The pair trotted along the path, the pace quickening in short bursts as they went. Steve kept a firm hold on Holly's hand as they weaved around the other passersby, some of whom were similarly running along. The rocking ground and echoing boom across the cityscape had jarred them, frightened. Many looked skyward, as if anticipating an aerial attack. He considered that option as well, but the lack of audible plane or jet noise made him believe it was a ground attack. Images of grenades detonating flashed in his mind, vehicles on fire and the frightened screams of the trapped mingling. He pulled up in a stop, Holly bracing her hands on her knees and catching her breath while he let his gaze travel along the sky again. Despite the darkness that was falling, the smoke drifting up backlit by the bright city lights. Pinpointing where they were in the park, it would be several minutes until they made it to the exit.

"Came from the southwest, no more than a few miles away," he noted aloud, eyes narrowing as he concentrated. He had an idea of exactly where that blast had come from, and it unsettled him. They were cutting across the park as quickly as possible, just to at least get back to his bike, which they had left parked on the eastern side (part of their city exploration had involved an extended motorcycle ride around the different neighborhood). A tug on his jacket brought his attention back to the woman at his side, her reddened face tilting back as harsh gasps came out. Holly had been exercising more as of late, but she would never be at the level he was at.

"Steve, I can't keep running like this. Gah…" she croaked, idly feeling as though her lungs and legs were on fire. There was no way she could keep up the pace, and was about to propose he go on without her when he shook his head and crouched slightly.

Pivoting around, he motioned her to come forward. "Get on my back."

She went slack-jawed for a moment. Sure, he was much faster than her, but was he really suggesting that? Her eyebrows nearly hit her hairline, and she waved her hands superfluously. "Seriously?! You're going to carry me piggy-back out of here? You've got to be joking!"

Steve frowned, gaze narrowing in a muted glare. "Would you rather I fling over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes?! Because I can do that instead!"

Not at all a fan of the fireman-carry idea, Holly pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes. "Jesus, fine, whatever!"

"Don't say that," he reprimanded her, rolling his eyes. Bracing himself, he continued, "Come on, we're not going that far."

Tossing her hair, Holly executed a small hop, her grip locking around his shoulders and legs supported by his arms. Barely seconds after she was situated, he took off, the bubbling shriek dying in her throat. Good grief, Steve was fast. She knew he kept up with his running, missions or no, but it was one thing to see it and another to be lugged along for the ride. He voiced no complaints about carrying her, but her nerves were jangled as he went, weaving and darting and leaving more than one person in their wake, staring.

'Please don't trip, please don't trip, please don't trip,' was her mantra as they went, eyelids squeezing shut at intervals as they went. Soon enough, they arrived at the motorcycle, and she was practically drooping with relief when Steve set her down. Retrieving a helmet from one of the packs, he passed it off to her (his own helmet was stored away; he never really had gotten into the habit wearing one other than with his uniform, despite her vocal objections to the contrary).

"I'll drop you at the Tower first," he said, swinging a leg over the bike, firing it up. Wrestling with the chin strap, Holly followed suit, jabbing a finger into his shoulder as she clambered on behind him.

"There's no time for that," she told him. Off the incredulous look he shot her when he glanced back, she brushed over it. "Let's go, come on!"

Immediately he shook his head, denial written all over his face. Bringing her into potential danger was the absolute last thing he wanted to do. "I'm not—"

Holly cut him off, hooking a thumb towards the road. "You wanna to fight about this or do you want to get there before things get worse?"

His mouth quirked, and she could see the very real temptation to argue his case further surfacing. When she spoke again, she made herself adopt a calmer tone, though it wasn't by any means placid.

"I'm not breaking my promise. I said I wouldn't interfere, and I'm not trying to. But if you want answers, you can't afford to do any sidetracking. I can stay out of the way; I know how to do that. Come on."

It would be a risk, taking her along to investigate. The source of the explosion could be almost anything, he knew that from experience. It had the potential to be very dicey. However, she'd had a point; he could take the time, head back to the Tower, leave her there, but those valuable minutes would be lost. The odds were too varied, something he really didn't care for. The clock was ticking, louder and louder with each passing second. After looking at her, hardness in his expression, he faced front again.

