Crossing Paths

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"Oh, crap..."

Ana almost jumped back into the portal when she saw the dreadful clutter in her apartment. She frowned, feeling the exhaustion finally creep in. But there wasn't any time for that. She could hear police officers on the ground discuss the problem on the top floor. Her floor. She had about ten minutes before they would step inside, and she rushed to collect all of her personal belongings.

How was she going to explain it? 'Officer, what went down a few days ago was a fight till the death between myself and a extraterrestrial being called a Skrull. He was about six feet tall, green skin, purple onesie, with pointy ears and a killer smile. But you won't find him on Earth, because I sent him to another realm with my Mystic Arts.'

Ana threw open a large suitcase on her bed, and ran back and forth with heaps of clothes in her arms. Once she packed them all, she shoved the Hydra files of her parents inside. She skidded to a stop at the large shelf of weapons and pushed the entire thing into a portal to her room at the Avengers Facility. She did not want to lose those, especially since most of them were mystical equipment.

The elevator dinged at her floor and she snapped her head towards the doorway, listening to two pairs of footsteps getting louder. Panic set in and she grabbed her suitcase and threw it in the portal too, before closing it completely. She made a break for the open window and she was halfway out of it, when she noticed the blinking device under a pile of wood. The Skrull's transmitter. She could hear the officers much more clearly now. Ana took the risk and used her Eldritch Whip to latch onto the device before releasing her hold on the window sill and falling.

The police officers both grabbed the handgun when they heard a noise inside the apartment. They dashed inside and did a quick sweep of the floor. The men looked at one another in confusion, before holstering their weapons.

Ana landed on the sidewalk, tripping towards the side of the building. She pressed her back against the brick wall to avoid the cops from seeing her from her window, and she heaved for breath. She felt content in knowing her belongings were safe, and she looked down at the device in her hands, turning it over when she heard the police walk back into her old apartment.

Someone cleared their throat in front of her and she didn't pay too much attention. As she began to walk with her focus solely on the transmitter, a hand was wrapped around her elbow and she was forced to turn around. A police woman stood in front of her, lips pressed into a hard line as she peered down at Ana with stern eyes.

"Are you the owner of the apartment on the top floor?"

Ana gulped. "Y-Yes?"

"Come with me."

"Sit down."

Ana was nudged into a metal chair. She plonked down on it, the handcuffs around her wrists clinking as the chains bounced about. She gave Ingrid, the police officer that took her in, a sigh, showing her that she was completely at ease. Of course there was the possibility that they would keep her in for questioning for a long while, but really, Ana had nothing to hide. Well, she did, it was just that she knew what to tell them to get herself out of the precinct. She couldn't exactly run or show her abilities when the officer approached her. And it wouldn't look good if she had made a break for it. The only way she could leave without any other problems was to cooperate fully.

Ingrid was probably in her forties with thick black hair pulled back into a low pony. She had a light complexion and a fresh bandage over the right side of her jaw. Ana analysed her as Ingrid typed away at a boxy computer. They were in the centre of the office area, and to her left, Ana could see the entrance and reception. For some reason unknown to Ana, there was quite a buzz in the building. Lots of officers were on phones, talking to each other about what she picked up on an earthquake. It must happened while she was gone since she didn't feel it's affects.

"What was it on the Richter scale?" Ana spoke up, casting her eyes back to Ingrid.

Ingrid didn't expect for her to speak since she was quiet the whole ride. She cleared her throat and picked up her reading glasses, "4.5. You didn't see the news?" She questioned, sceptically.

"No." Ana shrugged.

"Hmph." Ingrid mused, before looking down at her file. "Your downstairs neighbours complained about the noise in your apartment three days ago. Before we got down there, that was when the earthquake went off. When we arrived, the door was off it's hinges and it looked like a stampede tore up the place. Blood everywhere, broken walls and furniture. Now, we weren't able to collect blood samples, but I assume half of it was yours."

Ana pulled the neckline of her shirt closer to her neck when Ingrid pointed at the gauze over her shoulder. "Yes it was."

"What I'd like to know is who does the rest of it belong to?" Ingrid asked.

