Aoi Dragon: Another year... gone... it feels like it's taken forever, but it's chugging by slowly. That said, Happy Birthday Sebastian Stan!

Enjoy the new chapter!

*FMttM*

Only a couple days later, late at night, Diana received a call from Claire, "There's been explosions in Hell's Kitchen." The nurse informed her, "It's all over the news."

"JARVIS! Turn on the news on any screen." One projected onto the wall nearby and started showing the explosions in Hell's Kitchen, "Fisk." Diana growled.

"Have you been in contact with Matt?" Claire asked, "I tried calling him, but he either can't answer or won't answer."

"No." The sorceress confessed, "I haven't spoken to him since you got hurt." She paused, "I'm also moving out of Hell's Kitchen."

"What? Why?"

"I've been spending most of my nights here at the Tower, so there's no reason for me to keep a flat in Hell's Kitchen." Diana explained, "It's Matt's turf anyway, so I'm withdrawing entirely; he doesn't need me or want my help."

"Don't do that. Matt's an idiot. I'm sure he didn't really mean what he said."

"It was inevitable, Claire. I guess I just needed a final push outta there." That's when the news showed a surveillance video of Daredevil beating up some cops, "Shit. He really is a PR nightmare."

"They're saying that he shot some cops and was the one to set the explosives." Claire's tone was despairing.

"Well, we both know that's a lie." Then Diana remembered something about the bombings, "Hey, Claire, did a heavy-set blonde guy and a young blonde woman come in to the hospital with a lady who speaks Spanish?"

"Yeah… how did you know that?"

"Those are Matt's friends - Foggy Nelson and Karen Page - and one of his clients whose name I can't remember." She went to get her Sling Ring, "Anyway, I'm coming down to the hospital. Expect me in a few. Bye." She didn't wait for Claire to answer before hanging up. "JARVIS, turn off the projection." He did so as she formed a portal to Metro-General hospital, which she'd passed by many times on her runs to or from the Sanctum.

Diana stepped through the portal, closed it and went straight inside to try to find her friend. She approached the nurse's station, "Hi, I'm looking for either Franklin Nelson or Nurse Claire Temple."

The nurse at the station looked up from his computer and his eyes widened, "You're one of the Avengers!"

The sorceress gave a quick smile, "Yeah."

"I'll page Nurse Temple. She'll be able to take you to Mr. Nelson's room. He got out of surgery a bit ago and should be resting in a recovery room.." He went on the intercom and called for Claire.

"Thank you."

"So, are you doing anything later? We could grab a cup of coffee or something." He gave her a smile.

The sorceress blushed a little, "Sorry, I'm taken."

"Damn. Sorry." He grimaced, "Who's the lucky guy?"

Diana couldn't help but smile, "Bucky Barnes." It was the first time she'd announced their relationship outside of Avengers Tower.

"The Winter Soldier? Wow, you like to live dangerously."

"I'm an Avenger. Dangerous living's in the job description." She replied and she looked around for Claire. She spotted a few chairs in the hallway, "I'm gonna go sit down over there and wait for Claire."

"Okay. It was nice meeting you."

"Yeah, you too." Diana strode over to the chairs and sat. She remembered this happening from the Daredevil series, and she really wanted to search for Matt and help him with Fisk… but the vigilante had called her to heal Claire and then yelled at her for trying to get more involved, for trying to help him. The sorceress wondered if that was Stick's influence: feelings make you weak.

She gave a deep sigh and rubbed her face in her hands. God, she was tired. This superhero

shit was starting to wear her nerves thin. Diana now could see why Chris Evans had wanted to quit after pretending to be a superhero for almost ten years. Here she was, an actual superhero, a life-long commitment. Now that she was out there, that her face was known to the public, she'd always be Shieldmaiden. There was no going back.

"Diana?" The sorceress looked up and saw Claire looking down at her, worried, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just tired." The blonde replied and tucked some of her hair behind her ear, "I need a break from all of this, but with Ultron coming up and HYDRA and the Hand and Kilgrave and Hela and Thanos with his Black Order… It's just non-stop action."

