Blindsided

The streets were unusually quiet as Daredevil stood on the edge of the building.

There was a couple walking the streets, the girl stumbling over her heels. Her girlfriend laughed, the smell of alcohol filling the air.

A few blocks over, a man was on the phone with his partner. He had to work overtime but it was their anniversary.

Matt could hear Foggy in his apartment and was comforted by the sound of his friend’s heartbeat.

Up here, it was easier to focus on his senses. The open space of being high above the city made the smells melt away, the sounds less distinguishable. The air was less muddled up here, it didn’t feel like it was smothering him. It wasn’t overwhelming.

Foggy hadn’t wanted him to go out tonight. Not after he’d had a sensory overload in the office. It had happened four times this week, two of which Foggy had witnessed.

Matt had explained what had caused it and then had to talk Foggy out of suing the Avengers. Then had to listen to Foggy rant about him always ending up in these dangerous situations.

He knew it was true.

He went back home in the early hours of the morning when Hell’s Kitchen was the quietest it could get. He shrugged out of his suit, careful to not wake Foggy who, for some reason, was passed out on his couch.

Matt figured he must’ve let himself in, he didn’t really mind.

Ever since Matt had promised to be more honest and open, Foggy had been trying to be more understanding of his nightly activities.

It wasn’t unusual for Matt to find his best friend passed out on his couch. He knew the other man worried about him and if it helped Foggy by being in Matt’s apartment then Matt wasn’t going to object. He’d missed rooming with Foggy.

*

He woke up the next morning to the smell of breakfast and the sound of Foggy humming along with a song only he could hear.

A soft smile etched its way onto his face as he lay there, revelling in the memories it brought up.

When Foggy put two plates on the counter, he forced himself to get up.

“Oh, good, you’re up,” Foggy greeted when Matt slid open the door of his bedroom. “I’ve got breakfast ready, and then we’ve got a meeting at ten.”

Matt tilted his head, letting the aroma of freshly made coffee hit his enhanced nostrils.

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?” Foggy’s heart rate sped up slightly as he stepped around the kitchen counter.

“No, I’m fine,” Matt said. “It was a quiet night.”

Foggy’s sigh of relief washed over him and guilt crept in. He hated it when he made Foggy worry.

“Coffee,” Matt mumbled, padding over to where Foggy had put their food.

“You’re like a zombie without your coffee,” Foggy commented, handing Matt a mug.

Matt sipped his coffee and didn’t respond, making Foggy chuckle.

“I shall not disrupt your recharging body any longer,” he said before he dug into his breakfast.

Matt smiled around his mug.

“Matty?” Foggy spoke up after a few moments of silence.

“Yeah?” Matt paused mid-bite of his eggs.

Foggy’s heartrate was beating slightly faster than usual and Matt turned his full attention to his friend, puzzled by the sudden change.

“You’re going to accept Stark’s offer, aren’t you?”

Matt sighed. foggy didn’t say it like a question because he already knew the answer.

“I think I have to, Foggy,” Matt admitted. “HYDRA is still active and they’re operating out of Hell’s Kitchen. I may not deal with the big threats like the Avengers but this I can help with.”

Foggy shifted. “I figured you’d say that,” he sighed. “Please be careful, okay? You’ve only just recovered from the last fight, hell, you’re not even fully recovered if I recount the sensory overloads you’ve had. I’m not going to tell you to stop because that’s what tore us up last time. But please be careful.”

“I will, Foggy. I promise,” Matt replied, trying to sound as sincere as possible.

*

Daredevil listened as the sounds of Iron Man’s repulsors came closer. He listened as Natasha and Clint crossed rooftops and he listened to how Captain America strapped his vibranium shield to his back.

He hung back in the shadows, remaining unseen by the four Avengers.

“Are you sure he’ll be here?” Captain America asked, his voice gruff.

Matt noted a hint of annoyance in the super soldier’s voice and he briefly wondered if the man was still upset with him.

“He’ll be here,” Tony replied. His suit touched down on the rooftop Matt was hiding on and it wasn’t long before both Natasha and Clint joined them.

“Think he’ll help?” Clint asked.

“If there’s one thing I know about the guy it’s that he loves Hell’s Kitchen,” Tony said. “He’ll help.”

“You seem to trust the guy awfully fast after he lied to us,” Steve said.

Natasha let out a sigh. “Will you get over that already? The kid was right, DD had every right to hide his identity.”

“He could’ve told us we weren’t the ones that made him blind,” Steve muttered.

Matt decided to step out of the shadows, then, ignoring the guilt that crept upon him. He kept his footsteps light, but heavy enough for them to hear him approach.

“Horns!” Tony greeted. “Glad you came.”

“Stark,” Matt nodded. “What did you need my help with?”

“We just need to know if you’ve noticed anything unusual happening in Hell’s Kitchen,” Steve spoke up.

Matt tried not to react too noticeably at the venom dripping from his voice. He shrugged away the guilt and grit his teeth.

“If they’re operating in Hell’s Kitchen then I’m going to stop them,” he said.

“Boys, we’re a team, alright?” Natasha said. “We take them down together.”

“Right! Let’s show those HYDRA bastards who they’re messing with,” Tony grinned. His faceplate shut with an electronic buzz and he flew off.

“Where exactly is he going?” Clint asked, staring after Iron Man’s retreating figure.

He didn’t get a reply and he sighed, watching as the others jumped to the opposite roof. “Great.”