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* GameOfChicken: Rather than block or dodge Cricket's kick, Danny aims a pistol downward; if she continues, the kick will connect, but she'll lose a kneecap. She flinches first, moving her leg away.
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* DoubleTap: When a pile of bodies twitches, Danny instinctively shoots ''three'' times, and it stops moving.
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* RecklessGunUsage: Danny has strong feelings about people sticking guns in their waistbands. He'll do it if he absolutely must, but He doesn't like it.
--> Shoved down the front of the pants, the gun muzzle was guided with almost laser-like accuracy toward certain parts of the anatomy that every man held near and dear. Down the back, there were the leg muscles and the large arteries in the thigh to worry about. Just as importantly, the waistband depended on friction and luck to have the gun still there when it was needed. He much preferred a well-made holster.
--> Shoved down the front of the pants, the gun muzzle was guided with almost laser-like accuracy toward certain parts of the anatomy that every man held near and dear. Down the back, there were the leg muscles and the large arteries in the thigh to worry about. Just as importantly, the waistband depended on friction and luck to have the gun still there when it was needed. He much preferred a well-made holster.
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** Two more Empire goons when their intended target whispers "Are you afraid of the Dark?"
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** Two more Empire goons when their intended target whispers "Are you afraid of the Dark?"Dark?" Or rather, ''one'' of them recognises the phrase, and descends into panicked swearing without pulling a weapon, which is why Danny lets him live.
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* TheBladeAlwaysLandsPointyEndIn: At least, when thrown by someone as skilled as Danny, who can and does throw a switchblade into someone's [[EyeScream eye]].
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* MakeAnExampleOfThem:
** J-dog is left with four men to help him turn Danny into a message not to mess with the Empire. (They get [[DisposingOfABody cleaned up]] by "Kwiksmart Pizza Delivery".)
** Danny's career notes mention that on the few occasions he took a rescue mission, which invariably involved a large body count, he always made a point of taking out the person who ordered the kidnapping.
---> ''It was my way of ensuring they didn't ever do it again.''
** J-dog is left with four men to help him turn Danny into a message not to mess with the Empire. (They get [[DisposingOfABody cleaned up]] by "Kwiksmart Pizza Delivery".)
** Danny's career notes mention that on the few occasions he took a rescue mission, which invariably involved a large body count, he always made a point of taking out the person who ordered the kidnapping.
---> ''It was my way of ensuring they didn't ever do it again.''
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* DisposingOfABody: Similarly to John Wick canon, after killing five men, Danny calls a specialised service to place an order, and pays them with a gold ingot left in his mailbox.
--> '''Danny:''' Pizza for five, extra topping. Going to need some garlic bread, too.
--> '''Danny:''' Pizza for five, extra topping. Going to need some garlic bread, too.
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* ExactWords: Before J-dog will talk, he makes Danny promise not to shoot or stab him. So, after finding out what he knows, Danny strangles him.
--> '''Danny:''' Never said anything about not killing you.
--> '''Danny:''' Never said anything about not killing you.
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* ShearMenace: After turning out the lights in his basement, Danny kills a man with a pair of gardening shears and takes his gun. Because of course Danny keeps his tools sharp.
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* ProfessionalKiller: D.A.R.K. would receive jobs by email, and send proof of death and payment details back. When Taylor asks her dad about whether his targets deserved to die, he responds that they generally did, but that wasn't his reason for going after them, because if he tried to kill everyone who did terrible things, the city would be filled with bodies.
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* CasualDangerDialog: Danny muses aloud about whether Taylor might like a puppy or a kitten to help her feel better, while twisting a mugger's wrist. Sadly, he isn't able to get any advice from the guy except screamed profanity. Then he takes a look inside the mugger's gun and gently chides him for not taking better care of it.
--> The car had gone through the intersection and ten yards beyond before Danny figured it was time to release the punk's wrist. Glancing in the mirror, he could see the shaven-headed thug as a vague form rolling and bouncing on the asphalt behind the car.\\
''Puppy'', he decided. ''I'll get her a puppy''.
