The creaking floorboards were what woke her up.

Most people wouldn't have been roused by that soft sound and- even if they had- they would've brushed it off as the house settling.

But not her.

She slowly pushed herself up in an attempt to minimize the amount of groans that the old sofa made underneath her and she placed her feet on the thick, muffling carpet. Any sound her steps across the apartment could make were drowned out by a hum coming from the kitchen and she was able to move faster than she would if it was completely silent.

Although it was the middle of the night, the light from the streetlamps outside gave enough light for her to see the shadow of a figure standing at the counter. For a moment, she poised to strike, but she reminded herself the rule she'd set and forced herself to stand down. With her body still tensed, she reached out and flipped on the light.

The woman standing in her kitchen was not one she recalled ever seeing before, but she smiled at her as if they were old friends.

"Coffee?" She asked as she poured that liquid into two mugs.

"Who are you?" She replied, the unknown woman placing the pot back into the machine and turning to face her with one of the cups in her outstretched hand.

"Elektra Natchios," she said "Pleasure to meet you."

The girl looked between Elektra and the cup before accepting the offering. She didn't drink it though and instead leveled a suspicious gaze at the woman leaning against her counter nonchalantly.

"Are you going to try to kill me?"

"Why would I try to do something like that?" Elektra asked, taking a sip of the coffee before grimacing "I must say, this stuff is not my favorite. If you're ever looking for a good cup of coffee, I recommend Abrielle's. It's not too far from here and their crumb cakes are to die for."

"Why are you in my house?"

"Maybe I just wanted to meet the person I'd heard so much about," Elektra said with a sardonic twist of her lips "The Black Sky."

The girl shuffled uncomfortably and looked down at the dark liquid inside the mug before replying, her voice quiet and hesitant.

"That's not my name anymore. My name is Noriko now."

"Noriko," Elektra repeated, letting the name roll off her tongue "Law, ceremony, and order. Strong name. Good choice."

Noriko said nothing and instead looked down at where her hands were wrapped around the mug. She still wasn't entirely certain Elektra wasn't there to kill her and so her grip was perfect for throwing the coffee if needs be.

"Now what?"

Noriko looked up in surprise and found that Elektra appeared to be taking a blasé sip of her coffee, but her eyes held an intensity that she knew to be careful of.

"What do you mean?" Noriko asked, Elektra smiling slightly.

"Are you just going to sit around this apartment and wait for the Hand to find you?" She asked "That doesn't sound like the Black Sky I was told about. I would think you'd be bouncing off the walls by now."

"You would know."

Elektra's expression dropped and Noriko wondered if maybe she should've bit her tongue and not said that. She was still getting used to talking with people that weren't training her for some higher purpose. But soon enough that small smile returned to Elektra's face, only this time accompanied by a bitterness that Noriko recognized in herself.

"You can tell."

"So can you."

Elektra nodded in allowance before her eyes roamed the shabby kitchen that the pair was speaking in like it was more interesting than the conversation they were having.

"The third?"

"I don't know," Noriko replied honestly "Gone forever, maybe."

"So it's just us," Elektra said, nodding slightly "The Hand will be after us for the rest of our lives."

"And after," Noriko agreed.

"So why do you stay here?" Elektra asked "Wouldn't it be smarter to run while you still can? Not even the Black Sky can fight them all off."

"I have friends who are going to help me," Noriko replied, Elektra scoffing softly.

"You and Matthew cannot hold off an entire army by yourselves."

"What are you going to do?" Noriko asked, already knowing the answer, but wanting to hear it anyways.

"The Hand is large, but they are not fast," Elektra said with a shrug "The Black Sky can outrun them forever… more than one for even longer."

Noriko looked up with a furrowed brow as she tried to process just what Elektra was saying. But, before she could ask any question, she spoke again.

"No one would tell you what to do or who to be ever again," Elektra's voice was gentle, but with a flame behind it that scared Noriko; she'd heard it before in her own "No masters or greater good. You could be the person of your choosing."

It was tempting and she considered it for a moment. But, the moment she did was the moment she knew her answer.

"I've already chosen," she said, her voice quiet but firm "I want to be Noriko Temple from Hell's Kitchen."

Elektra smiled slightly, like she was expecting that answer, and placed the mug down on the counter.

"If you ever change your mind…" she said, giving Noriko a considering look "I think you'll be able to find me."

.

Bzzt

Bzzt

Noriko Temple's hand snaked out from under her covers and grabbed ahold of the phone that was vibrating against her bedside table. For a moment, she tried to turn off her alarm before she realized that her phone was not notifying her that it was time to wake up, but instead that she had a call. She laid her head back against her pillow and lifted the phone to her ear before speaking in a raspy voice.

