drinks on the house
Matt Murdock milled about in the dark of his new apartment, opening and emptying various boxes. As he placed each piece of art or furniture or tech around the apartment he tried to familiarize its location in his mind. Single bulbs on cord hung from the ceiling in the center of each room, but none of them were on. Matt never worried about paying electric bills for anything besides heat.
It felt good to be home. To finally be back in Hell's kitchen, where he had been born, raised, and even lived for most of his young adult life. The sounds of the streets, and the bustling of the people. He had missed it, and he had missed his friends and family. Seeing his best friend Foggy again had done much to dissuade any notions he had of returning being a bad idea. Even Misty, she seemed to be doing well and was sincerely happy to see him back as well. San Francisco had been what he needed at the time, but now all he needed was to be home.
As he inevitably was bound to Matt soon stumbled upon his locked chest, holding his various costumes and combat gear. The Daredevil was locked inside that very chest. Matt had kept those suits and the gear locked up since he had left New York. Keeping that side of himself locked quietly away, to never return. But, then why had Matt kept all this stuff over that time instead of throwing it away or destroying it. Matt sat onto the chest and thought of Marc Spector.
Years ago, Matt had lost someone very close to him. A vast, yet clandestine international criminal organization known simply as The Hand was directly responsible for her death as well as the deaths of countless others. Matt had fought voraciously against them since his first moments as Daredevil. They were an evil that plagued his very home to the core of its being. He made it his life's goal to destroy the Hand. Finally, he went to Japan where he had a final confrontation with their organization. But, instead of destroying it Matt Murdock became its leader. He forcefully took control from The Hand, but only after the role was offered to Wilson Fisk the kingpin of crime. Being a marriage of evils Matt could not allow, Matt stole the position from Fisk. But, he planned to use the Hand in a way it had never been used before. For good. To further the community and the goals of its inhabitants. Hell's kitchen would prosper in his tenure as the leader of the Hand.
But, oh how terribly awry his plans got of him. Constructing an informal prison for criminals whom Daredevil was the judge, jury, and executioner presiding over. He killed Bullseye, stabbing him with a Sai and throwing him from a roof. Almost an exact reenactment of how Bullseye had killed Daredevil's estranged lover Elektra years before. But, Matt had only been doing what he thought was the best. His heart had been in the right place, but he had just gone about it the wrong way. Just like Marc Spector.
Matt recalled a quote from Friedrich Nietzsche: "Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you."
Had Marc become a monster? And what becomes of the humanity left behind in the transformation?
Standing up, Matt unlocked the chest and stuck his hands inside to feel the contents. He thought about Misty Knight, another who fought monsters. But, she had every desire to save Marc. In fact, she planned to work with Nelson & Murdock towards having Marc's crimes expunged from his record. Misty Knight and Jessica Jones had plan as well.
That very night they were planning on finding Tommy Kent and questioning him. Finding some answers about Hammerhead so they could fight the monster. Matt thought about joining them. Throwing on the armored suit and meeting them on the rooftops. Now that he had spent time as the monster, it was time for him to return to fighting them.
Clutching the crimson red suit in his hands he began pulling it over his frame and heading for the open window.
-
Daredevil quickly ran and leapt from rooftop to rooftop, an adept acrobat. Moving with the night he made his way to Starky's pool hall right across from Octavian's on the corner of Pierce and 8th Ave. As he approached he picked up three hushed voices on the rooftop of Octavian's. Recognizing Misty's inflection he made his way to them. Walking around the water tower he alerted Misty of his presence but was surprised at who else was in attendance. Instead of Jessica Jones it was her husband, Luke Cage wearing a black hoodie. Matt and Luke had fought for the same cause many times and had mutual respect for each other.
But beside him was a tall, gorgeous redhead. She wore leather jeans and a red halter top. Her name was Natasha Romanov, and she was one of Matt's exes. Her codename was Black Widow, and she had made her life as a notorious double agent and super-spy. She had come a long way from pulling political assassinations and selling U.S. secrets for Russia, and was an Avenger as well as a high-ranking agent within S.H.I.E.L.D. (the Strategic Hazard Intervention and Eliminations Logistics Directorate). As soon as he stepped out into the open it was her emerald green eyes who first saw him.
"Look who came out of hiding." Black Widow pointed to Daredevil.
"Daredevil!" Misty and Luke said in unison.
"Why are you here?" Misty asked Matt.
"When you told me about coming here tonight, i decided i wanted to do more to help. Besides, beats sitting around in the dark in my apartment going over police records."
