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She was the youngest, a majority of the rest had been army brats before coming in as cadets. Everyone in their building had just met but the other groups had been experienced. Come to assist in their training after years of being here. She looked at their ‘trainers’, lined up, and regarding them with forced disgust. She left little behind to come here so she had to make do. They would make sure she had a purpose. That she was fed and safe; for now it was all she could hope for. Being young she figured she was the best version of herself. Mold-able and willing are what they were looking for? Then she would bend as much as she could and stick a smile on her face. She was positive she could do this. Her focus was on the men who screamed at the cadets in front. Watching as they fanned out to get to each of them. She could only make out the name tag on the one closest to her, the most amused man. Hoyle. They all seemed like they were on vacation, though they bellowed confusing orders she noticed they exchanged small smirks with each other. She furrowed her eyebrows but it drew the attention of the one she found most intimidating. He had straight as shit posture like he had a stick up his ass but she brushed the thought off quickly under his stare. Laughing at his expense was not an option here. “You confused or gotta take a shit?” He marched to her, posture still something to be envied. She but her lip to stifle her smile poorly. “Neither.” Nina replied, expecting that to be the end of it so they could all move on with their introduction. “Neither, what?” He stomped closer, voice making her jump in how it changed into demanding. “Neither, sir.” She was faltering under him, she knew she was expected to but she was actually doing it. Her eyes glanced down to see his name tag. She read the bold, all caps quickly. Castle. “You think you got this all figured out?” The lean one came closer to join in her hazing, seemed to read her mind just as quick, his voice matched his face. Charming. “No, sir.” She shook her head, looking at his as well. Russo. Her throat already hurt from screaming. “I think you do! Are you saying I’m wrong?” Russo challenged her and she paused, another bad decision on her part. “No, sir.” She shook her head in hopes it would further convince him she meant it. “Just drop and start counting.” Castle stared her down for an even longer pause. Shaking his head and pointing to the dirt. Turning away from her to show his disappointment. She did it before he could turn, not needing any more extra attention. “N—.” He stopped his yell short when he did turn to find her pacing herself. Without hesitation this time, she didn't think, just did. “Count them out!” It was not what she pictured. She was already tired after her first ten, feeling futile as she hadn’t counted them. She started, embarrassed by her struggle being clear in her voice. He let her go until she got to fifty, her elbows locking. Her hands were cramping from the uneven ground. She breathed through her nose harshly to prevent any grunts as her arms shook. One of them whistled above her, she ignored it. Focusing on Castle next to her as she struggled to inhale deeply. “You think this was gonna be a cakewalk?” “No, sir.” Nina felt defeated, closing her eyes past her dripping sweat. “Then get up.” Castle got on his knee next to her, shoving her shoulder roughly. She wanted to cry but it didn’t matter if she did or not. Instead, she sucked it up, pushing herself up by her sore hands.“Yes, sir.” It was easier to put her repressed anger into her responses. Able to shout it out then get back to it. “We got ourselves a new bunch of pussies.” An older man stepped forward, voice low and rough like Castles. His long and unimpressed face observing the rows of them. Routine emanated from this newer man. He seemed like he was here the longest if his graying hair was of any consideration. The three others rushed to stand beside him, at attention. “You start without me, Castle?” His eyes stopped to her panting stature. She was still standing attention herself despite her confusion. “Wouldn’t dream of it.” Castle shrugged at the group, smiling at the general. It made sense now, the whistle. They really were having their own fun before they began. Nina would have smiled had it not been at her own expense. “This one just the runt then?” She didn’t move to wipe the sweat off her face in fear of being reprimanded still. The man silently and expertly picked at her state, a few small letters before his name telling her all she needed to know. Two small arrows facing upwards. Colonel Schoonover, puffed his chest when her shoulders deflated. “Tell me, cadet. Would you say any of these men caused you undue stress?” He leaned close as though the question would be a secret...with everyone around them quiet as can be. Nina knew she wasn’t about to snitch on the three. Seeing as this was their general it seemed to reason that they could make it worse. They just busted her balls, she would get over it. It was her fault for being too intimidated to look for their ranks. Even then, they outranked her. She shook her head, looking past the older man to the horizon to steady her voice. “No, sir.” She relaxed internally at his content grin. “I like respect.” His face dropped in a moment. “But you clearly have no respect for me.” She felt lost at the change, looking to the three behind him for answers yet finding none. “You know why I would feel that way, Cadet? I’ll tell you," He grinned, waving his finger to bring her closer. "It’s because I issued you that gorgeous uniform…and you just shit all over it.” Bringing himself unbearably close with every word, voice increasing in volume until she felt it in her own chest. “You represent our great country so you will always be presentable.” He was furious as he pointed out the flaws to her. The dirt on her front and knees, wrinkles from her effort to stay up running over the once-crisp sleeves. He even mentioned how her boots were already scuffed. Not all over. Just on the very front of them. She had been presentable. “Give me twenty.” He walked proudly back to address the group as a whole. It was over. A one-sided argument once again leading to her mentally screaming back ‘Fuck you!’ She was conscious of her eyes narrowing at the three who gawked at the old man inconspicuously.She dropped again, no choice. She didn’t think being assholes was very educational but she would give this her best.Even if right now she wanted to go a few rounds with the big-nosed son of a bitch.
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The purpose of this exercise was to be scoring points. Proving they could navigate the field, no matter what terrain or tools they had. Back and forth over the course of months, she learned as much as she could to shove back in…certain people's faces. She learned who her hazers were by heart after a week of answering to them. Frank Castle, big guy. Curtis Hoyle, kind eyes. And Billy Russo, Mr. charming. She was constantly trying to get a position on Hoyle’s teams but Frank seemed determined to break her. She was too exhausted to care what Russo did. Currently, she was mostly tired of pretending her ‘partner’ wasn’t directing them away from the only interest she had, the field exercises. Daniel Krasinski was a thin, tall man who hated her. She may have deserved any strong feelings of dislike due to her reprimands becoming other's problems, but not the way he hated her. Naturally, they shipped them as a pair, not caring how they irked each other. Their pre-arranged ambush was what she wanted to get to and he was leading them off track. She saw the four sections they split them in on the board, clear as day just before they were driven out here. “I know what the hell I’m doing.” He glanced behind himself at her, barely concealing his eyes rolling. Krasinski had been tense since they were paired, setting her on edge. “Do you?” Nina bit her lip, still mumbling the statement despite trying to keep herself in check. “Look, I know it’s gotta be that way so maybe it’s written wrong?” She knew where it was, she just wanted to get another look without his heated glare on her back. “I got it.” Reaching for it had him jerk it from her. “Let me see.” She tilted her head, sighing heavily with her hand outstretched. “I got it!” He turned his back to her, marching away and leaving her to try and catch up. “What’s your issue with me?” She pushed the branches from her face, grateful they had finally headed the right direction. He spun on her and she planted her feet, ready for his outburst. “Like you don’t know. Fuckin favorite.” He just wanted to show his disgust to her, however. She shook her head, her own anger getting to her. “Me doing well irritatin' you? Aw, suck it up.” She mocked him, they still had another group to meet before they could do the ambush then march back to base. They were supposed to be a team. “I’m trying to help you.” He was only benefiting from this pairing so why was he so against her. She tried to set her hand on his shoulder, to talk through it but he shoved her away.“I don’t want it, goddamn.” He stepped closer and she shot her arm forward before she could stop herself, her fist hitting him right in the nose. He recoiled to curse, pausing to spit blood from his mouth, debating to fight. They both debated it. He tackled her and they tumbled in the dry dirt. Their heavy gear propelling them. Fists flying while she kicked his ribs. He pinned her then she couldn’t stop herself, not realizing her glove had come off she scratched his face. Nails scraping skin. The fight was over but they had rolled somewhere unrecognizable. She felt content with how he still slumped and howled in pain beside her. Fucking asshole. He deserved it, whatever his new issue with her was. Voices whispered around them and she rose to find the group. Krasinski was bound to follow if he didn’t want to be stuck alone. When they met up at base Commander Schoonover gave them a sharp glare, not letting it go unnoticed but saying nothing in reprimand. There shouldn’t have been physical contact when there were no enemies clearly, but they earned their points to pass. The other group bought his animal attack story and she said nothing to bring their conflict to another head. She didn’t even feel the blood thickly mixing with her hair under her helmet. It was easier for her to attempt to shuffle past to their designated building. “What happened to your team? Krasinski fought a raccoon but it ain’t this bad.” Frank made her stand at attention for him. Lifting her hair to see her temple, She brushed his hand away, he was so professional when they all grouped together but individually she felt uncomfortable with his concern. It was as brazen as he was but just as casual. Reminding her of family. “At ease.” Castle looked down the hall at the others retreating backs. “Nothing happened, okay?”Nina wiped the blood away with the back of her hand, setting her helmet back on to cover it when she felt how wet it was. “Well, Curtis said he heard some talk.” He hummed in half-assed belief in her answer. Frank seemed like he was testing her reaction so she gave none, shrugging instead. “Why would I care if it doesn't involve me?” Her disinterest pooled in her creased feature. Like the sun was too bright. “Apparently Allison broke up with him, he’s real crushed. First love, you know?” He chuckled but she knew it was for show. He already knew and was so obviously testing her. She nodded in understanding, setting her hand on her mouth in mock concern, pulling on her genuine thoughts for authenticity. He was pissy this entire exercise, literally fought her, over his feelings for some chick? She made a mental note to visit him again for being such a simple creature. “On top of his shit mood is his busted face, know anything about that?” He narrowed his eyes, sighing when she shook her head no. “Look, if he hit you first then you should report it.” “Since when have we reported pissing contests?” Nina didn’t see the issue, it was over with. She wasn’t going to make a big deal of it. This whole place made them all into exhausted shells, easily filled on conflict. Set to blow.
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They were teamed for the Urban Terrain practice. Her and Krasinski. The fact they weren’t using unloaded guns was making her hyper-aware of his…grudge, against her. Nina had to be confident he wouldn’t shoot her in the open range under the instructor's scrutiny. The building had been shaped by their instructors, probably Frank. He seemed to be all too willing to challenge them all. She was ready for it this time. Feeling stronger than she ever had, she had felt weak too. All of it balanced. She kept her gun high, finger ready to press on the trigger. Krasinski had insisted he be the one to lead, as per usual. Their previous scuffle during their field practice had been it. One and done but he still tensed when she was around. Threatened by every little thing she did. It was the most profound case of male pride she had seen. They worked well together in spite of this, she tried harder. Covering him until they were in the building and he held back. “Go ahead, I need to check my safety. It’s stuck.” He fiddled with the small button, trying to dig his nail under the edge dramatically. She doubted it, focused behind her instead of on the curtain.An image on paper snapped into action, rolling forward on the ceiling tracks whilst she was looking at him, unable to take action or see it.He snapped his gun up. She ducked as quick as she could whilst he discharged about half his clip in the one dummy in his own shock. Nina raised slowly in disbelief when he hadn’t shot her. “Thanks.” She panted, looking past the dummy to see if it was the only one. “I got you.” He nodded when she looked back at him, He seemed to be happy he wasn’t alone, moving closer to her. “Your clip still good?” She looked at his fingers still fiddling with the heating gun. “Yeah, I know it was stupid, I just—.” His eyes snapped to her. “Caught us both off guard. Its why we do this, get it out now.” She held her gloved hand up, patting his shoulder. He didn’t seem bothered by her proximity anymore. “Yeah.” His eyes glanced at everything behind her. He moved ahead and she followed. More vigilant this time, he almost backed into the butt of her gun after a minute of them clearing rooms. “Shit, you got the time?” He checked his watch as he asked her, sucking his cheek after a moment. “We missed the goal earlier, I didn’t want to stress you.” Nina grimaced, honest about forgetting that entirely. He hissed but she rubbed her eyebrow to hold back letting him know it was because he checked his gun...one, two…five times since they entered. “Damn it!” She smiled to herself. Maybe he was just frustrated with himself. He didn’t seem to gain praise for his constant stream of mistakes, understandably, but he was trying. The alarm blared and red lights flashed, they went too far past time. Shameful but nothing they couldn’t improve, together. “I could use some critiques if you maybe wanted to like, exchange some tips?” She spoke quietly, not really convicted yet in the offer. “Whatever.” He scoffed, looking out the window at their group yelling their dismay to them.It was a start. She shrugged, heading for the exit to allow the next group their spin. So far they had time to go one last time before it was time to jog the miles home, then chow time. He had looked at her expectantly once they were able to lower their guns and relax. It took her a moment before she raised her eyebrow, laughing once she realized he wanted his critique now. “Your nervous, I get it now, but you have to trust that your gun is fine.” She offered her hands, setting her gun in a resting position between her legs, the tip facing into the ground. She thought about what everyone else does, what she does when she gets nervous. “If you breath before you head into a room, like forcing a couple of deep breaths.” He looked confused but she did an example, he nodded quickly and did the same. “Yeah, like that.” She smiled politely. It was weird that he wasn’t yelling how she was wrong now. “What does that even help?” Krasinski barked instantly. His face curling in confusion while he bit at her with his words as per usual. “Try it. I think it’ll help you to at least calm down.” She rolled her eyes at his question, there it was. He scoffed, looking forward. She looked at him as he did her when they got into line. “Well, you keep cocking your barrel into my back so maybe it’s that.” He said it snidely. “You…” Nina had to stop herself from physically repeating her own snark. ‘Stop too much for someone who wants to lead.’ “I didn’t notice.” She finished lamely, using her own technique, and breathed deeply. “It’s 'cause your short but it leaves you vulnerable.” He glanced at her, almost like he didn’t want to finish though he had no issue with saying it matter of fact. Unable to stop her glare at his bluntness. She expected him to go right back to it, not even friendly bluntness. He shook his head eagerly, sensing her losing patience. “No, I mean. You keep it level, for the most part, it just cocks up sometimes to compensate for…yeah.”She felt whiplash when she followed his logic from a different point of view. “Show me.” She handed him back his gun. Maybe she did do it. She thought she had it down cause she had the time, made the ‘kills’ but she was making mistakes along the way. Live targets would take advantage. She had grown to do it as default now so she needed as much help to contradict it.Small understandings made her feel a big improvement with her teammate.
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Nina was tired. She wanted to make it to her apartment in peace then slide into bed with a bottle. Hope the neighbor's kids would go to sleep early and not bang their toys against the walls. Instead, she had walked into a shit-show, dropping her groceries instinctively to free her hands while looking that the three men who stood with a sledgehammer each as they carelessly busted and smashed their way into people’s individual apartment. There were still people in the hall. She rushed to the nearest person, “Que esta pasando?”1 The family didn’t answer her but cowered in fear in the hallway. Nina could hear the crashing in various places but what got her attention was the cheap child’s toy chest thrown out into the hallway from the opposite doorway.She twisted just in time to avoid it barreling towards her through the family’s apartment and into the wall. It looked like they were being raided but the harsh laughter following was inappropriate. Nina only had to take one look at the two kids' faces to charge into the room where a stocky man around her size stood with a sledgehammer. He immediately pointed it at her and shoved her back into the hallway with the heavy metal tip to her stomach. She held her hands out in surrender far enough for him to feel safe, despite the adrenaline she stayed still, and he grinned. “If you got a problem, bitch. Then take it up with the company.” He leered at her and dragged the weapon up to her chin, Nina closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Every single person in the open could be a witness, they would know her face. She had to decide. Glancing at the family behind the man. She brought her hand to hold up her two fingers and thumb she carefully motioned to the right. They looked confused at first but then the father ushered them farther away, the man finally caught on to her signal and glanced behind him with a confused look and she took the opportunity.Slamming her hand on the tip of the Sledgehammer he had dropped it easily out of surprise. Nina grabbed fistfuls of his shirt and brought his face in to headbutt him twice before slamming him against the wall where the group had once huddled. She knew he would drop if she let him, but she still felt so angry. Taking one hand and gripping his face tightly, she ignored his apologies and slammed his head back to the wall. She had hoped it just knocked him unconscious. She could feel herself breathing heavier but not from exhaustion…from excitement. She knew she had blood that wasn’t hers smeared on her forehead and she was too scared to look at the family’s no doubt horror. Something she didn’t get to dwell on as she could hear more screams of terror. She grabbed the Sledgehammer on her way and marched through another open doorway, a much larger man stood with a sledgehammer. He made quick work of random spots dangerously close to Mrs. Cardenas while she screamed, pointing to the damage as soon as it was done and begging him to stop. Nina whistled to gain his attention, snapping her fingers when it seemed the dumb brute was exactly his stereotype. He tilted his head down in questioning at her. “I’ve got a bit of a complaint.” She exhaled and nodded to herself, looking at least four large holes in various places and smashed glassware. Elena had gotten those from her family. The man reached for her neck and she swung hard, hearing the bones crack in his hand and feeling the vibrations in the metal. The man was brought to his knees and she readied for another hit despite the old woman now trying to convince her in Spanish to not bring death into her home. This time she aimed for his head and he teared up, clutching his arm to his chest. “Get your buddy from the hallway and mosey the fuck on out of here.” This time he was surprisingly compliant and practically ran out of the apartment. Nina couldn’t get to everyone’s apartments individually, so she paced back to the hall, tapping the metal railing by the stairs to weed out the last of them, grateful it silenced the screams of distress and chaos, she moved back to the hallway. “OUT!” Nina bellowed, tapping on the wall at the far end while the other man stepped out from her apartment, a few residents following to see the commotion. She knew he noticed her, how could he not? “You mean me, sweetheart? We’re just doing our jobs.” The tallest one was last with his injured friends scurrying behind her. “Who ordered you to do this job then?” Nina felt a flare of anger, she registered his rising anger and smirked, she had been prepared to fight for her answer. Taking her rings from her back pocket she slid them all on, the tall man charged her way and a few people had taken the chance to return their apartments to avoid the violence. “How bout you shut the fu-” she cracked the Sledgehammer's hilt across his jaw, dropping the weapon as he followed. Her hands ringing from the impact while his long arm formed a fist to punch her. He had just missed her and she jumped back in surprise, trying to find an opening as he went hit for hit, the sledgehammer's impact doing little but dazing him. He had hit the wall by her head and gotten it stuck but thought on his feet and closed a fist to knock her a good one. He brought his knee up to her ribs and she grabbed his wrist the first chance she got. Guiding it behind him and tug hard, feeling the snap in his forearm before letting go and pulling his head back to punch him. Her rings making the skin break instantly. “Who?” Nina leaned down to his ear and laughed. He shook his head ‘no’ while she dropped him and grabbed his hammer from the wall as she stood, pointing it at him with short breaths. A short and greasy looking teenager who dropped his crowbar immediately, holding his hands up and making his presence known. “I just needed the money.” His voice wavered. Obviously, he was the man's last shot at gaining the upper hand. She was out of energy anyway, the man collected himself but his shaky shoulders told her he was nearly pissing himself. His eyes flitting between her and the sledgehammer in his face. “Now, are you going to make me ask a third time?” Nina tilted her head in question. “Your landlord." He whispered, stumbling his way to standing and edging his way past carefully when she didn’t move to further injure him. His quick footsteps passed her followed by the teen. “Pick another goddamn profession.” She kicked at them both after they made it past her. Nina shook her head free of the earlier panic, guilt hitting her in waves that she had probably escalated this. She looked at all the debris blocking the tiny hallway for a long time. Something in her gut telling her that she should’ve kept her head down but now…now it was going to be worse. She stood and grabbed her groceries, tossing them inside and grabbing some trash bags to clean up.