"That's a long list of things that don't sound friendly."

"You're right. They're not friendly at all." Diana agreed, "How's Foggy doing?"

"He's fine. He got stabbed by some debris in the explosion, but the surgeons got it out and stitched him up. He's got his own room for now." Claire made a motion for the sorceress to follow, "Come on. I'm sure he'd like to see you."

They walked down the hall, passing five other rooms before they got to the one where Foggy was staying.

"You have a visitor." Claire announced and stepped aside so Diana could enter.

"Hey Fog."

"Diana!" The blond man exclaimed, "It's good to see you!"

"How're you feeling?" She asked, approaching the bed.

"I'm doing fine." He assured her, "'Twas just a flesh wound." He told her in a faux British accent.

Diana smiled, "That's good." She noticed their secretary, whom she hadn't yet met in person, "Hi, I'm Diana."

The woman stood there wide-eyed, "You're Shieldmaiden the Avenger!"

"Right now I'm just Diana. Please."

"Karen. Page." The woman told her breathlessly before turning to Foggy, "You never told me you were still in contact with the Avengers after that case."

The blond man shrugged, "Must've slipped my mind. She doesn't drop by much. I haven't even really seen her since the case."

"Sorry about that Foggy." She told him, "Matt and I had a disagreement a couple days ago, and I haven't heard from him since."

"She told me she's moving out of Hell's Kitchen." Claire put in.

"What?!"

"I've been living at Avengers Tower more and more, so I thought it was time to completely move into the entire floor Tony's provided for me. I mean, I don't have much in the way of stuff, but Hell's Kitchen isn't home anymore."

Foggy got a sly grin, "So are you and Barnes - how'd they say it in the '40s - um, going steady?"

"What makes you think we're dating?" Diana asked curiously even though she could feel the blush creeping from her ears and neck.

"Dude, it's so obvious." The lawyer rolled his eyes, "You glance at him. He glances at you. You guys click; you're on the same wavelength. I wish I had something like that."

"We've been on a few dates," the sorceress admitted, "but Buck's still worried about the stuff HYDRA put in his head. He's learned how to protect his mind a bit - like Occlumency, but I don't know how well it'll work against the HYDRA programming."

"You'll figure it out. I know you will."

"Thanks, Foggy."

"Even though you and Matt aren't really talking, think you can track him down?" Foggy asked, "He should be here, but he's not answering my calls or Karen's."

"Pretty sure he wouldn't be happy to see me."

"Well, tough. I don't know what you guys had a fight about, but you really should just talk about it."

"Yes, because Matt's all about talking and feelings." Diana's lips thinned, "Next thing you know we'll be braiding each other's hair and painting our nails."

Foggy choked, "Now I can't get the image of Matt trying to paint someone's nails out of my head." He snickered a little, "Well, then I'll talk to him. He's being an idiot."

"If you think it'll help. He definitely doesn't need mine." He did, after all, do fine on his own. She sighed and ran a hand through her hair, "Listen, I have to go. Call me when you get out. I'll even bring Cap and Bucky by if you want."

The blond lawyer grinned, "That would be awesome."

"I hope you feel better." She turned to Karen, "It was nice meeting you, Miss Page."

"Likewise."

"If you ever need anything, anything at all, Foggy has my number."

"Oh, okay. Thanks." Karen nodded.

Diana stepped out into the hall with Claire, "Are you going to go after Matt?" The nurse asked once they were out of earshot of Foggy's hospital room.

"I don't know. He doesn't really seem to want my help anymore."

"That makes no sense. You can heal him better than any hospital." The Latina frowned.

Diana smiled a little, "He does get hurt a lot and still refuses to get a better suit. Tony has - um, Tony Stark, that is -"

"I guessed that."

"Oh, well, anyway, Tony's even offered to make Matt a new, better suit too."

"And he doesn't have one yet because…?"

"There's a guy here in Hell's Kitchen - I can't remember his name, but he's got the skills for more street level fighting uniforms. Tony's got the skills, but have you seen his armors? Bright red and gold." Diana had a fond expression on her face, "I don't think the ninja in Matt would accept those kinds of colors. Even Steve's usual uniform is too bright for a ninja."