"For the record, I'm not okay with this," he grumbled, just as the ball cap was swept from his head and his discarded helmet was crammed on instead. Muttering more under his breath, he adjusted the strap as she packed the cap away, hands coming to rest tightly around his waist.

"Noted; we'll argue about it later," she replied, darting her gaze at traffic and spotting a a gap in the oncoming rush. "Just go!"

The motorcycle roared as he gave it gas, her arms clutching harder as they shot away. Weaving the bike in and out of traffic, the sounds of sirens and wails of breaking cars screeched through the air, as they went. Night had fallen completely by that point, the flashing lights atop squad cars and firetrucks the heralds of the streets. Road blocks were set up, to be obeyed, but Steve cut through alleys and side streets, unwilling to be sidetracked. The acrid gusts of smoke and fire wafted around them, and suddenly Steve hit hard on the brakes, making both of them lurch forward in their seats. Another blockade in his path, but he did not turn the bike around. Rather, he parked it, removing his helmet and staring up at the sight in front of him. Flipping up the visor on hers, Holly gasped.

Shattered glass glittered in the lamp lights, the blues and reds of the police vehicle lights reflecting on and off. Bricks and wood coated the sidewalks, dust and dents in the concrete where they had settled. Fire had spilled out, catching along the sides of nearby buildings and along the tar of the road. Water gushed out of nearby hydrants, hoses attached with haste and fighters squaring up to fight the flames. A few token officers were rushing around, bustling people away to safety, crowds pressing along the barriers and gaping in total shock. Where a single tenement building had once been, there remained only a shell, splintered floors and collapsed beams burning brightly.

"Oh, my God."

xXxXxXx

"The cops were calling it an accident," Holly reported to the team, congregating in the sitting area outside the top-floor laboratory. Tony and Thor were not present, one being in California and the other in London, but the others wanted to know what they'd seen. Maria's fingers tripped nimbly across her tablet, murmuring quietly into the bluetooth perched in her ear as Natasha delved into her laptop for any online information. Clint and Bruce took the report in silence, glancing around every so often as she spoke. She and Steve had returned roughly an hour after their arrival at the explosion site, firsthand knowledge to be expounded on with the others. Though they'd gone to discover the truth, there wasn't much for the police officer in charge to tell Steve. Captain America or not, the situation did not call for his presence, and he was summarily dismissed. Not in so many words, of course, but the sentiment had remained, and he had not been pleased to be turned away. Holly had hung back, observing the crowds around them, the cops who had been on hand to assist the wounded, and something about it all seemed off. "When we got there, there was a lot of talk about it being a broken gas line that ignited, but the way they acted…"

Steve, sitting on the arm of one couch, scoffed at that. "Trust me, what happened there was no accident. Most likely they were preventing panic in the street by saying it was."

Maria nodded confirmation. "Right on the nose, Captain. Internal speculation is that it was intentional, possibly a disgruntled former tenant getting back at the previous landlord by planting a bomb of sorts. Guy's bought up all over town, and he's not making any friends. Particularly when he leaves them in this state of disrepair."

She handed him her tablet, letting him scroll through the assorted files and photographs that had made the digital transfer at the precinct. Connections with local law enforcement allowed her access, though none of them were too sure that her connections were anything other than dubious. Still, at least it gave them the chance to actually look at the official reports, determining lies from truth.

She had been right; the landlord who had rights to the destroyed property was not a decent man, on any account. His record was fraught with misdemeanors and misconduct, heavy-handed profiteering decorating his past as well. If it was a case of revenge, it wasn't exactly out of the realm of reality. Holly, leaning her elbow along the back of the couch, sneaked a peek at the report over Steve's shoulder, his glare of reprehension causing her to avert her eyes upward when he caught her.

"They find any parts? Er, casings for the bombs?" Holly asked, brow furrowing in thought. Maria just gave her a look, one that she shrugged at. "Sue me, I've watched a lot of crime shows. Some of the elements in those things have to be true."

