old friends
A few hours previously
Kate walked down the bustling streets of New York City, the familiar sounds and sights of the urban landscape providing a temporary escape from the responsibilities weighing on her shoulders. Beside her, Lucky trotted along happily, his tail wagging as he enjoyed the walk with his favorite human. With each step, Kate felt the weight of the day slowly lifting off her shoulders. She glanced down at Lucky, who looked up at her with adoring eyes, his presence a source of comfort and companionship.
As Kate and Lucky made their way up to her apartment building, a subtle sense of unease began to creep over her. It was a feeling she couldn't quite shake, a nagging intuition that something was off, although she couldn't pinpoint the source of her unease.
Reaching the familiar door to her apartment, Kate's unease intensified slightly. It was then that she realized she didn't have any of her usual weapons on her. Her mind briefly raced through her usual arsenal, but tonight she had left everything behind, perhaps in a rush to escape the demands of the day. The only form of defense she had was the small pepper spray her mom had insisted she carry after the stalker incident. Kate couldn't help but let out a wry chuckle at the thought. As if a tiny can of pepper spray would be of much use in a real threat.
Nevertheless, she retrieved the pepper spray from her bag, feeling a sense of vulnerability she hadn't experienced in a while. The streets of New York could be unpredictable, and while she was skilled in hand-to-hand combat, tonight she was reminded to always have a weapon on her.
As Kate entered her apartment, a sense of caution settled over. She closed the door behind her, locking it out of habit, and then began to search the bottom half of her apartment methodically. Glancing back at the door, she saw Lucky sitting there, his usually cheerful demeanor replaced by a concerned look in his eyes. "Stay there, boy," Kate said softly to Lucky, acknowledging his worry as she continued her sweep of the apartment.
With the pepper spray clutched tightly in her hand, Kate moved from room to room, checking behind doors and in corners. The familiar surroundings of her apartment felt both comforting and foreign in this moment of heightened vigilance. As Kate finished checking her apartment, her senses still on high alert, she turned back towards the door where Lucky was waiting. However, before she could fully relax, a sudden movement caught her attention from the corner of her eye. In an instant, her training kicked in, and she whirled around, ready to confront the unexpected intruder.
But her defensive stance faltered as she recognized the figure stepping out from behind a piece of furniture. "Maya?" Kate's voice carried a mix of surprise and confusion as she lowered her guard, her muscles tensed but not in attack mode anymore. "What are you doing here?" Simultaneously, Kate's hands moved in Sign Language forming the question "What are you doing here?" with fluid gestures.
Maya's response was swift as she signed back, her hands forming the words in Sign Language, "I need your help. Fisk is after me."
The gravity of Maya's words was evident in her signing, the urgency palpable even without spoken words. "Fisk?" Kate signed back, her brows furrowing in concern. "What happened? Why is Fisk after you?" she continued.
Maya's response carried a weight of anger and sorrow as she signed back with intensity, her facial expression reflecting her emotions. "He is responsible for my father's death," Maya signed, her eyes flashing with anger as she recalled the painful memories. There was a brief pause as she gathered her thoughts, the emotions still raw. Then she continued, "I tried to kill him, but it turns out he lived."
Kate's expression softened with empathy as she absorbed Maya's words, understanding the depth of her friend's pain and the dangerous predicament she was in. With a grim expression, she signed back, "Of course that fucker lived. What's your plan?"
"I need to send him a message, you in?" The woman asked, looking over at the archer.
Kate's eyes shifted to Lucky, who was now wearing a concerned expression, almost as if he sensed the gravity of the situation. It was a subtle reminder of Kate's own internal conflict—a reminder of the promises she had made to herself about leaving behind certain aspects of her past life.
Kate hesitated for a moment, the weight of Maya's words and the potential dangers ahead hanging in the air. She thought about the risks involved, about the possibility of getting tangled once again in a world she had vowed to move past. But as she looked back at Maya, determination flickered in her eyes.
Kate took a deep breath, her mind made up. "I'm in," Kate signed resolutely, her hands conveying her commitment to help Maya despite the uncertainties.
