A/N:

1. This forces S2 of Daredevil; Black Widow Vol 1: The Finely Woven Thread; and post-AOU pre-Civil War Avengers together into one timeline. Good for them, at least two of those actually go together. There's also references to the Hawkeye comics but Clint gets to not have depression.
2. Scenes that were really important I literally transcribed. There's one from Daredevil and one from Black Widow, I think. I do not own them.
3. Title is from Sugar, We're Going Down by Fall Out Boy. It is on my playlist of songs for this pairing.
4. Love Scarlett but my Black Widow is comics Widow and god she's the most gorgeous thing (this is a link on AO3, check me out there under the same name)
5. Dedicated to willowoak_walker on AO3 who's been my constant cheerleader despite not being in this fandom

Natasha flicked through the news reports. She'd had the Devil of Hell's Kitchen on the back of her radar for a while, but since the incident with Fisk, she'd decided that, speaking as a spy, not knowing anything about the newly-dubbed Daredevil was an unacceptable hole in her information.

And the news reports were giving her nothing. Daredevil could fight in total darkness. No one had seen his face, even in his early days where it appeared he pulled a standard piece of fabric over his face. The new costume looked a lot thicker. So, could Daredevil see through things? X-ray vision? Heat vision? Cross-referencing his scant description with the dates and times from the papers and hospital records yielded no candidates. Neither did a search through the Index. His contact with civilians was also minimal. The newspaper office and police station maintained that information and criminals, more or less respectively, just turned up on the doorstep, and a little poking around revealed no evidence anyone there was hiding anything.

Well, how about the informants? The newspaper hadn't got all its information from mysterious flash drives, had it?

No, in fact, it had not. Marci Stahl, Franklin Nelson, and Karen Page had also been involved. A little more research, and Natasha found that Stahl and Nelson had attended law school together (and been in a sexual relationship for some time), and Page worked for Nelson's law firm. Now, who was the epicenter of this mess, the most likely to be connected to Daredevil? Was this a case of Nelson pulling in multiple helpers, or a chain of events—Stahl getting help from Nelson, who roped in Page, or the other way around?

"FRIDAY, run me three searches," said Natasha to her phone. "Cross-reference 'Daredevil' with the names 'Marci Stahl', 'Franklin Nelson', and 'Karen Page'."

"Sure thing, Agent Romanoff," said FRIDAY. A minute later, she said, "No results found in text. Want to search facial recognition?"

"You can do that?" asked Natasha, momentarily startled, then shook her head. "Yes, please."

"That'll take a while, Agent," said FRIDAY. "Want me to let you know when I'm done?"

"Yes, thank you," said Natasha.

She was in the shower when her phone chimed.

"Agent Romanoff, I've got those results for ya," said FRIDAY's voice. Natasha shut off the water and reached for a towel.

"Show me."

FRIDAY showed her an image from a traffic camera, on a frame with Karen Page's face clearly visible, and a black-robed figure that had to be Daredevil, talking to her.

"Perfect, thank you, FRIDAY. Can I have everything you've got on Karen Page?"

What would work best on Karen? Not intimidation, decided Natasha with faint approval. Not your-country-needs-you like she'd used on Banner, either. Karen appeared to have been with all of nobody for the last two years, which could either mean seduction would work like a charm or backfire spectacularly. She mentally crossed it off after coming up with a list of Karen's lovers—no women.

It was kind of nice, having the time to go through the information and ponder her options. Planning an op was like relaxation for Natasha.

Standard power trip wouldn't do, Karen didn't have the kind of position anywhere in her life to give an Evil Villain Monologue TM as Clint liked to call them. (Natasha maintained that she usually read between the lines rather than being outright told what she wanted to know, and therefore it was a misnomer, but Clint remained firm.) But what about damsel in distress? Karen cared about people, about justice and innocence and guilt, it was obvious from her entire file. If Natasha could arrange to be rescued from some situation, she might be able to slip past Karen's defenses.