--> The car had gone through the intersection and ten yards beyond before Danny figured it was time to release the punk's wrist. Glancing in the mirror, he could see the shaven-headed thug as a vague form rolling and bouncing on the asphalt behind the car.\\
''Puppy'', he decided. ''I'll get her a puppy''.
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* BattleCouple: Danny and Annette together were a very scary team, back when she was alive.
--> ''She saved my life twice during that fight; I saved hers once. I'm not sure exactly when it was I started to fall for her, but it might have been about the time she shot the guy in the eye, seconds before he would have gutted me with a baling hook.''
--> ''She saved my life twice during that fight; I saved hers once. I'm not sure exactly when it was I started to fall for her, but it might have been about the time she shot the guy in the eye, seconds before he would have gutted me with a baling hook.''
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* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: The Dark carries out one after another.
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* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: The Dark carries out one after another.leaves dozens of bodies behind him as he tracks down Taylor's dog and gets him back. Because Taylor is in a difficult place and she ''needs'' that dog.
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Can be also found on [[https://m.fanfiction.net/s/11811377/1/ Fanfiction.net]]
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Can be also found on [[https://m.Website/FanfictionDotNet ([[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11811377/1/ Fanfiction.net]] here]]) and Sandbox/SufficientVelocityDotCom ([[https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/threads/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark-worm-au-fanfic.26790/ here]]).
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--> '''Danny:''' Lingering regrets?\\
'''Taylor:''' No, actually. None whatsoever.
'''Taylor:''' No, actually. None whatsoever.
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** Kaiser quickly dismisses the possibility that the Dark is the true culprit behind [[spoiler:Shadow Stalker's death]] because he doesn't recognise the personal motive and knows the Dark wouldn't have done it for professional reasons.
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* PassThePopcorn: Director Piggot recommends this as the best response for the other gangs when the PRT is cracking down on the Empire, "if they have the sense God gave a rock."
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* AcceptableTargets: Discussed InUniverse, when Taylor asks whether the people Danny has killed had done bad things. He tells her that that's not his reason for doing it, otherwise the city would be full of bodies, but it's almost always true that by the time someone like him gets hired, the target has done pretty awful stuff, like the man who murdered Fleur of New Wave in order to join the Empire 88.
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* ThePromise: Both Danny and Annette swore that, if either of them died, they would retire from the business. Danny ultimately breaks that promise after being kidnapped by the Empire and having his dog taken.
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* ThePromise: Both Danny and Annette swore that, if either of them died, they would retire from the business. business to raise Taylor properly. Danny ultimately breaks that promise after being kidnapped by the Empire and having his dog taken.taken, since he needs to step up to ''protect'' Taylor from people like Shadow Stalker.
* PuppyDogEyes: The Heberts have an actual puppy, and are, naturally, helpless before his power.
--> Chewie, being an opportunistic little mooch, gobbled down the bacon and eggs we'd given him then came to us looking for more. I, being the strong-willed and independent young woman that I am, of course gave him more. All I had to do was look into those soulful puppy-dog eyes and my resolve just crumbled on the spot.
* PuppyDogEyes: The Heberts have an actual puppy, and are, naturally, helpless before his power.
--> Chewie, being an opportunistic little mooch, gobbled down the bacon and eggs we'd given him then came to us looking for more. I, being the strong-willed and independent young woman that I am, of course gave him more. All I had to do was look into those soulful puppy-dog eyes and my resolve just crumbled on the spot.
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** The Dark lets the guard outside a bar walk away after this [[Franchise/{{Matrix}} strangely familiar]] scene.
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** The Dark lets the guard outside a bar walk away after this [[Franchise/{{Matrix}} [[Film/JohnWick strangely familiar]] scene.
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* BestServedCold: Seven years ago, a teenage boy [[spoiler:murdered the hero Fleur]] as his way to get into the Empire Eighty-Eight. The Dark just got paid to [[spoiler:balance the books]].
