As they stepped out of the bar, the cool night air greeted them, offering a refreshing contrast to the warmth and chatter inside. The streets of Hell's Kitchen were quieter than usual, with only the occasional sound of a passing car or distant sirens echoing through the buildings.
Foggy and Karen waved goodbye, cracking a few more jokes before disappearing down the street.
Liam led Matt toward a sleek black car parked near the curb. Happy was already waiting in the driver's seat, watching the two approach. There were multiple cars and thus everyone took theirs. Liam wet with Matt, while Geralt, Vesemir and Yen in another.
And the last one carried the two ladies.
"So," Liam said as they got in, "did you like your new friends?"
"They're… amusing." He exhaled, leaning back against the seat. "Not exactly what I expected, though. Where did you even find them?"
"Oh, you wouldn't believe me if I told you." Liam answered.
"Try me." Matt was intrigued.
"Let's just say they're from… a different kind of world."
Matt didn't press further. He had already suspected something was off about Liam's friends. The way they talked, the way they carried themselves—it was like they had stepped out of a different time entirely. But he had other concerns.
"So, what about you? How's your work? Need any help?" Liam asked, changing the topic.
"No, I'm handling things fine." Matt replied instinctively.
"You must be frustrated." Liam asked.
"Frustrated? About what?" Matt was confused.
"That you can't hear my heartbeat."
Matt went still. His lips pressed into a thin line as he turned his head slightly toward Liam. He had never spoken about it, but ever since he stepped inside the bar, something had always bothered him—Liam's heartbeat was nonexistent.
"Not just mine," Liam continued. "The heartbeats of my friends are very slow, aren't they?"
"You..." Matt had the words choked out of him as he felt Liam turning into a bright light in his senses and then out of nowhere, he was back to what he looked like in his senses. In fact, after the sudden burst of light from Liam, he could even hear his heartbeat which was also strong and slow.
"Matthew.. You aren't the only one in this world who is special. There are far more big players on the playground and if you don't watch your step, someone will bully you easily. So watch out for those big players and save yourself when you can." Liam said.
Matt was dumbstruck. He didn't expect those words from Liam at all. He had known, thanks to Stick, that there were gifted players out there, but he hadn't expected to be outed from Liam, someone who was just a casual friend.
In fact, in Matt's eyes, he was just a young friend, and someone need to be protected. But the sudden burst of light from the body of Liam made him realize that he wasn't normal to begin with. Tony Stark, being dubbed as the Iron Mage, wasn't a coincidence at all, and neither was him having high connections with Tony.
These people were special. Just like him. No, not like him. They were more powerful than him. They had the money and power. Though the heart beats of Liam's friends were slow, but they were strong and that was enough to tell Matt that in hand to hand fight, if they had the moves, he would be at a huge disadvantage.
"Matt, when you need any help, be it medical or an upgrade to the run of the mill suit that you are wearing now, go to Stark Tower and ask for Pepper. I will direct her to help you. Happy, I will put you as his emergency contact." Liam said.
"Happy to help, Liam." Happy replied from the driver's seat.
"What.. What." Matt didn't know what he should respond as Liam flicked his finger and Matt's mobile was already on the hands of Liam. He then add the emergency contact of Matt as Happy's number. He was dumbfounded. It wasn't scientific at all. He wanted to stop Liam from doing anything, but he hesitated. He knew that Liam wasn't lying.
"From when did you know?" Matt suddenly asked as he knew that his secret, the one which only Stick and Elektra knew, was over. He didn't question how Liam knew as he felt that Liam having the ability and power that he holds now, even though he couldn't gauge, it was easy for someone like Liam to get a hold of.
"Since the time I met you." Liam said. This reminded Matt of the first time he met Liam on the garage working on Foggy's car. It made sense now, when Liam looked at him with an amused expression, the first time they met.
Liam's words settled between them, heavy yet casual, as if he hadn't just shattered one of Matt's biggest secrets with a flick of his wrist. Matt's mind raced, trying to process everything. Liam knew. Not just suspected, but knew. And worse—he had known from the start.
Matt clenched his jaw. He had spent years keeping his secret safe, hiding it from even his closest friends, and yet Liam had peeled back the truth as if it were nothing.
"You don't seem surprised," Liam finally said.
"I've been told before that I'm not the only one out there. But hearing it and actually facing it? That's different." Matt replied.
"Welcome to the real world, Matthew. It will only get worse from here on." Liam said. Matt turned toward him, adjusting his glasses slightly.
"And what exactly are you?"
"That's a long story. Maybe I'll tell you over drinks another time." Liam replied.
Matt wasn't sure if he liked that answer, but he let it slide. He had already learned more tonight than he had in years about the true scale of the world he operated in. For now, that was enough.
"We're here." The car slowed to a stop in front of Matt's apartment. Happy turned slightly in his seat.