it's sounds loud in his new hearing aids- cars honking, chatter, people yelling, worse of all everyone moving in all directions. He couldn't keep up.
His head spun as he continued to walk through the crowds, tall buildings felt like they were closing in. It was all too much, faster he got out of here the better.
"I'm so sorry, I should really look—" Clint cut himself off as he bumped into a man. Fancy suit, slicked back hair and a watch worth more than his farmhouse.
"You're good, I should be less chained to my phone." Billy slipped it back into his coat pocket, "I'm Billy Russo, by the way."
Clint froze for a second, Jack's husband? "Uh, nice to meet Kate's step-dad's new flame. I'm Clint."
Billy chuckled. "Nice to meet you, Clint. What brings you to New York?"
"Vacation, um no, retirement. I used to be Hawkeye, if you heard of the Avengers," Clint replied.
"I have, read about em in the papers. Good thing you retired, with the Task force running amok."
Clint nodded. "Yeah. Though, my 'vigilantism' is above their pay grade."
"There's something else, isn't there?" Billy placed a hand on his hip, he could see through Clint's stall tactics. Of course, he was a former marine.
"Yeah. I need to track down some lawyers, you know a Nelson & Murdock?" Clint asked.
Billy thought for a minute for answering; "Third building on your right, just down the street."
"Thank you," Clint said and departed for the lawyer's office, leaving Billy behind.
Soon reaching the office, Clint drew a heavy breath and pushed the door open. It was his one shot at figuring out who had Jack.
"Nelson and Murdock and McDuffie," a blonde women said.
"Uh, yeah, I'm here about a possible task force arrest," Clint replied.
Karen smiled. "I'll see who's available. I'm Karen by the way."
Clint knew her. Karen page, the former Bulletin reporter who wrote many articles on the avengers, and vigilantes like Daredevil. He hardly had time for reading, but idulged in the paper.
Soon Karen returned with a man in red glasses, and a women beside him, who likely was the McDuffie half of the firm.
"Follow us, I'm Kirsten McDuffie and this is Matt Murdock," the women replied, as Clint was led into a conference room complete with glass doors and comfy chairs.
"Karen said you were about a possible task force arrest?" Matt asked, as they all sat down.
Clint nodded. "Jack Duquesne, he's my friend's step-dad and um, Billy Russo's husband. Task force thinks he's swordsman."
"Oh yeah, Jack. We're representing him, though it took days for any sort of requests for counsel,'' Kirsten replied.
"Where'd he get picked up?" Clint asked
"Outside the Mayor's ball, Jack was waiting for his driver and the Task force showed up arresting him on the spot," Matt replied.
Clint furrowed a brow. "The report say why? aside from the fact they think he's Swordsman."
"He refused to donate to Red Hook aka Fisk's port project and it made him an enemy," Matt said.
The whole room transparent as if Fisk's goons or the DA could overhear anything or was it on purpose? Make it look like their office had nothing to hide.
"Ah, so I assume Jack won't have a trial or anything?" Clint asked.
Matt pulled out a file folder. "Kirsten, Foggy, and I, are prepared to offer Mayor Fisk a deal; Jack renounces the rumors and shows he's a productive citizen of New York."
"So, Fisk signs off and Jack's free?"
Kirsten nodded. "That's the plan, if it even makes it to anyone's desk."
"It will. If Jack's enough of an enemy to our Mayor, first vigilante arrest, DA wants to make an example," Clint assured him.
Matt loosed a breath. "Jack is Swordsman right?" Those aren't just rumors?"
Clint had to make some tough choices as an avenger but outing Jack to his lawyers seemed harder than facing Thanos, even when he'd lost friends. Many things were done out of the greater good to defeat an enemy but was this one of them?
"No, they aren't. Jack helped us take down some bad people a few christmases back," Clint replied.
"His secret's safe with us. Now, we wait see if the Mayor bites on this deal," Kirsten said.
Clint owed it to Kate to try and if it took these lawyer's help then so be it. Jack was still her step-dad, with Eleanor or not.