* BoomHeadshot: The Dark is quite good at these.
* BoomHeadshot: The Dark is quite good at these.
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** The Dark lets the guard outside a bar walk away after this [[Franchise/Matrix strangely familiar]] scene.
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** The Dark lets the guard outside a bar walk away after this [[Franchise/Matrix [[Franchise/{{Matrix}} strangely familiar]] scene.
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* KillItWithFire: Danny is so angry at [[spoiler:Taylor's treatment at the hands of Winslow's administration]] that he [[spoiler:sets fire to the school]].
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** Kaiser when he finds out the Empire is blamed for [[spoiler: Shadow Stalker's Demise]].
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** Kaiser when he finds out the Empire is blamed for [[spoiler: Shadow Stalker's Demise]].demise]].
** The Empire 88 flunkies in two different bars when [[spoiler:Danny comes looking for Fleur's killer]].
** Larry Peterson, the man who [[spoiler:murdered Fleur back in the day]] when he realises the Dark has come for ''him'' and that his 'friends' want nothing to do with him now.
** The Empire 88 flunkies in two different bars when [[spoiler:Danny comes looking for Fleur's killer]].
** Larry Peterson, the man who [[spoiler:murdered Fleur back in the day]] when he realises the Dark has come for ''him'' and that his 'friends' want nothing to do with him now.
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** The Dark lets the guard outside a bar walk away after this [[Franchise/Matrix strangely familiar]] scene.
---> '''The Dark:''' Hello, Frankie.\\
'''Frankie:''' Dark. Shit, I never thought it'd be you who'd kill me.\\
'''The Dark:''' Doesn't have to be. How many years has it been? [He means, how many men are inside.]\\
'''Frankie:''' About a dozen, I reckon.\\
'''The Dark:''' Hm. Impressive.\\
'''Frankie:''' You here on business?\\
'''The Dark:''' Afraid so, Frankie. Why don't you just go home? I never saw you, you never saw me.\\
'''Frankie:''' Thanks, I will. About time I got shut of these assholes, anyway.
---> '''The Dark:''' Hello, Frankie.\\
'''Frankie:''' Dark. Shit, I never thought it'd be you who'd kill me.\\
'''The Dark:''' Doesn't have to be. How many years has it been? [He means, how many men are inside.]\\
'''Frankie:''' About a dozen, I reckon.\\
'''The Dark:''' Hm. Impressive.\\
'''Frankie:''' You here on business?\\
'''The Dark:''' Afraid so, Frankie. Why don't you just go home? I never saw you, you never saw me.\\
'''Frankie:''' Thanks, I will. About time I got shut of these assholes, anyway.
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** {{Averted}}: While the Heberts name their dog [[Franchise/StarWars Chewie]], Taylor explains to Danny that it's because the pup is chewing on her sleeve.
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** {{Averted}}: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]]: While the Heberts name their dog [[Franchise/StarWars Chewie]], Taylor explains to Danny that it's because the pup is chewing on her sleeve.
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** The Heberts name their dog [[Franchise/StarWars Chewie]].
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** The {{Averted}}: While the Heberts name their dog [[Franchise/StarWars Chewie]].Chewie]], Taylor explains to Danny that it's because the pup is chewing on her sleeve.
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* GunsAkimbo: Danny at one point does this, the gun in his right hand aiming left and the gun in his left hand aiming right.
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* GunsAkimbo: Danny at one point does this, the gun in his right hand aiming left and the gun in his left hand aiming right. His stated reason is that that makes it easier to shoot guards standing behind a door as you enter.
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* ItsPersonal: The Empire had beef with Danny after he sandbagged one of their gang members when they tried to jump him. Danny, in turn, goes on a rampage to get Chewie back when they take the dog from him and put it in their dog fight rings.
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* ItsPersonal: ItsPersonal:
** The Empire had beef with Danny after he sandbagged one of their gang members when they tried to jump him. Danny, in turn, goes on a rampage to get Chewie back when they take the dog from him and put it in their dog fight rings.
