My Sanctuary of Nostalgia

"Y/N, what's goin' on?" he asked, his voice laden with genuine concern.

Y/N glanced up, her teary eyes locking onto his worried gaze. Her voice was strained as she replied, "I think… I think I caught COVID."

JSchlatt's heart sank at her words. He took a deep breath and gently held Y/N's hair back as she continued to cough into the toilet bowl.

"It's gonna be alright, Y/N," he whispered soothingly, his New Yorker accent carrying soft reassurance. "I'm right here with ya. We're gonna get through this. You're gonna be alright."

Once her coughing fit subsided, JSchlatt carefully helped Y/N to her feet, his arm wrapped protectively around her for support. He guided her to their bedroom, his strong presence offering comfort when Y/N's own strength seemed to falter. He tucked her into bed, fluffing the pillows and making sure she was as comfortable as possible.

Sitting at her side, JSchlatt reached for the thermometer on the nightstand, taking Y/N's temperature, just in case. The digital display showed no sign of a fever, a small relief.

"Do I have a fever?" Y/N rasped weakly, her voice barely audible. JSchlatt nodded, placing the thermometer back on the nightstand.

"No, no fever, but I'm gonna keep an eye on ya, okay?"

He cautiously stepped inside the dimly lit boathouse and saw Vanessa. She was unconscious and bound to a chair. His heart sank, realizing that Fisk had taken her as a pawn in his twisted game of revenge against Matt Murdock, the lawyer who had foiled his plans time and again. Panic threatened to consume him as he fought to remain composed.

"Daredevil, you've finally arrived," Fisk's voice echoed from the shadows. "Do you see what your meddling has cost you? An innocent woman's life is now in your hands."

Daredevil's jaw clenched, his fists tightening. He had to keep his emotions in check; Fisk was a master manipulator, and any sign of weakness could lead to disastrous consequences.

"I didn't come here to play games, Fisk," Daredevil replied, his voice steely. "Let her go. This is between you and me."

"Oh, but it's so much more than that," Fisk retorted, tauntingly. "You claim to be a hero, but you've doomed an innocent woman for the sake of your pointless crusade. Vanessa… lovely name, just like my late wife—what a coincidence, don't you think?"

Daredevil's heart pounded in his chest. The revelation about Vanessa's name being the same as Fisk's late wife only fueled his anger. He knew he had to focus on rescuing her, but Fisk's words stung.

Without warning, Fisk pushed the chair, with Vanessa still tied to it, into the water. Daredevil's instincts kicked in. He dove after her, the cold water enveloping them both.

"Shoot him." Fisk ordered his men as he turned to walk away.

"But… the woman…" One of his henchmen nervously asked.

Fisk paused, only turning to glare at his subordinate. He pulled out a gun and shot his man in the gut. His body crumpled to the floor.

"SHOOT HIM!" Fisk roared to his men, who opened fire at the dark water.

Panic surged through Daredevil as he worked to untie Vanessa from the chair while dodging the bullets fired by Fisk's men. The sound of gunfire reverberated all around them. With every second that passed, he could feel the urgency intensifying, knowing that Fisk's henchmen were still firing shots above them.

He finally felt the scratchiness of the rope pull loose under his fingers. With practiced precision, he swiftly freed Vanessa from the chair as it sank to the depths. He tugged Vanessa into his arms just as the gunfire stopped above the water's surface.

Daredevil knew he had to get them both out of danger quickly.

With Vanessa's unconscious body cradled against his chest, Daredevil swam to the surface. Water cascaded off his sleek red suit. He stealthily looped Vanessa's arms through a lifesaver pinned to a wood beam, keeping her afloat.

He didn't have a moment to waste. With a swift movement, he leaped out of the water, flipping through the air to land amid the henchmen with calculated precision.

His body moved with a fluidity that defied gravity. His movements were fluid and precise, a dance of acrobatics and martial arts. He struck with accuracy, disarming and incapacitating Fisk's men one by one. His heightened senses allowed him to anticipate their every move, evading bullets and disabling their weapons with ease.

He took a moment to catch his breath. His heart pounded, both from the adrenaline coursing through his veins and the fear of losing Vanessa.

He turned his attention back to Vanessa, lifting her unconscious body out of the water. He gently laid her damp body on the dock. He pressed two fingers to her neck, feeling for her pulse and listening intently to her heartbeat. It was unsteady, a reflection of the distress she had endured.

Vanessa's face was pale, and her clothes clung to her shivering body. Daredevil knew she needed warmth and medical attention.

For a moment, Daredevil knelt beside her, unsure of what to do next. He couldn't take Vanessa to a hospital; that would only put her in more danger. Instead, he made a difficult decision—to carry her across the rooftops back to her apartment. He knew it was the only place where he could keep her safe for the time being.

He scooped her into his arms again, determined to get her to safety.

He leaped from rooftop to rooftop, moving swiftly and gracefully across the city. Vanessa remained unconscious, her breathing steady but shallow. Daredevil's heart ached with worry for his friend. He knew she was strong, but he also understood the toll this ordeal had taken on her.

Arriving at Vanessa's apartment, Daredevil gently laid her on the couch. Her clothes were still damp. He knew she needed dry clothes and a warm blanket.

He quickly found a clean set of clothes for her, a pair of his own that she'd somehow stolen from his closet. He smirked as he carried his faded tee shirt and silken pajama pants into the living room.

Gently, he helped her into the dry clothes, tending to her like a guardian angel. He then wrapped her in a couple of warm blankets, carefully tucking her in.

His fingers brushed against her cheek. He fought back the urge to confess his true identity to her—to finally let her know how he felt.

But he knew he couldn't risk her safety. Not now, not like this. So, with a heavy heart, Daredevil kissed Vanessa's forehead gently. He made his way to the window, stepping one foot out onto the fire escape. He looked back at Vanessa's unconscious form wrapped in blankets.

"Stay safe, Vanessa." He whispered.