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She had put her very best into the repairs. After the third day, it seemed unlikely management cared, especially when the entire building listed it as minor complaints out of fear. The more she exhausted herself physically, the less she thought about why she even involved herself with the tall order. It certainly made her no friends...her involvement...it was just because that night she had just been so done with it all. Sitting back to take it instead of cutting it off quickly. To be honest, working on this had been her break from going back to other, actually paying work. Clients as of late had been less and less professional. Nina had few hard rules but it was one of them. You didn't kill kids. You didn't accept clients without research, and those few clients after had to be discreet. Everything else was...well it was after. Cutting drywall to patch was a better use of time than recent shit jobs, ‘taking care’ of shit people, making deals with them, or protecting them. She noted it would surely come with complications as those jobs had but these ones felt worth it. Seeing the progress was a benefit of another profession she had tried and failed. Turns out if you needed a drink to get through an EMT shift, being an EMT wasn't for you. She leaned to slowly slide down the wall of the hallway, covered in dust from the drywall and oil from the water heater but satisfied with her work. Enough so that she moved actually fixing the water heater tomorrow. Of all apartments she had a handful left to work on, then the water situation which had evaded her. Arms throbbing but not enough that she couldn’t reach for the bottle of liquor she had brought out and hidden under some debris to sip on, forgoing the sipping option and chugging Nina sighed. She hadn't had a decent drink in days after the incident. The whole situation scaring her as much as it did her neighbors. None of which were on speaking terms with her until after the hallway had been patched, they had been so terrified. It would take time but she could fix this place as a kind of penance to them. She couldn’t believe that someone would do this to such innocent people when they were just trying to scrape by. She had choices and it made her feel guilty they didn’t, especially since they deserved none of this lifestyle. She chose to hurt people with weapons, and no concern for who saw. Who was she to even make herself known like that?The violence, bias, and overall injustice was frustrating. It was all that made Hells Kitchen, the city’s personal identity. Nina chugged more than capped the bottle. Drowning the fact that what truly scared her was how good it felt to hurt them, to deal with her sense of justice. Feeling the world around her quiet with each drink, the overwhelming pressure on her chest about managing the entire building situation lift though her eyes teared. It would happen soon, cheap but strong bottles were a go-to. Only a single setback. Nina held the bottle tight, silently choking herself up unintentionally. She felt uncomfortable again. In need of a long shower, the shorts she wore now gave her a cold chill, and the dust mixed with the oil to stick to her disgustingly. Sometimes it was like she got a bad batch but sleeping helped her gain some distance from it all still. She embraced the fuzzy feeling before succumbing to it. The door next to Nina opened and Mrs. Cardenas stepped out hesitantly, peeking around the corner with eyes filled with concern before tiptoeing out and covering Nina up. The older woman took one look at the almost empty bottle and shook her head, motioning the trinity across her chest to pray for her. She observed the way Nina flinched occasionally in her slumber with furrowed brows before jumping herself at someone entering the building. Glancing around once more the woman slid back into her apartment and slammed the entrance.
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Nina had not immediately woken after the slam, a delayed reaction not giving the go-ahead for her safety, instead, she had breathed deeply. Stretching until her drunk mind supplied that there was something she needed to be alert for. Finding nothing was a slight relief but listening closer she could discern confident and even footsteps. Glancing over her right shoulder, she saw Billy. Billy-freaking-Russo. The man seemed worth a double-take. She sat up then gave a slow smile, almost as if remembering she was supposed to be happy to see her...old friend...mid-way through. It had been a couple of months since she last saw him and she was happy. It was just a matter of why he came here. Like always, he had been the one to find her. Blinking, she noticed his disappointment at the same time she ignored his exaggerated distaste in her surroundings. Blatant, even from the other end of the hallway. Part of her heard Frank laughing with her at their friend but another part could hear Frank on Billy’s side. Both of them asked her what she was doing living out here in the city when she still had her own home. She shook her head to lift the fog-like feeling, realizing Billy had already walked halfway toward her before turning to wrinkle his nose at the other sleepy person, tapping his leg to wake him fully then handing him a folded twenty before whispering something that sent the man scurrying away. She knew the hallway was the closest that particular tenant could get to fresh air…as well as shoot up…but the guy was harmless. Well, to others. What did it matter to Bill if someone else had been there anyway? She thought of witnesses for a split second before she pushed it away. They both enjoyed their discretion. It wasn’t that she was unsafe with him, in fact, she was thought about him often. She tried not to get stuck on seeing him but the closer he got, the harder it became. He continued his way to her more confidently after the exchange and she gathered herself while he had removed his jacket, folding it and setting it on his arm then crouching in front of her. “Rough day?” He tsked as his long fingers rolled the bottle aside. He wrapped his arm around her to help, unnecessarily in her current opinion, walking her in the direction of her apartment door. The leather of his jacket rubbed against the skin of her exposed him coldly, only guiding her closer under his arm. “What is a day without a little rough in it?” He ignored the damages done around now that she was watching him, he scoffed, smirking at her. “A day to beware.” He chuckled while his fingers strummed her side. “You got a construction job I don’t know about?” He leaned Nina against her door frame, waving his hand to lessen the drywall dust lightly covering his palm. She stayed there just in case she felt unsteady. Moving her hips forward for him to search her jeans for her keys, looking at his handsome face in amusement.He already knew what to do no matter where she had moved, she did the same for him on occasion.The small moment made her smile to herself. “I could do some good work, Russo.” He heaved a sigh at her response as he twisted the key in the lock. She shook her head, was he angry at her? He seemed a bit tense. “We are talking about fixing things right?” He joked and held the door open with one hand. She passed him with her eyes locked to his. Her eyebrows raised unintentionally.“Do jobs so well people pay me for it so I would say I’m doing just fine.” She hummed and flicked her head with attitude while he laughed shortly. He walked closer to her carefully. “Depends on the work is what I meant.” He held her face with a grin while he teased, hands framing her cheeks before she pushed them away. He was being himself again. This was why she had initially wanted to roll her eyes when she first laid eyes on him. “Yeah, sure.” She regarded him with slight skepticism but let it go, she was feeling too foggy and her tongue was getting heavier. It was easier than dealing with it now. “Of course, you wouldn’t have to do work if you just moved.” He said it like it was obvious and Nina knew where he was headed but played along exasperatedly. “Why would I move again?” She staggered away towards the bathroom, leaving the door open as though she were still interested but starting the shower, effectively making him background noise. “I got some space for free.” He shrugged and picked through her fridge before scrolling through his phone in distraction and rolling his eyes. She wondered often if he knew when people watched him, almost like he was hyper-aware of it without trying. She didn’t care, shedding her top and jeans. Sighing in relief, she sat on the edge of the small tub. He didn’t look but she could feel his smirk. Sitting was a difficult task as the ledge was small, immediately making her ass ache. Or maybe it was the normal effect Billy’s pestering had on her…she forgot Frank was the one to regulate the two of them. “I don’t need your help, and this was only supposed to be temporary as is.” Nina still paid for the house next to Frank and Maria. The cost was forcing her to do more jobs, her time as important as ever. It was still better than going back. She deeply dreaded going there and seeing it so empty. Too much change. It rubbed her the wrong way as she was typically comfortable with the routine. That had changed too. She did have to figure something out soon unless she wanted to be up to her eyes in debt, just not yet. His shoes scuffed against her linoleum, she was vaguely aware he was speaking to her. “It wouldn’t be temporary with me.” He half-confessed to her and she laughed before she could stifle it, hearing him speak quickly into his phone before setting it on the counter. He took this as seriously as her if he was in the middle of another conversation.It was a half promise to a friend, something she couldn’t accept from him because…well it was him. Nina kicked the door to a crack before closed then undressed fully before stepping under the frigid water, sobering herself unintentionally. Fuck. She forgot the water was jacked. Sucking in a quick breath to prevent a hum of discomfort under the cold stream. “I’ve got a house I’ll go back to when it’s finished.” She spoke slowly to avoid allowing him to hear her teeth chattering and add on to his list of reasons for her to move. In the end, it was her choice. “Instead you wanna pass out in hallways of a place called Hell’s Kitchen? Wow, I’m a little offended.” Through the clear shower curtain, Nina craned her neck to watch him once again. He was cleaning up her apartment absentmindedly. He always did stuff like this, kept himself busy in order to wait for her answer.“It’s not like that, I just needed some distance from the neighborhood.” ‘From everything.’ Nina thought as she swiftly scrubbed herself then hopped out of the cold stream. "My neighbor needed help, gave me a bottle as thanks." “So your thinking about staying? Here?” Nina shrugged though he couldn’t see her response.“Rents cheap, and it gets me out of my head.” It was a lie, if anything it steered her deeper into her thoughts. It helped her get organized, that was something.
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“Billy is definitely a Raven. End of discussion.” Nina flipped her cards and appraised her deck, organizing her weaker cards closer to her chest and laughing at the situation. Also, the thought of the other cards she had up her sleeve while Frank and Billy argued over code names as extremely amusing. Frank nodded and Billy looked confused and finally, they both looked at their hands. “You know we say that, because you got a particular taste there, Billy boy.” Frank set down two and Nina slipped her sleeve closer to her thighs while Billy pointed in accusation at Frank. “I got good taste, you mean.” Nina chuckled, it was a reference to pretty male spies who lived like Bond. So, he had been sort of close. Nina shrugged at the same time as Frank to blend but had been slipping the cards she needed into her thighs before bringing that hand up and scratching her head in thought. “I figure you’re the Raven, I’m a Blackbird and she’s the Canary, huh? All I’m sayin’ is it fits better, Frankie!” Billy smiled and played his hand while Frank fiddled with his in disbelief. Forming an answer to Billy’s quick and exciting response, Nina furrowed her brows at the reference. Slipping her bad cards from her hand finally, she traded for the ones concealed in her lap. “Blackbird? We’re doing literal code names…after birds?” she felt out of the loop while Frank agreed with Billy’s assessment. “Wait, a Raven is a blackbird.” Frank questioned, finally playing his hand. “Blackbirds like a refined Raven.” Billy sniffed and eyed Nina closely, she pretended to think about her play. Her face itched to smile at him but she looked across at Frank instead as he shrugged his compliance, finding no issue with Billy’s explanation.For the past twenty minutes, she had thought they were doing double-entendres as code names. “Not to mention, Canary, isn’t as literal as you think.” Billy failed at holding his laughter. Exchanging a suspicious look Frank before bursting at the seams like a teenager in study hall, not even attempting to hold it. Nina thought for a second as Billy played his turn. “Yeah, always chirping,” Frank rubbed his chin in thought then laughed “I swear it’s how I found you when you fell overboard.”“You fell off a Navy ship?” Billy paused the game and leaned back into his chair in surprise. Nina opened her mouth but was interrupted by Frank's cackle. “Hell yeah she did, so the story goes.” Nina smacked his shoulder, leaning closer in joking while trying to peek at his hand. “No, let me tell it, you always miss the main point.” Nina chuckled and returned to her own seat when he folded his cards down, giving her a stern look. “Yeah but my version is funnier.” Nina thought about it and couldn’t deny, Frank could tell a hell of a story. “…Whatever.” She rolled her eyes and played her hand. “So this guy had been walking the ship, right? We all just wanna make it back home but he thinks he sees a pin missing on this thing. Tries to get his fat ass up there to see.” Frank paused as he was laughing too hard. “Me and Nina are heading in cause she wanted to do that Titanic thing, but this was after a few overtime shifts, so we were dead tired.” Nina remembered Frank had pretended to lose his footing and drop her. “Titanic?” Billy snorted but Nina had waved her hand to gain the attention. “I was dead tired, from working your overtime shifts so you would do it with me.” Shaking her head she tsked at Frank for not revealing the truth of it. Nina still chuckled, getting a kick from playing the real story progression in her mind. “Yeah, Curtis wouldn’t.” Frank 'recalled' and they both nodded together.“Nah, said he was too tempted to push me.” Nina had run Curtis ragged that tour with her arguing about executions of some kind of medical procedure. “Anyway, he sees Nina and asks her to crawl up and check.” Frank motioned with his hands and Nina nodded towards Billy. “So I went." She shrugged and he glanced back to Frank. “The guy goes to show her where and stumbles a bit then BOOM.” Frank smacked his hand on the table. “He knocks her into the water.” Nina recalled the man grabbing her jacket for support then falling back.“Did it hurt?” Billy let out a low whistle.“After they got me out, yeah.” Nina nodded slowly Frank had finally played his hand and Nina noted this was the last round after Billy goes. “Her little head pops up and we call for the rescue.” Frank wiped his tears but ended up breaking up again. “Whole time, we hear Nina from the water, yelling how she was gonna haunt his ass if she got sucked under and into the turbines.” She didn’t remember yelling until she got on deck, her ribs were so sore all she could do was gasp breaths. Their last hand had come and Nina shook her head, silently arranged her winning cards, the game becoming serious after the chuckling had subsided. They each laid their hands and Nina smiled, bowing to each man while they groaned at the loss. Leaning forward she hardly noticed they had seen the cards in her lap, she hadn’t had a chance to slip them up her sleeve or down into her boot. Collecting the cards and placing them neatly, she finally saw Frank and Billy had gone silent, looking at her expectantly as she gathered her winnings. “What?” she questioned and laughed while they exchanged a look and she got nervous. Billy held his hand out expectantly and Nina sighed, rolling her eyes as she finally got it. “Alright, Alright.” She slipped the cards from her thighs and tossed them in his hand. Standing to stretch in place of sinking in shame from being caught. “Well, I’ve got to head over to medical. Stuck there for tonight until we get another target.” Nina nonchalantly rubbed her neck as they eyed her suspiciously. Her history betraying her. She waved goodbye but stared at the pile of cookies longingly, it was going to be impossible to focus if her stomach was growling. There wasn’t a moister cookie for miles. The thought pained her as she restrained herself enough to make it halfway to the exit as they had already waved bye, starting another game and discussion. Eventually, she took her chance and lunged for the pile, stuffing as many as she could into her mouth before they could stop her in their disbelief. Frank picked her up by the waist as both men shot up, Billy groaned in irritation while Frank had no laughter for her chocolate stained hands and crumb covered mouth. As though she were a kid she smiled around chipmunk cheeks victoriously.“She ain’t sending cookies…for another month.” Nina watched his face form disbelief that she would betray him and eat Maria’s baked goods, to laughing in his attempt to sternly shake her in his frustration. “I’m telling Maria.” He mumbled before letting her go. Establishing a new rule; Nina faces the penalty of no baked goods until they returned home.It was one of their good days.
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Billy left before she came out of the bathroom and she felt somewhat disappointed, paranoid until finding the clothes he brought from her house. It was his convincing that needed work, she felt irritated with his attempt to get her to go back. Going to bed with the plan to finally figure out what she was doing. He was always presenting his best image to everyone, as much as he pushed her to present her own best image. At first, she endeared it but now it grated on her. Maybe it was easier to present her best image before, as it had come naturally, but now she had few to impress. She liked it that way. Elena had caught her just as she moved from locking her apartment. Nina felt rude just walking past but continued on as she had more important things to see to. She was dressed for a meeting with Curtis and wanted him to assume she was as well on the inside as she was outside. He could let Billy know that she was just fine. “Por favor, Ayúdame.”1 The woman shuffled to grasp her elbow and Nina sighed. “I have a meeting.” She attempted to explain as she allowed the woman to tug her eye level. “I don’t feel safe walking there alone. Only twenty minutes, please.” Elena offered a handful of change to her. Internally she cringed at the woman’s offer. Forcing a smile, shaking her head.“After you, senora.”------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The sly older woman had failed to mention she was on her way to see lawyers, having Nina sit outside of the office while she discussed the issue. She hadn’t followed the conversation until she heard Mrs. Cardenas’s mention her. “That girl came in near the end of it, parecía tan asustado.”2 The poor woman was shaking just thinking back to the situation. “I was in my kitchen when el hombre grande burst in, dice need to check the the…wires... in my wall then he break with the hammer.” She fanned herself as she struggled to find the words. “Nina, come in,” Elena flashed a complicated look to the women sitting outside the office. “El hombre dice Él nos lastimará.”3 Foggy urged her to continue despite having trouble following, Matt waited patiently, more focused on listening to Nina outside. He knew she could hear, she could tell by the way he was standing. Though he couldn’t see her turned head she looked forward anyway, it didn’t interfere with her hearing. "Cuando se acabe, she fixes.”4 Elena motioned with her hands unsteadily, signaling it wasn't the greatest of compromises. Nina just felt relieved she skipped the part with the men’s departure, despite wanting to keep all involvement to herself she assumed the woman would have to tell them something. “Sorry, she fixed what exactly?” Foggy glanced at Nina, her glance away not as discreet as she thought it felt. He scribbled a reminder on his notepad.“No, she is fixing everything, holes, electric…water.” The woman described her with high regard but sighed. Nina knew she hadn’t made it to the older woman’s apartment regretfully, it was one of the last few and counting. “She needs help, can’t do it all on her own.” It still wasn't clear what Elena wanted from this meeting and Nina was done prying.It had been past twenty minutes Nina had promised and she grew anxious as they called on her after sending Elena with Karen to find some tea. She sat across from the duo impatiently, “Mrs. Cardenas mentioned there was extensive damage to the building during ‘renovations’ approved by your landlord, Armand Tully.” Matt tilted his head in question while waiting for her reply. Nina crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at his partner across from her. “Were they really approved? I don’t know much about it, sorry.” She quipped, just because she came here didn't mean she had to answer them honestly. “She said you spoke with her about the incident?” Foggy continued writing before waiting for her much less patiently than Matt. “I don’t speak much with the old woman, language barrier, and that.” She scoffed, what did it matter if they talked about some thugs coming in? It was a shit neighborhood. She handled it better than waiting for due process. Foggy looked confused and glanced at Matt, unsure. Matt just gave a small smile and moved on, though her heart raced at the thought of them looking into her relationship with the older woman. The possibility of them finding out about her confrontation with the man in her own apartment. The walls were thin and Elena was a woman who didn’t get out much. She could have heard anything, she definitely saw enough. “Why haven’t any other tenants raised major complaints or sought legal assistance?” Foggy questioned and Nina shrugged in her chair. Biding her time until she could head out with Elena and go about her own day. “You would have to ask them, I assume because it’s just the way it goes.” She sighed, crossing her arms. “Could you elaborate on that, please?” Matt leaned forward with interest, his eyebrows furrowed as he waited. “The way of the world, bad shit happens, then you deal with it.” Nina explained as well as demonstrated with her hands flat, laying them vertically in a 2-spot progression. “So you confronted the men as Mrs. Cardenas has said? All of them?” Foggy slowed down to finally pay attention to her. Nina thought carefully how to word the situation. “Yeah, all five of them. Me.” Her tone was just sarcastic enough but it made her breath catch slightly, the second she saw Elena had returned she stood. The older woman in the doorway with her purse and a kind smile directed between her and Karen. “I’m late to see a friend, nice meeting you two.” She nodded and turned while Foggy looked at her in surprise but Matt looked at her calmly. “Nina?” he clearly had ignored her previous statement but since he was blind, she let it slip instead of leading Elena back to her home. “Yes?” She glanced behind herself, unsure what he wanted just wishing it was quick. “Why did you confront the men?” She could hear in his tone that he already knew the answer before she even said it. “Excuse me?” Nina went back mentally to make sure she hadn’t heard him say, ‘man’, specifically....As in one. She told him indirectly that she had but if she said it now…then it was a direct confirmation. “Well, as you said before it’s the way of the world. So why intervene at all?” “…Because sometimes I get fed up with the way of the world. You ever get that way, Murdock?” Nina paused, gripping the handle and giving a polite goodbye before ushering Mrs. Cardenas home quickly.Curtis knew not to wait for her.