"So what if Fisk doesn't take it?"
"I know Wilson Fisk better than anyone. I have another plan," Matt replied.
Clint shot him a smile. "I trust you. Both of you. But be careful with this task force running around."
Jack's POV
He sat for what seemed like hours, until the Mayor decided to make an appearance likely to see how many cells were left for the next patrol. Jack had no idea if his lawyers had given him the deal.
"How are you holding up?" Fisk said as he approached Jack's cage. As if he cared, Mr. Mayor just wanted to make sure Jack is still fit to stand whatever phony trial was planned.
Jack sat himself up against the cell wall. "How do you think? Locked in here, while our city's great Mayor sits in his cushy office, having taken millions for that silly project."
"Redhook is a means to an end, Mr. Duquesne. An eyesore revitalized, to give employment to many, while giving it new purpose," Fisk rested his hand against the cage, not missing a beat, "I am also returning order, cleaning the city of vigilantes like you."
"You're blowing a lot of hot air, do you actually believe what you're saying?"
Fisk scoffed. "You'll see this city will become better than ever. And you and your friends will rot in here, unable to do anything about it."
Jack stood up, sauntering over to the door to get a better look at Fisk. "I don't care to meddle in your office's plans, but I am here, cause I refused to invest too."
"Did your husband tell you how he terrorized this city," Fisk said with a glare that shot daggers through Jack. "All because of one man, Frank Castle."
Jack turned away, hands cupping his face. "He did."
All other words refused to form as Jack's lips moved trying to process all of what Fisk threw at him.
"That was me, Jack, but I—swear, my head wasn't right," Billy pointed to the newspaper headline, Jack could see him standing in their kitchen as he confessed. "Memories, things were fragments in my mind."
"I just needed to put it all together, pieces of the puzzle."
His head spun as Billy's voice echoed in Jack's ears, Fisk was talking but Jack couldn't hear it only those words. But he'd forgiven Billy: he got him the help he needed.
"Billy is not a good a man. He took a things that weren't his, robbed innocent businesses with his 'gang' " Fisk went on unbothered by Jack, "Killed a decorated CIA agent in cold blood."
Frank jolted up in his cell. "No, no, William Rawlins was scum, he played a part in taking out my family. I killed him, that was me."
Jack doubled over in disbelief, head shaking. Billy had been there too, but never told him the story. Not that it mattered a bad man was dead yet Fisk painted him a hero.
"My husband turned his life around, he worked hard to get to where he is," Jack protested.
"Sure he did, now Billy's married to likes of you, a vigilante or does he not know?" Fisk leaned in closer to the cell.
Jack turned. "You keep his name out of your mouth. Of course, Billy knows."
"Bill and I are done, but get to the point, baldie, Jack doesn't have time to listen to you blowin'—-" Frank paused for a moment. "What he say, hot air?"
"I suppose I could, I have accepted a meeting with your lawyers. Mr. Murdock and I go way back," Fisk said and sauntered off down the hall.
"Thank you for that whether you did it for me or not, I know being Billy's husband doesn't earn me a lot of respect."
Frank shot him a rare smile. "Eh, I was gettin' sick of him, but your welcome. If anyone could've got Billy the help he needed, it's you."
Clint's POV
"Thank you, Matt, means a lot your firm is helping Jack."
Clint rose from the chair and exited the office. He felt he could trust Matt and Kirsten, if he knew Fisk as well as he said he did then the lawyers would be a great asset.
Sit tight. It was the smart play, Clint couldn't handle another anyone of his friends dying after Natasha. Should've been him, but she wouldn't let Clint do it.
"Matt, Fisk's accepted our invitation, now to sell this deal," Clint heard the man named Foggy yell out. He hoped it worked, Fisk would be stupid not to.
His heart raced the whole drive home. Clint was blind in this situation. He'd faced villains like Thanos but never a man like Wilson Fisk. For the first time in a long time, Clint had to rely on someone else.
"Kate! what are you doing here?" Clint spotted his friend standing by his door, along with another man.
