Introductions I

Fauna

Fauna rummaged through the draws of her co-worker's desk. Ha! She thought. Co-worker. More like tormentor, bully…

"Grade-A jerk!" she said aloud. Perhaps too loud. "lest we forget sexual harasser." She said a bit more quietly.

A light flashed through the window scanning the grounds. Fauna ducked under the window. As the light yet again passed by, she reaches up and tugs nervously at her hood. Trying desperately to cover as much of her face as she could. It probably wouldn't matter how much of her face was covered. Her brown hair would give her away instantly. It always set her apart from everyone else. It's coloring, length and texture made her somewhat of an oddity. It spilled out from each side of her hood, the waves of various shades of brown moved in thick waves until it reached the tip of her hips. She was used to dealing with long hair daily, it didn't occur to her to tie it back and make herself harder to recognize.

Be smarter next time you go out to steal company secrets. She scolded herself.

Realization of what she was doing hit her. If her employer knew what she was up to it would cost her everything. But, of course, not before her bones were broken and pieces of flesh cut from her more delicate areas.

A trickle of fear passed through her, what you're doing is going to get you killed.

She pushed the thought away. It didn't matter if she died tonight or in another year. The point being she would die. If she had to work here much longer it was going to kill her. Her employer didn't care what happened. He didn't care if she was bullied, harassed, beaten and possibly even raped one day. The threat of the latter grew stronger with each passing day. And that frightens her the most.

She often came home with scrapes, cuts and bruises from their harassment.

She didn't want her co-workers, these disgusting men, to put their hands anywhere near her. They were criminals, they were dirty, and it was only a matter of time. Her employer only cared about his control over her. She was his possession. He made sure he reminded Fauna of that fact every chance he got.

He literally owned her. However, she was not completely aware of what she was involving herself in when she willingly agreed to the contract.

One year later, she saw no way out, every scenario ended with her death. That's why she's here tonight. She had to do something to guarantee that her contract didn't end the moment of her death.

She was sure that her 'employer' would. Fauna convinced herself she needed to get leverage over the Grayson Shipping Corporation. Play the game their way. They were criminals, their dealings were with traffickers, gangs, and crime lords. They wouldn't hold true to their word.

It not only took her a week to muster up the courage to come here tonight. She also had little confidence she would succeed. After all, she was trying to blackmail a criminal organization. She isn't much of anything, she's not even considered a person anymore. And it looks as though she's not much of a spy either. She failed to realize she was trying to steal from a criminal organization at night.

Fauna, you moron. Scolding herself for the tenth time, when do criminal organizations do most of their work?

"At night," she answered herself.

So far all she has to show for her effort is a couple sore legs from ducking under windows, a paper cut on her right thumb, and a heart that's about to explode from fear of being discovered.

She needed to get out of here. Perhaps she could try again some other time.

The light passed by the window again, she stood and made her way to the door. Fauna turned the knob and exited the room. As quietly as she could she made her way down the hall. She briefly wondered if the beat of her heart could be heard through the entire complex and send all the night guards running in her direction. Very eager to take out the source of the noise.

She turned the corner to find the top of the stairwell. She was three floors up. To her left and out the window she heard commotion. She peered down, sure enough guards were running in the direction of her exit.

"No way could they hear it!" panic struck her. What was she supposed to do now?

Fauna began to descend the stairs hoping she was wrong about their direction. She stopped as she heard a loud thud underneath her. The noise was two flights down. She craned her neck to see what was happening.

Maybe it was just a drill of some kind. There was no confidence in that statement. She knew that something was happening.

As she peered down through the twisting rails, she let out a small yelp of shock, fear and panic. She hoped it wasn't as loud as it seemed.

No such luck.

As soon as the sound left her mouth. The man known as the Devil of Hell's Kitchen jerked his head up at Fauna's location.

She thought her heart couldn't beat in fear much faster. When she saw the man in the black mask, partially covering his face, look in her direction, obviously she had been wrong.

Things had been quiet since Wilson Fisk's downfall. Only a few ambushes here and there by Daredevil. He mostly left Grayson Shipping alone. The fact that these ambushes never came close to Fauna was all she ever cared about.

Now, she was standing, frozen, just a few feet above him. Their eyes were locked. Or at least where his eyes should be.

How did he see?

For a moment Fauna thought perhaps if she didn't move, he couldn't see her. Afterall, he didn't have slits or holes where his eyes should be. She quickly dismissed that thought as being the stupidest tonight.

Not being able to see his eyes made him even more terrifying. She stood there motionless for what seemed like eternity. He tilted his head to the left just slightly, his attention still on her.

As quickly as Fauna could blink a man materialized out of the shadows and rammed his shoulder in the stomach of the Daredevil. Both men went down, sprawled on the floor.

Fauna, you idiot. Another scolding. Does that make the 11th or 12th time?