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“Curtis, hey.” She smiled when he held his arms wide. “Get over here.” He waved, hugging her genuinely. “I haven’t seen you in months.” She didn’t want to let go, mentally borrowing his stability. She was going to need it. “Yeah, been getting stuff together.” She smoothed her jacket, wiping the sweat from her hands but also hoping she wasn't looking as haggard as she felt. “Need some help?” Curtis nodded and offered her a chair before seating himself in the creakiest of metal fold-out chairs. “I can’t ask that.” Nina shook her head, knowing he would offer already. He tsked, waiting for a moment before continuing. “So, how have you been doing? Seen Frank yet?” He mentioned it like it was just another daily and normal task. They both knew it was very much not the case. She nodded, picking her cuticle with her nail. “A week ago, healed nice but those nurses haven’t moved him often enough.” She shook her head in irritation, just because he was in a coma didn’t mean he wouldn’t benefit from movement. “Yeah, I mentioned that to them.” Curtis chuckled lightly, he knew it made her feel better too. Both knowing that Frank had people monitoring his state, the staff handling him weren't going unchecked and he wasn't alone...That she could talk to Curtis about Frank. “You been okay though?” He leaned to gain her attention and she felt a little guilty for waiting too long to respond. Mentally reminding herself to keep talking. “I…I moved, thinking about selling that house.” It was too close to the memory of Frank and she was tired of paying to keep it alive so it could haunt her. Counselor Curtis would tell her it wasn’t healthy that she really wanted everything the same, that it was good she was doing this. For when…if… “I cleaned it with Billy last time I was there.” Her mind jerked to a halt. He and Billy…why? “What?” She closed her eyes, It was hard to breathe. “He said it’d be nice for you to come back without all that stuff reminding you.” Curtis’s confusion seeped into the edges of his voice. “What stuff, Curtis?” She scoffed, what did Billy know about what she wanted? They didn’t even ask. She looked at him seriously, finding no calm behind her eyelids and having to face this situation. Nina treasured the pictures she had. Both taken by Maria and drawn by the kids. “Calm down.” He offered his open hands like he did for his group and she tugged at her roots. “You and I did it for Frank.” He sighed heavily. So much reason behind the statement that she stopped tugging. Instead, her heart dropped. It was true. They had moved the kids' toys, Maria’s leftovers, and what was in the fridge. “I won’t let either of you dwell on that horrible accident.” Curtis pressed his lips together in an attempt to hold back but only succeeded in adding a biting tone to his words. She stood, pacing away from Curtis and his 'hostile' tone. “This is why I stopped speaking with you and Billy, I can’t fucking deal with this right now.” She just wanted to get there and see what they had gotten into. What Billy looked through. “What’s really going on?” He sighed heavily at her, at a loss for words for a moment. “Don’t.” She shook her head, Counselor Curtis was rising in him whether he realized it or not and she needed her friend at the moment. “It’s more than us taking out some of the kids overnight drawers.” He waved his hand as he tried to understand. It was more than that to her, it was her comfort and safety that she had left untouched. “Curtis, stop.” She covered her burning face. She was drifting mentally, the choking noises becoming clearer.
Last breaths make a 'death rattle'.
“I don’t think you ever were alright since you got back, I won't push—” He stood, furrowing his eyebrows. Curtis had already gotten to his point though, not letting it go. “—I’m expressing my concern, okay?” He was only truthful and Nina hated how well he was with communicating his emotions and thoughts. She knew that he was concerned. It just wasn’t helping her to hear it now. Curtis wasn’t there that day. He didn’t understand this particular tragedy“I’ll go with you, you have to go back at least once before you decide to get rid of it.” He shrugged as though it wasn't a big deal. She deflated as he tried his hardest to get it. To understand but it pained her the more he tried and got it wrong.She accepted his offer.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Opening the door she felt Curtis behind her, giving her the confidence to step in. They had cleaned up. It made her feel different. "You want some coffee?” He flicked on the lights when she made no move to, her eyes instantly going to the window to see Frank's house. Empty. “Yeah, you know where the kitchen is.” She nodded, waiting for his lights to flick on. Curtis broke her light of sight, setting his hands on her shoulders. “It’s good you’re doing this now.” He looked as though he was trying to convince her but she did feel a little better. Not the house being her safety but the one next to it, the people who inhabited it. Frank was what made her feel safe and now he was incapacitated. She was starting to understand it better herself, taking a steady breath then shrugging him off to find boxes. “Yeah. Thanks for being here, I know it's stupid.” She grimaced in embarrassment, Curtis looking awkward before starting to collect her decorations from the shelves. “It’s not, me and Billy…we didn’t mean anything about coming in here without you. You know it hurts him that he wasn’t there?” She didn’t even think about it, how it affected people who weren't even there. She was fixing this now. To get it done with and move on.“I know.” Nina formulated a plan, more details coming the longer she fixated on it.
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It was going to be finalized at the end of the month. In the meantime, she had to pull a job. Money too tight and she wasn't about to have Billy force another loan on her.She hated debts. “I give you half now and you get rid of her?” He offered the bag without so much as a glance around to see if anyone had seen them. She back away from the bag he offered, glad she had chosen the meeting place for its discretion. “You brought it with you?” This was dangerous but she needed the money. She had to risk completing this for this ‘questionable character’. “Of course, I’m not stupid.” He puffed his chest in confidence and Nina couldn’t stop her eye twitching, of course, he was. They could have done this wireless but he insisted. Probably watched too many movies. “I need a name, picture, or location if your feeling really smart.” She accepted the bag but he held it tightly. Looking down at her in warning. “Don’t get lip with me.” He was unstable, that much clear but did he really think that she wasn't? He had the balls to hire her to kill and threaten her in the same breath. “She did too and now look where I’m at with her.” Nina ignored the 'she' to jerk the bag roughly, dropping it by her feet as she stared him down until he offered the picture. “I don’t care.” She flicked it over and felt her entire goal of monetary stability change. “You should.” He had started walking away when she stopped him.“Wait.” It was a very young girl. “What? You got her picture.” He groaned, obviously having an idea of how this would go for him. Nina shrugged, brushing the edges of the picture. The longer she looked at it, the more guilt she felt. She couldn’t have been more than a teenager so why did he want her dead? “What’d she do?” Nina had reminded herself that she learned guns when she was sixteen. This one could have been a threat to the weak man in front of her. Hemming and hawing like a child showing their parents they were irritated. He scoffed at her question, coming closer with an interested smirk. “I thought you don’t care?” He leered over the picture she still held and she had to stop herself from dropping it from his view. He was more inclined to explain himself to her when she feigned a look of confusion instead. “One night and she’ll ruin my life over it.” He smiled like the tale was as charming to her as it clearly was to him. She knew this guy.A meeting of fifteen minutes and she knew him. He thought he could do what he wanted. Pay to have his victims killed for him since he was too much of a pussy to do anything besides victimize. She kicked the bag of money back at him, tearing the picture. Both actions would infuriate him and she knew. She wanted him to pick this fight so she could at least have 'one night of fun' with him. “Hey, what the fuck?” He barely made a reach for her when she reacted quickly. Taking one last look around and making sure they were alone before swiping his legs, his weight centered in his back during the slam against the gravel. He lost his breath, making it even more satisfying for her when she kicked his face. Dull thwack having him making a snoring noise. She checked his pockets, finding his phone and car keys. While she checked his phone she turned him to his side lazily, knowing the sound he made meant he was trying to swallow his tongue. Nina found enough evidence on his phone. Parties with teens, him, and a few familiar faces of her previous clients feeding them heroin. She growled in frustration, wiping the phone from her prints then deciding to just snap it. The two she recognized paid her to rough up, make a show was all. She didn’t care that they were junkies just that they had their parent's money still fueling their adult expenses. Now she felt sick. “Shut up.” She kicked the man to his back again once he groaned. He groaned even louder, interrupting her train of thought. It didn’t matter whether he died now or later. She was taking the money.Nina took her gun and shot him in the head, sighing at the silence.She hated when it turned this way, she didn't dig deep enough. Unprofessional, Schoonover would have called it. It was why she had strict rules when she took these kinds of jobs. Idiots like this made it impossible to not end up with this outcome.
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Taking care of the body was the extra step she didn’t have to take. Not with crime being as high as it was but she would take every opportunity to cover her ass. Speaking of, he wasn’t the swiftest of hauls. Walking back she felt soreness from lifting him when she was climbing the stairs to the apartment building. She still had to stick the bag into her own apartment, other than that, clean and presentable to anyone looking. So long as she didn't sit too fast, no one would be the wiser. Someone stood to the side of her door, small bent figure leaving only a few options as to who. Nina glanced at the bag to make sure there was no blood or other concerning aspects of it seeping through the brown paper one she had shoved it into. Then, looking to the old woman who kept tentatively reaching up to knock at her apartment but stopping short. “Señora? Hay problemas?”1 Elena had jumped and held her heart when she approached. Shaking her head, glancing back to the door hesitantly. Nina knew the woman was not about to ask about her ‘groceries’, Nina had forgotten she had plans to help the woman. She didn’t want to do it now. “Would you like for me to patch your walls now?” Nina smiled instead of telling her no, offering before her mind could catch up with excuses. Elena would never ask again if she did. The mention of it had Elena nodding more confidently, more than ready. “Gracias, dulce niña.”2 Glasses perched on her nose, Elena patted Nina's arm gently. “Tengo algo para ti, esto no es trabajo gratis.”3 The older woman presented the bottle to her, urging her to take it but losing her smile. Obviously not super proud of the exchange but it was something. “Mr. Nicolás leave me alcohol for you, aunque no bebo en mi casa.”4 Nina chucked hearing Elena call him ‘facilatador.’ (Enabler) under her breath before Nina ducked into her apartment before it was pitch outside. She tossed the bag inside her vent, checking behind to see Elena remained in the hall.“No lo pensaria.”5 She called to the hallway, moving on to quickly filling the dark bottle halfway with the last of what she had over the sink.Nothing like a bourbon and whiskey mix. “Tengo mi cafe, señora.”6 Nina could handle a swig or two before starting. Elena looked unsure at the sports bottle Nina appeared with. With age came experience but she let it go as she had no proof of what Nina had inside. The old woman wasn’t dumb, Nina knew that. What the woman didn't know for sure couldn't hurt her though. Drywall dust was better than blood. Not in how it made her feel but in the cleanup. “Una pequeña bebida si debes.”7 While not knowing specifically, Elena had her understanding come eventually while she led Nina to her home.
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Foggy and Karen looked at Nina in surprise as Elena invited them inside, overjoyed by their presence though Nina felt awkward. Having been caught in the lie that she hadn’t known the woman very well. Foggy must have brought seriously bad news if he didn’t bring that easy one to the table. “Senior Tully…eh fix? Si?” Elena motioned to the damages Nina had been fixing. Sighing heavily in irritation with the woman, Nina bit her lip to refrain from bluntly telling Mrs. Cardenas that no one was going to help them. Who the hell was she to crush the kind woman?“No, not yet.” Nina eyed Foggy despite him whole-heartedly looking guilty. “But Karen and I, we’re going to do what we can.” He glanced around the crowded apartment. “We are?” Karen rounded back as soon as she heard her name. “Why not? My dad owned a hardware store for twelve forevers, picked up a few things. At least get the ball rolling.” Nina was still skeptical but appreciated the sentiment from the strangers, it could give her a break.“And your cousin’s a drywall guy, right?” Karen seemed enthused to help as she motioned to Foggy who nodded. “That he is.” Elena stood speechless and Nina sipped out of her bottle she had carried in. Elena hadn’t made her throw it out yet, even when her breathing got heavier and it became more difficult to hide the sharp smell of alcohol. Not exactly the coffee Nina had promised. “You look like you could use a break or at least a hand.” He offered, Nina set the bottle down on Mrs. Cardenas’s table with a heavy thud, glancing down at her appearance. “And Matt and I fished an electrician out of the drunk tank. Owes us a favor.” Foggy continued and stepped closer to the older woman. “We’re gonna talk to your neighbors, too, okay, Mrs. Cardenas?” Nina chuckled at that, it was a bit of a reach but she was slowly starting to believe him herself. “We’re gonna take care of you.” He practically promised but Nina didn’t have time to misplace her irritation towards Foggy overcompensating promises. “Elena, I’m going to go.” Her phone ringing for the last time before she just shut it off for the moment. It would be better if Nina didn’t stay, had Lucas felt the need to come for her. The older woman was too focused on Foggy mentioning working water. Nina slipped out and turned on her phone, entering her own unlit apartment just as she dialed the number. “What?” Her tone was sharp, practiced. Lucas had shuffled on his end. “Somethings going on with the Russians.” He was eager to share it with her like it meant something. “I don’t care, it doesn’t involve me.” She tried to search her memory after a moment. “Does it?” She spoke lower into the receiver, his light laughter clearly from whoever else he was speaking with. Their voice barely there, muted, but there. “Just figured I would say the safest place is indoors tonight, sweetheart.” “Thanks, now goodbye.” Nina cleared her throat as she hung up, hearing someone heading her way. A few light taps to her door had her jerk away from it in the dark. Holding her chest in a soothing manner as best she could, she opened it, expecting Foggy with questions but it was a stern Mrs. Cardenas. “You did not say goodbye, bad manners.” The woman pressed her lips into a thin line, Nina ran her hand through her hair. She would never tell the woman she was wrong, she did say goodbye. “Lo siento, señora.” She closed her eyes, Elena catching her attention by grasping her wrist. “Come, I made you a plate.” “I have food.” Nina looked back at her apartment. It was a lie. Elena accepted it as much as she would have if it had been the truth. “I made you a plate, Niña. Come keep me company while Foggy and Karen have theirs.” She tugged her wrist back. This was her exchange for the work but Nina didn't feel right. Something was off and she had to sort through and think what it was. “Señora, I—.” “No, I insist.” Elena looked at her pleadingly and Nina felt guilty. Sighing heavily before motioning for her to lead the way. “Gracias.” “You are welcome.” Elena beamed at her.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nina was in the middle of listening to the older woman’s story when she ended up covering Elena. Just from the sheer impact of the blast. The entire building shook and Nina was caught in her mind. The smell of the bombs was different than she was used to but powerful, staggering to get up, Elena wandered away from Nina. “Señora, siéntate.” Nina coughed from the dust, grimacing at her immediate ache. “Por favor, Elena!” She reached for the confused woman. The kids across the hall were crying, people in the hallway faltering with the second blast. She didn’t remember coming here. Gasping when she snapped to under hospitals brightness, halls rushing with injured people. Maybe default mode taking over but she was determined to stay attentive when Foggy called for a specific nurse’s help. “She has a deep laceration to her hairline, I—I think she takes blood thinners.” Nina gently moved the hair to get a better view before she added pressure. She was so focused on making the nurse aware she didn’t notice Foggy being helped into a seat by Karen. Blood on his abdomen.Nina kneeled there in an instant. “Foggy, let me see.” He grimaced, not moving his hand for her. “You a doctor?” He looked at her skeptically. She shrugged, she could manage this would if his shock had been enough to get him here. “Medic, they seem pretty backed up here so just lift your shirt.” She tried to peel it slowly but he flinched, groaning. She could see it was a slice, a small glint in the blood. “I think the piece of glass is still in there, it’s gonna stitch clean though.”Nina searched her bag for the small forceps. Typically they were for bullets but the glass was just another inanimate object. “You mean my flawless physique remains unscathed? That’s just great.” He joked in a fashion she had seen a hundred times over. Foggy looked at her black kit, rubbing his hair back in a distraction from the pain she assumed. It didn’t occur to her that the other tools looked a bit medieval and it was intimidating. “Medic, huh? You in the army or something?” She wasn’t trying to make friends here. Keeping the answer short, she still hadn’t acknowledged it until she quickly approached his wound and he backed away. "Nothing shady and illegal with shortcuts, right?" She rolled her neck, conversation was a good distraction. “Marines.” She looked up to see he avoided her eyes. “Yeah, probably where the scary comes from.” Foggy chuckled, holding her shoulder tightly when she positioned the forceps again. Scary? She pulled back to laugh. “Yeah.” She shook her head. “Probably.” It gave him trust when she didn’t immediately go back to trying to dig at the cut, she allowed herself to laugh because she knew pulling away meant he was unprepared. Not thinking about the pain it would cause just yet. He created his own distraction as well, rubbing the metal of the scalpel in interest, his unsterile hands touching items in the bag with curiosity. “Whoa, you just keep that kit in your purse? Is that sterile?” He looked around for a nurse but they were all just as busy as they had been minutes ago. She sighed heavily, did it look dirty to him? He was the one who dug into it with his sooty fingers. “You want it out or in?” She pointed at the edge he would have seen had he looked down. “Out, please.” He nodded, mumbling ‘yeah’ and pulling away when she neared with them again. Now he knew she was going to do it, he was too nervous. “It’s gonna sting.” She doubted letting him know would affect his reaction. He couldn't be any more concerned about it than he was currently. When her assistance was done when another nurse took over, dealing with the Foggy and his low pain tolerance. Seven stitches. She didn't want to be there for that, he barely made it through her gently removing the glass.Nina figured the apartments were ruined. Work she had done not amounting to anything when compared to this new damage.On her way to her bed for the night, ready to sleep on glass if she had to when she was slammed into by someone. The person or people shoving a sack onto her head then guiding her into the trunk of a car. A quick flash of yellow and black made her mind flip to it being a taxi. It all going too fast for her to even get the sack off her head before it slowed to a stop. Low Russian whispering that she couldn’t understand following, her teeth barely making contact with the rope they tied her with.Failed attempt to escape before she was tazed.
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She came to across from Wilson Fisk and his assistant, a glass of water in front of her. She stared at the table…shit… “You are a difficult woman to keep an eye on.” His laugh sounded grim and forced. “You have considered that we found you, correct?” She was well aware of what it meant. She needed to be cool. “Yes, Mr. Fisk.” She hadn’t expected his own name to be the one to set him off, not after he built anticipation with his silence. He was…a much larger man than her. Sitting across from him only made him hunker over her, his power unspoken but clear in the way he held himself. She made no move during the outburst, only smacking his hand on the table but it was enough. The table now bowed and her glass tipped. His ring hurt her ears as it scratched the surface. Almost like an agonized scream from a distance, she thought. The water nearing his expensive suit was the only thing to tear his attention away from his anger. She noted he liked a clean image. He had to…she only noticed because it was so similar to her. “This is not his preferred methods, please excuse him.” His assistant pursed his lips at her in distaste as though she were the problem despite his reassurance. She shook her head to stop the rest of her from shaking as well. Forcing her nerves to steel easily. It wasn’t ever that simple and they wanted something. “I can’t be of any use to you, sir.” Nina knew she had to play nice and proper. It would spur their offer to present itself in a preferred manner. Being unsure if she would take it didn’t mean she wouldn’t listen to it.It meant something. The fact they had chances to have killed her, it was what she had been expecting yet…nothing happened. “On the contrary.” Fisk snapped his fingers and Wesley left to return with papers, a stack of them coated in hefty legal terms. “Certain inadequacies meant that I had to take time for this meeting, which if I am honest, means very little much to me.” He was lying. Who tried this hard for something that means ‘very little’ to them? “We would pay you to mention how generous this offer is.” He tapped his thick finger against the stack. “Move back to your home.” Nina stared at him as he mentioned it. She figured they knew everything that was on paper but the way he mentioned it irked her. She tilted her head in thought. “I can’t convince them all to take it.” Wesley sighed, already bored and pissing her off. “Try. Your safety may be determined by your cooperation.” He seemed proud of the way the papers were organized. Both men pushing her to glance it over…to accept. “You taking the easy way, kid?” She felt cold at hearing Frank's voice next to her, clear as day.No…N—nNo…it can’t happen now. She was guided by Frank’s question to her answer. Though she really wanted to ignore him.“Is that a threat?” She just wanted to be sure of how bad she had inconvenienced Fisk. “It is a fact. It is in your best interest to set the example or be the example.” Fisk’s gravely voice went well with veiled threats, she raised her eyebrows at the thought. Mind flashing to Russo, his visit, and whether or not Fisk knew just how close she was with him. “He can’t touch them, not if you don’t let him.“ Frank paced in her mind, shaking his head vehemently. Billy was blown from her mind when five other men filed in, rounding the table to stand behind her. Fisk was only planning on getting even with her.She wiped her brow and smiled, syncing train of thought with the Frank her mind conjured. “He’s scarin’ you but you don’t scare easy.” The men came without serious weapons. Knives and guns seemingly not an option as they wanted her alive.Nina could take it, she had before. Frank was next to her face now, so close she could feel his breathing…feel literal heat from his furious face. “DO YOU?” He bellowed and she smiled at the men who waited for her answer of ‘yes’.It wasn’t going to be the last time she went through this and at least they hadn’t hurt any other tenants over this. “Let’s just get this done.” Their only option was to do it legally. Short of clearing the whole block at least. She wouldn't fight and make it harder on herself like Frank would have done. She had it coming, in an ironic sort of way.Being their last resort, as well as refusing…she knew this was going to hurt.
