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stevenbasic · 9 months

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GITJ Post 337: Saturday at Melissa's, p12 (10 PM: Melissa)

<bong. bong.>>

That clock, that silly clock of my mom’s in the great room, was chiming for ten o’clock.

<<Bong. Bong.>>

I was walking downstairs, in the cute new outfit and heels I’d picked up at the mall this afternoon, after changing in my bedroom while he napped again downstairs. This evening was going so well we were doing so good with him by Monday I’ll have his brain trained just right haha I’m kidding.

<<Bong. Bong!>>

Even me myself, after my nice talk with Shanette and seeing how good the girls were treating him, I had been able to take some time for a new manifestation in my bedroom mirror, still wearing this poor bikini. A manifestation to make everything I wanted real. Something that was going to help me, I thought, take Jay and me to the next level:

<<Bong! Bong!>>

That’s so weird, the foyer’s chandelier shaking like that with the chimes, the picture frames that just rattled on the wall. It’s like the clock was making the whole house sh-….oh wait. That’s not the clock haha. That’s my footsteps omigod. Anyway, my manifestation a few minutes ago was:

Manifestation: I am his protector, big and beautiful and strong. He looks to me and my girls for everything, everything he needs. He is happy to depend on me, for safety and for love and warmth. And for everything. With my girls and with what is happening to me I can provide for him and keep him safe and haha okay that’s enuffff..!

<<Bong!!>>

I was getting so excited, as I came to the bottom of the stairs. My footsteps were fucking making the house shake. And, it’d been a perfect day so far and he was here. This new knit sweater, and this big ol' bra, could barely contain my beating heart which was oh gosh so loud. That and the sounds of my heels on the hardwood - these crazy big heels that Shanette made me buy - almost now completely drowned out the clock’s chime as I rounded the corner to find him on the couch with the girls, waking right up as soon as I appeared and his eyes going super wide-

<<BONG!!>>

Ten chimes, and here I was, back again in the big big room of my mothers big big house looking at my little little guy among all my big big friends. The lights were still kinda down, but flickered a little when I arrived. He had just jumped out of Josie’s embrace. After he came last - his eighth of the day they tell me haha - he’d passed out right there on my lap. I’d left him to go change, and gave the girls the new jammie’s I’d bought for him at Hera’s. As he slept they’d gotten him into them - he looks so cute…but is that a new hickie? - and Josie cuddled him up into her on the couch, with all the pillows. She and some of the other girls had brought their pajamas too and were now out of their swimsuits. Josie wanted to make sure the first thing he saw when he woke up was her cleavage; I know that feeling, that’s such a great feeling. But, even though he woke up with his face in her chest his eyes - those big, shell-shocked eyes - were now on me.

Good.

Jay would definitely remember this weekend, what happened this Saturday…eventually. He’d remember it for a looonnngg time, but not right away of course, no. He would, for a while, feel like it was just a long, sexy dream. After tonight was over it’d slowly come back to him, his afternoon, the time in the pool, in the hot tub, with the sushi and on the couch during the movie. He’d start to recall how the girls grew, right in front of his eyes. Someday he’d realize that it wasn’t a dream and that he was a little smaller than he was when he came in through my door on Friday night. He’d begin to remember it all, eventually, and I’d be there for him if he got scared. I got warm just thinking about it. He’d remember, and he’d need me - but tonight I was going to show him how he needs me for other things…

We’d tuned down our perfumes a bit. I had to ask the girls to, so he could come back to us not so mushy. I needed him to remember at least a little of tonight, and be able to speak in semi-full sentences haha. So now, as he was sat up straight, woken by the sound of my heels, I could tell he was confused. He was turned on the couch looking at me as I ducked under the door frame into the great room. Everyone was so big and tall to him. Especially me.

“Hi sweetie,” I purred, feeling my voice go deeper than normal as I immediately soaked in the goggle-eyed stare he was giving me. The poor thing, I can’t blame him. In this new thick, wide-striped sweater of blue and green my boobs looked huge, my abs and tiny waist showing just a bit underneath it. In this short, white pleated skirt I picked off the racks my tanned legs were huge and bare and I was sure he could see the muscles bulging, thighs and calves. But it was probably those heels, those crazy white platform heels that Shanette insisted I buy, that brought on the dumbfounded, open-mouthed reaction I was getting from him when I appeared in the doorway. My head would have hit the frame, if I hadn’t ducked. “Stand up, sweetie,” I told him, as he sat next to Josie and Lakshmi and Katie, “You heard the clock. It’s ten. It’s past your bedtime. Come on, let me take you upstairs.”

The girls giggled, and the ones around him stood. Others watched, either from up on the balcony, out in the kitchen, or on the couch painting one another’s toenails and watching an episode of the Bachelor on TV. The new season was all female bodybuilders.

“He has a bedtime now, does he?” Amelia drawled, from over on an overstuffed chair. She was looking into her phone, filming herself, sometimes pointing her camera at Jay. Was she streaming?

“All little boys should,” Shanette answered, meeting my eyes with another shared smile. She was wearing those cute red-heart pajamas of hers, and had been such a good friend to me today, getting me ready for tonight. Omigod I was so excited for this!

Lakshmi and Katie had taken him by the arms in support as his weak legs tried to find their balance. He seemed overcome by some funny look on his face, all open-mouthed; I think they’d call it awe. In these heels I was 7’5”. I knew! I checked! I’m a size 15, now, and these are platform stilettos. Can you believe they even carried them? Haha I don’t think they ever expected anyone to buy them. The shoes gave me ten inches, and I couldn’t believe how tall I was. And him? Him?! They told me they measured him at under five feet earlier today and omigod as he stood up I knew I just freakin’ knew he’d gotten smaller still. Omigod omigod omigod, look at him. He looked…tiny. With the girls’ help he took his first step, slowly, shyly towards me just like I nnnngh… just like I’d asked him to, he looked like a little boy in his cute new blue polka-dot pj’s, matching bottoms and top, all buttoned-up. Flannel and perfect and mmmhahannnyessss. Holy crappp I was getting so excited, so so so too excited I haha I had to calm down. Breathe, Missy, breathe!

But omigod, as the girls let him go, to walk on his own, I started to realize how really short he was compared to me. His nose was, like, at my belly-button! Goddddd all the feelings. I shhould have maybe taken my meds that night haha.

“How does she look?” Josie asked him, as he took another step, but then froze.

His eyes, his eyes went up me, from my big feet, up my long massive legs, over my breasts and finally to my eyes. I smiled at him, waiting for what he was going to say, but he didn’t really seem able to talk. I knew we’d toned down the perfumes, so this must just be a man’s natural reaction to seeing an Amazon with hips above his shoulders and a 57-inch bustline haha.

“You look like a cheerleader on steroids,” Amelia commented. Haha the outfit probably did do that.

“Do you like your giant cheerleader?” Randi prodded.

“Poor thing’s speechless, I guess,” giggled Katie. She was probably 5’10” at this point, and was still in the old blue bikini of mine she’d borrowed. “Are you speechless, hm?” she asked.

I saw him struggling, embarrassed, and part of me wanted to just scoop him up and take him right away. But I knew this was important, and haha it was fun. So, I just cocked my head and waited for him to answer Josie’s question. Yes, honey. How do I look?

“It’s important that you say it, Daddy,” Josie told him, from where she stood behind him. Even she and Lakshmi looked so tall compared to him.

“How does she look, Dr. J?” urged Lakshmi. She was so cute in her casual PJs, but she’d say her butt looked too big in her soft white shorts, her boobs bulging too much out of her blue tank.

Finally, he found his words. “B-big,” he answered.

The room giggled, loving that answer. I did too. But Josie pressed on. “Big, yes. Very big. And how does that make you feel?” she continued.

“L-like she’s…” His voice trailed off.

“Like she’s what?” Aubrey asked, from where she sat in the couch’s corner, curled up like a cat. Speaking of, where was..?

“Like she’s very strong,” Jay answered, his eyes locked onto mine.

I nearly sighed, and definitely shivered, hearing him say that. Yes, I am strong. I am really, really fucking strong.

“Strong? So she can do what?” Josie asked. Good girl, good Josie, doing this for me.

His eyes saw mine gleaming, sparkling I’m sure. He knew what I wanted him to say. “P-protect me?” he managed.

“Very good,” Josie said. Yes, good boy.

“And, it turn you on?” came Katarina, sitting next to Aubrey in my mom’s soft terry cloth robe, “seeing twoja żona, you wife so much bigger than you?”

Holy shit.

“M-my wife?” he asked, gaze breaking from mine to look back at the girls on the couch. They were all watching him - the whole room was, really - with intrigued interest. Somebody took a picture, and Amelia was definitely live-streaming. My own heart had fluttered with the word - ‘wife’. Oh jeez, I just felt myself gushing, so wet. Just a slip up in Katarina’s English but haha.

“‘Wife’’, Kat?” Randi echoed, in her smoky voice, “Maybe you meant ‘mommy’?”

Omigod that was even better!

The girls giggled all around us. On the TV, the bachelor was being shown up by his hulking blonde date at the gym.

My eyes found Shanette again. Having Jay say it, admit it in front of all the girls would be amazing, awesome, especially since he hadn't really talked about his own shrinking too much. But awww omigod the poor thing I knew how humiliating and even dangerous to our relationship it might be if this all happened too fast. And, haha, it was so unlike me but I really wanted to put his - a guy’s - feelings first. I was already working to keep my energy under control, trying and struggling to keep my emotions haha normal. I’ve been taught tricks, techniques, how to relax and I needed them now. Breathe like they told me. Breathe and focus. Breathe and…what was it? Oh yeah…focus. Ahhh. Good. I knew that if I let loose things could go off the rails and no one wants that. Shanette, in fact, saw something in my eyes and stood up from where she’d sat, and started coming towards me.

I can do this, I can keep it together. I looked down, and saw the framed pic of me from sophomore year, on the coffee table. The girls had told me what they caught him doing with it earlier this afternoon, that they had to clean him up. “I hear you’ve seen some of the pictures my mom has around the house of me,” I said, as I stepped over to pick it up, now standing right in front of him. Omigod I’m a fucking giant. “You liked this one?” I began, studying the young girl in the picture, in her schoolgirl outfit and already growing into her boobs. I cleaned off a smudge of something crusty from the glass with my finger, and remembered the moment when the picture was taken. I looked so bored! And I had been. I was never very good at those things my mom used to teach me, not nearly as good as my sister. “I was 15. I’ve grown up a little since then…as you can tell.”

At that, I stood up as straight as I could. In my heels, and with my new height I was almost two feet taller than the girl in that picture. And compared to him? Here, now? I towered over him, ridiculously. I could barely see him under the shelf of my big boobs. He was a small, small man that even 15 year-old Missy Monroe holding her mom’s books would have dwarfed.

“Jesus…look at you two, Missy,” Josie marveled. Yes, look at us. All of you…look at us.

“Yeah, in those heels?” Lakshmi followed.

“It’s amazing you can even stand in them,” Aubrey added.

“Oh, I'm very comfortable in heels,” I said, as much for him as in answering Aubrey’s comment. I peered down at him still over my tits, feeling so good like I was growing even as I stood here. “The higher the better,” I continued.

“High heels give girls power,” said Katie, petting the back of his neck, “They move differently, feel differently, even speak differently. Don’t you think, sweetie?” Yeah. When did my voice get so deep? I liked it.

“I think he’s afraid of high heels,” Randi offered, “But the styles keep getting taller and taller. Little men like this one here will just have to deal with it.”

I noticed he hadn’t answered my question, of course - I’ll have to work on that with him, soon. But now that Shanette was standing alongside me - no slouch in the height department, but in bare feet she seemed short to me too - I caught him looking up at her. She smiled, with those crazy cute dimples of hers, down at him. Josie and Lakshmi were closing in on him from behind to join Katie.

“Well, he looks tired, Missy,” Shanette said, reminding me without flat-out reminding me what my goal was here, “But there’s something he needs to do before he goes to bed.” I didn’t know exactly what she meant but everything became clearer as she tapped her cheek with her index finger and then bent closer to him. “Give Auntie Shanette a kiss goodnight,” she said, and waited for him.

He glanced up at me, and I nodded. Immediately he got up on his tiptoes and planted a quick kiss - <<smack!>> - right on Shanette’s right cheek. Omigod he wanted my approval. Good.

“Auntie Josie wants one too!” Josie sang, suddenly spinning him by the shoulders and leaning in, too, to offer him her cheek.

<<smack!>> He kissed her too.

“And Auntie Lakshmi!!” Kiki laughed, crouching down.

“And me!” called Katie, white smile beaming. Soon the whole room was descending on him, lining up and surrounding him, awaiting their goodnight kiss as if from a treasured little prince. Some girls were still in their bikinis, and boobs were everywhere! He was in little man heaven, for sure.

But, coming in for her turn, Randi’s brows knotted a bit and she paused. She saw how confused and nervous he looked as he was giving out his kisses. “What’s the problem, shorty? Why so shy?” she asked him, “Don’t you remember making out with all of us, just an hour ago before your little nap?”

