Alison's POV
(bellamysgirl)

I exhaled through my nose on a hum. "I don't know what to say," Bobby Fish said, shrugging with a mildly sarcastic tone. I glanced at him. "Usually snakes are quite punctual." I cracked a small chuckle before moving my eyes back to the Barber Shop door. Mariah and that idiot Shades wanted to meet Luke here to talk or some garbage. But there's no sign of either of them. Luke edge up beside me, turning halfway to see both me and the door.

"Sure you wanna be here for this?" he asked, sounding hopeful that I'd tuck tail and run.

My lips quirked up into a small smirk. "I'm sure."

Just then, Mariah and Shades stepped through the door to the shop. I could almost feel Luke tense beside me. Like he was expecting a fight. Who knows? He might just get one. There's no telling with these lunatics. They walked in slowly, cautiously, and stopped to stand a few feet from the three of us. "This place could use a clean up," Mariah commented, nonchalantly glancing around the room.

"What do you want?" Luke demanded, obviously not in the mood.

Honestly, neither was I. Mariah just gave a neat, clean closed-mouth smile. "I'm here to offer you a deal," she said. "I have everything you need to prove your innocence. And I do mean everything." Shades took that as an apparent cue and held up a file folder to show proof of its existence.

"No more running—from anyone. You'll be a free man," she continued, calmly.

I crossed my arms. "And? What do you get out of it?"

"It's not what I get, Alison. It's what Harlem gets," Shades said. I glared daggers at him. The next time my name comes out of his mouth will be the last. It sounds awful from him. It sounds bad. My eyes shifted down to the tile floor, sticking to the color as my mind seemed to be put on pause.

I paused, smiling a little. I don't even know why. It just felt like I needed to. "You know, my name is Alison," I cocked an eyebrow in a lighthearted expression and held out my left hand, the one not gripping the arm of his jacket. "Alison Fletcher." He didn't move for a moment. Then a small chuckle escaped him and I saw the faintest hints of anything remotely resembling a smile. He looked around a second before settling his eyes on me.

His hand encircled mine, holding on. "Frank Castle."

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Castle. Now- do you spell your name like the medieval architecture, or is there some fancy way of writing it?" At medieval architecture he was barking a laugh and shaking his head, looking elsewhere again. My comment was mostly sarcastic. But, if I was going to write his name in a story, I would need to spell it right. You can never be too careful. Right?

Or maybe I'm the crazy one in this whole situation. Either way, I liked hearing him laugh. It was nice seeing him do something other than brood or act downright grumpy. "Something tells me medieval architecture is just fine," he replied, looking back at me, looking like he was fighting a smile. "The sun's up. Should probably get you home, huh?"

I nodded. "Probably. Chase isn't doing so well, apparently." His eyes narrowed a fraction of an inch, head tilting just slightly. Right. He knows I have a son, just not what that son's name is. I forgot. "Err, my son. You met him the other night when you shot my babysitter."

It visibly clicked as he seemed to get it. "Yeah, I remember. Sorry about your house."

"It'll recover. Come on—I'm driving."

My eyes quickly shifted back up as I drew in a deep breath. You can do this. You are not crying right here, right now, in front of these idiots. I'd missed a bit of conversation, but I quickly learned the gist. It seemed crazy. But it was just something this witch would propose. "So you want Luke to do your dirty work for you," I summarized, bluntly.

Mariah looked to me. "I want Harlem to be a safe place again-"

"Come on, lady, enough with the garbage," I let my arms fall to my sides, annoyed. I turned to Luke, and his eyes shifted up from the floor to meet mine. "You don't have to do this. You can still take him down your way, without her blackmail. It's your choice."

"I guess I don't have to ask you what side you're on?" he smiled a little, not really asking.

"This wouldn't just be helping me, or Harlem—it would be helping you," Mariah pressed, desperate for an answer now. "You could go back to a normal life, use your real name again. This would benefit everyone involved and you know it."

Yeah, maybe. But it would benefit her more. Either way it was Luke's decision and I did my best to hold back any spiteful comments. This wasn't my part of town. I don't get to call the shots. Luke looked to be thinking about it a moment. Then he finally spoke. "So…I take down Diamondback…" he looked to Mariah.

"And you get the file," Mariah promised, with a nod.

I scoffed, unable to hold it in any longer. "Tell me why I shouldn't just shoot you and save all of us the trouble."

"I'm with her," Bobby Fish said, gesturing toward me with a hand.

Luke sighed heavily. "I'll do it."

