Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Prologue: Changes

Fauna

Fauna stared at the window. Her vision blurring, everything around her and everything the view from the hospital’s third floor. Which, she decided earlier, was not much considering all the billboards, lights and large, rusty AC units littering the second-floor roof.  The only thing her eyes could bring in to focus were the rain drops sliding down the muggy glass and then pooling at the bottom.

How fitting, thought Fauna. The rain was perfect for such a sad day.

The thought of dealing with rays of sun shine beaming down turned her stomach and made her want to vomit. It didn’t seem right for the world to be happy when others suffered. And right now, Fauna wanted the entire city to feel just as sad as her. She didn’t want to imagine the citizens of New York busying themselves with life’s every day activities. She didn’t want to think about the street traffic crowding at each corner with people moving in all direction. Or the shops and offices carrying on with their business. She didn’t want to think about life moving on when hers very recently came to a screeching halt.

The sound of shoes quietly pattering up to her mother’s bed brought Fauna’s mind back to the hospital room. Her neck muscles complained at the sudden movement as she turned to greet the nurse.  For a brief moment she wondered how long she had been sitting in that chair, not moving. Out of shock or exhaustion, she didn’t know. In truth, she didn’t care.  There was no comparison between a sore neck and what her mother was experiencing. She felt stupid for having such a thought.

The nurse pressed a few buttons on the large, upright machine standing adjacent to the bed. Some red lights turned to green and the screen lite back up revealing several pairs of numbers that Fauna was clueless about. She took an extra minute checking her mother’s IV and blood pressure for the umpteenth time that day. There was no change in her mother’s condition.

What was the point?  Fauna wondered. But quickly realized that was another stupid thought and pushed it out of her mind.

“Need anything?” she asked, finally acknowledging Fauna in the corner, her small frame curled up in the chair. Fauna shook her head no in response.

She tried to offer the nurse a smile as a thank you, but she couldn’t muster up the strength.

Satisfied the nurse turned on her heel and was back out of the room. Sound and commotion flooded the room as she opened the large, heavy door. And as she shut it the room was quiet, and Fauna was left with just the beeping and buzzing of machines once again.

How could this have happened?  Fauna let her head fall back against the chair.

This time yesterday Louisa was so lively, watching her daughter perform on stage at the Lee Lord Theater. Afterward, the celebration consisted of just the two of them and a handful of close friends. Three hours later Fauna’s life was forever changed with a panicked 911 call and her mother literally coughing up her lung. Fauna squeezed her eyes shut to try to block out the memory of all the blood. It spilled from her mother’s mouth covering her chin, neck and chest.

Fortunately, Fauna had been right there. Helping her mother as best she could until the ambulance arrived. It was by far the most terrifying moment of her life. Even more terrifying than the day she realized who her father truly was. Later on, at the hospital, Fauna learned the secret her mother has been keeping from her for several years.

It made sense, in retrospect, Fauna thought she understood her mother’s absence. Louisa had not been there for every audition, recital, or performance like she had been in the past. Her absence didn’t go unnoticed. Fauna just thought perhaps her mother was giving her the space she needed to live her own life. To be young with her friends. After all, it wasn’t too cool for a nineteen-year-old girl to have her mother hanging around Julliard.  

As the Doctor’s explained her mother’s prognosis, every known emotion flooded Fauna system. As they over whelmed her, she fell to the floor.  She could only remember bits of information after that moment.  The details Dr. Holeman offered were not important. Only three words was all that mattered.  Three words that told Fauna everything she needed to know. Three words that, now, changed her life forever: Stage Four. Cancer.  

Some people could live for three, four, even five years. However, Louisa’s cancer made a turn for the worse. Now it was aggressively attacking her system.

“Hospice?!” In the doctor’s office chair Fauna sat up straighter. Shocked to attention. Before her sat a large, dark wooden desk. It was oversized. Everything on top of it just looked odd. Each item seemed too small and they were spaced too far from each other. Directly behind the desk sat an oversized plush leather chair. The small man that occupied the chair seemed misplaced as well.

Why did he need such large furniture?  Thought Fauna as she entered the room earlier. Perhaps he was trying to compensate for something.

“Yes,” he brought his hands together at his chest, interlaced his fingers and propped his elbows on the arm rests. “The hospital can do nothing more for your mother.” He said in an accent that must have been Asian Indian.

His dark skin and hair also indicated his ethnicity. Photos of his family littered the book shelf on the back wall. Their wardrobe of fine linen with detailed patterns and ornate embroidery offered the only splash of color in the stark office of beige walls.

“It just seems like there’s something more.” Fauna shrugged and turned her attention back to the double paned window that was similar to her mother’s hospital room’s. “This can’t be it” tears beginning to sting her eyes. She pushed them back down as hard as she could. She wouldn’t cry not here, not now.

“Louisa has understood her situation for quite some time now.”

Fauna refused to look him in the eye, it just felt to final.

“I’m sorry she chose to put the two of us in this situation.” He shrugged unwinding his fingers and sitting up. “I did encourage her to tell you. In the end it was her decision.”

He’s sorry? Thought Fauna. What a cruel thing to say. Was he complaining about being the one to break the news to Fauna about her dying mother? Leaving him to deal with the awkward and uncomfortable situation.

“It just seems too final.” She suggested. Pushing back more tears.

He just looked at her.

“Look,” began Fauna. “I understand. This is it. She doesn’t have much more time before…” she paused. Not willing to say the word. It wasn’t time, not yet. “There has to be something like… I don’t know.” She threw up her hands. “Therapy… or something.”

The doctor’s eyebrows went up. He must be thinking she’s stupid. Therapy for lung cancer? Even Fauna laughed at the idea. She leaned forward in the worn chair, it squeaked in complaint as she moved. Fauna looked back to him and tried to give her best serious face, though all she wanted to do is put her head down and cry. Instead she put her hands out on the desk, it seemed to help stabilize her emotions for the time being.

“Dr. Holeman…” She paused trying to choose her words carefully. “I know there’s no cure… but is there anything we can do to keep her…” another paused to consider her words. “With us as long as possible?”

He sat back in his chair, narrowing his eyes. This gave Fauna a spark of hope. He didn’t immediately say, no, sorry. He opened his mouth to say something. Fauna heart skipped a beat but faltered when he shut his mouth.

What?  She thought.

He shook his head, “Sorry—”

“Dr. Holeman!” Fauna interrupted. “Please. I…I’ll do anything.” Her eyes began to sting once more.

He sat back up. Fauna could tell he was holding something back. She just wanted to hang on to her mother for as long as possible. Every day she could gain with her would be worth sacrificing anything… everything! Fauna was not going to let her go without a fight. Right then and there, Fauna decided her mother would not just go home and… well, you know. She was everything to her. She wasn’t about to let go.

He opened his desk drawer and pulled out a small, white rectangular paper. He looked up at Fauna, then his eyes darted around the room as if he was about to tell a secret he wasn’t supposed to. He stretched out his arm to her. Fauna hesitated. There was something about the look on his faced. It was a flash of warning, it settled in the pit of Fauna’s stomach. As she reached for the paper, his face paled slightly.

She took the paper, it was a business card. It only had a name and address:

Drax Corp.

23rd and 7th

meanwhile… 

Matthew 

Matthew Murdock sat on the edge of the bed. Every muscle moaned at him to lay back down. It wasn’t the fact that his opponents would get in some good hits as they fought, it was more the fact that morning came too early. His nightlife only allowed for a few hours of sleep. It didn’t phase him in those first weeks. His adrenaline compensated for the lack of sleep. It would be pumping through his veins long after his alarm clock sounded.  Now, he felt the beginnings of exhaustion creeping more and more with each passing morning. It may be wishful thinking but, he had high hopes his body would start to adjust. A sense of normalcy would settle in.

He stood, stretching his muscles. He debated against himself for half a second but forced himself down to plank position and began his push-ups. He only had about 30 mins before he was to meet up with Foggy and the realtor. He was appreciative of some extra energy thanks to the excitement of today’s agenda. Their law practice was newly budding, and they needed some legitimacy. Having actual office space would help with that.

Chapter Text

Introductions

Fauna  

Fauna rummaged threw the draws of her co-worker’s desk. Ha! She thought. Co-worker. More like tormentor, bully…

“Grade-A jerk!” she said aloud. Perhaps to loud. “lest we forget sexual harasser.” She said a bit more quietly.

A light flashed through the window scanning the grounds. Fauna ducked under the window. As the light yet again passed by, she reaches up and tugs nervously at her hood. Trying desperately to cover as much of her face as she could. It probably wouldn’t matter how much of her face was covered. Her brown hair would give her away instantly. It always set her apart from everyone else. It’s coloring, length and texture made her somewhat of an oddity. It spilled out from each side of her hood, the waves of various shades of brown moved in thick waves until it reached the tip of her hips. She was used to dealing with long hair daily, it didn’t occur to her to tie it back and make herself harder to recognize.

Be smarter next time you go out to steal company secrets. She scolded herself.

Realization of what she was doing hit her. If her employer knew what she was up to it would cost her everything. But, of course, not before her bones were broken and pieces of flesh cut from her more delicate areas.

A trickle of fear passed through her, what you’re doing is going to get you killed.

She pushed the thought away. It didn’t matter if she died tonight or in another year. The point being she would die. If she had to work here much longer it was going to kill her. Her employer didn’t care what happened. He didn’t care if she was bullied, harassed, beaten and possibly even raped one day. The threat of the latter grew stronger with each passing day. And that frighten her the most.

She often came home with scrapes, cuts and bruises from their harassment.

She didn’t want her co-workers, these disgusting men, to put their hands anywhere near her. They were criminals, they were dirty, and it was only a matter of time. Her employer only cared about his control over her. She was his possession. He made sure he reminded Fauna of that fact every chance he got. 

He literally owned her. However, she was not completely aware of what she was involving herself in when she willingly agreed to the contract.

One year later, she saw no way out, every scenario ended with her death. That’s why she’s here tonight. She had to do something to guarantee that her contract didn’t end the moment of her death.

She was sure that her ‘employer’ would. Fauna convinced herself she needed to get leverage over the Grayson Shipping Corporation. Play the game their way. They were criminals, their dealings were with traffickers, gangs, and crime lords. They wouldn’t hold true to their word.

It not only took her a week to muster up the courage to come here tonight. She also had little confidence she would succeed. After all, she was trying to blackmail a criminal organization. She isn’t much of anything, she’s not even considered a person anymore. And it looks as though she’s not much of a spy either. She failed to realize she was trying to steal from a criminal organization at night.

Fauna, you moron. Scolding herself for the tenth time, when do criminal organizations do most of their work?

“at night” she answered herself.

So far all she has to show for her effort is a couple sore legs from ducking under windows, a paper cut on her right thumb, and a heart that’s about to explode from fear of being discovered.

She needed to get out of here. Perhaps she could try again some other time.

The light passed by the window again, she stood and made her way to the door. Fauna turned the knob and exited the room. As quietly as she could she made her way down the hall. She briefly wondered if the beat of her heart could be heard through the entire complex and send all the night guards running in her direction. Very eager to take out the source of the noise.

She turned the corner to find the top of the stairwell. She was 3 floors up. To her left and out the window she heard commotion. She peered down, sure enough guards were running in the direction of her exit.

“No way could they hear it!” panic struck her. What was she supposed to do now?

Fauna began to descend the stairs hoping she was wrong about their direction. She stopped as she heard a loud thud underneath her. The noise was two flights down. She craned her neck to see what was happening.

Maybe it was just a drill of some kind. There was no confidence in that statement. She knew that something was happening.

As she peered down through the twisting rails, she let out a small yelp of shock, fear and panic. She hoped it wasn’t as loud as it seemed.

No such luck.

As soon as the sound left her mouth. The man known as the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen jerked his head up at Fauna’s location.

She thought her heart couldn’t beat in fear much faster. When she saw the man in the black mask, partially covering his face, look in her direction, obviously she had been wrong.

Things had been quiet since Wilson Fisk’s down fall. Only a few ambushes here and there by Daredevil. He mostly left Grayson Shipping alone. The fact that these ambushes never came close to Fauna was all she ever cared about.

Now, she was standing, frozen, just a few feet above him. Their eyes were locked. Or at least where his eyes should be.

How did he see?

For a moment Fauna thought perhaps if she didn’t move, he couldn’t see her. Afterall, he didn’t have slits or holes where his eyes should be. She quickly dismissed that thought as being the stupidest tonight.

Not being able to see his eyes made him even more terrifying. She stood there motionless for what seemed like eternity. He tilted his head to the left just slightly, his attention still on her.

As quickly as Fauna could blink a man materialized out of the shadows and rammed his shoulder in the stomach of the Daredevil. Both men when down, sprawled on the floor.

Fauna, you idiot. Another scolding. Does that make the 11^th or 12^th time?

RUN!

Fauna turned on her heel, bursting through the hallway doors. She ran as fast and hard as she could. Behind her she heard more commotion growing closer.

It must be more fighting. She wouldn’t look behind her. She didn’t want to know what was happening. All she knew was she had to get out. She had to leave before her presence became too well known.

As she ran, she remembered the small service stairs on the south side of the building. No one used them. They’re small, claustrophobic and smell like a mix between mildew and urine. That didn’t matter. What did matter was their exit was near an alley that led straight to the street. Once on the street she could run home. She wished her options included the subway or bus. Her allowance couldn’t afford it.

She figured Daredevil would attract all the attention, for whatever reason he’s here, she would be in the clear to just walk out.

The service stairs were just a few more steps. She reached the door an began to push it open. Without thinking, she risked a moment to look behind her. Bodies littered the floor on the other end. The only one standing was looking right at her.

Surely, he had eyes under that mask?

As he moved in her direction, he side swiped one of the guards in the head with his foot. The man had been trying to get back up. “Stay down.” Came a rough growl. Fauna could see the Devil’s shoulders heaving as his breathing grew heavier.

Fauna used her body weight to push the door, as she went through, she hit something hard. Staggering a few steps back she grabbed her head where she made contact. She took a moment to shake off the shock. When she looked up, she had to crank her neck as far as it would go to meet the large man’s eyes. He was clad in black body armor.

“You the one causing this trouble?” His statement was immediately followed by the man raising his leg and landing a swift kick to Fauna’s stomach. Her body faltered and flew backward.

She crashed against a hard surface. She imagined herself bouncing off it and falling to the floor. But unlike any wall, it gave way.

“Umph.” A surprised voice grunted as both bodies hit the floor. Her head snapped back and hit something hard. As her stomach screamed in agony, Fauna tried to catch the breath that had been knocked out of her. Her heart grew louder and skipped every other beat. It took her a moment to realize who she had hit. Who was now at her back, beneath her.

She froze.

Fauna was not only within arm’s length of the most terrifying man in Hell’s Kitchen, and she was currently on top of him. He could easily reach up and snap her neck.

The sound of approaching boots filled Fauna’s ears. “Well, there’s two of you then.” The armored man said.

Fauna’s eye’s widened at the understanding of what the man meant. Did he think I was with the Daredevil? That’s not good! That’s really not good.

The man lifted his boot and flew hard and fast toward Fauna’s face. She turned and squeezed her eyes shut. This was it, she thought, death. At any moment her skull would be crushed.

When the boot never made contacted with her face, she opened her eyes and turned her head to the armored man standing over her. Daredevil had intercepted, bringing his hands up on either side of her and catching the boot in his grasp.

The armored man was pushing down, smirking in the process.

Daredevil’s arms began to shake with exhaustion. “A bit of help would be nice.” His strained voice came from behind her.

Her hands flew up, grabbing the boot a long side the black gloves of the man underneath her. She pushed, straining.

“Leg’s up. Lock them around his.” A rough whisper came to her ear as the armored man laughed in early celebration of crushing two people beneath his heel.

“W— what?” She stuttered, confused.

“Leg’s up!”. He grunted

Fauna did as he demanded. She hurled her legs up and tried to hook them around their oppressors’ leg. She failed.

His laughter grew, he was toying with them, and pushed down harder. Fauna’s hands began to hurt.

The man beneath her groaned at the added weight.

“Again!” he demanded.

She hurled her legs up again, this time succeeding. Simultaneously, Daredevil kicked out his foot connecting with the man’s other leg. The boot twisted in their hands as he lost balanced, crashing to the floor.