Natasha jumped in then, having tapped into Maria's recoveries and also accessing other outlets to investigate. "Some have been, at key points in the structure meant to destabilize it. Thus far, no casualties have been reported, but there have been several injured. The news outlets are worried about possible retaliation turning into a street war. It's not exactly the best part of the city."

A keystroke later, a digital blueprint of the building filling screens, areas marked where the explosives could have been placed. On the border of Hell's Kitchen, it was prone to being witness to other terrible events, but it was strange that it would end up being the epicenter of one. Clint stared at the screen, shaking his head and scratching his neck.

"So, they think this is an isolated incident," he surmised, mirroring the skeptical expressions of his teammates. Maria shrugged once more, taking her tablet back from Steve.

"Seems to be—"

A tremor shot through the floor then, shaking the tables and tumblers along the bar. To the west, bursts of flames dotted the buildings in the distance, the echoes of pops and booms penetrating the windowed walls as everyone jumped up, gawking in stunned silence. Holly rushed forward, palm pressed against the glass as the evening's events inevitably repeated.

"This can't be real."

"Okay…this is not isolated," Barton interjected, pointing out the window and slightly dumbfounded.

"No shit," Holly muttered under her breath, eye wide. Steve's mouth set in a grim, thin line as he looked out at the blossoming smoke clouds.

"We're going. Now," he announced, not bothering to wait for agreement, knowing full well the others would be with him. Maria crossed her arms over her chest, head tilting to the side.

"I'd say I'd call the police, but odds are, they'll be calling here in three, two…" The bluetooth in her ear blinked, ringing permeating around her. She shared a brief, amused glance with Natasha as she answered. "Prompt, aren't they?"

"Nat, Clint, you're with me. Evacuation and investigation." The two ex-agents dipped their chins, the former going to the downstairs to gather up com-links after the command was given. He paused, glanced at the doctor. Bringing him along could trigger poor memories in Banner, but if he could help the EMTs...he did have a background in general practice, after all. "Bruce—"

"I can do triage, if it's needed," the doctor murmured, falling in line with his thinking. Steve nodded, relieved that he was willing to do that much, at least.

"Good. Maria, call when you have any news," he said, her answer a thumbs-up as she continued her conversation with the officer on the other end of the line. "JARVIS, get a hold of Tony and Thor, keep them informed and primed just in case this escalates."

"Yes, Captain," the UI answered, simulated voice hard and authoritative.

Then, his eyes drifted over to the last person standing, his expression flitting from stern to concerned in a fraction of a second. Holly knew that look; it was one she'd directed at him often, when his work was unpredictable and he was compelled to heed its call, no matter what. Circumstance had forced his hand earlier, but with the increase of peril, she knew he would want her to stay behind. Seeking out trouble was not her intent; this time, she would not push the issue. After all, she did know the difference between when she could be of help and when her presence would do more harm than good. Holding up her hands in a gesture of surrender, she merely sighed as he exhaled slowly. Grabbing his shield from its resting spot beside the coffee table, he went to her, her fingers cradling his head as he bent down and lips pressing firmly against his.

"Stay safe," Holly whispered, releasing her hold on him as the others returned. With links in their ears and concealable weapons on hand, the remaining Avengers retreated to the elevator. Waving, she managed a weak grin as the doors swept shut, whisking them away. Maria, wrapping up her call, made her way past her to the stairs, intent on working from her office. At a loss for a minute or two, Holly clattered after her, catching up as she turned down a longer hallway a few floors below. "Is there anything I could do? I can't just sit around and do nothing."

The determined set of her countenance told Maria that she would brook no argument here. She may have promised to stay out of the way this time, but that didn't mean she would stand idly by and fret over what was going on. She did that enough normally, when she had no choice but to do so. Not now; Holly refused to be useless when others were doing all that they could to help.

Lights flickered on as they entered a large room, dominated by a sitting area and a large desk along the north wall. Digital displays decorated the walls, most of which seemed to be streaming world news websites and intelligence codes, if Holly had to guess. The computer monitor on the desk brightened as Maria sat down, tablet linking immediately with it as she attacked the keyboard.

"Since you're here, keep an eye on the media coverage," she said, knowing how public perception of the evening's events could sway the amount of involvement law enforcement would put up with, would pressure worlds councils to act one way or another. Retrieving a spare laptop from one of the desk drawers, she handed it off to Holly. "Save anything that seems useful."