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She was two blocks from the building. The streets dangerous still, time probably being closer to five a.m. if she had to guess. Unarmed but the state of her had any unsavory characters darting out of her path. Nina had caught a glimpse of her reflection, her jaw was going to take time to heal. She had cracked it back into place once they dumped her. Assuming the situation since her head hurt too much to remember anything but the boot that had come for her face. Everything else had been light, all things considered. Her hips out of alignment paled in comparison to the pain in her mouth. She wanted to sleep for a month but all she could think of while she walked mechanically was if Elena could afford her hospital bills. Nina had the bag of money in her vent still, her only hope that it hadn’t broken in the impact and dropped down to Mr. Nicolás. The bottle of clear tequila not that good. Her mind went dark thinking about if he was hurt too. How many just in their building had been harmed with no way to pay and nowhere to go. She sighed when the building had zero activity, concerned no one had been in the halls but thankful. Nina had to crawl the stairs in defeat, every uneven step bouncing her lower half painfully. Maybe she pinched her nerve or something. It was a two-person job to reset her hips but she didn’t want to see anyone at the moment. They could have followed her to see if she would lead them to someone they could blackmail her with.Billy emerged from her apartment. Looking at her in shock, she stood frozen at the sight of him. Glancing behind herself instinctively. “I called but your phone.” He closed the distance but Nina limped past him to Elena’s apartment, Billy following. She nodded and picked up the bottle Mr. Nicolás left there for her. “Are you okay?” She couldn’t answer just yet, blood still creating a small pool in her mouth. “I told you to just stay with me, why didn’t you jus—.” She shook her debris-covered phone at him to make her point, cutting him short intentionally. He narrowed his eyes at her continued silence and attitude. “Your apartment doesn’t even have electricity, I couldn’t find shit.” She understood his worry, sitting in a chair she overturned to cover her face. Stressed didn’t even cover it.It was all too much…she didn’t know how to…how to…“I’m not staying here much longer so—.” She sucked in a harsh breath, her throat hurt. Words muddled by blood but the bottle in her hands made it seem like the usual situation he found her in. His timing was as terrible as hers sometimes. “Hey.” Billy uncurled her hands from digging at her face, tone a bit stern as she resisted at first. Forgetting she could blame the superficial injuries on the blast. “Curtis told me he was having his buddies take some of your furniture.” He breathed steady, tracing the lines over her fingers. “I don’t want any of it.” She laughed with an exhale, vibration making her grimace. She took what she needed, planned to go through it after helping Elena but that’s the thing with Nina’s plans.Short of infiltrating, incapacitating, and clean up. She fell short on some of the ordinary plans. Prioritizing in a disorganized way. Maybe she just wanted to succeed sometimes, take cases where justice could be served by her on another's behalf. “You tryin’ to get rid of us too?” He chuckled but it struck her deeply. “Or just me.” She just needed a break, she herself had been stuck in a fog of confusion. She didn’t see how this hurt her friends but she did see how it would hurt them more if they knew exactly how she had been living. Billy always knew. She had been okay with that until now. Now she was faced with the fact she was still hurting him. “I think you misinterpreted some things, Billy.” He didn’t. It was her fault but she needed to figure out where to stand with her entire life again. “I appreciate you checking on me.” She smiled at him, biting her lip but forcing past the pain. “What are friends for, right?” Nina chuckled as she uncapped the bottle, drinking deeply until the blood taste was gone. Billy paused, narrowing his eyes slightly at her. “Is that what we are—friends?” He didn’t like it, neither did she but it was best to think when she wasn’t in pain. When she climbed out of the hole she dug herself. “I think it’s a good place to start again, Billy.” He stared at their hands for a long time, still tracing the lines of hers. Then he moved his hand to her jaw, she did her best not to wince. He couldn’t know but his hand gently swiping over it made her lean away. “As long as we have a start, right?” The point of it made and now she had to stick to it. He stood still for a moment, looking at the hole in the walls of Elena’s apartment. Not at her. “Come on, you can stay with me.” Billy sighed, turning to look at the ground with his arm outstretched to her. “N—.” “Just for the tonight…today, whatever.” He looked at the blue hue covering the room and out to the window. He was still tense from her honesty, she expected it to not sit well with him. The reason she put it off for so long. However, Nina was too tired to refuse an offer this time. Even if he tried to convince her to change her mind it was still better than traveling all the way to her home which laid in one piece and glass free. She was strong-willed in defending her decisions anyway.
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Schoonover had been in bad shape but she had seen worse, having an impromptu and cognizant assistant had also had its perks. Curtis would have been better than her with this. She felt terrible for the nightmares this kid was going to have from this but they were sitting ducks and everyone left had to contribute. Frank had made his way over just as the boy managed to turn on his flashlight to illuminate the area. “Keep it elevated, apply pressure…” Nina ran through a mental checklist under her breath in record time as she fixed the area properly until they could make it out of the goddamn field. Frank promised to get them home when she focused on their conversation in front of her, applying pressure over the boy’s hands in guidance. Seconds before knowing what Frank’s intentions were he yelled for cover.Instinctively Nina had yelled “Covering!” in response before holding her gun up and attempting to follow Frank but being cut short by a spray of bullets at her feet and circled back.Fighting for her own path as well as Frank’s. She had hoped with every bullet fired it was one in Frank’s gain, he made it into the building but out of her sight but it was hard to tell which bullets were his without looking at him. She fought as hard as she could to view the people she was neutralizing as people again. Not just enemies or targets but fully fleshed individuals. Only realizing her tunnel vision after the second bomb landed to her right, blowing her back as her eardrum popped and she tasted metal in the earth. Smelled burning flesh and Sulphur. She didn’t recognize where she had landed but as soon as she rose to cough dirt from her mouth she heard the ruthless yelling. The popping of firearms still surrounded the area and she ran to the first cover she saw. Noting it was the same path Frank had taken.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What was left of their unit had been allowed a short reprieve, until the new guys came in. Nina pondered over how many thousand replacements they could send. This war could last forever if they wanted it to and in her experience, they wanted it to. Certain men thriving on blood that still made her queasy. She couldn’t shake the metallic smell, even after scrubbing it raw in the cold shower her skin felt….t h i c k e r. It made her nervous and when she was nervous she drank, knowing Gunner had an extensive stash building up she only drank half of the bottle and left him the rest. It wasn’t even hers to finish but she needed it to not zone out. Keeping her mind unclear and racing. She was pretending to be asleep when most filed into their beds, the tent was so quiet due to the lack of inhabitants. The Desert wind blowing sand was all that moved. She bit her nail, not wanting to think about Agent Orange taking over the care of the injured men she shook her head and adjusted herself. Looking over through slits she noticed most were sleeping already. Choosing to take the meds she provided in order to sleep for once. They had earned it. Nina slowly brought her head up to see if Billy had made it to bed through the darkness. His book was on his chest and he was snoring slightly, sliding her legs over the rough fabric of their blankets she set her feet on the thin and cold rubber floor. Navigating was difficult and in hindsight, she could have just flicked on a light, but she didn’t want to risk anyone, especially Billy, waking. He stirred as Nina gently grasped the book and set it on the bedside table. As she tried to calm her heartbeat Nina took one more glance at the room before slowly sliding into the bed beside Billy. She just wanted something human. Someone not covered in blood screaming for help or cold. He was as warm as their quarters were quiet. The alcohol had helped her make her way over but as it settled she almost let her eyelids fall. He readjusted in his sleep and she had just snuggled further into his arms when she saw it. A small smirk flicker across his face. Her hand slapped his chest with a dull thud as his hand held hers there out of instinct. Billy scoffed and opened his hooded eyes to peer down at her, “What’re you doing?” his tone was an accusatory whisper that echoed through the barracks easily and made her feel slightly guilty for finding comfort in him.All Nina could do was trace his jawline gently, mesmerized by him. His smell, his warmth, all of him, and half a bottle of whiskey and she had chipped at the horrors haunting her. That was in the past and this was now. Billy had given her a look of bewilderment as he asked her another question, rubbing her arm in reassurance. Nina hadn’t paid attention to answer his question, instead, she traced her finger down onto his neck before following it with her lips. “Do you wanna kiss me?” she said softly before closing her eyes, leaning in to kiss him without waiting for his reply. Not caring much for the way his eyes glazed over with appreciation but preoccupied with feeling his immediate reaction, which was to kiss back with ferocity.His hands roaming her body and her own sliding the blanket over them before going for his buckle.Nina felt her heart finally stop racing and sighed, enjoying the peace and helping Billy strip off her bottoms. He faltered slightly and put his thumb on her chin gently, his other hand going for her hip. She had only focused on his shirt until she felt uneasiness at the situation she initiated. Not willing to give up on her distraction regardless of his surprising willingness, Nina reached to guide him into her, feeling control over him momentarily before he gripped her hip to move her slowly.Nina jerked in sensitivity and moved faster riding him while both their mouths hung open in silent and strangled moans. His hand seemed to gravitate to her hair as he held it back to look over her face in the darkness. His brown eyes seemed to turn darker if possible and she closed her eyes to avoid intimacy. Russo pulled her down for another intense kiss. “Slow down.” He whispered, hot breath so close to her hear and his hand on her hip while she sped the pace up even further to reach her own end. Billy’s head rolled back and he groaned, Nina immediately shoved her hand over his mouth to quiet him and closed her eyes to focus on her own orgasm. Billy’s eyes snapped open and narrowed at her, pulling her hand from his mouth before returning his hand to her hip and slamming his own up to meet hers a few times. Nina’s hand twisted around his to reach his hair, running her nails over his scalp before threading her fingers tightly through it while her other hand held his shoulder. She bit his shoulder to stop from crying out herself. Billy’s eyes became hooded as he clearly preferred this distribution of power, pulling out soon after giving a few more forgiving thrusts. He had half a mind but still moved his hand from her hip and reached down to rub her clit. Just as she hit her first waves of pleasure with a shaky sigh he moved her hips off him, using her slickness he gave his length a few strokes before came on his lean stomach. Both panting heavily Billy was the first to make a move, reaching for her hair and brushing it back the dark strands from her face softly before gliding his thumb across her bottom lip. His eyes followed his thumb leisurely. Nina found her bottoms with lightning speed then slipped off of him soundlessly, not wanting to look at his expression. She didn’t feel any better, but she didn’t feel worse just…wrong. Cold when she turned to finally sleep on her own cot she softened slightly when Billy tugged on her wrist, motioning for her to come closer she obliged while looking around at their still sleeping team. Caught off guard when he kissed her passionately. His hands traced her face. “Fuck you’re so beautiful” Nina froze at the compliment. Now thinking how willing he was to this happening. It had been impromptu for both of them so why was he making it out to be so natural?This wasn't supposed to happen.
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It was strange coming to his clean apartment when hers was filled with blood money and debris. Her home was still an organized mess but it had been up to par with clean freak standards at the time. A stark difference to her trashed and current living space. “You had a call.” Billy came in with a sandwich, pausing shortly in surprise that she had already been leaning up. He sat on the bed, setting the plate next to her even though she motioned ‘no’. “Why didn’t you wake me up?” Nina jerked to attention the more she had come to. Lack of clocks making her rush to stand. “Figured it was better for you to sleep.” He cared too much. His tone was still gentle with its edge of irritation. “Aren’t you supposed to be working?” She exhaled as slowing her pace slightly while he shrugged. “I just got back.” He picked at the plate, looking up like a shamed puppy. Not really shamed at all though. “What?” Nina disregarded the state she was in, twisting from the blankets to stand. His schedule meant it was afternoon, not morning. “Jesus, I have to go.” She slid her pants on roughly, accidentally clenching her jaw from the effort and tearing up. Taking a pause to hold it in testing, closing her eyes to breath, managing the pain. “Why don’t you relax, have something to eat before you go.” He raised his shoulders, not understanding her rush. She didn’t clean the glass from Elena’s apartment and the woman was due home. “You have any Tylenol or something?” Nina rubbed her temple though her jaw was the issue. He paused, glancing at her fingers applying pressure to the wrong area in scrutiny. “I’ll get you a glass of—.” He nodded to the bathroom, glancing around the room for a moment.She walked into the bathroom herself to get the bottle, taking four dry.“Okay.” Billy had trailed off as he watched her. Drawing it out until he stood to guide her gently. She allowed him in her curiosity about what he was doing as he backed her up. “Who called?” Nina ran her hands to smooth her hair. Searching the floor for her shoes behind Billy. His hands waving her attention back to him. “We set your hips last night, you need to take it easy.” He forced her to sit on the bed. Hands on her shoulders while he went straight-faced. “I’ve been near an explosion before, Bill.” Nina rolled her eyes dismissively. “I didn’t know bombs wore 11’s.” He scoffed knowingly. She raised her eyebrow at the response. That was very specific. “Your jaw’s broken and you have a boot print on your back.” He shook his head quickly, dismissing her suspicions with it. “We don’t have to be anything more than what you want to, but you lying is something I won’t tolerate.” His stern tone was serious but she was in a different mindset than him. It was a weird point she kept going over with him since they started their...whatever it was... “You sound like you’ve been team leader too long.” She chuckled without thinking, ‘Commander Billy Russo.’ He enjoyed leading his men to protect his clients. “I’m serious about this shit.” He snapped, more exasperated than irritated but so was she. Motioning for him to continue, pressing her lips together to try. “You’ve been in the wind for a long time.” He started but she cut him off with a sigh. What did that matter? She was tired of it being brought up. “I’m getting my shit together, not all of us ended up running companies after coming home.” It slipped from her before she could stop it, shaking her head vehemently after. “That’s not fair.” She said it on his behalf, acknowledging the wrongness of it just to get back and clear her apartment. Search for another one while she finished the last month at her house. “You won’t let me help but you can’t stop me either.” Billy seemed full of energy for the topic, however. Still blocking her from standing as he himself stood directly in front of her. “Who called?” Nina couldn’t argue that so she changed the subject. Leaning over the bed, looking for her phone on the nightstand but was stopped when Billy held it up. “Says you know him as Nicolas, something happened outside your building.” Shaking it like she did last night but with less attitude, he held it out for her. Stepping back slowly as Nina stood and took the phone, happy it wasn’t Lucas.Billy scratched his temple, hesitating.“He says everyone took the deal.” A couple of voice messages she had to scroll through, back turned to him. ‘Good for them but why?’ Nina thought on it for a moment. Something major had to materialize as motivation if… “Shit, what happened?” She was ready to hear it, wishing she had spoken to Nic herself to avoid this nervous anticipation. “Your neighbor was…hurt.” It was Elena who convinced the others to wait, she was the new thorn in Fisk’s side. It all clicked at once. It couldn’t have been anyone else. “Hurt or dead, Billy?” Nina took a steadying breath, smile not reaching her eyes as she walked closer. Her fingers instinctively playing with his shirt as a small distraction. Straightening the already immaculate material to distance herself from the question she knew was important. She exhaled when he didn’t respond, answering for him.“Dead.”
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It was an outrage so the news was painting it. Like people as high up as Fisk gave a shit enough to be outraged. Silent when she filled her glass to the brim as though it was tea and not bottom shelf liquor. She was going to kill the man. His apartment easy enough to find. It had started with a deal, Lucas, an old acquaintance of hers, would find the murderer fast in exchange for a mission. Something she had shoved off as tomorrows debt. The information from Lucas paid off, a half-drunk call made at exactly 2:38 in the morning had been the first that actually worked in her favor. She crept silently around the couch to him, his friend just as gone as he was. His head bowed in his trip. She un-holstered her knife, the small ‘sss-link’ of the blade not even stirring the men.It did stir someone else however, a man in all black hit her wrist. Barely able to let out a low hum of momentary interest and tilt her head at the addicts reaction to whatever they took. Nina was forced to twist out of man in black’s way, catching the knife he forced her to drop.She punched him, though he caught her fist. Bringing her attention to him as he jerked it forward. “He doesn’t have to die.” He shook his head as though she was a kid and he was saying playtime was over. She got it perfectly well. Nina didn’t think he knew jack about why she was here. It was clear as day she was trying to kill the man and this stranger knew nothing about her reasons. ‘What did he know about it?’ Nodding in false-understanding, she headbutted him. He couldn’t have a chance to talk her out of it if he didn’t know her reasons. “You his protector? Another little bitch under Fisk.” He was dazed but his arms still lightning fast in his defense. She had a chance to just back away and shoot him, it was why she instinctively brought her leg up to kick… “Not with Fisk but this won’t change anything.” He blocked and she could tell he was prepping for another pause. He wanted to talk about it. It was annoying how he didn’t need a break yet he kept taking them, soon she would ignore the unwritten rules of brawls and just deck him. ‘How is he still going?’ She had never been one to tire easily, it had been her advantage at one point in her life, yet Nina marveled at how similar he twisted. Even more controlled than her and playing the best defense she had seen since that fixed boxing match years ago at Fogwells Gym, part of her reason for coming to Hell’s Kitchen. A bit of underground fighting for cash only hurt the losers. Her memory had served her right that this place was a place that one could thrive silently.Back to the Daredevil in question, he was taking the upper hand from her the second she provided an opening. “What do you know? Huh?” Nina had silently called her own break when she had let her curiosity brew. Elena died in agony. Her charts told her everything, the messy trail of shit leading her here told her all she wanted. She wouldn’t get near the body but she had read the report, he couldn’t gain access to any building if he was trying to be undercover in that getup. Not to mention his footsteps were atrociously loud for someone trying to creep around silently. “I know you would have shot me with that gun behind your back if you really wanted to kill him.” He was good but she shrugged, didn’t mean she couldn’t incapacitate him. A kneecap was not an options since he was quick but she figured in the right light she could clip a shoulder. Breathing harsher to keep up, pausing when he did to take a steadier stance. Her focus drifted to the unbothered men seated inches from them. “He owes it.” They were giggling at them. Nina tilted her head as her rage skyrocketed, they murdered Elena for this. She lunged for her victim again, the stranger in black lifting her by the waist and twisting her behind the part in the wall. “Who are you to collect? Or even decide that for that matter.” His other arm trying to restrain her knife. She wasn’t listening, growling in frustration. The men finally stirring but to look at each other for comfort at the guttural sound. “You don’t know shit.” She didn’t stop struggling until he tossed her to the other room the second she made a hand into the opposite room through the break. Force of her back hitting the ground leaving her no choice but to drop the knife like he wanted. Scrambling for a second before she jumped to her feet swiftly. “I know that I don’t wanna be forced to hurt you.” He sounded genuine but she didn’t care about his reservations, she had no plans that involved him having that control. ‘Why?’ Something else caught her attention though, how once she was subdued, he didn’t finish her. “I know you.” She grunted as she took a kick so she could punch his jaw. He avoided her now, stepping back but not away from the fight. Away from the topic of conversation. ‘Oh.’ Nina smirked, in all her years of interrogation, her tongue clicked arrogantly and she pointed at him lazily, sinking her arm down to take a refresher breath. “That voice.” Nina had tried to tie it to a face but failed, it didn’t matter to her. Whatever. She had other plans that didn’t involve an argument over this or playing Nancy Drew to some ass hat. “Let it go, just leave and forget you ever came here.” He took a step forward, she cleared her throat. “No. There isn’t any other way.” Nina could only convince him how determined she was to see this through. Eliminating a fair amount of choices on both their parts. “I am telling you, there is.” He waited for a long time before adding his response. So long she wondered if he was actually just waiting for her to question his identity was further.She made a run for the next room when she noticed he was listening instead of looking. The mask a minor tell to help her realize he turned his head to her when she spoke. He knew it was coming. Meeting her forceful shove with his own and pinning her. “Oh? Suppose I should just accept that huh?” She mocked him in her frustration. They were getting nowhere with this. “I can tell your wearing down.” He was panting too, she groaned under the weight he pressed into his forearm, his arm against her chest. Weighing her there but it went both ways. He had been losing strength as she lost stamina. “I can still kill him, doesn’t matter.” She kicked at his head, Daredevil barely moving in time. ‘Could still kill him.’ Nina shook the thought even as he pressed the arm to her throat. Choking her. “I am asking you to not kill him.” He leaned further into it and she knew he was growing as angry as her. “Murdock.” She rasped. She knew now. His empathetic history, voice, and mannerisms. “Please.” She tapped his arm. Rolling away the instant he let her go. She gulped breathes, looking at his tense shoulders. “Holy shit, your good.” Her hand rubbed her throat under her own mask. “No mistaking a voice though.” She didn’t want to keep fighting him. He was a decent guy, hobbies considered. Shit. Now she knew why he backed away at every given chance. “Just go.” Matt shook his head, shoving her half heartily away as he stood opposite of her. “This is all I can do.” Nina pointed at the other room where the target she was going to kill was. Maybe the other man too, just for good measure since he decided to partake in the drugs Elena was killed for. Nina was going to right that memory. ‘For Elena.’ Her neighbor and friend. The kind lady who made the apartments come together and strengthened an entire building’s moral. You didn’t get people like Elena Cardenas in every city. “I could show you another way.” He stepped forward, taking her attention away from the men while she scoffed at the offer. He wasn’t serious. Nothing could equal how she felt after tying lose ends. “It’s not easy but I can teach you if you leave him to me.” His tone revealed that he knew he was on the right track now.She debated it for a moment. It…could be better. Not killing. She never thought about any other options, they rubbed her the wrong way but his offer…she thought about how many people she had just gotten so angry with, uncontrolled yet controlled in most aspects of violence.Though, just because she was good at it, did that make it controlled?Nina realized she could learn new rules of the world she returned to out of habit. She’d never pass up a chance to learn.
