A/N: Hey! So updates will continue to be slow but study leave is coming up in a few weeks and I plan to use some of it to continue writing this if I can because who needs to study?

I want to say thank you to the guest who left a review and to Kayly - to whom I say: Your wish is my command. :)

Oh, and, SPOILERS ahead for DAREDEVIL season 1. Well, kind of but not really since it is an AU but you have been warned.

Enjoy!

. . .

Mariana did not want to go back to being HYDRA's prisoner or their lab rat. If Markus' torture was her punishment for just attempting to escape she couldn't even begin to fathom what the punishment for being so close to succeeding would be. Didn't want to either.

Her body hurt like hell and her head was beginning to join in the mix with the worst headache she'd ever had. She was wondering if maybe she'd hit her head at some point and had been ignoring it until now.

With blurred vision from both the unshed tears and the black spots dancing before her eyes, fighting back was far too much to ask of her at that point. Luckily for her, a kind soul decided she shouldn't have to.

. . .

The HYDRA agents were trying to drag her onto her feet when it happened. One of them was pressing down on her shoulders and she was continuously fighting the urge to scream in pain, the other was holding down her legs which she had been thrashing about previously and the third sat on her torso, his weight pressing down on her potentially broken ribs.

Then the weight was gone from her torso and she could breathe properly again. Her legs and shoulders were quickly freed as the other agents scurried to help their comrade. Mariana rolled to her left and pulled her arms and legs under herself to try to push off the ground.

She'd been given an opportunity to get away but the state of her injuries was preventing that and she quickly flopped back down, opting instead to discover the reason for her chance at freedom.

Her eyes widened in disbelief at the sight.

A man dressed in red with a mask that had horns on top was flipping and kicking in the air, lashing out with two wooden sticks. She watched the first agent drop. The second. The third. The man in the red stood in the middle of the street then for a moment, placing his sticks in a holster on the leg of his suit, breathing heavily before tilting his head in her direction. He had a small cut on his cheek, presumably from the fight.

"You okay?" His voice was gruff and she assumed it was deliberate, like he was disguising his real voice.

"Oh God," she managed. "Did we start a thing?"

The masked man tilted his head again. "You hit your head." It was not a question.

"It hurts like hell so I assume so."

"Your ribs are pretty bad too."

"Uh huh."

"And your shoulder is burned."

"It is indeed."

"You've also been shot."

"Grazed. And I noticed, how did you?"

He didn't answer. "Why were they after you?" he asked instead.

She hesitated, then went for the truth. "They were holding me prisoner. I just escaped. Could you help me up please?"

He approached her almost immediately, hands finding purchase on some of the few places she wasn't injured already and instead of pulling her up, he merely guided her and supported her weight a little.

"Prisoner?" he questioned once she was upright and supporting herself against a wall.

"It is a very long story and right now I just want to be anywhere but here and out of these clothes. I still don't know if they have a tracker on them."

He tilted his head as if listening for something before shaking his head. "There's no tracker."

She raised an eyebrow. "How did you… You know what? Nevermind. I've seen weirder crap than whatever you have going on. Point still stands, I should get out of here."

"You escaped your kidnappers and you don't know where you ran to? Usually people have a direction in mind. Like home."

She sighed. "Yeah well, I didn't exactly run here. Well, there was most definitely running involved but it's not exactly what got me here."

"What did."

Mariana took a moment to look him up and down. "Are you enhanced?"

"Enhanced?"

"Yeah." She paused before continuing tentatively. "Like, Avengers style enhanced."

He hesitated. "I have heightened senses. It's how I knew you were in trouble. I heard the fight."

"So…you heard what they said?"

He slowly nodded. "He threatened your family and named some of them as well. Like Tony Stark, Steve Rogers and Bruce Banner. I assume that would make you Quantum which means you teleported here."

She huffed out a laugh and winced at the pain. "If you knew all that why the hell were you asking?"

He shrugged and smiled a little for the first time. "Wanted to hear it from you yourself. Not every day an Avenger admits to being saved by a lowly vigilante."

"And with that I return to my original question. Did we start a thing? Y'know, masked do-gooders, how many of you are there? I've been out of the loop for a while."

"Half the city thinks you're dead." Mariana blinked. "People were wondering why Quantum wasn't seen at any of the recent battles and the Avengers were being bombarded with questions. The good Captain didn't appear to have a choice and announced you officially missing in action a few months ago."

She took a deep breath to calm herself before nodding. "Okay, good. If they still think I'm missing or dead then I don't have to go back just yet. They won't be in danger."

"They could have been lying." He indicated the three unconscious agents.

"I can't take that risk. HYDRA are capable of a lot of things, I wouldn't put killing the Avengers past them."

