The sun rose upon the city the never sleeps a bit too fast for the likes of some people. The bright light shined through the blinds of one particular apartment and onto two sleeping figures. Both groaned as they attempted to block it out with the blankets but they were unsuccessful.
Cindy: We need better blinds.
Danny: We need to manage our time better.
The blonde boy eventually gave up and got out of bed to close the blinds tighter. Since he was already up, he decided to get his day started so he grabbed his phone. He walked to the kitchen and started a fresh pot of coffee before he started breakfast.
The apartment wasn't much but it was theirs. The old coffee table they got from Spidey's old place was set infront of Luke's old couch. Most of everything was either given to them or they had found at some cheap store but it worked. It felt like a home which was all they could ask for. As Danny cooked the eggs for him and Cindy, he felt a pair of arms wrap around his bare chest. He smiled at the familiar scent.
Danny: Shouldn't you be getting ready for work?
Cindy: I have the week off.
She sighed before letting go to sit at the table. Danny finished up his breakfast and set a plate for her. He took a seat across from his girlfriend who began to drool over the delicious food.
Cindy: I don't deserve you.
Danny: I think you deserve everything you have.
Cindy: I was talking to the eggs.
She smirked teasingly as Danny sipped on his coffee. He reached into his sweats and checked his phone. Jessica had texted him to remind him of their dinner tonight. He sent back a text to confirm and tucked it back into his pocket. He suddenly found Cindy holding a wrapped present.
Danny: What's this?
Cindy: Your Christmas present. I know it's a bit late but, it came in last night.
Danny smiled a bit. They spent Christmas together and he had given her a necklace he had found. He took the gift and slowly opened it. Cindy watched as his face lit up.
Danny: This is...
Cindy: I know how much you hate using that rag to cover your face. I got this made just for you.
Danny held up the new mask. It had been a year since his last one was destroyed in a fight. He stood up and walked over to his girlfriend to give her a kiss.
Danny: This is amazing. Thank you so much.
Cindy: You deserve everything you have.
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Danny leaned back and sighed. His eyes drifted over to the calendar on their wall. Has it really been this long?
Cindy: What's on your mind?
Danny: Just thinking. The past 2 years have been weird.
Cindy laughed.
Cindy: That's an understatement. Ever since we left the Program, things have been different.
Danny nodded. It wasn't long after Widow returned and told everyone what had happened. You and Nadia went away so you could acquire the power necessary to defeat the Celestials. After that the fighting stopped but, Danny felt like his calling was somewhere besides the Avengers. Cindy left with him while some of the others left for their own reasons.
The last two years had been great but he did wish that you and Nadia were here to experience it with everyone. He understood why you left, he just wish you didn't. Everyone felt like that even after the rift between everyone.
Cindy: We have Tony's retirement party coming up. He's gotten old.
Danny smiled a bit. Most of the original Avengers had retired. Cap, Tony, Hawkeye. He wondered when Viv's parents will finally call it quits. It was so bizarre to him that the Heroes he grew up with are now slowly fading away. It really was time to step up.
Danny: I should get ready. I'm sure everyone is expecting us before the actual time Luke gave us.
Cindy: That's because you gave them expectations hun. You never give expectations.
Danny smiled as he kissed her cheek.
Danny: Just get ready you goofball.
Cindy: I may be a goofball but you're stuck with me!
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It was always weird for Danny to visit Luke and Jessica's place. It wasn't too long ago that he grew up there. He always found himself thinking about what happened when he was 10 and they took him in. They've been his family since. The monks were more guardians than anything. Now he was here, holding their actual child. A year old and already a handful.
Cindy: He has hair now! Aww.
Jessica: He missed his big brother. Didn't you Victor?
The baby cooed at his mother's voice. Danny smiled at the title. Big brother. So this is how Robbie felt. He bounced the baby a bit in his arms as Luke and Jessica made last minute preparations for dinner. Matt sat on the couch talking to Cindy while Danny kept the baby entertained on the floor.
It felt good to be able to sit around like this. No tension, no arguments, no problems.
Luke: Dinner is served.
Everyone sat around the table to eat the delicious gumbo Luke had cooked up along with Jessica's delicious sides. They talked about meaningless things from how Danny and Cindy were adjusting to their new apartment to Matt's recent date with the girl he had met under mysterious circumstances. He refused to talk about how he first met her.
Danny recalled the first time he had brought Cindy over to meet them during a visiting week. He was happy that they took her as their own immediately. What was even better was the fact that she had fallen into things easily and blend in with everyone.
Luke: You know, I just want to thank everyone for coming here.
Cindy: Anytime! We love visiting.
Jessica: And we love having you all. We, uh, we acatually asked you two here for a reason. We want to announce something.
Danny looked at Cindy surpised. He suddenly noticed that everyone in the room besides him and Cindy seemed nervous. What was going on?