Suddenly Fauna found herself being hoisted and rolled across the floor as Daredevil moved to his side.

She looked up. Both men had already made it to their feet. They moved toward each other, bringing their fists up. Like dogs to a fight.

Fauna coughed, still trying to recover her breath. She turned her eyes from the two men, and back to the service stairs.

I’ve got to get out of here. She thought. It’s my funeral if I don’t. T

The man in the combat armor had seen her face. Deep down she knew she was already dead. Her employer would never believe anything she offered as a cover story. She looked back at the two men, now in a punching competition. Then bolted for the stairs.

The alley was cold, the breeze sent chills up her spine. Fauna wrapped her arms around her mid-section. Fisting her shirt in her hands. Her hair whirled around. It hurt to breath. It hurt to walk, but she had to get as much distance between her and Grayson. A few blocks down, she kept looking behind her. Afraid someone was following her. The street was quiet for the most part. She passed a few stragglers here and there. A few more blocks, and she began feeling confident that she was okay. Her walk slowed. Allowing her to breath a bit easier. 

An arm shot out from the alley she was currently passing. It grabbed her by the elbow and yanked so quickly she didn’t have time to register what happened. Before she blinked her back was against the rough bricks. A forearm stretched across her chest and a hand covered her mouth to muffle any verbal protest.

Fauna was nose to nose with the masked man. The Daredevil.

Her hands flew up in response to the firm pressure holding her in place, pressing against her chest. She scratched and pulled at his arm. Her breath becoming heavier and more strained.

Panic set in when she realized his hands were on her. The one thing she feared more than anything, being touched without her consent.

“Listen to me very carefully.” He commanded in a low, calm voice. It was a dangerous voice. There were many warnings in that tone, that cautioned a person to tread lightly.

“You are not to move, not to scream. Don’t do anything that would draw attention and make me lash out.”

Phantom sounds of bones breaking echoed in Fauna’s ears causing her to flinch and her heart skyrocketed to a point previously unknown to her before.

“I’m going to trust you understand me clearly?”

Inhaling sharply, she nodded her understanding. Slowly the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen released his grip over her mouth.

He paused. Fauna supposed he was waiting for any reaction from her. Giving her a chance to do something that would allow him to retaliate.

She noticed his mask had been split a few inches above his cheek bone. A cut appeared beneath. Blood streamed down leaving a thin red line from his temple to somewhere beneath his neck line. One of Grayson’s guards must have gotten a lucky shot with a knife.

“Your name?” He asked. “If you lie, I will know”

Fauna was shocked, it wasn’t what she was expecting though the question made sense. Of course, he wanted to know the names of his opponents. So he could track them down faster. But the last thing she wanted was to tell the crazy vigilante who she was.

“Your name!” He demanded in a raised, yet hushed, tone.

Was he serious about the lying? She briefly wondered.

“M—Mary”

He took a moment. He brought her forward just slightly and knocked her back against the wall. It wasn’t enough to hurt, but enough to frighten.

Fauna yelped in response to the quick motion. Maybe he was serious.

“Lie, try again.”

How did he know that, she wondered? Had he already known about all of Grayson’s employees?

Her mother’s name came to mind, it calmed her slightly. “Louisa” she said aloud without really meaning too.

He paused, taking a moment longer to regard her answer. His lips fell to a thin line.

With lightning speed, he twisted her around, her face now pressed against the brick. He forced her arm behind her at an odd angle. It wasn’t painful, but highly uncomfortable.

Fauna cried out. Okay, he’s serious. Very serious.

“A little more pressure applied, and you won’t have use of this arm for a long while.” He said in that low, calm voice.

Fauna’s head echoed the warning of that dangerous tone. As her breath quickened, with the added pressure he placed on her chest she felt as if she was suffocating.

I can’t breathe, she realized. He’s killing me! I c…can—can’t breathe!

Panic set in. She began thrashing against him. Ignoring the pain that shot through her arm. An eruption of wind burst through the dark alley rustling up the leaves and loose trash. It whipped Fauna’s long, brown hair around her.

She felt woozy and suddenly her hand was free, nothing held her weight and she slid down toward the cold cemented side walk. Everything from the night’s fiasco hit her hard. Darkness seeped in at the edges of her vision. Her head felt heavy and pounded.

She began to give in to that darkness and her vision blurred. Feeling his hands on her snapped her back to mindfulness. No, no hands.

“Take a few deep breaths” he instructed. Now positioned in a squat opposite her.

Fauna looked up. His jaw formed a hard line. She noticed he wasn’t looking directly at her. His gaze was on something else.

“Breathe.”

Fauna tried to do what he commanded.

He placed a hand on the wall behind Fauna’s head. It was hard to focus with the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen in such a threating position. She tried to make herself shrink farther into the brick. A little distance would help.

His gazed became more focused on her. But Fauna couldn’t quite place it.

“Take a deep breath. And blow it out”

Fauna closed her eyes, inhaling and exhaling for the next few seconds. To her surprise the dizziness began to subside. He removed his hand and draped them both loosely over his knees.

“Name?” he said. Fauna had high hopes that perhaps he had forgotten the interrogation. She wasn’t shocked that he hadn’t.

“Fauna.” She swallowed hard as embarrassment flooded her at the faltering of her voice. His head tilted.

“Fauna.” He repeated in approval. “Good.” His hands moved, Fauna noticed slower than before, to her upper arms, just below her shoulders. He pulled her up, encouraging her to stand. She followed his lead and used the brick wall to steady herself.

He didn’t relinquish any of the space between them but lowered his hands to his sides. Fauna was thankful his hands were no longer touching her.

“Why were you at Grayson Shipping tonight Fauna?”

The use of her name was more intimidating than comforting. Again, she didn’t want to answer him. Her hesitation gave her away.

“Fauna.” He took a small step, closing the already very small space between them. “You’re thinking about lying… don’t”

Fauna wished she could disappear.

“it…it’s where I wor… I work.”

Another head tilt let Fauna know he was considering her answer.   

His head came back up. “Quit” he demanded.

Fauna’s heart sank. He was demanding the one thing she couldn’t give.

“You must know what kind of people you work for.”

Ashamed, her eyes lowered to the ground. Her heart jumping wildly. She nodded.

“Quit.” He demanded again. “Do you understand Fauna?”

She didn’t know how to answer. She couldn’t quit. That was not going to be possible. She starred at him. Unbelieving this whole insane thing. She had to tell him no. Once she did, what would he do to her?

His hands came back up grabbing her upper arms. She flinched at the movement, and pain radiated through them. Hands, again hands were on her. She felt like vomiting.

“Do. You. Understand?”

Tears stung her eyes. She couldn’t say she would leave, she literally couldn’t do that. His gripped tightened.

All she could do was nod her head in response.

Her knees buckled as he let go and disappeared in the shadows. She once again found herself on the ground.

Matthew

Matthew looked up from the bottom of the stairwell. He had heard her voice before. During his investigation of the premises about an hour ago. He understood from her rustling through drawers and misplaced comments to herself she was doing something she wasn’t supposed to be doing. He dismissed her, she wasn’t a threat to what he was there to do.

However, now he stood mesmerized by her form. Yes, Matthew could see. His cane and glasses were just for show. He didn’t want people to be put off by his abilities. So, he hid them. He didn’t want them to ask questions. Especially now. It was even more important he kept up with the blind charade.  But he didn’t see like everyone else. Flames licked at every form he came across. They formed the images he saw. His world was on fire.

But when he sensed her, he saw something else entirely. Yes, fire swirled all around her. But her, he had never experienced anything like it. He was unable rip himself away from her.

He could only explain it as diamonds in the night sky sparkling a bright shine. The shimmers alternated their levels of brightness. They cascaded and swirled within and around her creating and defining her small frame.

Her heart beat was erratic, she was frightened, and that only grew stronger the longer she stood there.

Suddenly Matthew was hit hard, breath flew from his lungs as he hit the floor. He landed a few elbows to the face of the man on top of him and tossed him to the side. He looked to the top of the stairs. The girl was gone. He stretched his senses. There. She wasn’t far.

Following her wasn’t hard. As he drew closer, she flooded his senses. Which was the reason why he missed the large armored man invading the space.

The man was considerably larger that Matthew. That’s good. He thought, a smirk forming across his face. I like a challenge.

Then Fauna’s body flew directly at him.

--- 

Matthew perched high on a building rooftop. He no longer could see the bright shimmer she emitted. However, he could still hear her heavy footsteps as she walked. Her heart still beat wildly in fear.

His business with Grayson could wait. He came to make sure what he saw was real. After the accident when he realized his senses where getting stronger, the world began to take shape. It has been the same ever since. Until now, he thought as he peered down at the shimmering figure.

He had mixed feeling about what exactly to do with her. She couldn’t handle herself, she didn’t know anything about fighting or defending herself. That was obvious. He thought.

As he stood there questioning her, he struggled to determine whether she was telling him the truth or lying. It took him longer. She did something to him. She overwhelmed his senses just like in the office building of Grayson Shipping. It was hard to concentrate, and it got worse the closer he came to her.

She was lying about her name. Or at least that’s what he could conclude from her wildly beating heart. His dilemma was that he couldn’t treat her like the usual criminals he came across. At his estimate he had at least seventy pounds and six inches on her.

He needed to know why she was there. Who was she? She was resisting him, lying, which meant she had something to hide. After the second lie he grabbed her arm, twisting her around to face the brick. To get her to talk he’d exude a little extra pressure and threaten pain to her extremities.

Hurting her was never his intention, but she was frightened, too frightened, and began to panic and hyperventilate.

Then something happened. The hair on his neck and arms stood straight. Fauna’s body began vibrating and the cascades of shimmering swirls intensified. Matthew stretched his senses, trying to grasp what was happening to her body.

The electricity in the air heightened. The molecules surrounding them seemed to bend and break, sending a shock through his body. For a moment Matthew couldn’t sense anything around him. He was in darkness.

“What the—” He let go as his hands flew up in defense. As quickly as he lost his abilities, he regained them. Fauna fell. The light emitting from her form dulled. Matthew instinctively reach for her, not wanting to lose that unique vision.

He needed to calm her down. Whatever was happening to her was hurting her.

He took a moment to gather his thoughts and placed a hand on the wall to balance himself. Talk her through it. Calm her down. He commanded his self.

 After he coached her through some breaths, she began to cooperate with him and gave in.

Fauna. Her name is fitting and somehow…familiar. He thought, rolling her name over and over his mind. He couldn’t place her, but he knew he was missing something. Once her breathing returned to normal, she began to brighten back up. Matthew sat across from her in wonder.

Threatening her was the only thing he could think to do after hearing she worked for Grayson Shipping. Not only that she knew what kind of business they truly did. At the least, she was an accessory. He couldn’t allow that.

Scaring her enough to quit her job was something he could do. Maybe then she can stay out of trouble. He’d give her a chance to change before turning her over to the law. 

Chapter Text

It's A Small World

Fauna

There was no sleeping for Fauna the rest of the night. She sat on her couch staring at her blank walls. Any moment they would come for her. There was no way she had gotten away with not being recognized. The guard that had kicked her in the stomach and then tried to crush in her skull would give up her name. Now, she was just waiting. They would come and drag her away. No one could stop them. No one would even try.

How stupid could you be?! She thought. Everything’s ruin. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. She couldn’t remember when they began. They, now, wouldn’t stop. Her plan was to simply go in and get something, anything to hold over their head. Her life was over, she knew that. She would not be able to escape. She would live the rest of her life, how ever long that might be, trapped in that place. That was okay, she knew that. She accepted it.

She knew what she was getting into when she asked for her employer’s help. Well, she mostly, knew. She didn’t realize it would be this extreme. The things this company did, she didn’t imagine. Probably because she wasn’t evil, heartless, or soulless like everyone else at that place.

Once she realized she wasn’t going to be able to survive she decided she had to get leverage. Something to keep the payments to the Drax Corp going long after her death.

Her chance was gone, taken from her. Daredevil. She scowled. If it wasn’t for him showing up when he did. Perhaps she would have succeeded tonight. She would have the information she needed. Now, because of him and the commotion he caused, she had nothing. Because of him, she sat here waiting for them to come, drag her away. Do their worst. They would probably torture, thinking she was working with him.

Even if by some miracle she wasn’t recognized, and the company wouldn’t be breaking down her door any moment, what would she do about Daredevil? She was now on his radar. He wants her to quit her job. He didn’t even give her the chance to explain anything. The rumors she’s heard about him ranged from everything to savior, to torturer, to beheadings. How real was his threat, she wondered? Judging by how her arm felt he didn’t have a problem hurting her, especially if he thought she was some kind of criminal. Would he take the time to check on me? If Daredevil is focused on the nightly business of Grayson Shipping it was probably only a matter of time before she ran in to him again.

No. She thought. She didn’t have much to do with that part of Grayson. If she stayed away past normal business hours, he’d never know she was there. After all, he only comes out at night. Fauna concluded. She was rarely out at night. This night just happened to be a fluke.

I’m not a criminal. He has no reason to bother me. I shouldn’t have any trouble, right? Somehow, she couldn’t believe it. If she didn’t make it on his enemy list, he was definitely on hers.

Because of him. She thought as the anger bubbled. My mother… More tears fell. She wouldn’t say it. She tried to put it out of her mind, but it was too hard. The image of her mother coughing up all that blood came flooding back. It made Fauna shrink in to herself. She couldn’t handle going through that again. She held her throbbing abdomen. And her head hurt. She lowered her head into her hands. She wished she had some pain killers. Her budget didn’t allow for such luxuries.

From her clock on the kitchen counter she heard the seconds ticking away, then the minutes. After a while Fauna realized hours had gone by.

A ding came from beside her, startling her.  It was her phone. It read 4:45 am. It was from her employer? Anger and hate flooded her system at the thought of him. When her mind went back to the night’s activities her heart sank. She clicked on the message:

avoid the offices today

She stared at the message, reading and rereading it again and again. Was this a good thing or bad thing? She wondered. What did it mean? She was stunned, with her employer there was no telling what he meant. There was no way he would want her to stay home if he thought she knew something.

Did he plan to have me killed on the street, make it look like a mugging?

Or maybe at home and make it look like a burglary?

No, she concluded. I know him. He would want to see me suffer in front of him. He would want to watch, that’s the kind of man he was.

She continued to sit and stare. What am I going to do? She leaned back feeling hopeless and slipped in to darkness.

------

Only two hours of sleep before the light and busy street noise streamed through Fauna’s living room window. She shot to her feet.

“It’s late!” She cried, heart racing at the thought of what her punishment would be today. She began racing toward her bedroom but stopped herself. The events of last night came flooding back. She remembered the text her employer sent. Her hand came up and covered her chest at the location of her heart. She let out a breath trying to calm herself. She sat back down. Her sadness returning. She was still unsure of what to do. There was nothing much she could do.

She let out a puff of air, blowing her long bangs from her eyes.  It doesn’t matter what happens now. Fauna imagined being stuck between a rock and a hard place. She had a new respect for that phrase.

Even if she happened to escape Grayson, which would never happen, she would have to fend off Daredevil. “I suspect that would be impossible as well.” She decided.

 If this was the end she would at least go for a visit. Since she supposedly had the day off, she would go to the one person she felt safe with. The one person that made her smile. The one person that didn’t frighten or trap her. Even here, at her apartment…well not hers, it was Grayson’s, was not a place she liked to stay. This place was cold and suffocating. It had two small rooms. The first room, the kitchen and living room, wasn’t much bigger than a standard size bedroom. There was only one window, a single pane, adjacent from the kitchen area. Sadly, it was the only view to the outside. Even that was blocked by the fire escape.

The second room made up her bedroom and bathroom. Fauna believed it must have once been a walk-in closet. She was only allowed the simplest furniture. Pictures around or hung on the wall were forbidden. She wasn’t allowed a television, not even a radio. Unfortunately, her flip phone, which was also not hers and was sure it was from 1998, didn’t offer any form of entertainment or comfort.