___
Long story short, Kate had agreed to help Maya deliver a message to Wilson Fisk and his team. They had spent a lot of time and effort gathering the necessary tools and information, meticulously planning their next move. After hours of hard work and determination, they had finally pinpointed the exact locations and details needed to execute their plan.
Now, in the dead of night, Kate and Maya found themselves perched atop an abandoned building overlooking the area where Fisk's people were about to receive the message. The city stretched out below them, a canvas of lights and shadows that masked their presence high above.
Kate's eyes scanned the scene below, her focus sharp as she observed the movements of Fisk's associates. Maya, beside her, exuded a mix of nerves and determination, her hands steady despite the tension in the air. As they waited for the right moment, a sense of anticipation hung heavy in the air. The night was quiet, except for the distant sounds of the city below.
As Kate and Maya maintained their vigil from the rooftop, Maya's touch on Kate's shoulder brought her attention back to their immediate surroundings. "Look," she pointed out. Kate turned her head and saw Fisk's people gathered around the crate, beginning to open it. The tension in the air seemed to thicken as the seconds ticked by, anticipation and apprehension mingling in the night air.
Suddenly, without warning, a deafening explosion shattered the stillness of the night. The crate erupted in a violent burst of flames and debris, sending shockwaves through the area. The force of the explosion rocked the building where Kate and Maya were perched, the blast wave rattling windows and causing distant car alarms to blare.
Kate's instincts kicked in instantly as she grabbed Maya, shielding her from the brunt of the blast. The heat and pressure from the explosion washed over them, the roar of the detonation drowning out all other sounds momentarily.
Through the haze of smoke and dust, Kate's focus remained sharp. She checked on Maya to ensure she was okay before assessing their next steps. The mission had escalated far beyond their expectations, and now they were faced with the aftermath of their message delivery.
As the smoke and chaos settled from the explosion, Kate and Maya realized they were not alone on the rooftop. A group of Fisk's men had spotted them during the commotion and now were charging towards them, their faces contorted in anger and determination.
"Kate, we need to move," Maya signed urgently, her eyes wide with alarm as she saw the targets approaching.
Kate nodded in agreement, her mind racing to formulate an escape plan. With swift coordination, they dashed across the rooftop, navigating obstacles and debris left by the explosion. The sounds of footsteps and shouts echoed behind them, driving them to push themselves to go faster. The rooftop terrain became treacherous, with uneven surfaces and obstacles threatening to slow them down. Kate's agility and training kicked in as she led the way, her focus solely on finding a way to evade their pursuers and get to safety.
As they reached the edge of the rooftop, Kate spotted a fire escape ladder leading down the side of the building. "There!" she exclaimed, gesturing to Maya and ran to the escape route. They descended quickly, the metal rungs cold against their palms as they focused on putting distance between themselves and the men chasing them. The clatter of footsteps and shouts grew more distant as they reached the ground level and sprinted into the maze of alleyways.
However, in a moment of misstep, one of Fisk's men closed the distance with Kate. With a burst of speed, he lunged forward and caught up to her, his hand reaching out to grab her shoulder.
Before Kate could react or fend off the attacker, he forcefully pushed her, causing her to stumble and fall to the ground with a sharp gasp. The impact jarred her, momentarily knocking the wind out of her lungs as pain shot through her side from the fall.
Despite the shock of the sudden assault, Kate's instincts remained sharp. She quickly recovered and, with a swift glance at Maya, she signed "leave" urgently, her hands moving swiftly.
Maya, understanding the gravity of the signal, nodded and hesitated only for a moment before darting off in another direction, drawing the attention of some of their pursuers away from Kate. She knew they were after her, not the archer.
Meanwhile, Kate scrambled to her feet, her mind racing as she assessed her surroundings. The alleyway seemed to narrow, and she realized she was at a disadvantage in close quarters without her usual weaponry.
