the waterfront
Ahead of Daredevil and Black Widow was the warehouse Johnny had spoken of. To their right was Pier 44. They could hear and smell the East River as it flowed through the darkness behind the pier. The streets were deserted. The side of the warehouse they approached from had a loading dock, complete with a long row of large sliding doors. They were all shut. At each end of the loading dock was a small door. Light shined through the windows on the small doors.
Peering in through a small door window, Black Widow's view was partially obscured by a stack of wooden crates. Neat rows of them ran the entire length of the warehouse. Several of the crates had been moved towards the center of the warehouse and were being used as a platform. Standing on the makeshift stage was a man in a costume. The costume had a skull-shaped gas-mask of jet black, and a long hooded jet black cloak went over that. Only combat boots could be seen beneath cloak. Black Widow knew that this had to be the mysterious Mister Fear. He appeared to be speaking to a group of people, but it was difficult to make out through the window.
"We've got our guy." Black Widow announced, ducking away from the window to confer with Daredevil.
"Can you see what's going on in there?" Daredevil asked.
"No...too many crates."
"Any idea how many?" Daredevil asked and gestured over to a row of neatly parked vans a few feet from the loading dock.
"I don't think there's very many." Black Widow answered. She then pulled a pin from her hair and slightly bent it with her teeth. After modifying it she stuck the pin into the keyhole to the small door to pick the mechanism. "But, let's go in and take a look around to make sure."
Daredevil used his special senses to listen for the tumbler in the locking mechanism as Black Widow attempted to pick it. He knew she had been successful before she had. When she pulled the door quietly ajar Daredevil slunk into the warehouse. Black Widow followed closely behind after closing the door as softly as she could. The two of them ducked into the shadows behind a row of large crates. They peered around the corner of their covering crate.
Standing before the platform was a small mob of street punks from various gangs. Daredevil recognized members of the Flashing Blades and Tommy Kent's own gang. On the stage was Mister Fear. His cloak thrown open to reveal his flowing jet black hair, and the full suit of kevlar and impact-resistant body armor he wore. A large strange looking pistol of unique design sat holstered on his hip, as well as strange viles of black and violet powder affixed to his belt. Mister Fear appeared to wear a very elaborate gas-mask per his costume as the eye slots lit up in changing colors and the mask augmented his voice and distorted it. To each side of him was a large wooden crate, different than the crates Daredevil and Black Widow hid behind. In an excited voice he yelled above the din, "I've had enough of the Maggia telling people where they can and can't operate! I've had enough of The Maggia using fear against us! I've had enough of Hammerhead, how about you?" the crowd responded by cheering and yelling threats against the Maggia.
When they quieted Mister Fear continued, "you've all been attacked by his monsters! You've all been frightened. I say this time we are the Faces Of Fear! I say this time we strike before he does!" with that said, he kicked open a nearby crate, spilling dozens of fully loaded and armed M-16 Assault rifles!
Moving as one the crowd rushed onto the stage. Mister Fear grabbed one of the rifles and fired a burst into the ceiling. Bullets ricocheted crazily, and the crowd fell back. With a look of satisfaction at the frightened faces of his men, Mister Fear shouted out. "Tomorrow Night we attack!"
Daredevil's hearing was assaulted with the sounds of more wooden crates being smashed open. All throughout the warehouse the crates labelled as engine parts for common vehicles were being opened to reveal a massive cache of military issue firearms. The small time and 2-bit gangsters frantically scrambled to get their hands on the lethal weapons. 12 assault rifles in each box, and each rifle equipped with a clip containing 20 rounds of ammunition, each round a potential death. The gangsters let out wild bursts of bullets or animalistic roars as they retrieved a weapon. Daredevil knew the immediate threat to civilians there would be if they allowed the weapons out in the hands of these dangerous criminals.
"We gotta stop this! We can't let those weapons leave the warehouse! Nobody needs to die!" Matt said to Natasha.
"How do you propose we do that?" she asked in return.