A sudden slamming sound caught all our attentions, and I quickly looked up, over Shades's shoulder. A small black canister had rolled in on the ground. "Grenade!" Luke shouted. It was every man for himself it seemed. But Luke slung an arm tightly around my middle and pulled me down with him as he crouched, putting himself in between me and the grenade. Then the canister exploded.

I could hear glass shattering after the ear-piercing boom. It took only a split second before footsteps echoed in, crunching on the newly shattered glass. Luke stood and I followed suit, unfolding myself. At the front of the shop was a black man in what looked like some kind of jump suit and a helmet.

It wasn't hard to recognize who it was. Diamondback. I immediately pulled out the gun in my belt and racked a bullet into the chamber, aiming it at his helmeted head. Bobby Fish made a scoffing sound. "What kind of Jean Paul Gaultier trash is this? What are you, some kind of pimp storm trooper?"

It was one of the first things he'd said through the whole discussion, and I would've laughed if it weren't for my splitting headache. Diamondback looked almost crazed. "No," he shook his head, wearing a devilish grin. "I'm the Angel of Death."

That's not ominous. "You look like a fool," Luke shot back.

"Luke," I lowered my gun and put a hand on his arm, not taking my eyes off Diamondback for fear I might miss when he goes all kamikaze and tries to kill us. "Smash." I already knew what was coming. So I turned, slid my gun away, and gestured for the others to follow as I dove for the back room. They did, filing in behind me. It only took a moment for grunts, groans, and thuds to filter in from the front.

I edged up beside the doorway and peered my head around the corner. It was just in time to see Diamondback chuck a chair at Luke. Luke ducked enough for it to miss him only by an inch, and the chair flew right through the front glass window, shattering what was left of it. I could hear the shocked shrieks of people on the street. I turned to the others. "We need to go," I nodded quickly.

"Out the back door," Bobby nodded back, starting to the right.

I followed right behind him, Mariah and Shades pulling up the rear. Bobby pushed through the back door and onto the street and we all stepped out behind him. But as I turned around, Mariah and Shades had somehow vanished in the alley beside the shop. I groaned. "Ah, come on."

A loud groan and a couple rhythmic hard thuds caught my attention and I bolted for the front of the shop. Bobby Fish was already there, along with what could've been all of Harlem on the sidewalk. Just as I skidded to a stop beside Bobby, I noticed Misty hurrying over. I nearly said something I would've regretted, but I held my tongue and she came to stand beside us. "What's going on?" she asked, mostly to me.

I looked at the Barber Shop. Luke hefted Diamondback up and into the ceiling, letting the idiot drop to the floor like a leaf. My stomach was in knots. But I knew Luke could take him. I've seen what Luke can do, the guy is practically indestructible. I sighed heavily, glancing at Misty a second. "Luke and Diamondback," I replied. And that seemed to be all the information she needed. Just then, a couple police cruisers pulled up.

Misty directed them over and started hollering at the crowd. "Alright, people, back up!" she shouted, holding out her arms. "Back it up!" The officers from the cruisers hurried over and started doing the same until we were all backed up at least two yards. A loud crash sent my head turning left, just in time to see Luke hit the pavement in the street beside the shop hard, from the second floor apartment window.

My body instinctively jolted, backing up a step and sending a hand to cover my mouth. The crowd started to murmur encouraging one-liners. Diamondback stepped out the front door and started down the stairs, headed for Luke. "Come on, Luke, get up!" I found myself shouting right along with the anxious crowd, my stomach knots only tightening.

"Kick his butt, Cage!" someone yelled.

Just as Luke stood, Diamondback grabbed him and tossed him down the street. Luke was airborne for several yards before coming to a crashing slam into the road. The crowd made a collective, "OOOOOOHHHH." Luke got to his knees as Diamondback started for him again. I felt so helpless just standing there watching. But there was literally no way I could be of any help.

"Where are you going Carl? I'm gonna whoop your butt all up and down the block," Diamondback said, confidently. He got close enough and hiked his knee, slamming it into Luke's chin. Luke flew back and landed on top of an SUV parked along the sidewalk just behind him. The crowd hollered for Luke to keep fighting. All I could do was hold my breath as Diamondback walked by the SUV, yanking Luke off onto the hood by his collar as he went.

Diamondback slammed his fist into Luke a couple times, then they wrestled, struggling against each other. Luke got the upper hand and drove his knee into Diamondback's face. It knocked him away a few steps, enough for Luke to slide off the hood and stumble to his feet. The crowd cheered. Luke sent his fist into Diamondback's face, then grabbed him and slammed him into the side of the SUV.