"So, we're just waiting on some guy to make Matt a suit?"

"I guess so. Although if the guy skips town afterwards, I'm sure Tony'll take up the slack."

"Well, I hope it's sooner rather than later." Claire crossed her arms, "And Matt should stop being stupid and let you help. It wasn't his fault that I got taken or hurt."

"I know that, and I bet he knows that," Diana replied, "but I want to wait until he asks for my help again."

The nurse's lips thinned, "Okay, but I don't want to find him nearly dead in a dumpster again. Never again."

The sorceress smiled a little, "I don't think that'll happen." She slipped on her Sling ring as they got to the main doors of the hospital, "I'll see you later, and take care."

"I will. Good bye."

Diana strode outside and around a corner before making a portal back to the Tower.

*FMttM*

It was extremely late one night in February when Diana's phone rang, waking her from a deep sleep after long training sessions with Master Daniel in the morning and then with Natasha in the afternoon.

"Yeah, hello?" Her voice was raspy from sleep.

"Oh thank god!" It was Foggy's voice on the other end, "You gotta come help. I think Matt might be dying!"

That got Diana sitting up in bed, "What?"

"Just get over here as fast as possible!" Foggy sounded desperate.

"Okay. Give me a second. I'll be there in a bit." Diana hung up and grabbed her Sling ring from her bedside table. She formed a portal to Matt's apartment and stepped through.

Foggy had come into view as soon as the portal opened, "Thanks for coming so fast. I didn't know what to do. A hospital was out of the question because… well…" He and Diana walked over to where Matt lay slumped on the floor, little splatters of blood surrounding him. Foggy looked to her for a reaction as she knelt down in front of his friend.

"Moron." She grumbled, "What've you gotten yourself into this time?"

"You knew." Foggy's voice sounded a little betrayed.

"Yes."

"You knew and you never told me?"

Diana splayed her glowing hands over Matt's wounds, "It wasn't my secret to tell, Fog. And like I said when you found out I was Shieldmaiden, I wanted a piece of life that was normal and had nothing to do with superheroes. I think Matt comes from the same mentality."

"Is Matt even blind?" Foggy asked, "He sure can do a hell of a lot for a blind guy."

The sorceress sighed, "It's Matt's -"

"Bull. shit." The blonde lawyer was angry, "The guy I thought was my best friend has been hiding this big secret from me, and I want to know right now exactly how he does what he does or so help me I'm walking out this door and never coming back."

She winced before replying, "Matt is conventionally blind. He can't see the way we do."

"But he can see."

"It's more of a radar sense - echolocation. Put him in a soundproof box and he'll see nothing unless he makes noise himself." Diana explained, "Even the rustle of clothes helps create an echo."

"How the hell does someone get that kind of superpower from getting chemicals splashed in their eyes? That makes no sense!"

"Matt's grandfather - HYDRA experimented on Matt's grandfather during WWII." Diana finished with the superficial stuff and went to the internal damage, "The super soldier serum they used on Luke got passed down. That's why Matt's dad was always so hard to knock out. Theory is, when those chemicals blinded Matt, the serum in his DNA activated, saved his life, and compensated for his lack of sight."

"Wait, wait, wait, are you telling me that Matt's one fourth Captain America?" Foggy's eyes were wide as he stared down at his unconscious friend.

"Kind of. I'd say he's closer to the Winter Soldier since Bucky got a similar regimen of the super soldier serum from HYDRA."

"So, his super powers come from HYDRA." The lawyer pursed his lips.

She gave him a sideways glance, "If you even think that Matt's evil, I'm gonna smack you."

"But HYDRA -"

"Don't." Diana warned, "Just don't, Foggy. You defended the Fist of HYDRA and were alright with that. Don't turn your back on Matt because of an accident of his birth and family history connecting to those monsters. It's not fair to him, to his dad, or to Luke." She paused, "He had horrible PTSD when I looked after him in a hospital in London for a few weeks. It only helped when he talked to Steve and Bucky. Luke went back out into the field and let the devil out on the bastards that experimented on him. He was only seventeen at the time. Don't insult his memory."