Taking the equipment, Holly's eyebrows raised a fraction. "Useful meaning…?"

Maria's lips twisted up in a sardonic smirk. "I think you can figure it out."

Left on her own, Holly merely inclined her head at the ex-operative, striding towards the cushioned chairs on the opposite end of the room. No sense in leaving if she was going to be working in tandem with Maria.

"Okay, then," she breathed, hesitant fingers tripping along the keys. Opening up the channel that synched directly to the UI, she spoke into the device's microphone. "JARVIS, help me out here. All news and alternate media coverage, keywords: Hell's Kitchen, explosion, fire."

"Yes, ma'am," JARVIS responded, the screen immediately filling with tab after tab of gathered data. News reports, statuses, intercepted radio and podcasts streamed before her eyes, the look on her face sliding into a deadpan expression.

"That is a lot of Twitter posts."

"The amount of content that can fit into a maximum of 140 characters can be impressive at times, ma'am," JARVIS observed, the evidence stacking up and spilling over before she could make sense of it all. The pad of her finger glided over the trackpad, her double-tap bringing up the earliest known report of the secondary explosions.

"Fair point," she conceded to the UI, now bent over her task with the intent to see it through. "Holy balls…"

A little over an hour later, an incoming call interrupted her search, a familiar face filling the the screen as he stared down in his handheld.

"Kiddo, tell me what's up in the bright lights and big city."

Holly's lips stretched into a tired grin. "Tony. I figured you would've sussed out JARVIS already, or that Maria would tell you."

He shrugged, resting his chin in his hand. "You think she would, being on my payroll and all, but no. It was her rather hastily referring me to you that brings us together in this magical moment."

She snickered, gesturing with one finger to the air. "Still, JARVIS…"

"I need human interpretation of the data," Tony interrupted, seemingly pacing now if the bobbing of the screen was anything to go by. Soon enough he settled in a chair, wine bottles stacked high behind him. "Or sentient interpretation, at least. Also, I'm stuck here for the time being, could use the entertainment."

Holly wrinkled her nose at that. "What a lovely way to look at the situation."

"C'mon, Ankle-Biter, gimme something."

Rolling her eyes at the new nickname, she proceeded to explain what had happened thus far. What had started off as a singular "gas leak" had morphed into a potential terrorist attack. Four more buildings had fallen to flame and ash, the fires spreading and the city in panic. No statements had been released about the concurrent explosions, but most of the internet had their own opinions on the matter. Hell's Kitchen, in that moment, was living up to its name; the people feared whatever demons had inspired such an occurrence, pointing the finger at the local government, at corrupt police officers, at specific activist groups.

"A few of them are pinning the blame on the masked man," she reported, the words leaving a bad taste in her mouth. Stark lifted a shoulder, finger moving off to the side of his handheld (no doubt mining into his own research).

"Not surprised," he said, sighing slightly melodramatically. "No good deeds, remember, even if his good deeds have namely been kicking the crap out of two-bit thugs."

She exhaled sharply, not too sure about the accusations. "Even so, his M.O hasn't ever involved explosives, from the reports I've read. This seems wrong."

"Let's hope you're right, as far as that goes," Stark replied. He didn't hold a very high opinion about the masked vigilante in New York (he found the improbability of a lone, masked man with evidently shaded eyes making headway on his own to be a little much), but it wasn't like he was harming more than he had to. Provided that was still true. "Either way, it's not good. Because if this is a case of evolving technique, this could be practice. Or if it comes from an outside source...still could be build-up for a much bigger target."

"Such as the Tower?" Holly wondered, her gut constricting nervously.

"Or the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Chrysler...lots of big, lovely skyscrapers to pick from out there," Tony pointed out, counting off the buildings on his spare hand. "Depends on what statement needs to be made."

"Comforting thought."

"Isn't it?" A voice called out his name then, drawing his attention away from the screen. Eyes darting back and forth between the call and beyond the handheld, Tony rose from his chair, pulling a wine bottle from the rack and heading away from his cellar. "My presence is being requested, at the highest level. You find out anything new, have JARVIS pass it on. Thor needs to be kept in the loop, too."

