"𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠," The static-filled TV mixed with the blare of the clamorous ER. "If we look into Monday we see a high of-"

Holly clambered past groups of people, forwarding through angry patients who were arguing with the other nurses about how long they had been waiting. With each step, she would mumble, 'Excuse me' and 'Sorry,' all while trying her hardest to keep the IV bags in her hands despite how many people kept running into her.

"Okay, I have the IV bags you asked for," Holly said, plopping them down on a cart next to Joe. Her head turned back to face Holly only momentarily. "All of them are filled with salt water besides this one over here-" She pointed to a bag, snapping her finger so Joe would look back. "This is for Mr. Jackson. They're the pain medications for his arm. I'm trusting you to not mix these up, and if you do, I was never here."

Joe nodded her head, "Oh thank God for you here, or else I would be screwed. I haven't even had time to use the bathroom. I'm very close to pissing myself as we speak." She grabbed one of the bags, attaching it to the stand next to her. "Where the hell is everyone? Didn't Saanvi call in any of the other nurses? We're practically knee-deep in dehydrated patients and they keep on coming."

"I thought so," Holly said, grabbing an IV bag as she rushed over to the bed next to Joe, offering a small smile to the woman she was helping, while also giving her a rundown of the procedures she was going through. "But I wouldn't be surprised if she is using this as one of her tactics to get us to quit."

Joe loosely shrugged. "You know, I wouldn't be too surprised about that either." She finished up with her patient, closing the curtain behind her. "But jokes on Saanvi, I'm too stubborn to quit. Well, scratch that, I would quit but the amount of debt I'm in is worse than the number of patients we have."

Jolene, aka Joe, was one of the few people Holly had gotten to know at the hospital. She started working at the hospital a week after Holly returned from her injury, and just like Holly, was treated as if she was a nobody. The only difference between Joe and Holly was that Joe had the balls to speak up about how she was being treated. Holly admired that about her, hence why they had formed such a strong friendship over the past five months.

Her red hair was almost as fiery as her personality, earning her the nickname 'Firecracker' from some of the other nurses. She had tried to convince Holly to go red for months now, telling her that the power that redheads hold is undeniably great. Yet, Holly figured the blonde and red duo was a better fit for them.

"Hand me the alcohol pads next to you, please." Holly's palm was up, keeping her gaze on the woman's arm in front of her as she prepped it for an IV. "I was supposed to get out of here by eight, but with the way this is looking I wouldn't be surprised If I have to stay longer."

Joe rolled her eyes, "Right, you gotta go meet blind boy. You know, sometimes I hate the fact you are not single. We would make a really good duo. The blonde and the firecracker, taking names and kicking ass." She shrugged. "I could use a side chick to help me. I haven't gotten laid in-"

"Joe, remember where we're at."

"Oh come on, everyone in this room knows what sex is." Joe waved her hand, snapping her gloves off her hand. "Speaking of sex, I need to go break the news to someone that the parasite she thinks she has is actually just a baby. Do you mind helping the guy next to you for me? I have a feeling this is gonna take a while."

Holly gave a thumbs up, listening as Joe walked away past the curtain, leaving Holly and the patient in front of her alone. The woman had a confused and cold look on her face, almost glaring at Holly. With that wildering look, Holly just offered a tight-lipped and awkward smile.

"She's new." Holly voiced. "Very new."

━ ◦ ❖ ◦━

Click!

"And just like that, I win yet another round," Matt says as he stands up, holding the pool stick in his hand as he places his other on his hip. "Tell me, Mr. Nelson, how does it feel to lose to a blind man for the third time?"

Foggy rolled his eyes, "It feels like this stick is gonna go up your ass if you keep bragging."

Karen chuckled, holding her pool stick in front of her. "Okay, maybe we should take a break." She turned around, placing her stick up against the wall. When she turned around, she started fanning herself with her hand, even getting to the point of putting her hair up in a low bun. "God, it's hot in here. Is the A/C working?"

"Considering almost everything in this bar is old as dust, I'm gonna assume so." He turned, seeing Josie shake her head at him. His eyes widened, quickly spewing out words. "Everything except you! Stay young, Josie!" He patted his chest twice, earning an eye roll from the bartender.

"I'm gonna go grab us some more drinks while you boys rack." Karen pointed at the pair. "Two beers?"

"Grab three," Matt said, "Holly should be here any minute."