"Hey, buddy." luke stepped forward and clasped the diminutive in comparison man on the shoulder.
"Hey, Luke. Where's Jessica?" Matt asked him turning his face towards Luke.
"At home with Danielle. A little sore and a little hungover from last night, so Im here in her place. Gotta say. Nice to be out tonight."
"Good to see you as well, Luke."
"Where've you been?" Black Widow inquired, with a harsh tone in her voice.
"San Francisco. Things got hectic. I'm pretty sure you heard about it." Matt answered shortly.
"I heard of Shadowland, yes." Black widow spoke in her Russian inflection. "But, you disappeared. Everyone thought you were gone for good."
"Well, you can't kill the devil and there ain't no rest for the wicked. So here i am." Matt jeered. "Did you miss me or something?"
Black Widow scoffed. She batted her thick black lashes at Matt and shifted her weight. "Not exactly. I just happened to be on temporary personal leave from S.H.I.E.L.D., and could use the extra cash so i contacted Misty who was able to put me back on the books for this job. Turns out government salary isn't as much as you would think it would be."
"Not for some with expensive habits like you." Matt jabbed.
"My habits may be expensive but at least they aren't as dangerous as yours." Black widow fired back.
"Haha. You two gonna hold hands and make-out all night or are we gonna go get the bad guys?" Luke laughed and jostled both of them.
"What's the plan, Misty?" Black Widow questioned, snapping into her military and espionage training. She was a soldier and a spy, in her very core.
"Well, the first objective is to find out if he's here." Misty stated
"He is." Matt announced.
The other three stared at him in awe momentarily, "I've arrested Tommy Kent before. He used to have a small arms business going. I can smell his cheap cologne and hear him slamming his glass on the bar from here. He's sitting at the end of the bar, chatting with some of his buddys."
Whenever Matt used his superhuman heightened senses it always astonished his peers. He was a whirling whirlwind of haymakers and a human lie-detector bundled into one compact irishman.
"This is a well known gang hangout. A straightforward or blunt approach would just end in conflict, and even tho Tommy probably deserves it he isn't the one we want to lock up. We need to find out what he knows." Misty said. "Black Widow, i want you to try to get him to talk."
Black Widow may have been an Avenger, but was easily the most unrecognized member of the famous group. S.H.I.E.L.D. always went to extensive lengths to both secret and protect her true identity from the public. As she is almost always involved with covert operations and espionage it was always in her best interest to go unnoticed. She was a ghost, stricken from documented existence to preserve her physical one. But, as such she would be able to walk into Starky's or relatively any bar in America and even if she gave her real name no one recognize her.
"I think i can handle that. There hasn't been a man alive capable of resisting my feminine charm." Black Widow giggled eyeing Matt in her peripheral.
"You mean feminine guile?" Matt prodded.
"No, i used that on you, DD." Black widow smirked.
"Ok, so then while she is securing the target i want you, Luke, to come in after her and play the room. They will know who you are, but they also know you live around here too. I'm hoping you will make a worthwhile diversion for Black Widow." Misty directed.
"I'll also be able to play bodyguard if things go south for Black Widow." Luke nodded in agreement.
"Which leaves us." Misty said looking to Matt. "Daredevil, i want you to position yourself in the alleyway. That will be where Black Widow will bring Tommy. And I will remain stationed here across the street to keep watch. I will have the cops on speed dial if anything goes wrong."
With that the four of them were in agreement and Black Widow, Luke, and Daredevil began descending the stair well to head towards Starky's. "You been gone a while, man. You sure you're ready for this? You ain't got rusty?" Luke asked Matt.
-
As the sound of billiard balls clacking together assaulted their ears, a thick haze of blue cigar smoke stung their eyes. Throughout the dimly lighted room, they saw muscled men hunched over decrepit pool tables with ripped felt. At the bar old winos moaned and begged for one last free beer. Such was the nightly routine at Starky's pool hall. A hang out for a group of ex-military and motorcycle enthusiasts who occasionally sold drugs and guns out of the building. Black Widow sat strategically positioned between Tommy's group of friends and the complaining drunks. Luke had been challenged to a game of pool by a local tough.
Black widow ordered a very elaborate sex on the meadow from the bald bartender. 2 ounces Putinka Vodka, 3 ounces iced black tea, ½ ounce of lemon juice, garnished with 4 mint leaves. It was her favorite, and Matt Murdock had been the first to make it for her. While her drink was made she cast leers at Tommy when he would notice and then sipped at her drink when she received it.