"I couldn't sit at home and do nothing, not when Jack is locked up in Fisk's prison, why didn't you tell me?" Kate replied.
Clint sighed. "I was going to, but not until I gathered all the information. I'm sorry you had to find out somewhere else."
Kate scoffed. "So, what's the plan? How are we getting my step-dad out?"
"His lawyers are presenting Fisk with a deal, if it goes south, one of em has a plan." Clint assured her.
The deal: Matt's POV
"Welcome, Mr. Murdock, Mayor's ready for you," Buck said as he led Matt through some doors to the Mayor's office.
The last time that Matt saw Wilson Fisk he sat across from him in a diner where the two rivals called a truce. That the two wouldn't interfere in each other's lives, guess it didn't last cause here he sat, bargaining for Jack's freedom.
"Mr. Murdock, it seems as if we meet again," Fisk sipped from his afternoon tea, before adding, "We have a history, several times sat across a table from each other., now you come to make a deal."
"One of the more pleasant times, no threats or slamming my head against a table. So have you looked it over, I believe I've made a compelling case."
Fisk chuckled almost as if he'd been amused by the remark, "If Mr.Duquesne is willing to go that far then I admire him, renouncing himself a vigilante."
"Jack will do it in this office, sign an agreement as per the clause five in the deal," Matt gestured towards a paragraph.
Fisk nodded. "The task force is returning order to this city, freeing it of vigilantes. I hoped to make an example out of Mr. Duquesne."
"However, it seems they got it wrong. Buck, go inform Powell I want to see Jack Duquesne at once," he added.
"This mean you accept?" Matt asked, it wasn't all the time Fisk got his way with hardly any strings or threats attached.
Buck nodded before heading off. Fisk better not be playing games, having conceded so easily to Matt, he knew better not to trust the mayor or his goons.
A defeated Jack made his way into the office, Matt could hear his loafers scraping across the tiled floor and the smell of a few days old cologne. Some vanilla and musky scent, Matt thought.
His heartbeat slow, but eager as Matt heard him pick up the pen a few scribbles and the deal was done. Buck whispered something in Fisk's ear, but it seemed they were going to let Jack go.
"You're a free man, Mr. Duquesne, it appears my task force wrongly accused you," Fisk tapped the stack of paper Jack signed. "For that I am sorry."
Powell uncuffed him as Jack shuffled over to Matt. "Thank you," he whispered.
Matt picked up his cane as Jack led him from the office. "Thank you, again Mayor Fisk."
Clint's POV
"I'll trust you, Clint," Kate replied, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Clint half smiled, tapping his phone's screen over and over but no text or news about Jack. He was beginning to think Mayor Fisk rejected Matt's deal. No magic on the man he used to know.
"There should have been news by now," Clint grumbled.
Kate sighed. "Your going to wear a hole in that thing. Why don't I order us a pizza?"
Clint set his phone down. "Sounds good. Pepperoni and cheese for me, none of that ham and pineapple stuff."
Just as Kate left to order the pizza, Clint's door opened; in came Matt with Jack who looked worse for wear, his suit dirty but he wasn't thin. Fisk obviously wasn't starving them.
"Jack. It's nice to see you home," Clint turned towards him.
Jack offered a small smile. "It's great to be here. Did someone say pizza? I missed meal time today."
"Yes. How about you stay for dinner then we'll take you home to Billy," Clint replied.
"I'd love that. I have been longing to see my husband," Jack replied.
Matt grinned. "I'm glad I could help, now let's hope Fisk was convinced by this deal."
Clint furrowed a brow. "What do you mean? You proved Jack wasn't swordsman"
"He did, but Mayor Fisk doesn't know my wonderful lawyer did something else.," Jack sat down at the kitchen island.
"Something else?" Clint couldn't wrack his brain as to what Matt had done other than make a deal with Fisk.
Matt pulled out a file folder. "The free port, Mayor's office all transferred over to Jack. City will be looking for Fisk's resignation."
Jack jolted up from his seat. "Fisk taunted me about Billy, with what happened with your pal, Castle."