Fauna spent as little time in this place as possible. During her days off, which were far and few in between she went for a visit or a walk around the city. Fauna loves being outdoors, especially when the sun was shining. Nowadays the sun just didn’t seem to shine as bright. Too many clouds blocked its view. Most nights if the weather allowed, she was on the roof enjoying the night sky. She loved to fall asleep looking at the stars. It may seem like a small thing, but the fresh air made her feel free and limitless.

She looked at her wardrobe, which hung on a short wire in the corner of her bedroom. She couldn’t go in her normal work wear. Earlier she had taken a quick glace out the window and it seemed like it would be a warm day. She needed to feel the sun on her skin today, so she chose a blue, strapped sun dress the a daisey print, it fell just above her knees. She slipped into her white flats as she headed out the door.

“Fauna” came a familiar voice as she locked her door. It was Mrs. Carmichael. Her lovely, sweet old lady, next door neighbor. Fauna deflated a little. Most of the time she gets stuck in awkward conversations with the 70 something year old and today she just wanted to get away.

“Could you be a dear and help me get the stupid door open. The lock won’t turn.” She complained wiggling her keys in the lock.

“Sure Mrs. Carmichael.” Fauna took the keys from her. And began to she luck with the lock. She quietly prayer she could open it quickly. To her amazement the door popped open. “There you go.” She smiled sending a quiet thank you to the heavens.

“Oh, thank you.” She returned the smile. “Would you like to come in for some tea?”

“No thank you Mrs. Carmichael, I’m headed out.”

“Oh, that’s a shame, Where to dear?”

Fauna hated answering questions about her agenda. Her hesitation must have been noticeable.

“I’m sorry dear, I don’t mean to pry.” She grabbed her bags and waddled into her apartment. “You know I’m just an old lady, gotta find my entertainment somewhere.”

Fauna offered her a smile as the old lady turned to face her again. “Oh, that’s okay. I’m just off to visit my mother.”

“That’s wonderful dear, you know when I was a little girl my mother—”

Oh no, thought Fauna. Every time Mrs. Carmichael starts off a sentence like that it’s never good and usually keeps her there for an hour and ends with some point that Fauna needed a man in her life to fulfill some kind of purpose. All she wanted to do was leave.

“—had this boyfriend, he had this big—”

“I’m sorry” Fauna interrupted. “I am running late this morning. I’ve really gotta go.” She said backing away toward the elevator. As she stepped in, she could still hear Mrs. Carmichael.

“Now, they say a man with big—”

Fauna let out a breath waiting for the doors to close, very thankful she didn’t hear the end of that story.  

It took roughly 30 minutes to walk the distance between her apartment and her mother.

“Mom?” She yelled as she opened the front door. “It’s just me.”

“Hey, honey. I’m in the kitchen.”

As Fauna walked through the hallway, she could hear a man’s voice flowing from the kitchen.

“Alright, Mrs. Bosk,” The voice said as Fauna entered through the doorway. “If you will just—” He paused when he glanced up at Fauna. “Hello” A smile crept across his face.

“Hi” Fauna offered a weak smile. She didn’t like a stranger being in her mother’s house.

“Fauna” said her mother, motioning her to sit down at the round table with the two of them. “You’re just in time, the tea is almost finished.”

Fauna’s tongue danced at the thought of her mother’s tea. She sat down as her mother stood and turned to the tea pot on the stove. She clanged some dishes around looking for cups. Fauna took her eyes from her mother and looked back to the man sitting across the table from her. Another smile slithered across his face when their eyes met. It made Fauna uncomfortable.

A cup was placed in front of her with another clang. Fauna looked up and smiled a silent thank you.

“Fauna, this Mr. Androle” her mother sat back down. “He’s from Anderson and Associates.”

“Oh” Fauna’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Why was her mother meeting with a lawyer?

“Mr. Androle is here because—”

“Mrs. Bosk, I would recommend that we continue in private”

Fauna was a bit insulted by his suggestion.

“Oh, that’s okay” Her mother smiled. Fauna’s heart melted. Her mother always had the warmest smile. “This is my daughter. I will be discussing this with her anyway.”

Mr. Androle smiled, “of course.” Turning back to Fauna.

“Well, we’re finishing up anyway.” He said as he shuffled some papers back in front of my mother. “Just sign here, and everything will be finalized.” He sat a pen down as he clicked it open.

Louisa picked it up.

“Mom?” Fauna began putting her hand out toward the papers, hoping to cause some hesitation.  She was sure she heard a groan as Mr. Androle sat back in his chair. “What exactly is going on here?”

“Well, I was going to surprise you, and take you to a fancy dinner.” She smiled. “Then I thought we could—”

“Mom, just tell me what’s happening here.”

“Macfinn Distribution is offering me a large amount of money because of my condition.”

Fauna sat back trying to comprehend what exactly is happening.

“Like I was saying, I thought we would celebrate by going out to dinner and then maybe we could take a small trip out West. We’ve always wanted to see the Grand Canyon –” 

Her Mom continued to talk about their immediate future, but all Fauna could think of asking why. Ever since she’s been immersed in the world of Grayson, she’s learned a few things about how bad and manipulative people can really be.

“—Can you afford the time off from your studies to go?”

“Wait… Mom. Exactly how much money are they offering?”

Her mom shifted through the papers, then handed her a smaller note. Fauna’s eye’s widened in response.

“As you can see it’s very generous.” Mr. Androle suggested. Fauna’s eyes climbed to his from the paper and saw another one of those creepy smiles.

Fauna shook her head. “Did you ask why they’re giving you this?” She looked back to the paper.

“Well… no. They just want to help me out. Afterall, I worked for them since I was sixteen.”

“Mom, nobody just helps people out these days.” She crumpled the paper in her hand, not meaning to. She was just so frustrated.

She turned back to Mr. Androle. “Why does Macfinn want to do this?”

His jaw was clinching. “Like your mother said, she’s worked for the company for a long time. They want to see she’s taken care of for a while.”

“No, I’m not buying that.”

“Honey—” Her mom began.

“No, mom” Fauna grabbed the pen. “You’re not signing this. What are her other options?” She turned back to the lawyer.

“Excuse me?” Mr. Androle’s eyebrows flew up his forehead.

“I mean what else can we do?” Fauna looked back to her mother and felt a pang of guilt. Louisa’s excited state had deflated. “From what her doctor said…”

“Fauna –”

“No, Mom. Macfinn could very well be the reason you ended up this way. All those chemicals you were around.” Fauna sat up closer to Louisa. “Think about it, I mean, you even said it yourself.”

Silence momentarily filled the room. Fauna and Louisa stared at each other. Fauna wished her mother could hear her silent apologies. Apologies for everything, being rude and interrupting her, not visiting as often as she used to, and not letting her sign that paper. That money could certainly help, but it wasn’t significant enough to make a lasting impact. Sure, she had no idea how long her mother had left. As long as she kept up with the treatment from Drax Corp. Her mother should be fine.

The money Macfinn was offering wasn’t enough. They needed more. Her mom lowered her head. Fauna took that as a sign of defeat. She wasn’t going to sign.

“Well, Mr. Androle?”  Her mother lifted her head up. “Looks like I won’t be signing.

“Mrs. Bock, it would be in your best interest to sign.”

“What?” asked Fauna. “Aren’t you supposed to do what we ask, support our decision”

“I think you have the wrong idea here, Fauna.” She didn’t like the way he played her name on his tongue.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“I’m not your mother’s lawyer.”

Fauna, confused, looked to her mother. Louisa gave her a shrug. Oh, mom. She thought in frustration.

“Who’s lawyer, are you? What’s the next step?”

“I’m not at liberty to say.”

“Wha—what does that mean?” Fauna began to get angry.

“Look, I think you should sign the papers” he pushed another pen toward her mother.

“No!” Fauna grabbed it up. “What happens if we don’t?”

The man stayed silent for a moment, staring at Fauna.

“Who is doing this, who sent you?” She questioned.

“I’m not at liberty to say.” He said. “Attorney-Client privilege prevents me from disclosing any information.”

 “Attorney- Client?” questioned Fauna.  

“I understand your situation; these people are powerful.” He brought up his hands and placed them flat on the table. Was he threatening us, wondered Fauna. And what is attorney-client privilege?

“If you don’t sign…” he stopped himself. “I can assure you the best thing to do is take the money.”

“Who says?” Fauna asked again. But he stayed silent.

Louisa stood, her chair scooted back in response, making a squeaking noise. “My daughter’s right. We need to look in to this in more detail. You should leave.” Her mother looked strong. Fauna felt proud seeing her mother like that. He gathered the papers and put them inside his briefcase She followed their conversation as Louisa led the man down the hall.

“It’s my professional opinion you’re making a mistake.” She heard the front door close and lock. What was going to happen now? A bus fall on my head? I kill somebody? She wondered. Is there anything else that could go wrong in my life?

Matthew

Matthew stood on the rooftop of his apartment building listening for any other signs of criminal activity that he could involve himself in. The air was crisp and cool. He felt rejuvenated when he drew in a deep breath to relax and listen. When he could relax and focus, he was able to stretch his senses even farther.

Satisfied with the lack of activity, he descended the stairs into his living room and slipped the mask off his head. The night had not been as successful as he thought it would be. Grayson Shipping has been involved in some questionable activity for a while. He just hasn’t had the time to deal with them while taking down Fisk and his empire. Now, Wilson Fisk is behind bars, some of his competition as risen to new heights. A few have been trying to become the new Fisk. The people behind Grayson Shipping is one of them.

That’s not going to happen, Matthew decided. He would make sure no one like Wilson Fisk would ever come to power again. He went to Grayson to scope the place out. Look around. Before he knew it, guards were swarming him. How they realized he was there, he was unsure. Then, she was there. His curiosity got the better of him and he lost focus.

There, with her in the dark alleyway, he was unprepared. Intimidating people and hurting them was a part of his alter ego. Dealing with men was easy. He could beat them, torture them, and break them until he was satisfied. Something inside even enjoyed the thrill, though he tried to deny it. Women were more difficult. Threating and becoming physical with someone much smaller, fragile, and weaker was something he was not keen to do. Fortunately, he’s not come across many in this line of work. He couldn’t just punch or break bones if they didn’t talk. He wouldn’t.

She kept lying to him. He had never seen or felt anything like her. Fauna was her name. He had her in his grasp trying to question her without hurting her and being unsuccessful. Guilt and shame swept over his emotions. He had needed answers from her. He thought a little more pressure would get her to talk. She was scared, so scared. Another pang on guilt pulled at his consciousness. His skin was still buzzing. He couldn’t explain what had happened in the alley way. One moment he had her, the next he felt like he’d been shocked with a bolt of electricity. It must have been a coincidence.

He splashed soapy water on his face. Stinging pain throbbed the left side of his face, making him wince. He hadn’t noticed the cut from his temple to his jaw line. The blood streamed down his neck. Another visible reminder for people to think he’s just a helpless blind man that may or may not be an alcoholic. At least this won’t scar. He thought as he dabbed away the dried blood.

Matthew only had a few hours before his alarm would be sounding for work. He lay there struggling with himself. He was exhausted, his body ached and moan for sleep. But his mind was reeling. He couldn’t get the image of Fauna out of his head. Her scent was still lingering all around him. He couldn’t place it, he couldn’t even describe it. It wasn’t like anything or anyone he has been around before. It was frustrating not knowing details. He was used to knowing the details. Where people had been, what they ate, who they had been around, whether they stopped for coffee or not.

He decided that his non-detailed read on Fauna was only because the shock of seeing her was different than he saw everyone else. Next time he’d be able to read her like a book. Those shimmers of light trailing along her figure were mesmerizing. It even took Matthew a moment to register that what he was seeing was real. She was breathing. Moving. Alive. Her heartbeat gave her away. And something else, something more he couldn’t put his finger on. He could sense it but couldn’t explain. It troubled him, not being able to solve her. He wouldn’t be seeing her again though. There wouldn’t be a next. Even if he wanted to, desired it, Matthew wouldn’t even admit that.

Matthew realized he was fixated on her again, he pushed her out of his mind, rolled over and tried to sleep.

_________________________________

Two hours in and his alarm clock blared. He reached to turn it off.  Almost simultaneously his phone began calling out. Really Foggy, thought Matthew. His friend often called as soon as he knew Matthew would be awake. Often, he’d talk about nothing in particular. Matthew was pretty sure Foggy was calling just to check up on him, the habit got worse after Foggy found out how Matthew spent his nights.

“Hello” Matthew said as he tapped the screen. Trying to focus and shake the sleep off.

“Hey Buddy!” Foggy’s familiar morning tone sounded extra lively. Matthew wondered what he was up to. “You alive? Well… I guess if you weren’t this would be a pretty rad conversation.”

“Don’t worry, Foggy. I’ll be there today.”

“Cool, cool. I just wanted to make sure you’re not laying in a gutter somewhere, or on a rooftop half dead.”

“I’m fine.”

“Awesome, listen… I’m headed to the police station.”

“Anything wrong?” asked Matt.

“Dude… like everything!”

For a moment Matt’s heart beat a bit faster, but quickly realized how over dramatic Foggy could be sometimes. “We got like… no clients, Matt. Our firm is going down the drain, man. Pretty soon we won’t have any lights to turn on. We can’t afford to pay the rent. The worst part is we won’t be able to pay Karen, let alone ourselves.”

A smile crossed Matthew’s face. “It’s not that dire Foggy. Not yet anyway.”

“I’m just saying, if Karen goes, just dig a hole a throw me in.”

Matthew laughed.

“I figure if I hang out there long enough, there’s bound to be someone who needs defending.”

“Well, good luck.”

“Yep. See ya.”

The phone clicked, and Matthew was left alone. He closed his eyes. Just a few more minutes. He thought. Then I’ll get up. He closed his eyes. When he opened his eyes again, it was many hours later.

“Eleven forty-two, AM” announced the automated voice on his clock after he pushed the button.

Matt jumped to his feet. Foggy won’t like this.

Twenty minutes later Matthew was walking down the hallway to their office. A strange buzzing noise filled his hears. And a heart, frightened and verging on terrified, pounded in his ears.

Matthew reached for the door knob and froze when he heard a newly familiar voice coming from the other side. He cursed himself for not tuning in from the street. Matthew’s own heart began to beat faster.

“I’m so sorry, th—this was a mistake.” The girl said. Fauna, realized Matthew.

“Well, perhaps we could try –” said Foggy, he was anxious for some reason.

“No, I’m sorry, I—I’ll tell my friend about your advice.” The door opened, and Matthew’s eyebrows shot up as cascading shimmers forming Fauna’s figure began backing into him.

Knowing Karen was near, and he was supposed to be blind, Matthew forced himself to stay put as Fauna’s body collided with his. The energy around them pulsated when his skin brushed against hers. For the second time in less than twelve hours Matthew had her in his grasp as she spun and gripped his forearms. He grabbed her elbows in return. And they stumble into each other. His senses went haywire and his hair stood up.

“Oh” Fauna called out. She pushed away from him as if Matthew was trying to attack her. He let go and stepped back, feeling as if she was on the verge of trying to strike him. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” she said.

Her face heated, and eyes widened when she realized he was a blind man. “Oh my. You’re blind!” Her hands came up and covered her mouth. “Great, I knocked over a blind man. How much worse can things get?” she whispered in a soft voice, he was sure only he could hear her.

“This is Matt, he’s the Murdock portion of Nelson and Murdock.” Foggy said, jumping out through the office entryway before Matthew could respond.

“Mr. Murdock, I’m so, so sor—” Fauna's words abruptly ended as he noticed the location her eyes became fixed on. Matthew could sense her panic rise. The catch in her breath and the hard swallow in her throat. He felt the vibration from her skin as she began to quiver. She stared at the cut on the left side of his face. Dread struck him when he realized what she must be thinking.

“I—I’m a – I got to um… go” she stammered as she backed toward the exit.

Matthew stood, not moving as different scenarios ran through his head of what could happen now that she could identify him. Before he realized Fauna was gone and his name was being called.

“Matt!” yelled Foggy. “You okay?” His friend was concerned. Matthew realized he wasn’t interacting much to the situation. He hadn’t even said one word.

“I forgot something, I’ll be back.” Matthew turned on his heel, stretched his cane in front of him and began following Fauna.

A sigh from his friend told Matthew he’d have explain to Foggy later and probably add another lie where Karen was concerned.