Oooo the poor thing. I saw the confusion just double all over his face, and weirdly I could read him like I was reading a book. He thought it had all been a dream haha. His mind was clearer, I could tell, than earlier this evening, probably because the girls were being good about keeping themselves and their perfumes in check. I needed to make sure I did the same! We needed to have a talk, I needed him listening to me, and I needed him able to remember. But being good was hard! I just had such a strong urge to overwhelm him, right as we stood here. Breathe, Missy, breathe!! I reminded myself, trying to, uh…focus.

Anyway, his confusion passed after a little bit, and he doled out all his required goodnight kisses. Aside from Emily and Bianca still standing on the balcony above, watching in the funny way that they do (Sammi, now with pink hair and freckled nose, had joined the crowd, gotten her kiss) the whole crowd of my bunnies was around us, giggling. He looked up at me, expectantly. Oooooo god! I looked calm, but my heart was pounding and my head was racing. I needed to breathe, focus…but being near him made it so hard!

“We’ve had such a good time together,” someone said.

“Yeah we’re going to miss you,” said another.

I smiled, feeling the affection they had for him redouble my excitement. “Ready for bed, mister?” I finally asked, and the sea of girls began to part, opening up a path out, in the direction of the stairs. He looked that way, and then back up at me. He could have stepped, himself, towards the upstairs, but he didn’t move. He just looked at me cute and helpless.

You want me to pick you up, don’t you?

“C’mere, honey,” I said, crouching down so I could scootch one hand to his side, the other behind his little butt, “I’ve got you.”

And then I stood, easily picking him up and holding him against my left shoulder. His head rose above the crowd, and though they all cooed and clucked and buzzed his name he looked only at me. He was focused only on me. Good boy, don’t look away.

“Goodnight, ladies,” I said, now taking my first step towards the stairs with my little lover boy in my arms…

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thanks again to my editor-in-residence ResistanceIsFutile for elevating this one to a higher level on lots of fronts.

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catierambles · 10 months

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Back in the Saddle Pt3

Pairing: Syverson x Heather Markum (OFC)

Warnings: Non explicit sexy times

WC 2961

@brattymum96 , @ouroboros113 , @peaches1958 , @summersong69 , @eldarwen333 , @omgkatinka , @identity2212 , @lucypaulette , @km-ffluv , @kebabgirl67 , @squeezyvalkyrie , @rebelangel1102 , @dopegardensaladhuman , @ilsacharlotte , @josie-packard (if you name has a strikethrough, it's because I couldn't tag you)

Heather watched him sleep, propped up on her elbow on her side in bed. He had taken from her several times as they were together, and she thought she would feel some kind of side effect, but there was nothing. No fatigue. No pain. Nothing. He was very adamant that he never took from the other women enough to hurt them, so she figured there were some dangers in what he had to do to survive. Feeding off their life force sounded quite serious if he went overboard. The look in his pitch black eyes as he had fed from her would stay with her forever, gold swirling in the depths in a mesmerizing display, only adding to the feeling of him pulling from her.

The doorbell went off and she pressed one last kiss to his shoulder before she got up, pulling on an extra long hoodie that ended at her knees to cover her nudity before heading down the stairs to the front door. Turning back the locks, she opened the door and her arms crossed over her stomach when she saw who it was.

“Where is he?” David asked and she scowled at him. “Don’t play games with me, Heather. Where is he?”

“Asleep. We had a busy night.” She said, and paused for a moment, “And morning.”

“You slept with him?” David asked, his tone incredulous.

“Oh, we did that too, off and on.”

“Heather, he--”

“I know.” She said and he blinked at her. “I opened your email, I talked to him about it, he gave me an explanation, and we’re past it now.”

“What was his explanation for stealing the identity of a dead man?”

“None of your business.”

“What’s his real name?”

“Jake Syverson.” She said.

“Heather…”

“Don’t.” She said, “David, stop. And don’t try to pass it off as you’re just worried about me. You misused station resources to run the license plate of your ex-wife’s new boyfriend, and now you’re harassing your ex-wife about said boyfriend. That doesn’t exactly make you look good. Sy is who he is, and that’s more than good enough for me. So you’re going to drop it. I hear or see anything about this again, and I will be reporting you. I’ve always been on good terms with your Captain. Understood?” He was quiet, looking at her with angry eyes, “Do we have an agreement?”

“You--”

“Touch her and they won’t find you.” Heather looked over her shoulder, seeing Sy walk down the stairs in his uniform pants, the top button undone.

“You’d threaten a police officer?” David asked.

“I’m warning my girlfriend’s ex-husband what’ll happen if he tries to hurt her.” Sy said, joining her at the door. “Come near her again, and you’ll be just another missin’ person.”

“Who the fuck are you?” David asked.

“Jake Syverson.” Sy said simply, “Have the day you deserve.” He closed the door in his face, throwing both of the locks. They waited until they heard his car pull away from the house before she let out a sigh, Sy pulling her to his chest with his hand at the back of her head.

"Be honest with me?" She asked, pulling away to look up at him.

"Of course. No more secrets."

"Have you ever killed anyone?"

"Doll, I was in the Army Special Forces."

"I mean after."

"Oh." He said and paused for a moment, "Once."

"Was it--"

"No, it wasn't some woman I went home with." He said, "It was before I settled on the speed datin' thing. I went out to a bar, but I struck out. Was about to go home when I heard a scuffle in an alley. A woman was gettin' attacked. I pulled the guy off her, and…I killed him."

"How?"

"I can control how much I take at one time. I took it all, in one big breath. Damn near made me sick." Sy explained, "I made sure the woman was okay, tellin' her I just knocked him out, and saw her safely in a taxi home. Last time I saw her and no one ever came knockin' about it. I wasn't thinkin', I was reactin'. I coulda just knocked him out for real, but I didn't."

"You saved that woman, though, and probably a lot of others."

"I know, it makes it a little easier." Sy said and she leaned into him again, wrapping her arms around his chest. "Speakin' of, how you feelin'?"

"I feel fine." Heather admitted.

"Not bullshittin' me?" He asked and she shook her head. "I took more from you than I usually take, couldn't help myself, but you don't…"

"Sy?"

"I can tell how much someone has to give me, like a gas gauge. I take just enough to make the needle move and that's it, but you…yours didn't budge. No matter how many times I took from you, it stayed firmly on full." He explained, "Couldn't tell you why, it didn't feel any different than any other time."

"Really?"

"Okay, maybe a little." He admitted with a shrug, "But that's only because I'm fallin' for ya."

“Really?” She asked again, leaning back to look at him.

“Doll, I’m pretty sure I started fallin’ for ya the moment I first heard you laugh.” He said and she stared at him for a moment. “What? Too much?”

“You’re not real!” She exclaimed, reaching up to pull him down into a kiss and making him laugh.

Sy stopped pretending to be normal, not eating or drinking anything all day, telling her that what he took from her would last him for a bit.

“So where do you live?” She asked as she ate from a bowl of pasta she made for lunch. “Can’t imagine you have a place under your real name, the background check would show that you’re legally dead.”

“I hop from motel to motel.” He admitted and she blinked at him. “What? You said it, a background check would give the game away.”

“You’re homeless?”

“I ain’t livin’ on the streets or anythin’.”

“Jake.” She said and he pulled an admonished face at his first name. “You’re living here.”

“Babe.”

“Don’t “babe” me, you’re moving in.” She said, “End of discussion.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He said, a small smile pulling at his lips.

“Do you need to get your things?”

“I have a couple bags in my truck. I travel light.”

“Go get them.” She said and he pushed up from his seat at the kitchen island, grabbing his keys from the table by the door where he had thrown them and leaving the house, coming back a few moments later with a couple of duffel bags in his hands. “How’d you get your things? Uniforms and such?”

“First stop after I was dug up was to my parents.” He said as he set his bags down by the stairs, “They know I’m alive, sorta, and my current condition. They were shocked to say the least when I showed up on their doorstep in my burial suit.”

“I bet. Who dug you up?” This was the weirdest conversation she’s ever had.

“I don’t remember. Don’t remember a lot from when I first woke up. Thankfully. Pretty sure those nightmares of wakin’ up in a coffin would be intense.” Sy said, “First thing I remember after…dyin’ was sittin’ against my tombstone with a poundin’ headache, dug up grave beside me, and I was alone.” He looked so haunted by it that she got up from her seat, going over to him and lacing her arms around his waist, looking up at him.

“Well, you’re not alone anymore.”

“I know.” He said softly, his hands on her back. “Heather, I…I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you. It’s only been about a week since we met, but already you…you accepted me, and now you’re helpin’ me, givin’ me a place to live.”

“Don’t thank me just yet, we don’t know if David is going to drop it, or if he’s going to cause issues.” She said and he nodded. "How do you afford things? Again, the standard employment background check."

"My parents funneled my military life insurance payout to me, along with my 401k. They were the beneficiaries." Sy said and she nodded. "Not much left though, after three years of hoppin' around. Even with bein' careful."

"Well, you don't have to worry about it anymore. I'm not exactly going to charge you rent." Heather said.

"Babe, I'm gonna be the best damn househusband in the world. You get home and the place is gonna be spotless and I'll have dinner waiting." He said and she snorted, going on her toes to give him a kiss. "I got no problem bein' a sugar baby."

"Oh my god." She giggled and he smiled down at her.

True to his word, when she got home from work the following week, he had dinner waiting for her and he was one hell of a cook. On particularly rough days when she dealt with difficult clients, he even had a bath drawn for her, fragrant bath salts mixed into the warm water. She could get used to this, she thought, as she relaxed against his chest in the tub, his arms warm and strong around her. His feeding from her became almost normal, although not regular, as what he took from her seemed to last longer than it usually did, probably because he could take more from her than usual without it having any kind of effect on her. He only did it when they were together, the pull in her chest adding to the feeling of him moving inside her.

A couple more weeks passed and they didn’t hear from David, but she knew him well enough to know that he wasn’t just going to drop it. His steadfast dedication to solving a mystery is what made him a good cop.

Locking her car with the fob, she headed up the walkway to the front door.

“Heather Markum?” She heard and turned, seeing the man walking up the driveway towards her. He was wearing a muted suit, dark brown hair combed back with a neat mustache covering his upper lip, the beginnings of a beard on his jaw. He would have been unremarkable, if he hadn’t been massive with muscle.

“Yes?” She asked.

“A notification came in that an AWOL soldier who faked his death was hiding here.”

“Motherfu--” She sighed. David. “I’m sorry you wasted your time, but he’s not here. It’s just me. My ex-husband sent you on a wild goose chase.”

“Your ex-husband?”

“David Steward?” She asked, “I’m guessing that’s who “notified” you. I’m dating an Army Captain, yes, but he’s not AWOL, he didn’t fake his death, and again, he’s not here.”

“I see.” He didn’t seem convinced.

“You’re with the Army?”

“Something like that.”

“I never got your name.”

“No, you didn’t.” Okay, she was starting to not like this.

“Have a nice night.” She said and headed for the door again, taking her keys out of her bag.

“Ms. Markum--” The front door opened before she got there, halting the man’s words.

“Back off, Walker.” Sy said, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Syverson.” “Walker” said, his tone somewhat incredulous. “How did you--”

“I didn’t.” Sy said simply.

“I was at your damn service.”

“Means a lot.”

“I’m the one who gave the damn flag to your mom.”

“Thank you.” Sy said and there was a pause before he stepped around her, going to him and pulling him into a brotherly hug. “Good to see you again, man.”

“Fucker.” Walker said, returning the hug, “You have explaining to do.”

“Let’s head inside.” He said as he pulled away and Walker nodded. Sy shooed her into the house, smacking her butt lightly and making her swat at him in retaliation, Walker’s chuckle sounding behind her. “Made carbonara, babe.”

“Nice.” She said and headed into the kitchen to grab herself a bowl. “Uh…Walker?”

“August.” He said.

“August, yes, Sy always makes too much food when he cooks, would you like some?” She asked and there was a pause.

“I’m good, but thank you.” He said.

“She’s just being a good hostess, don’t give me that look.” Sy said and Heather cringed inwardly, scooping pasta and bacon into a bowl and pulling a fork from the drawer.

“So…” Heather started as she came back into the living room, seeing Sy and August seated opposite from each other.

“Babe, this is the friend I told you about.” He said, “The one that got snagged by the CIA after his six years was up.”

“The one that said he would put in a good word for you?” She asked and he nodded. “Oh, I figured you guys were friends seeing as you bro-hugged and didn’t swing at each other, but nice to have it confirmed.”

“Explain.” August said and Sy gave a large sigh before he gave him the abridged version of what he had told her. How he had died, and was buried, it just didn’t take and he was dug up. “By who?”

“No idea.” Sy said and continued on with his new dietary requirements leaving out how he had found sources for what he needed now.

“Bullshit.” August said.

“Do the eye thing?” Heather suggested and he nodded, closing his eyes for a moment before opening them again. August sat back in his seat as he saw his pitch black orbs that quickly faded back to normal.

“Not bullshit.” He said and Sy nodded. “So you’re what? Some kind of vampire now?”

