"We're still rotating through assignments most of the time, but post-battle cleanup has become our priority," Matt Murdock explained. "After Jabiim, Ultron went dark. Only sporadic reports of sightings since then."
"Matt, are you certain it's wise for you to be moving around like this?" Chirrut Îmwe's concerned voice came through the holocomm. "Weren't you injured recently?"
"I'll be fine, Chirrut," the lawyer by day and Devil of Hell's Kitchen by night said calmly. "This isn't the first time I've been involved in something like this."
"But this is your first war," Baze Malbus said wearily.
"Isn't it everyone's first galactic war?" Matt responded. "At least we're still standing, Baze."
Chirrut hummed thoughtfully, the corners of his mouth curling upward. "I trust your friends are recovering well? Have they all been released from medical care?"
"Fortunately, yes. Captain Rogers was discharged from the Temple's medical wing a week ago," Matt confirmed. "The rest of us are operational. But what about this sudden reinforcement from Jedha you mentioned?"
"Ah, yes. The Mandalorian Protectors," Chirrut said. "Some of Jedha's leadership felt that given the galaxy's current state of tension, bringing in the best help available would be prudent."
Baze added gruffly, "We don't have many Mandalorians under contract—just a newer mercenary group calling themselves the Skull Squadron."
"Skull Squadron?" Daredevil repeated. "They sound... intense."
"Indeed. Not the most inviting name, but their actions speak for themselves," Chirrut said with a slight smile. "They appear to be working partners with the Protectors and have been instrumental in maintaining the appearance of peace."
"Appearance being the operative word, and—" Baze interjected.
"Panic. Widespread panic," Daredevil finished quietly. "I'm surprised we haven't reached that point yet."
"People understand more than they let on when survival is at stake," Chirrut observed. "I sense this clearly. If they were to give in to hysteria, matters would only worsen. But... Baze is correct."
"It's not much better here," Daredevil admitted. "Every day I hear the Senate floor filled with politicians screaming at each other about how to respond to this Ultron situation."
"They're facing an enemy beyond their comprehension," Chirrut said. "An enemy that recognizes no allegiances."
"That's one way to describe a genocidal, extinction-oriented murder machine," Daredevil said with dark humor.
"Mass extinction," Baze repeated, his tone heavy with disgust. "Is that truly Ultron's objective?"
"This isn't the first time he's attempted it," Daredevil revealed, startling his two friends. "He tried this back on Earth—our Earth. If Ultron's been in this galaxy since the Avengers arrived..."
"Dark times approach," Chirrut said solemnly. "I fear not even the Force can reveal what comes next."
Silence settled among the three of them, a sense of foreboding filling the space around them and extending across the entire galaxy.
This had been the galaxy's atmosphere since Ultron's initial assault and subsequent victory at Jabiim.
Daredevil sighed, breaking the silence as he tapped his cane against the floor several times.
"I suppose all we can do is stay connected and keep each other informed, no matter what happens."
"That seems to be all we can do," Baze grunted in agreement.
"We'll stay in touch, my friend," Chirrut promised. "Should anything occur..."
"I'll let you know. You do the same."
"Take care of yourself, Matt." Baze offered a slight bow before he and Chirrut ended the holographic transmission.
The blind Brooklyn lawyer shook his head and left the communication room.
"How did it come to this?" Matt asked himself quietly.
A few months ago, he'd taken down a major crime lord on Earth. Then he was recruited by the Avengers. Now he found himself in the middle of a galactic war.
The Devil of Hell's Kitchen briefly recalled one of his old mentors, Stick, and how he used to speak about a coming war. He was fairly certain this wasn't the war Stick had been talking about.
Daredevil stored his cane and walked through the Jedi Temple's corridors toward the quarters he and his fellow Avengers occupied.
He passed several Jedi Knights, nodding to those who greeted him. Then his enhanced hearing picked up a familiar set of voices coming from the room ahead.
"Are you sure you don't need help?" a female voice asked, concern evident in her tone. "I know how busy you've been, I just thought—"
"Don't worry, babe," a male voice responded reassuringly. "You've got your own responsibilities and people who need you, and I've got mine. If I did need help, you'd be the first person I'd call... after the Avengers, the Jedi, and the Republic military."
"Sam~~" the woman's voice whined playfully, causing the avian Avenger to laugh.
Daredevil couldn't help but chuckle to himself.
The exchange continued for a few more moments until something on the woman's end caught her attention.
"Oh, I need to handle this," she said. "Can I see you later tonight?"
"You promised, didn't you?"
Though he couldn't see it, Daredevil was certain the woman Falcon was talking to was smiling radiantly.
"I love you," she said sincerely, and Daredevil had to stifle a laugh as he heard Falcon murmur an "I love you too" back to her.
He chuckled to himself and knocked on the door before entering.