Chapter Text

Lions, Tigers and Lawyers

Fauna

Fauna left her mother’s house not long after Mr. Androle. Confused and frustrated she began walking. She didn’t care which direction she was headed, just as long as she didn’t have to go back to her apartment. Besides, Fauna did her best thinking when she walked. Even though her life was headed toward numerous disasters, all she could think about was the fact that MacFinn Distribution wanted to buy her mother off.

The threatening tone of Mr. Androle told Fauna they were hiding something.  Perhaps they could reach some other kind of agreement, Fauna thought. One that would fix issues like Drax and Grayson. Could it be possible?

Her mind drifted back to that moment when she begged the doctor for something to try on her mother, anything at all to stop the cancer from killing her. She closed her eyes, the image of the business card being slid across the desk was as clear now as it was then. 

When she lifted the card up it felt heavy.  The card only had a name and address listed on it. 

Drax Corp.

23rd and 7th

She now knew what that heaviness meant. Accepting the Drax Corps help meant putting the world on her shoulders. She had to go to her father for the money and she signed away her freedom for it. It was the opportunity he had been waiting for. 

Her mind snapped back to the present. Her mother worked her entire life for MacFinn. It had to count for something, anything. 

Mr. Androle was not out to help her mother. That was clearly evident. She didn’t know much about laws, lawyers, privileges and contracts. What could she do alone? She certainly can’t afford help. Thoughts, ideas and possibilities dominated her mind as Fauna put one foot in front of the other, pounding the sidewalk, but with each step she became more and more frustrated.

Her situation was hopeless. Grayson wouldn’t allow it. She owed him too much, not to mention all the things she had seen and heard. Fauna felt the sun pelting down on her. Her day off was half over already. She sighed, wishing otherwise. She came to a four-story building and leaned against the red brick to adjust her shoe. As she bent down a metal sign caught her eye.

Nelson & Murdock 

Attorneys at Law

Well, that’d be nice, Fauna thought. She wished more than anything she had someone she could talk to and tell everything to. She stood up and began walking when another small sign caught her eye. It was handwritten and taped to the window.

Free consultation

Nelson & Murdock

See Karen Inside

Fauna paused, staring at the note. Mr. Androle’s word’s re-entering her thoughts, “ attorney-client privilege.”

MacFinn had attorney’s, no doubt much better than these guys. She turned to leave, but stopped and turned back. Her thoughts continued to roll around in her head. It was free, what harm could be done?  She reached for the doork. A tall, slender woman opened the door a few seconds after Fauna had knocked. 

“Hello,” the woman beamed a smile. “I’m Karen. Can I help you?”

“Um,” Fauna fidgeted nervously. “I saw the sign… a free consultation?” 

“Absolutely, come in!” Karen stepped to the side and ushered Fauna to a plain room, with only a table and chairs inside. 

“Please sit.” Karen instructed, her smile never fading. “Can I get you anything? Coffee, muffin --”

Fauna’s stomach lurched at the thought of food. “Yes, please.” She said with a little too much enthusiasm. 

Once Karen closed the door behind her, Fauna's concerns and fears shot through the roof. She could have planned this better. What was she going to say? She couldn’t say too much. She didn’t know these people very well. For all she knew they could be greedy and corrupt like most people. She looked around and disregarded that last thought. If they were greedy and took bribes on cases, Fauna figured they have much better office decor. As well as a much better location. In any case she wasn’t going to take any chances, she’d leave as much detail out as possible. 

The door opened to Karen smiling at her and holding two cups and a tray of muffins. Behind her a man appeared, wearing a suit and a friendly smile. His blonde shaggy hair brushed against his shoulders. He was good looking but not handsome. His teddy bear looks told Fauna he’d make any woman very happy. 

“Hello, I’m Foggy Nelson.” He reached out his hand to Fauna.

Fauna offered him a quick smile, accepting his offer of a handshake. “Hello.” 

“I’m sorry, I’m still getting used to this. I didn’t get your name.” Karen said as the two took their seats. Karen sat at one end of the table, while Foggy sat across from Fauna.

“Oh, um, Ff--lora.” Fauna quickly changed her name, “Flora.” She needed to be as cautious as possible. “Sorry, I’m a little nervous.” She admitted. 

“That’s okay.” Foggy said, “it’s normal.” He held up his palm to her, a pen intertwined in his fingers. “Let’s just begin with why you’re here.”

“Okay,” Fauna shifted in her seat. “Well, I have a friend.”

Fauna’s eyes darted between the two individual’s as both nodded their heads in unison. 

“Before I go on, what exactly is attorney-client privilege?” She took a muffin and began gobbling it down.

Karen and Foggy quickly looked at each other.

Foggy cleared his throat, “well, it’s a way a client, say… you, could disclose information to the attorney, me, without fear of legal consequences.”

“So… I could say I murdered someone and you couldn’t tell anyone.” Fauna asked.

“Basically, yeah.” Foggy replied.

Karen sat up a little straighter and leaned forward. “Was it self defense?”

“Oh, well no. No!” Fauna’s cheeks flushed with color. “No, I didn’t murder anyone. I just wanted to make sure I understood.”

“Whatever you tell us, Fauna. It doesn’t leave this room.” Foggy reassured her. 

“My Friend, I’m not sure how to help him.” Of course Fauna was talking about herself, but thought it best to pretend she wasn’t attached to the situation. So she changed her name, referred to herself as a friend and changed genders. She hoped that it was convincing and made a mental note to keep up with all those changes, otherwise it was going to get very complicated.

“Is he injured?” Karen asked.

“Oh, no.” Fauna quickly answered. “Um, he got himself involved with a company.”

They nodded again, encouraging her to continue. 

“He got sick and had to quit, and now this company wants to buy him off.” She explained mashing together her’s and her mother’s situations. “When he refused their offer, the attorney threatened him.”

“Okay, go on.” Foggy replied.

Fauna swallowed the lump in her throat. “The company isn’t---.”

“Are they involved with illegal dealings?” Foggy interrupted. 

“Um, I think so.” Fauna answered. 

“Would your friend be willing to testify against this… company?” Foggy asked. 

Testify? Thought Fauna. She hadn’t considered that. Fear rose and her heart began pounding. Grayson had their hands in a lot of pockets, including judges.

“I’m not sure.” Fauna answered. “What would happen?”

“He’d go into protective custody.” Foggy answered.

Fauna knew what that meant. That meant her life would be in the hands of people who may or may not be on the payroll of the city’s biggest crime bosses. In the aftermath of Wilson Fisk, the city took down a lot of corrupt officials. It was on the news for weeks, the trails took even longer. Investigators took down one right after the other. 

It was impossible to know for sure if all of them were arrested. Even some, supposedly innocent, officials got caught in the crossfire. Once the nightly News got through their careers would never recover. And what would happen to her mother? Suddenly Fauna realized even if she wanted to testify, she’d never be able to.

“What about his family?” She asked.

“They could go as well.” Karen answered.

If she and her mother went into protective custody and she testified, the money going toward her mother’s experimental medications would end. Her mother’s cancer could return. Whether they were experimental or not, they were working, she wasn’t going to watch her mother die again. She couldn’t take that chance.

Fauna stood. The chair raked loudly across the floor. “Thank you both for your time, but I must be going.”

As Fauna headed for the door Foggy rushed in front of her. “Flora, wait! If there’s anything else, we can help you. Protect you.” Fauna realized he was referring to her in the situation. She guessed the whole ‘my friend’s in trouble’ act had been played too many times before and they saw right through it. 

Fauna looked up into the man’s kind eyes. He was sincere, but unfortunately it was her she was worried about. And no matter what promises he made the wrath of cancer was out of his abilities. She smiled. 

“Flora, please. Let us help.” Karen begged. “This place doesn't look like much but they helped me and they can help you too.” 

“I’m so sorry, th—this was a mistake.” Fauna said. 

“Well, perhaps we could try –” said Foggy, he was anxious for some reason.

“No, I’m sorry, I—I’ll tell my friend about your advice.” She interrupted, she didn’t want to hear any more. She didn’t have to. If she wanted to keep her mother alive and safe, she’d have to figure something else out. She opened the door to leave and in her haste slammed hard into a warm body behind her. 

Fauna stumbled, then steadied herself by grabbing his forearms. She felt his muscles rippling under her grip as he balanced them both.  Then she went still, the noise in her ear silenced as she stared hard at the cut on his face. Images of the night before began sending panicked signals through her body. The way the man known as Daredevil held her, threatening her. The eyeless mask covering his face was terrifying. The blood trickling down his neck sent shivers down her spine. 

She closed her eyes for a moment, pushing the images away. Get a grip, Fauna, she told herself, the last thing you want is to start having PTSD. 

“I—I’m a – I got to um… go” Fauna stammered as she made her way to the exit.

Matthew

Matthew caught up with Fauna a few blocks later. She had just entered the park. After a few minutes of walking the cemented path she found a bench and sat down. Matthew took a spot by a tree behind her. He was conflicted as to what to do. Just as he was the night before. 

He had to make sure she wasn’t going to the police, or worse her employer and tell them everything she knew about him.  If his secret was known he wasn’t the only one at risk. His friends and their families would be ruined. And not just ruined. They’d be in danger. Every enemy he made would be after them, thinking they could get to him, and they would be right. He had to protect them. He had nothing to lose, not much anyway. But Foggy and Karen. They had everything. 

What could he do? How would he stop her? How far would he have to go? He debated his choices as he watched her. The slight breeze swirled strands of her hair around her shoulders. She shimmered a bright mesmerizing light while everything else around him was dark and on fire. She stared up at the sky, taking in deep breaths. Her heartbeat was a little fast. It could have been from the brisk walk to the park. Or it could be she’s about to do something that has her adrenaline and nerves high, like about to walk in the police station and announce his identity to everyone. Or give details to her Grayson about him, his work and friends. 

What was she anxious about, he asked himself. The last time her emotions were overflowing the shimmers swirled through her body erratically at high speeds. Right now they were calm. He knelt against the tree and kept his senses trained on her. Minutes ticked by, then hours. 

Just as Matthew decided to approach her, well kidnap her, the church bell rang a single toll to signal the half hour. Matthew snapped at attention when Fauna jumped to her feet and took a mad dash for the park entrance. He followed and as soon as he could, he ducked into one of the alley ways. He would be faster if he could drop the poor blind man act. He took to the roof tops, he would get ahead of her that way. He had to stop her before she made it to the police station or to her boss. She must have been sitting there trying to decide what she should do. In either case Matthew wasn’t going to let her get far.  

Kidnapping was not ideal. But he could hold her until he found something that mattered to her. Scare her into thinking he’d hurt them if she told anyone about who he was. He would never act on it of course, but she didn’t have to know that. And though kidnapping was illegal, in the scheme of things, it was the least of his worries with all the other laws he’d broken. 

As he jumped from one roof top to another he called Foggy on his cell. 

“Yo Matt, what was up with you earlier?”

“No time now to explain, the girl that was in the office earlier. I want everything she said and did in a file waiting for me. Can you ask Karen to do that?”

“Which one? The one you bumped into and then took off after? I mean I’m assuming that’s why you left, because of her.”

“Yeah, that one. I gotta go.” Matthew hung up before he heard another word from Foggy. 

He positioned himself at the edge of the roof and allowed himself to fall parallel to the building, catching the fire escape. He pushed himself against it and jumped horizontally, turning his body 160 degrees, to the neighboring building. He caught a drain pipe and slid to the cemented alley floor. The sound of his shoes echoed. He straightened himself and listened to make sure no one else inhabited the alley. The evening was beginning to set. The alley way was growing dark, perfect for what he was about to do.

He heard Fauna approaching. He began reaching out to grab her. Suddenly a car screeched its brakes, came up onto the sidewalk and stopped in front of her.  Matthew drew back his hand as a man jumped out of the car. 

“Hello Fauna.” Said the man, he towered over her. Matthew heard Fauna’s heart beat skyrocket. She was afraid, very afraid. Her small feet retreated a few steps. 

“Your father wishes to speak with you.” The man said. He stepped aside and motioned inside the car. Despite her fear, she obeyed and the car sped off, leaving Matthew behind.

He cursed the now exhaust filled air. He’d never be able to follow them. It wasn’t dark enough yet, and though he was quite skilled and very fast he’d never be able to catch up to them. And since he had no idea who her father was or where he lived he was left behind. 

Panic filled him. How would he get to her before she had the chance to reveal him, he thought. He’d have to stake out Grayson Shipping if he wanted to find her again. He returned home to suit up for the night. It was the only thing he could do. 

Chapter Text

Introductions II

Fauna

The car sped through the streets and weaved in and out of traffic. Fauna sat silently, her arms and legs feeling numb. This is it, she thought. This is what she feared. Her father knew of her after-hour adventure, not to mention that it coincided with the Daredevil’s visit. Grayson and his partners would punish her for her betrayal. She scolded herself. How could she have been so stupid to allow herself to mess everything up.  All she had to do was keep her head down, mind her own business and do what her father wanted. 

Sure it wasn’t the life she dreamed or the best way to live. But she’d be alive and so would her mother. 

“So Fauna, have you thought about my proposal?” 

The tall, broad shouldered man next to her was Ace. Her father’s right hand man. His daytime persona was all business. He was always clothed in fine suits and italian leather shoes. However, at night he shed that skin like a snake and became an unstoppable mercenary. Fauna had caught a glimpse of what he could do when she dropped some paperwork off at her father’s office, the broken and bloody man at Ace’s feet pleaded for his life. Fauna literally had to bite her tongue and made a mental note never to cross him. 

Ace was dangerous, charming and cunning. Fauna often witnessed how he could persuade anyone to do anything. He had a smile that said everything a woman ever wanted to hear, but underneath it he was a killer. 

Fauna turned and looked up into his piercing gray-blue eyes. A strand of his raven hair fell across his forehead. Hints of a large tribal tattoo inched up the left side of his neck/ She wondered if he would be the one task to kill her. Did he already know and have a plan? He could do it so easily. Fauna found herself hoping he would make it quick.

The proposal he spoke of was about a date. He wanted to take her to dinner, and probably much more than that. He promised he could get her father to agree to let her stay out late and possibly even have the following day off without being penalized. 

But the only thing she could think about was all the horrible things this man did for her father. The people he’s killed probably number in the hundreds. The thought of going on a date with him turned her stomach. 

“No, I haven’t.” Fauna answered. “I didn’t need to. I told you I’m not interested in dating someone from work.” She pulled her eye’s away and stared out the window. 

“Umm.” Ace’s voice rumbled in his throat. “That’s disappointing. You’re breaking my heart.”

Fauna mentally roller her eyes, she very much doubted he had a heart. Moments later the car drove through the main gates and the shipping yard. It pulled directly in front of the main office building. Her father’s office was on the top floor, far from her own in the neighboring run-down building with constant heating and a/c issues. She was either freezing or about to suffer a heat stroke. She supposed those problems wouldn’t matter any more. Ace hoped out of the car and walked around to open her door. 

Fauna didn’t move, her legs were frozen. 

“Any time now, you’d don’t want to keep him waiting.” Ace said.

She still couldn’t, she was going to walk into this building alive and be carried out dead. She thought of her mother. She wished she could see her one last time. A tear rolled down her cheek. Ace came into her peripheral vision as he knelt down just outside the door. 

“I know you’re not very fond of your father, I understand. But it doesn’t matter.” He said in a harsh tone. “If you won’t willingly come, I’ll take great pleasure in forcing you.”

The thought of his hands on her was terrifying. Fauna shifted in the seat and Ace stood allowing her room to step out. The other two men in the car left while she followed Ace onto the elevator and up to the 11th floor. Her father’s office was just ahead and Fauna felt like turning and fleeing. Perhaps she could make it out of the building. But there was nowhere to go. It looked as though the number of guards had doubled, maybe even triple in some sections of the shipping yard. 

Like he knew what she was thinking, Ace stole a glance of her over his shoulder and knocked on the door and slid it open.

“Mr. Grayson, Fauna is here.” He announced.

He announced her arrival like she had any choice in the matter. Ace pivoted to the side and opened the door wide enough for her to slip past him. He nudged his head to motion for Fauna to move. Her legs felt like jelly, but she forced herself. 