Clint breathed loudly, "Matt. You might have just unleashed a wild beast."
Kate soon returned, three pizzas in hand and placed them down. "Jack! Um, I ordered more after I saw you guys had returned."
Clint smiled as Kate wrapped her arms around Jack. He was glad her step-dad was free, she needed him more than ever.
They all dug into the pizzas while they chatted, celebrating Jack's release and glad they hadn't been exposed to Kate's cooking. She could only make Mac n Cheese.
After dinner Matt left and Kate took off to bring Jack home leaving Clint to a quiet evening as he flicked on the T.V. Finally after all this madness, he could enjoy a night at home.
The baseball game was in the seventh inning before Clint's phone rang, Kate. He had to pick it up, maybe this Jack situation is far from over.
"Kate, What is it?"
"Clint….It's my mom. She's out of prison," Kate said. Clint could hear the shakiness in her voice, that meant trouble for Jack.
"Slow down, How?" Clint muted the T.V. to hear her better.
"Fisk. He must've found out about Matt's sneaky move, but wait there's more," Kate replied.
Clint sighed. "More?" this sounded worse and worse with each passing minute.
"Jack and I got here and Billy's missing."
"I have to get there," Clint replied and hung up the phone.
He couldn't get into his car fast enough, Clint knew exactly where Billy was. Eleanor locked him up in Fisk's vigilante prison, until Jack gave back everything he took.
Soon Clint pulled up to the entrance of Fisk's prison, shift change meaning he had five minutes before being tackled to the ground and locked up himself.
He grabbed his bow as Clint excited the car, Hawkeye could come out just one more time. Jack's husband was in trouble, then retirement.
Breezing past the open gate, Clint snuck in before heading to the lower level where the prisoners were kept. He had to hand it to Fisk, the set up was something else. S.H.I.E.L.D didn't even have a facility like this.
And they were high level agents, this guy was the Mayor of New York. Everything the avengers did however was classified.
"Jack!" Clint moved further down the hallway as he reached the cells, locked beside Frank was Billy and Eleanor, beside him.
"Over here," Jack replied. He'd left Kate probably as soon as Billy was discovered missing.
"Oh more to the party. Clint so nice of you to join us," Eleanor said with a grin, hand wrapped around a long sword.
"Eleanor? How the hell did you get out of prison," Clint questioned.
Eleanor chuckled. "Our city's lovely Mayor, got me released said I'd been a model prisoner."
Clint couldn't believe his eyes, Jack's ex-fiancee was free and now here to ruin the happiness Jack fought so hard to get.
"You'll go straight back that to eight by ten cell," Clint assured her.
Frank stood up. "Bill, you got yourself in a pickle huh? Your husband's ex-lover has you in a cell all cause Red, wanted to best Fisk."
"Jack'll sign it over, he doesn't want Fisk's tainted goods," Clint protested.
Jack's POV
Jack paced up and down, while his mind raced seeing Billy in that cell where he sat. All because of Matt, Frank was right. Now Eleanor would rob him of his happiness.
Words sat like lumps inside his throat until he pushed them out; "So we meet again, what do you want? I had no idea."
"Oh Jack, you're so full of shit. Telling me, you had no idea what your fancy lawyers were going to do to Kingpin," Eleanor said.
Jack gritted his teeth, Eleanor had some nerve. She broke his heart, left him in the police station with three days til Christmas to pay for her crimes. He swore, love would never find him again til he laid eyes on Billy.
Eleanor was supposed to be in prison, so Jack could live his life safely finally let go of the anger he held for her. And now here she was defending the Mayor.
"Why do you care? Fisk had no problem letting you rot in prison," Jack snapped, unamused by his ex's remark.
"He came to visit me, assured I had a comfortable stay," Eleanor replied, sword glinting the flurescent light.
"Just tell me what you want! We can make a deal," Jack pleaded, gaze locked on Billy. He'd do anything to get his husband back.
She made him sick, the faster Eleanor went back to prison the better. If she failed, any deal with Fisk was off, the cushy prison life replaced with suffering.