Foggy swallowed, "I- I'm sorry. I just don't know what to do with this information."

Diana finished with her healing, "Matt's just trying to do what's right. He refuses to kill anyone. He uses his ninja skills and clubs. Nothing else."

"But the explosions and the cops that were shot - those were all lies?"

She nodded, "Matt's current nemesis, Wilson Fisk, framed him. Of course, he doesn't know who Matt is under the mask and that he's poor and blind and therefore can't afford explosives or shoot a gun."

Foggy let out a breath of relief, "That's… that's a little better then. I don't want my best friend to be a murdering psychopath."

"Well, I better leave before Matt wakes up. He'll know that I was here, but if he wants to talk to me, he can call or find me."

"You're still not good?" The lawyer frowned.

She gave a wan smile, "He's stubborn, like both Steve and Bucky."

"You got that right." Foggy huffed a laugh.

"I'm still moving out of my flat, though. I think Tony's gonna set something up for the Avengers at the old Stark Mansion soon." She told Foggy, "It'll be nice to be out of the middle of the city."

"I'm sorry that Matt's being an asshole."

"Give him a good chewing out for me. Pretend I told you nothing." She gave Foggy a sly grin, "Depending on how distracted he is, he might not sense your fibbing."

"Serves him right for hiding this from me."

"Just remember, Fog, that Matt wanted a normal life before aliens invaded. Don't be too hard on him or his choices."

"I'll try. But seriously, you guys need to patch things up."

Diana flashed a smile, "I hope so too. He'll need all the friends he's got when more ninjas come around to try to destroy the city."

"Sounds like a very bright future."

"I'll be here to help if anyone needs me." She took a few steps away from the lawyer and the vigilante, "I'll see you later."

"Once you move into the mansion, you have to invite us over." Foggy told her.

"Sure." She opened a portal back to Stark Tower, "Give 'em hell, Fog."

The blond lawyer gave her a thumbs up before she closed the portal.

*FMttM*

Tony strode onto Diana's floor, waving some kind of papers in his hand, "Oh, miss Hermione, I have a mission for you and your boyfriend."

Diana looked up from her notebook where she was writing down the events for the original Captain America: The Winter Soldier, "What is it, Stark?"

"An invite to some blah charity dinner that Stark Industries donated to a while ago. But guess who's hosting?"

"I have no clue."

"Wilson Fisk!" Tony shoved the papers - which were actually tickets - into her face, "You know, the guy whose company you've been having me research. We won't be sending any more donations to support his company, that's for sure, but this fundraiser was for the cancer kids, so I guess it's going for a good cause no matter who's hosting."

"Great." Diana nodded, "Not going."

"Aww, come on! I hate going to these crappy functions, but Pepper said that Stark Industries must go because it's for charity." the billionaire told her, "Since I don't want to go, the first person I thought of was you since you know of the host. So, now I'm recruiting you and the Tin Man to go to the fundraiser."

She stared at him incredulously, "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"Well, it's either you and Barnes or you and the Cap. Romanoff has vanished on her own mission, so she won't be going."

"This could risk everything Daredevil's working towards to take Fisk down."

"Pfft." Tony waved it off, "Murdock's just gonna have to deal with it. I know you guys are on the outs, but come on. He's gotta get over it sometime."

Diana sighed, "Give me those." She snatched the tickets from the billionaire's hand, "How much time to we have?"

"I have some people coming to get you and the Terminator ready. It's formal, you know."

"So you just assumed."

Tony grinned, "Yup."

"You're an ass, Stark."

"And it's a nice one too!" Tony grinned, "Have fun and don't do anything I wouldn't do." He paused at the elevator, "Don't do anything I would do either. I don't think Barnes would approve."

Diana rolled her eyes, "Just go, Tony."

"Right. See you when you're all fancy!"

*FMttM*

Diana picked at the strapless navy blue satin dress. It wasn't really her preferred style, but apparently Tony had her measurements - creepy - and Pepper ordered something for her. The ginger had good taste, but her style was vastly different from Diana's. The billionaire also hired a hairstylist and makeup artist. As the sorceress stared at herself in the mirror, she thought she looked like she was going to a movie premiere.