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Twenty-four hours was all Nina could buy to find all she could on Mathew Murdock. Born to a boxer and a nun…speaking volumes about his certain ‘conflictions’. As far as she could tell though, his mother’s signature was only on one copy of the birth certificate. No school or hospital records. The accident involving chemicals had actually blinded him. Only a slight concern of hers. If he could fight, what did it matter if he could see or not? His father was interesting. Jack Murdock had clear ties, Roscoe Sweeney, aka the Fixer, aka now deceased from a heart attack following his arrest while Matt was in college. Nina made a small note of importance there to look back into it later. Roscoe’s henchmen, Sammy Silke, was still alive and kicking though. One of his aliases’s on the payments to Matt’s father just before his death. Not the easiest Nina had seen. After his father’s death, Matt had been sent to an orphanage. Not much there. College with Franklin Nelson and their internship at the law firm Landman and Zach. The most recent ‘associate’, their secretary, Karen Page, was a client from a previous case. He was holding such a great cover so far as she could tell.Almost genuine. Nina cleared her head when she fell short of how Murdock ended up being the ‘Man in the Mask’. If he wanted people dead then he was capable. Out of everyone he could have killed, the two who ended his dad were easy targets. Their lack of leads made Nina have to search through more complex reasoning. In the meantime, cleaning out Elena’s belongings took her mind to a simpler task. Delaying her thoughts being on herself instead. Start being in taking it load by load to the nearest thrift store so some could get more use of it. Clothes, furniture, books…All of it was Elena…she still had Vicente Fernandez on vinyl. Tunes that she could hear through the thin walls and though Nina had never noticed before, the woman had about twenty of little Jesus figurines scattered in the small apartment. Something in common with Mr. Murdock.Nina had never been religious but…a part of her wished for Elena’s sake that there was someone looking out for good people. Now, she sat in the emptiness of it all. Going over the small book of notes she had made for the past hour. The front pages took detail on people but the back was the personal Nina was avoiding. The third most important thing that she needed sorted through and somewhat focused on. Income: ten thousand left from the last job. Expense: Her current apartment, the house next to Frank’s, the apartments she had been looking at…It was easier to ‘organize’ when she had been pulling jobs left and right. Not even realizing how much illegal activities paid for just for her to have a peace of mind. Somewhere along the line, she had gotten spoiled with thinking she’d never have to budget like this again. It was clear how draining keeping that house had been. Curtis was surprisingly right in how irrational it had been when Nina could see one payment was enough for a decent funeral. It wasn’t ever a question of paying for Elena’s funeral, no, it was a question of what to do after. She planned on killing her murderer but that was halted for now. Whatever cash Nina was left with would only last for so long. She needed to know what Matt had in mind before she would buy new equipment for another job. Bullets weren’t cheap. Nina waited long enough in a dead woman’s home. She wanted to see Murdock in action as soon as possible, taking it upon herself to not wait on his call and go to his apartment.Twenty-four hours was enough to get a base on someone but analyzing them personally was much more accurate.
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It was disappointing how slowly Matt reacted. Sitting up from his couch while she was already perched on the arm of it, seating herself comfortably. In the back of her mind, she was curious if he could see the judgment on her face at his state. In the span of her absence, the man who kicked her ass was incapable of standing. Lounging on his couch with ice packs and looking as pathetic as she had when Fisk’s men jumped her. “Took the wrong shortcut?” Nina had rocked slightly back and forth in her impatience, maybe she should have slept a bit before coming here but he said he would teach her what he knew…now she was glad she came to see him. I mean, how could he if what he knew would lead him to the same place she was? Her jaw still clicked if she opened it too wide. “Stitches look clean, whoever did that for you is good at their job.” Nina tilted her head for a better look at his torso. Even lines connecting the wounds had her further impressed by his connections. She waited for his response. When it was clear he wasn’t in the mood for humor or small talk, she sighed.It was clear he went against Fisk’s forces and lost. They needed to figure out what they were doing here. “I asked myself all day why I would agree to learn from a man who takes…shortcuts.” She narrowed her eyes and played with the cushions. There was no way he was caught off guard or had a bad run of luck. The papers described his work in decent enough detail for her to know he didn’t do much recon. It meant that he was even better at timing if he just waltzed into places and started kicking ass. Sadly, it meant that the person was stronger. She wouldn’t have a chance to learn anything if they killed him. She still wasn’t sure if they still wanted to kill her. So, they both needed to get their shit together to plan. “Funny. I asked myself how I could teach someone who’s already so far gone.” He slowly blinked while looking ahead and she shook her head. His views were incredibly based on his upbringing at the church’s orphanage. She couldn’t imagine how he truly saw her. “I thought people of faith leave the judgments to god. God kills for those who don’t have it in them to finish.” Nina raised her eyebrows though he couldn’t really see the expression. He seemed a little caught off guard by the challenge to his faith. If he could use it to justify, then she could too. It was an old fucking book so anyone could. “You’re aligning yourself in the same category as god?” Matt scoffed slightly, seamlessly twisting her words like the good lawyer he was. “What? No, I—You want Fisk dead. Right? Are we on the same page with that?” Nina wanted to get the conversation back on track. Standing and crossing her arms, ready to start exchanging plans for the large man’s death. She looked him up the night he had the Russians drop her off. Not much at all on a Wilson Fisk or his assistant Wesley other than by word of mouth. Wilson Fisk. She knew from recent articles, a woman named Vanessa was most likely of interest. Fisk’s unnamed connections went deep with very important mafia’s and organizations of the city. “I believe we have a duty to stand up to men like him.” Matt shook his head like she still didn’t understand. This entire conversation was pushing her past her limit. Nina could physically feel her eyes growing cold as she looked at his bruises. “Fisk can take a hit, can’t he? I always figured a big guy like that…I bet he got challenged a lot growing up.” It was definitely a sour comment from Nina to reference Murdock looking like shit, but she did actually have the fleeting thought of what Fisk must’ve been like as a child…Kid probably rocked a Frankenstein costume every Halloween. Matt went silent once more but Nina couldn’t leave without a modicum of what she came for. “So, now that we’re talking, I thought you were blind. Intuitive to your surroundings, maybe…You were in an accident, right?” She didn’t feel concerned to withhold the topic. Especially when he managed to choke her out last night and she was curious was his scope of vision was. “I am blind, legally. All other senses of the word, not so much. I had been hoping to keep the people aware of that to a minimum.” His tone implied his hopes were dashed. “How many know about you now?” Nina didn’t need to team up with a loudmouth but he didn’t seem like he was just letting people know he’s a vigilante. Had Elena not brought her to his office and Nina personally met him, she would have never pinned him under all that spandex. “Two, maybe one more.” “I thought I was special.” Nina clicked her tongue in mock disappointment. She could work with three, herself included in those numbers. “Why are you here? Is it just to insult me?” Matt didn’t seem to have the patience for this either. “I was intrigued. You haven’t killed anyone yet?” Nina didn’t know why that was one of her first questions for him. “But you break them so, consider my interest peaked.” It seemed like he damaged people so severely and so often that he should’ve had bodies under his belt. That kind of restraint is incredible. “No, I don’t kill.” “You think that makes you better than me?” She didn’t miss a beat as she asked him. He wore no armor, no protection but sticks that could be tossed out of his reach. He was fast but human. Learning the hard way she supposed. It still gave him no right to look at her the way he did, leaned back on the couch, his top in tatters and covered in blood on his floor and thick gauze over the worst of his injuries.No, he wouldn’t go out and get hurt like that if he didn’t like hurting people too. They both like to hurt the right people so there was a start. “I believe in justice, and that anyone could come back in the right ways if they wanted to.” “Honestly, I had just been saying things so you didn’t kill that man.” He chuckled but more so to himself because it didn’t seem like her being there affected him. It was a bit difficult for her to accept that she knew he was lying to save the man earlier. Nina had no idea why she stopped and listened to him other than she believed the same. Only, her justice was final and she still had half a mind to visit the man again. The other half knew the truth of it.She wanted options…maybe she could find a way to be security for hire like Billy. Being a nurse was too much for her to handle, Hitwoman was not as simple as it had sounded at the time. Weighing on her in a certain way that she wasn’t comfortable with. Putting her on the wrong radars if they knew about her, she wasn’t a computer whiz, but she knew a thing or two about hiding in plain sight. If they found her, they had resources at their disposal.Independent security had a less heavy ring to it but she would need actual training.Billy did every day to keep himself sharp. Meanwhile, she had been drinking and playing paid protection to people she would have killed before…some she had…not her greatest moment but not the murders she had regretted. “If Fisk is involved, it’s a matter of time. Saving one guy didn’t even matter.” Nina wanted to know what Matt had to say about it. His team seemed to bond with Elena and whatever stance he chose now held weight. People have already gotten caught in the crossfire. “I know. Foggy talked to his friend in the police and he jumped from the building late last night.” Matt’s tone lilted as if he was implying she was involved. “Wasn’t me.” “Fisk is strong as an individual but he’s also got heavy contacts. He will go through all of them if he needs to.” Nina tilted her head. What could she say to avoid letting Murdock know she planned on killing him too? She shook her head at her previous thought, Fisk deserved more than just death and pain. He deserved an emotional hell. Who better than the devil of hell’s kitchen? Nina crinkled her nose at the nickname. It could have been worse. Plenty of criminals have statements on record of how terrifying it was to go up against Matt. Scared a few straight too. “Would you still be willing to train me?” She watched his reaction carefully, not even thinking about the tightness in her tone until after she said it. “I know you got shit but I…I think I could need this.” She tried to lighten the words. Half her mind thinking of her own uses to those kinds of abilities and the help they could bring her. He already said people could change and if she let him believe he could change her then maybe she would be able to move on. Gain a new hobby like a normal person. ‘Need to make my life worth living…I’m not even sure it is at any given point of the day.’ “There are a few things I have to do before we can start, I’m sorry.” Something told her that he wasn’t. Suspicions not helping her trust in him but his reasons could have been the standard. He didn’t want anyone else to get hurt trying to take down Fisk. Nina had to consider doing this by herself.
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"She was pretty, no?” Nina could feel someone brushing the hair from her face. A bit difficult with the blood having dried into it and almost cementing it to the bottom of her chin. Wince not allowing her to fully come into the pain she should be feeling. Mouth cemented together.
“We could ask Fisk to have her after?” Someone in the seat in front of her made the offer. Russian was a hard language to not recognize…When had she heard this? It was faded and felt like a dream. Like a nightmare as she couldn’t place when this had happened just yet.
“Utkin would break her, but it was interesting for her to last so long against us.” The man scooted closer and she could feel his hand on her side. The car turning abruptly to shoved her weight against him, a tongue clicking in disapproval above her. Driver apologizing disingenuously.
“Utkin broke everyone until you and Vladimir. I thought you meant to sell her, Vladimir’s trying to make up for what we were short before the meeting.” Nina tried to place the Vladimir they discussed. Hands feeling the seats to recognize anything that would spark her memory. Leather only a small clue without the ability to open her eyes.
“You—Stopped too early. She’s waking up.” The driver seemed more annoyed than nervous, even as he changed his own subject.
“He said; Alive. No sense in going past shutting her mouth—.” The man who sat beside her had stopped her feeling the handle of the door next to her. Twisting his arm around her shoulder and tightening to keep her arms at her sides. Just about taking the breath from her at the searing pain in her shoulder.
“—Sergei would do good with examples of control lately.” The last bit was spoken in actual Russian and Nina couldn’t translate past Sergei. Racking her brain for the injuries, finally able to place this situation. The night she refused Fisk’s offer.
“Well, others get to enjoy their benefits at parties.” The voice had scoffed but became silent at the click of a safety.
“That is not your concern, just drive.”
Nina had been able to move again, waking immediately to find the meaning of the weird memory. Why it had chosen to resurface now. Turning on the lamp beside her bed, feeling the residual pain in her jaw as she ground it in her thought. Not like she would get sleep without knowing anyway. Vladimir and Anatoly Ranskahov, both currently deceased, much to her disappointment. The Russian Mafia of Hell’s Kitchen was scattered by now. Everyone knew it. The driver stuck out in her mind, less likely to be on news than the two leaders but a second option. She could find this driver, he was close enough to know details of meetings between the brothers and Fisk. He would know who she needed to talk to. Eventually, Nina's mind clicked into something she had overlooked. Forgetting the politics of Fisk entirely, his community appearances were good opportunities. He was forced to be on his best for the public. She needed any other indirect option to take her away from her mind already planning ahead of itself when she found Fisk was having a benefit tonight. Going to a charity event for Wilson Fisk to find history on him was the last thing on her to-do list, not to mention the obvious high risk even Turk Barrett could understand. On one hand, Nina had confidence she could blend in long enough to get close to the man. No research on his history or connections necessary in order to get to him with bullets and a gun on her. On her other, public assassinations took work and sparks of luck.Also, she didn’t just want to kill him but ruin him. “I need you. This research is dead-end if I have no starting point. My shits all…screwy.” When she went to dial and came up blank she felt bad. Neglecting family that she hasn’t even seen in two years. At least her brain had allowed her to remember the contact eventually, only permitted two calls before Riley wouldn't answer the same number. “Why don’t you just admit I’m good at what I do? S’ is why I get paid.” Expert opinions were appreciated. The popping over the speaker let her know that Riley hadn’t stopped eating for this conversation. Sure, the money was great. Slight gouge in Nina’s side, actually, but Riley often questioned about previous people she had found for Nina. “I don’t have a huge frame of time to boast about your skills.” Even Nina thought it was weird Riley's interest had laid with being great at finding terrible people. College was supposed to put her on the right path, not teach her to be better at being bad. Though, Riley was exceptional at balancing both if Nina was feeling truthful to herself. “Sure, what or who am I looking for? A new easy money job or did you stop drinking for this week.” Riley had retaliated almost immediately. Always a sting in the right nerve. Her years of practice showing immediately as the statement had Nina hold her breath. Counting mentally to calm herself down.Nina didn’t always call because she needed something. “I’ll give you three grand if you tell me where I can find a Russian with ties to Anatoly or Vladimir.” Nina stacked the money on the counter audibly and chewed her nail away from the receiver. “You’re going to try and figure this one out on your own…” Riley had sighed dramatically and paused for so long that Nina had rethought her request in several other ways in the meantime. It wasn’t until she could hear the keyboards relentless clacking on the other end that she knew her first offer was accepted. “I’ll send you a new guy’s work. Passports are passable and the ID setup’s decent. Send pictures, it’ll take a couple of hours.” Riley waited for her confirmation as Nina took her time in dressing, only a few hours left before the sun actually rose and she was feeling energized to get the list she had to go through before tonight. Only responding when she heard the usual ‘Whatever.’ Riley gave her before hanging up. “Hey, wait…” Nina closed her eyes, slowing down. Mentally asking all the questions she hadn’t for so long despite knowing the answers. ‘How are you doing?’ ‘Are you safe?’ ‘Can I come see you?’ …It wasn’t safe if Nina made contact. She was still on rocky ground and on Riley’s terms. It was hard enough to get her to agree to yearly catchups, missing the last one hadn't been Nina's greatest moments. Especially since she had to actively disappear if she didn't want Riley to find her so there were no lies to be made. She still hadn't asked either. “What?” Riley sounded impatient and Nina snapped back to the phone in her hand. “Did you need anything? I wor—.” The dial tone was expected. Bringing a slight smirk to Nina’s face as she would have done the same if the tables were turned.
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“We have rules.” Riley’s tight-lipped smile was easy to imagine. Nina knew it would come to this. Riley couldn’t help but dig just an inch or two further past what Nina needed her to. She couldn’t imagine what she found out. Riley didn’t question Nina’s theft of confidential documents or guns. Most profits went to Riley for anything she needed. “You’re the younger one, I made the rules.” It didn’t go over her head the truth of the statement or how the rules she had made came back to bite her. Rule number one was to avoid her name popping up on certain circles radars, broken the night Fisk pulled her. Two, back out the second she’s in danger. Nina admitted she was the one who set up a majority of the bad deals but she kept herself out of serious harm so the lack of hospital records helped. Three, no killing unless it’s last resort. Nina had gone years without details slipping, lack of details not explaining the occasional disappearances but it gave her leeway. “I should tell mom and see what she thinks.” Riley was serious, Nina couldn’t find a response to that threat. Stopping in her tracks and breathing into the phone as she adjusted her grip on it. Riley wasn’t impressed with anything Nina did, having left a lot to make up for. Lack of contact, putting her sister and mother in danger in the first place. Though, in the beginning, Nina had seen the move as dramatic. Then, Frank’s family had been gunned down and she understood.Being without them was better. “Who am I kidding? She won’t remember anyway…we have rules.” Riley swallowed thickly over the line and Nina could have folded into herself with shame. Their mother was steadily becoming forgetful, new information easy to process still, but harder to keep a track of. Nina owed it to her sister to keep them separated and comfortable. “It was minor—.” “Vladimir and Anatoly were the ones who kidnapped you. They’re dead now. I wasn’t going to mention the others but these ones are serious.” Whatever papers Riley shuffled had torn slightly. Nina’s first thought was Riley ripped them on purpose. Groaning at the dramatics. “I didn’t have anything to do with them.” Nina doubted telling the truth would clear her. Only a bit of trust could help and she seemed to have used hers up. Nothing else she could say in her defense. “I was right to move us here. When I offered the first time, I never would have thought I’d be in this position now.” The statement hurt more than any insult battle they had exchanged. The truth that they both avoided. “I wouldn’t let…anything happen to you guys. You know that.” Nina’s voice wavered with emotion when she considered the thought. She didn’t want to lose any more than she had. Selfish enough to not cut the connection completely for their security. “You can’t keep doing what you’ve been doing. I won’t be a part of helping you anymore.” Riley lowered her voice and Nina could hear shuffling in the background. The door closing and the voice echoing in what Nina assumed was the garage. Waiting a long time for Riley to start again, Nina went about pacing along the path she had walked. “Brother’s records lead to a Wilson Fisk. This one’s record leads to the brothers. Leave it there, Nina.” Riley sent the copies to her as she said it, phone vibrating with the notifications as she held it to her ear. Guilt having Nina respond before she could think once again.“I will, promise. Thank you.” Nina had hung up with a detached feeling. Still looking at the man the profile Riley sent her, then looking up from her phone to confirm the man she was following was indeed the right one.
