Shadowfury

Mick sat in his room, trying to finish up his homework when his phone began to ring. "Uh, hello?" 

"How's it going, Tiger?" Laynie's voice made his heart race. Oh how he missed her, how he wished she'd be at the school with him now. The guilt that followed those selfish thoughts weighed him down, forcing him to shake his head and respond. 

"It's fine, I guess," Mick lied. "How's life on the other side of the world?" 

"No heroes, no monsters," Laynie sounded miserable. "Just earthquakes and rich kids." 

"I'd take that over demon and psycho dogs killing people," Mick grumbled as Laynie gasped. "It's been crazy. Davis and I were almost crushed by this giant demon thing," Mick trailed off when he heard Laynie's panic in her breathing. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you."

"No," Laynie's voice trembled. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have called you. We both knew you being a hero would be hard if we were to-" 

"Laynie," Mick tried to console her.

"Please be careful Mick! Goodbye, for real this time," Laynie said, hanging up before Mick could respond. 

He sat on his bed speechless. It was the first time he'd heard from her in months, and he just unloaded it all, of course it would upset her. "Stupid, stupid stupid!" Mick threw himself back on his bed. He rolled on his side, clutching his pillow, wishing more than anything he could take it all back. Tears streamed down his face as the words goodbye, for real this time echoed in his mind. 

The next morning wasn't any better. Davis arrived at the bus stop in his truck, offering to give Mick a ride. He reluctantly agreed, despite not wanting to talk to anyone. 

"She called you didn't she?" Davis asked as Mick stared out the window, silent. 

"Do you want to talk about it?" Mick pretended that Davis wasn't so dense as to ask such a stupid question. 

"Want to play hooky? I've got some cash left over from working, I'm sure there's some fun to be had," Davis nudged Mick. 

"I can't do that," Mick finally spoke up. "One, my mom would kill me; two, what if there's another attack?" 

"You can't live your life based on what if's," Davis said as Mick shook his head no. 

"I'll call the guys, heck, you can even call Kate if you want to," Davis nudged Mick. "I saw how close you two were at the end of the day. You might have everyone else fooled, but you can't fool me. You're attracted to her." 

"It's really not like that," Mick rolled his eyes as he thought about why he was talking with Sharon on the way to her nice little convertible yesterday. It really was just him giving all the details he knew about Alice and her friends so she was on the same page as him.

"Now or never," Davis said as he had a clearing in the traffic to head toward the school or away from it. "We bailing or going to class?" 

Mick's SHIELD phone started buzzing before he could give an answer, he pulled it out as Davis looked at him curiously. "Hello?" 

"How far away are you?" Sharon sounded deeply concerned. 

"Not very, why?" Mick pointed Davis toward the school as his mentality shifted from down to trouble. 

"There's someone with powers trying to fight off Shadowfury," Sharon said as Mick reached for his gym bag. "I'd intervene but it'll blow my cover." 

"We'll be there in five minutes," Mick said firmly. "Get to the school as fast as you can, and I mean that literally." 

"What's going on?" Davis asked. "Do we have a SHIELD agent with us at school?" 

"Something like that," Mick said as he struggled to change in Davis' cab only truck. 

"I heard a lady voice," Davis tried to pay attention to the road as Mick tried not to hit him while pulling on his suit top. "Do I know her?" 

"It's a long story," Mick pulled his pants up. "I'll tell you later, right now, I need to get to the commons area." Mick pulled his mask on, and griped his blade tightly.

"Can I help too?" Davis asked as the tires screeched as they turned near the school. 

"I'm sure the cops are already in route, so just stay near the truck. I'm sure I'll need a ride out," Mick said as Davis nodded. Mick then jumped out the door running across the field to reach the school, then using webs to climb onto the roof and run across now able to hear the screams of students. 

It wasn't long before Mick saw Sharon trying to talk Shadowfury down as Casey Cole slouched with a blade protruding from his chest against the wall of the science building. The rest of the commons area had what appeared to be burn marks from some kind of fire, yet the flames had already been put out some how. Thankfully the rest of the students were far enough away when Mick jumped down, brandishing his blade at Shadowfury. 