“I guess? Sorta?” He said, “I don’t drink blood or anythin’, but I do have to take some kind of life essence stuff to keep me goin’.”

“Energy vampire.” Heather said and they looked at her. “Sy, you should have realized by now that I’m kind of a goth. Of course I know about different types of vampires.”

“Didn’t think there was more than one, to be honest.” Sy admitted.

“The blood drinking variety is the most common, and commonly known, but there are ones that feed off the life energy or vital essence of someone rather than their blood.” She explained, “People have claimed to be this kind, but it’s bullshit and they should probably get some kind of psychiatric help because they also admitted that they still need to eat food and drink water to sustain themselves. You’re one in truth because food and water don’t do anything for you and you actually need to draw a person’s life force in order to keep yourself alive and have. You also have some party favors thrown in for good measure.”

“Such as?” August asked, arching a brow at him.

“I can fiddle with people’s memories of me.” He said with a shrug, “Make’em forget me altogether if I wanna. Can only do recent memories, though. Like, I can make you forget comin’ here, but I can’t make you forget when we served together.”

“Short term versus long term memory.” August said and Sy nodded.

“I guess.”

“Your folks know you’re alive?” August asked and he nodded again. “Good. Would have ripped you a new one if they didn’t.” He looked at Heather just as she took a bite of pasta. “And I’m guessing that you know all of this, as you seem unsurprised at any of it.”

“Uh huh.” She said around the pasta, “David pulled some shit, I did my own digging, and I confronted Sy about it. He laid it out for me.”

“And you’re okay with this?”

“Again, kind of a goth.” She said, “And what goth doesn’t want to shack up with a vampire?” Sy turned in his seat to look at her. “Calm down, that’s not the only reason why I’m with you.”

“Better not be.” He grumbled, turning back around, but the words lacked any real weight.

“Has he ever…have you let him…”

“Feed from me?” She finished helpfully and he nodded. “Yeah, sometimes. To say more would be going into really personal territory and you seem cool, but we just met.”

“Heather is…different.” Sy said, “I can take from her as much as I want without it hurtin’ her.”

“How?” August said and they both shrugged.

“Walker,” Sy said, “Question for you, though, bud. What the hell you doin’ here?”

“I told Heather that we were informed that you were here. Truth is I had a tracer on your name from when you were alive that I just never took off. It notified me when someone called into the nearest Army base saying there was an AWOL soldier hiding here using your name. I intercepted the call and told the person I would handle it.” August said.

“David.” Sy said, clicking his tongue against his teeth.

“Most likely.” Heather said.

“You had a tracer on me?” Sy asked.

“It’s how I kept track of you after I left the service.” August said with a shrug, “You never wondered how I knew to send you a bottle of whiskey every time you got promoted?”

“I was more stoked about the free bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue.” He said, “It’s great scotch whiskey, but it’s also stupid expensive on a military paycheck.”

“Oh!” Heather said, “I have a bottle of that!” She set the bowl down on the coffee table before heading into the kitchen. “It was a wedding present. David and I never opened it and we both forgot about it in the divorce.” She came back with the bottle, handing it to Sy and he looked it over before he and August looked at her expectantly. “I’ll get you guys glasses.”

“Thank you, babe.” Sy said with a smile.

“Uh huh.”

#henry cavill #captain syverson #back in the saddle

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circlemidnight · 8 months

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Just did a speed run through the Jeronica kisses now that Season 7 is up on Netflix, and I'm convinced the writers were taken over by alien with talent and understanding of character just for those scenes. Veronica's written like a cartoon of sexuality half the season, especially with Archie and Reggie, and Jughead's off in no man's land, having no connection to any one, but their kisses are so playful and sweet and sexy. Veronica gets to be coy (her eyes flickering down in the school hallway to see if she's inspired...something else) and Jughead gets to rib her ("oh, we will?), and "Wowie"/"You can say that again" is so perfect; they can't turn off the banter even in the midst of their cello-swelling moment. And the hesitation before the fireplace both times, and how he reaches for her face the first time, but she does the second time, and by the time they make their grand entrance at school they've settled in the middle. They just go toe-to-toe with each other so well, it never feels like a gimmick or a melodrama. In conclusion, this was the teen dream the writers accidentally stumbled into this season, but they couldn't help tripping over their feet at the finish line, and I'm in denial that, memories and all, they would've gone into this ridiculous quad situation in high school and then never talked again.

You put it so beautifully! Yes exactly, I think we have to credit Cole and Cami with a lot of it. Everything good on this show happened by accident, but I think their scenes obviously have little improvised moments and Cami has spoken before about how she likes to discuss with a scene partner how things will play out. It's not so much the writing but the directing and acting that shows their connection. These are the people who understood the assignment imo. Like you said, it's illogical that they would be so entwined emotionally and professionally and then just never speak to each other after graduation? I don't think they would have gone back to Betty and Archie either. Not when their cheating was so core to how badly their lives ended up playing out. I think it would've made more sense to just have the Betty-Archie-Reggie trio senior year with Veronica and Jughead doing their own thing like they had been doing all season.

And like you said, within the context of Jeronica, Veronica is not used as a sexual punchline to someone else's fantasy. It's almost like Jeronica is the only time Veronica gets any respect and isn't just written for the male (and Betty) gaze. She got to focus on her career but in a way that leans into her passion and romanticism and it tied so well with Jughead's goals and his journey. She wasn't used as a prop, she got equal dialogue and moments to shine, and she did a lot of progressive things without just like...wearing lingerie. Her scenes with Josie especially show that she is more than just a sidekick people want to sleep with. And I think Jughead's one of the only people who leaned into how intelligent she is rather than just focusing on her being hot or rich.

#jeronica #jughead x veronica #ask cm

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loveroftoomanyfandoms · 11 months

Text

Salvation Chapter 6: Matt

Pairing: Matt Murdock x F!Reader

Story Summary: Reader is walking home one evening and gets attacked in an alleyway... until the Devil of Hell's Kitchen himself comes to her rescue. After passing out during the ordeal, she wakes up in the apartment of one Matthew Murdock, a kind and handsome lawyer who treats her injuries. As she and Matt get to know each other and grow closer, will someone from Reader's past tear their happiness apart?

Warnings/Tags: Angst with a Happy Ending, Attempted Sexual Assault, Past Domestic Violence, Stalking, Kidnapping (Y'all, seriously, please mind the tags)

Word Count: ~31k total

A/N: Here be sexy times. 🔥

"I'm in love with her," Matt blurted out as soon as Foggy opened the door to his apartment.

Foggy sighed. "Well okay then. Come on in."

He moved out of the doorway so Matt could enter. "So what brought this revelation on at...1:43 in the morning?"

Matt sat on Foggy's couch while Foggy went to the kitchen to fix them each a drink. "I ran into her as Daredevil -- well, not so much 'ran into' as 'accidentally scared the shit out of her following her home from Karen's to make sure she arrived safely'."

He paused as Foggy joined him on the couch and handed him a glass of whiskey. "I told her that Matt had asked me to keep an eye on her if I happened to see her walking home alone at night, then she thanked me for rescuing her the night we met and bringing her to my -- Matt's -- apartment instead of a hospital."

Foggy hummed thoughtfully. "Which I still don't get, but go on."

Matt took a sip of his whiskey. "So then we got to talking and I said that I -- Matt -- really cares about her, and she said that she really cares about me too, and how she appreciated me taking things slowly while she recovered from the trauma of her last -- her attack , and she said that I was amazing and that she was lucky to have me."

Foggy patted Matt on the shoulder. "Well she's not wrong, buddy. You are pretty amazing."

Matt shook his head. "I told her it's the exact opposite, that I had said that she was the answer to my prayers and that I would move Heaven and Hell to prove it to her."

Foggy chuckled and took a sip of his whiskey. "There's that Murdock charm that the ladies go crazy for."

Matt huffed out a breath. "I may have been telling her that as Daredevil but the thing is that it's all true , Foggy. I could spend every day of the rest of my life showing her that she deserves so much more than the shit life has thrown at her. She's beautiful, and patient, and understanding, and kind, and I love her, Fog, I'm completely and utterly in love with her."

Matt had thought that he had been in love before -- before he had found out about Elektra's true nature he thought that she could've been it for him -- but anything he had ever felt for her or any other woman paled in comparison to what he felt for Y/N.

Foggy chuckled. "I knew from the moment I saw you together at Josie's that she'd be it for you, but to hear you actually say it is a big deal. So then what happened?"

Matt shook his head. "I had to go stop a mugging so I didn't get to actually accompany her the rest of the way home, but I called her a little later to make sure she got home safely and she told me that she had run into Daredevil."

"You don't think she suspects you're Daredevil, do you?"

Matt shook his head. "No, she didn't seem suspicious, she just mentioned it because I asked if she and Karen were still out because you wanted to celebrate the Mets' win."

He paused. "They did actually win, right?"

Foggy chuckled. "Yeah, they did."

"Oh okay, good. So then I asked her how her night was and she said she definitely needed to take some self-defense lessons because she felt like she was being followed again but this time it just turned out to be Daredevil instead of some creep."

"Did she mention the rest of the conversation?"

Matt shook his head. "No, and I can't exactly bring it up, can I?"

"So what are you going to do?"

Matt smiled. "Well first, I'm going to give her some self-defense lessons. Second… I don't know. I mean, I'm going to tell her I love her, obviously, I just don't know how or when. How did you tell Karen for the first time?"

Foggy laughed. "Actually I kind of yelled it at her during an argument. It was when we were working the Dugan case and Karen had eavesdropped on the meeting between the wife's lover and his supposed alibi. Not only was it dangerous, but we couldn't even use the recording she got as evidence in court. So I was yelling at her about how dumb it was that she put her life in danger for no reason and she yelled back why was it such a big deal and I yelled that it was because I loved her."

Matt chuckled. "I wondered why you two were acting so weird when I got back from interviewing the neighbors that day, and also how exactly you figured out that the lover was lying about his whereabouts."

Foggy chuckled and took another sip of whiskey. "Anyway, yeah, you might want to come up with another way to tell her."

Matt finished his whiskey and stood. "Thanks, Fog. I'm gonna get going."

"Okay, man. See ya."

Matt started towards the door.

"Hey, Matt?" Foggy called out.

Matt turned. "Yeah?"

"Whenever and however you tell her… She'd be crazy to not feel the exact same."

Matt grinned. "Thanks."

--------------------------------

"Matt, are you sure about this?" Y/N asked nervously.

She had arrived at his apartment about fifteen minutes prior, seemingly ready to learn self defense… until Matt had asked her to punch him.

Matt ran his hands from her shoulders down her bare arms to give her hands a reassuring squeeze. "It'll be fine. You're not going to hurt me, I promise."

He gestured down to the large padded workout mat they stood on. "That's what this is for. Now, pretend like I'm a stranger here to harm you and hit me."

Y/N tapped him on the arm with her fist.

Matt let out a huff of laughter. "Come on, you can do better than that. Hit me for real."

Y/N sighed. "Maybe this was a bad idea. I'll just eventually take some professional lessons I guess."

Matt shook his head. "No, it's okay, we can try something else. Your goal isn't to fight your attacker anyway, it's to escape. Just remember if your attacker gets close enough for you to punch, aim for the face if you can -- the eyes, nose, and throat are your best bet, especially if you can hit your attacker in the larynx. And if they have a weapon there's always the classic foot or knee to the groin."

He walked behind Y/N and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back to his chest. "Okay, now say your attacker comes at you from behind."

He nosed along her neck. "Depending on the height difference you can try to throw your head back to hit them in the chin or nose."

Y/N leaned back into him, her lips trailing along his jawline as she tilted her head back. "Mmkay."

Matt mentally shook his head. Don't get distracted. "Or if that isn't possible, bend down like this…"

He slid a hand along Y/N's spine to guide her forward.

Y/N shivered, pressing her ass against his groin.

Matt swallowed. Shit, maybe this was a bad idea .

He took a slight step back from her. "That forces them down to your level. Turn slightly and throw your elbow up towards their face, then turn and kick or knee them in the groin."

Y/N let out a deep breath. "Bend, twist, elbow, knee. Got it."

"Alright, let's try it slowly." He wrapped his arms around Y/N again, careful to keep a respectful distance but still be close enough to simulate an actual attack.

They ran through the movements a few times until Y/N was comfortable with them.

"So how do you know all this?" she asked. "From your instructor guy back when you were a kid?"

"Oh, uh, yeah," Matt replied. "He said being blind would make me an easy target for bullies and taught me a few basic moves so I could protect myself."

"Oh okay. I was just curious."

Matt smiled. "It's fine, sweetheart."

He got down on the floor. "Okay, so finally, if your attacker manages to pin you down, twist your hips in order to try to throw them off or at least get them off balance."

He paused. He hadn't forgotten how Y/N's assailant had her pinned down the night he had rescued her. "You trust me?"

"Yeah, of course I do." Y/N huffed out a laugh. "I'm quite okay with being manhandled by my hot, sexy, trustworthy boyfriend. It's anyone else trying to manhandle me that I'd have a problem with."

Matt shook his head with a grin. "Good to know. Okay, I'm going to pin you down and I want you to try to escape."