As Karen turned around to leave towards the direction of the bar, Foggy and Matt racked up the pool balls, placing them in the middle of the table. The heat of the summer night fell onto their skin, causing their shirts to stick to their bodies like wet paper to a surface. It was a stark contrast to the winters in New York, the ones that would freeze any part of your body that wasn't covered the moment you stepped outside.

"You know, I went dancing last night." Foggy pointed at Matt, earning a small smile on Matt's lips. He paused, letting Foggy continue racking as he reached for his beer.

"Dancing, huh?" Matt questioned, lifting the bottle to his lips as he took a swig from his drink, "I haven't heard the legends of Foggy Nelson dancing in ages."

"Well, believe it or not, I can still bust a move," Foggy spoke, making Matt chuckle. "You think I'm joking, but I pulled a few ladies last night. One in particular."

Back in college, Foggy Nelson was known as a dancer. A good one? No, terrible. But he was still a known dancer. His 'situation' with Marci had recently ended, and it was obvious to Matt that Marci wasn't just a fling in his eyes. Still, Foggy treated his feelings like every other guy does. By the holy grail of alcohol and sex. And in Foggy's case, dancing.

"And boy, let me tell you, the woman I danced with was much more limber than she looked on the dance floor," Foggy said, shaking his head. Matt whistled, making Foggy's skin grow red at the remembrance of it.

"Oh Foggy Nelson, you're my hero." Matt laughed, "So, when's the next date? You planning on bringing her to this fine establishment so she can see you get beaten in pool by a blind man?"

"Ha, Ha, Ha," Foggy said with a deadpan expression. "And there lies the issue about the second date. The true pain of the thrill."

"No!"

"Yes," Foggy said defeated. "One and done. She danced with me until the night grew hot as hell, made love to me under the moonlight that shone through her overpriced apartment, hugged me like a cousin, and then told me she would call me."

"Ugh," Matt shook his head as he spoke dramatically. "Brutal." He continued, "Well if it makes you feel any better, I can tell you for a fact any other woman would be lucky to get with a guy who has as good of moves as you do. It's a shame I'm blind, or else I would be your number one fan, Fog."

Foggy took a swig from his beer, "Oh Matthew, I know the problem isn't my moves." He placed the bottle down, pointing. "It's you."

"Me?"

"Yes, you," Foggy said with an exasperated tone. "You're too busy being all lovey-dovey and relationshipy with Holly that you barely ever have enough time for me. You never come out with me and now I don't even have a wingman to help me with the ladies." Matt chuckled and shook his head. "I mean really, can you imagine Nelson and Murdock on the dance floor?"

"I can't deny that does sound epic." Matt paused, "But, I told Holly that I was going to merely focus on us for a while. Even if that means taking a break from my...other life."

Foggy nodded, now standing next to Matt. "Righttttt. Forgot about the fact your busy playing Karate-Kid in a devil suit most of the time."

After finding out about Matt's other life 4 months back, things went back to the way they were before. He refused to speak to Matt, questioning why he kept the secret from him for so long. But soon enough, after realizing what good he was doing for Hell's Kitchen, he figured at some point or another he would have to accept his actions, no matter how badly he wanted to repudiate them.

Plus, Foggy couldn't deny the fact that it was awesome that his friend was a superhero.

Like, extremely awesome.

But he wouldn't admit that to Matt, or anyone for that matter.

"Yep, my Karate-Kid days seem to be growing less frequent these days," Matt said, leaning against the pool table. "Holly says it's good for me, and that my body needs a rest." Foggy hummed. "By that, she means she's thankful she isn't stitching me up at three in the morning anymore."

Foggy pointed, "Bingo." He patted Matt's shoulder. "Look at you, already understanding the Nelson women lingo. You've grown up so fast."

"Nelson women lingo, huh?" Holly questioned, making both heads turn in her direction.

Holly was standing near the table behind them, wearing the same dress she wore the day Matt took her to Coney Island for the first time. A bright smile kept across her features as she placed her bag down on the chair right next to her, soon making her way over to the two boys.

Holly was quick to move to Matt who was already waiting for her. His smile fell onto hers as he leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips as his free arm snaked around her waist. It was amazing how even going a day without her felt like an eternity. He wanted to be bathed in her sunlight all day, every day, never having her leave his grasp.

"Hi there," Matt said softly, his lips barely ghosting over hers.

"Hi." Holly smiled, moving in again to give him another kiss.