Karen stepped into the coffee shop to grab a muffin. It was another one of those days where she hadn't had the energy to fix breakfast before leaving for work, and thus had to buy it on the way. Only she didn't get as far as the muffin. As she stepped through the door, a young, red-haired woman collided with her headlong, and burning hot coffee spilled down Karen's front.

"Ouch!" she hissed instinctively, and the red-haired woman burst into hysterical tears. "Hey, hey," said Karen, grabbing a napkin from a nearby holder and blotting her blouse as she put her other hand on the woman's shoulder and tried to look her in the eyes. "It's okay, it's just hot, please don't. It's okay, I swear." She rubbed the woman's shoulder comfortingly. Foggy and Matt could just wait.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," gasped the woman between sobs, and Karen guided her to a nearby table and chairs, keeping up the litany of soothing nonsense as the woman got ahold of herself again. "It's not just the coffee, is it?" she said finally.

"It's—it's been a long week," sniffed the other. With a visible effort, she pulled herself together.

"Let me buy you another coffee," said Karen decisively.

"What? No, that's okay!"

"Please. You look like you need it. Another of what Miss...?"

"Rushman. Natalie Rushman."

"What Ms. Rushman was having. And a white chocolate mocha for me." She passed over her card. The cashier put the order in, and Karen was left in silence with Natalie.

"I'm Karen, Karen Page," she said, offering her hand. Natalie shook it with a watery smile. "Can I give you a ride somewhere? You looked like you were in a hurry."

"Would you really? I think I've missed my bus."

"Of course. Where are you headed?"

Natalie gave her an address not far away, and Karen texted Foggy to let him know she'd be a little late.

"So, do you want to talk about it?" she asked, handing over the new coffee.

"Oh, no, there's nothing," said the woman, but her eyes swept the room-looking for danger? "I'm just being silly. Too sensitive, my husband says."

Karen tried to come up with something to say besides he sounds like an asshole. "That's nonsense," she said eventually. "If it's important to you, it's important."

Natalie gave her a watery smile.

"Where were you headed before I diverted you?" asked Natalie, climbing into the car.

"Work," answered Karen. "I'm a secretary for a law firm. But don't worry, the lawyers love me. They won't get mad if I'm a little late."

Natalie looked at her, mouth opening slightly in a small o, and something like hope lit her eyes. "Lawyers," she whispered under her breath. Karen turned to fully face her, surprised, only to see Natalie's face shutter. She appeared to curl in on herself, a compact ball of woman centered around a coffee cup.

"If you need legal help, just say the word," Karen urged. "Matt and Foggy will make it work."

Natalie shook her head. "It's nothing." Seemingly to herself, she muttered, "I can't just leave." Karen's worry increased fivefold. Unfortunately, she had arrived, and had no good reason to stall Natalie. She glanced around, hunting for inspiration, as Natalie climbed out of car, thanking her for the ride, and suddenly Karen realized just where she was.

"You work for Stark Legal?"

"Yeah. I deliver contracts, notarize. No hotshot lawyer like your friends."

"And they can't help you?"

Natalie actually let out a startled laugh before clapping her hand to her mouth. "Even if they could, I'm not the lawyers' favorite secretary."

Karen watched her go.

Natasha walked briskly through the building and exited through the back door. She fished keys from her purse and opened a nondescript sedan. Climbing inside, she activated the device sitting in the center console. It lit up, and a map appeared on the screen. A dot marking the transmitter she'd left in Karen's car was moving out of the parking lot. Natasha pulled out and began tailing her. When Karen parked, Natasha did too, and discreetly followed her into the building and up to the office of Nelson & Murdock.

The business next door was a realty. Natasha could work with that. She took a few seconds to gather a cover story, and stepped inside.

It takes a special skill to hold a conversation at the same time as eavesdrop, but Natasha was a professional. The poor realtor, who had to try to sell a house to empty-headed Nat Richmond, was collateral damage.

"Key, Karen!" a cheerful male voice called on the other side of the wall.

"Hi, Karen," added a more reserved male voice.

