Az wasn't sure if the nervous jitters were coming from them or from Matt, but wherever their source Matt's body could not stay still. Leaning on the SHIELD agents' desks, fiddling with the pens and gadgets left out, pinging stuff across the quiet office into a trash bin against the opposite wall. Cas was explaining the layout of the warehouse to Sam and Dean, since he had gotten a better look at it than Az had. Az's memories of the warehouse were disjointed at best, panic-inducing at worst.

Someone lightly jabbed them in the ribs and they jerked violently before realizing it was just Hernandez. Ysanne. It was strange how friendly she was being after realizing Matt was Daredevil. Az and Matt had been worried she was going to use it against him initially, but gradually came to realize she didn't have any ill intentions. She was just genuinely a fan of Daredevil. And she really wanted him to join SHIELD. Wanted them to join SHIELD. She had made it quite clear Az would be a valued member of the team.

It was a new feeling for both of them. Matt was not used to people taking the revelation of his identity gratefully, and Az was not used to anyone taking his existence well at all.

"You seem nervous."

"Just ready to get this over with," Matt answered, and Az realized that was the truth. Matt didn't seem especially anxious or scared. He had a mission, and was ready to do whatever it took to get it done. Huh. So that meant the nervous jitters were coming from Az.

Maybe because they weren't ready for this to be over with. Because after this was over...it was unknown. They had no clue what they were going to do after this. That, and they had a sinking feeling they might not make it through this.

Don't think like that. You can't go into a fight expecting to lose.

Az rolled their eyes. Thanks for that. Everything's better now. I feel great.

Matt huffed. We're not going to lose. After that...we'll figure it out. Trust me.

Okay. Okay. "Can we hurry up and get this done before there's nothing left of the city to save?"

Cas trailed off, and everyone's faces turned towards them.

"They're right," Ysanne said. "We need to get this show on the road. Cas - you said you took care of all the runes, right? I'll meet up with the others, we'll get everyone out of town. You five, do what you have to do. Stay in contact if you can. If SHIELD shows up -"

"Keep them out of our way," Dean interrupted. "We got this. They'll only get in the way."

"Just like I got in the way, huh?" she hefted her gun, the low hum it constantly emitted gearing up for a moment.

"Just tell them to keep everyone safe, focus on the monsters. We'll take care of Bouvois." Sam said.

"Whatever, big man," she said, then took a few steps towards the door.

"Wait, Ysanne," Matt called out. "Meet up with Foggy first if you can. I left him alone."

She nodded, then spoke aloud. "You got it. See you guys on the other side."

And then with a few jogging steps, she was gone.

Dean took a step towards Matt, drawing their little circle close.

"Everyone good on the plan? You guys, make a show. We'll get everyone out. Then we'll handle Bouvois together."

Matt and Az nodded, then reached out and grabbed Sam and Dean by a shoulder each. On the other side, Cas grabbed their free shoulders so they were forming a little huddle. Then in an instant they were gone from the secret SHIELD base and standing in a familiar room. They were just outside the jail cell where Az and Cas had been imprisoned. Drop Sam and Dean off, and then leave. That was the plan. But Cas let his hands linger on the brothers' shoulders for a moment.

"You got this."

"Yeah, Cas." Sam said. Dean didn't say anything. Az was willing to bet a large fortune that some intense eye contact was happening, though.

Then Cas released the brothers, and together they teleported into the main entrance of the warehouse. Last time had been here, Matt's soul had been ripped out of his body, and Az had been left disoriented and afraid.

You good? Matt asked.

Yeah. Are you good?

Some unpleasant - okay, fuck that - some horrifying memories flickered into their consciousness for a moment before Matt buried them again. It might have been Bouvois' cheap imitation, but Matt had still gone to hell. They hadn't really talked about that yet.

And now isn't the time, Matt said.

It really wasn't, but Az was having some trouble keeping their own thoughts in line. Luckily, they had Matt here to help with that. Focusing on what needed to be focused on. Like the layout of the room, and the rooms beyond that. The demons that were flooding into the chamber, lining the balconies like orcs from Lord of the Rings.

Nerd, Matt thought with amusement.

You won't be thinking that when I go Legolas on their asses.

A frown tweaked Matt's face. I thought Aragorn was supposed to be the cool fighter?

Depends, I guess. Az answered, feeling their emotions calm with their banter. As well as the fight looming over them. They were melting into each other, two separate souls distilled down to pure fighting instinct. There wasn't any room for existential crisis or worries. It was all choreographing their movements, mapping their opponents, carrying out one attack, then the next, then the next, then the next.