"Those guys are with HYDRA?"

"Yup, which is why I have to get out of here, wherever here is." She pushed off the wall and struggled to stay upright.

"Hell's Kitchen. That's where we are. If you want, I have a friend who could help patch you up no questions asked."

Mariana raised an eyebrow again. "No questions?"

"Not for you."

"And you are perfectly fine with me seeing your friend's face? Not afraid I could put them in danger or find out your identity under that mask?"

"I have something for that."

She considered it, then her shoulder screamed in pain as she shifted and she agreed. "Lead the way, and for God's sake go slow I'm injured here."

"Sure thing." He smiled again.

"You should smile more often you know," she announced later as they traversed the shadows of New York. "Less intimidating."

"Yes," he deadpanned, "I shall fight the crime of this city by blinding my enemies with my winning smile."

"At least do it for the poor victims, you've probably made some of them shit themselves."

"I'll consider it."

"What do they call you anyway?"

"I've gone by many names," he stated in an exaggerated deep voice. Mariana mustered enough energy to pathetically smack his arm. "Currently Daredevil."

"Previously?"

"The man in the mask, The devil of Hell's Kitchen, The mask."

"I sense the running themes here are your mask and you being the devil. Which is fitting I guess, if you consider the name of the city."

"Kind of the point I believe."

They found themselves at an apartment complex and Mariana struggled up the fire escape after Daredevil and then tumbling painfully through the window after him. He helped her to her feet and guided her to the couch. One look around told her the place was abandoned. He left the room to make a call and by the time he came back Mariana had almost passed out.

He woke her up just as a woman slipped through the front door of the apartment. Mariana first noticed the white cloth covering her face and the medical supplies bag over her shoulder. She turned her gaze to Daredevil.

"Really? A piece of cloth was your brilliant solution?"

"My mask hides my identity." He stepped back and the woman approached.

"You got a name?"

Mariana told her her first name only. The apparent nurse asked Mariana to just call her Nurse and she readily agreed if it meant her injuries would get tended to. They did. Daredevil had left the room and 'Nurse' had requested she remove her top to gain easier access.

"So how did you meet Devil Man? He beat on your pursuers too?"

"I found him bleeding in a dumpster."

Mariana blinked. Then had to fight a laugh because ow, pain. "Sounds like a Clint story," she muttered instead. As promised, Nurse didn't ask. Once she was fully tended to Daredevil returned to the room as Nurse was offering Mariana some painkillers.

"They'll take the edge off," she was saying.

Mariana shook her head. "Nah, you're alright. Save them for superman over there, he's more likely to need them than I am."

Nurse continued to hold out the painkillers. "You have four bruised ribs, one is broken, a really bad burn on your shoulder, three open knife wounds, a black eye and a mild concussion. You're going to be in a lot of pain."

"I've been in worse pain for longer, I'll be okay. Promise."

Nurse kept trying to push the painkillers until Daredevil spoke up. "You can't force her to take them, she says she can handle it then she probably can. You going to go home Mariana?"

It was a loaded question and she sighed. Was she? Could she risk that? "No."

"No?" Nurse asked. "Why not?"

"Not safe."

"They threatened her family," Daredevil informed Nurse.

"I can't take the risk."

Nurse sighed. "Who the hell are you kid?"

"Thought you said no questions."

Daredevil smirked. "May have lied."

"Ass. Look, my name is Mariana, I don't know if I should tell you anymore because it could put you in danger. People are after me and they are not the type to give up easily so my only option right now seems to be to keep running. I guess I'll try to lay low for a few days and heal up a little then get the hell out of dodge."

Nurse said nothing. Then she dragged Daredevil off into the other room and Mariana laid her head back against the couch. A few minutes later they returned.

"Stay here tonight," Nurse said. "Owners moved out a few weeks ago so it's empty for now."

"Stay quiet though," Daredevil advised. "Close the blinds, lock the windows and doors too."

Mariana rolled her eyes. "Sure dad."

Nurse chuckled. "I need to go, stay safe kid."

"You too Nurse."

Then it was just her and Daredevil.

"You weren't lying."

She looked at him. "About what?"

"Being in more pain than this before. I listened to your heartbeat, you weren't lying and that doesn't sit right with me."

"Okay, well, ignoring the total invasion of privacy right there, it is pretty cool that you can do that. I like it."

"You're avoiding the subject."

"What? No."

Daredevil sighed. He remained standing motionlessly in the centre of the room before he moved off to the kitchen area and pulled a wooden chair from beside a small round table over. He placed the chair facing Mariana and sat down, leaving about a foot of space between them.

"You're still covered in blood."

Mariana looked down and winced first when she realised he was right and second when she realised Nurse had not said anything about it.