"Peter?"

"Hey, Noriko. Did-did I wake you up?"

A tired smile pulled at her lips at the stuttered words of the person on the other end of the line; hearing Peter Parker's voice first thing was not something she'd ever object to. She sighed as she realized why he was calling her, though, and any comfort his voice brought was now tinged with something sour.

Noriko raised her head to take in the clock hanging on the wall opposite of her and she sighed while dropping her head back down on the pillow.

"It's okay, I need to get up anyway."

"Oh, okay, good," Peter said before there was a moment of silence "How're you?"

"I'm fine," Noriko said, her voice soft but obviously trying to stem off any further conversation about this.

"Are you sure?" Peter asked, Noriko sighing and sitting up.

"Peter, you don't have to worry about me."

"It doesn't matter if I have to, because I do," Peter replied "Besides, if I wasn't worried about you today I'd be a pretty crappy boyfriend."

There was a moment of hesitation and a soft breath before he said it, but Noriko's lips turned upwards. Those words were new, they'd only come to the conclusion to use them about a week and a half ago and every time Noriko heard them she couldn't help the feelings that flooded her chest. Some of them were to be expected, the lovey-dovey kind, but others were different. It was strange, every one of those silly romantic movies Claire had ever made her watch went on about the guy making the girl feel special, but it wasn't like that for Noriko. Peter made her feel normal.

"I appreciate it, okay?" Noriko said genuinely "But, I'm okay. I'll be okay."

"Do you wanna…?" Peter trailed off before he spoke again "Do you wanna get coffee or something after?"

"Yeah, sure," Noriko replied softly "I'll text you when I get out."

"Sounds good."

There was a brief moment of the only sound being their breathing as both wondered what to say next.

"See you later," Noriko finally said, Peter letting out a puff of air before he replied.

"Bye."

The silence after Peter hung up allowed all of the good feelings she'd accumulated to dissipate. Noriko lowered her phone and took in the sight she'd been trying to avoid ever since she'd opened her eyes this morning.

The all-black outfit Claire had laid out for her the night before.

.

The machine made a funny rumble that warned Claire that it wouldn't be lasting much longer, but for now would obey and make her coffee. She set out two cups- one normal mug and one travel- before she leaned her back against the counter and sighed.

Today was going to be a strange day.

Claire knew she needed to focus on Noriko right now; she needed to be the support she needed during this rough time. But… damn it, there were other things happening today. Months of patience and faith were finally coming to fruition and Claire wasn't willing to give that up.

"Is that done?"

Claire looked up to see the girl she'd adopted not even a year ago standing in the kitchen. Her hair was down but not particularly styled and she shifted uncomfortably in the stiff skirt she was borrowing from Claire.

"Almost," Claire replied, trying to seem casual despite her overloaded mind.

Noriko walked over to the counter beside her and jumped up to sit on it; her black flats knocking against the under-the-counter cupboards as she swung her feet. The machine beeped and Claire turned to pour the dark liquid into the mugs.

"You okay?" She asked without looking up from her work.

"I'm fine," Noriko replied, a slight tautness that let Claire know she wasn't in the mood for entertaining these types of questions. She was quiet for a moment as she weighed her options before finally deciding she might as well try.

"You know, it's okay to not be fine," Claire offered, choosing to ignore the implicit warning in Noriko's words "You don't have to hide your emotions. You're allowed to be upset."

"I'm not upset," Noriko replied, hopping off the counter and taking the travel mug to screw on the top herself "I'm angry."

"With who?" Claire asked, the only response she got was silence, though, until her phone vibrating drew Noriko's attention.

"Deangelo's here," she said, pretending like Claire hadn't asked a question as she started to walk away "I'll see you later."

"Hey," Claire called after her, but Noriko closed the apartment door behind her without acknowledging it. For a moment, the sound of the door slamming left an uncomfortable silence in the apartment. But that spell was broken when Claire sighed. Although she knew this was a perfectly normal reaction to grief, there would always be a part of her worried that this would trigger something deeper in Noriko. Flip a switch that couldn't be undone.

Whoever thought it would end well when you mixed a teenager with vigilante bullshit was dead wrong.

Speaking of which…

Claire shot a look at the stove clock before smiling and picking her coat up off of one of the kitchen chairs. As she pulled it on, she did one last cursory look over the apartment to make sure everything was ready for their guest. But, she didn't spend long on that; she needed to get going.

She had a bus to meet.

.

