AN: Season finale Part 2

Iron Fist

"This city is no place for the Iron Fist."

-Madame Gao

He woke up feeling exhausted. That was unwelcome. And his shoulder hurt.

Ward tugged his shirt down by the shoulders and reached to probe the wound with his fingers. While before he'd been wrapped in thick layers to stem the flow of blood, now it was a mere white patch taped to his chest. Wait, he was wearing a hospital gown.

His murky mind clearing, he searched the darkened room.

There were two other beds in the room. The one next to his was occupied by a sleeping figure he couldn't quite make out. By the expensive layout and furnishings, he identified it was the hospital owned by Rand.

Someone was asleep in a chair beside him. It was Claire. What was she doing here? What was he?

Okay, that last one was fairly easy to work out.

Tired as he was, he struggled to sit up, glancing at the IV in his arm. Were they not giving him pain medication? Was there a way to increase it? He could deal with feeling like crap he supposed.

The sleeping woman stirred, a hand rising to rub her eyes. Blinking them open, she looked at him and straightened herself in the chair.

"You're awake."

"You're observant."

She smiled, still rather drowsy. "Good. No brain damage. Had us worried for a while."

"Why?"

"You tell me. Why'd you pass out like that? Why were you so scared right before you did?"

He remembered the moments before waking here. He recalled warning Danny and was thankful the massacre was prevented. She wouldn't be calm like she was, if any of them died.

Ward avoided answering. "This hospital gets a lot of mileage. Maybe we should start a club."

"Glad you think it's so funny," Claire said, stoic. "Doctors wanted to do a ton of scans and possible exploratory surgery to try and fix you. I fended them off knowing, no, hoping you would wake up on your own."

"It was serious?"

Her eyebrows raised as she confirmed. "You were half-dead. Your heart rate was dangerously low and irregular. There was no response to stimuli… You've been unconscious for almost three days."

He studied the woman. She looked tired and stressed. Claire was obviously worried too, and he realized she had to make hard decisions for him over those days. She decided to forego standard treatment and examination for the chance his body would take care of itself. What if it hadn't? What if he died? This was a responsibility she'd taken onto herself and he held a new respect for her.

She reached forward and switched on the light bar behind his bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired."

Unsurprised, she leaned back in the chair, stretching her arms. "You got an appetite? You hungry?"

"Nah." He laid down on the bed and she stood, adjusting it so he was reclining instead of lying flat.

Peering over to the bed nearby, there was enough light now that he could see who occupied it.

"How's he doing?"

"Frank Castle is gonna be just fine, cause he says so. That's how he acts anyway. Idiot had no business dragging his ass to a rooftop so he could play sniper."

"He was hunting Kuo?"

She nodded. "He was hunting Kuo. His buddy helped him get there. The nerve. Bed rest means nothing to the stubborn."

Ward assumed she was talking about David Lieberman, Micro. It was certainly idiotic to be moving around with a yet pretty recent stomach wound, but he understood the necessity to not sit by and watch things happen. He was incredibly happy his feeling similarly brought him to that office building and to the others, or else…

"Where's Danny? What happened while I was out?"

Making herself comfortable, she folded her arms across her lap.

"Where do I start?"

/

The soldiers in gray broke away from their posts, abandoning barricades and heavier weaponry. They'd received the call to erase their presence from the city. The National Guard didn't hesitate to storm through when they witnessed their abrupt departure.

While the gray uniformed soldiers disappeared as effectively as they appeared within the city's borders, the National Guard proceeded deeper inside to an unexpected sight. They were met by several hundred citizens and learned they banded together to get their city back. The military heard their story of Kuo Abt and a fake business called Obaktu Enterprises. After that, they scoured New York for any sign of terrorism remaining.

For days, helicopters flew overhead. Word spread, drawing out news crews and journalists for the story. FBI agents and Homeland Security showed up during the night, investigating how domestic terrorism like this could have happened. When the power was restored, it was uncovered a computer virus was utilized to take everything offline.

