Disclaimers: sorry about the last chapter. the xmen crossover was a bit much (so consider the sara marrow reference as just that and not an actual plot) but i have at last found the way i want to complete this story so bare with me I have edited chapter five so you might want to glance at that before continuing...
Matt McGuiness juggled the boxes of take out food carefully as he walked the three blocks back to his apartment. He had someone managed to swallow down some of the stinging humiliation he felt from coming on to Max, but he wasn't ready to face her again. He had seen the amusement in her eyes and it didn't take a genius to tell that she didn't take him too seriously. In her mind she still saw him as a kid and while it frustrated him he really couldn't blame her. He had been just a kid when she had became an adult not to mention the fact she had been involved with his brothers. He smirked as he realized there were many reasons why he should squash any and all romantic feelings he had for her but it was easier said then done. With a simple look she could cause his heart to skip several beats. Her laughter sent chills down his spine every time he heard it and her smile... Every time he saw it he couldn't help but to mirror it. It was infectious. There was something so beautiful and enchanting in her happiness.
His smile disappeared as a cold realization hit him like a ton of bricks. No matter how deeply he cared for her he wasn't naive nor completely blinded by his feelings not to notice that her heart still belonged to Terry. He could tell from the pain he saw on her face whenever his name was bought up. He had heard it in her voice that night he had shown up after Terry's promotion ceremony. It killed him that she had spent the past ten years in agony over Terry who he fairly certain barely spared her any thought. For once in his life he truly felt a twinge of resentment towards his brother. He knew it was petty, but he felt it justified nonetheless. Terry, all those years, had Max and he had the ability to make a change in the world and it amazed him how his brother saw fit to throw both precious opportunity away so carelessly. If he had the chance he knew with absolute certainty that he would never break Max heart, nor would he shirk his responsibilities as the dark knight.
"Who are you kidding? You will never have the chance," a nagging voice sneered in the back of his mind.
He stared up at the dark sky barely lit by stars and sighed.
"Maybe one day," he mused softly with a touch of wistfulness in his voice.
Suddenly he was rudely shaken from his thoughts by a sound. His heard jerked up startled at the sound of a soft cry of distress echo from the alley followed by the sounds of several steel trash cans crashing to the ground, the sounds vibrating through the silent nightly loudly. A voice in his head warn him to stay his course back to his apartment but he couldn't shake the nagging feeling in his guts that there was something not right. Gotham was the most dangerous at night. It was always in the shadows of the dark where the most heinous crimes were committed. Cautiously he crossed the street heading towards the alley to investigate. Staying hidden in the shadows he knelt near the corner and peered into the alley. At first he couldn't see a thing. All he head were noises. The sound of a woman crying softly in fear caused the hairs on the back of his neck to stand. Quietly he sat the cartons of food down to the side and crept into the alley silently. His body was tensed with anxiety and he clenched and unclenched his fist to loosen up. He knew he would be of no help if he was too rigid and stiff to defend himself if the assailant was to turn his attack on to him. As he drew closer he saw a rough ragged looking pinning a young brunette woman down to the ground ripping at her clothes violently. His anger increased as he realized that the man had every intent of raping the young girl.
"Hey, leave her alone." He made his presence known by stepping into the opening where the thug had a clear view of him. He was shaking inside, but his voice was surprisingly neutral and strong.
The burly man un mounted the girl and stared Matt down menacingly. He appeared to be over two hundred pounds, well built and the unsettling look in his cold beady green eyes warned Matt this man was dangerous or crazy. Most likely both.
"This was the wrong night to play hero, boy," he said his yellow teeth large and freakish in the moonlight.
Matt cast a quick glance at the woman still on the ground. He needed to get her out of harm's way.
"Quick, get out here and call the po-," he never got to finish his sentence as he felt the man throw his full weight into causing him to fly hard into the hard alley wall knocking all the air from his lungs.