Daredevil froze in a crouch for a second as he readied his truncheon for combat. He began taking deep breaths as he psyched himself up. "Let's try kicking their asses." he shrugged at her.
Before she could respond Daredevil ran towards the large mob that filled the warehouse around the makeshift platform. There he went, head on into a massive mob of gang members, some carrying blades and others wielding assault rifles. He was a man who did what was right. He was a man without fear. Black Widow admired him for that. She armed the wrist-mounted dart launchers she wore and waded into the fray right behind her lover.
Matt and Natasha had once had a completely different life together. Many years ago Matt had defended Natasha in a murder case that she was completely exonerated of. Further impressed by his legal prowess in addition to his looks she soon discovered that he was also Daredevil. Given her own training and experience she joined Matt in his life as both identities. As Daredevil and Black Widow they took down the Kingpin and corrupt members of S.H.I.E.L.D., and when they completed their common goals they retired.
In fact, Matt Murdock had traveled to San Francisco for the first time ny Natasha's suggestion when she coerced him to change things up and get away from the violence. To settle down. So, they did…
Matt worked as a legal advisor for a large firm while she became a part-time nurse. If she had been possible of conceiving she would have not hesitated to bear Matt a child in those days. But, in the end it was Matt's bravery turning into arrogance that eventually ended their relationship. Matt could never view Natasha as an equal, and so when they made a holiday trip back to New York Black Widow accepted an invitation to become a full-time member of the Avengers. Where she met Clint Barton, her ex-husband.
-
Daredevil stepped onto a large crate and performed a front flip off of the box, bring the heel of one of his feet onto the back of a man's head as he hefted an assault rifle. The four other gangsters nearby immediately turned their malice onto Daredevil. One of them reached into their waistband and drew a small pistol. In a swift dodge Daredevil ducked and picked up the assault rifle on the ground and working to dismantle it. Holding it in one hand he then planted his hand for a spring to the side, flicking his wrist and throwing fragments of the dismantled rifle at the gangster with the pistol. Being sprayed with bits of metal seny his aim wild and he accidentally fired a shot into the shoulder of the accomplice standing next to him.
The wounded gangster screamed angrily at his friend and cursed vehemently at Daredevil. Looking back into the darkness of the warehouse the gunman had the pistol struck away with the bent barrel of the dismantled rifle. Before he could pick it up Daredevil was upon him punching him. The two other goons present launched in to defend their friend. One grappled Daredevil from behind pinning his arms immobile. The 2 other gangsters approached to strike Daredevil as he was held, but one received a swift kick to his groin and collapsed in agony before the goon holding Daredevil received a headbutt with the sharp horns of Daredevil's costumed mask. The gangster who had held him recoiled and grabbed for his bloody face, when Daredevil stepped on his knee to propel off of him to throw a devastating jab at the fourth goon.
-
Black Widow chopped two men at pressure points sending them to the floor. As another dove at her with a broken 40 oz malt liquor bottle, she stepped to the side and tripped the man, and he landed on top of his own weapon. He screamed in pain as the serrated glass torn his shirt and flesh to ribbons. Black Widow felt a snub nose of a pistol compress into the small of her back. A thug had snuck up on her of all people and now held her at gunpoint. The man's hand shook the gun against her in anxiety. Suddenly, a loud whoosh went overhead as Daredevil vaulted over a large stack of crates and landed knee first into the thug's shoulder sending him to the ground, the gun sliding across the floor after popping off a shot. The bullet flew wildly and struck another nearby gangster in the thigh. "You fight HYDRA and you're getting your ass handed to you by some hell's kitchen hood rats?" Daredevil chuckled as he stood from the thug and withdrew his truncheon.
-
From the stage Mister Fear could see Daredevil ravaging his way towards him through the mob of gangsters. He grunted loudly in anger through his voice modulated gas mask at his old foe attempting to thwart his plans once again. There was much animosity between the two, as Mister Fear had been responsible for the murder of a former lover to Daredevil. In disgust, Mister Fear kicked a nearby ammunitions crate off the stage and destroying it. The nearest crazed gangsters hefted the assault rifles inside and ran towards where Daredevil decimated their gang.