"Once the power came back, most of the craziness died down."

"This shit is ours! We staked claim."

Another Italian mobster sneered. "No return policy."

Luke rolled his eyes, exchanging looks with Danny before the two of them turned back to the unnecessarily problematic mafia. They'd taken territory that belonged to law-abiding citizens, and weren't looking to give it back. During the blackout, they strong-armed shop and restaurant owners into signing over property.

"Like I was saying," Danny folded his arms across his chest. "Just about everyone else is getting the message. Heart used the criminals of this city to further their own goals. Once this city died, you would have been thrown out like the trash those people think you are."

They stood rigid, without a word.

"Guys, rip up the contracts and go about your day," said Danny.

"Or I'm going to come back here and shove them up your asses," Luke declared. "Then at least your shit's got something to say."

Their expressions told them they weren't going to be an issue any longer.

"Owen and the other ex-Heart people... Well, they had a different tact with the reluctant."

Owen climbed off of the unconscious gangster.

"Who's next?"

A woman shoved a cowering man toward Marcus. He dropped to his knees, pleading that they got it. They wouldn't be trouble preventing the city's return to status quo. He swore they would give the truckload of cure they'd stolen to hold for ransom back.

"I know that's true," Marcus said, "But we gave our word to deliver a message."

"Marina, would you like the honor?" asked Owen.

The woman leaning against the far wall near the exit smirked. "Happy to."

"No! No! No!"

"The reason I look so damn foxy right now? Been working practically nonstop to deliver the cure fast as your company's lab can churn it out."

Wiping sweat off her brow, she pushed away from the wall to meet the truck as it pulled in front of the side entrance. Claire motioned to the gathered volunteers, guiding them to get started unloading the latest shipment of the antidote.

"Alright people, let's move. This hospital's over capacity, and we're still not gonna make a dent today."

A young nurse named Kendra paused to speak with her.

"Is half the city really sick with this poison or whatever it is?"

She breathed out her stress. "You better believe it. At least that many. Now come on. We've gotta get this done."

"Of course, compared to the construction crews, firefighters, and other volunteers that worked day and night until every police precinct was unburied, I got nothing on them."

Jessica shoved an enormous block of concrete away from the double doors of the police station. She ignored the stares of a few firefighters gawking at the little girl that could. Peering through the hole she'd made, she yelled through it, waiting to hear anything.

One of the doors pulled inward, noises of people straining to get it done audible on the other side. After accomplishing the arduous action, a uniformed officer stuck his head through the gap. When he saw her, he let out a shout of joy.

"They're getting us out, boys and girls. Best collect your belongings and say your goodbyes to the hospitality of our fine wooden floors. Because we-are-getting-out of here!"

Cheers and a couple praises to God. She was just a chick, but hey, they wanted to call her God, why argue?

Grinning, she set to work on the other large pieces of rubble in her way.

"Kuo left a mess behind, no doubt about that."

FBI agents flooded into the empty office building of Obaktu Enterprises, eager and prepared to get to the bottom of all responsible parties for what happened to New York. There wasn't a soul in the building, nor a single useful document to provide evidence. But on the highest floor, a massive explosion had destroyed the level.

As they proceeded across the ruined floor, they came to a spot where brain and blood was splattered wall to wall. Pieces of somebody's corpse was all over the place. The lead FBI agent stooped over the charred torso, lifting up a katana sword in his gloved hand.

He turned to his partner, who lowered her handgun and just stared, unsure what to make of it either.

On the other side of the city, another team of FBI agents streamed into the precinct fingered as completely overrun by officers involved in the plot with the terrorists.

They entered a deserted station. The cells where they were told the police officers had been locked up stood empty. Searching the building top to bottom, there wasn't a single file or memo to be found.