"Oh brother," Foggy started dry heaving, shaking his head as he did so. "We get it, you love each other, you guys have been together long enough, there's no reason you should still look at each other with heart eyes. "

I mean, yeah, Matt and Holly were the absolute keys to a successful relationship. And sure, Matt was a handsome and romantic guy who practically worshiped the ground Holly walked on, but Foggy felt that it was an unnecessary amount of love they showed to each other at this point.

"If I have to watch you guys whisper hello to each other one more time I'm throwing myself off a building."

Holly and Matt chuckled, before completely pulling back from each other. They knew Foggy wasn't fully used to them being together yet. Sure he had gone to the point of acceptance, finally realizing no matter what he said the pair wasn't going to split up, but a part of him still thought of the idea of Matt and Holly to be something so short. Something that wouldn't last for long. Yet, the more he saw them together, falling harder than ever before for the other person, his ideas were crushed, realizing they were a complete endgame.

"Sorry, I'm late. Work was crazy busy and Joe and I got put in the ER." Holly said, turning to face Foggy. "You wouldn't believe how many people came in with severe dehydration. I mean really, we've had summer here before, it's not like-"

"Jolene's here?" Foggy interrupted, unable to contain his elation. Matt could hear the spike in his heart rate, and it instantly made him chuckle under his breath.

Joe and Foggy had been introduced a couple of months back after Foggy dropped off lunch for Holly at work. He had no words to describe this woman. Her red hair and green eyes were something he couldn't deter from. Like a goddess in his mind, Jolene Haynes was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid his eyes on.

She was as spunky as they come, and not interested in Foggy one bit. She was his type exactly. After flipping him off for getting in her way, Foggy instantly knew she was the one. Refusing to call her by the name Joe, he kept the name Jolene in his mind all day, every day.

"No, I just worked late because she was there. I didn't want to leave her alone with Saanvi. She had a short temper and I could tell Saanvi would push her to her limits. Plus we had this teenage girl come in, guess she's some wanna-be Hawkeye? Had an arrow go straight through her foot." Holly said, braiding her hair as she let it fall onto her shoulder. "But anyway, that's beside the point, who's won so far?"

Karen sauntered back, holding three drinks in her hand, along with a pitcher of water. "Matt has won three," She placed the drinks down next to her. "Foggy's won zero."

Holly chuckled, "Figured that was the case." She said, walking back to where Karen was, and thanking her for the drinks. Holly lifted her beer bottle to her lips, uttering before she took a sip. "Maybe I should join Foggy's team. Give him a chance to win."

"Or better," Foggy pointed. "Ladies against gents."

"Oh, I see how it is," Holly chuckled as everyone else joined in. "You just want Matt on your team because you wanna at least get one win in for the night."

"Me?" Foggy questioned, placing his hand on his heart. "No, never."

"Okay, sure. Cause you're never driven to the idea of winning." Holly scoffed, "Well let me just say, Karen is one of the best people I've ever seen play pool, so we're in for quite the competition. Better hope Matt can steal another win."

"He will, I know he will." Foggy said before turning to face Matt, patting his back as they turned away from the pair, "This is the one time that I will say it's okay to be a complete dick to her. I don't care what you have to do, you don't let Holly win. Got it?"

Matt chuckled, "Got it, Fog."

━ ◦ ❖ ◦━

It had been two hours, and the entire group smelt of cheap booze, hints of cigarette smoke from the bar, and chalk from the pool sticks. The four had managed to tie each with two winning games, leaving the fifth the last of the night. The more drinks that Matt consumed, the more he became like Foggy. All four started on a lesser competitive note, ending the night now as if this was the Hunger Games.

"Final shot," Karen whispered to Holly who leaned over the table, eyeing the ball in front of her carefully. The room was filled from head to toe, the noises around her distracting her from the game before her. "No pressure but if we lose this game I'm not sure Foggy will ever let it down."

"Believe me, he won't," Holly said through a concentrated face. "We've won two games, all I need to do is get this shot and it's over."

With those words, Holly pushed the pool stick forward, letting it hit the cue ball. The cue ball hit the eight ball, sending it straight into the pocket she had called before. Both Holly and Karen jumped up, their hands flying straight into the air as they shouted with joy, drowning out the dramatic cry of 'No!" that Foggy and Matt both let out simultaneously.

Karen and Holly were celebrating victoriously as they swayed back and forth with their arms wrapped around each other's shoulders.

"And that boys, is how you win a game of pool." Karen smiled as both boys shook their heads with smiles, edging closer to the pair, of girls, "I guess Matt wasn't the key to your victory, after all, Fog."