"Okay."

Matt waited until Y/N was on the floor before straddling her waist and pinning her hands above her head.

"Is this okay?" he asked. "I'm not hurting you, am I?"

Y/N flexed her wrists against his hands. "Nope, I'm good."

"Ok, try it now."

She rolled them over, pinning Matt down. "Like this?"

"Yeah, sweetheart," Matt praised. "Just like that. Then you can break free and get away."

Y/N moved her hands to Matt's chest and gave him a kiss on the lips. "Nah, I kind of like being on top of you."

Matt pursed his lips to keep from bursting into laughter. "I'm supposed to be teaching you self-defense here, you menace."

Y/N stretched, brushing her core against Matt's groin. "Oh I'm sorry, am I making it hard?"

Matt huffed out a breath, trying to ignore Y/N's teasing. "Very."

Y/N giggled. "Anything else I need to know?"

"Yeah, one more thing."

"What's that?"

"Never let your adversary regain the upper hand."

Matt sat up and flipped them back over before pinning Y/N's wrists once again, the sweet scent of her arousal flooding his senses.

He leaned down, his lips capturing hers in a hungry kiss.

Matt let go of her arms and cupped her face in his hands as Y/N kissed him back.

He absolutely loved making out with Y/N -- their dates frequently ended with them on one or the other's couches with tongues tangled and hands in each other's hair or wrapped around each other's waists, but in the over four months that they had been dating Y/N had never pursued more.

Matt groaned as Y/N sat up and worked her hands under his t-shirt. "Off," she muttered against his lips, shoving Matt's shirt up his torso. "Need this off."

Matt nodded, pulling his shirt up and over his head.

Y/N ran her hands across his chest and down to his abs. "Good lord, Matthew..."

"Oh, uh --" Matt tried to come up with a quick explanation for the multitude of scars littering his torso.

"...I knew you were built, but I had no idea that you were hiding the body of a Greek god underneath those business suits of yours."

Matt smirked at the lust in Y/N's tone. "You like?"

Y/N scoffed. "Uh, yeah, I like. Holy shit, how are you so ripped?"

Matt huffed out a laugh. "I work out."

Y/N laughed lightly. "Well keep it up, honey, because damn."

She fused their lips back together, her hands continuing their exploration of Matt’s torso and back as they kissed.

Matt’s fingers slipped under Y/N's tank top, tentatively caressing the bare skin at her sides as he began kissing his way down her jawline to her neck. He had learned very quickly that Y/N became putty in his hands when he turned his attention to her neck, particularly her pulse point. Luckily for Matt, that was one of his favorite spots on her -- he loved to feel her pulse flutter under his lips.

Y/N gasped in a breath. "Matt… Matt, baby, please…"

"Mmm? What is it, sweetheart?" Matt murmured against her throat. "I’ll give you anything in the world, Y/N, just tell me what it is you want."

"Want you."

Matt lightly grazed her pulse point with his teeth before soothing the spot with a kiss. "You have me."

Y/N shook her head. "Take me to bed, Matt."

Dear God, yes, please. Matt let out a groan. "Baby, are you sure?"

Y/N nodded, her fingers working their way just underneath the waistband of Matt’s sweatpants. "Uh huh. Very sure."

Matt hissed. "Then hold on."

He stood and hooked his arms under Y/N's thighs, lifting her up and carrying her to his bedroom.

He gently deposited her onto his bed before climbing in after her.

As their lips joined back together his hands made their way back underneath her tank top, fingers caressing her soft skin as he pulled her top up and over her head.

He trailed his fingers across Y/N's bare collarbones. "I wish I could see you."

Y/N leaned up and gently pressed her lips right between his eyebrows. "You do see me, Matt. You see me better than anyone else ever has."

God, I love this woman. "Remember when I traced your face so I could get an idea of what you look like?"

He could feel Y/N nod. "Mmhmm."

"May I map out the rest of you?"

Y/N sucked in a breath. "Yes."

Matt kissed her softly, guiding her back down.

He began caressing his way down her body, starting with re-tracing her face down to her neck. "You're so beautiful," he whispered, placing a gentle kiss at her pulse point and making her shiver. "I bet the rest of you is just as gorgeous."

He continued brushing his way across her collarbones to her arms, his fingers trailing over a small cylindrical bump on the upper part of her left one. "What's this?"

"That's my birth control implant," Y/N replied. "I've had it for about… two years now, I think?"

"Oh, okay." Matt continued his way down her arms, tracing the pads of her fingertips with his own before making his way back up her arms to her chest.

He trailed a thumb across one nipple before sealing his mouth around it and circling it with his tongue.

Y/N arched into him with a gasp. "Matt."

"Mmm," Matt hummed, releasing her nipple with a soft 'pop' before showing the other one the same attention. "Let me hear you, sweetheart. Love the little noises you make for me."

He traced the underside of Y/N's breasts with his thumbs, trailing his hands down her sides then back up.

"When you were -- hnngh -- when you were tracing my face that first time, this is what I was thinking about," Y/N admitted.

Christ, that turned Matt on. "Oh? You thought about me touching you like this?"

"Uh huh, wondered what it would be like for you to map out the rest of me."

Matt nuzzled the spot right above Y/N's heart. "And?"

Y/N sighed. "It's better than I could've imagined. Love the way your hands feel on me."

Matt couldn't help but wonder if Y/N's ex had ever touched her with love and tenderness instead of anger and selfishness. She was incredibly responsive to Matt's gentle kisses and caresses-- her little pants and broken moans adding fuel to his fire as he traced his way down her body.

He had always prided himself on being a capable and generous lover -- even with one night stands he would pay attention to the little hitches and changes in the breath of his partner to figure out what they were or weren't enjoying and would switch up his angle or what he was doing to please them accordingly. But with Y/N he was doubly bound and determined to not only please her sexually, but also show her that she was loved and cherished.

He made his way down to Y/N's stomach, flicking his tongue over her bellybutton as his fingers slipped under the waistband of her pants. "May I keep going?"

Y/N raised her hips in permission. "Yes, oh my God , Matt, yes."

He slid her pants off and discarded them on the floor of his bedroom, his lips following his hands from her waist to the tops of her thighs down to her toes and back up.

He breathed deeply, the scent of her arousal making him dizzy with want. "You're so damn beautiful, Y/N, so perfect."

Y/N let out a moan. "Need you in me now , Matt, please."

Matt wanted to taste her, to make her fall apart on his fingers and tongue before he took his own pleasure, but who was he to deny Y/N exactly what she was asking for? Hopefully later, he thought.

He kissed his way back up her stomach to the valley of her breasts. "Condom?"

Y/N shook her head. "You don't have to."

"You sure?"

"Uh huh. Just want you."

Matt groaned. "Want you too, sweetheart."

Y/N sat up, hands sliding around Matt's waist to shove his sweatpants and boxers down. "Then take me."

Fuck. Matt kicked his sweatpants and boxers the rest of the way off then settled himself over Y/N, pressing a kiss to her lips as he lined himself up with her core and coated himself in her arousal before slowly sinking into her.

Y/N was slick, and warm, and so, so tight. Shit, she feels perfect.

Y/N arched into him, gasping out his name as if in prayer.

Matt caressed her face as he waited for her to adjust to him. "Shh, I've got you, sweetheart."

Y/N softly raked her nails across his back. "Shit, Matt, you're so deep, making me feel so good already, so full."

Matt experimentally pulled out of her then slid back in, testing to see if Y/N was ready for him. "That's it, there you go. Good girl."

He noted the hitch in her breath and how she clenched around him at the praise. Hm. Need to file that away for later.

"So good, sweetheart," he continued as he set a slow but firm pace. "You're so perfect for me, Y/N. Love the way you feel, like you were made just for me."

"You feel so good, Matt, filling me up just right." Y/N's breath hitched as Matt slightly adjusted his angle to hit her cervix with each thrust. "Shit, right there."

Matt grinned as he felt her pulse pick up. "Yeah? You like that, sweetheart?"

"Yes, yes , Matt, love the way you feel in me. I'm close, baby, don't stop, please, making me feel so good, holy shit."

Matt linked their fingers of one hand together as he felt the familiar tug of his own impending release. "It's okay, sweetheart, I'm right there with you. I've got you, you can let go for me. Wanna feel you come around me while I fill you up."

Y/N arched up into him, drawing Matt impossibly deeper. "Yes, oh God Matt , feel so good, can't believe you're mine, oh --"

"Fuck , Y/N, my angel, my lo -- Shit --"

Matt cut himself off with a groan as he spilled deep inside Y/N, the feel of her walls fluttering around him drawing out his pleasure.

He buried his face in her neck, breathing in her scent as they came down from their highs.

Y/N shivered around him. "Holy shit."

Matt carefully pulled out of her and lay down next to her, reaching out to pull her to him.

He huffed out a laugh. "My sentiment exactly."

Y/N curled up against his side and wrapped an arm around his waist, her head laying on his chest.

Matt planted a kiss on her forehead. I love you. "I am, you know."

Y/N tilted her head to look up at him. "Mmm?"

"Yours." Matt picked up Y/N's arm that was laying across his waist and placed it over his heart. "You have me, body and soul."

He could feel Y/N melt against him. "I'm yours too."

Matt grinned. "My angel."

He began to trace gentle patterns on her back.

Y/N hummed. "You keep that up and I'm going to fall asleep in your bed. Actually, I might fall asleep anyway. Are these silk sheets?"

Matt nodded. "Yeah. Cotton sheets feel like sandpaper on my skin."

"Mmm. 'Kay."

Matt bit his lip. "You know, I actually wouldn't mind you falling asleep in my bed, be it now or maybe even later tonight? With me?"

He could feel Y/N smile against his skin. "Matthew Murdock, are you asking me to spend the night?"

Matt grinned. "Yeah, actually. Yeah, I am."

"Then I'd love to."

"In that case what do you say we lay here for a few more minutes, then shower and get started on dinner?" Matt gave Y/N a kiss on the top of her head. "And then maybe…"

He kissed her lips as she turned her face up to meet his. "Just maybe…"

He leaned over to whisper in her ear. "We can come back in here for dessert?"

Y/N nodded against him. "Agreed. But only if you do something for me."

Matt quirked an eyebrow. "And what's that?"

Y/N traced a finger down Matt's torso. "Cook shirtless?"

Matt laughed, his heart full of happiness as he pretended to think. "Mmm, you drive a hard bargain but I believe I can agree to that."

#lotmf writes #matt murdock x fem!reader #matt murdock x female reader #matt murdock x reader #matt murdock x yn #matt murdock fanfiction #Salvation Masterlist

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bookish-monster · 10 months

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RECOMMENDATION

Rhage

by R. K. Pierce - find her on TikTok and Instagram as well!

Storygraph Link contains info such as publication date, number of pages, community-created content warnings, and more.

Our story starts off with Niki Porter (cis woman, she/her) becoming obsessed with a metal band known as Rhage, whose members are demons in hiding who feed on the energy of the crowds they entertain at their concerts. Niki has no idea of the band members’ true identities, but she is utterly enthralled by the lead singer (known as Sebastian) and enters a mask-making contest to win a backstage pass to see him. With the help of her friend, Josie, Niki makes a fairly decent mask… but doesn’t win the contest.

Still, the stars eventually align, and Niki and Sebastian find themselves in a complicated relationship where neither quite knows who the other is and how trustworthy they are. Sebastian is irresistibly drawn to Niki’s energy, but is terrified of her realizing the truth about his demonic nature. However, he’s head over heels in lust with her and finding it impossible to stay away. Niki is elated that her idol is giving her one-on-one attention, but is starting to notice some very odd things about Rhage’s lead singer…

First of all, let me say that Pierce writes a very good sex scene. This novella definitely cranks up the steaminess meter towards the end, and we get an interesting bit of nonhuman genitalia from Sebastian–nothing too outlandish, but Niki definitely has a fun time with it. Pierce writes with straightforward, approachable prose that is neither flowery nor dry and maintains a good command of tension throughout the story. While Niki is the primary POV character, we got a fair few sections from Sebastian’s POV as well, which really helps explain the situation happening “backstage” with the demons.

This book doesn’t feature a lot of characterization or character development, unfortunately. By the end of Rhage, I still knew nothing about Niki’s hobbies, family, job, or interests outside of music, and Josie served no purpose to the narrative besides being the occasional voice of protective reason and (I suspect) a strong tie-in hint that she will be the protagonist of Riot, the next installment in the Monsters of Metal duology. This is definitely the kind of book for someone whose primary interest is the smut itself rather than any deeper plot or character-work; Sebastian is undeniably attractive and very sexy and masculine, and Niki serves as a good character for a cis female reader to project onto.

Sebastian himself wasn’t the right kind of love interest for me. I didn’t like how possessive he was and how he talked about owning Niki’s pussy during sex and stating that she belonged to him when he barely even knew her. However, that’s just me. If you enjoy a possessive demonic male lead, then Sebastian should be right up your alley!