A police humvee pulled up just as Diamondback got up to stand. He came at Luke, leapt up, and slammed his fist into Luke. Luke stumbled back, dropping to his knees from the hit. I bit my lower lip. Come on, Luke. You can do this. I know you can. "James never loved Etta. He was gonna leave your mother for mine," Diamondback taunted.

"No way, man, the guy's talking about your momma, Luke," some guy on the sidewalk said. "You up in Harlem, you better put it on him, son."

Luke then shot up to his feet and went at Diamondback. "Dwight, Thomas—spread out," A voice filter in my ears and I turned. A cop in riot gear was talking. "The second you have a clear shot, take it." The cops then started down the street toward the fight in formation. Oh, great. Now not only is Luke battling the idiot that is Diamondback, but now he's got to fight bullets. Luke and Diamondback exchanged hard hits.

Then Diamondback picked up a motorcycle and chucked it at Luke. Luke deflected it, and the bike dropped with a crash. The crowd was an overreacted, anxious bunch of weirdoes. Every move was causing them to make oh's and ah's. Luke slammed Diamondback and he went down. But the piece of trash was only on his knees. He stood a second later and grabbed Luke, slamming him to the ground.

I moved forward, just out front of the crowd to see better. Misty walked over to me. "Hey, I've gotta contain you just as I gotta contain everyone else."

"Relax, Robocop. What, you don't think he can do it?" I questioned.

"Of course he can do it," she answered, like it was a duh statement.

"Then get your boys in blue to back off." She looked like she was about to reply but I wasn't paying attention at that point. I was tuned into the fight. Luke looked drained. He took steps toward Diamondback as he spoke, halfway into a sentence I missed. "When I got shipped to Seagate, he called me a mistake, too," Luke said. "I'm not paying for his sins anymore. And neither should you. You want me dead, then kill me. Do it."

Diamondback lurched forward and slammed his fist into Luke's middle, hard. Then his face. Once, twice—I lost count. Luke was slammed back into a van behind him, shattering its windows. Then Diamondback's hits were ruthless and relentless. "Save him," Misty said, turning toward the cop beside her.

"No," the cop replied. I was angered. But I was almost too focused on the fight to care. Something came to mind from all those times patching up Matt last year. He said that his father would sometimes use the strategy of letting the other guy break their hands on him before fighting back, letting the other guy tire out so badly they couldn't fight back. Was that what Luke was doing? I hoped so.

Diamondback looked to be draining a moment. But he still slammed his head into Luke, slamming him back into the cratered van. Diamondback then stumbled into the street, away from Luke, disorientedly tired. Luke was breathing heavily, heaving even. But he lifted his head to look toward the crowd. His eyes landed right on me. I tried for my best hopeful I believe in you expression.

But it was hard to hide the fact that I was shaking. "Come on, Superman," I said, inhaling. "Remember who you are." Luke slowly looked back to Diamondback. The poor idiot was still stammering in the middle of the street. Luke pushed off the van and stood, teetering a second. But then he began taking slow steps forward. Someone started chanting, "LUKE! LUKE! LUKE! LUKE!"

And in a moment the whole crowd was chanting. Shoot, I even joined in on the fun. Luke caught up to Diamondback, and started hitting him. One hard hit after another. Eventually Luke delivered the final blow. A hit that sent Diamondback flying into someone's yard across the street. The crowd went wild with screams and applause. A smile broke out across my face. He'd done it. He'd actually done it.

Diamondback was down. I guess my work here was officially done. And I already know what I want to do—no need for goodbyes. I sidestepped behind Misty and started for the sidewalk to the right. She was too focused on the fight to notice me slipping away. I only made it a few feet before an, "Alison!" stopped me. I paused, turning back around, just in time to get slammed.

Hands on my cheeks, lips capturing mine, holding them hostage. A warm feeling spread from my lips to my cheeks and down to my toes and my eyes fluttered shut. Gasps and murmurs came from the crowd, filtering into my eardrums through the haze. The kiss only lasted one long moment before Luke pulled away. I could feel his breath on my face and I opened my eyes. His were already on mine when I did.

"I'll be here…if you change your mind," he resigned, like he somewhere knew. He knew I didn't choose him. I smiled a little, trying to keep my composure after that honestly mind-blowing experience. "Thanks…but I don't think I will," I breathed. "I'm holding out for a hero." I knew he'd understand the reference to heroes. After all, he was mister 'I'm no hero' himself. He was still out of breath from the fight.