Holly acquiesced, compiling everything she had to forward into a file. "He is, trust me. Maria is all over that."

"Hopefully not. We don't want a jealous Jane on our hands," Tony remarked, shuddering at the thought. Holly stuck her tongue out at him.

"You're not funny."

His answering grin dropped by a degree or two, the gravity that always sat at the edge of his mind infiltrating. "Stay safe, kiddo."

Signing off, he was gone before she could reply, leaving her to her own thoughts as she continued to work.

xXxXxXx

"What?" Steve almost growled, his frustration growing as the sergeant before him halted him in his activities. The man, a frazzled fellow in his mid-forties, held up his hand as the American hero took a step forward, preempting him from going further. With firemen and other rescue crews milling around them, the guy seemed burdened enough. His sharp green eyes betrayed him, though he attempted to be civil. After all, they'd done their fair share of helping over the last few hours, extracting survivors from the wrecked buildings, and one of them helping the emergency teams tend to the wounded. Still, it didn't change the fact that he had to tell them to stop.

The chaos earlier in the evening had been a cakewalk compared to what was going on around them. Four different buildings, four different explosions, numerous casualties and no answers. The night was shaping up terribly, and really could only get worse from there.

"Captain, we appreciate the assistance of you and your team, really," he said, nodding to each member in question as they rallied around their leader. "But until we have any further evidence that these incidents—"

"Pretty major incidents," Natasha ascertained, hands on hips and eyebrow arching at the officer's choice of phrase.

Barton brought his chin up, gesturing to the vans pulling in at that moment, "Enough to call in S.W.A.T., no less."

The smaller man, Doctor Banner, had said nothing, but the dark look in his eyes told him exactly what he thought about the turn of events. However, the decision to call in the S.W.A.T. team was not the sergeant's call, and he didn't like the implication of blame one bit. The department had gotten desperate to track down the masked man and his accomplice after losing custody of them, but the level of desperation wasn't high enough to keep the Avengers on the scene. He had his orders, he needed to follow them.

"—Should these incidents require more Avenger aid, we'll ask you to come back. For now, we need you to leave. People will panic with you here, they're already panicking," he explained, flapping his fingers at the civilians milling beyond the barriers, pointing out Hawkeye, the Black Widow, voices a rush of whispers and fear. "I've had three people ask me if the aliens are back, just because they saw you. You might antagonize the wrong crowd."

The sergeant spread his hands, seeing each and every one them preparing to voice their wish to continue to help.

"Orders came from above, sir," he told the captain, willing him to understand. This was not their problem; it was the force's, as his commanding officer had sworn to him several minutes before. The harsh set of his face belied the pleading look in his eyes. "Please."

Several long moments passed, the team holding position while the captain looked beyond the sergeant, vacillating on the course of action to take. Eventually, he gracefully took a step back, giving the fellow ground.

"Fine," he agreed, taking the sergeant's hand and giving it a perfunctory shake. The fellow's grateful expression was undeniable.

"Thank you, Captain. Everyone," he expressed quietly, moving into the stream of blue suits and diving back into the work at hand.

"So, should we go grab some tacos, or pizza?" Barton joked, figuring an injection of levity was needed. However, without Stark around to reciprocate, it fell a little flat. Steve and Natasha shared a glance, one borne of many missions working together. Granted, their objectives didn't always mesh, but often they found themselves communicating silently, the intuitive agent picking up on what the captain was thinking. She shook her head, poking Barton on the arm.

"Better make ours to-go. This entire situation smells wrong, and I'm not just talking about the gasoline funk in the air," she stated, the hum of agreement passing from man to man as they digested her words. Gesturing to herself and Clint, she went on, "We'll stay, keep an eye on things. So long as you walk away, they won't look too hard for us."

Everything, from the prior explosion to the suspicious body count of the warehouse locations to the arrival of the S.W.A.T. team, seemed too off-kilter to be taken as it was. More was going on here, the nagging doubt sitting in the back of their minds telling them that they should have noticed sooner, intervened quicker. With on-site reconnaissance, she was sure Clint and she could discover more. Steve breathed out, dipping his chin once.