"Miss Larson, Sergeant Barnes is heading down to escort you to the fundraiser." JARVIS alerted her.

Diana took a deep breath and licked her red lipsticked lips, "Well, it's now or never." She stood and took a hand bag which matched her dress and headed toward the elevator.

The doors opened just as she got there and her gaze met Bucky's. He sucked in a breath through parted lips, his blue eyes widening as he took her in. She let her eyes travel from his face to his suit - black with a tie and complete with dark gloves. His caramel brown hair was styled with gel.

"Hey there handsome." She gave him a smile.

Bucky blinked and gave her a bright smile, "You look beautiful."

"Thank you." She stepped into the elevator, her skirt swishing about her ankles. Someone had given Bucky some cologne, and it made him smell great.

"I don't know how Stark talked me into this." The Soldier mumbled, "I feel like I'm wearing some kind of monkey suit."

"More like a penguin suit." Diana joked, which made him smile, "You look great, though. You smell great too."

"It's the cologne Stark insisted I put on." Bucky paused, "Do you think I don't smell great without this cologne?"

"Buck, you could smell like exercise and sweat and you'd still smell good to me."

He laughed, "Now I know you're lying. Even I think I stink after a good spar with Steve or Romanoff.

"You're right. You caught me. But seriously, unless you're sweating like a pig after a workout, I like the way you smell. Like Irish Spring soap and the tang of metal." She reached out and took his gloved hand, "Let's just have some fun tonight. We're representing Stark Industries and the Avengers."

"Alright." Bucky nodded, "If there's dancing, we're dancing."

Diana groaned, "Oh, come on."

"I didn't take you to dance lessons for nothing."

"You're such a stupid-face."

"I know, dollface." He grinned broadly.

*FMttM*

Bucky stepped out of the limousine first and held out his hand to Diana. His expression was distinctly uncomfortable due to the numerous journalists and media cameras. She gave him a small smile, trying to tell him that the cameras made her just as uncomfortable.

He placed her hand on his left forearm and he escorted her past the flashing cameras and the journalists shouting questions at them. Diana was sure that their public appearance as a couple would trend as a Twitter hashtag - something like #WinterMaiden or #Barneson.

"Are you alright?" He asked quietly, saying one of the phrases he'd taught her in Romanian. They entered the Van Lunt Building.

She tightened her grip a little on his metal arm as she replied in Romanian, "Yes. I am fine, em, Nervous. A little." Diana glanced nervously at him, "Fisk is here."

Bucky's blue eyes narrowed, "A bad man." He kept his vocabulary simple for her sake.

"Yes. A very bad man." Diana agreed with the Soldier's assessment of Fisk.

He gave a sharp nod as his gaze scanned the entire room, probably assessing every single person there with his super soldier-assassin mind. Bucky's shoulders squared, and his back went ramrod straight when he saw a large, broad bald man approaching them with a petite brunette on his arm.

"Welcome," he said in a raspy voice, "I didn't expect any Avengers to show up to my charity event. I'm Wilson Fisk and this is my date Vanessa Marianna."

Diana tried willing herself to speak, to explain why they were there, but this was Wilson Fisk in the flesh, and her voice caught in her throat.

"Mr. Tony Stark sends his regrets that he and Miss Virginia Potts can't make it," Bucky spoke evenly, "We've come as representatives of Stark Industries, not the Avengers."

"I see." Fisk nodded.

"Although I'm sure you already know who we are," The Soldier continued and held out his right hand, "I'm Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes. This is my date Diana Larson."

Fisk took Bucky's hand and Diana saw a muscle in the Kingpin's jaw twitch. If she were to guess, Bucky was using his super strength to make sure the man knew the Soldier could be dangerous if provoked.

After a moment, Fisk spoke, "It's very good to meet the both of you." The Kingpin made no move to shake Diana's hand, "I hope you have a pleasant evening. Perhaps we shall speak again later."