But he chuckled just a little, letting me go. "Keep my number. You might need a doctor someday," I said, taking steps backward, toward the sidewalk. His gaze held mine, smiling back, until I turned back around and finished my trip to the sidewalk. While I walked, for a moment, I couldn't help but think. Did I just make the worst decision of my life, or the best one?

The ghost of a smile played at his lips and I sighed, giving him a look. He was ridiculous. But it was a nice change of pace to see him something other than sad or angry. "Well, are you gonna kiss me, or what?" I asked, sarcastically impatient. He probably didn't need much of an invitation. He leaned in and I rose up on my toes, just in time to meld my mouth with his. I let my eyes close, relaxing into the touch as his right hand slid onto my cheek.

I parted my lips to deepen the kiss and he kissed me back even deeper. There was a solid wall behind me so I wasn't going anywhere any time soon, not with every inch of his being so close to my only escape. My hands rested on his chest, gripping his jacket for support. After a moment, he broke the kiss to rest his forehead against mine. I couldn't bring myself to open my eyes.

It hit me then and I nodded once to myself. I know what I want. I know what I'm waiting for. I know what I need. I couldn't help smiling, wider than I had in weeks.

Dani's POV
(Nightwing27th)

"You need to tell her." I followed Frank into the guest room upstairs, shutting the door. I turned around and looked at him like he was an idiot. "What now?"

"What do you think?" I yelled it as quietly as possible. "I can't tell her." I practically spit out the words. "That's ludicrous."

"So is keeping it from her. She has a right to know."

I crossed my arms and stared at him. "This is the art where you black mail me, right?"

He sighed, turning to his bag on the bed. "Only if you don't tell her."

I grunted. "Fine. Just keep the guns hidden, okay? She doesn't need to know you bring your work home with you." He glared at me as I turned and left the room. I closed the door and then headed down the hall. I trotted down the steps and then into the kitchen. Laura had just finished setting the table and was walking back to the counter.

"Hey," I sheepishly said as I sat down at the counter.

"Yes...?" she asked skeptically, knowing that I wanted something.

"Okay," I gave up trying to hide it, sitting back. "I haven't been completely truthful with you." She looked at me expecting more. "About Frank," I clarified. She nodded.

"I understand if you can't tell me-"

"No, I can. I'm just choosing not to."

"Then why are you here?"

"To tell you."

"Why?"

"Because he thinks I should. And deep down I agree. Don't tell him I said that." She walked around the counter and stood next to me. "I'm sure you know about what happened in Hell's Kitchen? With The Hand, Elektra," she was nodding along with my words, "the Punisher?"

"Yeah, why?" But I didn't get a chance to answer. I saw it click in her eyes the second that question mark left her mouth. "No! No, Dani." She shook her head, walking back to where she was.

"Laura, give me-"

"No!" She leaned in. "Are you insane?"

"It's not what it looks like."

"Really?"

"What?"

"You let a mass murderer into my house and then tell me it's not what it looks like? Does Clint know?" She glared at me. She was freaking out, eyes wide. I slowly nodded, lips firmly sealed. "Of course he does."

"Lor, come on," I sighed, outstretching my arms across the counter. "Hear me out." She had her hand on her head, slightly passing. "Please?" I said helplessly. She stopped and looked at me. "Okay. I know you think I'm crazy, and I did too, but I don't and here's why," I spoke quickly before she could change her mind. "Yes, he's killed people. And, yes, it was for the right reasons." She tried to cut in and I held up my hand.

"But so have I," I said. She almost acted like she had ants in her pants knowing I was right. "I've killed...lots of people and you know that."

"But it's different with you Dani. I know you. I know who you are and what you stand for. That you're not going to go crazy and kill us."

"And he won't either."

"How do you know?"

"He only kills people who deserve it. Hence the name." She glared at me. "Look, everything they say in the news is true. Even the part about his family. But, that aside, I trust him. I trust him, Laura, with you and my family. He's dating Alison for Pete's sake. Do you really think I'd let that go on if I thought there might be a chance he'd hurt her?"

"He shot you, Dani," she argued. "Clint told me that he put a gun to your head and made Matt decide who was going to die."

"Yeah, I know. But we all make mistakes," I said hopefully. She put her hands on her hips and glared at me like I was a child she was about to get in trouble for breaking something. I sighed and slightly dropped my head. I thought for a second and then looked back up at her. "Look. He and I got off on the wrong foot, okay? Yeah, we started out trying to kill each other. But the more I got to know him the more I knew why. I know it's hard to understand, even for me. But he left Hell's Kitchen with me to help find Ward.