Even though this book ultimately wasn’t a good romance for me personally, I really appreciated that Pierce added a playlist to her book that one can listen to while reading, as well as content warnings. Those were very thoughtful touches. If you enjoy high-heat romances with “alpha male” protagonists who are on the more domineering side, then Rhage should be a very good book for you!

Happy reading!

buy the book on Amazon Kindle (US)

#monster lover #monster romance #demon x human #book lover #monster smut #book recommendation #terato #monster love #monster boyfriend #bookblr

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skyfallslayer · 2 years

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The Daughter of The (Dare)Devil - Story 5

Series Masterlist

Series Summary: A Series of stories revolving around the MCU timeline of Matt Murdock and his Daughter, Kaila. Being the child of a vigilante can be hard and scary at times, but it doesn’t mean she ain’t going to enjoy the most of it.

(Can be read as Y/N if you’d like)’

Story Summary: Kaila knew she should have made up an excuse and pushed him away, but she knew she couldn't patch him up alone. She just hopes Foggy isn't going to pass out before strangling her father or herself (Set during S1E9 ,E10 & E11, "Speak of The Devil", "Nelson V Murdock" & “The Path of The Righteous” ).

Date: 10/7

Rating: Mature

Word Count: 9941 (Another long one, my friends)

Warning: Karedevil (My OTP); Changing POVs (?); Possible OOC (?); Lots of Blood; Traumatic Moments; Brief mention of Rape; Possible Medical Inaccuracy; Talks of Lying and Betrayal; Lots of Angst; References To Possible Abandonment; Panic Attacks; Talks of Disability; Talks About Dying/Murdering; Matt Being a Bad Dad (?); Slight Child Neglect; Kaila Being Drugged/Kidnapped. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!!

A/N: So, so sorry this took forever! I wrote most of the story and then I was having a bit trouble editing it. Plus, I just got done having Lasik and is in bed rest, so forgive me if there are some typos.

Everything was a giant blur from Josie’s to his friend’s apartment.

How he even got there without blacking out was beyond him, and maybe it was just the alcohol controlling his every move and thoughts, but he was burning with sadness and anger at what had occurred hours beforehand. He felt mentally drained. The fact that an innocent woman has lost her life because they told her to keep fighting struck him hard.

But he was not going to give up now. He -They- can’t let Fisk win.

His fist pounded against the banged up door, hoping his voice wouldn’t quiver too much.

“Matt!” He yells, but the courage dies down as soon as he mutters his friend’s name. “Come on, Matt. I need to talk to you, Matt. Or… Kai, if you’re only there, can you let me in? I gotta… I need to talk to your dad.”

He chuckles nervously, sadly, when he receives no answer, but prays someone’s still there. “We need to keep going, Matt. We gotta nail that bastard to the wall.” He bares his teeth, anger coming back. “We gotta make him pay… for Elena… for everything.”

He heard what sounded like a crash coming on the other side, making him straighten up, spiraling emotions changing to concern. His brows pinched together, mind reeling at what could’ve just happened.

“Matt? Are you okay in there? Kai?” He calls out, and starts fiddling with the door knob, not budging at all.

Damn it! Why did I forget the spare key?! He scolds himself.

He tries one last time, pulling and shouting, “Murdocks?!”

When he didn’t get any indication they were okay, he turns and runs up the stairs for the roof. His heart was immediately in his throat, his palms sweaty, the alcohol induced fog was starting to lift and as the dam of bad thoughts came crashing through.

He threw open the second entrance of his friend’s apartment, staring down into his pitch black living room. His eyes squinted as he tried to spot any kind of movement, but he was missing some key problems in the house that he wouldn’t discover until later (like the broken furniture and/or missing furniture).

"Kai? Matt? It's me.” He calls out, cautiously, worriedly. “I heard a crash.”

He got no answer as he slowly wandered down the stairs, still looking around for any shadows. He was practically gnawing at his cheek, hands shaking as they slid down the railing.

“Not like the fun, sexy-time kind, But…” He continues, getting closer to the bottom. “More like the… I've-fallen-and-I-can't-get-up variety." He frowns. “Sorry… you had to hear that, Kai, I just—”

On the last step, his foot nearly went straight through the floor. He takes a step up backwards, spotting that the last stair had been shattered by some unknown force. If his heart wasn’t already pounding like a drum then it sure is now. That’s when he starts to notice the out of place things, growing paler as he hops to the floor, frantically looking around.

Worriedly scaredly he grabs his friend’s guiding stick, holding it up like it was a baseball bat. He swallows, and announces, “If anyone who’s in here is not supposed to be, I will mess you up. I’m not kidding.”

He sounded nervous, sure, who else wouldn’t be? There was this potential that he was all alone with—

Then, a shadow from his left grew, and it was groaning quietly. Painfully. He watches as the man from the newspaper comes strolling out of the bedroom, one arm cradling their stomach.

He surely feared the worst at this point.

"Where are they?” He says, trembling hands tightening his hold. “What have you done to the Murdocks?"

As soon as he said those words, the figure stumbled forward, and collapsed. Still tensed, yet almost surprised that that happened, he heedfully uses the stick to give the figure a couple of pokes, which got no response but he could see the chest moving very, very slowly.

“Shit…” He mutters, dropping his ‘weapon’.

He kept his eyes trained on the figure while he fished out his phone, dialing three numbers, letting it ring. But as the light from his phone illuminates the room, he finally has a real good look at the man in the mask. Besides being covered in blood, he could make out the figure’s five o’clock shadow, with a jawline he felt like he had seen before.

Whether he was just being stupid, or maybe it was just his curiosity speaking, or his gut was telling him to hang up, but he did. He felt himself drawn to this man, mindfully looking over the injuries as he crouched down. Soon—

He took off the mask.

And that felt like a ton of bricks hitting the back of his skull.

A gasp fell from his lips as he leaned back.

No. No way… He tells himself, his brows scrunching together.

“Matt?” He said, wondering if he said his name out loud that it wouldn’t be true. There’s no way his best friend’s the—

“F-Foggy?”

Foggy’s heart skips a beat (and maybe there was a bit of relief hearing her). He lets his head snap towards her way, watching as she looks just as surprised, and scared as she is as she clenches what could be medical supplies in her arms. He makes a quick look over, noting she looked unharmed, just extremely pale and frazzled.

But is she even real? Foggy feels himself blinking a few times, checking if she really was.

“Kaila?” He said, and started looking between the two. There was still no way this was happening. “What… What is… H-How…?”

God, his chest was starting to feel so tight.

The young girl started shaking her head. “F-Foggy. Foggy l-look…” She begins, setting the things aside and coming his way. She makes sure she has his attention. “Look at me. I-I know this looks bad, and I-I promise I-I’ll explain everything afterwards, b-but you have to help me.”

His heart tightened at her words, the desperate tone. The lawyer finds himself between two worlds that were pulling on him hard. His eyes kept going back and forth again with disbelief because he still couldn't wrap his head around this. He wanted to just keep staring at his friend, but his niece was always bringing him back.

“Foggy! Please! Please. I’m begging you. Please.” Kaila pleads, tears in her eyes that he wanted to wipe away (He hated when she cried). “Please, help me. Please.”

Foggy looked at Matt again, it was almost less painful to look at him then a crying child. But still… They were both so chilling to see.

God, Matt. Is this what you’ve been doing to her? He mentally asks, and exhales rigidly.

He blink away the salt building his eyes, before locking eyes with her, trying to be the strong adult here, and says,

“Give me the first aid kit.” He watches her freeze, almost stunned by his answer (Did she really think he wouldn’t help?). “Kaila! The first aid kit!”

She jerks up to a standing position. “Right. Right. Right! Shit! Um–”

She scrambles back to where she dumped all the items, grabbing everything she could again as Foggy started to peel up Matt’s shirt. He nearly gags as the red ooze drips off the fabric, and from the smell of dirty water.

“Uh…” Foggy groans, swallowing the heavy bile in his throat. “Oh… please tell me your dad is just a nighttime swimmer.”

Kaila drops to her knees beside him, also swallowing as she attempts to keep her cool. “Okay, let’s see.”

“Kai, these are extremely deep.”

“I-I know! I Just… uh…” She starts fiddling around for the sewing kit. “I-I think I have enough to sew him all up.”

Foggy’s eyes widened. “What?!” He said, flabbergasted. “You’re not sewing him up!”

“Why not?! I’ve done it before!” Kaila retaliates.

“What?! Since when?!”

“Since my fucking father decided to do this! Now, go get me a washcloth.”

“No!” He yells back, shaking his head. “No, no, no, no, no, no. NO.”

She casts him a look of confusion and frustration. “Foggy?!”

“No, Kai! No! I mean— Jesus! He’s–” Foggy uses his clammy hands to check his friend’s pulse below his ear. There was a tiny, tiny flutter. “Shit. He needs to go to the hospital!”

It was her turn to shake her head. “No! No, He can’t go to the hospital!”

“He needs professional help! Not a quick patch up by an almost fifteen year old!”

“Foggy! He’s–”

“Kai. Hospital. He needs a hospital. Jesus–” He stands up bitterly, pulling out his phone again. “I’m going to call.”

“No!!” Kaila yells, bolting up and latching her hand on his bicep. “Foggy, listen, he… um…” Her eyes widened. “Wait. You said professional! That’s it!”

“What? What’s professional?”

“Th-That uh, that um, lady! The one you call Hottie McBurner-Phone! She’s…”

“She’s what?”

“She’s a nurse! That's why my dad gave her a phone! Just in case! I just need to find it! Um…” She cusses under her breath, gripping her hair as she racks her brain. “Shit, shit. Where did he put it? Um…”

Foggy practically broke seeing how messed up she looks like right now. So beyond scared. So pale and red eyed. This…

This isn’t right. He clenches his jaw, and was a split second of way disobeying her to call an ambulance before–

“Un… Und… Under th-the… f-floor…” Matt whispered out the blue.

“Matt?” Foggy chokes out in surprise.

“Un… under the fl-floor b-board. B-Bedroom…”

Kaila perks up. “Right. Right! I’ll call her!” She says, and bolts into the bedroom.

“F-F-Foggy…” Matt slurred, getting his friend’s full attention.

The lawyer crawled closer, touching his shoulder gently. “Matt? Buddy? You with us?” He asked, worriedly, but all he got was a groan in response. “Come on, Matty, stay awake. Stay awake until that nurse friend of yours gets here.”

But his friend never opened his eyes. Instead, he just laid concernedly still. Foggy gives him a nudge, calling out his name.

“Shit!”

“She’s on her way!” Kaila said, running back to their sides. “How’s dad?”

“Out of it again. He won’t respond. He’s…” Foggy checks his pulse once more, barely getting a flutter. “He’s barely hanging on.” He runs his hand through his hair. “God, he needs a hospital. How long until she gets here?”

“She says she doesn’t live that far. Probably ten, fifteen minutes, give or take.” She replies, voice shaking.

“Well… do you know what she looks like? A name?”

“No.”

“No?” He sighs heavily. “Jesus Christ. Matt didn’t tell you anything?!”

She hits him in the arm. “Will you stop yelling at me! My dad hardly tells me anything nowadays.”

His shoulders immediately slacked, guilt gnawing at him as he mentally cursed at himself.

Why to go, Nelson. You’re the asshole now.

He sighs. “I’m sorry. I’m just really stressed and upset, and I’m taking it out on you.” He replies, bowing his head in shame. “But as we’re both waiting, let’s take his shirt off. It’ll make it easier for the nurse.”

“Okay.” She says, nodding. “I’ll grab some scissors so we don’t have to move him too much.”

“Good Idea.”

She starts searching around in the first aid kit, eyes soon finding the shiny black scissors. She hands it over to Foggy who carefully starts cutting Matt’s shirt open.

“I’ll work on the shirt, you start taking boots off, then work on the pants.” Foggy begins, eyes plastered on his task. “We gotta see if he has any more injuries.”

She does what she’s told, quickly loosening the laces on her father’s boots just enough to slip them off before doing his socks. Meanwhile, Foggy had cut the whole thing open, and was slowly sliding the shredded fabric off his friend’s muscular arms and pulling it out from underneath him. Kaila manages to get the belt off when they hear a round of knocking.

“Go get it.” Foggy said, resuming the task for her. “I’ll finish up.”

Kalia springs up to her feet, running to the door and opening it on the second round of knocking. She was met with a very beautiful woman who had nothing on but some pajama pants and an oversize sweatshirt. She seemed surprised by the quick response.

“Um… Sorry!” Kaila said, opening the door more. “I'm a little out of it. Are you the nurse friend?”

The woman blinks, seemingly confused. “Uh, yes. I’m Claire.” She said with a little smile. “I’m assuming you’re Matt’s daughter?”

The teenager tilts her head. “He’s told you about me?”

“A few times after we got to know each other.” Claire gestures to the inside. “May I?”

“Oh… yes! Of course.” Kaila steps out of the way to let her in before shutting the door. “Now, uh, I must warn you, Miss Claire. A friend of my dad’s is here right now, and um… my dad never told him about his nightly activities. So excuse his outbursts, he’s just… stressed right now.”

Claire nods in understanding. “Sounds like your father.”