Noriko had only ever been to church once in her life. It had been a Catholic church in Hell's Kitchen, where the easily identifiable Archdiocese told the mostly empty pews words of wisdom that hadn't quite fit Noriko. Afterwards, Matt had spoken familiarly with Father Lantom and although he'd sent a few curious looks her way, he hadn't pushed.

This was place was very different from that.

It was packed, first of all, and even if she'd wanted to, she couldn't pick the holy man out of the crowd. Everyone milled about as though they were pushed by some unseen force to greet each other and exchange sorrowful smiles. Two people had already stopped her and offered comfort despite the fact they didn't know her. They engaged with her openly and without reservation, which was not something Noriko had ever experienced, or even knew if she liked. In this place of worship, there was no hiding in the corner and running out the door the moment the spiritual goal was filled. They were committed to being here.

But, then again, this wasn't a church service. This was a funeral.

"Hey, I'm going to…"

Noriko looked over at Deangelo and then to the people he was gesturing to. Once she recognized them from the many days spent in her diner, she gave him a tight, small smile and nodded. That attempt at a pleasant expression dropped once Deangelo walked away to join the friends he needed right now and she took a glance at the place across the room she'd been avoiding.

Finally, Noriko straightened her back and walked across the room to come face to face with the very person she'd been trying to not think about. The person they were all here for.

Noriko was right in her suspicion that the casket would be closed; the only evidence of who was inside was a framed picture sitting on top. Even though she wasn't even seeing the body right now, a strange, nauseating feeling came over her. She'd been around death much longer than she could remember, but this one was affecting her harder than any ever before. But, it was a false equivalency, and she knew it. She'd seen more bodies in her sixteen years than most did in one hundred, but she'd personally known less people than a four year old.

She'd known him. She'd known his stupid smile after he said something he thought was charming and his favorite song to blare in his car right before he came into the diner. She'd known his favorite shirt- dark blue Adidas- and his exact lunch order to the point where she wouldn't even have to ask anymore.

She knew the person in that coffin.

She hadn't expected the words she spoke to be torn out of her, but they were low and sincere and once she'd heard them herself, she knew why this had hit her so hard. It wasn't just that she'd known him.

"I'm sorry, Jaylen."

It was that she hadn't been able to save him.

.

"Excuse me?"

Noriko turned around and had to hold back a wince that wanted to take over her expression. She'd never met her before, but she was fairly certain that she was Jaylen's sister- Danee- and the tear tracks down her cheeks helped confirm that.

"Hi," Noriko said awkwardly, unsure of what to say in the face of grief. After that encounter with Jaylen's casket, she'd been mostly standing by herself in the corner in an attempt to keep out of the sea of collective pain. Standing in it was something she'd never experienced before and would like to never again.

"Are you Noriko Temple?"

Noriko frowned, but nodded in response to the woman's wobbly question. Danee nodded slightly and reached her hand into her purse.

"I found this in… in Jay's room when I was cleaning it last night," she said, pulling out an envelope passing it to Noriko with a trembling hand "I didn't open it, but… You don't have to share, but I think it's the last thing he wrote."

Noriko opened her mouth, but no sound came out. All she could do was take in the black ink that scrawled out her name. Before she could respond, though, Danee spoke again.

"You don't have to right now, take your time, just…" She trailed off and her lower lip wobbled "Just keep us in your thoughts."

She turned suddenly as if she was embarrassed by her emotional reaction, but Noriko sighed and spoke before she could get very far.

"Wait," she called, Danee turning to face her again "I'll send it over once I'm done. I'm… I'm sorry for your loss."

Danee gave her the best smile that she could before she walked off; the crowd opening up to her like a wave of sorrow consuming a drop. Noriko watched her go before she turned her eyes down to the envelope she still clutched in her hand. For a moment, she studied the way her name had been written out- likely one of the last things Jaylen ever wrote- before she suddenly shoved it in her skirt pocket. Trying to push the pain away with that scratchy handwriting, even though she knew it wouldn't work.

.

"We all can't be your corny ass."

"Hey, I'd rather be corny than a plagiarizer."

Claire laughed softly at the way the man sitting next to her on the kitchen floor teased her before she let out a soft sigh; something that had been pent up in her chest ever since Luke was taken back to prison had released inside of her. Not even the table breaking sex had put her at ease the way the playful banter did.

"There was something I noticed about your letters," Luke said, Claire dreading that his voice took a serious turn "What you didn't say."

Claire looked down at her hands as just what had gone down in the past months flooded her thoughts. How could she explain just how drastic the changes Harlem had gone through since he was gone?