RUN!

Fauna turned on her heel, bursting through the hallway doors. She ran as fast and hard as she could. Behind her she heard more commotion growing closer.

It must be more fighting. She wouldn't look behind her. She didn't want to know what was happening. All she knew was she had to get out. She had to leave before her presence became too well known.

As she ran, she remembered the small service stairs on the south side of the building. No one used them. They're small, claustrophobic and smell like a mix between mildew and urine. That didn't matter. What did matter was their exit was near an alley that led straight to the street. Once on the street she could run home. She wished her options included the subway or bus. Her allowance couldn't afford it.

She figured Daredevil would attract all the attention, for whatever reason he's here, she would be in the clear to just walk out.

The service stairs were just a few more steps. She reached the door and began to push it open. Without thinking, she risked a moment to look behind her. Bodies littered the floor on the other end. The only one standing was looking right at her.

Surely, he had eyes under that mask?

As he moved in her direction, he side swiped one of the guards in the head with his foot. The man had been trying to get back up. "Stay down." Came a rough growl. Fauna could see the Devil's shoulders heaving as his breathing grew heavier.

She used her body weight to push the door, as she went through, she hit something hard. Staggering a few steps back she grabbed her head where she made contact. She took a moment to shake off the shock. When she looked up, she had to crank her neck as far as it would go to meet the large man's eyes. He was clad in black body armor.

"You the one causing this trouble?" His statement was immediately followed by the man raising his leg and landing a swift kick to Fauna's stomach. Her body faltered and flew backward.

She crashed against a hard surface. She imagined herself bouncing off it and falling to the floor. But unlike any wall, it gave way.

"Umph." A surprised voice grunted as both bodies hit the floor. Her head snapped back and hit something hard. As her stomach screamed in agony, Fauna tried to catch the breath that had been knocked out of her. Her heart grew louder and skipped every other beat. It took her a moment to realize who she had hit. Who was now at her back, beneath her.

She froze.

Fauna was not only within arm's length of the most terrifying man in Hell's Kitchen, she was currently on top of him. He could easily reach up and snap her neck.

The sound of approaching boots filled Fauna's ears. "Well, there's two of you then." The armored man said.

Fauna's eyes widened at the understanding of what the man meant. Did he think I was with the Daredevil? That's not good! That's really not good.

The man lifted his boot and flew hard and fast toward Fauna's face. She turned and squeezed her eyes shut. This was it, she thought, death. At any moment her skull would be crushed.

When the boot never made contact with her face, she opened her eyes and turned her head to the armored man standing over her. Daredevil had intercepted, bringing his hands up on either side of her and catching the boot in his grasp.

The armored man was pushing down, smirking in the process.

Daredevil's arms began to shake with exhaustion. "A bit of help would be nice." His strained voice came from behind her.

Her hands flew up, grabbing the boot alongside the black gloves of the man underneath her. She pushed, straining.

"Leg's up. Lock them around his." A rough whisper came to her ear as the armored man laughed in early celebration of crushing two people beneath his heel.

"W— what?" She stuttered, confused.

"Legs up!". He grunted

Fauna did as he demanded. She hurled her legs up and tried to hook them around their oppressors' leg. She failed.

His laughter grew, he was toying with them, and pushed down harder. Fauna's hands began to hurt.

The man beneath her groaned at the added weight.

"Again!" he demanded.

She hurled her legs up again, this time succeeding. Simultaneously, Daredevil kicked out his foot connecting with the man's other leg. The boot twisted in their hands as he lost balance, crashing to the floor.

Suddenly Fauna found herself being hoisted and rolled across the floor as Daredevil moved to his side.

She looked up. Both men had already made it to their feet. They moved toward each other, bringing their fists up. Like dogs to a fight.

Fauna coughed, still trying to recover her breath. She turned her eyes from the two men, and back to the service stairs.

I've got to get out of here. She thought. It's my funeral if I don't.

The man in the combat armor had seen her face. Deep down she knew she was already dead. Her employer would never believe anything she offered as a cover story. She looked back at the two men, now in a punching competition. Then bolted for the stairs.

The alley was cold, the breeze sent chills up her spine. Fauna wrapped her arms around her midsection. Fisting her shirt in her hands. Her hair whirled around. It hurt to breathe. It hurt to walk, but she had to get as much distance between her and Grayson. A few blocks down, she kept looking behind her. Afraid someone was following her. The street was quiet for the most part. She passed a few stragglers here and there. A few more blocks, and she began feeling confident that she was okay. Her walk slowed. Allowing her to breathe a bit easier.

An arm shot out from the alley she was currently passing. It grabbed her by the elbow and yanked so quickly she didn't have time to register what happened. Before she blinked her back was against the rough bricks. A forearm stretched across her chest and a hand covered her mouth to muffle any verbal protest.

