devil of hell's kitchen

“Akihiro.” Daken said with a tight smile. There was a certain advantage to not giving away his first name, especially when it was something as obscure as his first name was. And funnily enough, Daken also had a funny party trick that helped his persuasion techniques, one he was actively using during this conversation. Just a bit, not enough to tip anyone off. But it always helped to tip the odds in his favor. “I’ve heard about some of the pro bono work you do. Really amazing stuff. Can I sit?”

“please. feel free to sit.” the lawyer scooted over to give space to the other man who appeared to be cordial enough but matt still kept his guard up, especially since fisk was back. the other man could very well be fisk’s lackey and he was here to get anything out of him. but the heartbeat that he’s hearing was level so far and it was either the other man was here with good intentions or he was a good liar. “only trying to make the world a better place, mister akihiro.” matt liked to believe he didn’t go into pro-bono work to get recognition. “i didn’t take law and pass the bar to be at the beck and call of the rich.”

Tony swore that he nearly had a minor heart attack when a figure emerged from the shadows. “Jesus, Daredevil,” he said, clutching dramatically at his chest. he was pretty sure that the man could hear the sound of his heart pounding away. “Are you taking a leaf from Batman’s book these days? Actually, come to think of it - you’re the one with the supersonic hearing, right? Shouldn’t you be Batman?”

Exhaling slowly to calm his nerves, he glanced around a bit more before convincing himself that there wasn’t anyone else about to pounce from the shadows. “Yeah, you know, no rest for the wicked.” Taking a gamble, he retracted his helmet and stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Actually, you’re just the guy I was looking for.”

Bit of a lie, but hey.

“You know Wilson Fisk better than most. What’s he really like? I’m pretty sure he’s not the savior of New Gotham like he’s pretending to be. Guy gives me the bad heebie-jeebies.”

“not really a fan of bats,” he replied instead. although batman was a good fighter in his own right, there was something about the caped man that rubbed him the wrong way. maybe it’s the arrogance. “not exactly supersonic hearing. occupational hazard. besides, sight is overrated.”

the defender walked towards iron man, his ears still firmly listening to any danger or erratic heartbeats that were not tony stark’s. “wilson fisk is a dangerous and violent man who will stop at nothing until he gets to the top.” matt didn’t understand how the damn kingpin was back when he’d promptly dealt with the man before. or is it because vanessa isn’t here and he’s free to do whatever he wants?

“he’s said the same promises in hell’s kitchen and corrupted the fbi as soon as he got the chance.” there were so many things going on that matt was worried that whoever was running the show was biting much more than they could chew. he was just waiting for them to trip up. “if he has a target on your head and that osborn kid, that means fisk and his partner has penetrated the police force. probably why he has a hit out on the police commissioner as well.”

“I know you’re there,” Tony said. By now, sheer paranoia had him developing a sixth sense where it came to danger, but because it was him, it was mildly (read: seriously) misfiring. He’d already nearly punched an intern in the face for coming up behind him. And then he’d headlocked Happy. On accident.

Right now, though, encased in armour with FRIDAY looking out for him, he was a little bit calmer, even though he knew that he really wasn’t the invincible Iron Man that some tabloids claimed he was. Thanos had trashed this suit, and who knew what the superheroes and super villains of Gotham were capable of. And with this target painted on him … 

“Why don’t you stop lurking there and come out,” he called out, trying to ignore the slight anxiety-laden hitch in the words. “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours, that sort of thing?”

ever since the news of wilson fisk coming back and taking power in this forsaken city came out, matt has been doing overtime in reconnaissance in the streets of new gotham. the place was basically an expanded version of hell’s kitchen and crime ran rampant, it was almost unbelievable that a city like this existed. not that new york city was any better but this was completely crazy.

matt came out of the shadows, his hands up as he greeted the scientist. “it’s just me,” he said as he stood in his dark suit. “i’ve been scouting the area since news came out that fisk was back.” there was no use lying to tony stark, especially since they were practically dealing with the same enemy.

“and you? shouldn’t you be indoors? there’s a hit on your head, tony.” matt knew how hard it was to suddenly be the target of very powerful enemies.

“It’s really just a hobby,” Tim tells him. “Something I’ve been into since a kid.” Granted when he was a kid he was running around trying to take photos of Batman and Robin, but this stranger doesn’t need those details. Still, it surprised him how much the other caught on to everything around him, but only slightly. Bruce’s training showed how when one sense of the body is impaired, the others can massively improve. He looked around where they were. “Not really,” he answers. “But the sunset light is hitting some the buildings in an interesting way, the sky provides a nice background too.”

the kid sounded cordial and nice enough, better than majority of the people in new gotham and new york combined. the world was filled with rude people but he’s long since been used to it. “well hobby or not, you must be pretty good at what you do. you remind me of a friend of mine.” well, if getting used to peter parker’s incessant rambling can be called friendship. “i should introduce the two of you—ah, i’m matt murdock, by the way.” he looked up at the sky once again, the breeze a welcome addition, and it didn’t smell like it was going to rain either. “it must be nice then. but best be careful at night. you never know who’s lurking in alleys.” especially with wilson fisk coming to take power in this new city.