Standing around in a hallway, perplexed and disbelieving, one of the agents noticed a door ajar. He pushed through it and walked into a small room, bare except for a radio. It was a useless thing, and the only thing these mysterious fugitives didn't make vanish.

"Thankfully, we have some extremely special people looking out for us."

Matt spin kicked a Heart soldier into a wall. The guy hit hard and slid to the floor, motionless. He was out of enemies and his allies were handling themselves without difficulty.

There were people arguing up ahead.

Entering the next hallway, he heard the sound of a gun being lifted, magazine pushed in with a click. Matt swung around and pressed flat to the wall, a stream of bullets unloading into the space he was seconds away from occupying. He listened for what else might be present.

Misty hurried to lean against the wall beside him. Her sidearm was held low, heart racing.

Ever happy to help when there was a bullet situation, Luke took notice of them. Cheerful, he jogged into the dangerous hall and ran straight for the shooter. Misty peeked across his chest to check the situation.

She entered the hall, gun raised, shouting for them to surrender. The guy with the machine gun screamed while he was lifted up by the throat and slammed into the ground. Four more soldiers poured out of the room he identified as being guarded. There were six refusing to alter their position inside.

Colleen and Danny reached the corner just after he turned it and walked carefully forward. An assailant came at him on the right. He took him down with a single kick and punch combination.

Matt kept moving, registering that Jessica was confronting Heart soldiers pouring into the entrance from the outside. None of them were a match for the six of them together. He soon stood in the room they were looking for with his allies.

"Sweet Christmas."

Jessica agreed. "That is a shit ton of hero making juice."

There were rows and rows of the translucent type liquid, extracted out of the Egg of the Undying. The room was pretty big and every shelf was full. They must have been duplicating the stuff nonstop.

Danny was very serious walking among the shelving.

"This is my responsibility to protect. We burn it all down."

The Heart soldier who changed allegiances prior to the final battle for New York, made his presence known, emerging from the dark part of the room. He offered to lead them to the new storage building housing the elixir with very special properties. His thumb jerked toward the doorway behind him.

"Gasoline is stored two spaces over with the vehicles."

A nod from Danny before he was looking at his friends.

"Let's do this."

/

"Getting rid of the stolen special egg stuff was the last on the list of things to do," Claire said. "They'll be back tonight."

"Hey."

Ward startled upon suddenly hearing the gruff, low voice to his left.

"I want to say sorry for, you know, almost causing you all to blow up."

His eyes grew bigger at the apology, looking in the direction of the man now sitting upright in the bed. Claire climbed to her feet, walking over to the sink and filling two cups with water. She came to stand between their two beds and handed Frank a cup before holding one out to him, then pulling it halfway back.

"Or do you only drink sparkling water out of glass bottles or something well-to-do like that?"

He restrained from rolling his eyes and faked a laugh to let her know he thought she was hilarious.

She smirked. "You know, for a couple of rich guys, you and Danny are two of the most disadvantaged guys I've ever met, and that's saying something."

Ward accepted the water and drank it down quickly. She took it back and went to refill it. He felt Frank's eyes on him.

"You won't put any of the blame on yourself, right?"

"Why would you think I would?"

Frank gave him a look like he was saying, 'I know what's in your head, don't try to lie to me.'

"Some lives hold more value than others. It's not right, but it's the way it is."

He wasn't sure how to respond. Claire blocked their view of each other for a moment to hand him the cup. She glanced between them briefly and then headed for the door.

"I'm bringing back food and I expect you to eat every bite."

Ward sighed tiredly, resting his head. He planned to just close his eyes for a minute, but fatigue dragged him into effortless unconsciousness.

/

Ward raised the idea to invite everyone for a big dinner celebrating the city's recovery. It was also an opportunity to thank people for the hard work and fortitude they displayed during a most stressful time. Danny did the inviting, while Ward picked the restaurant. He nudged him into inviting the Heart/Hand defectors as well.