Fauna was nose to nose with the masked man. The Daredevil.

Her hands flew up in response to the firm pressure holding her in place, pressing against her chest. She scratched and pulled at his arm. Her breath became heavier and more strained.

Panic set in when she realized his hands were on her. The one thing she feared more than anything, being touched without her consent.

"Listen to me very carefully." He commanded in a low, calm voice. It was a dangerous voice. There were many warnings in that tone, that cautioned a person to tread lightly.

"You are not to move, not to scream. Don't do anything that would draw attention and make me lash out."

Phantom sounds of bones breaking echoed in Fauna's ears causing her to flinch and her heart skyrocketed to a point previously unknown to her before.

"I'm going to trust you, understand me clearly?"

Inhaling sharply, she nodded her understanding. Slowly the Devil of Hell's Kitchen released his grip over her mouth.

He paused. Fauna supposed he was waiting for any reaction from her. Giving her a chance to do something that would allow him to retaliate.

She noticed his mask had been split a few inches above his cheek bone. A cut appeared beneath. Blood streamed down leaving a thin red line from his temple to somewhere beneath his neck line. One of Grayson's guards must have gotten a lucky shot with a knife.

"Your name?" He asked. "If you lie, I will know."

Fauna was shocked, it wasn't what she was expecting though the question made sense. Of course, he wanted to know the names of his opponents. So he could track them down faster. But the last thing she wanted was to tell the crazy vigilante who she was.

"Your name!" He demanded in a raised, yet hushed, tone.

Was he serious about the lying? She briefly wondered.

"M—Mary"

He took a moment. He brought her forward just slightly and knocked her back against the wall. It wasn't enough to hurt, but enough to frighten.

Fauna yelped in response to the quick motion. Maybe he was serious.

"Lie, try again."

How did he know that, she wondered? Had he already known about all of Grayson's employees?

Her mother's name came to mind, it calmed her slightly. "Louisa" she said aloud without really meaning too.

He paused, taking a moment longer to regard her answer. His lips fell to a thin line.

With lightning speed, he twisted her around, her face now pressed against the brick. He forced her arm behind her at an odd angle. It wasn't painful, but highly uncomfortable.

Fauna cried out. Okay, he's serious. Very serious.

"A little more pressure applied, and you won't have use of this arm for a long while." He said in that low, calm voice.

Fauna's head echoed the warning of that dangerous tone. As her breath quickened, with the added pressure he placed on her chest she felt as if she was suffocating.

I can't breathe, she realized. He's killing me! I c…can—can't breathe!

Panic set in. She began thrashing against him. Ignoring the pain that shot through her arm. An eruption of wind burst through the dark alley rustling up the leaves and loose trash. It whipped Fauna's long, brown hair around her.

She felt woozy and suddenly her hand was free, nothing held her weight and she slid down toward the cold cement sidewalk. Everything from the night's fiasco hit her hard. Darkness seeped in at the edges of her vision. Her head felt heavy and pounded.

She began to give in to that darkness and her vision blurred. Feeling his hands on her snapped her back to the moment. No, no hands.

"Take a few deep breaths," he instructed. Now positioned in a squat opposite her.

Fauna looked up. His jaw formed a hard line. She noticed he wasn't looking directly at her. His gaze was on something else.

"Breathe."

Fauna tried to do what he commanded.

He placed a hand on the wall behind Fauna's head. It was hard to focus with the Devil of Hell's Kitchen in such a threatening position. She tried to make herself shrink farther into the brick. A little distance would help.

His gaze became more focused on her. But Fauna couldn't quite place it.

"Take a deep breath. And blow it out"

Fauna closed her eyes, inhaling and exhaling for the next few seconds. To her surprise the dizziness began to subside. He removed his hand and draped them both loosely over his knees.

"Name?" he said. Fauna had high hopes that perhaps he had forgotten the interrogation. She wasn't shocked that he hadn't.

"Fauna." She swallowed hard as embarrassment flooded her at the faltering of her voice. His head tilted.

"Fauna." He repeated in approval. "Good." His hands moved, Fauna noticed slower than before, to her upper arms, just below her shoulders. He pulled her up, encouraging her to stand. She followed his lead and used the brick wall to steady herself.

He didn't relinquish any of the space between them but lowered his hands to his sides. Fauna was thankful his hands were no longer touching her.

"Why were you at Grayson Shipping tonight, Fauna?"

The use of her name was more intimidating than comforting. Again, she didn't want to answer him. Her hesitation gave her away.

"Fauna." He took a small step, closing the already very small space between them. "You're thinking about lying… don't"

Fauna wished she could disappear.

"It…it's where I work."

Another head tilt let Fauna know he was considering her answer.

His head came back up. "Quit" he demanded.

Fauna's heart sank. He was demanding the one thing she couldn't give.

"You must know what kind of people you work for."