“I guess you really know him then.” Kaila gestures for her to follow. “We took most of his clothes off to make it a little easier for you. Hope that was the right call.”

“It was.”

Foggy looks up from his spot on the floor after discarding Matt’s pants, leaving the beaten man only in his boxer. Claire held back a gasp as she crouched down next to him.

“What the hell happened?” She asked, checking his pulse.

“I-I don’t know.” Foggy replies, watching her carefully, concernedly.

“I know my dad mentioned something about going after Fisk. But I’m not sure if this is his doing or somebody else's.” Kaila explains, before feeling her Uncle’s eyes on her.

“Fisk? Matt was going after Wilson Fisk?” He asked with anger not towards her.

“These wounds look like knives. Or swords, maybe.” Claire says, ignoring the obvious tension in the air. “Has he coughed up any blood?”

“Not that I know of.” Kaila replies, thinking back.

“Well just in case he has some internal bleeding, we’re going to turn him on his side.” She locks eyes with the other adult. “Mr…?”

“Foggy.” He says, earning a nod.

“Foggy? Okay. I need you to turn and hold him on his side while I patch him. And sweetheart-” She looks at the teenager. “Go grab some towels for me.” Kaila leaves to do so, while Claire pokes around the near dead man some more. “He’s lost a lot of blood.”

“Do you think he needs a transfusion?” He asked while turning Matt on his side, keeping him still.

“Maybe.” She replies, pulling out her sewing kit. “Do you know his blood type?”

“Uh… A negative.”

“A Negative? That’s a little rare.”

“Got the towels.” Kaila said, kneeling back down.

“Good.” Claire said, threading the needle. “Do you happen to have the same blood type as your Father?”

“Yeah. I do.”

“Okay, then. Be on standby, I might need you to give a transfusion.”

Both Foggy and Kaila stayed silent as she did her job as quickly, but professionally as possible (which they were incredibly thankful for). She cleaned and sewed, and put the gauzes around his wounds. Luckily, no bones were broken, just a few bruised ribs and a few small scraps. She finishes up by rubbing a clean cloth over his skin to soak up any remaining before facing them.

“Alright, he’s all patched up. Help me move him to the couch.”

They nod, and carefully pick him up; Foggy by his head, Claire by his feet, and Kaila holding his torso up. Like a porcelain doll, Matt was placed so delicately on the used couch before covering him with a thin blanket. Once that was done, they all sighed with a heavy relief.

“So… my dad doesn’t need blood?” Kaila asked, quietly. It was hard to look at nothing but her father right now.

“Not for right now. But if you see one of the bigger wounds re-open or he starts coughing it up, call me and we might have to consider doing that. Okay?” Claire replies, making the younger Murdock nod.

Claire gives her shoulder a gentle squeeze before she slips past her to back up her things. Foggy following close by.

“So, you’re the mysterious burner phone lady.” He said, trying to lighten the mood a little.

She chuckles. “I am. And you're a close friend?”

He frowns. “After today? I’m not so sure.”

She copies his expression. “Listen, I’m sure Matt had his reasons. He sure had his reasons with me.”

“Yeah but… why?” He throws his hands up. “What’s his reason with you? How long have you known him?”

“That is for him to tell you. I’m sorry.” Claire touches his shoulder, whispering, “And go easy on her. Knowing the poor kid, she didn’t have a choice in her father’s… nightly activities.” She removes her hand. “Nice meeting you, Foggy. Take care of yourself.”

She bids the teenager goodbye, and leaves, which resulted in another long period of silence.

Kaila purses her lips, her coco orbs still glued to her father. “If you ask me something, go ahead.” She said, but he just shook his head.

“No. You’re not going to have the answers I’m looking for.” Foggy replies, and turns on his heels straight for the bathroom.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

When the sun was fully up it must have been a queue for Matt to wake up. He grunts awake in pain and discomfort, his fingers twitching under the blanket to snag the sticky bandages against his skin. Kaila snaps her head up from the sound, immediately springing up from her chair.

“Dad!” She said, stumbling to his side.

He turns towards her, almost surprised. “K-Kaila…?” He gasps, while peeling back the gauze on his lower stomach, checking the damage.

“Whoa, whoa! Don’t do that.”

“Yeah, listen to you kid.” Foggy interrupted from the kitchen, closing the fridge. “Then again, maybe you wouldn’t. The hell do I know about Matt Murdock?”

Kaila frowns. “Foggy–”

“Did you guys stitch me up?” Matt cuts in, almost choking on his words because his best friend was here. His friend… finally knew his secret.

“Dad–”

“Nope.” Foggy butts in, taking a long sip of beer as he paced to the side of the couch they were on. “That was your nurse friend.”

Matt’s tensed shoulders relaxed a little. “Claire?”

“Yeah. Kai got a hold of her after begging me not to get you to a hospital.” He continues, sitting down on one of the chairs. “You told us where the burner phone was after she nearly had a panic attack trying to find it.”

“I don’t remember.” Matt frowns, memories still fuzzy. “Sorry.”

“Yeah, well tell that to your kid who covers your ass.”

Kaila’s heart clenched. “Foggy…” She said, watching him stare at the ground.

“She was hot, by the way.” Foggy says, bitterly, adding more salt to the wound. He scoffs quietly. “But I guess you already knew that, huh?”

Matt tries speaking before his daughter could. “Look, Foggy–”

“Just tell me one thing, Matt.” He stares back in his friend’s direction, the hurt stretching across his face. “Are you even really blind?”

Kaila chuckles in shock. “Foggy! Of course he can’t see! Are you serious?!” She asks, as he holds up his hand.

“Kai, I love you, but let this conversation be between me and your dad, please.” Foggy replies, standing up and starts pacing again.

Shortly after doing so, the blind man explains how his vision works, which get’s the other Lawyer all wound up at this… insane answer.

“So, you can see.” He said, running his hand through his hair.

“That’s not… you’re not– Are you even listening to what I’m saying?” Matt asked back, a bitterness on his tongue.

“Yeah, world on fire, I got it! But you can see, right?”

“Yeah, in a manner of speaking. But I–”

“No! No manner!!” Foggy yells, waving around his angry fist. He exhales loudly, turning around and flashing an inappropriate hand gesture. “How many fingers am I holding up?”

Matt exhales too, ignoring the sharpness in his chest. “One.”

Foggy stands back in shock, shoulders slacking. Kaila could see the gears in his turning; processing all the shit he’s just seen and heard.

She frowns. “Foggy?” She says, concernedly as he sits in the chair she once occupied.

“All these years, I actually felt sorry for you.” Was his reply.

“I didn’t ask for that. I never… I never asked for that.” Matt counters back, voice leveling out again.

Foggy’s jaw tightens. “Yeah, I didn’t ask to be lied to. I thought we were friends.”

“We are.”

“You lied to me, Matt, since the day we met!”

“What did you expect me to say, Foggy?” Matt asked, irritated. “‘Hi, I’m Matt. I got some chemicals splashed in my eyes when I was a kid that gave me heightened senses’.”

“Well, maybe not lead with that!” Foggy said, jumping out of his seat, and started pacing. “Jesus. Is that how you told Kai?”

“I didn’t even tell my dad after it happened.” Matt says, ignoring that comment about his kid.

“But you told that nurse, Claire!”

“Because I didn’t have a choice.” He sighs. “She found me in the dumpster, All right? Half dead. She didn’t… she didn’t tell you?”

“She wouldn’t say anything about all this.” Foggy admits, relaxing a little again. “She seems nice.”

“She is.”

“I liked her.” Kaila whispers, and grabs her dad’s hand; A silent way of telling him she’s still here.

He gives a weak squeeze back, and listens to his friend wandering towards the window, sighing heavily. His brain was back to spinning like a top. It took him a long time to work up the courage to ask something.

“Did you blow up those buildings? Shoot those cops?” Foggy finally asked, praying that his best friend would say ‘no’.

“Do you really need to ask that?” Kaila asked, irritated as well. How could he even say something like that?

“Yeah, Kai, I think I do.” He plops back down in the chair, becoming all tense again.

Matt’s heart was about to snap at that question, even sparing a small tear down his face. “I-It w-was F-Fis-sk. It w-was all Fisk.”

“He did this to you?”

“He and Nobu.”

“Nobu?”

“Yeah, I think he’s some kind of… ninja.”

Foggy blinks. “A ninja?”

“I think.”

The man threw his hands up, shooting off his chair once more. “What are you doing, Matt? You’re a lawyer. You’re supposed to be helping people.”

Matt clenches his jaw again. “I am.”

“In a mask! Do you know what they call that? A vigilante. Someone who acts outside of the law.”

Suddenly there was a quiet ringing of someone’s cell phone.

[Karen]

Kaila immediately perks up, letting go of her father’s hand to grab his phone off the floor, unfortunately she wasn’t quick enough.

“Foggy!” She says, standing up and following him. She mentally curses how short she is as he starts holding the phone obnoxiously high, and uses his free hand to keep her away. “Foggy, please! You can’t!”

“She deserves to know, Kai. And I think you know that.” Foggy replies, which halts his niece a little.

Did she secretly want Karen to know?

“You can’t tell her, Foggy, please.” Matt begs when his daughter stops protesting.

“Is this what you do?” He asks, silencing the phone with a hurtfulness in his voice. “When we call, trying to get you to come out for drinks? Trying to find you when bombs are going off and we’re worried? Is this what you do to me and Karen? Do you ghost your own daughter who’s probably more worried then me and Karen combined? Do you?”

Both Murdocks stayed silent for two separate reasons as they heard the tiny voice on the phone.

[Voicemail]

Foggy casts a sad look to the device, before looking at the other adult. “Do you just hit ignore?” He asks, and tosses the phone back onto the floor.

Matt shakes his head. “No.”

On cue the teenager’s phone started playing a song.

[I Dare You,

To Be Yourself,

To See Yourself–]

Kaila scrambled to fish it out of her pocket, seeing a silly picture of Karen on her screen. She moves to decline it, but–

“Don’t decline it.” Foggy says, harsher than he wanted it to.

She blinks. “What?”

“I said don’t decline it. Tell her what’s going on.”

“But I–”

“Kai, please don’t.” Matt croaked, sternly.

“Matt, for Christ's sake! She deserves to know!” Foggy counters back.

Matt shakes his head. “No… not yet, just… don’t answer it.”

“Matt, come on! She–”

“Foggy, she doesn't! She–”

“Matt!”

The two adults started to argue, which seemed to get louder and louder with each syllable. It was suffocating. Confusing. Kaila didn’t even realize that her breathing was getting a bit heavier, and started bringing her hands up to the side of her head. Her chest felt like it was getting tighter, and tighter, and tighter–

The adults must have noticed because now they were starting to panic.

“Hey, hey, hey. Kiddo, hey.” Foggy said, coming over worriedly.

“Kaila…” Matt groans, trying to get up but is shot down by a wave of pain. “Kai. Breath. Make sure she’s breathing, Foggy.”

“Yeah, yeah. Of course. Hey-” He touches her shoulder slowly, getting her dazed expression on him. “Hey, K-Pop. Breath for me, okay? Like this.”

He shows her how to inhale and exhale steadily, encouraging her softly to do so. The teenager begins to follow, chest becoming stiller, panting becoming quieter, hands loosening on her hair. Foggy smiles bittersweetly.

“Good.” He says, patting her shoulders.

Matt sighs with relief. “Oh, thank god…”

Kaila sinks back to the floor afterwards, bringing her knees up to her chest and starts zoning out from the embarrassment. But even zoned out she kept her now silent cell phone close, and out of reach from her Uncle. But the string of calls would never end when another phone started to ring.

“It’s her again.” Foggy whispers, waving his device.

Matt’s frown deepens. “Please, Foggy.”

He almost, almost considers listening to his friend, but when he takes one good look at his Niece, he decides against it. He accepts, and brings it up to his ear. “Hey.”

Karen perked up on the other end of the line, shocked she finally got a call back.

‘Hey. I tried calling Matt and Kai. Where are you guys?’

“I’m at their place.”

‘Is everything okay?’

“No, Matt was…” He takes another look at the Murdocks. “Matt was in an accident.

‘Oh, my god. What happened?’

“He was in a car accident.”

‘Matt was driving?’

She sounded skeptical, way too skeptical for his liking.

He bites his lip. “No, he, um… he got hit.”

‘Well, is he all right?’

Foggy heard her sigh.

Look, I… I’m coming over.’

“No, stay at the office. We need you there. There’s nothing you can do here.”

‘Okay… Well is Kaila okay? I can get her if you–’

“I got this, Karen. I’ll call you if we need anything.” He hangs up the phone.

“Thank you.” Matt said, just above a whisper.

Foggy fights back angry tears. “Screw you. I just lied to somebody that I care about. I want to know everything. And don’t you leave a damn thing out.”

Matt sucked in a breath, and then quietly said, “Kai, maybe you should sit this one out.”

The tension in the air you could cut with a knife, Kaila could see it. I think really anyone could. And as much as she wanted to play referee, she knows that Foggy wants to know everything. Every little detail about her father’s work; His work that…

Well…

She doesn’t even know half of it.