"Me." Ana answered, leaning forward to look at Ingrid straight in the eye, "It was all me. I live alone. When the earthquake hit, I was cutting up some vegetables for dinner. I tripped and landed on the knife. I panicked because everything was breaking and falling over and the lights had gone out so I had to feel the walls to find the door. When door wouldn't budge, I threw myself at it."

"Huh, pretty strong for a small girl." Ingrid stated, unsure.

"You don't know the half of it." Ana added, smiling a little at the vagueness.

"What I don't understand is you trying to run. Maybe something else happened. Maybe it involved all of the weird looking objects on a shelf by your bed. Yeah, we got a look at that. It was funny though, it was the only thing standing." Ingrid noted.

Ana locked her fingers together, "I superglued it to the floor. The weird objects as you described were replicas of some... video game I play. And for the running, I was late for my hospital appointment. Y'know, for my shoulder?"

Ana was on fire with all the lying.

"Did you call it in on this... thing. What is this, some type of iPhone?" Ingrid had taken everything off Ana which consisted of her Sling Ring, a stick of gum, and the Skrull's transmitter. She grabbed the device and Ana went openly rigid when it started blinking. She didn't know how alien tech worked, but usually when something flashed red, it meant danger.

Ingrid squinted when she could see the alarm in Ana's eyes. "What? Is this a detonator? Why is it blinking?" She became very defensive.

"Incoming call." Ana swallowed, realising a shaky breath when it stopped it's flashing after Ingrid put it back down on the desk. Ana glanced to her left when she could hear constant clanking and spotted a blind man wearing red shades make his way towards an interview room. Something about him seemed familiar, but she couldn't pay too much thought over it when Ingrid stood, gaining her attention once again.

"I'm going to bring in withdrawal paperwork. Your story seems fine, and what happened in your apartment may have just been a coincidence with the earthquake, but don't leave town if something else comes up that I don't like. You hear?" Ingrid questioned, unlocking Ana's handcuffs.

"Loud and clear, ma'am." Ana nodded, rubbing her wrists.

As Ana leaned back into the uncomfortable chair, she picked up the gum and unwrapped it before chucking it into her mouth. Her stomach grumbled and that's when she realised she hadn't eaten in a long time. She pocketed both the transmitter and the Sling Ring once Ingrid rejoined her.

"I need you to sign here." Ana was handed a pen and she scribbled along the required lines before standing up.

Ingrid squinted at the confusing signature, unaware it was complete nonsense, before exhaling and shooting Ana a serious glance. "Don't go too far, now."

Ana clicked her tongue, "Of course."

As she turned to head for the front entrance, she slammed into another body, and accidentally knocked their walking cane out of their grip. She widened her eyes when she learned that she bumped into a blind man, and quickly retrieved his walking cane.

"Oh my, I'm so sorry, sir. I should've paid more attentio-" Ana was red faced and embarrassed.

"It's fine." He assured, smiling crookedly when he recognised her voice. "By the way, nice to, uh, see you again."

Ana narrowed her eyes. "We've met?" She knew lots of people, but rarely any men that were blind.

"Matt." He placed a hand on his chest, dipping his head forward while he lowered his voice as if his name was something that shouldn't be said out loud.

"Matt?" Ana was clueless.

He huffed, before placing his hand over his upper face. That's when it clicked. Ana looked at his mouth and gasped, grinning excitedly. It was him, the Daredevil.

"Oh, Matt!" Ana replied, "I didn't realise it was you."

"Not many people do." He responded. "You on your way out?" He pointed towards the exit.

"Uh, yeah." She nodded. She noted that he was alone and extended her elbow, "Want a guide?"

"If you don't mind." Matt smiled when Ana locked his hand around her elbow. She took him through the police officers and lead him outside. It was almost sunset, but that didn't stop the streets from being as packed as a football game.

"So, what were you doing in there? If I may ask." Matt questioned after they began walking down the street.

"Oh, just some misunderstanding. A few days ago my apartment was trashed and they thought I did something illegal." Matt could hear the change in her heartbeat, but let it slide. Ana observed him intently, even went as far as waving a hand in front of his face. "What about you? How do you do all those things when you're, well, blind?"