"I blame this all on the fact Matt is dating Holly," Holly tried to interject and argue, yet the alcohol on Foggy's breath spoke before she did. "And don't argue with me, you know it's true. He would have destroyed you if it wasn't for the fact you two are sleeping together."

"How about this," Holly said as her laughter died down, " I'll go grab us our last set of drinks before we head out. Karen can grab us a table while I wait for the drinks and you guys clean up over here."

"Sounds good, sweetheart," Matt said, turning around to face Foggy soon after they were left alone.

Matt leaned over, lining the pool stick up with the cue ball as he hit it straight forward, hitting three balls into separate pockets. Foggy stood with his arms crossed over his chest, watching as Matt chuckled as he stood up.

"You son of a bitch," Foggy said through a faint smile. "You went easy on her."

"I had to, Foggy," Matt said defensively with his hands out to his side, speaking as if he was talking to a toddler. "If I didn't she wouldn't let me sleep in the bed tonight." Foggy and Matt both started cleaning up, letting out small breaths of laughter and conversation as they did so. Living just like they did before everything happened.

"When Holly and I were kids, she was always so competitive. I think that's partially why-"As Foggy continued to speak, Matt's ears became full with the sound of a fast heartbeat. His head cocked to the side, turning it fully to the direction of the source of the sound.

Then as he did so, he heard a head turn away, and the heartbeat sped up even more.

"Matt...Matt...Matt...." He felt a hand slap his shoulder, and suddenly, the heartbeat was out of his mind. "Matt." He turned his head in the direction of Foggy. "What's going on? I've been saying your name for like a minute and you didn't respond."

"That guy next to Holly, you know who he is?"

Foggy turned his head, staring directly at the man whose head was now turned in the direction of the bar. He was standing straight up, wearing a trench coat that looked as if he was sweating through it. Foggy furrowed his brows, making sure to keep an eye on Holly as she continued to wait for their drinks.

"No," He shook his head as he turned his head back to Matt. "Why, what's up?"

Matt lifted his beer bottle to his lips, "Adrenaline's high, heartbeat is skyrocketing."

Foggy faced him again. "Trench coat in the middle of July? I don't need senses like yours to know that he's probably packing." Matt was quick to place his bottle down and head straight in the direction of the bar, quickly being stopped by Foggy's hand. "Hey, don't make a scene, okay? Especially in front of Holly, you know she'll start freaking out. There's plenty of people in here who carry guns, Matt."

"Yeah, well none of them have their finger on the trigger beside him." He said, moving out of the way of Foggy's hand as he continued towards the bar.

Matt walked straight towards Holly, slowing his pace down as he stopped next to her, stepping in between her and the man. His hand wrapped around her waist, making her head turn in his direction as she wore a smile.

"You guys already finished?" She looked back, seeing Foggy was still cleaning up. Her brows furrowed before Matt started speaking.

"How about you go wait with Karen and I'll grab the drinks, okay?" He offered a small smile to her, hearing in her heartbeat that she was growing concerned. "I'll be over in a minute, I promise."

Holly hesitated before nodding, still confused. "Okay..." She moved out of his grasp, "Just come get me if you need any help."

As Holly walked away, Matt stood up straight, facing in the direction of the bar. The man next to him still had a fast-beating heart, one that wasn't slowing down anytime soon. Matt tightened the grip on his cane, turning his head towards the man.

"First time here?" Matt questioned, hearing as his heartbeat spiked once again.

"N-no." His voice quickened. "I uh-"

"Listen," Matt's voice lowered as he turned to face him. "There are good people here, really good people. There's no need for you to have a gun, okay? If you want to hold your finger on the trigger of a gun, I reassure you there are places a guy like you can drink." Matt turned to walk away, "Just saying."

The man turned to face Matt, "I'm not here because of the reason you think I am, I have business here." He nodded at the man with red frames lining his face. "Your Nelson and Murdock. I'm gonna go out on a limb and assume your the blind one."

A/N- WE'RE BACK!

Welcome back to the 'Exile' series, Hottie's. Let me just say this book is going to be one wild ride so buckle up. I was so excited to post this chapter and also have the opportunity to share a new character with you all. I hope that you all enjoy the rest that I have planned for this series <3

On a familiar note, how did you all enjoy this chapter? Leave your thoughts here!

My updates will be between one and two weeks at a time. Most of the time it will be one week but depending on the length of the chapter it may be two just so I can have time to edit + revise before posting. Either way, I will try my hardest to get a chapter out in a timely manner.

With that, later's gators! Stay safe and have a great day/night.

Daisy <3