Most of them picked up and left once the city was out of immediate danger. A few intended to stay local, for the time being anyway, and were continuing to help with the damage caused. One in particular he really didn't approve staying in New York. He tried to reason to Ward that the man was untrustworthy, probably a sociopath, and was a loyal ally of Bakuto until recently.

He was told the man came through for them enough times to warrant a second chance, and he was reminded his girlfriend was a former ally of Bakuto too. Danny corrected she was his ex-girlfriend and the debate ended there.

So now he sat, watching Marcus "Patterson", eating dinner and chatting all friendly with Nina Monroe, Karen, and Matt.

The Rand employee leaned to the side to whisper something into her husband's ear. He laughed, shaking his head and reaching for a wine bottle. Micro poked him in the side and told him to stop looking so grumpy. Hearing him since he was just on Danny's other side, Ward started examining his demeanor more closely. How annoying.

He shoveled food into his mouth to avoid talking. He just didn't want anything bad to happen. That was all. Who could fault him for worrying after everything?

The table chatting died down a little when the large television behind the bar switched to a news report about what happened to the city. In general people were interested to hear what would be said, and Foggy Nelson announced he was trying to hear in a loud voice.

"The FBI and Homeland Security concur they believe the terrorists were disgruntled international traders, unhappy with the state of world economics. Authorities suspect these domestic terrorists targeted New York City to try and make a statement to the rest of the world."

Ward set his glass on the table, puzzled. "How haven't they made a connection to Rand yet? I expected the FBI to be knocking down our door and demanding documents. I assumed they'd get us on some kind of liability claims at the very least, and at worst..."

Frowning, Nina pulled her wine glass away from her lips. "True. It's been a week. Think they're gathering evidence to bring it to light in a bid to publicly embarrass the company?"

"A selective and cloaked computer virus wiped out any and all connections and transactions for businesses owned by Obaktu Enterprises, funded by Rand Enterprises."

That was oddly specific. Every single person shifted to stare at Micro. Beside him, Frank was starting to grin at the manner his friend behaved. He looked across the table a the man's wife. She seemed proud to be that wife tonight.

"You'll find the emptied funds and missing money have been refilled again, almost like there never was an Obaktu Enterprises or numerous schemes to defraud your company."

"You did that?" Ward asked, awed.

Micro met his gaze, serious.

"It's small compared to what you did." He swept his gaze slowly across everyone sitting at the long table before adding, "I don't think a single person here isn't grateful for your choices. So on behalf of everybody, thank you."

"I didn't-I wasn't... I was helping me."

A few people chuckled at the implausibility of the statement, including Danny. Misty wasn't laughing, but she stared at him like he was crazy. He put an arm around the man.

"Face it. You kind of accidentally became a hero. Ever thought that would happen?"

Firm, Ward immediately uttered, "No."

He didn't seem to like anyone showing him appreciation or recognition for what he endured these past months. Danny understood. Blocking things out or convincing whatever went on wasn't a big deal to move on. He'd attempted such a mindset in the past and it rarely worked for long.

The TV drew their attention again.

"An official message released from Stark Industries seems to indicate Mr. Stark wasn't made aware of the terrorist attack, learning of it only upon his return home."

"Psh," Colleen shrugged off the newscaster. "Now the big shots have something to say and wanna get involved. A little late for that, metal man."

"Are we even surprised the government didn't bother telling the world's go-to defense force?" Luke commented rhetorically.

"The White House announcement earlier today, declaring the belief that the threat of these domestic terrorists calling themselves "Heart", has passed with the organization leader declared dead, has led to some controversy among-"

A man behind the counter shut off the television. Danny eyed him, noting he was somebody he'd seen before. Somewhere important.

Oblivious, Claire drained her glass. "Everybody's always fighting each other. No wonder it's so easy for the bad guys to become that dangerous."

"Too much television rots the brain, or so they say," the man in the suit remarked with an elegant British accent. "Well, you've all made a mess of things."

"Interpol guy? What? Is party crashing not beneath you?"