Together, they raised their fist.

Beside them, Cas spoke low and quiet.

"Remember, make it flashy."

"Can do, boss," Matt and Az said, and a grin split their face.


Claire charged up her gun again, and felt the weapon groan to life. The quick hum and bright glow was gone - whatever was powering this thing was almost gone. When Matt first dropped the guns off, she had been firing off consecutive blasts without a problem. Now it took a few seconds to charge up between discharges. A few seconds wasn't a long time in most circumstances. But when demonic monsters were charging at you, a few seconds could mean life or death.

Like right now, for instance. She blasted a possessed guy in a fancy suit and he went down, but another person was racing towards her. They were obviously possessed, crawling on all fours like an insect, screeching like a pterodactyl. The group she was guiding to safety screamed and took off running, but she stood her ground. The gun was heavy in her arms, slowly winding back up for another shot.

"Claire!" Karen screamed somewhere behind her. Claire didn't have the energy to look back. She was so tired. She just stared at the monster coming at her, biting her lip and willing the gun to work faster.

Then out of nowhere, a blue flash arced from her right, cutting through the air and plunging into the monster who screeched and went limp. She let out a sigh of relief, sagging a little as she realized she wasn't going to die. Not right this moment, anyway. Someone caught her, holding her up and taking some of her weight.

"You okay?"

"Foggy. I could ask you the same thing," she said, huffing out a laugh. Foggy took a little more of her weight, shifting so he had a better grip on her waist. His hair was dark with sweat, blood from a cut on his cheek trailing down his face and smearing across his neck.

"Thanks for the save," she said.

"As much as I want to take credit for that and be the action hero I always dreamed of - you can thank her for that."

Claire looked up to see Hernandez walking towards them, more frightened civilians trailing in her wake. Unlike the rest of them, Hernandez looked in her element. A little bloody, sweaty, dirty, yeah - but she made it look good.

"How does she look so cool right now?" Claire breathed out, brow scrunching.

"I have no idea. But she's been kicking ass. Now take us to this safehouse of yours. I don't know how much longer we can last out here."
Claire nodded, taking a deep breath and finally standing on her own. "This way."

She had only taken one step before Karen was on top of them, crashing into them with a hug.

"Don't do that again, Claire! You had me scared."

Claire laughed, "Sorry."

"And you," Karen took a step back and locked eyes with Foggy. "I was really worried."

"About me? I'm an action hero, Karen. Nothing can touch me."

"I can't believe Matt left you alone."

Foggy frowned, but before he could reply Hernandez was marching past them.

"Keep up, agents. We're not in the clear yet."

And then she was gone, speeding ahead like she was on a pleasant early morning jog instead of in the middle of the apocalypse. Foggy, Karen, and Claire stared after her for a moment.

"How does she do it?" Karen asked.

"She knows we're not agents, right?" Claire said.

Foggy shook his head, "Don't bother. I think she's in default mode or something. She's been calling me agent this entire time. Come on."

Then Foggy was gone, trailing after Hernandez like a dutiful soldier. Karen eyed Claire.

"Are you really okay?"

"I'm just having a really, really bad day."

Karen let out something between a strangled laugh and sighing sob. "Tell me about it."

"Let's get back to the train station, and I will."

They had been gathering refugees from the city into a train station at the edge of the magical barrier, painting the warding symbols Sam had given them on the walls. Claire wasn't the only nurse there, and several people were laid out on makeshift pallets receiving medical care. There were several police officers there, armed with guns Hernandez had distributed somehow. More officers were out scouring the streets for more citizens that needed somewhere safe to hide. So far, whatever magical mumbo-jumbo Sam had shown them seemed to working, and no monsters had made it inside.

But they were still trapped. Claire wondered if this is what Az and Matt had felt like inside the devil's trap. At the edge of Hell's Kitchen the streets began to shimmer like a mirage on a hot day, the asphalt and concrete buildings wavering like a wall of heat was washing over them. Beyond the shimmering, illusory barrier, the streets looked empty. Several people had tried walking past, but it was like walking into water, then syrup, then a wall of sand. It eventually got to a point where you couldn't progress any further, then you were pushed backwards, sometimes violently.

Hernandez would have been the last to be in contact with Matt and Az or Sam and Dean. Maybe she had some information that would help them out. However, at the moment she seemed a little too busy to talk.

Several officers had gathered around her, asking questions of their own. Claire, Karen, and Foggy hung back and watched as Hernandez barked out some orders, pointing severely and staring down any officer that dared challenge her.