** The Empire had beef with Danny after he sandbagged one of their gang members when they tried to jump him. Danny, in turn, goes on a rampage to get Chewie back when they take the dog from him and put it in their dog fight rings.
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* JackTheRipoff: Tattletale persuades Coil that the smartest response to rumours about the Dark resurfacing is to set up one of his mercenaries to impersonate the Dark. (Her hope is that the real Dark will take offence and come after Coil.)
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* CombatPragmatist: As befits a true ProfessionalKiller, Danny has no interest in sportsmanship, only effectiveness, and he's pleased when Taylor shows ruthlessness even in playing Monopoly.
--> He couldn't have been prouder. His entire career had been predicated on figuring out what the target was doing, then cheating as hard as he could. Entire cemeteries were filled with people who'd chosen to fight fair. Taylor was showing that she was a Hebert through and through.
--> He couldn't have been prouder. His entire career had been predicated on figuring out what the target was doing, then cheating as hard as he could. Entire cemeteries were filled with people who'd chosen to fight fair. Taylor was showing that she was a Hebert through and through.
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''[[https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark-worm-au-fanfic.378946/#post-21068056 Are You Afraid Of The Dark?]]'' is a ''Literature/{{Worm}}'' fanfic by Ack, who is also author of ''Fanfic/AnotherWay'', ''Fanfic/{{Recoil}}'', ''Fanfic/ImHalping'', ''Fanfic/HopeComesToBrocktonBay'' and ''Fanfic/SecurityWorm''.
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''[[https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark-worm-au-fanfic.378946/#post-21068056 Are You Afraid Of The Dark?]]'' is a ''Literature/{{Worm}}'' fanfic by Ack, Tropers/{{ack1308}}, who is also author of ''Fanfic/AnotherWay'', ''Fanfic/{{Recoil}}'', ''Fanfic/ImHalping'', ''Fanfic/HopeComesToBrocktonBay'' and ''Fanfic/SecurityWorm''.
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''[[https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark-worm-au-fanfic.378946/#post-21068056 Are You Afraid Of The Dark?]]'' is a ''Literature/{{Worm}}'' fanfic by Ack, who is also author of ''Fanfic/AnotherWay'', ''Fanfic/{{Recoil}}'', ''Fanfic/ImHalping'', ''Fanfic/HopeComesToBrocktonBay'' and ''Fanfic/SecurityWorm''.
In the 90s and early 2000s, Brockton Bay was stalked by two unpowered assassins, [[AdaptationalBadass Danny & Anne-Rose]], [[AdaptationalVillainy Killers for hire]], [[FunWithAcronyms or 'D.A.R.K.' for short]]. Anyone who the Marquis wanted dead, they would kill. Anyone who went after them would die. And they took the credit for [[DeathByAdaptation Jack Slash being sent to the Birdcage]] [[DisabledInTheAdaptation in a wheelchair]]. And then, a few years ago, they disappeared.
In January 2011, with his daughter in the hospital, Danny Hebert buys a puppy. Then some Empire thugs [[MuggingTheMonster who pick]] [[SchmuckBait a seemingly unassuming target]] hear a catchphrase that wasn't heard in years- "[[OhCrap Are you]] [[NothingIsScarier afraid of]] [[TheDreaded the Dark]]?".
The fic is ongoing but updates rarely.
Can be also found on [[https://m.fanfiction.net/s/11811377/1/ Fanfiction.net]]
----
!!This work contains examples of the following tropes:
* AdaptationalBadass: Danny Hebert is an explicit {{Expy}} of Film/JohnWick. Annette was also a professional assassin before her death as well.
* AlwaysABiggerFish: The Dark is this to the Empire goons unfortunate enough to be in his crosshairs.
* BadassNormal: Danny, otherwise known to the cape scene as Dark, is not a parahuman. He has no superpowers, no special abilities, nothing. Despite this, he can kill capes like Cricket and Jack Slash. This is what sets up his status as TheDreaded.
