Ok... so @inkoutsidethelines I hope you don’t mind me borrowing Mary, but I think you knew this was coming so....
I hope I got Mary even vaguely close.
The first time the Rogers’ met the Daredevil, it was nearly a disaster.
Maddie and Owen were sent out to apprehend a few thugs attempting to rob a convenience store on the west side of Midtown, near Hell’s Kitchen. It was a pitiful attempt, really, and Owen was miffed that they’d been called out so late for something the cops could handle. Maddie was irked, as always, that her powers were being used on such a small scale.
“It’s bull,” she said as they made the trek back towards base. “Dad fought Nazis, intergalactic threats, and our own government, and what are we doing? Stopping some petty thieves?”
“Dad and mom didn’t exactly want to have to,” Owen pointed out for the millionth time. It never mattered, so he didn’t drag the point out. “And you already know this is part of training. You don’t just start with fighting-”
“What was that?”
Maddie froze, her face angled up as she scanned the rooftops. Owen followed her gaze, but didn’t see anything.
“What?”
“I thought I saw someone up there.”
He honestly didn’t care. If it wasn’t an actual crime or someone trying to hurt themselves it wasn’t their business, and he would rather be at home sleeping. But Maddie had that shine in her eye and it’d been a few days since their last mission; there wouldn’t be any calling her off.
It was so expected, she didn’t even say anything. She just moved towards the building, grabbing a nearby fire escape ladder and hefting herself up in one silent leap. Owen followed, like he usually did.
He was supposed to be the younger sibling. Why did it never feel like it?
By the time he reached the top, Maddie was already sprinting across the rooftop.
“They got a suit!”
His adrenaline started kicking in and he picked up the pace, rolling his eyes as he followed her lead.
“Who doesn’t now days?”
The figure they were running towards almost blended in with the night. Their suit was dark and tactical, lacking the flare and some of the gimmick that others utilized. Though he thought he could see something protruding from the top of their mask.
The person looked to be a few inches shorter than either of them as well, but they were fast. Maddie shot Owen a pointed look and he sucked in a breath.
There were a good few feet of rooftop left before their target jumped again, and Owen focused on it. He leapt and twisted his body around so he faced the opposite direction, darkness rippled at his back and a faint blue glow shone from his skin.
He disappeared into the black only to reappear in front of the target.
Except the target was somehow ready.
They threw a kick and caught him in the chest before he could land, sending him stumbling backwards towards the roof’s edge. Maddie surged forwards and erased the distance between them as she threw a punch. Their opponent turned and blocked the blow then spun away, letting Maddie’s momentum drive her off course.
Maddie laughed, her grin growing, as she easily caught her footing and turned herself around.
“Oh, finally! Someone who can fight!”
Maddie laughing wasn’t great. Owen rushed to join her, because a fighting, laughing Maddie was overzealous and often acted first and thought later.
The person faced them, fists ready, and Owen could finally see that there were devil horns on their head. He grimaced and rolled his shoulders; Maddie clicked her tongue.
“A devil in Hell’s Kitchen?” She paced the open space as she looked for an opening. “Don’t you think that’s a bit on the nose?”
“At least it’s not stars and stripes.”
It was a woman, Owen could tell by her voice, and she sounded about the same age. He tried to send a look to Maddie, but she was ignoring him.
“We don’t want to fight you,” he said instead. “Just tell us what you’re doing here.”
The woman tilted her head, and he had to assume she was looking at him. Her eyes were covered by dark lenses and impossible to see.
“I don’t have to explain anything to you. Just stay out of Hell’s Kitchen. It doesn’t need you.”
Their postures switched. Owen tensed and Maddie stood straighter while lowering her fists.
“So are you like a vigilante or something,” she asked. There was a note of excitement in her voice that had alarms going off in Owen’s head.
The woman took a step back as she continued to eye their positions and her pause seemed like confirmation enough. Owen took a centering breath. So there was a crime being committed. He couldn’t ignore that.
“I’m what Hell’s Kitchen needs me to be, and you’re ruining my op. Go home.”
She spoke in such a tight, commanding way and her posture was rigid when she wasn’t fighting. Perhaps it was just the tension, but it certainly seemed like she’d had training.
Her lips twitched upward and Owen frowned.
“We’re going to have to take you in,” he explained. Next to him, Maddie let out a little huff. “What you’re doing is illegal.”
“Had a feeling you’d say that. I’m going to have to decline. Thanks.”