Despite the pain coursing through her side from the fall, Kate fought back with all the strength and skill she could muster. Her training as an Avenger and her experience as a skilled combatant kicked in, driving her to defend herself against the assailant looming over her.
With a swift series of moves, Kate aimed punches and kicks at her attacker, aiming to create enough distance to regain her footing. However, her movements were slightly hampered by the sharp pain radiating from her side.
As the struggle intensified, the man's aggression escalated. In a cruel twist, he produced a knife from somewhere concealed on his person. The glint of metal caught Kate's eye too late, and before she could fully react, the blade slashed through the air and connected with her, sinking into her side.
A sharp hiss escaped Kate's lips as pain flared through her, the shock of the sudden attack momentarily staggering her. Blood welled from the wound, staining her clothing as she instinctively pressed a hand against the injury, trying to stem the flow.
As Kate grappled with the intense pain from being stabbed, her survival instincts kicked into overdrive. With a surge of adrenaline, she mustered the strength for one final decisive move. As the assailant hovered over her, Kate seized the opportunity, channeling all her remaining energy into a powerful kick.
Her foot connected with precision, striking the man with enough force to destabilize him. In a split second, he lost his balance and stumbled backward, his momentum carrying him towards an object behind him. The force of Kate's kick combined with his own weight caused him to collide with something sharp. The impact was sudden and unexpected, causing him to wince in pain or perhaps incapacitating him instantly.
Kate, gasping for breath and struggling against the searing pain in her side, watched as the man's form crumpled against the obstacle, a mix of shock and relief flooding through her. Kate pushed through the pain and scrambled to her feet. With a cautious glance over her shoulder to ensure no other threats lurked nearby, Kate made a split-second decision. She knew she couldn't afford to stay and wait for the situation to escalate further. Ignoring the throbbing ache in her side, she staggered away from the scene, her mind focused on finding safety and getting the urgent medical attention she desperately needed.
Kate's journey from the alley to Yelena and Natasha's apartment building was a blur of pain. With each step, she fought against the searing ache in her side, her focus unwavering as she navigated the familiar streets of New York City.
As she approached the lobby of the apartment building, Kate's senses were on high alert. She knew she needed to avoid any unnecessary conflicts or attention, especially given her current condition. With a cautious yet purposeful stride, she bypassed lingering eyes and made her way directly to the elevator.
Once inside the elevator, Kate leaned heavily against the wall, her breaths coming in shallow gasps. The weight of her injuries and the intensity of the recent events weighed heavily on her. Time seemed to stretch as she ascended floor by floor, each ding of the elevator signaling her closer to the refuge of Yelena and Natasha's apartment.
Finally, the elevator doors opened on their floor, and Kate stepped out with a determined yet weary gait. She made her way to their door, her hand trembling slightly as she raised it to knock. The seconds dragged on, each moment feeling like an eternity as she waited for a response.
When the door finally opened, she stumbled forward as the door swung open. With a soft thud, she fell to the ground just inside the doorway, her body protesting against the recent events. Yelena was quick to rush to her side, "Kate Bishop?"
As the blonde carefully examined Kate for injuries, Kate winced slightly at her touch. Kate winced again as she attempted to sit up, her movements cautious and measured. Despite the discomfort, she managed to muster a weak smile, "Well, this isn't how I expected our reunion to go," she quipped, despite the circumstances.
"You have a talent for dramatic entrances," Yelena remarked dryly, continuing to put pressure on the archer's wound.
The redhead standing nearby scanned the surroundings for any signs of danger, her gun at the ready in case of an ambush. The room seemed eerily quiet, the only sound being the labored breathing of the injured person on the floor.
"Сестра, it would be nice if you grabbed the emergency kit. We don't want маленький ястреб here to bleed to death," Yelena remarked dryly, her words carrying a hint of worry beneath the sarcasm.
Natasha nodded in agreement, her expression serious as she added, "Right, let me get that kit." She wasted no time and swiftly retrieved the emergency medical kit from a designated spot in the apartment. Yelena joined her, and together they gathered the necessary supplies to tend to Kate's wounds.