* CutLexLuthorACheck: Both Kaiser and Assault are familiar enough with the Dark to understand how he operates. When Kaiser is trying to get Kreig to understand that the Dark wasn't behind the recent armored truck robbery, he points out that if the Dark wanted money he could just collect any of half a dozen unclaimed bounties for some of his past kills.
* {{Catchphrase}}: Whenever the Dark announced himself, he would always say, "Are you afraid of the Dark?" While most new capes don't recognize the meaning, those like Kaiser and Assault know of it.
* CavalryBetrayal: [[spoiler:Sophia believes Alan came to save her from Danny and is all but frothing at the mouth, shouting at him to kill the hitman. Unfortunately for her, Alan is ''not'' there to save her and kills her himself.]]
* CurbStompBattle: Anything the Dark inserts himself into is bound to end up this way, which is impressive since Danny isn't a parahuman.
* DeathByAdaptation:
** Jack Slash had his knees shot out and was shipped to the Birdcage as a cripple. He didn't survive that long afterward once inside.
** Cricket was easily dispatched by the Dark.
** Hookwolf was crushed under an electromagnet.
** [[spoiler:Sophia, who survived all the way to ''{{Literature/Ward}}'', is killed off by Alan, who is ragingly pissed at her for corrupting his daughter.]]
* TheDreaded: While newer capes don't recognize the name, many older ones are rightfully afraid of the Dark. When Kaiser learns Dark is tearing through his Empire because they took his dog, he not only tells everyone to not go after him, but to shut down their dog fighting ring for good measure.
* {{Expy}}: In case it hasn't occurred to you, Danny is all but stated to be Earth-Bet's very own [[Film/JohnWick Babayaga]].
* FalseFlagOperation: Lung is absolutely convinced the Dark is this, assuming the PRT are doing the same things the Yangban did, and ''refuses'' to consider otherwise.
** [[spoiler: Coil has a fake Dark attack a bank truck in broad daylight]], prompting Kaiser and Assault [[OhCrap to immediately cover their own asses]].
** The Dark accidentally sets one up by killing [[spoiler:Sophia. Black Ward known for patrolling in Empire territory turns up tortured and dead, so the PRT blames the white supremacists]].
* GunsAkimbo: Danny at one point does this, the gun in his right hand aiming left and the gun in his left hand aiming right.
* HonorBeforeReason: Why Hookwolf attacks the Dark. It doesn't end well for Hookwolf but at least he gets to FaceDeathWithDignity.
* ImperiledInPregnancy: Defied. Kayden is still heavily pregnant with Aster during the events of the fic, and despite Max's insistence for her to be a PregnantBadass in the Empire's time of need she [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere runs for it to protect her baby]].
* ImplacableMan: The Dark. It doesn't matter what you throw at him, he will not stop until his target is dead and god help you if you come between him and his quarry. After Danny tears through the Empire and kills Cricket and Hookwolf, Kaiser immediately goes to appease him rather than continue making an enemy out of him.
* ItsPersonal: The Empire had beef with Danny after he sandbagged one of their gang members when they tried to jump him. Danny, in turn, goes on a rampage to get Chewie back when they take the dog from him and put it in their dog fight rings.
** Later on, after sneaking into Winslow, [[spoiler:Danny decides to pay Alan a visit. While he does back off when he learns Alan genuinely had no idea what was going on, both men agree to kill Sophia for nearly killing Danny's daughter and corrupting Emma]].
* LogicalWeakness: Hookwolf has a metal body. The Dark crushes him with an industrial electromagnet.
* MuggingTheMonster: Two Empire thugs decide to rob what turns out to be a retired professional assassin. It doesn't end well for them, their buddies, Hookwolf's dogfighting ring, Cricket, or Hookwolf himself.
* NoodleIncident: The Dark has met with Contessa at least once.
* NotMeThisTime: Empire 88 was ''not'' responsible for [[spoiler:killing Shadow Stalker. The Dark was]]. Kaiser's attempt at de-escalation is to find whoever did it and hand them over to the PRT.