"Hey guys," answered Karen, and she sounded distracted. Good.

A shuffling of papers and furniture.

"Anything new?" Karen.

"Nope, sorry." Cheerful. "You'll have to seek your entertainment in the leftover paperwork from the Tayward case."

Some more shuffling.

"What's up, Karen?" Reserved's voice was gentle, not pushing.

Karen side. Her voice came from further inside the office than before, nearer Reserved than Cheerful.

"I met a woman in Kawfee Haus," she began, and recapped their conversation. "She wouldn't consider legal help. But if I could convince her we could help..."

"And you're sure it's not an illness in the family or something?" asked Reserved.

"Matt, you didn't see her face," said Karen. Reserved was Murdock then, leaving Cheerful to be Nelson.

"Well, no," said Murdock. Mild snickering.

"She looked so hopeful for just a moment, like a dream come true, and then like she remembered it's impossible," explained Karen.

"I'll check it out," promised Murdock. Karen thanked him. A moment later, Nelson spoke up in an undertone.

"Check it out on the Internet like a respectable lawyer, or eavesdrop on her heartbeat?"

Natasha blinked and repeated a question the realtor had answered earlier so she could tune him out completely.

"Who said I had to choose?" said Murdock, and Nelson was silent. Natasha wrapped up her conversation with the frustrated realtor.

Eavesdrop on her heartbeat?

Could be hyperbole. But the implication that Murdock's hearing was at least as good as hers or Steve's, maybe better, was undeniable. Natasha went back to her car and drove herself back to the Avengers' base, thinking it over.

Entertaining the idea that Murdock could literally hear heartbeats, what followed?

Air currents, the sounds of appliances, et cetera, could form a mental image of the environment similar to echolocation, which would mean she'd want to err on the side of not assuming there was anything Matt Murdock couldn't do by virtue of his blindness.

What to make of the fact that Karen had gone to Murdock instead of Nelson?

Possibility: Karen was still set on trying to get legal help and had spoken to the first lawyer who'd asked.

Possibility: Murdock knew Daredevil or had a way of contacting him that Karen didn't. Possible, but peculiar, since Murdock's name hadn't turned up in her searching. That could be intentional, designed to hide tracks.

Possibility: Murdock was Daredevil. That would explain the records' discrepancy; Murdock was working the Fisk case from the streets while the others had handled the public side of things. Also peculiar, but Natasha had resolved not to rule it out on Murdock's blindness. The extra hearing could be just one of several serum-like enhancements, like hers.

Well, the only way to be sure was to tail Murdock next. Natasha ate, changed into her jumpsuit, and triple checked that Natalie Rushman still had a nearby legal address (actually a SHIELD safehouse), in case Murdock did begin his 'respectable lawyer' act by Googling her. Around 3, in case Murdock went home early, she returned to the office for a stakeout, this time with Steve to watch the back door. An hour later, Page and Nelson left via the front door, but no Murdock. But barely ten minutes later, Steve said in her ear, "Nat, I think you're gonna wanna see this."

She darted round to Steve's side of the building, and he pointed upwards. A figure in black kicked shut the window to Nelson & Murdock, having clearly just climbed out of it, and disappeared into a tree. He'd chosen well; the office window and tree weren't lit by any of the streetlights, and she doubted Steve would have seen him without enhanced vision.

THAT M? Steve signed to Nat.

YES THINK

NOW WHAT?

YOU-AND-ME GO HOME HURRY MAN

They piled back into the car. Steve unzipped his black hoodie to reveal the t-shirt underneath and donned a baseball cap and fake glasses before peeling out of the parking lot. Nat performed some contortions to get her skirt on and her side holsters off before replacing the top of her jumpsuit entirely with her blouse.

"Do we think he can outrun a car?" asked Steve.

"Not with how recklessly you're driving, Stan," said Natasha with a feral grin. Steve smirked and stepped on the gas.