“Sit down.” Her father’s voice sounded agitated. Fauna took the seat just across from his large oak desk. She glanced to her right and looked out the wall of windows. At least it was turning into a beautiful sunset. The brown leather of her father’s chair swiveled around and she met his eyes. He looked agitated as well. His salt and pepper hair was not in its usual slicked back style. It was messy as if he’d been running his hands through it most of the day from stress or worry. He stared back at her for a moment, then grabbed a piece of paper from his desk and studied it.

“Looks like you were dangerously close to missing curfew.” He tossed the paper back on his desk.  

Fauna opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off.

“She was just a few blocks from her apartment, she would have made it if I hadn’t picked her up.” Ace said from behind her. She fiddled nervously with her fingers and had to stop herself from turning to eye him.

“Thank you Ace, that’ll be all.” Grayson said without looking in his direction. He kept his eyes on her. She heard the door shut behind her and that familiar emptiness filled the room. Fauna and her father might as well have been a thousand miles from each other. There was no love between them, not even a hint of some kind of concern or empathy for one another. 

Fauna never knew him and if it weren’t for his money helping her mother she’d never care to. 

“We have a problem.” He declared.

Fauna swallowed hard. Her heart felt as though it was going to burst through her chest. 

“We had a break in last night.”

Fauna wondered if now would be a good time to get down on her knees and start begging. 

“It was that damn Daredevil. Apparently we’ve finally made it to his radar.” Grayson continued. “What I need to know from you is if you saw or heard anything suspicious before you left work?”

Keep your calm, Fauna coached herself, just stay calm. How was she supposed to answer him? Was it a test? Did he know she was here or didn’t he? If he didn’t know then she needed to lie, lie like crazy. 

But if he did know and she lied anyway he’d probably have her killed. Of course if she told him the truth, he’d probably have her killed. So that was a lose-lose situation. Fauna decided to take the lying route first. 

She shook her head no. Hoping and praying he really didn’t know anything about her presence last night. But Fauna couldn’t stop thinking about that guard that almost smashed her head into a mushy mess. 

He nodded. “Starting tomorrow there will be a few new rules. From now on every door has new security systems. You’ll need this.” He tossed a small object to her.

She caught it as it hit her lap. With shaking hands she turned it over. It was a badge with her name, picture and a barcode printed on it. 

“No more keys to enter the buildings. It’ll keep track of who and when someone enters a building, much like your apartment building, but much more high tech.”

She nodded her understanding.

Grayson stood, his chair rolled back against the wall and he walked over to the windows. He tucked his hands into his pant pockets as he looked out at the orange and pink sky giving way to the dark.

“I’m also changing your hours.”

Fauna snapped her head up from the badge. 

“Starting tomorrow you start at 9am and done by 6pm. Be back home at 6:30pm. On a few nights I want you back here from 8:30pm until 10pm. You are to be back home by 10:45pm on those days. For now these are the only two places you are allowed to visit.”

“What?” Fauna was confused and heartbroken. From the sounds of it she would be able to go anywhere beside work and that awful apartment. She tried to avoid that place as much as possible, always staying out until the last minute of her curfew. He called it her home, she called it her prison. Now it really was going to be her prison. 

Grayson made his way to her. 

“I can’t go to the park or visit Mom? I won’t be able to--”

Grayson backhanded her across her cheek. Fauna’s head snapped to the side at the impact. She groaned in pain and her hand shot up to her face. She panted at the sudden shock. 

“You don’t question.” He straightened himself as he towered over her and slid his hands back into his pockets. “You do what I say. Your mom and the park are privileges I allow out of the goodness of my heart. You should thank me for them.” He smiled. “Do you understand?”

Fauna nodded. 

“Good.”He sat back down in his chair. “You must understand, Fauna I’m doing this to protect you.”

She knew that was a lie. He wasn’t doing it to protect her. He was doing this to protect his company. 

“It’s just that, I’m not allow-- able to make personal calls on my cell. If I can’t visit mom she’s going to start worry about me.”

Grayson clasped his palms together at his chest. After a few long moments of silence he nodded. “You may call me once a day and make it short, no more than five minutes.”

It wasn’t what she’d hoped for, she’d rather see her mom, but at least it was something. And at least he didn’t know she wasn’t here last night and she wasn’t going to be killed. She had a lot to be grateful for at the moment. 

“Ace!” Grayson called out.

A moment later Ace came through the door. 

“She has her instructions. See her out.” 

Fauna still cupped her cheek in her hand as Ace wrapped his large hand under Fauna’s arm and pulled her to her feet. 

“Let’s go.” He said, dragging her out of the office. Fauna tried to keep up, but his longer legs moved too quickly for her shorter ones. She kept stumbling. The only thing keeping her from falling was Ace, he kept a tight grip on her arm. 

She kept stealing glances at him. His jaw kept clenching together as if he was angry. Fauna wondered if he was angry with her because she questioned Grayson, she had crossed the line. And why was he in such a hurry? 

By the time they made it to the gate Fauna’s arm throbbed. He swung her around to face him and let go. She stumbled backward toward the gate.

“Go on, get home, before it gets too late.” 

Fauna didn’t hesitate, she turned and began walking. She was thankful his hand was finally off her. She looked back as she turned the street corner. Ace was still watching her from the gate. She turned and bolted down the street.

As Fauna drew closer to her apartment she began counting down the blocks. For the first time since she moved there she was happy to go home, as her father called it. She touched her cheek. By now it must be bruising. It was tender and felt swollen. 

Only a few steps away from her building something yanked her hard into the alley way. She tried to scream but an arm wrapped around her neck and another hand clamped down over her mouth. Her cheek stung at his touch and static electricity surged through her body as it made contact with the man behind her. The tiny hairs all over her stood on end. She clawed at his arms as he dragged her farther into the alley. 

No! Fauna screamed, but since she couldn’t get a sound through her lips she could only scream inside her head. No, no, no!

The man behind her shifted his arm from around her neck to her shoulder and pushed her. For a moment his hand came off her mouth as he spun her around, but clamped down again before she could utter a scream. 

Fauna’s back hit the brick wall and her eyes went wide in fear when she realized who it was. The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen was only inches away from her. He placed his forearm against her neck and pressed down. Not enough to hurt her, not yet anyway. She pushed against him. Beating and pushing at his chest, it was hard as steel and completely unmovable.

“Did you tell them?” His growl was deep and dangerous. It cut through her like a knife. 

Fauna searched his black mask in confusion, she didn’t understand. Tell who, what? But the only thing she could think was how she couldn’t breath and once again the most feared man was standing before her. Violence and anger seeping through out him. 

“Did. You. Tell them?” He growled again. 

Fauna began shivering. She moaned a protest 

“I’m going to remove my hand from your mouth. If your voice goes above a whisper I’ll cut off your air supply. Do you understand?” 

Fauna could most definitely understand. She nodded through the little movement she had in his grip.

The man in black slowly peeled his hand away. Fauna had to clamp her lips down and force herself to comply with his demand. 

“Now, tell me. Who have you told?” His tone was less harsh than before, but still very much dangerous.

She shook her head, “I--I don’t understand.” 

Suddenly he was closer, pressing her harder into the wall.  The pressure on her throat was disorienting. She turned her palms to his forearm and frantically tried to release some of the pressure. 

“The little I know of you tells me you lie when questioned. This time I’ll warn you once, before I start breaking bones. I will know when you lie. This is something you don’t want to lie to me about.”

Thunder rolled across the sky as Fauna’s heart pounded harder. 

“You recognized me today in the office, you know who I am, where I work and who I work with. Now, tell me who have you given this information to?”

If Fauna could drop her jaw to the floor she would have. She was shocked and stupefied. She searched his face again, trying to understand where he was getting this from. How could she know who he really is? She could only see his mouth and chin. 

It only took a few seconds for Fauna to figure it out. The cut on his face, It was covered by the black mask but it was there the night before. 

The blind man at the lawyer’s office had the same cut, in the exact same place. She had been so preoccupied with everything else going on she hadn’t realized it until now. The truth would have hit her eventually, once she began rolling the day's events around in her head, it always did. 

It was perfect. A masked vigilante pretending to be a blind man by day. No one would ever expect him. This was Mr. Nelson’s partner, Matthew Murdock. Matthew Murdock was Daredevil. Fear began taking over. 

 Fauna’s breathing turned to panicked panting. The lack of oxygen sent that fear into overdrive. There was no way he’d allow her to leave this alley alive, even if she told the truth. The only thing he needed was to know if she’d told anyone who he was. Then he’d make sure everyone who did know could never tell anyone. 

Once Fauna realized what was about to happen she began pounding her fists against him, kicking him, and screaming. 

Matthew

Matthew watched in horror as Fauna searched his covered face and then realizing who he was. In his own shock he took a step back, releasing her. 

How could he have made such a mistake? She hadn’t recognized him at the office when she bumped into him. His senses seemed to be a little off around her, but he was so sure. And when he saw her being escorted out of Grayson Shipping, just as he arrived, he assumed she had told them about his identity. 

She lunged at him, swinging wildly. Fauna collided with him. Matthew had to think fast. He didn’t want to hurt her, but he had to take control of the situation, especially after he made a colossal mistake of practically blurting out his identity. 

He blocked her punch, grabbed her wrist and twisted her around. At the same time he trapped her other hand and held them firmly against her chest. His other hand came up to cover her screams. She struggled against his grip. 

He backed the two of them up to the wall of the building and slid down the wall to a seated position, forcing Fauna with him. She kicked at him so he hooked her legs under one of his. She tried to pull her hands and legs free, but he tightened his grip and pressed his leg down harder over hers.

Fauna’s heart pounded erratically and loudly in Matthew’s ears. Her breathing was out of control. She was terrified. 

“Fauna.” He said in a calm and even tone. She pressed against him, then struggled to free herself, with another burst of adrenaline surging through her at the sound of her name on his lips. Matthew pressed his hand harder against her mouth, forcing her head back against his shoulder. She was going to hurt herself. 

Thunder boomed overhead and lightning lit the sky. Matthew thought it was supposed to be clear skies tonight as rain began pelting down on them. He felt the electricity in the air, his hairs standing on end. 

He smelled and tasted the salt of her tears. “Fauna, calm down.” He instructed. “You’re hyperventilating.” She responded with small panicked sobs through his leather glove. “I need you to focus on slowing your breath.”

She tried screaming again.

“Fauna, take deep breaths through your nose.”

But it was too late, her body began reacting. As she lost consciousness her body relaxed and her grip loosened. 

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

Matthew gently laid Fauna’s limp body down on her couch. Like him, she was soaked through from the rain. Her head fell to the side, her long hair cascaded down her shoulder and to the floor. For the first time he sensed the bruise on her cheek. He slipped off his glove and ran a finger across it. 

Had he done that? No, he concluded. He would have known. That mark was caused by the back on a strong hand. He thought back to when she bumped into him in the hallway. She didn’t have it then, nor in the park.

He stood taking in his surroundings, there wasn’t much here. She didn’t have many possessions. He found that odd for a young girl. The address on her ID and the apartment fob on her keychain made the place easy to find. For a moment he thought he must have the wrong apartment, but her scent was everywhere. This was definitely where she lived. He sensed the blanket in the next room. 

After covering her he slid himself down the wall into a seated position on the floor. He noticed her lit body dimmed down as she slept. His sigh was heavy with guilt. He was now to blame for this situation, it didn’t change his plan. This girl knew who he was, he didn’t know her or trust her. 

Hell, for years he didn’t even tell his best friend. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Foggy though. It was about keeping him safe. His secret weighed heavily on his friend. It was a burden. Foggy didn’t let on to that fact, but Matthew could sense it. 

Fauna also worked for some very bad individuals. So he’d do what he’d have to, but there was a line. He just didn’t know how far he’d push that line. 

Fauna stirred, the swirls of lights brightened. Her breathing changed slightly. Matthew sensed she’d be waking soon. He realized he was going to have to approach her in a different way. Both times he’s made contact with her she’d lost control of her fear and breathing. He’d try to keep his distance this time and get a handle on this situation. 

Fauna moaned and reached up and rubbed her eyes. Matthew thought of that old saying, third time’s the charm. Hopefully that would be the case.

Chapter Text

New Arrangements

Fauna

Fauna blinked her eyes open and saw the familiar ceiling of her apartment. She felt the familiar lumps of her old stuffy couch. Had she dreamed the whole thing? She wondered, but once she realized how cold and wet she was she shot up in a panic. She whipped her head around the room, searching. It wasn’t a dream, she was too cold and her body hurt too much. She gasped when her eyes found the dark silhouette sitting in the corner of the room. 

His feet were flat on the floor and knees were up near his chest. He rested his forearms on the tops of his knees and let his hands dangled freely. His head was bowed. Half of him blended with the shadows of the dark room. The only light filtered in through her window from the street lamps below. Even in this crouched position he seemed to soak up half the space of the room.  

Fauna looked over her shoulder at the door. 

“You’ll never make it.” He said in a low voice. 

He was right, she thought. Even if she did, she couldn’t get out of the building without her fob. If she used her fob, her father would want to know why she left in the middle of the night. That explanation would lead all the way back to her little breaking and entering stunt at the office. She could run to a neighbor, but she disregarded that thought. He’d probably just kill them too, she couldn’t pull someone into this mess and put them in harm’s way.  

Feeling defeated she sat back, letting the couch envelop her as she rested her hands in her lap. 

“I’m going to ask you some questions, tell me the truth and I’ll stay as far away from you as possible.” His head came up and looked in her direction. 

She had no other choice, Fauna nodded.

“Do you believe I can tell when you’re lying?”

He, disturbingly had so far, she had no reason to doubt it now. She nodded again.

“Answer with words please.”

Did the Devil of Hell’s kitchen just ask nicely. “Yes.” She replied.

“What’s your name?”

Fauna’s eyes snapped to his position, confused. Did he have short term memory?

“I’m trying to establish a base. You’re a difficult read, Fauna. Now tell me your full name.”

She didn’t quite understand what he just said, how could he read her? Did he have some kind of device? 

“Fauna Grace.”

“How old are you, Fauna?”

“Nineteen.” Her voice trembled. 

“Are you sentimental?”

Confused again, she didn’t understand why that was important. “I don’t know, I guess.”

“You have no pictures on the walls.”

She looked around at her drab, ugly apartment. She didn’t really want to acknowledge that question. She would hang some if she was allowed to, but her father forbade it.

“I’m not allowed to.” She answered hoping he’d chalk that up to just being a rule of the building. Which was technically true, but only in her case. She had once been in Mrs. Carmichael’s apartment. Old pictures, paintings and knickknacks covered the walls. 

“The bruise on your cheek, where’d it come from?”

Fauna’s heart sank. She had forgotten all about it. “I--- walked into a door.”

“That was a lie.”

Fauna looked at him in amazement. He could really tell when she was lying. Her heart jumped.

“What’s my name?”

Fauna’s heart jumped again and sped up. She didn’t want to say it. He was going to force her to admit that she knew his identity.

“You’re --- the Daredevil.”

Matthew stood. Fauna jerked back slightly, ready to flee, though it would be futile. But instead of lunging for her, he crossed his arms in front of his chest and leaned against the wall, crossing his ankles. For a moment the light from the street partially lit his face.

“That wasn’t what I was asking, and you know that.”

She looked down at her fidgeting fingers and eye’d the door as best she could without turning her head.

“Remember what I said about keeping my distance as long as you tell me the truth. That also stands as long as you don’t try to run.”

She nodded. “Mat--Matthew Murdock.” She could see the tension rippling through his body at the sound of his name on her lips.

“We have ourselves a problem, Fauna.”

She shivered. 

“You know who I am, you know who my friends are and you know where I work.”

“I didn’t know that’s where you worked. I would have never gone there if I’d known.” She pleaded that fact, but unsure why.

He nodded. 

“I won’t tell anyone, I promise.”

“And there’s the problem. I don’t know you, so I don’t know how good you are at keeping promises. I told you to quit your job. You were right back there tonight.”

“I didn’t promise I would quit. You just demanded it.” She snapped at him, but she quickly scolded herself. Sometimes the old Fauna bubbled to the surface. She’s recently learned that rule: don’t-speak-unless-spoken-to was a good policy to live by around people like her father, his associates, partners and, she was willing to bet, men like Daredevil.