Everyone had felt the empty space when Luke Cage was incarcerated for a second time, but it hadn't remained that way for long. Someone had stepped up to the plate and became not only Harlem's protector, but Hell's Kitchen's as well. He needed to know these things if he wanted to come back and be the Hero of Harlem again.

But how could she tell Luke all this without mentioning that she was the one who sewed the stitches into the skin of that protector? It wasn't Claire's place to tell him everything, but she couldn't tell him nothing.

"Look, I know the drill," Luke said, his voice that understanding tone that always pissed Claire off a little bit with its reasonability "Man goes inside, you think there are things you can't tell him. But, whatever's going on in Harlem… I'm gonna find out."

"Look, can't we just enjoy this part a little longer?" Claire asked even though she knew he was completely right.

"I need to know."

Claire looked in Luke's eyes and sighed as she recognized that look behind them. It was the same one she saw before she found herself going along with her adopted child's reckless ideas.

"New York has gone through some changes."

Both adults startled as they heard the sound at the same time; the click of the keys in the front door before it was opened and then shut.

"I'm not looking, I'm not looking."

Claire couldn't hold back the amused smile at the repeated words Noriko uttered as she walked through the kitchen and headed towards her room. It only grew wider when she noticed the way Luke's body language had changed significantly now that she was in the room and he pulled his shirt to cover the lower half of his body.

"I just need to change," Noriko said quickly "I'll be out of here in ten minutes, sorry."

Her bedroom door shut behind her and the two adults exchanged embarrassed but amused looks for a moment, but that didn't last long for Claire as she remembered why this day was the way it was. She sighed and picked her shirt up off the ground and pulled it on.

"Hold on," she said apologetically "Just… I need to be a mom."

.

Noriko pulled her favorite t-shirt over her head before she grabbed an elastic from where she kept them on her bed post and pulled her hair into a messy ponytail. As she sat down on her bed to pull her boots on, there was a soft knock on her door.

"Come in."

Noriko looked up to see Claire poke her head in to her room and send her a small smile, which she attempted to return. Noriko got both boots on and laced up in the time she waited for Claire to speak.

"How was it?"

"Fine," Noriko replied, not terse but not exactly open either "It was fine."

"Are you-?" Noriko's expression prompted Claire to stop before she'd finished her question "Where are you going?"

"Meeting Peter," Noriko said with a casual shrug.

"Where?" Claire asked, gaining an unfathomable look from Noriko.

"Are we doing this?"

"Doing what?" Claire asked, Noriko sending her an annoyed look before she stood up and faced her head on.

"That thing where you pretend like you're a normal guardian who's worried about my safety and I pretend like I'm a normal teenager who needs protecting?" She asked, cocking her head "What'd you tell Luke?"

"Nothing," Claire answered honestly "What're you going to tell Luke?"

Noriko averted her eyes before giving a halfhearted shrug in response and Claire sighed as she realized she would have to give her this talk.

"We can't keep this a secret," she said, Noriko's jaw setting "He'll find out eventually and it would be a lot better coming from us than anywhere else."

"You mean coming from me?" Noriko guessed, Claire sending her a look before her voice came out sterner than before.

"Yeah, I do."

Suddenly, any anger that might've made its way up in Claire disappeared and that was the only warning Noriko had that someone new had joined their conversation before he came into view. She sent a small smile of greeting before she spoke.

"Hi, Luke."

The righteous ex-con smiled- albeit a little uncomfortably- before he replied.

"Hey, Noriko," he said, obviously grasping for something to talk about with her "You changed your hair, it's nice."

"Thanks," Noriko said sincerely, Claire licking her lips and holding back a smile at the layer of awkwardness that was trying to smother all three of them.

"You know what, I need to-." Claire didn't even attempt to finish her excuse before walking away. Whether she told him right now or not, it was a good idea to give Noriko Temple and Luke Cage a moment to themselves.

"Thanks for the music suggestions," Noriko said tentatively after a second of uncomfortable silence "I really like a lot of it."

"I can see that," Luke said, smiling as he nodded at her shirt "Which's your favorite?"

"Ain't Nothing to Fuck With," Noriko said, Luke raising an eyebrow but smiling wider just the same.

"Don't let Claire hear you. Might say I'm a bad influence," he said, both of them chuckling at that.

It was quiet again, but not quite as awkward as before. Maybe because the uncomfortable expression that had painted Noriko's face before was replaced with a strange solemnity. After a moment, she moved across her room and grabbed the black mass of cloth that hung on the doorknob of her closet and studied it for a heavy second. Luke couldn't decipher what he was seeing in her eyes, but he didn't get more than a moment to try to figure it out before it disappeared and Noriko turned to look at him again.