"So I am."

"A lot of it isn't yours."

Mariana looked up. She stared at his face, at least what she could see of it, for a few seconds. He didn't even twitch at the searching look she gave him but his lips were pulled down in concern. She may not have been able to look into the man's eyes but she felt she could trust him. He had saved her. Mariana looked away.

"I killed them." It was barely a whisper and she kind of wished he hadn't heard.

"Who?"

Mariana sniffled, trying to hold back the tears that were once more trying to overflow. "Six of the agents sent after me." The tears fell anyway. "I didn't have a choice. I didn't want to but I didn't have a choice. Oh God, oh God I killed them!"

Daredevil shifted to sit on the couch beside Mariana and wrapped her up in his arms, feeling oddly protective of the young woman. Her heartbeat told him that she was young and he knew that as an Avenger she must be accustomed to violence. That also didn't sit right with him.

"I believe you," he said. "They would have killed you."

They stayed like that for several minutes before Mariana extracted herself from the embrace, having calmed down a little, and gave a watery smile.

"Thanks."

"You going to be okay?"

"I think so."

"You going to consider going home?"

She paused. "Maybe."

He smiled sadly. "I'm going to go now, stay safe, lock up and don't go needing vigilante help again any time soon." He started toward the window.

"Hero," she interrupted just before he ducked out. "Hero help. I used to think I wasn't a hero too, then some people…my family convinced me otherwise. You saved me tonight and I have a feeling you've saved a lot of other people too, hell, you got yourself a snazzy costume, it must be a regular gig. Thank you by the way. I never did say that, at least not for saving me."

"Whenever you need me."

"Shall I light up the bat signal?"

He grinned. "Goodbye Mariana. Think about going home. They must miss you." Then he was gone.

"I know," she whispered to the empty room.

. . .

It was a slow day at Nelson and Murdock the next day. Matt considered telling Foggy and Karen what had happened the night before, who he had met, but ultimately decided against it. It wasn't his place to reveal her identity to anyone and as she said, it could put them in danger.

Foggy got the call just after noon. Brett apparently had another 'interesting' case for them to consider. Matt singled her out the second they entered the precinct. There was a certain buzz about the air around her that was extremely distinctive, he assumed it was power-related. It felt much more prominent than the night before.

When the lawyers entered the interrogation room Mariana was slumped in her seat with her head in her hands saying over and over "I didn't do this. I didn't do this."

"Officer, could we have a moment with our client?" Mariana looked up at them slowly at Foggy's question.

"Client? You're taking this case? Great." With that the interrogator left the room and Foggy guided Matt to a seat facing Mariana.

"My name is Matt Murdock, this is my associate Foggy Nelson, we're here to offer our services in representing you."

She looked both of them over before her watery gaze settled on Matt. "Cut yourself shaving?"

And he knew right then that she knew. He hadn't even thought, didn't consider the possibility that he could be recognised by a cut of all things. He turned to Foggy. "Get her out of here, we need to go back to the office." He turned to Mariana. "All of us."

So Foggy obediently opened the door and called over the officer from before without question. "You charging her?"

"Not right now, just asking some questions."

"Charge her or get a warrant, otherwise we're out of here."

The officer nodded. "Sounds good. Don't even know why we dragged her in to be honest, not exactly a reliable witness testimony."

Foggy nodded and soon enough the three were outside and hailing a cab. They reached the office pretty quickly and completely silent.

"You're back quick!" Karen said as they entered. "And you brought a guest. Client?"

"Not exactly," Matt said as he closed the door.

Mariana crossed her arms. "You're a blind-lawyer-hero?" She had already determined by the fact Matt didn't mind his partners here that they knew.

Foggy and Karen's jaws dropped. Matt shrugged. "I'm catholic too."

"So you're a blind-catholic-lawyer-hero that was called The Devil?"

"Essentially."

"So cool," she breathed.

"And you identified me by a cut on my jaw."

"Indeed."

"Impressive."

"Thanks."

"Wait," Foggy interrupted. "Wait, wait wait, you know? She knows? How does she know? Well she just told us but how did you two meet? When did you two meet?"

"Last night," Matt said at the same time Mariana said "He saved me."

"Coffee?" Karen offered.

"Please."

. . .

"So are you going to reveal to us the reason you were arrested?" Foggy asked as they all gathered in the conference room. Mariana wrapped her hands around the hot mug.

"Last night, there was a witness. Homeless woman. She ran long before Daredevil made his appearance but apparently stayed long enough to see a nineteen-year-old girl beat on three grown men. My being dressed the same as them at the time made her think it was some kind of gang thing."

"She went to the police?" Karen questioned.