"Links in. Let us know when you have something."

Bruce shot Natasha and Clint a worried glance, the tense set of his body showing as he walked away with the captain.

"Be careful," he murmured, directing the words more at Romanoff than Barton, his dark eyes fastening onto hers for a second or two before dropping. Saluting him with a couple of fingers, the archer missed the lightning-fast smile on the ex-agent's lips.

"So, start from the warehouse and work our way out?"

Rolling her shoulders, Natasha led the way through the shadows, confident about the cover at her back.

"Sounds like a plan."

xXxXxXx

Coming off yet another call, Maria blew out a puff of air, unhooking the bluetooth from her ear and tossing it down onto her desk. Nothing more to do for tonight; the S.W.A.T. team had found and eliminated one of the hostile pair they'd pursued from the bombing. The masked man was still missing, but the police were confident he would be flushed out in no time. No need for Avenger intervention, no need for her to poke her nose where it no longer belonged. Granted, they had used words that were not so kind, but she understood the gist of what they were saying. A message flashed across her screen: Steve and Bruce had returned a short while ago, and had brought dinner. Taking the not-so-subtle invitation to join them, she took it upon herself to rouse the woman curled up in one of her armchairs. Her laptop blinked with a few alerts, bearing the same message she'd gotten only a couple moments before, but she had not responded. Her eyes were firmly shut, her head lolling off to one side. Maria snickered to herself.

"Uh-oh. The new hire's slacking."

Blinking sleepily, Holly waved her away, scrubbing at her face. "Just resting my eyes."

"Yeah, sure you were," Maria retorted, shaking her head. Hooking a thumb at the door, she murmured, "Let's head upstairs. This'll keep for the time being."

Unfolding her limbs, Holly yawned and stretched her arms above her head. "Okay. Are you sure that—"

"Go," Hill gently commanded, practically scooting her out the door in front of her. Electing to take the elevator, the two women stepped out on the upper deck, greeted by a haggard Dr. Banner and sooty-faced Steve Rogers. After affirming that they were alright, no damage done, they sat down with the men, Holly at Steve's right and Hill alighting in the single chair of the grouping. A cardboard box lay on the coffee table between them, pizza split among those remaining at the Tower. Holly, drifting in a fog, grabbed a slice, chewing numbly as she pondered everything that had happened. The day had started so calmly in comparison to the explosive—every pun intended—turn that it took upon night descending. The who and the why of it all remained elusive, the how hovering beyond her grasp. The unsettling nature of it all bothered her, and she could only imagine how much irritated the people she was with, members of a response team that were no longer allowed to respond, if what Maria was saying was right. The mulish set of Steve's jaw confirmed it, and she decided it would be best not to push it.

Several minutes passed, in which she simply ate and thought. A shoulder bumped into hers, taking her out of her own head. Glancing around, she noticed that Maria and the doctor were conversing in low tones, focus away from the room. Steve gave a wry look as he leaned closer to her, a washcloth in hand.

"Still like New York City after this?" he asked, earning a chuckle for his efforts. Scrubbing at his face, he nearly got it cleared, save for a bit at the curve of his jaw. Tutting a little under her breath, Holly took it from him, tilting his chin with her free hand and dabbing at the spot of dirt he missed.

"The non-exploding parts are pretty alright," she replied, a corner of her mouth lifting as she finished her task. Tossing the rag away, her gaze connected with his, weary brown and exhausted blue. She sighed, the little tiff they'd had resurfacing in her mind, her grin drooping. "You want to have that argument now, or hold off until morning?"

He considered the question, looking down at his hands. A few cuts decorated them from where he helped someone away from shrapnel or broken glass, but Bruce had helped treat them in the medical bay earlier, bandages covering them.

Arriving at a decision, he lifted an eyebrow. "I'll wake you up for it at six. You know, when you're liable to be at your feistiest."

Her eyes narrowed, even as she barked out a laugh. It was a threat he was unlikely to follow through on, and she knew it. The little quarrel was not entirely put aside, but they wouldn't lose sleep over it. Thumping him on the arm, she sank back into the cushions, snorting softly to herself.