"It all happened when I was a kid. Long story short, I got into an accident that gave me enhanced abilities. I can see without using my eyes." Matt smiled briefly.

"That sounds awesome." Ana gushed. She didn't have to be sceptic about this sort of stuff. It was like everyday someone new would develop abilities. "Wait a minute. You're Matt Murdock of Nelson and Murdock, the lawyer. I've read about you in the papers. You've done some great things — in both ways."

"Lately I've been trying to stick it to my day job. But something's telling me that it'll have to change." Matt revealed. He had to bring out the Devil in him when the aftermath of the earthquake made a few side criminals attack an unarmed man in his neighbourhood.

"Something I can help with?" Ana wondered.

"... Maybe." Matt resolved after a pause.

Ana stopped abruptly when she noticed where he had taken her. Midland Circle Financial. She frowned at the large, freshly built high rise, an unsettling feeling in her stomach. "Is this where you work or something?"

Matt could sense another woman stomp inside the building and switched positions with Ana, so she followed behind him with her hand on his elbow. "No, but I need to make a quick stop." He muttered, and entered the place. Ana widened her eyes when he took another woman with black almost violet hair by the arm.

"Murdock!" She exclaimed as Matt pulled her aside.

"We have to leave now." Matt ordered.

"If you grab me like that again, I'll punch you so hard you'll see." She sneered, fixing her leather jacket and grey scarf.

Ana's brows rose at the comment. "Easy there, jewel." She was completely unaware that the nickname meant something significant to the grouchy woman, and said it with irony.

"I'm sorry, who are you?" Jessica Jones looked at Ana up and down, scrutinising her.

"Someone who doesn't want any trouble." Ana replied truthfully.

"Then leave." She countered.

"I've been here before-" Matt spoke up, gaining Jessica's attention.

"Why are you following me?" Jessica stressed.

"-And you're in serious danger." Matt added. Ana took one look at the Daredevil before stepping away from the two diving into an argument, and listened to the building, trying to find any dark secrets. Keyboards clicking. Heels clacking. Business men talking — wait.

Ana looked up when she recognised Danny's voice. He sounded grim, and unforgiving. It was faint, telling her he was somewhere high up in the building. She wasn't sure what the hell was going on. But she did know one thing — it wasn't good. There was a pull. They same one that she felt in Earth-616. Her alternate self was a figure of leadership and power. Ana knew it wouldn't be easy to go on a path of growth alone. She needed support. Her closest friends are untouchable. And the man she had a very special place in her heart was under cryostasis.

Time to make some new friends.

Ana jumped, startled when there was a gunshot on Danny's level. She needed her friends alive. One look at Matt and she knew he heard it too. With a nod in his direction, she darted for the stairs. Danny was in trouble, and she had to help. Matt followed close behind her, stealing Jessica's scarf to conceal his identity. Jessica trailed behind rather reluctantly.

When Ana came to the fight, the soles of her shoes were slippery against the waxed vinyl floors and she slid into the view of Danny and Luke who stood side by side in the conference room. She brushed her hair behind her ears and looked at the situation. In front of her with their backs towards her were two of the opposition. Inside the room, there were probably around twenty bodies unconscious on the ground. She silently pointed at the two, eyes on Danny, and he nodded, giving her the go ahead.

Ana grabbed each of them by their blazers and struck their heads together, ignoring their whines. Luke in the meantime stared at the unfamiliar brunette with wide eyes while Danny grinned.

"Is she with you?" Luke muttered.

"Oh, yeah." Danny replied.

Suddenly two machine guns went off as their wielders stormed inside the same way Ana came in. Danny grabbed Ana before she could get caught in the crossfire and they both hid behind a bulletproof Power Man. Ana had never seen bullets bounce off someone's skin before. She was definitely in awe. When the machine guns had emptied everything in each magazine, Danny and Ana circled in front of Luke and took a thug down each with a swift kick to the head.

Ana pointed at Luke's hoodie with holes, beaming up at him. "You have bulletproof skin? That is awesome, dude."