"Thanks for letting me borrow this," she said, throwing it for Luke to catch.

"No problem," Luke said, sounding a little surprised but not questioning it as Noriko grabbed her wallet and shoved it into her pocket.

"I've gotta go," she said, moving to walk past the man in her doorway before she paused next to him and looked up "It's good to have you back, Luke."

"It's good to be back."

Noriko and Luke exchanged smiles that were tinged with something wistful; the product of the belief that they would always be on a different plane. The lives they led and they people they were would never quite be on the same level as each other. Just two very different people that could never quite connect.

As Luke could make out the sounds of Noriko telling Claire goodbye, he looked down at the worn piece of clothing she'd had thrown to him. He must've left it at Claire's apartment when everything went down before he'd be incarcerated again, but he honestly didn't remember. It was just a black hoodie, adorned with the same holes all his clothes were. For a moment, he tried to recall when he'd been slashed on the arm while wearing this, but he shook it off. He'd been attacked enough times in his life, no one would be surprised he couldn't remember every single one.

.

Noriko took a deep breath of air as she stepped out of the subway and into Harlem. For a moment, her feet took her towards the diner before she remembered what she was actually doing in this area. She readjusted her trajectory to head towards their usual meeting place after her shift; the one next to that really private alleyway.

She turned down the familiar street and paused for a moment. He hadn't noticed her yet, which was honestly out of the ordinary. Usually he was actively looking for her and with his enhanced senses, he usually heard her before she even turned the corner. But, he had his headphones in and looked like he was watching something on his phone, which would explain his distracted state. Whatever he was watching must've been funny, because his lips curled up into a sweet smile that Noriko was proud to know so well.

Noriko's steps now were significantly quieter as she tried to maintain his obliviousness. She managed to get right up to the bench before his eyes lifted from the screen and he broke out into a wide grin.

"Hey, Peter."

Noriko plopped down onto the bench beside her boyfriend and after a moment of hesitation, she leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek and was rewarded with his face reddening considerably. During the course of their new relationship, they'd kissed on the lips a grand total of three times, so a chaste one on the cheek was enough to set him off.

"Hi," he replied, his voice cracking slightly before he looked down to the bench "Here."

"Oh, thanks," Noriko said; no matter how many times Peter brought her coffee without her asking, she'd still be surprised "You didn't have to."

"I wanted to," Peter said bashfully with a shrug before he frowned "Aren't you cold?"

Noriko looked down at herself as she remembered that she hadn't grabbed a jacket as she'd left the apartment earlier; her mind had been too overwhelmed with thoughts of a black hoodie she'd returned to its owner.

"I'm fine," she said, half-lie half-true. Unfortunately or fortunately, Peter saw through that and started to shrug his jacket off, Noriko sighing "Peter, don't-."

"I'm hotter than you," he replied casually before Noriko raised an eyebrow and his eyes widened "I-I mean, like, my body has a-a higher-."

"I know what you meant," Noriko chuckling slightly before sighing and biting the bullet; the young woman pulling on the dark green jacket that actually fit her pretty well. When Peter sighed, Noriko furrowed her brow and sent him a look "What is it?"

"You look better in that than I do."

Real laughter bubbled up in Noriko's throat and Peter grinned as she giggled at his words. But, all laughter has to stop eventually and the quiet allowed them both to remember the day Noriko had just gone through.

"How're you?" Peter asked gently, Noriko's lip twitch slightly, but not feeling the same amount of exasperation she'd felt earlier.

"I'm fine," she said yet again, Peter's eyes flitting all over her before he spoke again, even quieter this time.

"I don't think you are."

Noriko looked over at Peter with an undiscernible expression that she held for a few moments before she replied.

"Okay, what do you think I am?"

Without a moment of hesitation, Peter spoke.

"I think you're not fine. I think you feel guilty."

Noriko licked her lips and looked away from her boyfriend to focus on the small piece of pavement across the street. Peter sighed and scooted a little bit closer to her on the bench and locking his eyes on a piece of sidewalk as well before he continued.

"We have the same job, Noriko. I know how you feel," he murmured, the quiet after he spoke giving Noriko a chance to bury her face in her hands for a moment before she lifted her head to reply with a raw voice.

"He came into the diner to talk to me. He didn't tell me, though, and I didn't push him about it. I thought…" Noriko took a moment to gather herself and spoke again "I should've pushed. I should've looked into it without him having to ask me."

"You can't blame yourself for this," Peter said softly.

"Yes I can," Noriko said with a surprising fierceness to her voice "He was scared."