* OhCrap: Boy oh boy, where do we even ''begin''?
** The first Empire goon when his target turns out to be dangerous.
** Two more Empire goons when their intended target whispers "Are you afraid of the Dark?"
** [[MassOhCrap Every Empire Thug in the dogfighting Arena]] when the Dark shows up.
** Hookwolf when he sees Cricket dead.
** Hookwolf when the Dark uses an industrial magnet on him.
** Kaiser when he finds out the Dark killed two Empire Capes.
** Assault when the Dark becomes active again.
** Director Piggot when she hears Armsmaster wants a go at the Dark.
** [[spoiler: Shadow Stalker when she gets caught by the Dark]].
** [[spoiler: Sophia when she realizes the girl she's been bullying was the daughter of the most feared professional assassin in the city]].
** [[spoiler: Sophia when she realizes she's about to be executed, via a bullet to the head at point-blank range in a soundproofed basement, without anyone willing to rescue her]].
** [[spoiler: Assault when he finds out the Dark has [[ItsPersonal a personal vendetta]] against Shadow Stalker]].
** Kaiser and Assault when [[spoiler: Coil has a fake Dark rob a bank truck]].
** The Undersiders when the Dark stops by to ask some questions.
** Kaiser when he finds out the Empire is blamed for [[spoiler: Shadow Stalker's Demise]].
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Kaiser and Assault note that, prior to the killings of Cricket and Hookwolf, the Dark ''never'' killed Capes. It turns out the motivation was [[ItsPersonal a personal]] [[RoaringRampageofRevenge vendetta]] and the two Capes were caught in the crossfire.
* PapaWolf:
** After getting Chewie back, Danny turns his sights to Winslow, destroying the school [[spoiler:and learning who was behind the bullying campaign against his daughter. Needless to say, Shadow Stalker was fucked the moment the Dark learned about her]].
** [[spoiler:After learning that Sophia turned Emma against Taylor and tormented her for over a year, Alan explodes into rage and willingly goes along with Danny's plan to kill her. He even pulls the trigger himself.]]
* ThePromise: Both Danny and Annette swore that, if either of them died, they would retire from the business. Danny ultimately breaks that promise after being kidnapped by the Empire and having his dog taken.
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: The Dark carries out one after another.
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Enforced on [[spoiler: Emma]], sent to a boarding school in Europe to keep her safe.
** Once the PRT decides to stop playing nice with the Empire, Purity decides the best thing to do to protect herself and her unborn child is to retire from caping entirely.
* ShoutOut:
** The Heberts name their dog [[Franchise/StarWars Chewie]].
** Assault jokes to the Dark that [[Creator/AbbottAndCostello a twain is something that goes on a twack]].
** The Dark explains his [[ItsPersonal motivations]] to [[spoiler:Sophia]] as "[[Literature/TheCulture special circumstances]]".
* SpottingTheThread: Both Kaiser and Assault immediately recognize [[spoiler: Coil's fake Dark]] as an imposter because of how outside the Dark's M.O. the incident was.
* TooDumbToLive: Anyone who knowingly antagonizes the Dark, such as [[spoiler:Shadow Stalker and Coil]].
* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler:Sophia as she realizes she's about to die]].
----
In the 90s and early 2000s, Brockton Bay was stalked by two unpowered assassins, [[AdaptationalBadass Danny & Anne-Rose]], [[AdaptationalVillainy Killers for hire]], [[FunWithAcronyms or 'D.A.R.K.' for short]]. Anyone who the Marquis wanted dead, they would kill. Anyone who went after them would die. And they took the credit for [[DeathByAdaptation Jack Slash being sent to the Birdcage]] [[DisabledInTheAdaptation in a wheelchair]]. And then, a few years ago, they disappeared.
In January 2011, with his daughter in the hospital, Danny Hebert buys a puppy. Then some Empire thugs [[MuggingTheMonster who pick]] [[SchmuckBait a seemingly unassuming target]] hear a catchphrase that wasn't heard in years- "[[OhCrap Are you]] [[NothingIsScarier afraid of]] [[TheDreaded the Dark]]?".