"I'm really glad she decided to be on our side," Claire said, watching several officers skitter away with frightened looks on their faces. Finally, Hernandez was left alone for a moment and came to join them. Foggy handed her a water bottle.

"Sorry about that. They know I'm SHIELD, and I kind of took charge. They want answers. I'm not sure what to tell them right now."

"We were kind of wanting answers, too, actually," Karen said. "What's going on? Shouldn't the barrier be down by now?"

Hernandez looked worried. "Last time I talked to Castiel, he said he had destroyed all the runes. I don't know why this magical barrier hasn't come down yet. I don't know anything about this type of magic, really. And none of you do either, am I right?"

They all shook their heads.

Hernandez bit her lip. "I don't like this."

"No kidding," Foggy said.

"We're completely cut off. We have to assume no one's coming in from the outside. The others should be in the warehouse by now. For now...we just wait."

Karen shifted, furrowing her eyebrows.

"We just..wait? And do nothing?"

"Unless you have a plan?"

Karen didn't say anything, but the determined expression didn't leave her face. Claire made eye contact with Foggy behind her back, who raised his eyebrows. Claire sighed, sinking to the floor and taking a long swig from her own water bottle. Karen might not have a plan right now, but Claire had the feeling there was no way this group would sit and do nothing for very long.


Matt's hands were dripping with blood. He was slick with it. Everything in the room was. It was overpowering his senses slightly. Behind them, the room was filled with bodies - broken, bruised, and bleeding, but still breathing. His heart was racing, but not with exhaustion. Exhilaration. Thank god for Az's demon strength, or else he wouldn't still be standing.

Thank god for demons, huh? Bet that's a sentence you never thought you'd say.

Matt rolled his shoulders, stretching a little bit.

True. Especially when an angel is standing next to me.

Said angel was also spattered with blood, a short blade that hummed with energy clutched in his hand. He had managed to smite several demons, meaning there were several confused, innocent, injured people writhing in the room behind them, but Matt tried not to think about that. They weren't nearly done.

"Ready?" Cas said, voice more gravelly than usual.

"Let's rock and roll," Az answered.

"I can't believe you just said that," Matt said.

Cas answered solemnly. "Let's rock and roll, then."

Matt sighed, popped his neck, then started ahead with Cas. They had made it upstairs and opened a door that would normally lead to a small office. Evangeline had used some sort of magic to fit a short corridor with doors to either side into the space. Cas pointed ahead.

"She's in there."

"The door at the other end of the hallway?"

"Yes."

Az felt it, which meant Matt felt it. The wave of magical energy pushing out from the room ahead. It felt foreboding. Dangerous. Damning.

"Then...let's rock and roll." Matt sighed.

"YES!" Az cheered. Their exclamation was cut short when several demons appeared in the room in front of them, clutching various weapons in their hands.

"Round two" Matt sighed, raising his hands once again.

The first demon started forward, a bat driven through with nails swinging from his hand. Az swept a hand to the side, and the bat went flying - directly into the gut of another demon. Cas rushed forward, grabbing the faces of two demons. The rest of the hoard averted their faces and covered their eyes, flinching away from what Matt was told was a bright light. Matt and Az took advantage of that distraction, surging forward and peppering the nearest demon with a series of punches that threw them back against the wall. Then they ducked, dodging the swinging arc of a knife aimed towards their back.

Cas was plunging his blade into another demon, and Matt and Az were back up, kicking off the wall to come down on the demon with a knife. It was a beautiful, violent dance.

A dance that was suddenly cut short when a siren went off. The demons stilled, backing away from Cas and Matt, heads tilting towards the sirens, then towards each other.

"What is that?" Az asked.

Suddenly, the door at the end of the hall flew open. Matt flinched, but couldn't sense anyone in the doorway. It was like a strong wind had blown it open. But he knew better than that.

"GO!" a voice screamed. Instantly, the demons vanished.

"We have to hurry. Now." Cas said, rushing forward. Matt followed, filled with unease.

Az was providing a constant chorus of What the fuck what the fuck what the fuck as they charged into the room ahead.

As soon as they entered, the door slammed shut behind them. It took Matt a moment to organize the room, because every inch of the place was swimming with magic. It made him lightheaded, disoriented. Afraid. But Cas was on his right, standing strong. Az was giving him strength from within. His friends, the city was counting on him. He had to get it together.

The room smelled strongly of incense. It was small. A bed in the corner, surrounded by...candles. All lit. Nearby was a basin - water inside. Some books and scrolls lay scattered on the floor as well. A shelf against one wall had more scrolls and books. On the opposite wall was another shelf, this one with jars and bottles filled with unidentifiable substances filling its shelves.