Luther James helped himself to a drink behind the counter, smiling pleasantly at an irritated Jessica. Frank turned wary, but he didn't seem concerned. That was kind of his barometer for whether he need be worried.

"It's a good thing you people are better at cleaning up messes than you are preventing them."

"Hm. Let's rewind the clock," Jessica said, peeved. "Weren't you helping the people who made the mess?"

His momentary lapse in arrogance informed more than what he told them with words.

"I need several drinks. Anyone for a nightcap?"

Nina's husband peered down at his watch. The late hour brought him to his feet. He ventured over to the table where his children and Micro's children were eating dessert.

"Come on guys. Time to go."

Micro reluctantly got up from the table to do the same and gather their kids. He was surprised to see Jessica and Luke leave the table to take the Interpol agent up on his drink offer. Taking a minute while he was looking about anyway, he found Colleen's seat.

She appeared to be chatting well with the former Hand and Heart member, Marina. Ward got up to talk to Karen and Owen when the latter returned from the restroom, claiming his attention. He didn't know how to feel socializing with enemies, past enemies, whatever.

His eyes narrowed, noticing Marcus approaching them, balancing drinks in his hands. He walked over as fast as he could while keeping a casual pace. Danny pondered what served for small talk with people like them.

"Hey, how did you do that?" the man was asking while handing Ward a whiskey.

He realized they'd become the default spot to gather. Matt and Claire not far to his left, Jessica and Luke wandering closer with Colleen and Luther James. Everyone else vacating the table to stand around drinking like the rest of the room. It left him feeling somewhat sheepish basically coming over just to spy on Ward's conversation.

His friend received the drink, looking at him questioningly. "Do what?"

"Look so good."

Ward's forehead scrunched, processing the statement. When comprehension of the meaning hit him, he bloomed red in blushing embarrassment. Danny began to feel anger and a need to say something, but then a small smile tugged the corners of his mouth up.

A hand ran through the styled back hair. He was charmed by the words. Ward met his interested gaze and the smile widened.

"Did the sun come out or did you just smile at me?"

Owen choked on his drink at the terrible line. He poorly hid his humored reaction behind the half-filled glass.

"When are those come-ons going to stop?"

"When you give me a chance," he replied with a smirk.

Ward scoffed. "What are you in love with me or something?"

The other man became uncharacteristically nervous and defensive.

"Wha-Uh... I-Well, I don't know. Love's a strong word... Attraction maybe. I can admit that. Sure. Yeah."

"You're babbling," Karen pointed out, entertained. "And sound like a lovestruck teenager."

He heard Luke holler for him, saying he wanted to ask him something. Danny saw he was with Matt, Jessica, and Frank. They'd paused whatever conversation they'd been having to look over.

Without breaking his gaze, he tried to wave them off and returned to monitoring the four conversing. Ward was looking at Marcus with a kind of heat he didn't like. He wondered if he was mistaken when the man lowered his head toward the floor, almost bashful.

'Shy' was not a term he would have applied to Ward Meachum.

He inched sideways and planted a kiss on his cheek, seeming uncertain about the decision. Danny gaped, confused and disbelieving. Marcus bore a surprised look and it appeared to be the reason Ward drew him into a hug, holding him close.

They pulled apart with Ward's expression betraying nothing, while the other was virtually beaming he was so delighted.

Irritated, Danny opened his mouth to claim he needed to talk to Ward alone, however, Marcus caught his eye. He could see it in his expression, delight dampening to caution, that he knew he was opposed to their getting along. His arm reached out to pull Ward gently into his side.

The worst part was that Ward let him to see what he wanted.

"I understand hesitation to get into any kind of serious relationship," Marcus conceded, tone casual. "Therefore, if you ever wish to just have a good time, Owen and I have been..friends with benefits for many years. Spectacular sex, no strings."

"He's a real stallion," Owen said like it was a fact, and not perverse or inappropriate right now.