“There’s the other problem. You work for some very bad people, if they get a hold of that information everyone I know and care for will be in danger. They’ll hurt them, kill them to get to me. You must understand I can’t allow that to happen.”

She relaxed a little when he didn’t retaliate against her boldness. “I---I don’t want anyone to get hurt, I would never want that.”

“I believe you in that, but sometimes circumstances can change in the heat of the moment. I can’t take that risk.” 

Her tears welled up in her eyes, the rain began sprinkling against the window. “Then, will you do it quickly?” 

“Do what?”

“Kill me.”

Matthew tilted his head in her direction.  And took a deep breath. “Honestly Fauna, I don’t want to hurt you. But that doesn’t mean I won’t, I will do what I need to.”

“Then... what are you going to do?” She was almost afraid to ask, but at least it wasn’t to kill her. However, she felt that if she did screw up death would soon follow.

“First, you quit your job?”

She tore her eyes from her lap to him. “I can’t.” She said as quietly as possible.

“Why?” His jaw clenched at his frustration. 

“I--” she paused, “I…just can’t.” She couldn’t tell him. Not without telling him about her mother. There was no way she was going to tell him about her mother. He’d use her, threaten her.

“Then I need something else from you.”

She looked at him again. 

“Your phone.”

She looked around. Her bag was on the floor at her feet. She reached down and fished out her cell, tossing it to him. 

She watched as he opened it, the light from the screen gave her a nice view of his black mask, the tight line of his lips and the clinch in his jaw.

“You have one contact saved on this phone, Work. There’s no friends or family listed. This is a burner, where’s your real phone.” His agitation was growing.

Lightning streaked down onto the fire escape just outside her window. Just as she expected. It infuriated her that he wanted to use her family, her friends to keep her quiet. For the first time she was glad they weren’t currently a part of her life. This life her father forced upon her. 

She shook her head, “that’s all I have.” Her heart jumped, hoping he’d believe her because it was the truth. She wasn’t allowed to use the phone for anything other than work. If she wanted to call her mother she had to do it from the pay phone down the street. 

Matthew straightened and began crossing the room with such speed. Fauna barely managed to jump ahead of him. She bolted for the door. 

She opened the door only a few inches when it was slammed shut by Matthew’s hand. She spun around, tears falling down her cheeks as she realized she was trapped. Matthew brought his other hand up and placed it next to her head on the door. Parallel to his other hand. 

“Please, I won’t tell anyone who you are. Please.” Her begging turned to sobs, “I won’t, I won’t.”

“I believe you’re telling me the truth, now.” He said in that calm voice of his, but Fauna could hear the dangerousness of it. “But I have nothing to guarantee that truth won’t change when you can use that information to your advantage.” 

She looked up at him. Desperate for a solution. Then it hit her, she had information on the very people he liked to punish. 

“What about information on Grayson’s nightly business… before it happens?” She said through her tears. 

Fauna watched as he angled his head to the left, just slightly. It was like he was studying her.

“How does that guarantee you keep your promise, exactly?”

“I become your accomplice. I don’t like being a part of what they do. I really don’t, but I don’t have a choice. If they find out who you are then they’ll know I was helping you. You could tell them who gave you that information.”

Matthew lowered his hands to his sides and retreated from her, turning. His shoulder blades and muscles shifted under his black shirt.  

“So, it’s -- I’ll keep your secret if you keep mine-- deal.” He said in a low voice.

“The threat of them knowing I helped you in any way should be enough of a guarantee I’ll keep quiet. And I’m not stupid, I know if the police know I’m involved with either of you I can be charged with your crimes too.”

She watched him, hoping and praying he’d accept the arrangement. He turned back to her and nodded.

“So, give me something then.”

“Now?!”

“You honestly expect me to leave here empty handed.”

He had a good point, she realized, though she hadn’t thought of that or imagined she needed something so quickly.

“Okay. Umm---” she closed her eyes and began sorting through some of the paperwork that came across her desk recently. 

Matthew watched her with an admiring fascination. The shimmering swirls of light shifted live waves in the ocean. For a moment, just a fraction of a second, the world outside faded from Matthew’s senses. It threw him off balance for a moment, but he quickly recovered. “What are you doing?” he asked.

“I’m a Eidetiker.” She closed her eyes again, using the images in her mind to push away paper after paper, trying to find something useful. For the most part she ignored the work, but when she wanted she could call it back to her memory. 

“Having an eidetic memory is rare, especially in adults.” Matthew was impressed. 

“There.” She said, opening her eyes and looking toward the floor. It was as if she was looking at something in front of her, but it was nothing; just empty space. 

“That’s odd.” She said, tilting her head slightly.

Matthew waited quietly, intrigued as he watched the shift in the lights again.  

“There’s a cargo container coming tomorrow night.”

“Why is that odd?”

“It’s by itself, they usually come by the hundreds. There must be something special inside.”

“When?”

“Nine.” She said looking up at him, but instead of standing where she thought he was now directly in front of her. She stepped back in response, but there was nowhere to go. She stumbled as her back hit the door. He didn’t reach for her and stopped a few inches away.

“Fauna. If you lie to me our arrangement ends. What you’ve told me is the truth?”

She nodded.

“In words, please.”

“Yes.”

“And you believe that if you break your word, I’ll come after you and everyone you care for.”

She tried to swallow, but couldn't, her throat was suddenly so dry it felt like sandpaper.

“Yes.”

“If you tell anyone about me, I’ll tell them about you and you’ll have the biggest crime lords in the city knocking on your door.”

Her heart pounded in fear. “Yes.”

He nodded. Then Matthew turned, jumped onto the fire escape and was gone. 

Fauna fell to the floor and sobbed. 

Matthew

On the roof of Fauna’s apartment Matthew took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly as he listened to her cry. The rain pelted down violently. At least the electricity in the air had settled, he thought. Pangs of guilt pounded his chest as he pulled himself up on the rooftop. He’d stick close by, surely there was something he could get himself into while keeping tabs on Fauna. 

He had to make sure she wouldn’t call her employer or the police. He wasn’t completely satisfied with their arrangement, but at least he didn’t have to kidnap her until he figured something else out. That came with all kinds of complications he didn’t have time for. 

It was better this way. She believed he would give her up as a rat if she gave away his identity. People like her employer didn’t take kindly to rats, everyone in the city was keenly aware of that. Fauna was right, if they found out she gave him information, the threat of what they’d do to her should guarantee she’d keep quiet. 

Though he’d never give her name up if he’d been captured or found on, but she didn’t have to know that. It would be better if she believed he had no values or morals. 

Matthew didn’t want to admit it, but Fauna intrigues him too much. Why did he see her so differently than Everyone else? Why did his senses go a little haywire around her? And now, they shut down. He did admit it was nice for the night to go quiet for a moment. He heard so much fear and pain at night.

Matthew heard a scream nearby. He listened for a moment, a mugging. His lips curved into a smirk as he leaped to the neighboring building. Tonight he’d get little rest, when morning came he would follow her to work and listen in for a while. Then he’d have to catch a couple hours of sleep, then be back in time for his 9pm date at Grayson’s shipping yard.

He’d have to take a sick day, Foggy would be pissed. Matthew knew his friend would understand, they’d talked many times about what could happen if someone knew about him. 

Funny thing was, they never decided on how they would deal with that particular person. He supposed that deep down they thought it wouldn’t happen, they’d never had to deal with it. He should probably give Foggy a call, he had a lot of explaining to do. He slid down a ladder and landed on top of one mugger, then he spun and kicked down the other. 

“Go!” Matthew yelled at the man in the brown overcoat. “Get out of here.” The man was wide-eyed. He scrambled to pick up his wallet and took off down the empty street. Behind him, Matthew heard the first mugger standing. He really did enjoy this a little too much.

Chapter Text

Matt's Morning

Matthew

Matthew rolled to his side and slammed the off button to his alarm clock. The automated female’s voice began her usual announcement of the time, date and weather update. He squeezed his eyes shut then forced them open. A couple hours was literally all he got, all he had time for. 

He had to be up and ready to follow Fauna to work. He was going to have to forget about taking down some of the city’s top bosses, vying for the leader position left vacant by Fisk. Fauna was his number one priority now. She’d have to be dealt with, controlled, until he was sure she would never leak any information about him. 

Right now she was a wrench thrown into his engine. It would help to find someone she cared for enough to threaten. Perhaps someone from her work? Matthew pushed away the guilt filling him as he stood to dress. 

She wasn’t lying to him about her cell phone. It was the only one she had. Odd for a girl to have no other contacts except work. No photos. It was a flip phone for crying out loud. She did have a father. That’s who she went to see, then he, much to his surprise, found her being dragged out of the shipping yard. Did her father work for Grayson too?

Matthew turned and poured his coffee into a to-go cup and headed for the door. He also wanted to know who had hit her across the cheek and why. A slight scent of a man’s aftershave was present around the wound. She had lied to him about what happened, but he didn’t have time to press her for the truth. The question served its purpose. It gave him a better read on when she was lying or not when she was frightened.

He had a hard time reading her. He wasn’t sure if it was because she was so completely and utterly terrified of him, which he understood. Grown men balled like babies when he threatened them. Or was it because his senses wavered in her presence. Matthew hopped in the taxi and gave the driver the name of a grocery store a little ways from Fauna’s apartment. He’d walk the rest of the way. 

He had to work and focus a little harder around her. Matthew couldn’t explain why. But he guessed it was connected with how he saw her. He focused on her shimmering figure in his mind’s eye. It was beautiful.

It didn’t take long to reach the store, Fauna’s place was only a couple miles from his and the store was a couple blocks from her building. As he stepped out on to the curb, he stretched his cane out, his cell rang out the name of a caller. 

“Thank you.” Matthew said to the driver. “Good morning, Karen.” He said into the phone. 

“Oh Matt, I didn’t wake you did I? I was just going to leave you a message.”

“No, I’m awake.” Just barely, thought Matthew.

“Okay great. I just wanted to let you know I put the transcript of yesterday's meeting with Flora on your desk.”

“Flora?” Matthew asked. 

“Yeah, Foggy said you wanted it…” She paused. “You know, the girl that bumped into you yesterday.”

Now Matthew understood. Flora, huh. That girl sure likes to lie about her name. “Oh yes, of course. Thank you, I’ll come by and pick it up later today.”

“Also,” continued Karen. “I won’t be in the office today, Foggy wants me with him during the jury selection for the Abbott case.”

“Right.” Matthew replied sitting down on a bench with a view of the Fauna’s apartment. 

“Is there anything else you’ll need?”

Matthew thought for a moment. “Actually yes, your investigative talents are amazing. I would like you to look into the background of a girl named Fauna Grace. Nineteen. Everything you can find, please.”

“Sure, perhaps I can dig something up while I’m bored to death in court today.”

“Thanks. I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Bye.” 

He knew it wouldn’t take Karen long to realize Flora and Fauna were the same girl. He’d have to explain himself when she did. 

Matthew hung up the phone and slid it back into his pocket. Flora? One corner of his lips curved up and he shook his head.  He took a sip of his coffee and stretched his senses, searching for her in the apartment.

Fauna stirred from the floor where he had left her. She had fallen asleep, crying. It took several hours. He listened as her feet scooted across the floor performing various tasks, reading herself. He heard water running and a long sigh. 

“Ouch.” She yelled out. “Well, perhaps some make-up will do.”

Matthew assumed she was talking about her bruised face. He sat listening to her for a while, she finally began her descent out of the building. 

BANG. Matthew diverted his attention for a moment to inspect a loud sound. BANG.

An old woman was pulling a rolling grocery tote up the sidewalk steps toward Fauna’s building. BANG. Matthew looked to the entrance as Fauna emerged into the sunlight. The swirls of light seemed to stretch toward the sky as she made her way down the cemented path.

BANG.

“Well, good morning dear.” The old lady addressed Fauna.

“Hello, Mrs. Carmichael. Bye Mrs. Carmichael.” Fauna replied as she hurried past the woman. 

“Okay, we’ll talk later.” She replied as she pulled on the tote. BANNG!

Matthew watched as Fauna halted and sighed. She turned and made her way back to Mrs. Carmichael. 

She took the rolling tote from the old lady’s hands. “Mrs. Carmichael, you know there is an elevator behind the building, right?”

Fauna dragged the cart along the ground picking it up when she reached the steps to avoid the loud banging. Matthew’s guilt bubbled to the surface as he watched her good deed and genuine concern for the old woman. 

Whether she was a sweet girl or not, he had to do what he had to do in order to keep her quiet. Helping out an old woman didn’t mean she would keep her promise to him.

Matthew made a mental note the old woman might be useful in controlling Fauna.

“Oh dear, I never use elevators or go to the back of buildings.” She cupped her hand over her mouth in a whisper. “You know we got rapists and murders in this city.” 

“Right, of course.” Fauna replied. After last night she couldn’t argue that point. “I… didn’t think of that.”

“Well you should!” Mrs. Carmichael scolded. “A pretty thing like you, well.... Any dirty old rotten scoundrel would love to get their hands on you.”

Mrs. Carmichael finally looked up at Fauna once they reached the top of the steps. “Oh honey, what happened to your face?”

“Oh, um… I fell last night walking home from work.”

Another lie, thought Matthew. He was enjoying the calmness of her heart beat. IIt was a nice change from the terrified version. The breeze brought her scent to him and he inhaled deeply. He still couldn’t place it. 

Mrs. Carmichael clicked her tongue in disapproval as the two entered the building. “I just don’t understand why you insist on walking all the time.”

Matthew heard Fauna hoisting the rusty grocery tote up the stairs. The old woman was just ahead of her. 

“Well, I just love the fresh air.” She grunted. “And the views of the sky I suppose.”

“And I don’t understand why you work all the time. Work, work, work. You’ll never catch the eye of a nice, handsome man that way.”

“Oh I don’t know Mrs. Carmichael. Cinderella worked all the time, she managed to land a prince.”

Matthew huffed at her reply.

The old lady burst out laughing. “Oh, you silly girl! That is true, but she managed to enjoy herself at a ball.”

“Well, here we are.” Fauna announced. “You have yourself a good day Mrs. Carmichael.”

Matthew sat up and Fauna emerged from the building yet again. 

“Oh, Fauna dear!” Mrs. Carmichael yelled down. 

Fauna glanced up, turning just slightly at the old woman leaning out of her window. 

“That’s your problem! You need to learn to enjoy life, go to the ball!” The old woman giggled as Fauna turned, embarrassed and glanced around. She hurried down the steps and away from the building as fast as she could. 

Matthew stood, tossed his cup in the recycle bin, without glancing it’s way, and began to follow her.

Chapter Text

Empty

Fauna

That was embarrassing, thought Fauna as she made her way down the street. Mrs. Carmichael was a sweet lady, but sometimes their conversations verged on the ridiculous. When she compared herself to Cinderella, it made her sad. The major difference would be that she would never get a happily-ever-after. There was no prince for her. She couldn’t see an end to her situation. 

As she checked herself into the building with her new badge, she heard the familiar cat calls from the yard workers and guards. The display blinked red.

Access Denied. 

“Oh no,” She said, sighing. “Come on.” She said a small prayer as she scanned the badge again. It blinked green. 

Access Granted. 

“Thank you.” She whispered, taking a deep breath after the door clicked shut. She hated that part, having to listen to those disgusting men calling her like she was some kind of hooker. It didn’t happen every day, but it happened often enough. It usually meant her father wasn’t here. She hoped that would be the case. 

She quickly made her way to her office. The usual clip board of when and where her father wanted her was laying on her desk. She picked it up and inspected it, it was empty. She smiled.

“Well, I guess it’s nothing but paperwork today.” She said to herself as she took a seat in her chair. 

That meant she was not going to have to see him or anyone else today. A feeling of relief washed over her. She didn’t realize she needed that. She needed space from everyone, she needed time to process and digest everything that’s happened. She hasn’t been able to do that. 

Images of Matthew suddenly flashed in her mind. The way he looked in that hallway, so normal, so distinguished. Then, how he looked later that night, violent and dangerous. Her blood boiled at the thought of how he has interfered with her life, complicating it beyond measure.