Eleanor let out a loud chuckle. "You and I were so in love, getting ready to spend the rest of our lives together. We would've been married Jack."
"Love? You loved me so much you crawled into bed with Kingpin," Jack approached the cell, eyes straight on Eleanors. "So now, what, you're gonna give Billy the same death my uncle got?"
"I did what I had to, Jack and I'll do the same here," Eleanor replied.
His shaky hands fought to grip the cell door as Jack began to cry, "I'll never love you, Eleanor. Never again."
She'd found his weakness and now the world felt like it was crashing down. If Billy died, then a part of Jack would too.
"Jack, look at me," Billy called out.
Jack smiled at the sound of his husband's voice but nothing could ease the panic coursing through his veins, he could barely stand. Nausea, creeeping in.
"Billy." he said shakily.
"Oh look at you two, in love as ever." Eleanor positioned the sword, with one swing Billy would be dead.
"No, No, No," Jack hit the outside of the cage, his mouth open but no more words escaped. He had to fix this, losing Billy trumped Matt's little vendetta against Fisk.
"Uh, guys, this place is wired to blow so might wanna, take this discussion otuside," Kate said, as she made her way down the hallway.
"Damn right it is, I'll do it…one press of this button and boom," Frank yelled from his cell.
"We need a key, or something, what unlocks these cells?" Kate asked.
Eleanor huffed a laugh. "You idiots. Only Kingpin has a key, guess we'll all die here if Jack doesn't make the right decision."
"No, Fisk wouldn't just rely on a key," Jack said. He'd overheard Matt say Fisk was calculated, there was never only one plan.
"Over there." Clint pointed toward a red button, beside it a black one too. "Shit, which one is it? Jack presses the wrong one and Fisk's goons are down here in minutes."
Frank chuckled. "Black one. I saw that annoying British prick, press it when he let Jack out earlier. Now, you guys better go, ain't leaving this thing for Fisk."
Using the rest of his strength, Jack darted over to the black button and hit it, buzzing open the cells. Everyone was free, including Frank Castle.
"Now, let my husband go, Eleanor," Jack said and ran into the cell only to face his ex, sword dangling from her hand.
"Geez, you must really love him," Eleanor said, sword clanging onto the floor as she pulled a gun firing it directly at Jack.
Clint's POV
"Jack!"
Clint ran over to the cell, she'd got his leg but Jack was bleeding out. If he didn't get to a hospital Jack would die and this all would be for nothing.
"Here, take this." Billy stripped off his shirt and handed it to Clint.
"Thank you," Clint replied and tied it around Jack's leg.
Eleanor took off down the hallway, as Frank and Kate chased her, she couldn't get away Clint owed it to Jack to put her back in prison.
"He's gonna make it, right?" Billy said shakily.
"Jack's a fighter, we just need to get him help but everyone's gone on a wild goose chase after his ex-fiancee." Clint replied.
Thud. The sound caused Clint to turn, ontop of Eleanor was Frank, zip tying her hands before dragging her into one of the cells.
"Now, what do you say we get out of here let me blow this place up, huh?" Frank yelled.
Clint froze. Bow in hand. There was no way the Task force didn't have cameras meaning men were on their way as alarms blared. Time was of the essense, Jack needed medical attention.
"One of us should call the cops, an ambulance…" Billy glanced down at his husband.
"No cops, Bill. The law failed you, swordboy, she'll serve her sentence, only to be back out on the streets, to do it again," Frank said and slammed the cell door. "We do this my way."
"Frank. Eleanor may be a criminal but she's also a mom," Clint said, gesturing over to Kate. "You gonna take her away, just like that."
Jack didn't have time, not to stand here and debate Eleanor's life with Frank. Whether she lived or died mattered to Clint, for Kate's sake.
Kate pulled out her phone quickly dialing 9-1-1. "Okay, ambulance is gonna meet us outside." she said as Clint and Billy picked up Jack.
"Clint Barton. Yes, I know your name," Fisk taunted as he sauntered past the cells. "A decorated avenger who couldn't save his friend."