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“Don’t worry about that. This is just a friendly discussion.” Nina disregarded his concern at the waking up in restraints. His eyes trailing to the table of persuasion she had set up then around the large and empty room. Abandoned buildings do wonders for interrogation. “I have nothing to discuss.” He held his head high but she shook her head and clicked her tongue. Her fingers pressing the button on her phone and taking a few pictures of his clear but slightly sweaty face. Forcing herself not to physically perk at the sound of his Russian. Definitely, the driver who helped dump her a couple of blocks from her apartment. “See, that? That’s going to piss me off.” She pressed her lips together as she shoved the phone into her front pocket. She knew this could go a couple of different directions, yet, he thought she couldn’t make him tell her. “I’m on a bit of a time crunch. So, I’m gonna need something on Fisk here.” She leaned her hands onto his forearms, strapped to the chair and defenseless, it was kind of fun to make him squirm. Even nodding as if he had been in the same predicament before. Not doubting he had but relating to each other was difficult under the circumstances. “Now, I have these. If you tell me what you overheard while you were driving the brothers, I’ll help you go wherever you want—” Nina tapped the edge of the phone in her pocket to reference the pictures it contained. Passable for an ID and passport if he did as she asked. If not, they would be the last recognizable photos of him before he’d become another missing person in this city. “—Or I’ll peel your eyelids back and insert these into your skull.” She gripped the back of his head and held it steady, using one hand to pinch his eyelid up which had him still completely in concern. Especially when she took her other hand and reached for the thin metal rod to show him. “They had to deal through James Wesley. He is always there with Fisk.”
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"If he decides to keep staying out in the heat like this, I’m telling him Agent orange is personally giving him a Silver bullet.” Nina watched Gunner with anger as he laid in the heat, stomping over as best she could to the very edge of the opened tent. He kept drawing attention to their stint in the med-bay, something about it changing the once bright man. Hell, she was changed too but he needed to suck it up for both their sakes. “Something happen between you two?” Frank sighed and rubbed his head before following her. His eyes flicking down to her thumbnail pressed to her mouth though her face still ached. “No, why?” She stood a bit straighter and swung her arms down, time healing her ribs but the slight wince was covered by a stumble. It took her three weeks to leave the watch of Adam. All he wanted to do was play cards, the cheating bastard. She was a much better Field Medic than he was and yet she had to listen and report to him. Then again, he got to play cards and she had barely been cleared to return. Three broken ribs and a healing concussion was what it took for her to know she was doing this wrong. "I don’t know, you seem a bit hostile since you got back, that’s all.” He gave one last look to Gunner before he sat on his own cot, observing her closely for any lies. Nina licked her lips. It was dry in the tent. She thought about next week when the heat was supposed to be less scorching. It was affecting her patience with the brooding man. He'd dry out before their next mission and they needed every team out.Her absence was noted enough. Though, they had covered it expertly. “I am not hostile towards Gunner.” She leaned up, pulling her things from the cubby to find something else to do. Frank sucked his cheek, looking to Billy for help but he was already in his routine of getting ready to shower. "Alright, remember the stitches you gave us a couple of days ago?” “Yes?” She rolled her eyes. They were all messing around on patrol, graze wounds what they had to show for it like a couple of cadets. Gunner had gotten the deepest. He had also wanted to show her what he had been doing there but she cut him short. He seemed just fine up until he saw her back in the Med-bay tent. If he didn’t want to stay, he wasn’t trapped here. Nina paused as she thought the same thing…until she was. “You damn near shoved the needle through his arm.” Frank shrugged with her, adjusting his pants to remove his boots and pointing a finger at her. Sometimes the old soul in him really shot out when he was making things clear to her. His parents must have taught him that move. “Nuh-uh.” She disagreed half-heartedly, a couple of needles and they turn into babies but the burns from the bullets were a marvel of their tough masculinity. They'd forget all the bad shit eventually and only remember the in-betweens. Go home and wipe their hands clean. She was busy thinking how he would have been trapped here…what he was involved in that she didn’t already know about. Why he had been in the tent in the first place when it was supposed to be just her and the cadavers. Instead, there were five other people there, including him. Why was he there? “Yeah, whatever. He’s a big guy but take it easy on him is all." Frank finally leaned back, laying his head on his arm and forcing her to come closer if she wanted to continue the conversation without including everyone else. "It's not his fault you got hurt on your mission. Why'd you take a solo anyway?" Frank seemed to think she wasn't capable and that hurt more than not being able to tell him what really happened. Nina faltered and couldn't think, flashing back to the pain. “No, they had an argument before that. That’s why you never irritate the nurse's man.” Billy spoke while he got ready for his shower. Tying his bag as he glanced over his shoulder at her. She crinkled her nose at him. He knew she hated that title. She earned more than the title of ‘nurse’. “It could be a lovers quarrel.” He pointed to her with his toothbrush before sticking it into his mouth. She noticed he ground it against his teeth harshly despite his grin. Nina covered her face and groaned. “Oh good lord, I am not fucking Gunner.” The height difference alone made it more of a hassle. Not that it mattered. A tent over had more than a few amenable women who were interested in having as much fun as they could to ignore the shit they had to do. Actual field nurses, not that Billy could tell the difference apparently.They all did what they could to keep it together.
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“If you wait any longer I’ll give you a GI shower, Gunner.” Nina had been lounging outside next to Gunner trying to convince him to relax under the shade... for the past hour. He was determined to dehydrate under the hot sun in his thick uniform instead. That would just leave them with his BO smelling body to deal with and there was nothing left for the wicked sunburn he was going to get. “Seriously, take care of yourself.” Nina ducked to speak with the man discreetly, he was drawing attention to himself. The more they talked the more it brought them to everyone's attention. “Aren’t you bothered?” The sleepy glaze from his eyes was long gone while his dark circles overcame the man’s image. He should be delirious about now. “Gunner—.” Nina warned but he leaned up in a harsh tone, glaring behind her at the few who watched their interaction. “I ain’t gonna sleep so peaceful when you could disappear in the night. Any one of us.” He shook his head while he stood tall suddenly. Neck angling at everyone within range in distrust. “What does it matter?” Nina gaped at him in irritation, her tone was exasperated, only accented by her arms swinging with an empty fury. Pushing his chest firmly. He needed to get over it like she had but he just kept at it. “How could you say that?” He looked crushed but she felt he was unjustified in his pity, quite frankly, it was pissing her off. “It's simple, Gunner. You're overcomplicating things.” She didn’t look at him while she said it. What happened to her shouldn’t have cut him this deep. She got time to heal and move on and she’d take it just to be alive. “Do you really feel like you’re so insignificant? You’ll just stay and finish it out, huh?” His response stunned her to silence, she had forgotten how empathetic he was.Choosing to focus on this error instead of the truth interpreted from her words. This was between them and them only. Telling anyone or breaking down was not an option.
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“Hey, you just kind of left before we got to talk about that message.” Billy had called her three times, in a row. So, she had answered on her way back from Matt’s thinking it was urgent. “Oh, nothing to talk about. It was just some neighbor.” Nina had to roll her eyes, unable to change her tone into something more convincing. He was the one to get into the shower as per his tight ‘schedule’ and she had already gotten dressed to leave. It didn’t have to be a thing. “Well, once I get this done, I can stop over?” It didn’t sound like he was on his cell phone but crackled like it was a walkie or something similar. Occasionally a rustling like underbrush came through. He was probably working for a client. “Yeah, whatever you want, Billy.” Nina was just as busy with re-building herself. Almost to her now vacated apartment building…another thing for the ever-growing checklist, apartment hunting. Why he wanted to spend time in the ‘shit-hole' he judged constantly was beyond her at the moment. They’d probably just go eat a late take-out dinner. “I saw there was a…” Billy trailed off for so long that Nina had pulled her phone away and checked to see the call was still steady. “If you’re busy then—.” “No, I—I was saying there’s a benefit for some guy in Hell’s Kitchen. I was going to go after finishing this contract.” All in one sentence from Billy, she had deflated slightly.The only benefit being relevant right now was Fisk. Obvious reasons aside, she couldn’t just go play posh when there was actual work to be done. “Uh, why would you want to go there?” Nina had to divert him, other, less intimidating options had to be available. “A lot of old money is gonna be there. Companies don’t just fund themselves and I don’t know…” “…We could go together.” She couldn’t tell Billy no. The importance of it had her pausing both in words and in her stride. Then, she would have to explain Wilson Fisk and that entire situation, and he was more than likely to be upset she didn’t tell him earlier. Nina needed to work on her prioritizing.
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“You okay?” Nina only asked him once they had come inside. The way they had lingered in the giant room had his face of confidence melting so to speak. The task they had felt even greater and more urgent than Nina had thought. “Never been better.” His eyes bounced over everything and everyone. “Yeah? Tell your face.” She pinched his cheek, chuckling until he smiled with her. They could do this. He wanted this kind of life for himself and she had enough experience right there next to him. “You still smell like gunpowder.” Nina brushed her hand over his chest. There was no legal way they could have afforded the outfits they had on tonight. She had a suspicion that he stole them with how he had hers laid out for her when she arrived to his place. They both had rushed to get dressed and out the door, establishing their tardiness with silence as they prepared. Coming out properly ‘disguised’, Nina worked on her hair on the way so Billy could explain the path he found for them in the blueprints and the common layout of event security. Both of them slipping in with no issues. “None of these people know what bullets smell like. Just look at them.” He looked at each one with envy in his eyes, then back at her quickly and smiling as if she hadn’t already guessed he was actually enjoying this scene. “They rotate the same security for predetermined levels of protection. You get what you pay for.” These were the people who he was going to sweet talk into his business plans. “It means a lot to me that you’d come with me.” Billy looked her over with approval, already apologizing twice on the way for the short notice. His hand rubbing her back lightly to not smudge the makeup they had applied. She felt slightly guilty for dismissing him on the phone earlier. “How could I miss swindling these assholes?” Nina didn’t know how effective his plans for his company were, as she hadn’t seen them, but she was confident that Billy would be able to convince these specific people. Seeing him light up wasn’t so bad either. “You only need about five to get a steady contact list from there. There’s a promising one swaying at the bar already.” Nina nodded over to the man. He had a son here as well if Billy couldn’t lock it in. Unmarried and unpleasant but not a challenge for her. “It’s gonna be hard enough to sell when these people are all here to open their pockets for him.” Billy buttoned his suit and nodded behind her. Not even swaying her concentration from Billy. If Nina made a peek Fisk could just as easily recognize her too soon. “Come on, you’ll do great. Best bullshitter I know.” Nina wanted this to work out for him. Even as ordinary as they were, they deserved certain chances too. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “What is it you are intending to convey with interrupting this night?” Wesley brought her a drink, but it was the only thing he did to cover his questioning. Pushing it towards her in distaste. His eyes flickering over to a focused Fisk, mingling before his speech. “I’m here by chance, I’m not planning on interrupting anything.” Nina couldn’t help but purse her lips at him. She knew more than the average person but now she needed a chance to regroup and follow the lead to Wesley carefully.This event only put her on his radar. “I would be very careful how you act tonight; your very presence is an interruption. If I’m honest, my employer has a low tolerance for them this evening. If I’m truthfully honest, no tolerance at all.” “I’m showing that I am no threat to him or his campaign, Wesley.” She had to calm down, his ‘orders’ coming from down his nose at her was only a show of dominance. Rolling with the edge of the line she walked, she leaned closer to him from her side casually. “See, I may not be able to say his name…but yours just rolls off the tongue for some.” She watched Billy across the room, focusing not on him but the area around him in case Wesley saw her focus. Taking her glass and smiling to herself at her restraint in walking away. Weaving through people and meeting Billy once she was confident Wesley had moved on. “Who was that guy?” Billy took the drink from her once he ended the conversation with the older woman. His hand lightly touching her elbow as he whispered the question in her ear. “He was trying to sell me on Fisk. I think he’s an assistant or something.” She shrugged, switching the hand she held her drink in out of slight nervousness. Her appearance finally on her mind despite the scrutiny she had in the mirror prior to coming here. Bruises were covered in nicely blended foundation, the dress didn’t feel like it matched her but Billy had her size down pat. “Two down so far. I was right about these people coming to spend money, charity investments help cover their illicit history. I’m starting to think this just might happen.” He rushed to finish his drink then set it on a waiter's tray. His hand coming from her elbow to rub her arm in reassurance as he smiled proudly at her. She held her breath at the look he gave her. Waiting for him to continue with they would be able to leave soon but his eyes caught sight of someone behind her. “He drank the glass his date gave him about twenty minutes ago so we might want to get him now or it’s not gonna happen.” He was on a roll, pulling her to the next socialite prey before she could even take a drink. “Louisa? Is that you?” Nina moved to hug the woman, pleasantries of forgetting someone who may be important had to woman hugging her back out of instinct. “What—who?” “You okay, sir? You don’t look so good. Let’s get you some fresh air.” Billy took the empty glass from him and guided him away to the entrance. “Laura? Shoot, you look familiar. I know that I know you from somewhere.” Nina crossed her arms and prepared for a long and meaningless conversation. One-sided for the most part, the max amount of time most people could stand to waste is 10 minutes. Maybe longer if Nina gave the woman a chance to explain who she was.
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Their coordination was fantastic until someone had screamed. Nina looking for the cause as she ducked. Billy rushing back to her just as people started to panic around them. Everyone shuffling in all directions. “What’s happening?” Nina looked around and swallowed, people were collapsing all over the building. Her head swiveling as her hands lifted her glass to finish it and then get the hell out of here. “Don’t—.” He smacked her glass from her hand, thin shape shattering against the hard floor. “What the hell, Bill—?” “Did you drink it?” He grasped her wrists and tugged her closer, inspecting her face as if she was capable of lying. Nina shook her head vaguely, trying to think back to whether or not she had a chance for a drink all night. “Nina, did you drink any of that, huh? Hey, ans—.” He rushed his hands over her cheeks and forced her to look him in the eyes, seeing his concern rise the longer she took to respond. “N-No, I didn’t.” She looked at the glass reflecting the puddle on the floor as if she could see more than just the spilled champagne. Whatever else was in there must have been strong. Looking around as if Wesley was sure to pop up, rubbing his hands deviously like a movie villain to prove he had a hand in it. “You’re sure?” His eyes flicked over to the people collapsing on tables and to the floor. No one registering the situation until they ended up joining the poisoned. Nina nodded and still scanned the crowd for Fisk. His speech had only been moments before and he gave his thanks to his girlfriend, Vanessa. Where were they? “Let’s go.” “Bill, wait. They need help.” He ignored her as he tugged her in front of himself to better push her along. Past the foaming mouths and rush of panicked people. Glasses dropped everywhere. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ They sat in the car for a long while until Billy was able to calm down. His panting ending with a small huff. Nina let him think. Seeing him shake his head after chewing his thumbnail. “I’m still over by the—.” “I’m not dropping you off there, they’re taping it off in a few days to be condemned.” He didn’t glaze his tone. Nina accepting it easily, knowing Fisk might be gunning for her now anyway. Tonight was a mistake, she should have just told Billy no. “I’ve been looking for a new place since I’ll be selling the house.” She desperately wanted a change of topic but the need to finish the personal one was too strong. “I thought they paid off the tenants to leave. Didn’t you get money from that?” He looked over at her suspiciously. He was keeping a mental track of her funds. Knowing her expenses well but unable to explain the income and where else it was going besides her bills. “Yeah.” Nina couldn’t tell him why she hadn’t been paid. Simple answer enough to keep the drive silent and cancel out future questions about it. She was lucky enough to keep living at the moment since she failed to convince them to take the money the first time around. There was still time enough for her to change and check on Matthew. She wanted to see what leads he had made, with her being seen at the benefit and the suspicion from the poisonings, not a single thing was coming up for Nina.
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“I’m sorry for taking you there.” Billy followed her into his apartment after rubbing his face, hanging his head in shame after closing the door. “You only got two. I should have helped you more.” Nina knew he needed more but so did she. She needed to keep being a ghost, not some bourgeois armpiece. It was the one place they couldn’t fit in their relationship…friendship. “I got a free meal out of it.” She shrugged, setting her heels down by the door while he worked on his shoes. “You can keep the dress too, don’t think I have the need for it.” He looked up at her as she snorted. The thought of him in a dress had crossed her mind more than she’d like to admit. Especially before she knew him. He was definitely an organizer. “Me either, have you seen this?” Her hands touched the soft fabric. It’s not like she had many places to wear it. Billy shrugged off his jacket and removed his bowtie, carrying them down the hall to his room. “I thought of you when I did.” He spoke to her over his shoulder and it forced her to follow. “It’s a bit much. Too much for me.” She weaved around him in the hallway when he stopped to furrow his brows. “Why?” “I-I don’t know, I don’t need gifts like that.” Unzipping her dress halfway to alleviate the pull of it around her chest. Watching Billy shed his clothes down to just his boxers and undershirt. “C’mon, Nina. It’s not a big deal, we both know I stole it anyway.” He tossed his clothes into his hamper, shaking his head as she had it all wrong. “I need a shower. You mind?” She rubbed her arm and felt the concealer finally starting to sweat off. The rubbing only making it like eraser shavings. “Here.” He rummaged through his drawers and handed her a small stack of clothes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ “Your turn.” Nina offered, laying on the other side of his bed to wait for him but also just to relax. She’d move to the couch once he was done but for now, she could close her eyes. Not turning once she was situated in case he wanted privacy.She felt the bed dip behind her. “I washed up earlier.” She could imagine him waving his hand as dismissively as his tone. Her body following before her mind could catch up and sitting up to move to the couch. “You can stay.” He didn’t give her a chance to fully stand up, tugging her back down and holding her wrist while they laid side by side. “It’s nice just having you here. Knowing you’re safe.” “You’re one to talk. Personal security for hire? I thought you hated the scars we got and yet you volunteered for more.” She shifted to face in against the pillows. Talking with her eyes closed and her hands coming up to cover a yawn. Folding them under her head, furthering her mind shutting down. Just on the edge of sleep so voicing her concerns was easier. “Don’t worry about me.” His finger traced the bruises that were starting to show from her fight with Matt. Moving around her neck lightly then tucking her hair behind her ear.