Then she thought of what she did. She gave him inside information. If her father even suspected someone of being a rat they were never heard from again. She knew of at least two people that had gone missing since she began working here. 

The worst part was her father didn’t even wait for evidence or proof of that person’s guilt, the slightest rumor could make someone food for the fishes. 

She took a deep breath and pushed the thoughts from her mind. She didn’t want to think about it. She began shifting paper after paper. She filed them if needed or shredded them and the hours ticked by. 

Fauna stretched and looked at the clock, 4:30pm. Almost over, she thought. Her heart sank at those words. It actually wasn’t over. She told Daredevil to be here at nine. Even though she wouldn’t be here she was not going to be able to sleep. She was anxious enough just thinking about it. She has taken a major risk, but it wasn’t her fault. She didn’t do it willingly. In the end that would matter to someone like her father or to a man like Matthew Murdock.  

Fauna began imagining Matthew at the mercy of Ace, should she call him by his actual name or Daredevil, she wondered. If he was caught would he give her up, even though she never told anyone about him. She couldn’t trust him. And she believed no one could last under the kind of torture Ace was capable of dishing out. 

Scenario after scenario ran through her head as she shifted the papers to their proper places, organized files and emptied the shredding machine. Finally it was time for her to go home. She closed her office and headed out. She’d have to stop by the store, then later call her mother. Perhaps on her way she should come up with a few excuses as to why she couldn’t visit her. Hopefully these new rules would last long. 

One thought nagged at the back of her mind, she didn’t want to think about: What if Daredevil or Matthew succeeded at taking Grayson down like he did Wilson Fisk? The money would stop. What would happen with her mother’s medicine? 

Fifteen minutes later Fauna walked into the grocery store. It would only take a few minutes. She didn’t need much, well actually, she couldn’t afford much: crackers, peanut butter, 2 cans of soup, her tea, and a few apples. 

She checked the items out herself and headed out. She just had a few minutes to get to her building. 

“Fauna!?”

Fauna stumbled slightly at the familiar voice, she wanted to freeze in shock at the call of her name. She forced herself to keep walking. 

“Fauna!”

It was too late, she’d been spotted. Something she dreaded since she dropped out of school and began working for her father. 

“Fauna, stop!”

Fauna halted and turned. Her long time best friend Jenna stood, her chin on the ground from shock. Fauna wanted so desperately to run to her friend, wrap her arms around her and squeeze tight. She missed her so much. But Fauna didn’t have time, she had to get the tracking fob up into her apartment. 

“Jenna!” She tried to smile. When she saw her friend looking her up and down with a horrified expression across her face, especially once her eyes settled on Fauna’s bruised cheek, Fauna’s smile faded. 

“What the hell?!”

“Jenna---” Fauna was going to start coming up with excuses but her friend cut her off. 

“Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you everywhere. You just disappeared---”

“Jenna, I’m sorry. I can’t explain right now. I need to go.”

“What?? I’ve tried to call, email. I went to your house, but it was sold.”

“I’m sorry, look let’s---”

“No! I’ve been trying to find you--- and you’ve been here the whole time?”

“Jenna, I need to go.” Fauna didn’t know what to do other than to start walking away.

“Fauna!” Jenna reached for her arm to stop her. “You’ve got to be kidding!”

“I’m sorry. I have to go.” Fauna dodged her and picked up her pace. Jenna was left shocked and flabbergasted. 

Once Fauna was out of sight she began sprinting for her building. If she was late, her father would not be happy. She didn’t need her other cheek bruised. Fauna scanned the fob, just as the bell tower chimed the half hour warning. 

She leaned against the door and took a deep breath. Tears welled up in her eyes. She feared one day that was going to happen, she didn’t handle it very well. But it wasn’t completely her fault, the timing was bad. 

After putting away her things, Fauna took a quick shower. Then dressed down to an oversized t-shirt and a pair of her fluffy socks. She took a seat on her couch.  

She wiped the tears off her cheeks, seeing Jenna was really upsetting. She hoped that would be the last she saw of her. Fauna didn’t want it to be that way, but her father was very clear about her old life. 

In his words, “it no longer existed”. But Fauna’s heart sank, she knew Jenna very well. Since they were in 2nd grade, they had been best friends. And Jenna always, always was the best at one thing: perseverance. Jenna’s highschool nickname was Bulldozer. No matter what stood in her way, she either got around it or plowed right through. Often, to Fauna’s dismay, Jenna dragged her along. 

The memories of their shenanigans made Fauna smile. She feared now that Jenna knew the general area she lived, she would be back. Fauna was going to have to be more watchful not to get caught again. 

She wiped the tears again and dialed her mother’s house. 

“Hello.” Her mother, Lousia answered in just a few rings. 

“Hi, Mom.”

“Oh, Fauna it’s you. Did you get a new number?” She sounded as if she were asleep. 

“Um.. yeah. Did I wake you?”

“No, no. Is everything okay? You usually don’t call on the phone.”

“Yes, everything’s fine. I just wanted to tell you that midterms are coming up. I might not be able to come by for a while.” Fauna tried to hide her tears as best as she could and sound like a normal college girl studying and not lying. 

“Of course, you gotta do what you gotta do to make those good grades.”

“I’ll try to call you every day.”

“Oh sure, but don’t let it interrupt you.”

“It won’t, have you heard anything from that lawyer? Mr. Androle?”

“Not a peep. Maybe we should have just taken the money.”

“I don’t think so, Mom, but I’m looking into it.” Good, thought Fauna. Maybe they had read too much into his threat at the end of their last conversation. 

“Well, no rush I suppose. You get school finished first.”

“Yeah, I know. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Love you.”

“Love you too, dear. Bye.”

Fauna clicked the end button. She looked at the time to make sure she was within her five minute time frame. 

She wished she had a laptop or at least a phone she could browse on for information. She’d seen movies of people winning lawsuits against companies, but how did it work? She knew some lawyers did pro bono, but were they ever successful? How could she find one of those kinds of lawyers? She scolded herself for not asking more questions when she spoke to Mr. Nelson and Karen. Unfortunately, she could never go back there, she wouldn’t want to. 

She never wanted to see Matthew or--- Daredevil ever again. She still hadn’t decided what to call him. She wouldn’t purposefully see him. Not in a million years, she decided. 

She pushed him from her mind for about a millionth time that day. Focusing on him was like sending shockwaves through her brain. 

Perhaps there’s another lawyer offering a free consultation. She made a note to look out for one as she walked to and from work. She also noted to be better prepared. She needed to write down a list of questions she needed answered. 

Fauna paused her mind and looked around her apartment. She was used to spending her time at the park or her mother when she had time. Since she wasn’t allowed to, Fauna was unsure how she would spend her evenings. She had no TV, radio or books. 

For now, she decided, the roof would do. She actually hadn’t been up there in awhile, she stayed in the park for most of her evenings. Fauna stood and made herself half a can of soup, grabbed some crackers and her blanket. 

As she stepped out onto the fire escape, she did a double check of where the fob was. It wouldn’t be the first time she forgot about it and accidently took it out past curfew. She also made sure to leave her phone, just in case there was some kind of tracking system on it too. 

As she sipped her soup, Fauna watched the night sky grow darker and darker. The stars began shining brightly above the lit city.  For a short moment she could forget her troubles. That is until HE popped back into her mind for the millionth and one time. She figured right about now is when he would be chest deep in Grayson Shipping problems. 

She said a little prayer that giving him that information wouldn’t land her in trouble or dead. She wrapped herself up against the cooling night, laid back and imagined flying the stars while listening to the noise of the city. Trying desperately to make her world disappear and not that Daredevil could be giving her name up right this very moment.

Yes, the name Daredevil fit him. He was a devil. He was malicious, threatening and uncaring. He had an itch for violence. Luckily he took it out on criminals instead of the innocent, good for them. The problem was she wasn’t innocent, not in his eyes. She was a criminal. 

Matthew

Matthew limped his way through the back alley’s of Hell’s Kitchen. The slash wound from a knife bled slowly. It wasn’t bad, a few stitches worth. As he left the shipping yard, he ran into a group of thugs. One of the men got a lucky shot at him. He had been distracted for a moment in his anger at his situation. He was furious, and panicked. 

Fauna told him there was something special about the lone cargo container that arrived at the shipping yard at 9pm. She told him the guards on duty had at least doubled. She lied. There was a lone cargo container, but the contents were nowhere to be seen. The guards on duty were in reasonable numbers, nothing he couldn’t handle. Now he had to find her, the first place he would look was her apartment. 

Was her lie covered in truth? If so, it was clever. She threw his senses off enough for it to pass, perhaps. Did she send him so she could have time to tell her employer or the police about him? He flipped open his burner phone and called Foggy.

“Oh dude, just tell me you’re alive and well.” Foggy said. His voice was groggy. Matthew woke him up.

 “I’m fine, Foggy.” Matthew paused to jump up to the fire escape. “Listen, I want you to get Karen and go to a hotel.”

“What? Why?”

“I’ll explain later, I promise.”

“Does this have to do with that girl? Karen found her on an old facebook page. But her name or names, I should say, were different.”

“I know.”

“Well… what am I supposed to tell Karen?”

“I dunno, you need a little mini-vacation, or something.” Matthew grunted as he jumped and landed on the roof of another building. “It’s just not safe if my cover’s been blown.”

“What?!!”

“Just get Karen, use cash, and call me if you run into trouble.”

“Alright, I’ll text you when we’re checked-in.”

“Talk soon.” Matthew hung up and tucked the phone back into his pocket as he jumped and rolled onto another roof. He slid down a water pipe and took a few more turns in the alley before he reached Fauna’s apartment building. He stretched his senses. The apartment seemed empty, he cursed. That’s not good, he thought. That’s not good at all. 

At this hour she should be at home, in bed. The rest of the building’s occupants were quiet. He made his way up to the apartment. Since his senses were off around her, he supposed it would be a good idea to check the apartment anyway, right now he felt fine. 

As he approached, Matthew noticed her window open. It could be a trap, he thought. He paused stretching his senses farther. The only thing he could sense that was out of the ordinary was a body on the roof. He went inside, slowly and carefully in case he missed something. 

He searched her apartment thoroughly, nothing. There wasn’t much to search, it only took him a few seconds. But she had been there recently. Her scent was fresh and there was evidence of a cooked meal. He followed the scent, it was still on the breeze. 

Matthew lifted himself up onto the roof. Fauna lay on the ground, wrapped in a blanket. Her shimmering body dimmed, but still... against the dark roof she looked like a star in the night sky. He imagined this is how they looked close up, slow swirling lights dimming and brightening as they moved against the blackness. 

He knelt next to her, as he did he stretched his senses as far as they would go, searching for any indication it could be a trap. He supposed if they did want to trap him, they would have done it at the shipping yard. However, that could be a way to throw him off, then use her as bait. 

It’s what he would have done. He stared down at her, titling his head slightly, studying her. Her bowl from dinner lay beside her, tomato soup and crackers. Her heart beat was slow. Her breathing was deep and steady. She was truly asleep. Funny thing, Matthew thought. His senses seemed to be working properly for the moment. Perhaps it was just a fluke, that he was wrong about her being a fault.

He gently placed his hand over her mouth. It took her a moment, then she tried to scream and instinctively lashed out at whatever held her. Her fists connected with his chest. As her eyes flew open, the light bulb behind them exploded. Matthew’s arm came up to shield them from any flying glass. 

What a coincidence, he thought. 

Fauna’s body went stiff, but her heartbeat pounded erratically. 

Once all the glass from the bulb had fallen he lowered his arm. His senses dulled for a moment, but he shook off the feeling. Though Matthew was furious, he had to remain in control. He brought his hand to his mouth and placed one finger against his lips to signal for her not to scream. 

Fauna’s terrified eyes followed his motion and she nodded her understanding. He lifted his other hand slowly from her mouth.

Chapter Text

Lost Girl

Fauna

Fauna lay there unmoving, trying to blink away the nightmare leaning over her. He pressed a single finger to his lips. 

 I’m dreaming, right? She thought. I have to be dreaming? Why is he here?

She nodded and he lifted his hand from her mouth. Dressed fully in his Daredevil ensemble, he backed away to allow her some space. She supposed it had something to do with the stipulations he made during their last meeting. If she told the truth, or didn’t run, he’d keep his distance. 

She stood and when she realized she was not wearing pants she blushed and wrapped the blanket around herself. At least her shirt was long enough to cover the important areas, but it still wasn’t modest enough for her. 

He leaned against the short wall that made up the ledge of the roof, and crossed his arms at his chest. He stayed quiet, but his lips fell in a grim line. He was upset , Fauna realized as she noticed his jaw clenching. 

“Wha--What are you doing here?” She stuttered, afraid of the answer. “What if someone sees you up here…” She paused, but couldn’t stop herself from saying it, “...with me.”

He looked away from her for a long moment, titling his head as if he was listening to something. 

“No ones around.” He said, shaking his head. 

Fauna’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Are you omniscient , or something?”

“If I was, none of this would have ever happened.”

Fauna eyed the wound on his side, “You know you’re bleeding, right?”

He replied with a low rumble in his chest.

“There was nothing inside the cargo container.” He announced, ignoring her observation. 

“What?! It was empty?”

He titled his head again, this time toward her. She wondered why he did that? When he didn’t answer soon enough she continued, “so... it was empty?”

Fauna watched as he seemed to relax a little, his shoulders lost some of their tension.

“It was.” He growled. 

“Well, you missed something, that makes no sense.” Her eyes went wide and she pressed her lips together and backed away from him a few steps. Accusing Daredevil of not being thorough probably isn’t the best idea. “Or...you know, I mean maybe there was something more.” She tried to back track. 

He said nothing, only studied her. 

“Well, why would they ship it by itself, there must be something special about it. Maybe you got there too late.”  Stop accusing him Fauna, you’re gonna get punched. She scolded herself again.  “I mean, I’m not saying that---”

“I got there early enough to watch you leave.” He interrupted. 

Fauna was taken aback by that, the thought of him spying on her was unnerving. 

“There weren't as many guards as you said either.”

She didn’t understand why the container was empty. Her father wasn’t there today and the guards were doubled earlier. Why?   She wondered. It had to be because he was preparing for it’s arrival. He’s done that before when he expected something important. Wait. She told herself. Why should I trust in anything Daredevil says? 

Fauna’s eyes flew up to meet his covered face. He could be lying. She stared at him. To her, that made more sense than the container being empty. She took a few more steps back toward the fire escape. Her heart sped up a little. He was here for more information. 

Fauna knew he wanted to take Grayson down, but the easiest way to do that would be to use her. She couldn’t help him do that. The faster he took them down, the faster she’d lose the ability to pay for her mother’s treatments.

“So you either sent me on a fool’s errand so you can make other plans or---” He began, but Fauna interrupted.

She began shaking her head, “No, I gave you inside information, enough to use against me, enough to blackmail me in keeping quiet about you.” She took another step back, she froze when he stood. “You got what you wanted.”

His head tilted at her again as he stepped toward her. “You think I’m lying.” 

He said it as a factual statement, not a question. Fauna legs felt like jelly. How did he know that? She wondered, was he a mind reader now. 

She decided since he seems to be a human lie detector, she’d just be honest. “It makes sense. You’re here because you got a taste of what you can get from me and you want more.” 

“It was empty, which makes our deal barely legitimate.”

“And I’m just supposed to believe you?” She backed further away from him, but he took steps toward her. It was like they were in some sort of dance.

“Don’t Fauna.” He commanded.

“Don’t what?” She said as her heels hit the cemented half-wall leading to the fire escape. 

“Run.” He said in that low threatening voice. 

She pursed her lips, trying to act like that never crossed her mind, “I wasn’t going to run. I’m going down stairs and going to bed.” 

A smirk slithered across his lips. She could tell he knew that was a lie. Didn’t he know, that was kind of a natural reaction to him. She wondered. People wanted to run from him, whether they were aware of it or not.

“There is another possibility.” He closed the distance between their bodies and crossed in front of her. He sat a few feet away from her near the fire escape’s ladder. It took everything Fauna had within her to hold her ground. 

“What?” She asked, knowing he was trying to intimidate her. His tactics were working. He had her trapped, there was no way she would get within arms length of him on purpose, which meant she couldn’t get down that ladder. 