Clint couldn't believe it, so nonchalantly mentioning Natasha as if she was some sort of bargaining chip. Her death, Clint blamed himself, he wanted to be the one but Nat wouldn't let him.
"You weren't there, I fought for Natasha but in the end she…" Clint's words were cut off by tears as he fought to collect himself. "Died. You're right I couldn't save her, but I tried."
Fisk scoffed. "Mr. Murdock pulled quite a stunt signing over my office, Red hook to that sword swinging vigilante."
Clint kept his eyes on Billy, "You're going to have to take him, I got this."
He watched as Billy slung Jack over his arms and hurried for the stairs out of the prison, Clint would keep Fisk distracted. No one else in his life had to die.
"I have men coming, avenger or not, you'll be treated like the rest," Fisk assured him.
A low chuckle escaped Clint's lips. "My work is above your goons' pay grade."
If there was anything Clint knew how to do well other than shoot arrows it was to distract a villian. Fisk was no Thanos, he didn't have powers or infinity stones. He was just man and sometimes even that was more dangerous.
"Is that so? Looks like your all gonna die, flapping your gums," Frank tapped on a button, "Place is wired, you see in the marines I learnt how a lot of bombs worked."
"So be it, less vigilante scum on my streets," Fisk barked.
"Let's uh, take this discussion outside. Kate called the ambulance, so there's no cops, I promise," Clint pleaded.
Fisk finally agreed before clicking Eleanor's cell door open as they hurried outside where an ambulance was stationed, getting ready to take Jack.
The cool air blew around them as Clint looked out at Frank who no matter what he said would blow up the place. There was truly no arguing with The Punisher.
"Eh, say goodbye to your little prison, baldie," Frank hit the button, as the place blew up in front of them. Clint wasn't sad, maybe Jack would turn the city around getting rid of Fisk's task force, and using Red hook for good.
Jack's POV
He lay in a hospital bed, as Clint, Billy and Kate surrounded him all grateful his ex didn't shoot to kill him. "You saved my life," he said, glancing up at Billy who now donned a hospital scrub top.
"I just did as Clint said, I wasn't going to let you bleed out back there."
Jack shot him a half smile. "Where's Eleanor? Fisk?"
"Eleanor is back in prison, your husband had a reunion with some homeland security agent," Clint said, nudging Billy.
"Madani hates my guts, she only came cause Frank promised a big win in snagging Fisk," Billy admitted.
A chuckle escaped his lips over Madani, she'd always been a sore subject for Billy after past fling. Seems she held a grudge better than most.
"So our Mayor is no longer? Who's going to run the city," Jack asked.
"You. Matt's deal puts you in the Mayor's office," Clint pulled a key from his pocket, "Congratulations Mayor Duquesne."
"Congratulations, dad ," Kate said, with a smile.
Jack stared down at the key to the city, that was now in his hands. "Guess this means I'll be putting in less time at Anvil."
"And I'm the city's first gentleman," Billy said and placed a kiss on his forehead, "Kate's joining the team as head of human resources."
"You truly thought of everything, my love. If all goes well, I should be out in a few days," Jack replied.
"We look forward to the city having a new Mayor," Clint said with a smile.
A month later (Clint's POV)
Jack settled into the Mayor's office, firing most of Fisk's staff except for that British prick, Buck Cashman. He seemed useful, so Jack hired him on as deputy mayor. Billy even was settling in as first gentleman.
As for Clint he was done getting sucked into missions and traveling the globe, it was time to enjoy his retirment. No more avengers or tracking down bad guys just family.
He leaned back into the couch as the news anchor spoke; "Jack Duquesne becomes Mayor of New York, first order of business is eliminating the anti-vigilante task force. He vows to bring every one to justice."
Clint smiled before flipping to the baseball game. For the first time in a long time he felt New York would be okay but he'd watch it from the farmhouse. Fisks' turmoil was done, the former Mayor would never get out of prison.
"Home sweet home." Clint mumbled to himself.