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Matt met with one person. And his entire life was on record. Melvin Potter, dragged this way to community mental health services and then over to jails and eventually prison. A follower. Every opportunity given to him he took, it was just that he couldn’t tell which were right or wrong. Profiling him was easy. Finding him slightly complicated because it had been by chance she saw Matt or the devil of hell’s kitchen sneaking in here.She wasn’t going to wait and see if he would tell her about the connection to Fisk. “Ma’am, you shouldn’t be out this late. It isn’t safe.” She couldn’t see past his broad shoulders while he slid the metal door down. He would be hyper-aware of her exasperation if she showed any inclination to it. The men she had paid little mind to lurking behind, doing a 180 once they saw her two blocks ago. Now, they were waiting to follow her further, watching the exchange in a way that Nina couldn’t help but notice wasn’t like typical kidnappers. They knew her. “Well, you’re out too.” Nina smiled at Melvin, pointing at the door. He noticed the men too, standing straighter. Clearly thinking about going back into the shop to avoid conflict but she had to keep his attention. “I’m looking for a store? Moving company or something.” She held the paper she had made beforehand, knowing it was exactly here but the safest play was often the ‘dumbest’. People made mistakes all the time and tended to be more compassionate about helping someone if they’re alone. Less group mentality. “There are two men waiting for you down there.” He ducked his head low to her and whispered, waiting for her response. Eyes snapping from them to her and eyebrows pulling in to display his slight confusion. Scratching his neck when she didn’t move. “E—Everything is closed now.” Melvin wasn’t the type to just send her on her way and Nina wasn’t finished convincing. Still giving small signs of the nervousness she knew she was expected to feel as she shifted her weight. “I really needed some help.” She sighed heavily, glancing behind served as a vague connotation to what kind of help exactly. “Moving things?” “Yeah, it’s too big a job for me.” Nina moved with his comfort level. He was big but far too empathetic so she wondered what his involvement was. “It’s not drugs, is it? Cause I—I only do couches and—and furniture now.” “I do have those, no drugs.” As far as he knew she was fresh out of some weird place where people her age stayed ‘new’. “…I could help.” “It has to be tonight, I have work to finish tomorrow.” He added, looking back at the door and taking a step towards it. “Oh? What do you do?” He opened his door and she tilted her head with a smile, distracting from her eyes trying to pry their way into the workshop. Whatever the hell it was in there was hidden by darkness. “I make things.” He smiled in return, blocking her view with half his body. “I can get the truck from inside if you wait here.” He pointed for emphasis and she sighed low under her breath. She was so close. Taking him out was a quick flash of a thought that she dismissed. Instead, crossing her arms to seem smaller and looking back where the men waited for her. “I can’t come in?” Nina had almost had him with the move but he shook his head. Well-practiced in keeping whatever was inside a secret, however much empathy he had. “I—n—No, I’m sorry. I’ll be quick.” “Okay. Thank you.” She pressed her lips together as she formed the end to be open, offering her hand. Mind planning how to get rid of the lurkers in the meantime. What she had to adjust for was going to take time and privacy. Melvin would let it slip eventually. “Melvin, I’m Melvin.” “Nina.” “I’ll be quick, Nina.” He shut the door firmly before looking back to where the men were. They were definitely Fisk’s men. Being here following a lead meant she had few options on what to do with them. She’d have to think about keeping her body count low after Matt trained her. His morality was his own setback to figure out in the meantime.
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Melvin gave her a deal. He thought she was working with Daredevil but he was working on a suit for her in exchange for their ‘deal’. If Matt didn’t want her in his business he should have been straight with her. Going through Foggy and Karen’s records next to see if he had been in contact with them was what he earned. Coming up nothing but bereavement until she clicked over to Karen’s. Karen’s message to Foggy was like a beacon though he didn't respond. She went to Fisk’s mother. The man who held those bonds in the highest respect. It was her one up on Fisk and the worst route to take but it did prove one thing. Karen was resourceful. “Karen, I hear you're working on a case against Fisk and I think I could help.” Nina paced across the crosswalk, the list of people actually willing to cross Fisk was not a long one. She needed just the one-way in. Even excluding Matt’s trust in the beautiful woman, Nina knew Karen could be a great contact. The only mark against her was not admitting her true identity but Nina could understand more than anyone wanting to keep the past in the past with that situation. Nina felt a bit of luck seeping in and had to remind herself that just because she went through their phone records, didn't mean they would be willing to help. Especially being Matt's friends. “Karen?” Nina checked her phone, seeing nothing wrong so the hesitance was there. “Meet me at Josie's bar about an hour before close.” Karen sighed in compliance but Nina felt giddy. Redirecting that way, practically bouncing her heels.
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Karen wasn’t at Josie’s and it was just closing. Everyone weaving out helpful in seeing who remained. “Wow, long night Foggy?” Nina approached him carefully. Judging by his face currently laying on the bartop, she figured it was best to give him a minute. “Who are you?” A sturdy blonde in heels swung her barstool around and looked her up and down. “Lookin’ for Karen, you see her tonight?” She tapped Foggy’s back and he groaned. Only bringing his hand up lazily to wipe at his face. Groaning an answer in belligerence. “She went home.” The blonde’s main focus stayed on her phone. Fingers rapidly tapping until she snapped it shut and stood, lifting Foggy from his stool as well. “Everyone is heading home. Out.” Josie tied the trash bag shut and pointed to the door impatiently. “Wait—um, I need to know where. She has my keys from earlier.” Nina ran her hand through her hair, tapping her phone against her hand and looking as hopeful as she could. “Foggy bear, phone.” The blonde frisked him and Nina looked between the two, wondering how long they knew each other. He seemed— “I feel sick.” His head lolled back onto her shoulder. “Here.” She swiped through it with no issues, showing Nina the screen for all of 30 seconds before Foggy leaned too far down and she had to help prop him up. “Thank you, you need help?” She motioned between his soon-to-be-dead weight. “No, I'll drop him off just fine.” The woman just shifted. Tapping his back and waking him up enough to walk with her.Nina could hear her warning him about puking in her car as she paced away. Karen’s apartment is within walking distance of the bar and their office. Nina went to knock on the door but she was stopping by Karen’s keys were just outside her door. Nina didn’t have the time. It took her four hours to get into two phones. Dialing in a panic. “Hey, trace a number for me.” Nina looked around for signs of a struggle and ran a hand through her hair. “Do it yourself. I said I was done.” Riley scoffed on the other end. “R—.” Nina hadn’t even gotten far before the line went dead. “No, you—fuckin brat.” Scrolling through her phone, all previous calls to Riley had been deleted or marked as blocked. “Okay, I can do this. Don’t have time for the bullshit but yet here the bullshit comes.” Her fingers shook and she thought about it. It couldn’t have been just a mugging because then Karen would have still been here. Kidnapping was possible but the list for that was broad. Karen was investigating Fisk but would he go through the trouble?
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James Wesley’s phone location lead her to a Warehouse. The same Nina was taken to, though this time it was almost a cliché paired with the kidnap van. Pulling the car up next to it, Nina was checking the interior of the vehicle when the gunshots were what caught her attention. One at first, followed by five, much more determined ones that had her pace much more urgent. Nina rushed inside with her own gun raised to see Karen was seated across from the corpse of James Wesley. Covering her mouth in shock and processing the situation with the gun still in her hand. “Give me the gun. Don’t just shove it in your purse.” Nina shook her head and moved to the shaky woman’s side. Looping her arm under her shoulders and taking the gun from the blonde. “What? I don’t—.” Karen had first rushed one way but backtracked jerkily to wipe the table down, giving Nina time to empty the shells from the gun and click on the safety. Pocketing the shells then sticking it into her waistband, keeping her arm wrapped under Karen’s shoulders to guide her from the table. “Here. I parked over this way.” Nina used a bit of force to help Karen along. Opening her passenger door and looking to see if they had drawn the attention of anyone else. “I killed him. I woke up in there and then the gun was there and his phone rang…” Karen’s features scrunched as her voice caught, slowing her down and even Nina grew impatient with guiding her to duck into the passenger seat. Shock not going to let anything sink in until she was ready. “Yeah, good job.” Nina scoffed and reached across Karen to do the woman’s seatbelt.Some of the ironies of it were not lost on her, having been in a similar situation. Yet, she got her ass kicked and Karen killed someone. “What do I do?” Karen stopped Nina, hands going for her wrist and finishing her seatbelt herself. “What every other person does in this city.” Nina walked over to the driver’s side and got in, settling before looking at Karen seriously and covering her face with her hands. Taking a deep breath and taking them away to exhale. “Let’s go to the pier.” The small shrug of Nina was entirely natural. Raising her eyebrows in question and waiting for the list of cons about to be reiterated to her. It wasn’t a surefire way but it would have to do for now. “I’m an awful person.” Karen held it together for a moment then snapped. Sobbing with no shame and Nina had no idea how to help her. “Why’d—you—you’re not a bad person. Stop.” Nina had started the car, checking again to see if there were any current witnesses and Karen was not in a good place for Nina to be able to drive. “I am. You have no idea.” Karen tried to steady her breathing, looking at her as if Nina had never done something like this. Like she had never done what Karen had done and killed a brother. Only, Nina could tell now that it was entirely accidental for Karen.Nina felt the need to break it immediately. Bringing her hand up to the woman’s flushed face to make sure it got through. “What you did tonight was what you had to do.” Nina explained it slowly and Karen breathed deep. Shaking still but no longer struggling to catch her breath. Removing Nina’s hand from her face when she was ready and leaning into the passenger seat. “Karen, you aren’t bad. I would know.” Nina leaned forward and tried to regain eye contact and understanding but Karen curled in on herself. “Now, let’s go throw it into the fucking ocean and get you home.” Nina knew they wasted too much time in getting out of there but she felt for Karen. The woman was in her head the whole drive.
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After stampeding her way through the door, Nina followed Karen into her apartment. Closing the door and locking it behind her while Karen made her way through the kitchen, clutching a bottle of cheap but hard liquor and after finding its location exactly. Gulping deeply in a way that made Nina wince. “Hey, slo—.” Nina reached for the bottle after the third gulp. Karen held her mouth and let the large portion of alcohol settle, furrowing her eyebrows and becoming pale so fast Nina couldn’t take a step back in time. “Don’t.” Nina’s arm came up to grip Karen’s blouse in an attempt to stiffen arm distance between them. Karen gagged and puked on Nina’s entire front. Covering her mouth and sobbing an apology.Fuck.This wasn’t her shirt. Nina avoided the foul liquid covering her right arm and rubbed her brow with her left. Coughing and looking away from the pile between them. “It’s okay, just take a shower and I’ll clean up out here.” Nina collected herself, jerking the sink on in impatience and soaking her arm longer than necessary in the silence. “How can you say that? It’s ‘okay’.” Karen hit her back against the wall and slid down it. Wiping her mouth on her sleeve. “Well, you got towels right here so—.” Nina left the sink running and grabbed the first one she saw, dunking it under and wringing it out. Opening the cupboard underneath the sink and pulling out a spray bottle. “What? You know that’s not what I mean. Jesus—.” Karen's upper lip curled in disgust. Hitting Nina deep enough that she snapped without thinking at the sight. “Stop being so fucking stupid...Karen, I already told you. Remember? In the car.” Nina lightened her tone and breathed deeply. Slopping the towel over the mess and crouching next to the blonde. Karen was soft. It was one of the things Nina liked about her. Soft people tended to lean on their morals. “Don’t look inward on this. It was you or him and he pulled the short one.” Nina made sure to catch Karen’s eyes as she explained. It was utterly unavoidable. Nina should have never asked for Karen’s help. Now, they had to keep smart and if Karen couldn’t process then Nina would have to do it for her. After this, Nina wouldn’t involve Karen. If Karen told Matt then…fuck. “Shower. Then, I’ll take your clothes and burn them.” Nina held Karen’s elbow and pulled her back to her feet. Grabbing the towel’s edges and cupping the puddle to the center to wash down the drain and repeat the process again. “You’ve done this before—I—That’s why you’re so calm.” Karen gagged and covered her mouth. Nina froze with the spray bottle in her hand. Busying herself with the tag. All-purpose…kitchen and bath cleaner… “How many? You said you were a nurse in the army.” Karen looked at the floor and then back to her, stepping forward into Nina’s line of sight. Nina avoided it and wrung the towel out once more, kneeling to spray the spot and wipe thoroughly. Karen had no idea it wasn’t just in the army. She was just putting the previous two-and-two together so Nina needed to breathe. Stay calm. “How many have you…I can’t even say it.” Karen leaned against the sink. Trading spaces with Nina, still trembling and pale in shock. “It hasn’t been anyone who didn’t deserve it.” Nina whispered the answer but her focus was on the floor. Towel full again but she would have to look at Karen. She was good and if she looked at Nina with the same look of disgust again, Nina couldn’t take it. “That’s not for us to judge.” Karen sounded understanding but the judgment was still there. “And who’s is it? God’s? You sound like…like some higher power gives a shit about what happens down here. What we have to do to survive.” Nina caught herself before she slipped. It was like arguing with Murdock. Why couldn’t they understand? “People like Wesley, the ones who hurt others for power, not survival…you can’t tell me they deserve chances.” Nina swung her hip to move Karen herself, rinsing the towel and spraying her hands down with the all-purpose cleaner as if it were hand soap. “I’m saying it isn’t up to us.” Karen sounded so much like Matt right now, Nina felt a tinge of jealousy. They had no idea how alike they were. To have someone understand you on that level…she tried one last time with the woman. Looked straight at her and the breath halted in her chest.Nina understood it now.It wasn’t unavoidable. Karen had actually found something before Nina had asked to help. Maybe her call to Karen was what Wesley caught. Either way, it was clear to both of them that Karen couldn’t handle this. Nina had enough on her plate considering her house was sold and now all her belongings were currently in a box truck where she slept when not crashing at Billy’s.A large part of the money had to go into another place but she was looking for guns. Ammo. Anything to get a jump on the man. “He would have killed you and not thought twice. Whatever you dug up against him, bury it or prepare yourself. Two options left.” Fisk was going to be unhinged without the help of Wesley. If he found out he was dead then there was little time to fix it. Nina looked at the kitchen knives for a moment to further her point. In a dog-eat-dog world, there was no place for a kind-hearted journalist. Even one as different as Karen. The blonde looked at it as well, her bottom lip trembling and tears welling until she closed her eyes. Breathing deeply then reaching for the hem of her shirt. Handing it to Nina and rubbing under her red eyes. “Fisk killed his own father. His mother told me.” Karen sighed, unzipping her skirt and balling it up as well. Nina nodded at the angle Karen had tried to play. Perfect for a journalist but not very useful to Nina unless she planned on kidnapping some old lady to draw Fisk out. Murdock wouldn’t train her then. “Here.” Karen walked to her drawers and pulled out a shirt. Offering it to her, Nina shucked the borrowed shirt off, creating a pile on the kitchen table and changing while she thought. “I’m heading out. Call me if you need me.” Nina turned to unlock the door, tucking the clothes close. The sun was coming up and it would be harder to explain a fire during daylight hours. “They tore down the building today. Where are you staying?” Karen stopped her with a soft hand. “I’ll be fine.” Nina pressed her lips together and nodded her head toward Karen’s bathroom.
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“I was wondering when you’d be in.” Billy leaned into the doorway slowly, catching just a glimpse of her before leaning against the counter to wait. “It’s been cold. You want some coffee?” He offered the cup to the hand still clenching her hat. Rubbing her other hand through her hot scalp and shaking her head. “No, thanks. Probably gonna shower and sleep.” She waited for a beat and avoided his eyes, usually, he was upset she hadn’t called in a day or two. She set the bags on the floor next to the counter and started to rifle and find the one for the bathroom. “Nina.” Billy leaned on the counter, biting his lip and looking at her from top to bottom. He was only letting her stay here out of pity. Speaking of, she set the envelope down on the counter for him. Pulling the money from it and making a small pile next to his coffee. “Yeah?” She called it behind her. Making her way to his shower when she remembered it was his shirt covered in Karen’s puke. The strong smell of whiskey still coming from the crumpled fabric. All Karen had was a crisp work shirt for her to borrow but Billy’s was probably ruined by now. “Where have you been?” He looked at the crusty shirt with disgust and shook his head, eyes drifting up to the one she currently wore that didn’t quite match her dusty jeans. “I’ll wash it, sorry. I was with a friend, she’s going through some stuff so I stayed over at hers for a couple of days.” “What’s this?” He had carried the cash right behind her, peeking into the bathroom to see she hadn’t undressed yet so he welcomed himself in. “Bill money. Yeah, I sold the house so I figured I’d pay up on what I owe you.” She pointed to it and then looked back into the mirror. Not the worst she had looked, just reminiscent of a good night out. “Looks like you could use some hair care.” She looked back at him through the mirror and smiled, his pause in finding the right insult not lost on her. “Right back at you. Stay out of my drawers.” He left and closed the door behind him while she booed his poor comeback. His last comment just marked more curiosity in her but she knew he was weird with his belongings.Probably from growing up in a home.
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“You don’t have to work today?” Nina rounded the couch while Billy lounged on it. Entirely relaxed and turned another page in his book. He had changed into some sweats and a t-shirt. Nearly the same as her except her wife-beater gave her more range of motion. “No, thinking about heading out for a drink later if you want to come with me?” He didn’t look up from his book, though she could tell her was watching her from his peripheral as he let out a small laugh when she shook her head. Probably expecting her answer. “I’ve still got to get some sleep.” Nina rolled her eyes, laying the towel she was drying her hair with over the arm of the couch with enough momentum to smack his arm. Knowing the wet fabric was out of place and would irritate him. “If you start now you can get five or six hours.” He checked his watch and furrowed his eyebrows at her. His eyes drifted across her arms at the small bruises littering her. She pretended not to notice. “That’s not the point.” Nina shook her head once more, rubbing her palms together. Slightly embarrassed she couldn’t get her brain to slow down or her shoulders to un-tense. “You can’t sleep.” His head tilted knowingly. “I can’t sleep.” Nina pursed her lips and shifted her weight, both sitting in the irony of it for a moment. They learned to sleep anywhere, anytime. He caught her sleeping with her face on the metal bottom of their lockers before. Not even hers, their bunkmates. “I got cards around here somewhere.” He leaned his chin on his chest, stretching his arms and groaning. Nina let her judgment turn to humor, tapping her hands on her thighs then shaking her head and going to the cabinet under the TV to look. “Are you gonna play with me?” Nina kneeled down to get comfortable in her search and cringed at the double meaning. Glad she at least wasn’t looking at him. “I could, but I’m reading.” He said it slowly as if she missed it for the first time but his attitude made something in her want to push. “I’ll take it easy on you. Come on, it’ll be fun.” Finding the pack, she stood and turned. “Nah, you cheat. I made you a sandwich. BLT with egg in the microwave.” Billy’s eyes flicked to her over his book, setting it open across his chest. Repositioning his legs across the table and sitting up to watch her toss the pack of cards back onto the table and step into the kitchen. “Thanks.” Nina could even tell he toasted the bread so it wouldn’t get soggy. Mouth watering at the sight and popped it back in for a few minutes. Leaning her arms onto the counter and lifting one leg in a lazy balance of comfort. “What are you reading?” She waited for a beat to ask, looking back to see him thrust it back open across his chest and roll his eyes. “I was reading a book, Nina.” He stared at her. Daring her to continue interrupting his peace. Nina kept eye contact. “No shit, what’s it about, William.” She carried the hot plate and semi-warm food back into the living room. Kneeling on the floor next to the table to carry on the conversation instead of sticking in the dining room. Either he was getting better at cooking for himself or she was starving. “How long you planning on staying again?” He narrowed his eyes as she leaned over the plate to minimize the crumbs falling as she shoved the food into her mouth. Egg yolk dripping and forcing her to set the sandwich down to lick her fingers. “Just a day or two. The usual.” Nina thought if that. She couldn’t stop for long and risk his safety. With Karen out, Murdock was her only choice and she had to catch him before he healed enough to get back out there. Billy looked at her for a long moment, features settled into something she couldn’t understand. Finishing her sandwich instead. “Can’t stand me already, huh?” She smiled carrying her plate to the kitchen and rinsing it. She was already too comfortable here. Coming back to sit next to him on the couch, bouncing slightly as she felt the dead weight of her bones. Stomach full and no longer covered in grime. “Stay as long as you want. I don’t care either way.” Billy surprised her when he didn’t scooch closer, tone even and truthful. “I’m looking for another apartment. Maybe something closer than Hell’s Kitchen so I can borrow your ‘Dorian Gray.’.” She was the one to readjust, peeking over his shoulder at the title of the book and smiling when he offered a better view. “This one’s different. Book of short stories.” Billy nodded to himself, noticing he had her attention and continuing. Describing it from the very first page until he reached the middle of the book where he was currently. Nina’s eyes drifted closed the second he started trailing off in his explanation. The cushion next to her had dipped and she unintentionally curled up next to him. Goal more in curling up into herself with him being an innocent bystander. The past 14+ hours had caught up and her body chose to shut down for her. Billy had stopped talking when he noticed her head dropped from his shoulder to his chest. No idea how long she had been asleep but seeing how deep into it she was. He traced her hairline, coming down to her chin to hold it and push his thumb against her lips. Pausing for a moment to take in her features. Cheekbones are more prominent from drinking without the nutrition to back it up. Her eyebrows were starting to grow back in from the lack of care and her lips were dry.He still gazed at her like a goddess.Only he could see the potential for beauty underneath. His hands had drifted over her arms to touch the bruises he noted earlier. They were fading and he didn’t notice any new ones forming. His fingers teased the edge of her tank top in contemplation if it would be too far. Deciding it would be but only if she woke. Lifting slowly, he was relieved to see nothing more than smooth white skin until Nina shifted. Her hands covered his and pulled it back down. Still resting over his, Billy could tell she had bruised knuckles. Dry skin broken. His thumb gently stroked over them as he gave up scrutinizing. He couldn’t guess and she wouldn’t tell so he was better off just focusing on the now.Now, she was here.Warm and relaxed against him.