Against the far wall there was a grand fireplace, seemingly much too grandiose for a room this small. It was cold, but Matt felt like he could taste fire in the air.

And then in the middle of the room was Bouvois herself. She was sitting, her back turned to them. Cross legged, hair down, smelling of sweat and blood.

"You...and your friends...are awfully troublesome," she said, voice rigid. She still hadn't risen from her seated position.

"This ends now, Bouvois." Cas said.

"The only thing that will be ending…" she began to rise.

Here we go...Az murmured.

"Is you!" she turned, jabbing a finger in their general direction.

And there it is. Classic.

Beside them, something flared up. Energy washed over them in waves, and for a moment Matt thought something had exploded. He heard what sounded like feathers rustling. Then he realized what it was - Cas.

There's the rock...Az said, sounding a little giddy. Matt wasn't sure if they were actually excited for this fight, or were just freaking out.

"And here's the roll," Matt finished, deciding to play along. He felt an odd but now familiar sensation, and knew Az had just flashed their eyes black. Together, Matt and Az rushed forward and went into a front flip, launching themselves high into the air to bring a heel down on Evangeline. She raised a hand towards them, but then they were gone. Instantly they reappeared, directly behind her. Still carrying the same momentum, they slammed their heel down on the back of her neck before bouncing away. She fell to one knee.

Cas rushed forward as Matt fell back, slashing with his blade. He brought it down, but suddenly Bouvois wasn't kneeling in front of him. She was standing behind him, knife in her hand.

"Two can play that game," she said, voice low and strained.

She thrust a hand each at Cas and at Matt. They both skid back a few feet before bracing themselves against the magical attack. Matt heard the sound of giant wings flapping, and something in his ears started ringing slightly. Waves of energy rolled off Cas and he charged again. Evangeline swiped her knife along her palm, and when she brought it up to block Castiel's blade it was no longer a knife, but a long, slender sword. Dark, heavy magic energy was washing off her as well, and Matt felt like he was lost at sea, being buffeted by invisible waves.

Murdocks can take a punch, right? C'mon, show me the devil in you, Murdock. Az said, and Matt felt his head clearing. He focused inward, felt the strength fortifying his bones, the blood that surged through him with every beat of his heart. He felt the magic of Az inside him, but he felt something else, too. His own magic. Just from being alive - the energy of his own soul.

You're in here with me now. You gotta feel it, too.

The devil in the devil, huh? ...Yeah, I think I feel it.

Matt felt it now, full force. And he felt Az feeling it, too. That old devil he had known long before Az or Daredevil ever came along. The devil his dad had known. That had haunted the Murdock boys since birth - that burning, dead-eyed determination that never let up, never let go. Once it set in, whoever was on the receiving end was damned. That devil had been smoldering inside Matt ever since his dad died, nowhere to go. Instead, it had just been eating away and beating at Matt for years. Tearing him down, tearing him up. Hurting him, his friends...he had thought it was evil. But now it was flaring up, bright and hungry, and he realized that wasn't true.

But this in front of him, this woman - this thing - this was evil.

Rock and roll.

They raised their fists, drying blood cracking as their fingers clenched. Then they unleashed the devil.

Bouvois was caught off guard. Matt and Az slammed into her like a locomotive. She twisted around and tried to slice at them with her sword, but it was like every sense was keyed up to its highest degree. Matt almost felt like the world was moving in slow motion. It was like every move was choreographed, and he had memorized these steps a long time ago. He deflected the sword with his wrist, the back of his hand meeting the flat of the blade. He grabbed her other arm and yanked her forward into his knee. She jerked away, and he let her. He brought the rest of his leg up and kicked her back. She slid backward, not losing her feet but he heard her let out a gasp of pain. Castiel didn't skip a beat. He was there to meet her, blade plunging into her shoulder as she backed away from Matt.

She let out a short scream and disappeared for a moment. Az swept them away instinctively, popping over towards one of the bookshelves. Almost like scheduled, Evangeline reappeared right where Matt had been standing, a short burst of flames burning out quickly with no victim to claim. She stood there panting for a moment.

"Fine, then." She hissed.

Something popped, like a cork off a champagne bottle. Some sort of pressure fled the room, some of the magic that was clouding the room vanishing. Matt let out a sigh of relief, head feeling much clearer than it had a moment ago.

"Don't be too relieved," Az said. Sure enough, the magic hadn't simply vanished. It had just gone somewhere else - into Evangeline.

"She just ended the barrier spell," Cas said, suddenly standing beside them. Matt smelled blood, and realized Evangeline had landed a blow on Cas after all.

