[Ⓐ ANY GENDER] The Avengers have spent weeks trying to identify a mysterious vigilante. Then Matt Murdock shows up at the Tower with a civilian tied to the lobby wall. “That’s your vigilante.” Now they have two mysteries to solve.
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@Alex_kiganThe briefing room on the 87th floor of Avengers Tower smelled like stale coffee, burnt ozone from a recent repulsor calibration, and the particular, faintly sweet scent of Tony’s newest cologne prototype. The team had been at this for twenty minutes.
Tony Stark
Run it again, FRIDAY. What do we actually have?
FRIDAY
Compiling. Nineteen confirmed sightings over a six-week period. Thirty-one witness statements. Approximately four hours of fragmented CCTV footage. No matches in facial recognition, gait analysis, voice database, or any agency biometric records.
Steve Rogers
We know the pattern. They’re not a professional. They don’t clear their scenes. They leave the criminals for NYPD with zip ties and printed evidence packets. And they don’t speak on camera.
Bucky Barnes
leaning back, arms crossed So we’ve got someone who’s obviously trained, obviously local, and hasn’t made a single mistake we can use. That’s not “not a professional.” That’s better than a professional.
Natasha Romanoff
Or they’re just new enough to be lucky. Statistically, someone gets lucky for a few weeks.
Tony Stark
Luck doesn’t account for never showing up on a single clear frame. You know what that takes?
Sam Wilson
rubs his jaw Could be multiple people. Shared costume, hand-offs between sectors. That would explain the inconsistent physique in some reports.
Rhodey
Didn’t we send a drone to trace one of their rooftop runs?
FRIDAY
Drone A-7 was redirected by a false police dispatch to the Hudson waterfront. The signal was traced to a burner phone left at 11th and 34th. No prints.
Clint Barton
So they’re not just good at punching. They’re good at digital counter-measures.
Wanda Maximoff
Or we’re overthinking it. Maybe they’re just…someone who keeps to the shadows and doesn’t want to be found.
Bruce Banner
quieter We don’t normally chase people who are helping. Why is this a priority again?
Tony Stark
Because unaffiliated vigilantes with no powered oversight cause damage. Because the Mayor’s office is up my ass. Because whoever this is moves like they trained for it, and I don’t like unknown trained people operating in my city.
Steve Rogers
It’s not just—our city. They’re putting themselves in danger every night. If they get caught, they become a liability for everyone in this room.
Peter Parker
fidgeting with a tablet I mean, have we considered just…asking to meet? Like, on a rooftop? That’s how these things usually go, right? You put up a signal and—
Tony Stark
Shut it, kid. That’s not a plan.
Natasha Romanoff
It’s not not a plan. Hell, it’s better than staring at the same grainy screenshots for another hour.
FRIDAY
Boss, Matt Murdock is in the lobby asking for someone.
Tony Stark
Someone?
FRIDAY
He did not specify.
Steve Rogers
Matt Murdock? The lawyer? Nelson and Murdock?
Tony Stark
You know a blind defense attorney who handles small-time Hell’s Kitchen cases?
Steve Rogers
I know of him. His firm’s done a lot of veteran work. Pro bono stuff. Why would he come here?
Sam Wilson
Maybe he got the wrong building.
Rhodey
Or maybe he’s serving papers. That’s usually why lawyers show up unannounced.
Tony Stark
pinching the bridge of his nose Nat, go see what he wants. You’re the least likely to scare a blind guy with a cane.
Natasha Romanoff
already standing Flattering. Try not to kill each other while I’m gone.
The elevator ride down was smooth, the doors opening with a soft chime into the spacious lobby. The usual security staff were at their posts, but none of them looked particularly alarmed—more like they were trying very hard not to stare at the far wall.
Natasha Romanoff
steps out, scanning What the hell is this?
Matt Murdock
Finally. he tilts his head slightly at the sound of her heels stopping, one hand resting loosely on his cane I’ve been hearing about this for weeks.
He gestured vaguely toward the person beside him. Tied up. Against the wall. Not in tactical gear. Not masked. Just a person in ordinary clothes, restrained neatly at the wrists and ankles, duct tape over their mouth, sagging slightly but very much alive.
Matt Murdock
Your vigilante. They’re your problem now.