He gasped hoarsely as the man clutched his throat squeezing tightly trying to choke the life out of him. Matt groaned as the man slammed his head back into the wall brutally causing his vision to swim momentarily. Desperately he bought his knee up swiftly connecting with his attackers chin. Saliva and blood sprayed everywhere as he stumbled back cursing in pain putting distance between them. Infuriated the guy charged him once more with his fist. Matt deftly blocked the punch aimed at his face and placed a well aimed kick in the man's gut causing him to stumble back gasping in pain. The guy attempted another swipe at him resulting in a devastating upper cut delivered by Matt that left the would be rapist on his back moaning in pain. Quickly he turned to the woman still sprawled on the ground fumbling with her shirt. Gently he helped her up to her feet.
There was a strange look in her sullen amber eyes as he extended his hand down to help her up and if he was experienced he would have noticed he suspciousr glances of concern to the fallen attacker, but he missed it. As he struggled to catch his pain and control the mass amounts of adrenaline roaring through his body, he was startled to find she barely had any bruises which was strange seeing how violent the man was.
"Are you alright miss? Did he hurt you?" he asked apprehensively as he checked her over.
She stared at him shaken.
"You have to get out of here! James is crazy! He's gonna kill you," she whispered frantically.
Confusion blanketed Matt's face.
"What? How do you kn-" he screamed out in pain as felt a sharp blade tear clean through his shoulder before being snatched out violently. He fell to his knees, his eyes watering up from the unbearable pain. The man the woman referred to as James raised the knife to deliver the killing blow when she stopped him.
"He is injured. He is no longer a threat to you. There is no reason to kill him," she protested shakily. It was obvious she was starting to regret having anything to do with the plot of luring this man into the alley. They had followed him from Chow's restaurant and while she was reluctant to mug him due to his young age, James had insisted saying that he appeared wealthy and he was a 'good score.' So to lure him into the alley they had staged a fake attack and she had prayed the young man wasn't chivalrous enough to fall into the trap but she had been wrong and now seeing him lying in pain in a pool of his own blood was starting to chip away at her conscience.
James spat a wad of blood narrowing his eyes at the woman.
"Fine, but I'm going to get payback for the runt for breaking my nose," he snarled delivering a swift sharp kick to Matt's lower bag causing him to cry out softly crashing face first to the ground splitting his bottom lips causing blood to drip onto the cold pavement.
Matt screamed in horrible pain as James crushed his shoulder beneath his foot. Matt could feel an sharp tearing and a moment later he passed out. What felt like eternity had in reality only been a few minutes when he came to. His vision focused on the couple and judging from their loud angry voices they were arguing. His head throbbing and his shoulder felt like it was on fire but he was alive and that's all that counted for the moment.
"I ain't goin back to prison, doll. Grab his credits and let's fuckin get out of here," he hissed his dark eyes shining dangerously.
"You cut him pretty bad, James. We should call for help. We can't let him die here! He's just a kid," she protested kneeling next to Matt looking at the bloodied wound in his shoulder gravely.
James stormed over and grabbed Chloe by her forearm roughly yanking her to her feet with force.
"I did you a favor by not killing his scrawny ass. Now get his wallet, Chloe, and let's go! What are you waiting for, the cops to show up?" he heard the man snap viciously.
Chloe gulped obediently and reached in Matt's pocket snatching his credits. Their eyes met for a second and he could see guilt and shame in her amber hazel eyes.
"I am so sorry," she whispered tearfully giving him one last look before dashing off in the dark with James. Her apology seemed sincere but the only thing Matt could focus on was the blinding pain pulsating through his bruised battered body. He listened to the sounds of their fleeing footsteps pound across the sidewalk and waited until they completely faded before he dared to move.
Matt groaned feeling a stabbing pain in his side as he rolled over on broken glass holding his shoulder that was bleeding freely. Mustering his strength he rose to his feet staggering against the alley brick wall trying to keep conscious while applying pressure to his shoulder. He forced back a whimper and willed his body to fight through the pain. He needed to get out of the alley to prevent bleeding to death. His apartment was just across the street and he felt he had no strength but he had to make it. He felt a wave of nausea wash over him and woozy he rolled his head to the side and wretched violently. Moments later he shakily wiped his mouth wincing at the sharp swelling he felt in his lower lip. Moving gingerly he gritted his teeth and stumbled out of the alley. His strides were staggering and his pain fierce, but his jaw was set in determination and their was a steely look of determination in his eyes. He had to make it. He just had to.