"You okay?"

"Im fine. We can't let up."

Matt nodded, letting himself melt into that adrenaline-fueled fighting state. Ahead of them, Evangeline had her arms outstretched, head thrown back. She took in a deep breath, then rolled her head forward. And then she floated into the air.

"I think this fight will be a bit more...fair, now."

Electricity crackled in the air around them, the smell of ozone cutting through the incense. Matt ducked into a roll, Cas jumped aside. What Matt could only assume was a lightning bolt hit the ground where they had just been standing.

How many tricks does she have?

She's boosted up on something...whatever it is, it can't last. We just have to run her down.

Outlasting a fight? Enduring the worst? That was their specialty.

Matt raised a hand towards Evangeline, Az's power surged through him and together they got a hold of her and tried to tug her down to the ground. She broke their hold, but they gave Cas the opportunity to attack. Then they launched themselves into the air while she was swiping at Cas, almost landing a blow before she dodged out of the way.

We just have to outlast her, right?

Make her use up all of her magical energy. And then it will be our turn.

I bet we can get a few hits in there before that happens.

Matt reared back his fist, then unleashed a swing just as Az teleported them in front of Evangeline's face. He felt the punch connect, but didn't follow through because just as quickly Az teleported them away. This was going to be a long fight - might as well have some fun with it.


The sounds of a distant fight bounced and echoed their way through the corridors of Evangeline's maze and into the prison where Sam and Dean were now unlocking cages as quickly and quietly as they could. They already had twenty people out and cowering behind them, confused and afraid. There were four more cells to go.

"God damn, why does she need so many fuckin' captives? This is ridiculous," Dean muttered under his breath as he jangled the keys, trying to to find the ones for the cell he was now standing in front of. Inside, several people were staring at him with hope and trepidation. Their eyes, along with Sam's, kept flickering down the hallway where the sounds of a fight were dying down. Dean didn't know if that was a good thing or not. He hoped Cas and Matt and Az were alright, they better be, because if not the whole plan was going to go to shit.

"Hurry up, Dean," Sam said.

"I'm going as fast as I can, Sammy," Dean hissed.

He finally found the right key, and six more captives flooded out to join the others.

"Dean...listen." Sam grabbed the keys, silencing them, putting a finger to his lips. The sounds of the fight were gone.

"Hurry, hurry," the people from the next cage where whispering, gesturing wildly for Dean to unlock their cell. He obliged, stepping over the body of a demon they had killed, shifting through the keys as fast as he could. Sam went to work on the next door, picking the lock while anxiously checking over his shoulder.

Finally, after what seemed an eternity, everyone was free. Now they just had to get them out of here.

"This way," Dean hissed, gesturing for everyone to follow him as he went down the now quiet hallway.

"But...isn't that where all the...the monsters are?"

Someone started crying. A woman standing near Sam covered her mouth and began praying.

"It's our best bet for getting out of here," Dean answered, impatient.

"Our friends cleared a path. It'll be okay. Trust us," Sam said, a little more comforting.

Dean resisted the urge to snort. Either Cas, Matt and Az had cleared a path, or they were dead. And if that was true, they were all dead anyway. And if that was true...Dean shook his head, no time for thoughts like that. They had made it. The plan was working.

They started jogging down the hallway, Dean in front and Sam covering the rear. The almost made it to the main room when a cold feeling swept over Dean and a siren went off.

"Shit."

A moment later a booming voice rang from somewhere in the building, screaming a single word. "GO!"

Their group of rescued captives started panicking, pushing past Dean to try and escape.

"Wait!" Dean shouted, trying to stop them from rushing past.

Suddenly, a dozen demons appeared in front of him, holding various weapons. One with a machete swung lazily at a captive running past, catching them across the thighs. They hollered in pain and went down.

The rest of the people shrank behind Dean. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Sam aiming his gun. Five demons each - no problem. They had that handled.

Then Dean saw something behind Sam, working its way down the hall towards them.

"Sam, behind you!" He shouted, veins running cold. It looked like a dark, cloudy shadow filling the end of the hall. But Dean recognized it for what it was - a hoard of monsters. Evangeline's failed experiments.

Okay, maybe they didn't have this handled.

He tossed his gun to someone in the back of the crowd.

"Use this!"

Then he unstrapped his shotgun and his flask of holy water and handed to the person on either side.

"Cover me."

Then he faced the demons in front of him.

Cas was still alive. So that meant he had to make it through this.

Beside him, the woman cocked the shotgun, and some teenager nervously uncapped the holy water.

They could make it through this.