This was some kind of bullshit. As if it wasn’t common knowledge that Klaus had resorted to drugs to get by in his day to day, but this new police force thought it would be great to bring him down to the station, to make some kind of example out of him. Rehab hadn’t worked the first seven times, so he had no idea why they thought it would work the eighth time. And undercover cops were narcs. So what if Klaus wanted to share a little bit of what he had? When did sharing things become illegal. Whatever. They shoved him in a uncomfortable metal chair in a cold room, and he was at least smart enough to not say a word until his lawyer got there. Which turned out, for the first time, not to be the Hargreeves-employed lawyer, some 80 year old guy who always sighed loudly when he saw Klaus. Instead, he got a young-ish guy, probably around Klaus’s age, with dark glasses and a fancy looking walking stick.

“Please, Mister Hargreeves is my dead father. Call me Klaus.” He said with a smile. “Welcome to the shit show, I hope you at least have a sense of humor about these sorts of things.”

matt could already tell the case was going to be interesting. challenging, yes, but also definitely interesting. but he was also concerned for his client considering he was supposedly part of the family living in the hargreeves mansion. and if his sources were correct, then the man was richer than he let on. “well it’s nice to meet you then, klaus,” he replied, “i’d like to think i have a sense of humour but, well, i guess you can find out for yourself. the gcpd seem to think otherwise.” he briefly remembered the gcpd officer who cursed him under his breath when matt informed them that he was there for klaus hargreeves as his lawyer. that was fun. “i was informed that they caught you under a drugs bust case. but this isn’t really the first time, is it?” from what he could get about his client, klaus had been in and out of rehab and it doesn’t look like he’s stopping from taking drugs any time soon.

“there must be a reason why you can’t stop then,” he observed, “i’m not here to ask where and how and who your source is, i just need to know why you’re still taking it. tell me everything so we can get you out of here by sundown.”

chaotic precincts. well this was something he was definitely used to. matt was used to the chaos of new york city’s precincts, and new gotham wasn’t any different. the gcpd had a different physical structure than most but it wasn’t something he complained about. he was waiting outside of one of the interrogation rooms, walking stick in hand, his bag and a case folder on the vacant seat beside him. a drugs bust case and one them didn’t have any sort of legal representation. the door to the interrogation room opened and he was called in by the officer. “thank you, officer,” he began with a cordial smile, “but i would like to speak to my client alone first.” the officer had clicked his tongue and left, matt listening carefully to make sure that the officer wasn’t there anymore, before finally taking a seat in front of the man. “mister hargreeves. my name’s matt murdock, attorney at law. we haven’t met but i’m here to offer you my legal services.”

One thing Tim has always believed is this-there’s no better way to explore a new city than through the lens of a camera. With his school schedule still up in the air, he decided to go out and see what he can learn about New Gotham. Would it share the same things he loved about his Gotham? Slipping on a hoodie and a pair of jeans, he got to work quickly. Problem with looking at the world through a camera lens? The limited vision to your immediate surroundings.

“Oh-?” Tim jerked back as the strangers warning triggered his reflexes. Great. He was two seconds from proving Bruce right. He turned and smiled at the other male, taking in his glasses and walking stick. “Thanks for the heads up,” He says. “Are you familiar with the area?”

“not as much as i’d like to. i’m probably only familiar with the new york side of this city.” the young man seemed nice enough if his heartbeat said anything at all. ah, it won’t do you any good if you’re suspicious of everyone, murdock. “are you a photographer?” or at least matt assumed he was a photographer. the rapid clicking he’s been hearing from the other man sounded a lot like peter parker’s camera. “i’m assuming we’re somewhere with a nice view then.” they probably were but, well, sight was overrated anyway. and he liked the smell of fresh flowers—even if they were in a concrete jungle like new gotham.

“Not interested? Are you kidding me? That’s pretty awesome! I mean, I have wicked good hearing myself. Not to freak you out or anything, but I can morph into animals,” Garfield announced, proud of his superpowers. 

“The best is echolocation senses, it’s cool underwater and bats have it too. Kind of like what you’re doing with the walking stick.” 

his brows shot up, a little surprised but not even in the least bit shocked. he’s been around supers—sorry, enhanced beings—for him to still be shocked about it all. but an animorph was something new. and the kid was definitely a lot more open than another shapeshifter he knew and worked with charles xavier and erik lehnsherr. “i see. that must come in handy. any particular animal that you like morphing into? puppies seem like an obvious choice but that could just be me.”