"Love you, too."

An arm curled around her shoulders, a peck planted on her forehead as Steve drew her into his embrace.

"Very much."

xXxXxXx

The manhole cover slid away, the yellow glow of the streetlamps providing little illumination. Gloved hands gripped the rim, tensing as the man hauled himself out. Smears of dirt, dust, and other matter blended into his black attire, no worse for the wear despite his underground travels. His mask, blotted with sweat from his exertions slid up a fraction, exposing more of his nose. Carefully he adjusted it, tilting his chin one way and then another. Cars honked, sirens wailed to his left. He went the opposite direction, away from the devastation that had been wrought earlier in the night. Away from the nightmares that would inevitably follow him. The threat, the voice...the name.

Suddenly, he paused in his tracks, head cocked to the left. The shadows of the alley had deepened, the fire of the world reflecting in his mind. Slight build, shorter than him...the scent of the air gave her away as female. The aggressiveness of her step gave her away as dangerous. A whiff of coconut, hinted with orchid. She'd tossed her hair. Unbeknownst to him, it mimicked the flames within, deep red in the low light.

"I know you're there," he murmured, on guard for her next move. A sharp breath came, and the nearly silent taps of her feet stopped.

"Good. You were supposed to know," she crowed, her tone almost musical as she spoke. Her weight shifted onto her back foot, not quite defensive, not at rest. "If I wanted to sneak up on you, I would have. Did it to a god once."

A little nonplussed by that statement, the man in the mask smirked a little. "Well, I'm not exactly a god, am I?"

A new voice joined in, deeper, more masculine. "No, I'd say you're slightly different."

Carefully he pivoted on the spot, facing the weak glow behind him. She, whoever she was, was not alone. The wreathed flame of her body was joined by another. Taller, build similar to his own; a man. A deep intake of breath, preparing himself to speak. A forearm cutting through the space, a gesture that spoke of neither evil or good intent. He braced himself, ready for attack.

"Who are you?"

"People. People just like you," the man said, his tone measured and calm, a hint of humor lacing the words. The man in the mask was still, not responding outwardly. Inside, his already frayed nerves burned.

"I doubt that."

"You're not the only person seeking justice and right in the world," the woman intoned, every word striking him hard. "And you're not the only one who knows that things are going wrong around here."

Understatement, he grumbled inwardly. Still, he could hear the sincerity in her voice, knew that whatever else she said, she believed that she understood his cause. Whoever this pair was, they were more than mere 'people.'

"We know what you're doing, pal. Your mission isn't so very different from ours. However, doing it alone up until this point has been your choice," the man told him, coming closer. He heard a shuffle, the breath of air alerting him to the fellow raising his arm. A gesture of good faith. This was their offer, perhaps their only one. "It doesn't have to be."

He remained silent, motionless. Undisturbed, the other man backed away, the scrape of boots on the concrete giving him away as he moved.

"We'll be in touch," the man said, his parting words inflected so that he could not be taken as flippant or uncaring. The woman hesitated a few moments, and he turned his head towards her. Had he the ability to see, he would know how hard and unrelenting her gaze was, the icy blue freezing. As such, it was lost on him.

Instead, he felt the chill in her last words to him.

"Watch yourself."

The man in the mask's mouth twisted as the man and woman faded, swallowed back into the darkness. He wondered if they appreciated the irony of their statements, if either knew that their foreboding speeches was not the first he'd heard that night. Neither were foes, he surmised, but whether they would prove to be friends would be left up to the future.

For the moment, he just had to tend to the present, survive another night.

A/N: ...Yep, Daredevil, my homies!

A merry Christmas Eve chapter for you all! I may have fudged a little of what happened in the Marvel universe as far as the explosions in Hell's Kitchen, making one fire off prematurely, but in essence, the events of the end of episodes 5 and 6 remain as they are in canon.

I own nothing of the MCU, including characters and plot points of Daredevil, and other mentioned things not owned by me, the author.

Things might shift gears a little for the next chapter, possibly. Just a forewarning if it's not as explosive as this one. Ah, jokes for days! (Notice I didn't say they were good ones.)

Thanks for reading, please review, and I'll see you all for the next one!