And as much as that seems unfair, she decides to leave anyone. She was the last calm thing before the storm.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Is it still eavesdropping if she was sitting in her room? I mean she wasn’t trying to listen to their very important conversation, but it was kind of hard not to when they’re being so damn loud.

It started off being quiet for the most part, until her Uncle started pacing around, looking for something…

Foggy opens up the living room wardrobe. He moves the top half of the box that was filled with Grandpa Murdock’s boxer robe, revealing some extra knee pads and military combat boots.

“How the hell do you get all this crap?” He asked, watching his partner half upright on the couch, looking sluggish.

“The internet.” Was Matt’s response, which seemed to piss off his friend more.

“The internet.” Foggy inhales and closes the box and doors. “Thought you long-underwear types stitched these together yourselves.”

“I never learned how to sew.”

“But you learned how to fight. That news footage of you in the alley, after the bombing, the way you were flipping around; Your dad was a boxer. He didn’t teach you any of that stuff, did he?”

“He didn’t want me to fight. You know that.”

“So how’d you get so good at it?”

Matt pushes himself completely up, hissing through his teeth at the pain. “An old man named Stick.”

Foggy scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. “You’re shitting me.”

“He found me at the orphanage. Blind like me. Well…” He brings his water bottle close to his lips. “Almost like me.”

“A blind old man… taught you the ancient ways of martial arts.” Foggy raises an eyebrow. “Isn’t that the plot to Kung fu?”

“I know how it sounds.”

He smacks his lips. “I don’t think you do.”

“He did more than start my training. He taught me that my blindness wasn’t a disability, that…” Matt says, listening as his friend sits down (And his daughter shifts on her bed too). “Sight was a distraction. He helped me understand everything I could do.”

“Define ‘everything’.” Foggy replies, still not buying it.

“It’s hard to explain, Foggy. M-My abilities… I-I j-just know things, okay.”

“No, not okay. Can you read my mind? Can you predict the future? What? What things do you just know?”

“I know you haven’t showered since yesterday morning. But you rinsed your face in my kitchen sink.” Matt explains, slowly, hearing as his friend sits back in shock. “I know you had onions in your lunch two days ago. I know you’re hungry… and tired.” Foggy stands up, gripping his head. “And I know the more I say, the faster your heart beats.”

Now that got the other lawyer to stop.

Foggy froze, and drew his attention back to the nearly dead man on the couch. “You can hear a heartbeat? From across the room?” He asked, voice cracking at the end.

“Helps to anticipate behavior. When someone’s gonna attack…” Matt frowns, and implies, “When they’re lying.”

“That’s… how you knew Karen was telling the truth… when we first met her at the precinct.”

“Yeah.”

“You listened to her heartbeat without her permission?” Foggy throws his hands up. “We’re lawyers! Y-You can’t do that! Th-There’s a system in place, and it’s weird and invasive and…”

If you could hear a heart breaking in half, then that’s what happened at this moment.

Foggy’s face morphed into something between pain and betrayal. “Wait. Are you telling me that since I’ve known you, any time I wasn’t telling the truth, you knew?” He asked, his friend looking away. “And what? You just played along?”

Matt nodded slowly. “Basically.”

His face was back to anger. “If you weren’t half dead, I would kick your ass, Murdock.” Foggy said, furiously pointing. “Am I lying about that?!”

“No.”

“Was anything ever real with us?”

After those words were spoken…

The whole house went into an uncomfortable silence.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

The adults couldn’t deny the girl to eat, so at some time after noon she slithered out of her room, back into the lion’s den. Kai was in the kitchen making soup for everyone (pretending not to listen while doing so), while Matt was sliding some comfortable clothes on, and Foggy was finishing up on the phone.

“Yeah. Yeah, okay. Thank you, buddy.” Foggy exits the bedroom, eyes beelining to Matt who was now fully dressed. “That was Brett.”

“What’d he say?” The blind man asked, fixing his wool sock.

“You couldn’t hear, with your… super whatever?”

“It doesn’t work like that. I-I have to concentrate. Focus on letting it in.”

“That junkie that killed Elena… they found him.”

“Good.”

“Brett says he took a dive off the roof, building he was shooting up in. They had to sponge him off the sidewalk.” Foggy cocks his head. “Did you do that?”

Matt heard his daughter’s pulse spike at the question.

“No.” He said, honestly. “I told him to turn himself in.”

“I can’t hear your heartbeat. Are you telling me the truth?”

“I didn’t kill him, Foggy. It’s Fisk, covering his ass.”

“So, you’ve never… you’ve never gone that far?”

“No. But I… I wanted to…” Another spike. “After Elena…” And another. “After everything Fisk had done, I went to a warehouse I thought he'd be at. I went to kill him.

Foggy clenches his jaw. “It’s not enough playing judge and jury? You gotta add executioner to the list?”

Matt shrugs nonchalantly. “I didn’t think I had a choice.”

Kaila bit her tongue, and squeezed the ladle in her hand. She couldn’t even believe what she was hearing. Her dad…

Her dad really did want to kill him after all. Why did she even bother with her words of wisdom last night if he wasn’t even going to listen?

She got lost in the tiny waves of the chicken broth as the two adults continued their banter.

“What happened to all that talk about going after him through the system?” Foggy asked, confused. “Making the law work for us?”

“Sometimes the law isn’t enough.” Matt replied, a solemn expression.

Foggy opens and closes his mouth, saying nothing as shakes his head. He ends up going to the kitchen to eat with the kid, which might still be the only sane moment left in his entire life.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Night time rolled around once more, and the family home felt broken up again. Kaila sat at the kitchen table, attempting to do homework that's due tomorrow; Matt was resting his eyes on the couch, laying in a fetal position; Foggy was zoning off into the billboard across the way. Ignoring as the burning bright lights crossed his brown orbs. He didn’t even seem to mind the sting, it couldn’t be worse than the emotional pain he was feeling right now.

The silence had gone on for hours, and hours until…

“You wanna say something.” Matt said, not as a question but a fact.

“Really don’t.” Was Foggy’s reply.

“Your breathing changes when you’re about to.”

“Now you’re just showing off.”

“Say what you need to say.”

Which would be words he would regret.

Kaila pretty much broke her pencil from gripping it so hard as their volume started to escalate like this morning. They soon started shouting nonsense, and full on argument returning for another round. She felt her eye twitch when she felt a migraine starting to bloom in her temple.

Why am I in the middle of this again? She wonders, barely tuning into their words.

“You run around dressed like a fucking moron, beating people up!” Foggy yells, using his hands again.

“It’s not that simple and you know it!” Matt snaps back, sitting up now.

“No. I don’t know shit! Not about this. I mean, how…” He groans. “Okay, so you get these whatever-you-call-thems when you’re a kid. How do you go from that to what you’re doing now?”

Matt took a minute to come up with something. “When I was a kid, before the accident, I’d lay awake at night listening to the sirens. I liked to put stories to them. Trying to figure out what they were for, ambulance or cops, robbery or fire.”

He shrugs, “I don't know, just a stupid game. But after I lost my sight, after my abilities developed, I… I realized how many sirens there actually were… how much this city suffered every single night.”

“You've been running around doing this since you were a kid?” Foggy asked, sounding more betrayed than earlier.

“No.” Matt said, shaking his head. “I-I tried not to fight… to make my dad proud. To-To block it out. The sirens, the pain, the fear, all strangling Hell's Kitchen. For years, I buried my head and turned away. Then one night right after we quit Landman and Zack, I heard it.”

“Heard what?”

“I…” Matt swallows, before tilting his head in his daughter’s direction. “Kai, maybe you skip this one too.”

Kaila’s shoulders slacked. “What?

“No.” Foggy cuts in before he could speak. “No. She stays. She needs to listen.”

Matt shook his head again. “Foggy, she-”

“She stays. Stop tip-toeing around your own daughter. Out of everyone present here, she deserves to know what’s really going on in your life. She stays.” His eyes flicker to the girl. “Right?”

Kaila takes a deep breath before nodding. “Yeah. I’m staying.” She says, sternly. “Continue, Dad.”

Matt closes his eyes, sighing. He really didn’t want to spill the truth. He really–

“Fine.” He mumbles, and starts again. “I heard a little girl crying in her bed, in a building down the block.” He clenches his jaw. “Her father liked to go to her room late at night… when his wife was asleep.

Foggy shuts his eyes, holding back the pain. “Oh, Jesus.” He whispers, and sinks down into a nearby chair. All while Kaila felt her stomach turn and looked away.

My dad never mentioned…

“I called Child Services like you're supposed to.” Matt continues. “But the mom, she wouldn't believe it. Said it wasn't true. And the dad, he was smart.” He scoffs. “He made sure what he did, how he did it, didn't leave a mark. The law couldn't do anything to help that little girl. But I could.

“I knew his routine. Waited till he was alone… I beat him, threatened him. Then he spent the next month in a hospital, eating through a straw.” He smiles. “And I never slept better.”

“You say all this, like…” Foggy trails off, trying to phrase this right. “One day you'd just had it with how things are. But to do what you do you had to keep training, all those years since that Stick guy, knowing you would do something like this.”

He learns forward, body stiff. “Maybe it isn't only about justice, Matt. Maybe it's about you having an excuse to hit someone. Maybe you just can't stop yourself.”

There was a brief pause, and both Kaila and Foggy held their breaths as–

“I don't want to stop.” Matt admits, and he could feel their hearts break right then and there.

Foggy fell back in his chair, eyes starting to sting as he held back the tears. He gave himself a minute to finally look at Kaila who seemed torn between many different worlds and emotions.

He really, really hates seeing her so hurt.

His hands ball up into fists. “You're going to get yourself killed, you keep this up. You know that, right?” He said, voice laced with venom.

“I can take care of myself.” Was Matt’s flat answer.

Foggy shakes his head. “Oh, really? Doesn’t fucking seem like it. And what about the rest of us? Me, Karen, Kaila, we're a part of this now, because of you. And we didn't get a say in that.”

“What do you think's gonna happen if I give up now, Foggy? Who's going to stop Fisk?”

“Oh, I don't know… the law?”

“Tell that to Elena.” Matt said, making his friend sigh. “If you could have put on a mask and prevented what happened to her… you telling me you wouldn't have?”

Foggy’s fists grew tighter. “It's not fair, Matt.”

“We don't live in a world that's fair. We live in this fucking one. And I'm doing everything I can to make it a better place.”

“‘A better place’.” Foggy bolted up, anger seeping back onto his face. “That kind of sounds like what Fisk keeps saying.”

“Don't say that.” Matt bites back. “Don't twist it around.”

“You tried to kill him, Matt. You told me yourself.” He throws his hands up in the air. “How is that any different than the way he solves his problems?”

“I made a mistake. I know that.”

“Misspelling ‘Hanukkah’ is a mistake. Attempted murder is a little something else.” Foggy chuckles dryly, in denial. “You ever stop to think what would happen if you went to jail? Or worse? You really think that anyone would believe that I didn't know what you were doing? That Karen didn't know? That your daughter didn’t know?!”

That sentence seemed to strike something in Matt, making his lip quiver. “This city needs me in that mask, Foggy.” He chokes out, holding back a sob.

Foggy frowns, eyes getting teary. “Maybe you're right. Maybe it does. But I don't!” He replies, pointing to himself. “I only ever needed my friend.”

A sob. “Foggy…”

“You know what, Matt?” Foggy begins, letting a few stray tears let loose. “Go ahead. Do what you want to do. And for that, I’ll make you a promise, not because I feel sorry for you, but I feel sorry for your daughter who by the way, which you probably already know, is crying in the background right now.”

His eyes flicker to the teenager, who’s covering her mouth with her hand, bloodshot eyes staring at the table. Foggy hated it. Matt hated hearing it, but his mind was too cloudy to even manage to say something comforting or useful.

Foggy sniffles, and looks back at Matt. “So, the promise is this. If you go out there and never come back, I’ll do you an honor and become her guardian. I’ll take her to school, doctor appointments, sporting events, anywhere she needs to go. I’ll be there for her 24/7.”

He swallows, his chest starting to feel achy, but he continues. “Because I love her like she is my own.” He pauses when he hears the two Murdock sob at his proposal. “However, I’m not her father. I’m not you. So for her big moments, like graduation, or her dream job, or walking her down the aisle towards her future partner, all those moments… I’ll feel like a fraud. I’ll feel guilty for being in a spot that’s not mine.”

Kaila shuts her eyes, and Matt chokes on another sob.

Foggy does too, throat closing up. “If I were in your shoes, I would’ve told you.” He said, truthfully because he would have. He would have told his friends, his family that he was doing such a dangerous deed.

“You don’t know that.” Matt said, shaking his head. “You don’t know that.”

“Yeah. I do.” He says, looking one last time at the teenager before grabbing his jacket to leave.

“Foggy. Foggy, wait.” Matt said, trying to get up, but the pain shoots throughout his body, stopping him. “Foggy.”

He heard the door shut, the door frame rattling from the brute force. He sighs in defeat, mentally cussing at himself until–

He hears the dining room chair scratch across the floor, and light footsteps walk past him. He holds his hand out, searching for her arm.