"Sam," Matt nodded in greeting. "Was that Dani? I heard her voice."
Falcon shifted awkwardly, which made the blind lawyer smile with amusement. He coughed and muttered confirmation that it was indeed Dani.
After Falcon returned to Coruscant with the team that rescued Cap, the Avengers had witnessed an amusing sight—a rather attractive pink-skinned woman practically tackling Falcon and kissing him passionately. Apparently, she'd been worried about him not staying in contact, and she didn't give him a chance to respond because she just kept kissing him.
Spider-Man seemed to recognize the woman, as she greeted him warmly after releasing Falcon. She was incredibly excited to meet the rest of the Avengers team.
When asked about her relationship with Falcon, Dani had surprised everyone by jumping into his arms and declaring herself his girlfriend.
The Avengers were somewhat taken aback that Falcon didn't reject the notion—he admitted he'd actually developed real feelings for Dani.
This, naturally, was met with more enthusiastic public displays of affection from the lady in question.
Her species was Zeltron, known for producing pheromones that attracted those they were drawn to. When Dani explained how she met Falcon, it was rather like something from a fairytale.
During the Zillo Beast rampage, a limb from the massive creature had struck the balcony where she'd been standing, and Falcon had swooped in to catch her mid-fall.
When she described him catching her like a hero from an old storybook, the reaction was almost instantaneous.
This only fueled everyone's teasing of Falcon, though they could all see on his face how much he genuinely cared about the way Dani acted around him.
Based on comments Matt had overheard, the pilot had nothing to be embarrassed about—in War Machine's own words, she was "ridiculously gorgeous and way out of all our leagues."
So Falcon's pride remained intact.
"She's just checking on me," Falcon said casually.
"She seems to do that often," Daredevil observed with a smile.
"Yeah..." Falcon rubbed the back of his neck, and Daredevil noticed his flushed face and upturned lips. "She's really sweet."
"Have you taken her out on proper dates?"
"Yeah," Falcon confirmed.
Daredevil frowned slightly. "You're certain she's not just using the pheromone thing to—"
"That's what I thought initially," Falcon interrupted before Matt could finish. "But... she's more than that."
Daredevil remained silent, gesturing for Falcon to elaborate.
"She's actually doing what I used to do on Earth," Falcon said, his expression and tone becoming more earnest. "Since this war started, she's been meeting with refugees, clones, and soldiers from various planets, getting them to talk about what they've witnessed during the conflict. Helping them process it all."
"Like your old work at the VA in D.C.," Daredevil said, recalling their previous conversation about what Falcon did before joining the Avengers.
"Exactly," Falcon said with approval. "She's got a good heart. She genuinely cares about people and wants to help them."
Falcon shook his head, looking almost bashful. "Don't think I've been much help to her, though."
"Saving the world from Hydra, being an Avenger, and simultaneously helping veterans' groups—I'd say that's extraordinarily helpful and beneficial," Daredevil countered in the tone he typically reserved for the courtroom.
Falcon stared at the Manhattan native, then exhaled softly. "That's your lawyer instincts kicking in, isn't it?"
Daredevil simply adjusted his tie, cleared his throat, and quirked his lips. "Mr. Wilson, I will neither confirm nor deny that assertion."
Falcon snorted. "Should've expected that response."
Daredevil hummed and glanced around.
"Where is everyone?" he asked.
"Around," Falcon said vaguely. "I know Rhodey and Pietro are in the city—at least, I think they are. Natasha's with Steve, Scott, and Hope. Peter's... honestly, I don't know where the kid is. I think T'Challa's meditating."
Daredevil simply nodded.
"We've got a meeting with the Jedi Council later," Falcon mentioned. "Three guesses what it's about."
"Ultron."
Daredevil sighed wearily.
"I don't know when there'll be anything else besides him."
"Well, we did dive headfirst into a galactic war."
"Technically, most of us didn't have much say in that decision."
"Doesn't change the fact that we're involved," Falcon said, crossing his arms with a conflicted expression. "Not sure if it was the right call."
"Did we really have a choice from the beginning?" Daredevil asked. Falcon thought back to when he, Captain America, and Ant-Man had first awakened on Naboo.
The pilot shook his head. "No. I think the moment we saw those walking tin cans attacking an innocent town, we'd already made our choice."
Daredevil frowned at the thought of innocents being dragged into this war—a sentiment that only deepened knowing Ultron had launched his assault on the entire galaxy.
"Are you attending the Jedi Council meeting today?" Falcon asked. The blind lawyer shook his head.
"I think I'll take some time for myself," Daredevil said. "Meditate. Take advantage of this brief respite before things inevitably get worse."
Falcon hummed in agreement. "Can't argue with that. See you later, Matt."
Daredevil nodded and turned to leave.
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