Daken tapped the manhole cover in question a few times with his toe, noting how it shifted a bit under his weight. Seemed like this guy was observant, which went right along with all the other intel he had gotten about him previously. Intel, which had come from one of his favorite teammates from the past. Something about a bigshot lawyer that had too much good in his heart to do anyone any good.

“I’m surprised. Never took a man with a cane as someone that could see well. You have any other party tricks?”

“just very observant. comes with the cane.” he wasn’t exactly going to expose his alter ego to this man, whoever he may be. matt didn’t find anything too suspicious against the other male but he can never be too sure with all these new people. there was something...off about the guy as well, but he’s not one to voice out his suspicions. “i can be very persuasive in court. but that’s not a party trick now, is it?” he’s pretty sure he’s got a big, fat target from all the capitalists he’s forced to jail or at least pay for damages to his clients. “matthew murdock. it’s nice to meet you, mister...?”

Garfield felt his phone buzz, the onslaught of incoming notifications catching his attention. Considering he had nowhere to be and the weather was bright and sunny, he decided to take a seat on the nearby bench instead. The news updates on twitter were wild, the rumors about the billionaires hoarding supplies only growing more and more serious. “Huh? Oh yeah, nice day to be outside,” Garfield answered the stranger. 

Of course, he didn’t expect to have the manhole to be pointed out. Half the time, his animal sense would pick up on such things … but how’d this man know? “Whoa, how’d you do that?” 

ah, so it’s a kid. he had a sneaking suspicion that the person beside him was a kid. the buzzing from a device gave it away, and his steps were both light and heavy at the same time. maybe not a normal kid then. matt gave another smile to the young man, showing him his walking stick as he basked in the sun. “it made a different sound when i tapped it with this. sounded too hollow to be secured tightly.” the lawyer then tapped his stick on the cover of the manhole, letting him hear the anomaly in the sound. “it’s not too obvious to anyone but i’ve heard them enough to know which ones are dangerous—ah sorry, you’re probably not interested in that.” bright days always did make him a little bit more relaxed.

Oliver has had enough for the week in all honesty, but crime has been more rampant than ever and it needed to be contained. He just simply wanted the afternoon to buy some groceries for his pantry but ended up with the much more ‘normal’ routine of fighting off thieves from robbing a jewelry store as they held the manager hostage. It was a classic, but he ended up walking away with a bruised loin and a dislocated shoulder. Also, it didn’t stop him from proceeding to the supermarket as he trollied around to get some necessities. “Will you continue to stare so openly…” The raven-haired male voiced, attention on the content at the back of the package of cheese that he was holding, finishing reading it before he glanced over at the individual. “Does it matter what type of cheese used for a grilled cheese sandwich?” Oliver then asked, half-joking and half-serious.

in truth, matt didn’t really need to make grocery runs. his clients, despite how many times he’s told them that they didn’t need to pay him anything, would still give him something. whether it’s fresh produce or a box of pastries or even a nice dinner from down the street that didn’t really cost much, they would still give him something. and it’s something he’s always been grateful for. but there are things that his clients didn’t give him either like toiletries and cleaning supplies. or what he currently had in his basket: beer. he was in the dairy aisle to pick up some milk for his cereal when he heard a man ask him something. “ah, apologies.” not that he actually saw the man in the front of him considering his otherwise lack of sight, but he didn’t want any sort of trouble tonight either. his back was still recovering from the little vigilante night he had last night. “not really but i recommended getting three types. it’s really good that way.”

exhausted from a long day of work, helena dropped her keys down on the table and collapsed on the sofa. binx brushed passed her legs — purring softly. ‘hey, you.’ she smiled down at the feline before lifting him up into her arms, rubbing his head gently. suddenly, for the 3rd night in a row, there was music BLASTING from the apartment complex across from hers. azure hues rolled back in annoyance — she refused to plug in earbuds to mask the noise again, this was the last straw. sitting up, helena stormed over to the window and yelled out. ‘turn the damn music down!’ the brunette angrily waited for a response. 

matt missed his apartment in hell’s kitchen. it was big and spacious and definitely did not have any noisy neighbours. but as it turns out, he can’t have everything in new gotham. he was able to rent an apartment unit just as big as his hell’s kitchen apartment was, but it wasn’t as quiet as he wanted it to be. and tonight was one of those nights. the unit beside him had an ongoing party, judging by the number of heartbeats he could hear from the other side. quite a lot of beers being spilled as well. he tried to crank up his own playlist of smooth japanese jazz but it was still being overpowered by the club music on the other side. it didn’t help that he was going to be up and early to get to the gcpd and talk to his client. guess i’m not the only one who’s had enough, he thought as he heard a shout from the apartment complex across theirs. “it won’t work, i tried!” he shouted back at the woman’s general direction.

☾ — MATTHEW MURDOCK/DAREDEVIL is here! HE has found themselves wandering about new gotham attempting to find their place in this challenging world. they were once a HERO who used to be associated with THE DEFENDERS. hope they make it in this world.