"Thanks." Luke squinted. He had no idea who the brunette was, but she seemed like she could hold her own.

When two teams of the bad guys flooded through each door on either sides of the room, Ana strutted around the large and thick marble table in the centre of the conference room. Hand on her chin, she started thinking. With a little nod, she grabbed the table top and spilt it in two like it was nothing. Now it was Luke's time to be surprised. He had Danny stayed back as she launched each piece of the marble towards the groups, effectively taking them down. They could tell the pieces were heavy since they scratched through the tough tiled floors.

Ana stopped and held a finger up. "Wait, who are we beating up?"

Danny looked to her. "The Hand."

Ana remembered who they were to him and shot him a sympathetic glance. "Still hunting 'em down, huh?"

"Hopefully this time I can defeat them once and for all." Danny responded as Luke lead them out of the room and into the hallway. Ana spotted the woman she still didn't know the name of and Matt.

"Jessica?" Luke questioned, confused at her appearance.

"Luke." Jess nodded.

Softly, Luke continued, "How you been?"

"Long story." She replied.

"We have to get out of here." Danny alerted everyone, walking towards the elevator on the other side of the hallway. As Ana looked around, all she could see was four very different people stuck in the same situation.

"Who's he?" Jessica asked Luke, gesturing at Danny.

"Longer story." Luke echoed. He pointed at Matt, "Who's he?"

Ana went to follow behind Luke, but Matt grabbed her arm before she could leave. "Wait." He paused for a second, tilting his head, "There's someone else coming. Something else."

The group of five waited for the next act. A woman dressed in a black and red suit, carrying a large blade in her hand, appeared from around the corner. Her dark hair was in front of her face, making her look just as much dangerous as the sword she twirled in her hand.

Ana exhaled while Jessica cursed, "Oh, shit."

Luke almost gasped, "Who's that?"

"Bad news. We gotta go." Jessica turned just in time to face another wave of enemies. The Hand was now surrounding them. "Uh-oh."

Ana worriedly patted her stomach wound, afraid she would rip the stitching open if she got too into the fight, while the others steadied into an attack stance. She settled on a decision to use her Mystic Arts.

When the woman in red and black went after Matt, the other four took care of the thugs yelling as the ran at them. Jessica and Luke, the heavy hitters, focused on using a single powerful punch to send them flying into the walls. Danny and Ana used their mystical ways, the Iron Fist and sorcery, to battle the fast and skilled martial artists.

Ana tried to stay out of harms way, extended her hands as energy blasts found her opponents. A few had bypassed her magic, and were aiming to tackle her into the wall she stood in front of. Luke managed to kick one of them in the gut, hurtling him into the other one like a domino effect. Ana nodded in thanks and he returned it, before returning to the fight.

Jessica was trying to fight five at once, and Ana placed it upon herself to help the girl out. When the Eldritch Band appeared in both hands, Ana used it to whip the thugs away from Jessica, and swung them into the walls by their legs, effectively knocking them unconscious.

Jessica wasn't expecting an orange glow to remove her opponents, and glanced at Ana with incredulous eyes. "The hell was that?"

Ana smiled, twiddling her fingers as mystical energy waved around them. "Magic." She quickly sent a blast behind her when she heard a battle cry, hitting the man in the face. He fell on his back and Jessica raised her brows at the simplicity Ana had just displayed.

Once the ground was littered with the Hand, the five of them piled into the elevator that opened on their floor. Danny made sure Ana wasn't hurt, to which she gave him a thumbs up, before he looked up, realising who he stood in the elevator with.

"Who are you people?"

- - - - -

Hey guys! I hope you enjoyed this one and please tell me what you thought about it! So, Ana has met the Defenders, and because she cares about Danny, she would want to help him fight the Hand this time, and she won't like it when he decided to hand himself over, causing a bit of arguing between the two. And there will be some bickering between Jess and Ana, only because one of them (Jessica) is constantly in a state of annoyance. Oh man, this is gonna be so fun to write! And comes out soon where I live, so Ana will be travelling to the stars in no time!

Q- Who are you looking forward to see in Thor: Ragnarök? I can't wait to see VALKYRIE and KORG!