"And that's what we did. We found him and now he's dead. Okay? We've fought together, had each other's backs. I've trusted him with my life several times and he's trusted me with his." She didn't seem to be changing her mind. "Think what you want, but please don't make a thing out of this. Nothing's going to happen."

About twenty minutes later we were all sitting down at the table for dinner. Laura's had a scowl on her face since I told her who Frank was. Which is why I sat him near the end of the table. Clint was at the head, his kids on the other side, Laura at the end with Nate, and then me with Lizzie in a highchair in between me and Frank.

Clint was eyeing me the whole time, knowing that I spilled the beans. I'm sure Frank knows too. The air in here is so thick you can almost choke on it. And so far, no one has said anything but the kids. They we like crazy talkative tonight. They had to ask me everything you can imagine. 'Why were you gone?', 'Why'd you come back?', 'When are you leaving?'.

Somehow they even knew I had broken up with Matt and started asking me about my 'relationship status'. Not my favorite topic. Never has been. "Okay, guys," Clint said, "that's enough." They sighed in protest and then went back to eating. Lizzie couldn't sit still in her chair. She was bouncing while simultaneously kicking her legs. She had peas everywhere. She was more bored than hungry.

I had my chair slightly turned toward her so I could see her. I ran my hand across the top of her head, my fingers going through her blonde hair. It was so blonde you almost couldn't see it. Just like her mom. I sighed glancing up. I saw Clint looking at me again. He was giving me the 'what for' look. Like, 'Why did you tell her?'. I shrugged, which meant 'I don't know, because it was the right thing to do. Duh.'

He rolled his eyes, meaning 'No, it wasn't.'

I sighed and went back to eating. A few seconds later I heard Lizzie say, "Here." She didn't know very many words, but when she did say something it was always so innocent and cute. I looked at her, assuming she was talking to me. But she wasn't. She was talking to Frank. She was practically leaning all the way out of her highchair, arm outstretched holding her Sippy cup.

He looked down at her with a blank look. Probably shocked she was talking at all, let alone to him. She sat there like that staring at him holding out the cup. She shook it, "Here." She was very happy and egger for him to take it. He stared at her another second, then his eyes flicked to me.

"You better take it," I joked. Lizzie looked at me, then back to him shaking the cup. Frank brought his hand up and took the cup. Lizzie jumped back, clapping and giggling. The she picked up her plastic spoon. She held it out with a smile, "Here."

I smiled, knowing he's created a monster. Lizzie's always been fascinated with men. Mary and I always thought it was because she wasn't growing up with a father. And she's a giver. She loves giving people things. Clint also tells me that she'll take things and hide them till you find they're gone. Then she'll come back with it like she's the one who found it.

I looked at Laura. I gave her a look like, 'See? He's harmless.' She didn't seem to think so. "Can I talk to you a minute?" She was standing and walking away before I could reply. I sighed and stood. "Be right back," I said. I walked around the highchair, tossing my napkin on Lizzie's head as I did. I heard her burst out laughing, followed by, "Here."

I found Laura in the living room, arms crossed. "Yeah?"

"I don't care what you tell me about him," she said, "I can't help but feel like I've let the enemy into my house."

I sighed. "You just need more time to get to know him."

"Who? The Mass Murderer?"

I rolled my eyes. "Come on, Lor."

"No, I mean it. I just...I don't feel safe with him around, having him near my kids."

"Look, it's just a couple days," I reasoned. She sighed, clearly not okay with that. She put her hands on her hips, looking around. "What would make you feel better about this?" She just looked around shaking her head. "You were perfectly fine with the Hulk staying here. You know, the big green guy who could've smashed you and your house?"

"I know. That was different."

"How?" I asked. She sighed.

"I don't know."

I walked up to her and put my hands on her shoulders, looking her in the eyes. "Do you trust me?" She nodded. "Then trust me when I say, I promise nothing will happen to you or your family. After all the years that we've known each other, why would I let someone know where you lived if I thought there was even the tiniest chance...that they'd hurt you?" She shook her head. "And after everything with Ward and Ben, I'm on a crazy level of high alert and I don't hand out my trust very easily.

"Like, if you thought I trusted easily before...then, this is insane, okay? The level to which I'm holding people is...inhuman." She slightly glared at me at the last part. The she looked down smiling. "Okay?"

"Okay," she said. "Okay. I'll trust you."

"Why? I thought you said you already did?" She started laughing. "Okay. Come on, let's go. We should get back before Lizzie tries to give Frank her soul."