Ashamed, her eyes lowered to the ground. Her heart jumped wildly. She nodded.

"Quit." He demanded again. "Do you understand, Fauna?"

She didn't know how to answer. She couldn't quit. That was not going to be possible. She stared at him. Unbelieving this whole insane thing. She had to tell him no. Once she did, what would he do to her?

His hands came back up grabbing her upper arms. She flinched at the movement, and pain radiated through them. Hands, again hands were on her. She felt like vomiting.

"Do. You. Understand?"

Tears stung her eyes. She couldn't say she would leave, she literally couldn't do that. His grip tightened.

All she could do was nod her head in response.

Her knees buckled as he let go and disappeared in the shadows. She once again found herself on the ground.

Matthew

Matthew looked up from the bottom of the stairwell. He had heard her voice before. During his investigation of the premises about an hour ago. He understood from her rustling through drawers and misplaced comments to herself she was doing something she wasn't supposed to be doing. He dismissed her, she wasn't a threat to what he was there to do.

However, now he stood mesmerized by her form. Yes, Matthew could see. His cane and glasses were just for show. He didn't want people to be put off by his abilities. So, he hid them. He didn't want them to ask questions. Especially now. It was even more important he kept up with the blind charade. But he didn't see like everyone else. Flames licked at every form he came across. They formed the images he saw. His world was on fire.

But when he sensed her, he saw something else entirely. Yes, fire swirled all around her. But this girl, he had never experienced anything like it. He was unable to rip himself away from her.

He could only explain it as diamonds in the night sky sparkling bright lights. The shimmers alternated their levels of brightness as cascaded and swirled within and around her creating and defining her small frame.

Her heartbeat was erratic, she was frightened, and that only grew stronger the longer she stood there.

Suddenly Matthew was hit hard, breath flew from his lungs as he hit the floor. He landed a few elbows to the face of the man on top of him and tossed him to the side. He looked to the top of the stairs. The girl was gone. He stretched his senses. There. She wasn't far.

Following her wasn't hard. As he drew closer, she flooded his senses. Which was the reason why he missed the large armored man invading the space.

The man was considerably larger than Matthew. That's good. He thought, a smirk forming across his face. I like challenges.

Then Fauna's body flew directly at him.

Matthew perched high on a building rooftop. He no longer could see the bright shimmer she emitted. However, he could still hear her heavy footsteps as she walked. Her heart still beat wildly in fear.

His business with Grayson could wait. He came to make sure what he saw was real. After the accident when he realized his senses were getting stronger, the world began to take shape. It has been the same ever since.

Until now, he thought as he peered down at the shimmering figure.

He had mixed feelings about what exactly to do with her. She couldn't handle herself, she didn't know anything about fighting or defending herself. That was obvious. He thought.

As he stood there questioning her, he struggled to determine whether she was telling him the truth or lying. It took him longer. She did something to him. She overwhelmed his senses just like in the office building of Grayson Shipping. It was hard to concentrate, and it got worse the closer he came to her.

She was lying about her name. Or at least that's what he could conclude from her wildly beating heart. His dilemma was that he couldn't treat her like the usual criminals he came across. At his estimate he had at least seventy pounds and six inches on her.

He needed to know why she was there. Who was she?

She was resisting him, lying, which meant she had something to hide. After the second lie he grabbed her arm, twisting her around to face the brick. To get her to talk he'd exude extra pressure and threaten pain to her extremities.

Hurting her was never his intention, but she was frightened, too frightened, and began to panic and hyperventilate.

Then something happened. The hair on his neck and arms stood straight. Fauna's body began vibrating and the cascades of shimmering swirls intensified. Matthew stretched his senses, trying to grasp what was happening to her body.

The electricity in the air heightened. The molecules surrounding them seemed to bend and break, sending a shock through his body. For a moment Matthew couldn't sense anything around him. He was in darkness.

"What the—" He let go as his hands flew up in defense. As quickly as he lost his abilities, he regained them. The girl fell. The light emitting from her form dulled. Matthew instinctively reached for her, not wanting to lose that unique vision.

He needed to calm her down. Whatever was happening to her was hurting her.

He took a moment to gather his thoughts and placed a hand on the wall to balance himself. Talk her through it. Calm her down.

After he coached her through some breaths, she began to cooperate with him and gave in.

Fauna. Her name is fitting and somehow…familiar, he thought, rolling her name over and over his mind. He couldn't place her, but he knew he was missing something. Once her breathing returned to normal, she began to brighten back up. Matthew sat across from her in wonder.

Threatening her was the only thing he could think to do after hearing she worked for Grayson Shipping. Not only that she knew what kind of business they truly did. At the least, she was an accessory. He couldn't allow that.

Scaring her enough to quit her job was something he could do. Maybe then she can stay out of trouble. He'd give her a chance to change before turning her over to the law.