"Some hero you turned out to be," Mick called out as Shadowfury turned to him. 

"I figured you'd show up sooner or later," Shadowfury scoffed, drawing a small knife from his side, pointing it at Sharon, causing her to tense up. "You show up, and here I look like the bad guy, but really, I did just save everyone from this freak. He was the one trying to light everyone on fire." Shadowfury waved his knife near Casey's limp body. 

"Casey wouldn't ever attack anyone, and he certainly never had powers before," Mick said firmly as Shadowfury laughed. 

"You think you know so much? Why don't you show me yours, and I'll show you mine? Might be surprised who the real heroes are," Shadowfury taunted. Every fiber of Mick's being trembled with rage. 

"You're not a hero, you're just a monster!" Mick roared as he charged at Shadowfury, who chuckled in amusement, drawing another knife from his belt. Mick clashed with his knives, slashing hard and fast, not trying to disarm him, but to break through his defense. There would be no second chance here. This monster killed someone, someone Mick had been friends with. Shadowfury's laugh only served to antagonize Mick as he blocked each attack. The two clashed as Sharon pulled the blade from Casey's lifeless body, easing him to the ground. Mick had lost all sensibilities, and was fighting with blind rage, exactly as Shadowfury had clearly wanted. 

Sharon swung, slashing the black clad ninja across his back shoulder, causing him to scream out in pain, while throwing a blade at Mick, narrowly missing his eye but gashing his cheek. "So you have some fight in you, do you?" Shadowfury punched his shoulder trying to fight off the pain.

"No! This is between you and me!" Mick swung down hard as Shadowfury caught the blade, kicking Mick square in the chest with enough force to force his blade from his and and send him flying back three foot before crashing to the ground and rolling on the concrete. 

"Let's see if you can do any better," Shadowfury picked up the baton Mick had and twirled it around like a toy. 

"I can hold my own," Sharon stated firmly, bracing herself for the incoming attack. She parried, just like her aunt had taught her, kicking back the rouge ninja. He moved faster this time, his attacks almost like a blur, still she tried blocking. She didn't realize he baton could pierce, nor did she realize it was a taser. Each blow brought blood and weakened her grip. Yet she landed a few of her own. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough. He knocked the blade from her hand, pointing the baton at her face. 

Webs caught him from behind, jerking him away, then a full force punch from Mick send him crashing into the wall. Mick tried to move quickly, but Shadowfury threw two more knives. Sharon saw it coming, jumping to stop Mick from taking any more damage, taking the two blades in her left shoulder. Shadowfury let out a howl of laughter before pulling out two grey orbs. He threw them on the ground as smoke filled the commons area along with the sound of sirens. 

"Don't worry," Shadowfury's voice echoed all around him. "I'm not planing to kill either one of you. I rather enjoyed that. Sounds like it's my time to go though. Just don't get in my way again. I can't say I'll hold back next time." 

"What the heck was that about?" Mick ran over looking at the knives in Sharon's shoulder. 

"You weren't in your right mind," Sharon winced. 

"Clearly you weren't either," Mick fussed as the sirens grew louder. "We can talk about this later. I've got to get you out of here." 

"Coulson's going to be very upset," Sharon said as Mick rolled his eyes. 

He picked up Shadowfury's sword, sliding it carefully into his belt then carefully picked up Sharon, holding her in both arms. He walked her to Davis' truck then kicked the door. Davis looked a good bit frazzled by this, looking between Mick and Sharon before finally opening the door. 

"How can I be of assistance Mr. Hero?" Davis said in an obviously fake tone. 

"Cut the crap, we need to get her stitched up," Mick laid her on the seats. 

"Uh, yes, sir, Mr. Recluse," Davis said as Mick claimed in the truck. Mick then pulled his mask off to Davis' absolute horror. "What the heck are you doing?" 

"I said cut the crap. Her name isn't Kate either, its Sharon," Mick looked at the blood oozing gash on his face. "Now freaking drive wherever she says go before the cops block us in."