The fic is ongoing but updates rarely.
Can be also found on [[https://m.fanfiction.net/s/11811377/1/ Fanfiction.net]]
----
!!This work contains examples of the following tropes:
* AdaptationalBadass: Danny Hebert is an explicit {{Expy}} of Film/JohnWick. Annette was also a professional assassin before her death as well.
* AlwaysABiggerFish: The Dark is this to the Empire goons unfortunate enough to be in his crosshairs.
* BadassNormal: Danny, otherwise known to the cape scene as Dark, is not a parahuman. He has no superpowers, no special abilities, nothing. Despite this, he can kill capes like Cricket and Jack Slash. This is what sets up his status as TheDreaded.
* CutLexLuthorACheck: Both Kaiser and Assault are familiar enough with the Dark to understand how he operates. When Kaiser is trying to get Kreig to understand that the Dark wasn't behind the recent armored truck robbery, he points out that if the Dark wanted money he could just collect any of half a dozen unclaimed bounties for some of his past kills.
* {{Catchphrase}}: Whenever the Dark announced himself, he would always say, "Are you afraid of the Dark?" While most new capes don't recognize the meaning, those like Kaiser and Assault know of it.
* CavalryBetrayal: [[spoiler:Sophia believes Alan came to save her from Danny and is all but frothing at the mouth, shouting at him to kill the hitman. Unfortunately for her, Alan is ''not'' there to save her and kills her himself.]]
* CurbStompBattle: Anything the Dark inserts himself into is bound to end up this way, which is impressive since Danny isn't a parahuman.
* DeathByAdaptation:
** Jack Slash had his knees shot out and was shipped to the Birdcage as a cripple. He didn't survive that long afterward once inside.
** Cricket was easily dispatched by the Dark.
** Hookwolf was crushed under an electromagnet.
** [[spoiler:Sophia, who survived all the way to ''{{Literature/Ward}}'', is killed off by Alan, who is ragingly pissed at her for corrupting his daughter.]]
* TheDreaded: While newer capes don't recognize the name, many older ones are rightfully afraid of the Dark. When Kaiser learns Dark is tearing through his Empire because they took his dog, he not only tells everyone to not go after him, but to shut down their dog fighting ring for good measure.
* {{Expy}}: In case it hasn't occurred to you, Danny is all but stated to be Earth-Bet's very own [[Film/JohnWick Babayaga]].
* FalseFlagOperation: Lung is absolutely convinced the Dark is this, assuming the PRT are doing the same things the Yangban did, and ''refuses'' to consider otherwise.
** [[spoiler: Coil has a fake Dark attack a bank truck in broad daylight]], prompting Kaiser and Assault [[OhCrap to immediately cover their own asses]].
** The Dark accidentally sets one up by killing [[spoiler:Sophia. Black Ward known for patrolling in Empire territory turns up tortured and dead, so the PRT blames the white supremacists]].
* GunsAkimbo: Danny at one point does this, the gun in his right hand aiming left and the gun in his left hand aiming right.
* HonorBeforeReason: Why Hookwolf attacks the Dark. It doesn't end well for Hookwolf but at least he gets to FaceDeathWithDignity.
* ImperiledInPregnancy: Defied. Kayden is still heavily pregnant with Aster during the events of the fic, and despite Max's insistence for her to be a PregnantBadass in the Empire's time of need she [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere runs for it to protect her baby]].
* ImplacableMan: The Dark. It doesn't matter what you throw at him, he will not stop until his target is dead and god help you if you come between him and his quarry. After Danny tears through the Empire and kills Cricket and Hookwolf, Kaiser immediately goes to appease him rather than continue making an enemy out of him.
* ItsPersonal: The Empire had beef with Danny after he sandbagged one of their gang members when they tried to jump him. Danny, in turn, goes on a rampage to get Chewie back when they take the dog from him and put it in their dog fight rings.