Mr. and Mrs. Rushman emerged from their car engaged in an idle conversation about the Yankees. Natalie unlocked the door and let them in, putting her purse and shoes away neatly. Steve kicked his off and made to sprawl on the couch. They didn't have to wait very long before Steve cocked his head and signed,

WINDOW OUTSIDE-IT M

"He's an embarrassment to the team," said Natalie, and signed, YOU-YELL-AT-ME.

"Speaking of embarrassments," said Steve, leaning forward and fixing her with a look, "what was that stunt at the restaurant?"

"What do you mean?" quavered Natalie, shrinking back in her chair.

"Over the lemon cake," said Steve. "You didn't need to ask the waiter if it had nuts in it. I wouldn't have offered it to you if it had nuts. Do you think I'd do that? Do you think I'm trying to kill you?"

STAND, signed Natalie, and Steve did.

The window crashed in, and Daredevil executed a beautiful forward roll through it, coming to a fighting stance. Natalie screamed and drew her knees up to her chin.

"Are you Natalie Rushman?" asked Daredevil.

"Yes," she quavered.

"And you. you're Stan Rushman?"

"Yes, who the hell are you?" demanded Steve, but Daredevil was shaking his head.

"The truth."

"It is the truth!" said Steve. "I'm Stan Rushman, and this is my wife, Natalie." Daredevil turned suddenly into a cartwheel, which turned into a series of impressive flips that ended up with him standing behind Steve and threatening a chokehold.

"All lies," hissed Daredevil. Then, more confusedly, "All lies."

Interesting. Daredevil could polygraph Steve, but not Natalie.

"He's Captain America, so I wouldn't try that," said Natasha, shedding Natalie as she stood up.

"Is she telling the truth?" Daredevil asked Steve.

"Yes. I'm not married to her, I'm running an op with her," said Steve, presumably aware that Captain America threatening a woman looked even worse than a man with normal strength doing it.

"Why the scene?" asked Daredevil, stepping back.

"We wanted a chance to talk to you," answered Natasha, coming to join Steve.

"Well, I'm here. What do you want?" Daredevil crossed his arms.

"I like knowing who the local vigilantes are," said Nat. "Helps me plan."

Daredevil moved into a defensive stance, clearly ready to bolt. "I don't care if it is Captain America asking. I'm not telling you who I am."

"I don't need your name," said Natasha casually. "But it would be good to have an idea of, say, just how good your hearing is. In case of alien invasion, you know. How far away can we shout and have you hear us?" Daredevil was quiet for a moment.

"Captain America's an Avenger, but who are you? How do I know you're not going to turn around and sell that information?"

"She's the Black Widow," said Steve at a nod from Natasha. Daredevil relaxed minutely.

"I can hear your heartbeats," he said after a minute. "The Captain is on edge, but the Widow is calm." He paused again, but this time as though listening. "The refrigerator's on, but nothing else is. I'm guessing you don't actually live here. There are two girls walking further down the street arguing about whether one of them, Jessica, is being self-destructive. Your neighbors on the left are asleep and the ones on the right aren't home. There's a cat-sized animal just outside."

"So, definitely better than ours," said Steve, looking to Natasha for confirmation.

"That's excellent," she said. "Any other abilities? Super-healing? Super-agility? I've seen the videos."

That made Daredevil chuckle. "Nah, meditation and years of practice, respectively," he said. "Smell, touch, and taste are also enhanced."

"Could you find a bomb by the smell of the explosive?"

"Probably."

"That's all very good to know," said Natasha. "I don't think we need to take up any more of your time." Just as Daredevil reached the window, she added, "Have a good night, Mr. Murdock."

Daredevil about fell out of the window. "How do you know?" he demanded, hoisting himself back up. "Are you a telepath?"

"No, Mr. Murdock, just a very, very good spy who was once a subject in trials trying to replicate the super soldier serum," she answered. "No one else knows, or is likely to find out."

Murdock paused, nodded, and jumped out the window.

"That was surprisingly honest of you," commented Steve.

"Sometimes, the best way to get what you want is to tell the truth," replied Natasha somewhat cryptically.

"Can cost you, though," he answered, but let it go.