“What’s the op,” Maddie asked.
Owen sent her a scathing glare.
“If they find out you let a vigilante go, you can kiss future missions goodbye.”
“Ugh, you’re such a stick in the mud. I knew I should have gotten Connor to come.”
The woman used their discussion to move. She darted away and leaped down a nearby fire escape, the rattling metal the only evidence that she’d moved.
“Great,” Owen muttered.
“Oh no,” drawled Maddie. “She’s getting away….”
He moved before his sister this time. Maybe this woman thought she was doing good, but it was dangerous. With no back up, no structure or rules, vigilantism was a slippery slope to slide down.
An individual person didn’t get to decide what was right and wrong.
The woman bled into the night like a ghost. He didn’t quite see her, but he caught a shift in the darkness and jumped to it on instinct.
She punched him as soon as he appeared in front of her.
“Gah! How the-”
“I told you to leave.”
“Enhanced!” Maddie barked as she caught up with them. “You’ve gotta be. Oh, this is exciting.”
“Maddie.”
The woman swung a fist backwards and Maddie dodged it by dropping low. She swept a leg out in retaliation, but it was obvious to Owen that Maddie pulled the kick significantly. The woman avoided it without having to try.
“Commit or don’t,” she snapped. “Stop wasting my time.”
Owen joined Maddie and reached to grab the woman’s arm instead of throwing a punch. He really didn’t want to hurt her. Restraining her would be much more preferable and if he could just get a grip on her, he was sure he’d be able to keep her pinned.
She’d been distracted by Maddie’s movements which allowed him to get a hold on her arm. She hissed through her teeth as she registered his grip.
He didn’t expect her to spin into his pull and then launch herself upward, twisting and landing on his shoulders with a grunt.
Owen jumped a few feet away and she dropped down where he’d been.
“You’re not used to fighting people on your level, are you.”
That caused both siblings to bristle.
“None that seem to be able to foresee our moves.”
Maddie scowled at the vague insult, but it didn’t last long. Her thoughts moved on too fast, she always had too many ideas.
“What if-”
“No.” Owen groaned.
Maddie huffed again and shook out her hands.
“Fine. Whatever.”
[]
Mary was about fed up.
Not only had these two invaded her turf and ruined her recon for the night, but now they were being actively annoying. Bickering between each other like distracted siblings. It was no wonder they were doing small, petty crime clean up if this was their usual work ethic.
And they were on her case for being a vigilante? Outside government jurisdiction? Mocking her suit?
At least she wasn’t dolled up in bright colors and looking like the city’s two biggest Captain America fanboys.
If it had just been the girl, Maddie, she might’ve been able to be done with this by now. She seemed much more willing to turn her head and ignore what Mary was doing. But the man wasn’t and he was egging his partner on. And despite their lack of professionalism, Mary knew better than to underestimate them. They had power behind their punches and quick reflexes as well. She just happened to have a lot of training and the edge on being able to see ahead a little.
Still, they didn’t quite feel like a total threat, which was why she was managing to keep her cool.
“Are we done here,” she asked tersely. “I’m starting to get tired of the back and forth.”
The man had the decency to look sheepish and properly chastised. Maddie just continued to grin, like this were all a big game and they were friends having a good time.
“You’re like Batman, huh,” Maddie said. Mary had no idea what she was talking about. “See, Owen, I bet she’s on to big stuff. Things that would actually make a difference.”
“Which you’re completely interrupting.”
Owen made a face and Maddie rolled her eyes. They had to be siblings, Mary recognized the exchange of looks.
“But I guess we have to stop you,” Maddie continued. She drew out the words in a particular way and winked at Mary so only she’d see.
Maddie lunged forward and swung wide, putting power into the punch but telegraphing it so much that it was obvious.
Mary moved as Maddie lunged forward with an overdramatized punch. She caught the hand instead of just deflecting it and twisted. Maddie bent and jumped, rolling over in midair along with her arm, then stumbled backwards as if thrown off balance and barreled into Owen.
They both fell over and Mary took the opportunity to flee.
“Call if you ever want to spar!”
“Maddie, I’m going to end you.”
Mary’s mission would have to be postponed. She took one look backwards to see Maddie still sitting on top of her partner. Maddie waved and winked again. Owen’s face scrunched in displeasure and Mary smirked to herself.
She had a feeling this wouldn’t be the last time she saw the pair and she wasn’t quite sure how she felt about that.
It probably depended on if they messed up any more reconnaissance.