** Later on, after sneaking into Winslow, [[spoiler:Danny decides to pay Alan a visit. While he does back off when he learns Alan genuinely had no idea what was going on, both men agree to kill Sophia for nearly killing Danny's daughter and corrupting Emma]].
* LogicalWeakness: Hookwolf has a metal body. The Dark crushes him with an industrial electromagnet.
* MuggingTheMonster: Two Empire thugs decide to rob what turns out to be a retired professional assassin. It doesn't end well for them, their buddies, Hookwolf's dogfighting ring, Cricket, or Hookwolf himself.
* NoodleIncident: The Dark has met with Contessa at least once.
* NotMeThisTime: Empire 88 was ''not'' responsible for [[spoiler:killing Shadow Stalker. The Dark was]]. Kaiser's attempt at de-escalation is to find whoever did it and hand them over to the PRT.
* OhCrap: Boy oh boy, where do we even ''begin''?
** The first Empire goon when his target turns out to be dangerous.
** Two more Empire goons when their intended target whispers "Are you afraid of the Dark?"
** [[MassOhCrap Every Empire Thug in the dogfighting Arena]] when the Dark shows up.
** Hookwolf when he sees Cricket dead.
** Hookwolf when the Dark uses an industrial magnet on him.
** Kaiser when he finds out the Dark killed two Empire Capes.
** Assault when the Dark becomes active again.
** Director Piggot when she hears Armsmaster wants a go at the Dark.
** [[spoiler: Shadow Stalker when she gets caught by the Dark]].
** [[spoiler: Sophia when she realizes the girl she's been bullying was the daughter of the most feared professional assassin in the city]].
** [[spoiler: Sophia when she realizes she's about to be executed, via a bullet to the head at point-blank range in a soundproofed basement, without anyone willing to rescue her]].
** [[spoiler: Assault when he finds out the Dark has [[ItsPersonal a personal vendetta]] against Shadow Stalker]].
** Kaiser and Assault when [[spoiler: Coil has a fake Dark rob a bank truck]].
** The Undersiders when the Dark stops by to ask some questions.
** Kaiser when he finds out the Empire is blamed for [[spoiler: Shadow Stalker's Demise]].
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Kaiser and Assault note that, prior to the killings of Cricket and Hookwolf, the Dark ''never'' killed Capes. It turns out the motivation was [[ItsPersonal a personal]] [[RoaringRampageofRevenge vendetta]] and the two Capes were caught in the crossfire.
* PapaWolf:
** After getting Chewie back, Danny turns his sights to Winslow, destroying the school [[spoiler:and learning who was behind the bullying campaign against his daughter. Needless to say, Shadow Stalker was fucked the moment the Dark learned about her]].
** [[spoiler:After learning that Sophia turned Emma against Taylor and tormented her for over a year, Alan explodes into rage and willingly goes along with Danny's plan to kill her. He even pulls the trigger himself.]]
* ThePromise: Both Danny and Annette swore that, if either of them died, they would retire from the business. Danny ultimately breaks that promise after being kidnapped by the Empire and having his dog taken.
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: The Dark carries out one after another.
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Enforced on [[spoiler: Emma]], sent to a boarding school in Europe to keep her safe.
** Once the PRT decides to stop playing nice with the Empire, Purity decides the best thing to do to protect herself and her unborn child is to retire from caping entirely.
* ShoutOut:
** The Heberts name their dog [[Franchise/StarWars Chewie]].
** Assault jokes to the Dark that [[Creator/AbbottAndCostello a twain is something that goes on a twack]].
** The Dark explains his [[ItsPersonal motivations]] to [[spoiler:Sophia]] as "[[Literature/TheCulture special circumstances]]".
* SpottingTheThread: Both Kaiser and Assault immediately recognize [[spoiler: Coil's fake Dark]] as an imposter because of how outside the Dark's M.O. the incident was.
* TooDumbToLive: Anyone who knowingly antagonizes the Dark, such as [[spoiler:Shadow Stalker and Coil]].
* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler:Sophia as she realizes she's about to die]].
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