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When she woke, it was the buzzing of her phone. Cracking her eyes open and squinting at the bright screen. A few swipes turned her phone to dark mode in order to read it with less strain. Clenching it in her hand to tuck it under her pillow.‘Coming to collect tonight?’ - Mark “Nina?” “Hmn.” She rolled her shoulder free of his hand and burrowed deeper into the crease of the couch. Extending her legs with a series of pops. If she fully opened her eyes, she wouldn’t be able to ease back into sleep. Her brain already listed the reasons why she had no time for personal comfort but the smell of the pillows was another factor entirely. “Nina, you still want to come with me?” Billy set his hand over her shoulder, tone rising past the whisper as he waited for her answer. “No.” She shook her head, opening her eyes to see him all dolled up. His white t-shirt was still wet in some spots from his shower. “I thought you’d be up by now, you okay?” Billy reached over to turn on the lamp. Crouching next to the couch, a waft of his hair gel and cologne entered her nose. Deeply inhaling the familiar scent and finally opening her eyes. “What time is it?” Nina yawned, checking her phone again before he could answer and pulling herself up. Not like she was going to slip back into it now. “It’s only 7:00. I thought you’d want time to get ready.” “I can’t, I got a thing tonight. Gotta check on my friend.” She grabbed a pillow and shoved it against her front, letting her eyes drift close while she hugged it and prepared to get ready. Brush hair, teeth…dress. “My clothes are in the truck outside.” She groaned, muffled by the pillow. It was cold outside but not enough to be dramatic. It was more the fact that all her remaining items were inside the truck and have been for a couple of weeks due to her procrastination. Billy was kind enough to let her stay as long as he had. She’d probably crash with Curtis once Billy got tired of her. “Want me to grab em’ for you?” He pursed his lips and looked toward the door. Nina shook her head, pushing her face into the pillow harder and thankful she had showered her makeup off already. How could he afford such nice pillows? “I’m good. Just another minute.” She could vaguely hear him walk back down the hallway. “I’ll be back around 10:00, leave the door unlocked for you.” Billy had tossed some clothing at her on his way out. Tugging his sweater on and swiping his keys from the counter with a jingle. “Thanks, Bill.” Nina ignored the irony that he had no issues with her borrowing clothes, as long as he was the one to give them to her.
'I'll be there.' - Nina
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“You got a lot of guys out there for just a dropoff.” She wanted to tuck her hands into her pockets and smile. However, seeing old friends outside of combat did nothing but harshen her reality of it. How had she not noticed the brotherhood didn’t extend outside of their service? Looking at Mark now, she could see it on his shoulders. His eyes held no loyalty. “Nina! Jesus H.” He held a hand over his chest. Eyes circled the room to confirm she was the only one in the room with him. “Yeah, of course, shit’s changed since I last saw you.” He tried to lean against his desk casually but they both felt the wheels turning. The air was thickening with dark intentions. “I’ll bet. Where’s my payment?” Nina tightened her grip on the gun in her pocket when he nodded behind her. “It’s in the duffle over there.” He looked at it as if she would take the bait. “Mark…I wanna know about what you got for getting me here.” Nina walked backward and pulled her hand from her pocket to lift the handle and bring it with her. Setting it on his desk and over his own gun he had resting there. Picking up one of his papers from his tidy stack. “Wesley was there for Fisk but who else would be interested in what he’s building? Those aren’t his men.” She brought her pinky nail from her mouth and focused on the paper in her hands. Waiting for the simple answer but growing uneasy in the prolonged silence. Only half reading the paper now but it was clear it was a statement for private security. “I helped you months ago and you haven’t said shit to me until today. I’ll ask again in case you missed it the first time—.” Nina pointed at the door languidly, moving her eyes from the paper to see the sweat bead on his brow. Fuck. She hated being right... “—Who else?” No distractions. Nina pulled the gun from her pocket and removed the safety, cocking it back to fit comfortably in her hand “I got money for your guns. That was the deal.” He didn’t seem to be bothered by her weapon pointed at him. His own hands rose with his palms open in surrender. “I didn’t ask for money, did I?” Nina paused to breathe at the offering. Her impatience was rising, he sold her out and expected her to just sit pretty? No, she was owed more than cash. She wanted to know what he did. “And I didn’t ask for all this trouble. Nina, believe me, this is a favor to you. You should count this one as a loss.” Mark leveled his stare at her, breathing heavily as his hand shot out to grasp her wrist. Nina followed his train of thought and twisted her gun to her other hand. Clicking her tongue at his failed attempt to disarm her. Using the flat edge of the gun to pop it against his temple before she could control herself. “You can let me cash this in then be done with me. We don’t have to go there.” He hissed through his teeth and cradled his head, rubbing his temple roughly. His eyes bounced to her bag and his fingers twitched. “Oh we do, you got 15 seconds then I am done with you.” She clicked the hammer back, hand steady, and aimed toward his head. If he went for the gun, she wouldn’t hesitate. Outmanned or not. “Shit.” Mark licked his lips. Looking down at the barrel of the gun once more. “Gosnell was working for Owsley and they had someone as insurance against Fisk.” It took her a minute to process what he had said. Two-face Gosnell? Frank worked with him and Schoonover for a while. She had been home when Gosnell was injured. “Gosnell?” Nina repeated the name and tried to picture what he would look like now. Without the bandages. “Who is Owsley?” She tilted her head in question. “I don’t know!” His voice broke in pitch and she narrowed her eyes to him. Shooting past his ear as a warning for the lie. Alerting the men just down the stairs but she had already locked the door behind herself. “Business guy, Gosnell needed the cash. Simple as that.” He shrugged and she couldn’t argue. Not only was there no time, but she had also used the same excuse before. Hurting and maiming people.She needed the cash. Simple as that. “Thanks, Mark.” Nina breathed deeply and flicked her gun back to safety. Tucking it in behind her back into her waistband then grabbing the duffle and his gun underneath. Footsteps in unison outside the door, the knob rattling then booming when someone threw their weight against it. “They’ll make it in here quicker than you can run.” Mark sounded genuinely concerned about it and if she hadn’t made the mistake before, she would have trusted him to help her. “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about me.” Nina shot his leg without a second thought. Right into the meat of his thigh. Blood gushing in a way she knew she aimed true enough to hit his femoral artery. Leaving his curses behind herself and kicking through his glass window.
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“Don’t point that fucking gun at me. I bet your depth perception is for shit.” She didn’t want to shoot him. Tilting her head to get a good look at the reconstructive work he had done but the lights were low. His hands were shaking and she regretted doing this in the middle of the night. His adrenaline was running higher than hers. She wondered if he still had nightmares. “I haven’t seen you since basic. Mark said you’d be on your way.” He looked her up and down while she waited for him to load the pistol, checking the chamber, and taking the safety off. “Yeah, long time, huh?” Nina had shrugged, feeling it was natural to the conversation. He had his still pointed at her so it was only fair. It was becoming too comfortable of a position for Nina. “They’ll kill us both.” He hadn’t shot her yet and she had thought twice before firing her own. Hesitation allowed for a standoff. Clearly, they both had better things to live for. “The only reason I didn’t kill you already was because of Frank, you piece of shit.” Nina narrowed her eyes at him in judgment. His blonde hair and fair skin only accentuated the red rims around his eyes. Never got around to dyeing his eyebrows though. She vaguely remembered calling him a discounted ‘Spike’. “Frank. You don’t know shit about Frank.” He laughed uncontrollably, shaking his head at her with his eyes wide in genuine disbelief. His hand came up to his chest and rubbed when his face turned red. “Gosnell. Don’t make this more complicated than it has to be. I just want a couple of answers.” She warned him to rein it in. Considering his body language before relaxing on her own. Looking over to see the source of his unhinged nature sitting atop one of the tables. “How long?” The one baggie she had picked up was one of a handful. Just stacked and ready to distribute as if they were in a movie. However, the personal use was implied by the setup he had just next to it. No rubber bands and syringes but a residue on the nearest table. “I just use it to sleep. Sometimes for pain.” He shook his head, sighing heavily as if he had been over it with others before. He lowered his gun and walked her over to the table. “Compliments of the recently deceased Ranskahov brothers. They got caught up but we still had all this…’product’ to get out.” He thought for a second, rubbing over his hair with his free hand. “This one’s marked different from the Russians. It's a different paint or something.” Nina couldn’t recall the exact symbol they had but she knew this wasn’t from them. She fingered the bag and recognized the label. Her nail scraped the logo’s outer edge off when she went over it. The chalk-like texture was similar to the smooth, almost printed bags the brothers had. Similar but different. Rushed. “Closest production site burned down. A lot of players in this.” He pulled it from her hands with an attitude she didn’t appreciate and tossed it into the stack. “Players like Owsley?” Nina asked what she already knew and cursed herself for not asking what she didn’t. He wouldn’t have been direct anyway. “I did what I was told. Making the rounds, check on some old broad, make more rounds. Rinse, repeat.” He emphasized the first half and Nina understood. He didn’t have anything else to give but his all. He needed direction. Any direction. She could believe him when he told her his daily routine. “Why was the old lady important?” Nina chewed her lip. “Doesn’t matter, some reporter found her and they moved her. As I said, the closest production site burned down. I hear it was Daredevil. She’s probably in the wind.” He shrugged and she bit her lip. Wondering who the old woman was and why she meant so much to Fisk. Karen must have been kidnapped by Wesley because she knew. Matt was going through the same links she was but Karen was on another level. “Times out. It was nice to see you, Nina.” He moved away from her. Holstering his gun and setting his hands in his pockets. The air behind her feeling full was the only indication of another person. Their strike fell the second she had stepped away. Nina grabbed the masked man’s arm and jerked it behind himself with momentum. “Who the hell is this?” Nina waited but he refused to acknowledge her. She struggled to keep the arm in her hold. Unable to follow Gosnell as the masked individual struck again. Twisting Nina’s arm behind her back so she could face Gosnell one last time. Positions entirely switched. “You’ll tell me all of that but you won’t kill me yourself?” She leaned forward in spite of the pain she felt in her shoulder. Proud of the reaction she got from him. His steps halted as he huffed. “I didn’t tell you shit and I ain’t gonna kill you. Far as I’m concerned this didn’t happen. Favor to Frank.” He smiled at her and she could tell where his scar tissue started. A literal line was drawn down his face and his skin texture was coarser. It made him look like a classic villain. “Get her out of here.” He paused then turned once more to pull her gun from her grip. Emptying the shells into his hand and pressing it back against her chest for her free hands to grab. If she wasn’t restrained, she would have headbutted him. “For your sake, I hope I don’t see you around.” Gosnell’s face portrayed all business. Not a single emotion was revealed. Nina felt indifferent. Her capacity for violence had just gotten started but she had to rein it in too. She got what she came for, and they didn’t have to be at each other’s throats. Just passing through. It was a loose end and felt entirely foreign to her but...It didn’t have to be tonight.
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Nina looked up at the building and to where his window was. The lights were out, if he was home he had most likely settled by now. She wouldn’t bother. Opening the back of the truck, Nina climbed inside and flicked the battery light switch on. ‘You still got your key, right?’ His question was so perfectly timed with her doubt, but she had already rationalized staying in the truck. ‘You lonely Billy?’ Nina couldn’t help but smirk at the text before she sent it. Shrugging off the shirt she wore and dumping the bottle of water she bought onto a cloth to run through her hairline. Digging through her prepared duffle bag to find her makeup wipes in an attempt to clear out some of the sweat and dirt clinging to her skin. ‘I’m just wondering if you had the time to stop by. You good?’ ‘I’m safe. Might just stay with another friend with how late it is.’ The mirror was anything but kind to her. Not that she looked rough but she had looked better for sure. After attempting to smooth her hair, Nina headed for the star-marked box and pulled out a bottle of whiskey. ‘You want me to come get you? I can head out now.’ He wasted no time on his offer. Nina closed her eyes and took a drink. The first swig did nothing but make her mouth water and her mind went to all the times Billy helped her to bed. He took care of her enough. ‘No, I got it figured out. Thanks though.’. The way he looked at her sometimes made her stomach turn…it was something like disappointment. She used to let it go. He didn’t like the way she dressed or acted but it was her. The second swig, she just stared at herself in the mirror. He liked something about her. Even just appearance-wise and now he looked at her as if he knew she could be more than what she saw now. She looked between the bottle and the small mirror.There was more than enough that happened tonight, she could just finish it. Smoothing her hands over her face to confirm it was indeed hers. Nina took a gulp and decided to pull a small bag from her duffle. Pulling out the necessary brushes and product, she went through the motions of her makeup. Routine. They learned it before. Once she was done, she took another hard look at herself in the mirror to inspect it. No clue why but…it was making her feel worse. Even with her face on, it didn’t make her feel anything. Her eyes drifted down to the bottle that made her feel warm. She realized her bra was the same standard. Nothing normal but not her best. Her phone vibrated on the makeshift table she had placed next to the sleeping bag. The few necessities she did keep. The name on the caller ID had her inhale deeply before answering. “Yes, Bill?” Nina didn’t have the time for his check-in. It was difficult to get a train of thought going and she wanted to wallow for a second. Just a goddamn second. She pulled the clean pair of jeans over her legs and reached for her top. “Just making sure you weren’t kidnapped. I’m surprised you answered if I’m honest.” Billy didn’t seem to mind her clipped tone. His own was no more than a whisper. “I’m fine, you don’t need to worry about me.” She had decided to settle for a minute or two. Unrolling the sleeping bag with ease and shifting until she finally found a comfortable position inside of it. Curled in on herself with her eyes glued to the blank metal wall as it shifted back and forth slowly. The silence followed the line for a long time but neither of them had hung up yet. “Nina.” Billy had a small clanging of dishes against silverware on his end. Running water stopping “Come upstairs.” He hung up on her before she could refuse. Wondering how he could know she was just outside with no windows in the back of the truck and the light dim enough to not seem through the bottom edges of the door. Either way, fuck.
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“If I come in for a few, am I off the hook? You’ll stop calling me?” She leaned against the doorway, looking up in time to see his eyes rolling. Pushing the door open and grasping her hand in his to pull her inside and down the hallway. “Come on. I made you something.” He smiled proudly but she felt something was off. When has he ever been good at cooking? The food looked unburnt and was already plated. Also, it was after midnight. “So, how’d your night go? That thing with that friend.” He reached across to pour her a glass of wine. Even though she knew it wouldn’t mix well with the whiskey, she downed it in the way she knew he hated. His eye twitched, he crossed his arms and leaned back but Billy smiled as he waited for her answer. “It was long. Didn’t get puked on tonight though so that’s something.” She shrugged, digging back into the food to make this quick. It didn’t help that it was actually good. “Ah, sweet. I don’t have to toss another shirt.” He flicked his eyes across her top, pressing his lips together when he realized it wasn’t the same one he had let her borrow earlier. “You want something to wear?” His eyes scrutinized her from top to bottom just as she realized it didn’t make sense for her to still be dressed light this. He ‘night out’ was supposed to have ended but she looked like she was ready for another. “No.” Nina sucked her cheek, dipping her thumb into the sauce and bringing it to her lips. Rudely pulling the bottle from in front of him to pour herself another to clear the taste. “I can move the truck so it’s not in your way.” She couldn’t look at him as she said it. She had more than overstayed her welcome with him. “Nina.” “Seriously. And you don’t have to let me stay here, I can crash at Curt’s or my friend Karen’s.” Nina flicked her eyes to check his reaction and was shocked to see him fuming silently. His hands tightened on his elbows as he held them across his chest. His eyebrow flicking up in question her only indication she was going to get an earful. “It’s like 30 degrees out and you're wearing a T-shirt. Trying to sleep in a fuckin’ U-Haul. What is so bad about me that you can’t just walk up the stairs and use the key I gave you?” His smile was completely gone, shrugging as if she was supposed to make it make sense for him. “I don’t need your help.” She pushed the plate forward and embraced the wave of dizziness coming on. Pulling the front of her shirt away from herself jerkily to try to aerate the heat she felt. “I didn’t say you did. I said what is so bad about me that you won’t accept my help, Nina.” Billy wouldn’t stop until she was mean about it. He’d keep pushing until she gave him what he wanted. “You just love this, don’t you?” “Love what?” He looked at her up and down and untangled his hands, putting them on the edge of his seat and pulling it forward to scoot closer. “This constant back and forth. The fuckin’ looks you give me all the time.” She pointed between them before hitting her hand on the table, pointing at him for example and if she had a mirror she would have shown him. “I don’t give you looks. That’s my face.” He shook his head but it didn’t clear the attitude or tenderness underneath is initial frustration. “No, you look at me like I’m more. Like I’m more than I am…but I’m not, Bill.” Nina leveled her eyes to his. Willing him to understand and just…stop. “You saw me at my best and that was it. That’s all I had. After Maria, Frank, the kids—.” She didn’t have anything left. They were family. She kept reaching for it with Billy but it wasn’t the same since Frank. “What about me? I’m sure as shit still here.” He scoffed and opened his hands in offering. Looking down at them to make a point that he was real. ‘But he wasn’t there.’ Nina looked down, chewing her lip to stop the wavering. Feeling the tears fog up her eyes but thinking of being downstairs in her truck before he had called her up here. She wanted to backtrack so bad right now. “Hey, don’t do that. Come on.” He reached out to grasp her hand and pull it closer to himself. Nina couldn’t feel the tether in her own world. In her own world she told him it wasn’t the same thing. Thanked him for dinner and left. “I just wanted to make dinner, Jesus Christ.” He ran his other hand through his hair and brought it over his face. She felt bad for causing him all this stress. Humming to herself. If she actually cried, it would ruin her makeup and then there goes her carefully crafted disguise. “There’s nothing wrong with you, Billy. I mean that.” She was firm. Pulling her hand from his and wiping underneath her eyes. “I mean, your kind of an asshole sometimes but I love that about you.” Nina chuckled but the tickle in her throat had come up. Breathing shakily to get back on track but failing and letting out a couple of sobs. “I just can’t love you right now.” She couldn’t explain it at the moment. He wouldn’t understand what she was doing. She was making it too complicated by doing this. Answering his calls and coming to stay with him. It felt like she didn’t have a choice though. She didn’t have anybody but him. Billy waited for a moment. She felt his hand tuck her hair behind her ear then hold her face. His lips pressed against hers while her world felt teetering. She would be lying if she said it didn’t make her feel better. Going through the motions without thinking, she kissed him back. “So don’t.” “You don’t have to love me now. It’s okay.” Billy pulled himself from his chair, slinking down to his knees and kicking it back so his legs weren’t trapped under it. Giving him the space to inch closer and come up to kiss her, his hands resting on her sides then going for her zipper. “Billy.” She felt like she was using him again. Feeling the déjà vu and remembering how it had worked out last time. “It’s fine, Nina.” He paused and caught his breath heavily. Pulling his shirt over his head, nodding to her jeans. “This okay?” His fingers went for the clasp again. Nina nodded without thinking until he pulled the waistband to catch her full attention. “Say it.” Billy looked at her seriously. Settling his forehead on hers then leaning back onto his knees. “It’s okay, Bill.” She whispered it so low, she hadn’t expected him to immediately jump into action. As if he had been waiting years for her to give in.