The Hand
Elektra Natchios is a beautiful woman. She stands against the bar in a skin-tight red dress that clings to all of her curves, and she’s sporting gorgeous and practical vinyl boots that Natasha would kill a man to have. Her accent stands out against the American drawl in the bar, and Nat can’t help but be mesmerised by the way she speaks.
“The Hand is trying to breed the next generation of assassins,” Elektra says, and Nat sees Matt stiffen beside her. “They are working with Hydra, so I believed this was something the Avengers would want to be involved in.”
“Unfortunately, Miss Natchios, it’s something we are already involved in,” Nat says. “We have intercepted the NewGeneration and prevented their scheme.”
“This is Hydra and the Hand!” Elektra says in an urgent, hushed tone. “There wasn’t simply one programme – this is going on all across the globe. People, top in their fields, are being taken from the street and forced into breeding for them. Then they are raising these children to be soldiers. This has been going on for at least a decade, and we’re starting to see their soldiers in action.”
“So why are they becoming more prominent now?” asks Clint, and Nat notices he shoots a concerned glance at Matt when he takes another sip of his beer.
“We did not know of the alliance of Hydra and the Hand until recently, when one of our own soldiers was taken,” Elektra says, pointedly glancing at Matt. “This kidnapping was an affront to our organisation, considering Matthew was raised to fight in this war, and we decided it required more of our attention. Unfortunately, the Avengers managed to intercept those involved before we could get information out of them.”
“How did you figure out this Hydra/Hand scenario?” asks Matt, speaking for the first time in five minutes.
“They got sloppy. When we learned of your kidnapping, Stick intercepted some low-level members of the Hand. They told him what he needed to know, but not the grand scheme altogether.”
“You told me you hadn’t spoken to Stick.”
Elektra flashes a smile, showing a row of shiny white teeth. “I don’t speak to Stick, however he is still a member of Chaste. And he cares about you, otherwise he wouldn’t have gone looking into your kidnapping.”
“He doesn’t care about me – he cares about what I can bring to his war,” Matt responds, reaching for the beer again until Clint rests his hand on his shoulder. Natasha watches this, remaining silent but taking a mental note of the exchange. “However, somehow I’ve been dragged back into this ridiculous situation, so I guess I’ll help fight his war, but just this once.”
Elektra swirls her red nail into her drink and smiles up at Matt. “That’s what I like to hear. With Daredevil and the Avengers, we’ll be able to take out their safehouse here in New York.”
“Absolutely not!” Clint interjects. “We are not getting involved in this, not after what we’ve been through.”
“I am getting involved because of what we’ve been through,” Matt says, standing up from his stool. He grabs his cane in one hand and links his arm around Elektra’s. “I would never ordinarily volunteer to fight against the Hand, however we need to stop them from doing to more people what they did to us.”
“Matt, you are not fighting.” Natasha frowns as Clint puts a hand on Daredevil’s chest to stop him from leaving. Elektra smacks Clint’s hand away from Matt.
“Matt is an adult and decide when he needs to fight. It is your choice whether you join him or not.”
Clint is looking desperate now. Natasha has never seen him like this.
“Matt, think about what you’re doing. This isn’t just about you anymore!” Clint insists, and this time he reaches out to touch Matt on his stomach, but Matt steps away before he can. Elektra is glancing between the two men, and a look of realisation spreads across her face and her eyes widen. Natasha doesn’t know what’s going on, or why Elektra is now detaching herself from Matt and stepping away with a look of horror on her tanned face.
“Matthew, I knew you had been captured, but I never thought you would be so reckless as to let these men defile you!” Elektra says, her words cold.
Matt tilts his head in acknowledgement. “There wasn’t a lot I could do, Elektra. They had me tied up, Clint too.”
“But you’re keeping the child?”
Natasha keeps her expression motionless. She looks between the two men, and sees the soft way Clint is looking at Matt. She never would have guessed that Matt hadn’t been born a man, and wonders how many other people know of this pregnancy.
Matt nods at Elektra.
Clint steps next to Matt and puts a hand on his shoulder. Natasha doesn’t know what to think about this entire situation, but she knows she needs to have a long conversation with Clint regarding how this is going to impact his home life. Clint is staring stoically at Elektra, “I’m also going to be here. Matt is not doing this alone.”
“This is going to make him a target,” warns Elektra, and Natasha hears a note of softness to her voice that indicates her care for Daredevil. “Fisk, the Hand…they’re going to use this baby to weaken him.”
“We have a Hulk and a Norse God that will be willing to protect him,” Natasha says, and all eyes (except Matt’s) turn towards her. “Matt’s an Avenger now, and we protect our own.”
“This is utter nonsense,” Elektra responds with vitriol in her voice. “You do not know him like I do. This child will ruin him.”
“I am standing right here,” interjects Matt, frowning at his former lover. “I am keeping this baby, no matter what, Elektra. And I will help you find the Hand, but I will not continue if you are going to keep belittling me and my decisions.”
“You are absolutely not fighting the Hand,” Clint says, and Natasha wonders if Clint would be saying the same if it wasn’t his child.
“My body, my choice, Clint,” Matt says, shrugging his jacket on. “I am going to continue fighting for my city, and it is your decision if you are going to help me or not.”
Clint shakes his head in exasperation, but says, “Yes, we’ll help you.”