Thankfully Micro and Nina were no longer here with their families, because he carried on entirely straight-faced, although his voice suggested he was messing with somebody. Danny wasn't quite sure. He was beginning to think it was him they were working to set off.

"I'm a sucker for a big dick. And I mean that in every possible way."

Their voices carried in the room and every single person was contemplating the multiple meanings in the silent moments that followed. It was written all over their faces. He glared at Owen, trying to send the message he should be quiet without having to verbalize the demand.

"Hey!" Marcus discerned one of the meanings. "I am not that big of an asshole."

Owen merely shrugged and sipped his drink.

Bristling at the lack of agreement, he muttered, "You weren't calling me an asshole when I was banging yours last night."

Karen and Ward were mid-drink and simultaneously choked on the fluid. They spat liquor onto the floor, coughing and straining to recover. Beyond them, Claire and Colleen were openly laughing aloud. They were pretty much in tears.

"Aw, darling, must remember to breathe," sympathized Marcus, patting his back lightly.

He had enough.

"You are not sleeping with them!"

Sputtering, Ward forgot his initial humiliated reaction to yell back, "Don't tell me what to do!"

"I'll take care of them if either one hurts him," Frank said before taking a casual sip.

The declaration stopped their argument dead in its tracks.

Everybody looked at him, mixtures of appreciation, amusement, and concern for his defensiveness of Ward. Going off their looks, Owen and Marcus had the decency to take him at his word.

As quickly as it arrived, the seriousness evaporated from the room when Colleen burst into laughter again. Beside her, Claire was leaking giggles, trembling and trying to hold them inside. Marina laughed softly and cut it out so she could ask them something, louder than she probably intended.

"When he said 'remember to breathe', I thought Owen was going to say-"

"That's what she said," Colleen gasped.

Claire adjusted for the particular situation. "Or he."

"Or he was going to say, 'and practice your gag reflex'," suggested Marina.

A beat before the two women howled with laughter, Marina joining in. They weren't talking about him and yet he felt like the butt of the joke. A euphemism for sex popped into his head simply by thinking, "butt of the joke".

Annoyed, he grabbed Ward by the arm and yanked him toward the bar. He intended to blame the alcohol on how much fun the ladies were having while he was not having any. Maybe he could fix it for himself.

"Danny?"

"Care to be my drinking buddy tonight?"

"Uh, sure. Whatever you need."

He was trying to read his present disposition off his body language. Danny shut it down and sat on a stool, Ward sitting on the one next to him.

Lifting his gaze, he found Agent James hadn't vacated his position behind the bar. Without saying a word, the man set to work on some drinks and placed them on the counter. Then he just had to say more than a few words.

"You know, it's true what they say about British being oversexed."

Danny let his forehead bang down onto the countertop, exasperation tiring him out. Why didn't he ever see the obvious coming?

/

Colleen caught his arm on his way out of the apartment building. He shifted the box he was carrying to balance better and stopped to look at her. Across the street, Misty was getting out of her car.

"You're welcome anytime, Danny," she told him, and began to smile warmly. "Shoes or not."

He smiled at the inside joke. "Take care of yourself."

She nodded, putting her hands on her hips. "I will."

"Hey, Colleen," said Misty in greeting, starting across the street.

"Hey, Misty," she said back.

Danny walked to his car and tossed the box onto the front passenger seat. Sitting behind the wheel, he took a moment to study the dojo's exterior a final time. Turning the ignition, he pulled his car away from the curb and drove on.

/

He jerked his head level when the elevator dinged. The doors sliding open, Danny let the two other occupants step out before he did. The first person he saw was Nina, coming down the hallway toward the elevators and head offices.

She smiled cheerfully. "Good morning, Mr. Rand."

"Good morning, Ms. Monroe."

"What did I say?"

"Right. Sorry. Nina."