"Well, you shouldn't," Peter countered, looking over at Noriko "Whatever happened, it's not your fault."

"Car explosion," Noriko said quickly "That's the official verdict. Unknown if it was intentional or just an accident."

"Noriko, I walked past three different memorials on the way here," Peter said "All of them were in Harlem. What's going on?"

Noriko sighed and looked around the street in the hopes she would be able to find the words to explain it to Peter. But, when she didn't, she just spilled the ones she already had.

"I'm not sure, but there's something," she confirmed "There's been seven all together."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Peter asked, Noriko's eyes glancing to him then back to the ground.

"I didn't think there was something out of the ordinary until recently," she said, her eyes completely averted from Peter as she gave her answer "And even now, I don't have any answers. Or even leads."

It was quiet for a moment as Noriko kept her eyes locked on the street instead of meeting the ones she could feel staring at her.

"You're scared."

Noriko's head snapped to look at Peter, who looked just as surprised as her. For a moment it was quiet as they both studied each other before Noriko spoke.

"I, um…" She trailed off and had to pull herself together before she spoke again "I just—I get bad vibes from this."

"How bad?" Peter asked as he thought about what Noriko dealt with on a daily basis.

"Very bad," she admitted, Peter taking a deep breath and slouching against the bench. For a brief moment, Noriko wondered if that would convince him to drop the subject and move onto something that didn't inspire true fear in her. But, no sooner did she wonder that did she reject it and so she wasn't the least bit surprised when he hopped up and held his hand out to her.

"C'mon, let's go look at the car."

.

"How're you?"

Peter looked over with his mouth slightly open; his mind had been so focused on the deaths that had alarmed Noriko, he hadn't expected her to say anything. Especially nothing like that.

"I just realized I didn't ask," Noriko added, the pair keeping their middling pace as they walked through Harlem.

"Oh, I'm fine," he offered, Noriko sending him a quick, concerned look.

"Okay, I know I'm a hypocrite for saying this, but I can tell something's up," she said, Peter clearing his throat.

"N-Nothing," he said, Noriko sending him one more look that moved him to sigh and speak again "Just, May's been a little… much lately."

"Because of a certain suit she caught you in?" Noriko guessed, Peter nodding.

"Yeah," he said before he really kicked into gear "I mean, at first she just told me I needed to stop, but now… I think she's trying to distract me. Every night she invites people over or says we should go to the movies or something."

"… She's just worried about you, Peter," Noriko offered softly "I honestly don't know what I'd do if I were in her position. She's doing her best."

"Yeah, I know," Peter agreed before sighing tiredly "But I can handle this, I know I can."

"I know you can too," Noriko agreed before frowning slightly as a thought occurred to her "Have you told May that you work with me a lot?"

Peter sent her a sideways look before he replied, which immediately made Noriko even more curious of the answer.

"Well, no. I just… If I tell her about the Black Sky, I'll end up telling her about our relationship, and then I'll have to tell her about Noriko."

"Do you not want her to know about me?" Noriko asked, Peter's eyes widening as he stopped suddenly and turned to face her.

"No, no!" He protested "That's-That's not why- I just didn't want to, you know, out you."

"Everybody in Harlem knows who I am," Noriko replied with a small smile "You can tell her, I don't mind."

It was quiet for a moment as Noriko took in the way Peter's eyes kept flashing around and when she spoke, her voice had a layer of suspicion.

"Unless, there's another reason you don't want to tell her."

Peter licked his lips as he weighed whether or not it was worth it to try to tell her something other than the truth. But, he soon realized it wouldn't matter, she'd see right through whatever lie he concocted.

"It's just… May's probably going to get a little… wild when she finds out I have a girlfriend," he explained slowly "And she'll want to meet you and… You're a very restrained person and my aunt is… very enthusiastic."

"Do you think she won't like me?" Noriko asked.

"No, I think she'll like you," Peter said "I'm just not sure how you'll feel about her."

"Peter, if she's the one who raised you, the one who made you who you are, then of course I'll like her," Noriko replied, Peter smiling slightly at that "But if you don't want to tell her yet, I understand."

"I'll think about it," Peter replied with a smile that Noriko matched. For a moment, they stood silent and just looked at each other. The afternoon sun bathed the pair in golden light and although neither of them mentioned it, they both admired the way the other shined.

But, almost simultaneously, they both realized they were just staring at each other on the middle of the sidewalk and they both shook out of their stupors.

"H-How much farther?" Peter asked, Noriko humming slightly as she tried to think of anything other than her own uncomfortable feelings.

"Should be right up here."