Luke simply played his game and tried not to pay too much attention to Black Widow. Tommy's raucous conversation was brought to Black Widow. "Hey, red!!" Tommy drunkenly slurred. "What're you looking for?"
Black widow coyishly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "excuse me?"
"They say everybody's looking for something. What're you looking for?" Tommy repeated.
"That's a good question. You mean right now, or in life?" Black widow played along, even taking a seat closer to the group gathered around Tommy.
"We live in the now, darling." tommy said and ribbed one of his friends.
"Well, i guess a good drink and a man. I'm looking for a man who knows a little something." black widow held up her drink and winked at Tommy.
"You came to the right place then, darling." Tommy lasciviously grinned.
Black widow reached down to the watch she wore and pressed a button. What she wore was more than a mere watch and with the press of said button the device released concentrated pheromones into the air.
-
Matt listened from the alley behind the building as Black Widow and Tommy lumbered towards the men's bathroom in a wet and frantic embrace. He could hear Tommy's quickened pulse and moans of excitement as much as he could read Black Widow's silence and cool collection. The sound of a stall door on rusted hinges swinging quickly into the dividing wall. The clink of the ceramic bowl.
"...and i used to work for the Maggia, darling." He could hear Tommy bragging.
"Wow." Black widow feigned intrigue.
Suddenly, in a flash the lights went out throughout the building and Matt couldnt feel it the electricity flowing at all.
"What the fuck? Bulb burn out??!" Tommy shouted.
-
As all the lights went out Luke stood in awe as in the neon glow of a rooftop sign across the street he watched a swirl joly of blue electricity emanate in the midst of the pool hall. In a flash of light there suddenly stood a monstrous man. an 8-foot-tall, hideously ugly creation, with translucent yellowish skin pulled so taut over the body that it barely disguised the workings of the arteries and muscles underneath; watery, glowing eyes, flowing black hair, black lips, and prominent white teeth. Sewn scar tissue running along its entire body partially clothed in torn rags. Once it appeared it released a blood curdling, gut-wrenching scream into the darkness. Then, it swing a massive arm and plowed two of the patrons across the room and over the bar. To avenge their friends two more charged the monster with knives and were pummeled to the ground with downward strikes.
Luke knew he had to stop this monster. He stepped up aggressively and reared back to throw a mighty jab to the monster's face. With a hollow thonk, Luke solidly connected squarely with the monster's face. The monster stood there for a second completely unphased. It picked up one of it's tree-trunk sized arms to swing at Luke.
"Sweet christmas." Luke exclaimed.
-
"Ohshitohshitohshit!!!!" Tommy cried as he panicked and fretted in the dark with his belt. The sounds of warfare boomed into the bathroom from out in the pool hall.
"What's going on?" Black widow questioned, still playing her role but honestly curious.
"It's Hammerhead!! He sent one of his monsters to get me!!" Tommy sobbed.
"Hammerhead? Monsters? What are you talking about?"
"Hammerhead stole some book from the Met! It gave him some kind of powers. He's been making monsters to wipe out the rival gangs, and he's had it out for me since i had a thing with his ex old lady." Tommy was becoming an emotional wreck, succumbing to his own fear.
"We need to get out of here!" Black widow cried.
-
Luke staggered backwards from a blow and found his hand rested on a pool cue. He lifted it and swung it, splintering the polished wood across the monster's face. To which the monster retaliated in kind with a pool cue across Luke's barrel chest. Chairs were smashed to kindling next. The monster bent forward and charged, tackling Luke into the wall behind him. Pinning him to the wall the monster delivered blow after blow to Luke's kidneys. Looking up, Luke reached and pulled the taxidermied deer mount down from the wall and began beating the monster about the back with it. The monster picked Luke up and then tossed him across the room and onto a collapsing pool table.
-
Misty had already activated her speed dial and notified the police of what she had witnessed through her binoculars. As she jumped down the stairwell three steps at a time, she hoped Black Widow and Daredevil could make away with Tommy before the police arrived. If Tommy truly was a target of Hammerhead he wouldnt be safe even in jail.
-
Black Widow peeked through the bathroom door and saw Luke Cage body slam the monster through the bar, glasses and bottles shattering, glass and alcohol spraying everywhere. The two combatants like humanoid wrecking balls, or bulls in a china shop. Locked into internecine battle. "Is it safe?" Tommy asked, cowering behind her.
"I think we can make it out the back door. That thing and Powerman are fighting out there." Black widow told him.