Humming contentedly, she spun on her heels, striding to the door of Ward's office. She knocked on the door and when she opened it, he could see Ward standing from his desk. Megan was sitting on the other side with a notepad in hand.

The assistant rose out of her chair. "Congratulations on your promotion, Mrs. Monroe."

"Thank you, Megan. But I'm really just filling in until Joy Meachum decides to return."

"Yes, of course."

The door closed and Danny headed for his own office.

/

Jessica exited the bar, wincing as the afternoon sunlight hit her eyes. She was surprised to find Malcolm hurrying down the block toward her. Frowning at him, she threw up her arms.

"What are you doing here?"

"I, uh, knew you'd be here. Thought we could head back to the office together. There are a couple cases you might want to look into."

"You checking up on me?"

"Um.. Nah?"

"That's a yes, Malcolm."

She rolled her eyes and started down the street the way he came. "You coming?"

He hurried to catch up and fell into step alongside her.

/

Matt reached across the table to steal a few fries. Karen slapped his hand.

"Hey!"

Mockingly serious, she claimed ownership. "These are mine."

He leaned into the back of his chair, grinning as he surrendered. "Alright, alright."

Foggy drained his beer and glanced about for a waitress or waiter. It was crowded, the restaurant boisterous and loud. Yet to successfully flag one down, he glanced at them.

"Want me to order another for you guys?"

"Sure."

"Yep."

/

Luke took a gulp of his beer, watching the movie with subdued interest. He couldn't remember the name of the movie, but it was decent. It didn't matter either way. What he cared about was sitting here with him.

She leaned into his side, nestling her face against his chest. He lowered his arm from the top of the couch to wrap around her shoulders, peering down affectionately. Claire lifted her chin and kissed him on the lips briefly before settling back into his arms to watch the TV.

He could do this every night.

/

"Don't do anything too psychotic," David said into his cell. "Goodbye, Frank."

He pocketed his phone and went into the dining room, joining his family at the dinner table. Sarah stood and kissed him on the cheek. Sitting down again, she beamed at their two kids.

"Okay. Who wants to talk about their day first?"

"Oh, me!" Leo exclaimed, suddenly excited. "Jenna did something really funny."

David smiled, looking around to study the faces of each member of his family. He never failed to appreciate what he had anymore. This was the life.

/

Ward was still getting used to the new house. He was getting used to not being on his own too. He constantly worried it was just a fluke. Something would happen to push him right down to the bottom.

Every time he doubted his life, he reminded himself he'd promised to live for others. If he was doing that, the rest would hopefully just fall into place or be all right. He blinked at the screen.

What was he even watching?

He clicked through the channels, brain half switched off.

"We forgot toothpaste," Owen announced, walking into the living room with a toothbrush in his mouth.

The remote control settled in his lap. He was apparently brushing his teeth with solely water.

"I can get it tomorrow," he said. "Use the mouthwash."

Marcus padded through the doorway barefoot, wearing a gray t-shirt and blue flannel bottoms. He paused to admire Owen clad only in black boxers, although his final gaze halted on the man's chin. A hand came up to stroke his own thin layer of facial growth.

Coming to plop down on the couch, he glanced at the television, touching his scruff again.

"I should shave this," he mumbled

He took it upon himself to reply unprompted. "I don't know. Stubble works for Owen. I think it could look good."

"Maybe a little, but you should see him when he lets himself go. Scary."

Marcus's jaw tightened. He grabbed a pillow and threw it after the retreating man. Ward laughed a little and shook his head. These guys were bizarrely normal and domestic. A couple of regular idiots.

/

Danny knelt on the high rooftop, scanning the area below. An ambulance siren wailed in the distance. No trouble stirring so far.

He would keep careful watch as the city pulled itself back together, like it always did when something bad happened. His place was here and he would protect it. This was his duty, his calling, his purpose.

"You make the time if it's something you deem worth it. Cause sometimes in life, we just make it up as we go, and there's nothing wrong with that."

-Nina Monroe