The couple rounded the corner and any remaining awkwardness dissipated as both of them took in the makeshift memorial. Noriko swallowed hard as she realized she'd seen this burned out car pull into the diner parking lot more times than she could count.

"Wow," Peter said under his breath, taking a few steps closer to get a better look "It must've been on fire. I wonder if anyone around here saw anything. Was there an autopsy or something? I wouldn't be surprised if-."

Peter looked back to Noriko and the words he was speaking dwindled off. Noriko hadn't moved an inch from where they'd stopped when they first saw the car, but her eyes were still locked on that spot. It took Peter a moment to notice, but he soon realized she wasn't looking at the car, but the flowers resting on top.

"Hey," Peter said softly, walking back to her "Are you okay?"

Noriko tore her eyes off of the display and moved them to where Peter was looking over her with concern. It took her a moment, but when she spoke, Peter felt a deeply unsettling sensation wash over him.

"This gives me a very bad feeling," Noriko said, her voice low "All of this."

"Do you wanna go?" Peter offered, Noriko shaking her head after a second.

"No, I want to figure this out," she said, still scared but strong "I want to know who did this."

"Okay," Peter agreed "Well, if you ever do want to go, you can just-just tell me and we can, you know, leave. But, um, right now I guess we just- shit."

Noriko perked up at Peter's sudden hissed word and took in the way his eyes were locked on something behind her.

"What?" She asked, her voice matching Peter's level distress.

"Misty."

.

"Seven in a handful of months, this cannot be a coincidence," Misty Knight said pacing down the Harlem street "Hell, you walk around this corner and you'll see another—Well, I'll be goddamned."

Luke Cage looked up from what was Sean Miller's car to where Misty was looking down the street; the detective wearing that amused look on her face that meant someone was about to get their ass beat. She took a few steps down the intersecting sidewalk and Luke frowned before following after, hearing her words before seeing who they were thrown at.

"Leaving so soon?"

Luke turned the corner to see a pair of people with their backs to them, both frozen still for a moment before hesitantly turning around and allowing them to see their faces.

"Hey, Misty," Noriko said, distinctly guilty as she sent sideways looks to her companion, a nervous little white kid who was bouncing on his heels "Hi, Luke."

"Hey, Noriko," Misty replied, Luke looking between the two with a concerned expression "Peter."

"H-Hi, Misty," the boy replied with a stutter, Misty smiling slightly at his wide eyes "M-Mr. Cage."

"I don't-," Luke started before Misty cut him off.

"What're you two up to?" She asked, Noriko shrugging in a forced casual way.

"Just paying our respect," she said with a jerk of her head towards the barebones of another car.

"Are you sure?" Misty asked suspiciously "Nothing else?"

"No," Noriko said, sounding slightly upset now as she crossed her arms and her shoulder slumped "I just wanted to…"

Noriko looked down at her feet and for a brief moment, the little white boy- Peter, Misty said- looked over her expression with a frown before he turned to the two adults with concern now painting his face.

"She went to his funeral this morning."

Luke sighed slightly and exchanged a look with Misty; that explained a lot, actually. Why she'd been dressed like that when she came back to the apartment earlier; why Claire had needed to talk with her.

When he'd first seen Noriko today, he'd hardly recognized her. Kids always changed the most during a prison stint, but she'd gone through something major during the time Luke was inside. She stood taller and spoke easier; she didn't seem wracked with insecurities like she had when he'd first met her.

But, right now she looked just like that nervous girl he'd met in that diner all those months ago.

"Misty," he murmured before he spoke up "You take your time, Noriko."

"No, I'm done," she said, waving her hand slightly "We'll go. See you later."

She gave Luke a poor excuse of a smile before she turned around started heading away. Luke took notice of the way Peter paused for a moment to look over her hunched form with worry plain in his eyes before he followed after her; wrapping his arm around her and letting her lean her weight on him.

"Misty, what was that?" Luke asked once they were out of earshot.

"Luke, I know she's the kid of the woman you're screwing, but she has a nasty habit of sticking her nose where it doesn't belong," Misty replied, undeterred by the way Noriko had reacted to her words "And, honestly, I blame you."

"What're you talking about?" Luke asked, Misty sending him a look.

"You inspire a lot of different things in people and some of that might be playing amateur detective in a certain teenager," she said "With the stuff she's managed to get into, you're real lucky nothing bad has happened yet."

Luke looked at the pair of teenagers still walking away- only now waiting at a crosswalk- and he sighed before returning to Misty.

"I'll talk to her about it," he said, Misty nodding in acceptance "Who's the kid?"