Danny: What's this about?
Matt: We're getting old kid. Our bodies aren't what they used to be and frankly, mine is a car accident away from giving in.
Jessica: Plus we have the baby and we're about to move to the new place in Queens.
Danny stiffened up as he realized what was going on.
Danny: You're retiring?
Luke sighed.
Luke: I know this might be out of the blue but.....
Danny: Out of the blue? Out of the blue?! What about everyone who rely on you to protect them? What about everyone the Avengers overlook? You think this is out of the blue for me, what about them?
Jessica: Danny please just listen....
Danny: To what? I'm just supposed to sit here and be happy that you're all turning your backs on everyone?
He stood up and shook his head.
Danny: This is madness. Madness!
He turned away and stormed off without another word. Cindy watched as he dissapeared around the corner, no doubt leaving through the window, before turning back to the others. She could see that this decision wasn't made lightly.
Cindy: I'm sorry.
Luke: Don't be. We knew he would be upset. He has a point.
Matt: The Defenders were founded under the realization that the Avengers no longer dealt with things like drug rings or robberies. We were made under the idea of protecting the little people.
Jessica calmed down Victor before sighing.
Jessica: I'll go talk to him.
Luke took Victor before Jessica headed out to find Danny. She ended up on the fire escape before she looked up. She climbed to the roof and found the blonde sitting on the edge of the roof looking out over the city.
Danny: You always knew where to find me.
Jessica smiled before sittibg next to him.
Jessica: You always came up here after you fought with Luke.
Danny: Some things never change.
The two sat in silence for a moment. Jessica knew that Danny liked to think. She always figured he thought too much but in times like these, it helped to get his emotions in check.
Danny: I'm not mad at you guys for retiring. I get it. You and Luke have a family now....
Jessica: You're our family Danny. Matt is to.
Danny: I get that. The, the Defenders were my family growing up. You guys always inspired me to be great and help those in need.
He looked down at his hands and nodded.
Danny: You guys deserve this. I'm sorry for acting that way.
Jessica laughed.
Jessica: Yeah. You're usually so level headed.
Danny nodded.
Danny: I'm not mad. I'm just, I'm worried! Everyone that looks up to you guys will be left to fend for themselves.
Jessica looked at the boy who had come to be her son in everything but blood. She smirked as she gave it some thought.
Jessica: You know, the Defenders are a independent thing. If someone was to come in and take it over....
Danny: You want me to take over the Defenders?
Jessica shrugged.
Jessica: That's for you to decide. I know at least one person who would be willing to join you.
Danny smiled a bit.
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Patrol was going well enough. It was about a week after Danny decided that he was going to lead a new generation of the Defenders. Cindy was immediately on board with the idea. Once again, Harem and Hell's Kitchen were under their protection.
Danny ended up in Hell's Kitchen where reports of a few break ins had come in. He managed to stop them in their tracks and decided to take a break. He recalled a movie being filmed somewhere close by. It stared that K-Pop singer and her boyfriend. What was his name again? He made a mental note to ask Cindy later since she was a fan.
Danny sat against the door that would lead into the building below and looked up at the sky. It was peaceful in the city for the most part. It was still cold since it was winter and snow began to fall about a week ago. That meant your birthday passed. You would be 20 now like him. It was always weird being the tallest ones but the youngest.
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the snow crunching behind him. He peeked over and found a man standing there in a one piece outfit of somekind. He reminded Danny of a younger Bruce Lee.
???: You must be the Iron Fist. I've heard a lot about you.
Danny stood up and turned to face the man. He suddenly realized where he had seen him before. This was that actor from TV.
Danny: And where did you hear about me?
He thought he did good enough to keep a low profile. He was a small time Hero after all. The man chuckled as he looked at his feet.
???: A mutual friend. Y/N Creed or maybe you know him by Monster.
Danny's eyes grew wide.
Danny: You know Y/N?
???: That son of a bitch kicked my ass in a tournament about 2 years ago. He also helped me out in my mission.
He then looked at Danny.
???: He said you were a strong Chi user. I've wanted to meet you since but I've been busy. Now that we have this chance to talk, maybe we can talk about techniques.
Danny found a smile forming on his face. Even though you were gone, you were still impacting his life.
Danny: You know my name, what's yours?
The man smirked.
???: You don't recognize me? I'm all over movie posters ever since my girl convinced me to go into acting with her.
Danny sighed.
Danny: I'm afraid I'm out of touch with that stuff. My girlfriend is more in tune with stuff like that.
The man shrugged.
???: I don't blame you. I'd rather be known for my skills in fighting than my, massively impressive abs.
The two men shared a laugh. The man reached out his hand.
???: My name is Shang-Chi. It's nice to finally meet you Danny Rand.
Danny smiled as he shook his hand.
Danny: You know, if you're gonna be in town for a while I might have an offer for you to show off your skills.