"Well then, let's move! I've got another safe house. We can hide there." he said as he shoved her out of the way and slunk his way into the hallway leading to the rear entrance.
Tip-toeing as quickly as he could towards the door Tommy risked a glance over his shoulder at the fray. Powerman and what he could've sworn looked like Frankenstein's monster were locked in a fierce grapple. Sure enough a monster in Starky's sent to take his life. He walked out the back door and into the alley way. He turned back to Black widow and took her hand. "I'm lucky powerman was there. The big guy must be lookin out for me, darling." Tommy said as he enacted his getaway.
A blur of crimson dropped from the fire escape and then Daredevil was standing before Tommy blocking his exit. He held his red staff, and barred Tommy's exit down the alley. "No, Tommy, the devil of hell's kitchen is."
-
Luke Cage and the beast grew weary but had yet to physically damage their opponent. So they stood at arms length exchanging powerful blows one after another. Brutally beating at each other with all their superhuman strength. Glass and wood crunched underfoot as they took turns advancing on each other, biding time for the opening for their shot. Both brawlers waiting for the moment to land their knockout blow.
-
"Oh god!!" Tommy screamed and threw Black Widow in front of himself to guard from the Daredevil. "i wasnt doing nothing wrong, Daredevil! I promise!"
Black Widow shrugged Tommy's hands off of her and turned to him. "This time. I know you're in danger. Let's get you out of here. Come on!" Matt stated and begun a brisk pace down the alley that Tommy and Black Widow closely followed.
Only a few feet down the alley Tommy screamed. An unnatural darkness enveloped the alleyway. Thick blinding darkness with viscosity. A pitch black darkness no glow could illuminate. Black Widow and Tommy rendered sightless. Daredevil drew his baton from his belt, and stood on alert as rushing footsteps approached. When they abruptly halted Matt quickly turned and with a flick of his wrist shot part of his baton, suspended by garotte wire at the direction of the steps. The projectile part of the baton wrapped around the arm of an attacker, who had been bringing a knife down towards Tommy's skull. Yanking hard on the baton the man's arm withdrew and the knife went clattering to the floor. Daredevil ran and jumped, sending an aerial spinning kick directly into the chest of the attacker. Black widow aimed her wrist in the direction of the noise and pressed another button on her watch twice. Two small darts tipped with a powerful sedative shot out. Hearing the whizzing in the air of the incoming darts, Daredevil jumped backwards the dart flying between a gap in his arm and torso. Their attacker also narrowly dodged one of Black Widow's poisoned darts. Matt gauged his opponent. Somehow he was seeing in the dark as well as Daredevil was, but Daredevil could also detect something wrong with the man's vision. His eyes didn't even work. Their attacker was blind, like Daredevil. He wore all black and a flowing ebony cape.
The attacker rushed towards Tommy, whom he sensed in the darkness. But, Daredevil was able to stop him before every blow or knife thrust could be landed. Both swiftly swinging and deflecting, Black widow and Tommy in utter confusion as to what was happening just within feet if them.
-
Luke cage had become exhausted whereas the monster he faced showed no signs whatsoever of fatigue. He knew he would have to put an end to the fight soon before he was too worn out to continue. But of course, in that moment was when his opportunity presented itself. The monsters hands were up, but it had left a hole between its elbows. Shooting for the gap Luke landed a perfect uppercut into the monster's square jaw. Bones audibly cracked as the monster was launched backwards several feet and fell unconscious in a thunderous drop. As soon as the dust settled, the same blue electrical activity that had ushered the monster into the room was then swirling around it once again.
-
Blue crackling light was now bouncing around in the darkness. Tommy watched and listened as the fight followed the electrical current. It could now be seen, as the darkness was beginning to dissipate from the air like smoke or fog, Daredevil and the attacker fighting. Both adept in martial arts. Their attacker was a professional. Black widow felt a hand grab her hair, yanking her head back. A cold steel blade gently kissed her neck. The attacker had snatched Black Widow as a hostage. But, the attacker was driving the knife towards her throat and intended to kill her. The baton shot out once again, within inches of Black Widow's face. It struck the attacker and caused him to fall backwards. The electrical activity around their attacker at a peak, it seemed to focused around him and was now suffusing the air with the smell of sulfur. Black Widow raised her heels to bring the point of her stiletto down onto his chest to stab him with its fine point.
-
With a flash of light, both the monster and the mysterious alley assassin disappeared. Whisked away in the strange electricity. Sirens filled the air as a squad of NYPD's finest sped to the reports at Starky's Pool Hall.