"Peter? Her boyfriend, probably. They're always kicking it together," Misty offered, chuckling as Luke raising an eyebrow "Wouldn't worry about him. He's from Queens and goes to that private school over there. She's the bad influence; always dragging him into some mess."

Misty walked back to the car she'd been showing him, but Luke kept his eyes on the quickly disappearing couple. While he knew it was true that he'd missed a lot in those months spent in Seagate, it was still hard to reconcile his image of the Noriko he'd known and the Noriko Misty was telling him she was now. Neither of those kids seemed like the type of punks to get wrapped up in businesses they shouldn't. In fact, they seemed like the type to actively stay out of it. Misty was a suspicious person by nature- not that Luke blamed her- and maybe she was blowing this out of proportion. Luke couldn't help but feel that his theory was true as he watched Noriko loll her head onto Peter's shoulder.

Not knowing that the two teenagers where exchanging conspiratorial smiles.

.

"I thought you were going to stand me up."

Noriko smiled at the soft sound of footsteps on the rooftop and she turned to look at the familiar red and blue suit. After their ill-timed run in with Luke, they'd spent the trip back to Queens discussing different reasons these deaths could be occurring. Once they were within a block of Peter's apartment, Noriko said goodbye and returned to her district to get something to eat and prepare for tonight. The sun had long since set now and the pair had met up again, only this time it was less Noriko and Peter, and more the other names they went by.

"Sorry, May was trying to convince me to let her take me and Ned to Dave and Buster's," Peter said "I almost ditched you. Nice sweatshirt."

"I'm trying it out," Noriko said, taking a few steps closer to the brightly costumed hero "I might need to buy another hoodie. You're sure he can't see us?"

"Promise," Peter reassured, still apologetic that his suit had been the one to rat Noriko out to Stark "Ned and I made sure he can't access any recordings of what I've been doing."

"Sorry," Noriko said "It just makes me uncomfortable."

"Me too," Peter replied "And it's kind of embarrassing."

Noriko chuckled softly at that and she did that funny spin across the rooftop that Peter had come accustomed to seeing her do.

"I don't really have anything," she admitted, jumping up onto the ledge and looking down seven stories "We could do it your way or we could look farther into those Harlem deaths."

"C-Can my way include you getting down?" Peter asked, his voice fast and cracking "You're making very nervous."

Noriko sent back a look to him before doing a spin on the ledge and chuckling softly at the sounds Peter made.

"You could stand up here with me," she suggested "That way you could catch me."

Peter was still for a moment before he strode forward and hopped up onto the ledge beside her. He was quiet for a moment as he looked over the edge to the pavement below and when the silence was finally broken, he still stared.

"I know that I-I swing higher than this all the time and that if either of us fell, I could catch us, but…" Peter took a deep breath "This still makes me nervous."

"Makes sense," Noriko said casually "Your brain hasn't completely adapted to your body yet. Hey." Noriko pulled off her hood before lowering her mask and taking his hands in hers, which finally got him to look at her "We're fine."

Peter slipped one of his hands out of hers and pulled his own mask up to reveal his anxious, but sheepish expression.

"Sorry," he muttered, Noriko rolling her eyes.

"Don't apologize," she said, placing her free hand on his now exposed cheek and smiling when Peter unconsciously leaned into her. It was quiet for a long moment as they studied each other. They weren't bathed in the afternoon sun, like they were earlier, but in the pale light of the streetlamps they shined just as brightly. It created a very different effect on their faces, though, but produced the same outcome and they both stared at each other. Only this time, there was no one to interrupt them; instead of a busy street, they were all alone up on a rooftop.

Both teenagers leaned in closer to each other and Noriko could feel the hand wrapped around hers grow tighter as it became abundantly obvious to both of them this would be the fourth.

But, the soft expression on Peter's face suddenly altered and Noriko only saw his wide eyes for a moment before his hands grabbed ahold of her biceps and he pushed her so they both fell onto the rooftop.

"Peter, what the f-?"

They heard it first: car alarms, dogs barking, glass breaking, screaming. The sound of far off destruction reached their ears faster than it would the normal person's.

And then the shaking started.

Noriko pushed herself up to her feet despite the way the gravel underneath them was shuddering and she stumbled over to the edge of the rooftop, Peter not far behind her. Both of the teenagers watched as the lights of New York's nightlife flickered in and out, some staying dark for good, as the shaking only worsened.

"What's happening?" Peter yelled over the near deafening sound that the tremors were causing. Noriko didn't respond, though, as she watched the city she loved so dearly be throttled by some unknown entity. Not out of horror or shock of what was happening to New York, no…

Noriko didn't say anything because it felt familiar.