"Of course." The Soldier nodded and Fisk and Vanessa moved off back into the crowd. Bucky turned to Diana, concerned, "Diana?"

"I'm good. I'm okay. I don't know what happened. I just… froze."

"He's not a man to be trifled with," the Soldier replied as they moved further into the crowd. "He has a powerful presence, not unlike some of the handlers I had."

"Well that's comforting."

Bucky scanned the room again, "He hides it well, but if you know what to look for, you can see how dangerous and volatile he is just below the surface."

"I've faced more dangerous stuff, and it's Wilson Fisk, someone who doesn't even have super powers, that makes me freak out."

"Sometimes it's the ordinary people who scare us the most," the Soldier looked thoughtful. "They show us the thin line we walk between good and evil."

"When did you become a philosopher and poet?"

Bucky gave her a smile, "Sometimes I record my memories as narrative poems. They're so fragmented sometimes that I can't use paragraphs."

"Would you let me read some of them sometime?"

"Maybe. I know you've been writing what you know down for Stark. I'd like to see what was supposed to happen."

"Deal."

The charity fundraiser was much more about drinking and socializing than it was about doing anything else. Unfortunately, those were two things that neither Bucky nor Diana were very good at. They were able to make small talk with a few of the patrons who were unafraid to come up to the Winter Soldier and Shieldmaiden and make conversation.

A few thanked Bucky for his service during World War II, and there was even one young man who asked for their autographs to add to his World War II and Howling Commandos paraphernalia.

A man passed out nearby. A few people were worried, but most ignored him as a man who couldn't hold his liquor. That was until a woman also collapsed. A few people started coughing and foaming at the mouth.

Diana acted. There was only one spell she knew that could deal with poison, and she went immediately to the man who had passed out. The spell would only stop the poison's progression for an hour, but that should be enough time for these people to get help. Her fingers glowed a yellowish green color as she touched his throat. It only took a moment before the man gasped and Diana moved on to the woman who had fallen. She did the same to her.

"Vanessa!" Fisk shouted from the other side of the room, "Christ! Somebody call a doctor! Somebody get a doctor! Vanessa? Vanessa! Vanessa!"

Diana knew she had to help. Vanessa was an innocent. She couldn't help whom she loved any more than the next person.

As Diana passed by people who were suffering and holding their throats, she did her best to try to save them if they accepted her touch. She got five more people before she finally knelt next to Fisk and Vanessa, "I can help." She said.

"You're not a doctor." He growled through gritted teeth, "Get out of the way."

"No, I'm not." She held up her fingers, which were still glowing, which the Kingpin eyed dubiously, "This will prevent the poison from progressing, but it won't take it out of her system. She'll still need to go to the hospital."

Fisk didn't even hesitate, "Do it." Any chance was better than no chance.

Diana touched Vanessa's throat gently, and the woman gasped, "Wilson?" She asked softly.

He gathered her in his arms, "Vanessa. Thank god you're alright."

"She still needs the hospital. The poison is still there."

Fisk looked at her, "Thank you. Thank you so much. I owe you a great debt."

"I didn't do it for you." Diana answered, "She's an innocent in all this. She deserves so much more."

The man looked back at Vanessa, "Yes. She does." He said before looking back at the sorceress, "Still, thank you." He picked up Vanessa and headed toward the doors.

Other patrons were helping those who were poisoned to the doors as well and moments later, sirens blared as ambulances came to take away the patients.

Bucky stood beside her, "That was pretty brave, risky, but brave."

"The public already knows I can do magic. If I can help people with it, I will."

"I'm sure Mr. Fisk will try to reward you in some way."

"He can reward me by getting the hell out of Hell's Kitchen, but that's not gonna happen anytime soon."

"I sent out the call to our driver." Bucky told her, "He'll be here soon to bring us back to the Tower."

"Well, up until the poisoning incident it was a pretty interesting night."

"Interesting is one way of putting it." The Soldier scowled, "I'm never agreeing to go to one of these things again."

"Me neither. Not unless it's everyone going."

Bucky made a face, "You think that'll happen?"

"You never know. Pepper or Tony are the ones who plans those kinds of functions."