“Kai? Kai, listen to me…” He begs, hearing her stop in front of her door. He could sense she wasn’t even looking his way. “Kai, I just… I’m…”

He could smell the tears rolling down her cheek, and muttered nothing as she entered her room…

Slamming the door.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Matt groaned uncomfortably upon hearing the knocking on the front door. He was not in the mood when he heard Karen’s worried voice on the other side. Seems the universe hates him today. Foggy’s mad at him, his daughter left this morning barely muttering a ‘goodbye’, and now Karen is here, probably ready to ask him 20 questions about his ‘accident’.

Yeah…

Today was not a good day.

When he unlocked the door, he could smell helium and rubber coming from her hand– A balloon, as he felt her eyes scan him from head to toe.

“Oh, my god.” She said, as lets her in. “You look like shit.”

“Then I look better than I feel.” He replies, letting her close the door and walk back to his living area.

“Are you going to sue? We should sue.” Karen said, taking off her jacket and hanging it up. “You know, whoever hit you, we should go after ‘em and…” She trails off when she sees the damages done in his apartment. “What kind of car was it? Please tell me it was, uh, expensive and German.”

“Japanese.” He says, glasses on and hand holding a beer. “And it was my fault. I, uh… should have been more careful.”

“What the hell happened here?”

He clenched his jaw subtly. “If I told you it was Kai just roughhousing, would you believe me?”

Karen raises an eyebrow. “You’re going to tell me your… five foot-four, barely a hundred pound daughter knocked and punched a humongous hole into your barn doors and made your coffee table disappear?”

“So… No?”

“No.”

“Then don’t worry about it right now.”

She sighs, crossing her arms. “Fine. Where is she anyway?”

“School. Hopefully.”

“Now I’m aching to know, Matt.”

“Don’t worry about it. Please.” He pops the cap to his drink and starts chugging half of it.

“Little early for beer, isn’t it?” Karen asked, underlying concern. It wasn’t exactly usual to see him washing away his emotions with alcohol.

Matt shrugs. “Depends on the kind of day you’re having. You, uh… you want one?”

“Um, uh no. No thanks. So…” She tilts her head, listening closely, turning her investigating skills on. “Where were you when this car hit you?”

“Uh… doesn’t matter.” He replies, coming over to sit at his table.

She nearly sighs at his response, but holds her tongue. “I’m thinking it might… if there really wasn’t a car.”

He groans, throwing his head back. “Karen-”

“Does this have anything to do with Fisk? With your going to see that… Vanessa woman?”

“I told you, it’s my–”

“What about Kai? Is she okay? I know she went with you so…”

Matt’s frown deepens. “She’s…” He looks away. “She’s fine. I think.”

Karen perks up. “You think?”

“We had a fight. Well… Foggy and I did, and…” He throws his open hand up. “She got wrapped in the middle of it, which started something with me and her. That’s all.” He sighs, bringing the bottle close to his lips. “She didn’t even say goodbye to me this morning.”

Karen’s shoulder sag. “So… you and Foggy did fight like I thought.”

“Look, let’s just leave it at that, okay?”

“No. No, not okay.” She gestures to him, to all the bruises and cuts on his face. “Definitely not okay. Look at you. Besides the argument, did someone break in?”

Matt felt his chest grow tight. “No one broke in.”

“And no one beat the crap out of you either, I’m guessing.” She gets nothing but a sigh from him, and decides to join him at the table. “Do you remember the last time I was here?”

He nods. “Yeah, I remember.”

“And I was scared… terrified. But then, you, you gave me your shirt and you made me feel safe. You made me feel like I could trust everything that you said.”

“And you lied to me.” He scoffs. “About having the Union Allied pension file.”

“I didn’t want anyone to get hurt… like Daniel Fisher, because of what I was doing.”

He sighs. “Yeah, I know the feeling.”

“So that’s it?” She asked, hurt. “That’s all you’re giving me?”

“That’s all that I have right now, Karen.” He replies, holding his wounded side as he stands up and walks away, venturing into his living room.

“Well, that's not all I have.” She stands up too, following with determination. If she can’t get him to talk she’ll just tell him what she found. “I found something. Just a scrap of paper at the county clerk’s office… misfiled. It’s probably why Fisk didn’t get sucked into a black hole.”

“What was it?” Matt asked, genuinely interested.

“A marriage certificate…” Karen explains, watching him take a seat on the couch’s armrest. “For his mother, Marlene.”

“How does that help?”

“Because it’s not to his father. It’s for when she remarried, which was two years after all the reports say she died.”

Matt’s eyebrows shot up. “She’s still alive?”

“Yeah, she’s living at a care facility upstate.” She bits the inside of her cheek, preparing for an outburst. “Now, Ben and I took a drive-”

He sighs once more. “Oh, Karen, Karen. Fisk could have people watching.”

“I know.” She holds her hands up in defense. “I know. I didn’t leave my real name.”

“You should have…” His jaw tightens. “You should have talked to me or Foggy before you ran off like that.”

She shakes her head, looking frustrated. “I tried. But you weren’t picking up.”

Guilt creeped into his gut, and cast his empty gaze to the ground. “Did you speak to her? Fisk’s mother?”

“Yeah. She’s not all there, but…” She shifts in her place. “Matt, what she said about Fisk…” She frowns. “He killed his father. When he was 12. Bashed his head in with a hammer, and then she helped him cover it up.”

Matt shrugs. “Well, he was a minor. It’s not gonna be enough.”

“To put him in jail? No. But it doesn’t line up with everything that Fisk has been saying. Everything that he has altered on the internet, and.. At the county clerk’s. It might be enough to at least get people looking at him more closely.”

“From an old woman who’s not all there.”

Karen scoffs quietly, and crosses her arms. “Well, I’m not hearing you and Foggy come up with anything better.”

“Did you… did you speak to him? To Foggy?”

“Not since yesterday on the phone when I guess he was covering for whatever it is you’re not telling me.”

“Alright, go to the office and… wait for him. Tell him what you found, and Karen, tell him… tell him that I said…” He sighs, second guessing himself. “No, don’t bother. Just tell him what you found. Karen, be careful, please.”

A brief pause between them before the blonde takes a step forward, and cups his cheek softly.

“You know, maybe you should take your own advice. I mean…” Her lips quirks in a sad smile. “You have a kid, and for the sake of her, you shouldn’t get yourself hurt so much.”

Matt felt his cheeks turn hot just as Karen realized her actions.

“I-I.. I got you a…” She stutters, and walks back towards the front door blushing. She carefully takes the balloon by the string, holding it close as she makes her way back over towards him. “It’s a… it's a balloon. I, um…” She takes his open hand, letting him take it. “It’s got a monkey on it.”

He gives her a quick smile before she leaves abruptly. Once the door closed and he heard her traveling down the stairs, Matt let out a sigh.

Maybe she was right. Maybe Foggy was too. He needed to take better care of himself if he was going to continue this dangerous lifestyle. For the sake of staying alive for them, for staying alive for his daughter’s sake, he’s gotta make a change.

But what would that be exactly?

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Life got complicated after that. Life decided to take a few beatings at older Murdock.

Claire put a stop on whatever was blossoming between them, patched him up one last time as she threw him a curve ball, claiming she was taking a break from HK. But before she left she made an interesting statement that if ain’t careful with his ‘savior complex’, he’ll end up bloody and alone.

Then…

The interesting conversation with Father Lanthom. His sinking suspension that the Father knew who he was, and which was indirectly confirmed. Matt begged to understand why he had the devil put inside of him yet again, and the Father replied with, ‘Even the devil was once an angel. Maybe he was even set on a path of the righteous’.

Which led to his nightly activity. He managed to track down one of the men affiliated with Fisk, demanding where the devil spawn in a white suit get’s his body armor. And that’s what led him to Melvin Potter, and with a promise to protect a woman named Betsy for him, Melvin agreed to make a durable suit.

Once it was taken care of, Matt slipped back through his bedroom window, praying hopefully for his new suit, one that’ll give him the protection he needed. For himself, and for most importantly, for all the people he cares about. He needs to stay alive for Foggy, for Karen. Hell, he really needs to stay alive for his own kid.

Speaking of, he knows she’s here. He could smell the lavender soap on her body, and the light rhythm of her heart beat. He could even hear the small rumbles in her stomach, which he could use to his advantage to fully apologize for putting her through all this.

“Kai?” He calls out, slipping his mask off. He starts walking towards the living room. “Kai. Sorry I’m late. If you’re hungry, we can go get dinner if you’d like.”

He hears her coming out of her bedroom like he expected, but what he wasn’t expecting was that she had a duffle bag stuffed full in her hand. He raises an eyebrow, feeling her neutral gaze on him.

“What’s with the bag?” He asked, confused.

“Why don’t you tell me anything?” She asked, her voice unnervingly calm.

“What?”

“Why don’t you tell me anything?” She takes a giant step forward towards him. “I know I’m your daughter, and I know you want to protect me, but you don’t tell me anything you do in the night!”

He tilts his head, confused by her words. Where was this even coming from? “Kai, what are you… what are you talking about?”

She stays silent for a moment, before muttering something just above a whisper. “You said you were going to kill him. Fisk.”

He tenses. “Kai–”

“We had that long talk last night. We talked about if killing him was logical for yourself. You made it sound like you weren’t going through with it! And now you don’t want to stop at all?!”

He sighs, shifting his weight. “Kai, where the hell…” Another sigh. “Where is this even coming from?”

“Because Foggy has a point!” She spits out, throwing her bag down and stepping a bit closer. “I mean what if you go through with it? What if you get caught and go to jail? Then what? You rot in there for a lifetime while I have deal with the fact my dad’s a murderer?”

He clenches his jaw. “Then I go to jail if I’m caught.” Matt replies, voice trailing off with a bit of bitterness.

“IF you get caught. But if don’t, then what? I have to live with the fact my Dad’s a killer? A secret I’ll have to keep for you?” Kaila scoffs. “And what if your plan fails and you end up in a coffin six feet under? Then what?”

Matt pauses, and even he can’t believe the next words coming out of his mouth.

“Then you live with Foggy.” Was his reply, and even though he couldn’t see it, he knew the look of pain on his child’s face.

Her lower lip twitched. “No.” She chokes, slowly shaking her head as her eyes start to sting. “No. No. No! I don’t want to live with Foggy! I want to live with you!! Always you! No one else could ever replace you! No one! Can’t you understand that?!”

Matt stayed silent, even his face didn’t even wash over with any kind of expression. Kaila’s heart cracked into a million pieces, and she shook her head again.

“Unbelievable…” She mumbles, grabbing her bag again and walks away. That seemed to knock him out of his trance.

“Where are you g-going?” He asked, voice breaking at the end for a millisecond.

“To Karen’s.” She replies, looking back at him. “I need a break. And while I’m gone you need to pull your head out of your ass, and then go make up with Foggy. Even if he doesn't accept your apology, somehow work out for the sake of your business and the sake of Karen who’s caught between this as well.”

Kaila frowns, and adds, “The poor woman’s probably being ghosted by Foggy too. She deserves some kind of answer here, you know. Even if it isn’t the full truth. The two of you need to give her something.”

She retightens the grip on the handle and continues down the hallway for the door. As she unlocks it and pries it open a quarter of the way, she hears:

“Just text me when you get there, please.” Her father replies, his emotion was tricky to decipher. “I know you're mad, but I still want to know if you're safe. Okay?”

Kaila grips the doorknob, closing her eyes.

A few seconds pass, until–

“I will.”

And the door shuts behind her quietly.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Kaila felt like she was going to start crying again. Or maybe try screaming. Or…

Maybe she could do both.

At this very moment, the poor girl wasn’t even sure what to think about any of this. This whole… vigilante lifestyle of her father’s, the whole lawyer lifestyle, the Nelson & Murdock battle, secrets, lies. Everything! Everything was starting to get to her in ways she wasn’t expecting, something she didn't even think was possible. Something she could only wish would go away.

Is this… it for all of us? She wonders, because this whole family thing started when her father met Foggy at school. They worked together to help raise her, start a business of their dreams, and met another person to call a friend, a family member. But now…

It’s all coming undone in one night. And what could one teenage girl do about it?

Kaila practically sighs with relief when she sees Karen’s apartment coming into view. Her mind was already racing at what could happen, and what she could and cannot say to the blonde. Could she tell Karen the truth? Should she tell her that the mask man who saved her from day one was actually her dad? Or would this ruin everything they’ve all built?

Kaila jogs up the few steps, hand already reaching for the call box. She quickly buzzes for Karen’s apartment a few times, awaiting for a response–

She felt a rough cloth cover her mouth and someone’s arm wrapping around her small frame. Her muffled screams and thrashing started to die down as her nose filled up with the smell of strong chemicals.

Chloroform.

She’s being chloroformed.

She started to sag under the person’s arms, eyelids drooping, and praying that maybe,

Just maybe…

She’s still asleep at home.

A/N: Y'all know what happens at the end of Season 1 Episode 11, right? *Evil laugh* Sorry if this one was kind of lame, this wasn't exactly my favorite story I wrote.

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