Mariana nodded. "Apparently after the three tuned up dead in a nearby alley she came forward to give a statement along with a detailed description of my face."

"Dead?" Matt asked, alarmed. "But I made sure-"

"I know," Mariana cut him off. "They were shot in the head. HYDRA did it. They had to. Probably wanted someone to blame for me getting away. Or a way to draw me out."

"HYDRA? I think you need to start from the beginning."

Mariana sighed and straightened in her chair. "My name is Mariana Hadley and I used to work as a consultant for the organisation SHIELD before it fell. I'm more commonly known by my Avenger code-name, Quantum. The day SHIELD fell and HYDRA came out I was sent straight into a trap and was captured. They used energy blasts to supress my powers and prevent any attempts at escape. There were many of those by the way.

"They had me trapped and decided they were going to train me, make me some kind of weapon and force me to comply with their ideals so that they could use my abilities for their own gain. I developed some kind of immunity to the power suppression but my powers were all out of whack so I was on foot for a while. There was a forest and I was chased down.

"One of the energy blasts burned my shoulder and I sustained a few other injuries along the way. Eventually I was able to teleport away but three HYDRA agents were in physical contact with me and at the time I didn't have enough focus to teleport without them. Then we were fighting on the streets of Hell's Kitchen and they're threatening my family, the other Avengers, and a masked hero is saving my ass."

There was a stunned silence in the room. Surprisingly, Karen broke it.

"Did they hurt you? While they had you as a prisoner?"

Mariana nodded after a moment of hesitation. "They, uh, experimented, took DNA and blood samples and, ah, well they…it doesn't matter."

"Yes it does," Matt said because he knew just by the implication of her speech and her sped up heartbeat exactly what they had done and it made his blood boil.

"Maybe," he felt her shrug. "But I'm okay for now."

"People think you're dead," Foggy blurted. "I mean, Captain America said missing in action but people assumed he meant dead."

Karen nudged him with her elbow. "Why haven't you gone home?"

"I didn't want them to get hurt. HYDRA threatened them and I'm not sure if they were telling the truth or not. I won't put them in danger like that." There was some more silence. "Do you…do you know how they are? The Avengers. I heard they got a new member."

Matt nodded. "Falcon. He has mechanical wings, helped with all of the HYDRA stuff in DC."

"They also found Bucky!" Foggy suddenly exclaimed and Mariana raised an eyebrow. Foggy blushed. "He, uh, he survived the fall from the train in the 40s. Apparently HYDRA brainwashed him, gave him a metal arm and trained him to be an assassin. He escaped in DC and they were out looking for him. He's remembering things now apparently. News went nuts about it."

"Why the hell does everything come back to HYDRA?" Karen asked angrily.

"Mariana," Matt began hesitantly, "I think you should reconsider your position on returning home. You need your family right now. Your family needs you. You've been gone for almost eleven months now and it's become the tabloid's newest fascination that the Avengers have refused to stop looking for you."

Mariana swallowed. "I can't put them in danger."

Foggy leaned forward and gaped at her. "Are you kidding? You're the freaking Avengers! There is nothing you lot can't take on. The others can sure as hell look out for themselves and you staying away leaving them with no idea if you are alive or dead is only going to hurt them more than any HYDRA agent ever could."

Mariana was amazed that the blonde so eagerly still thought of her as an Avenger. Karen was nodding emphatically and Matt was smiling indulgently at his friend's little rant.

"Mariana, if you're still insistent on not going home and since you already know who I am, you can stay with me for a while if you need it."

"I can't do that Matt."

"Yes you can," Karen said, "and you will."

Mariana smiled. "You remind me of Pepper. Fiery authoritative female figure keeping the boys in check? Yep, definitely Pepper."

Karen smiled.

"Dude, you just invited an Avenger to live with you," Foggy stage-whispered. "Why are you so cool about this?"

"Because I'm not a fanboy like somebody else is."

They all laughed a little. Matt, Foggy and Karen all felt an edge of protectiveness over this young woman, only nineteen years old and she had been through so much already. And if the three friends silently agreed they had adopted a little sister in such a short span of time then Foggy just assumed that meant he and the Avengers were technically family too which was just so cool.

"Like I said though, I can't do that. Because I think you guys are right; I need to go home." She suddenly looked very nervous. "I can do this."

. . .

A/N: Back again! Left this until the end on purpose, want to ask you guys a question.

How do you like the chapter length at the minute? I know longer chapters are sometime difficult to read but I find really short chapters break up the story too much. Opinions?

As always if a mitake is really bugging you, let me know so I can fix it. I noticed one or two silly ones like forgotten letters in the last few chapters that I will eventually go back to fix.

Thanks for reading! :)