Suddenly, the overhead fluorescent lights of the warehouse all began to shatter consecutively plunging the warehouse into darkness. Mister Fear watched in anger as slowly the warehouse became black, lit Only by the occasional gunfire, the Only sound the dull thud of concussive strikes as his gang was demolished in the dark.
The tide had turned, and his options now were to escape or surrender. Mister Fear could not and would not surrender. His time had not elapsed but he had to find a way to safety or avoid Daredevil. Turning around in the darkness Mister Fear leapt off the stage and began feeling his way for the rear exit of the warehouse. In an instant he remembered the Night-vision specs of his skull-shaped mask and pressed a button by his ear. Adjusting to perceive more light his goggles provided him with a view of his exit, despite adding the world a greenish hue.
Out of his peripheral stepped a woman, with a small set of personal night-vision goggles on. It was the Black Widow, who had used her wrist-mounted dart-launchers to shoot out the lights. She had her night vision and knew that Daredevil did not need the light. Sneaking around the horde that she would leave to Daredevil she wound about to Mister Fear.
She charged him on the flank, but he detected her and dodged backwards at the last moment. He then threw a mighty lunch and harred her backwards. Retaliating she threw a high kick that he blocked with his forearm, and grabbed her by the ankle. He forced her backwards, but she firmly grasped his cloak so as she tumbled she used her weight and momentum to throw him head over heels over her and onto his back. She then somersaulted backwards onto a sitting position on his chest, pinning him to the floor. Quickly he threw another punch and knocked her off of him. Scrambling to his feet he then booted her down into the ground as she tried to collect herself. As she lay on the floor Mister Fear began running for the exit, so she aimed her wrist-mounted dart launcher at him and fired. An electrical taser dart prodded into the back of his right leg and sent him writhing in agony to the floor. He moaned and grunted savagely as he attempted to fight his constricting muscles and the current flowing through his body. He could hear the clicking of Black Widow's heels approaching him, and reached for his gun holster.
Walking over Black Widow saw the familiar blue electricity that had teleported away the Shroud appearing around Mister Fear. She withdrew adamantium handcuffs from her belt and was about to apprehend the man when he flipped over onto his back aiming his pistol at Black Widow head on. As his finger tightened on the trigger a sudden blue flash accompanied by the gut turning smell of sulphur whisked Mister Fear away.
-
Hours later Officers McNally and Medina were very surprised to report to a suspicious activity call-in and discover a virtually destroyed warehouse full of stolen assault rifles and unconscious known criminals. As the two men laughed over what heroic feats they could fabricate to take the credit for his caper, they slapped cuffs on the unconscious. The holidays were always an interesting time for NYPD.
-
Black Widow and Daredevil returned to Matt's new apartment to rest and lixk their wounds. Both if them thoroughly exhausted and fatigued from the long battle in the warehouse. They had held hands as they stumbled down alleyways and over rooftops, after toppling the arms branch of Mister Fear's operations and effectively saving Hammerhead's life as well as the lives of any innocents who would have been caught in the crossfire.
After climbing the fire escape and in through an unlocked window the two helped each other disrobe from their costumes, stuffing the armored leather and weapons into Matt's green trunk. Still embracing, the couple found their way to Matt's twin sized mattress on the floor and passed out in each other's arms as the early morning sun rose.
-
Johnny Bifrost awoke in the lobby of the Heroes For Hire office. The offices were relatively empty save for the locked office holding Marc Spector and Tommy Kent. After spending a safe night indoors and away from his former brothers the Flashing Blades Tommy had gotten some much needed rest. He was hungry and missed his sister, and so he walked out the double doors just as Dr. Regina Wallows attempted to unlock the doors from outside to meet with her patient Marc Spector.