C60: She Can Fly
Jessica Jones and Luke Cage.
Two metahumans, both enhanced beyond ordinary limits, locked in a superpowered clash that refused to end quietly.
Luke Cage raised his indestructible arms and caught the cabinet Jessica hurled at him. With little effort, he spun and returned it straight back at her. Jessica dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the wooden projectile that exploded into the restaurant wall with a crash. She winced, brushing dust from her jacket.
Despite their similar physical strength, Jessica lacked Luke's unbreakable skin. She could be hurt. He couldn't.
"Aren't you going to stop them?" Ah Xing turned to Matt Murdock, unable to watch the escalating brawl between the super-powered pair without concern.
Matt, the blind lawyer of Hell's Kitchen also known secretly as Daredevil—tilted his head, listening intently to the scuffle. With a calm smirk tugging at his lips, he replied, "Relax. They're holding back. Mostly."
"I'm not worried about them. I'm worried about the restaurant," Ah Xing retorted. "If they keep this up, you'll be footing the bill for a new building."
"..."
Matt's confident smile froze slightly. He sighed, conceding. "Fine. A Xing—see if you can break it up without flattening the place."
"Got it."
Without hesitation, Ah Xing vaulted over the broken tables and tumbled chairs, planting himself between Luke and Jessica just as both were preparing their next strike. Tapping into the strength of his Phantom Thief card fused with the Tenacity of the Vajra Body, he raised one leg in a controlled arc.
Bang—!
The impact of his kick didn't injure either of them, but it did force them both to skid back, planting their feet to avoid falling. The two looked up, stunned.
[Famousness from Jessica Jones +55]
[Fame from Luke Cage +70]
Despite being a clone with no real sensation, Li Ran—observing from his antique shop felt a wave of instability ripple through his chakra network from the sudden strain. Still, the card's defensive stats held.
Crisis narrowly avoided.
In the restaurant, Ah Xing exhaled, calmly meeting their surprised stares. "Matt told me to."
"…"
Matt spoke from behind them. "You two tear up one more piece of furniture, and we'll be paying for a complete remodel."
Looking around at the shattered tables and ruined booths, both Luke and Jessica fell into a reluctant silence.
—
Later, after Matt covered the repair costs, the group stepped out of the ruined restaurant and into the New York night.
Jessica walked ahead, her steps uneven with frustration. Her brows were furrowed, her lips tight.
"I wasn't interested in your little 'Defenders' club," she grumbled, glancing behind her—particularly at Luke, who now wore his usual unreadable expression. "But since someone seems to think I can't pull my weight, I'll join. Just to prove a point."
Her eyes met Matt's. "Don't get used to it."
"Welcome aboard," Matt said without hesitation. "From this moment, you're one of us."
"Hmph."
Jessica scoffed, smirking faintly as she shot Luke a look. Then she added, "I'll keep following the trail on the Hand. If I find anything, should I tell you or your day job self?"
"You can find me at Nelson & Murdock."
"Noted."
Then, without warning, Jessica crouched slightly and launched into the sky with a gust of wind trailing her boots.
"She can actually fly?"
"She can actually fly!"
Ah Xing exaggerated his surprise.
Luke Cage, however, was sincerely taken aback. He'd seen her punch with super-strength, but flight?
Matt, attuned through enhanced hearing, smiled as Jessica's airborne presence faded into the city skyline. "It's a game-changer. With her ability to fly, our advantage against the Hand just got a lot bigger."
Ah Xing folded his arms thoughtfully. "Even in Penglai, only those who've mastered Immortal Techniques can fly."
The seeds of another story sown, he prepared to exit.
"If there's no more fighting today, I'll take my leave."
Matt nodded. "The Hand suffered a major setback with their operations in Midtown. They'll go dark for a while, be more cautious. But we've identified Madame Gao's leadership role. That gives us a foothold."
"As for Willard," he added, "Foggy and I are still looking into his whereabouts. It's taking time, but we'll get there. Don't worry."
"The next time you confront the Hand," Ah Xing replied, "call me."
"Of course," Matt said. "You're one of the Defenders now."
As Ah Xing walked away, Matt turned to Luke. "Thanks for the chaos."
"Huh?" Luke blinked.
"Jessica. She joined us because of you. I know you're not the kind of guy who picks fights for nothing."
Luke Cage shrugged, pretending to play dumb. "I just wanted to test our lineup. She held her own and hell, she can fly."
He paused, looking up at the sky where Jessica had vanished.
"She's more of a superhero than the rest of us put together."
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