“That container could have been a decoy to sniff out rats.”

The fire escape was quickly forgotten at that statement. Her stomach dropped. 

Did I just tell on myself , she thought. Her eyes searched the roof below her feet. It would make sense for Grayson to set up a trap after the break-in, she concluded. What was worse was they would know she sent Daredevil there. 

“Did anyone see you?” She asked.

Matthew’s head tilted again. “No, why?”

“If it were a trap they’d know I sent you, of course. Are you sure?”

“Nervous?”

“Yes.” Wow, he could be a jerk on top of everything else.  

Something else he said nagged at her. Fauna backtracked their conversation. Other plans , she wondered. “Wait, do you think while you were off at Grayson’s tonight I went and told the whole world about you?”  

“Did you?” 

“Of course not! You think I’m stupid enough to be here, wide open for you to, to… do... whatever it is you do... to people.” She struggled to get that last part out, imagining everything he could do was not fun. Though in her world those thoughts shifted between him, her father, Ace, the police. All of them had her against the wall with nowhere to go. 

He was studying her again. 

Honestly, thought Fauna. That was getting annoying.  

“What am I supposed to do to get you to believe that I’m not going to broadcast your identity to the whole world?”

“Not feeding me information that leads to a dead end would be a good start.” He replied. “You can either give me some solid leads or I’ll take something more valuable to you.”

He was threatening her. 

Wait, leads? As in plural. Before she could question him he turned and leaped off the side, thumping quietly on the landing below. 

The information she already gave him was wreaking havoc on her nerves, the thought of giving him more was impossible. And him finding out about her mother was terrifying, she had to do what she had to do to keep her as far away from the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen as possible. 

Matthew

Matthew sat at his desk rubbing the sleepiness from his eyes.  Between staying out all night, catching a few hours of sleep and following Fauna the next morning, he was exhausted. The wound on his side was now at a dull ache. He  wanted to just go home, but he had to push through, he had to show he had some kind of daytime life. Earlier, he spent a couple hours with Foggy explaining everything. 

Matthew thought his friend was going to blow a gasket. Though Foggy had the same concerns he did, he wasn’t comfortable in blackmailing Fauna. Matthew wasn’t either, but what choice did he have? Foggy also pointed out he was putting her in danger, Matthew realized this too, but hadn’t taken the time to dwell on it. If they realized she was passing along information to him, they’d kill her. "One step at a time." He had said to Foggy. 

Karen had not been by this morning . But he heard her coming in the stairwell. He sent  her a text earlier, he wanted her to check into Fauna’s employment at Grayson’s. He went over the transcript of their meeting with Fauna or Flora that is. More than likely she was the friend she referred to or she could have a friend trapped there. Perhaps that’s why she’s stayed. Obviously someone there was threatening her, and, by the state of her bruised face, they acted on their threats. 

Matthew’s guilt  had increased dramatically. Karen’s scent grew stronger as she entered the office. She rummaged around then knocked softly on Matthew’s door. 

“Come in.” He replied. 

“Hey, boss.” Her smile lifted his spirit, it always has. “I got that info, you got a few minutes?”

“I do, please.” He motioned for her to take a seat. 

“Ok,” She began, shuffling around papers in a file. “ So Fauna,---”

She emphasized her name now that she knew the truth. 

“---as far as I can tell she’s your normal, perfect kind of girl next door type.”  

Matthew sat back in his chair to listen to Karen’s soothing voice. 

“In high school she was president of her class, three years running. Perfect attendance, and a 4.0 GPA. The only reason she didn’t get a fourth year was because she graduated at sixteen.”

“Really?” Matthew said, sitting back up to attention.

“Yes, apparently she’s some kind of prodigy. I found old newspaper clippings of her competitions. She spent a year studying abroad in London, before she accepted a full scholarship at Juilliard.”

“You’re kidding.” Matthew huffed. 

“Nope, while at Julliard again a perfect student.” Karen paused to shuffle more pages. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Then a little over a year ago she dropped out, practically disappeared.”

“Why?”

“Her file stated personal reasons, so then I began looking into her home life. I haven’t found anything on her father, apparently he hasn’t been a part of her life.” She paused, shuffling again.  “But her mother caught my attention, a Louisa Bosk. They don’t have the same last name, Fauna Grace is her stage name. Her mother changed it officially when she began winning ‘Little Miss’ competitions.”

“Little Miss?”

“It's kind of like peewee football, only for dancers and singers.”

“Fauna sang mostly, some dancing. She’s even been featured in a few Disney movies.”

“Really?” Matthew was taken aback of why she was at Grayson’s.

“Back to her mother." Karen continued. "The only thing significant I found was her medical file. Don’t ask me how I got it.” She held up her palm to him. 

Matthew smirked, Karen was truly an asset. 

“At the same time Fauna dropped out of school, her mother fell ill. According to this..." she paused shuffling through papers again. "...it was stage four lung cancer. Around the same time Fauna also disappeared from her social media pages.”

Karen’s face turned grim. 

“What’s wrong Karen.”

“I wish you could see this Matthew.” Her voice turned somber.

“Describe it to me.”

“It’s the pictures she’s posted. In them she looks happy, and healthy. She’s enjoying life, having fun, you know... being young.” She paused, her heartbeat skipped. Matthew heard the hitch in her breathing, tears welled up in her eyes. “The girl that walked into this office… it’s like she’s a shadow of her former self.”

Matthew sighed. 

“I think she might be in trouble, Matt.”

Karen doesn’t realize just how right she was , thought Matthew. 

“Oh! And I looked into Grayson. There’s no record of Fauna’s employment there. It’s like she ceased to exist until she walked into our office. But there is one very odd thing.”

Matthew looked up from his desk.

“Her mother made a complete recovery. It was a miracle, there’s no medical reason for it.” 

”Then why did she stay at Grayson’s?”

Karen shook her head, “I don’t know. If that is her employer. Maybe she was lying.”

Matthew leaned forward and placed his hands on his desk. “Thank you Karen.”

“Sure. I want to help her,  Matt.”

Matthew nodded, “I know.”

Karen had a big heart, especially to those that big corporations took advantage of. 

“We’ll try.” He assured her, though Matthew was unsure how. If Fauna stayed at Grayson’s willingly, she wouldn't have much of a defense against their crimes. 

Karen’s smile returned, she stood and began leaving. “Uh, Karen.”

“Yes.” She turned. 

“When Foggy returns, will you fill him in? I’m gonna call it an early day.”

“Sure thing Boss.” She turned and left. 

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

Matthew leisurely strolled down the sidewalk, making his way toward Fauna’s apartment.  He began reevaluating her file back at his apartment.  He had first tried to sleep, but his mind wouldn’t rest. Not after everything he learned about her today. After finishing, he wanted to check in with her and right about now is when she would be getting home. 

Matthew stopped a couple blocks away and waited for her to show. 

A few minutes later Matthew inhaled deeply, her scent was in the breeze. Besides the normal scents of body wash, shampoo and daily activities, people had natural scents. For some reason he had trouble placing hers. It was set in something sweet, and when he breathed it in it felt refreshing. It was as if his lungs could expand a little more. It lifted him yet reminded him of that grounding feeling after a heavy rain.

He spotted her walking slowly down the sidewalk, her small frame swallowed up by the tall buildings, and the sun set behind her. She was looking up to the sky as her hair bounced around her. 

She quickly ducked into her building. Matthew stayed a while, listening to her settle herself down for the night. Then he decided to get a couple more hours of sleep before heading out for the night. 

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

Matthew landed a spinning kick to his opponent’s head. A dock worker he was questioning about the next few shipments set to arrive. It did cross his mind that he could get the information from Fauna, but sometimes when his frustration was high and he needed to clear his head, hitting something worked best. 

He ducked into the shadows and made his way to Fauna’s apartment. He needed to check in, hopefully he could get a hold of a better lead than last time. It would be nice to get a solid lead, but the main purpose was to have more to hold over her head. 

Matthew paused, catching his breath before launching himself forward and onto the next roof. He ignored the guilt bubbling up again.

Matthew reached her window, stretching his senses. He pushed them hard, anticipating the moment when they lapsed like they had done every time he'd been around her. However, that moment didn’t come. The apartment was empty. Matthew noted her keys with the apartment fob was left on the kitchen counter, along with her bag and her cell phone. He titled his head listening... no one was on the roof either. 

Where was she? It was odd for a young girl to leave her keys and phone. Her scent was faint, but he could trace it. Luckily for him she walked everywhere she went. If he hurried he might be able to follow it. As long as the breeze was in his favor. 

As Matthew neared Grayson’s he realized that she must have returned to work. As he slid under the fence of the shipping yard he again pushed his senses forward. Her scent was stronger. He took a few extra minutes to gauge whether or not this was a trap. Grayson could be luring him in. But he found nothing resembling one. 

He was closed in on her scent and then he found her. Well, her heartbeat anyway. It was pulsing rapidly with fear. Matthew climbed to the roof and there across from him on the other side, she stood. In the same outfit he had first seen her wearing. Her hair was in a long braid and peeked out under her hood. She was leaning over the ledge, watching the docks. 

What the hell did she think she was doing?

Matthew stepped silently toward her. He really hated to do this again, but seeing they were right in the middle of Grayson’s Shipping yard and that she seems to be a naturally fidgety person, he couldn’t risk her screaming and alerting everybody here. 

 Simultaneously he snaked one arm around her ribs, pulling her into his body and pressed his other hand against her mouth, keeping her from screaming loudly. Her heartbeat slammed against his forearm. Her muffled scream sounded out. However, she shushed herself quickly. She, too, didn't want any extra attention. Matthew listened for any guards that might have been alerted to the scuffle. 

Fauna’s hands came up and yanked at his. 

“Shh, shh. Fauna, it’s me Matt. Calm down.” He whispered into her ear.

Chapter Text

Trust Issues I

Fauna

Fauna realized each time she went out without her fob and phone she was taking a huge risk. If her father called her and she missed it she’d be in major trouble, but she can always make the ‘washing her hair’ excuse, it would be better than the alternative of being tracked with it. She peeked over the edge of the building at the single cargo container she had told Daredevil about. 

He had told her it was empty. Earlier when she arrived for work she could barely see, but a few small boxes peeked out from the inside of it. She had to come see for herself and there was only one way to do that, come after hours. 

He had lied to her and now she could clearly see inside, it was packed full of boxes varying in all kinds of sizes. On top of that, she needed something to give him the next time he showed up. Besides, of course, an ear full of how he lied and he could shove it where the sun didn’t shine.  

She nixed that idea fairly quickly. Nothing had come across her desk, she was too terrified to wait till tomorrow, who knows what he’d do if she was empty handed. Sometimes information would come across her desk and sometimes it didn’t. 

She felt like she didn’t have a choice, so she dressed up in the same outfit as before and headed back to Grayson’s. This time she wore a scarf around her nose and mouth and braided her hair. She felt more conspicuous this way, but at least no one would be able to identify her, not right off anyway. 

Suddenly an arm swept across her ribs, securing her against a hard body, it felt like a steel bar locking into place. A leathered glove clamped over her mouth, muffling her startled scream. She had been discovered. She clawed at the arm, trying to pull him off her, but he squeezed a little tighter. 

“Shh, shh. Fauna, it’s me Matt. Calm down.” His low voice rumbled quietly in her ear. He pulled her away from the ledge of the building. For a moment she was relieved. The threat of being discovered by a guard was gone. However, Daredevil was back and she had nothing for him. Whether he had lied to her or not, he was still very much in control of their situation. And , she realized, he called himself Matt. How very informal and unfitting, she thought. 

“Keep your voice low.” He added. 

Fauna nodded and he slowly released her. 

“What are you doing here?” He asked.

She turned to face him, he was in the same black suit and mask. This time there were no visible bleeding wounds. 

“I work here, what are you doing here?” She crossed her arms defensively at her chest. She figured that smarting off to him wasn’t the best idea, but she was furious, and had a right to be. The container was full. He was the one lying, he was the one that couldn’t be trusted. He had the nerve to accuse her. She was glad she came tonight, now she knew… the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen was no better than the criminals he took down.

“I came looking for you, I went to your apartment and you weren’t there. I followed your scent here.” 

His words slammed into her. He came looking, thought Fauna, for me.  Her heart sped up and for the first time Fauna noticed he didn’t seem to be looking directly at her. His head was tilted slightly, studying her again. It was odd, he didn’t seem to focus on just one area either. She couldn’t tell for sure because of the mask, but he seemed to be looking everywhere, all at once. Wait, Fauna thought, did he just say he followed her... scent? 

She pushed the thoughts from her mind, she couldn’t dwell on it. Not now, not here. 

“In anycase, glad you’re here….” that was a lie, based on the quick smirk he displayed, he knew it too. “Now you can explain that.” She nudged her dainty chin toward the container. “It’s full.” 

He didn’t turn to look. Fauna watched as the mask tilted up toward the sky. First one way then the other. Then toward the ground. 

“It’s only half full, the back half still remains empty.” 

Was he joking? She wondered. How could he know that from all the way up here? The look of ‘are you crazy’ must have been noticeable to him. 

A deep rumble sounded in his chest. “Mmmm… you think I am lying now, do you.”

To Fauna’s ears that sounded like a threat. She tried to swallow the lump that suddenly formed in her throat. “Well… yes.” She admitted.

“Fauna, it was empty when I left last night. I watched it arrive, when I inspected it, there was nothing inside. They must have filled it later.” He explained.

“Well, then…” She began, but suddenly had second thoughts. 

“Well, what?”

“Well, I guess that does it then.” She nervously said.

“Fuana, pretend I don’t know what you’re trying to say.”

Her name on his lips sent shivers down her spine. She wished he didn’t use it as much as he did. However, it went right along with the buzz she got whenever he was around. Her hairs were standing on end again. She couldn’t figure out why. Fauna guessed it had to be because of how terrified she was of him, but it didn’t happen around her father or Ace and she was just as terrified of them. 

“Well, since the container is full, you should have everything you need from me.” Fauna began walking back toward the door. “It’s legitimate now. You know, our deal.”

His hand shot out and grabbed the crook of her elbow, stopping her in her tracks. “Shh, someone’s coming.” He went as still as a statue. Fauna listened for a moment, but didn’t hear anything. This must be some kind of trick, she thought. 

Fauna was about to push him away, or at least try to when he jerked her forward, dragging her toward the door and hid against the side of the small building that led back inside. He pulled Fauna behind him and stretched his arm across her body and pressed her against the wall. 

The door clicked open, Fauna froze. He was right, she thought. Someone was on the roof with them. How did he know, she wondered, as her heart pounded heavier. The footsteps drew closer. Matthew took his arm from across Fauna’s body and reached out, snatching the person as they rounded the corner. 

Fauna did a mental check to make sure her scarf still covered her nose and mouth as Matthew twisted the man around and slammed him against the small building. Fauna felt the impact. With a quick glance at the person Fauna recognized the man. He was a night guard, often arriving as she left. Mathew, then, whirled around and smashed his elbow into the side of the guards head. The man slumped to the ground. 

“Time to go.” Matthew said. 

Fauna nodded in agreement and dashed through the door. 

“Wait!” He called out.

It was too late, Fauna yelped as she faced two more guards. One grabbed her arm and pulled. Matthew exploded from behind her, slamming his fist into the man’s forearm. With an agonizing groan of pain he was forced to release her. Matthew swiveled and close lined the other guard with his arm, toppling him over the rail. The body landed with a hard thud at the bottom. They were three flights up, she thought. Would he survive? How would I ever get the sound of his body hitting the floor out of my head?!

Fauna didn’t have time to dwell on the thought. The other guard lurched at her, she stepped back and stumbled. She scolded her useless clumsiness. As the man reached for her again. Matthew stepped in front of her, throwing up an arm, blocking the punch. Then, Matthew ducked avoiding a punch from the other side, then blocked a kick. 

Matthew returned the punches and kicks while Fauna began running down the stairs, reaching the next landing. The two men locked together tumbled down after her, continuing their fight. Fauna had to back herself into the corner to avoid getting hit. Matthew took a punch to the ribs, sending him backward into her. The guard advanced, landing a few more punches. Matthew’s body pressed hard against her, and for a moment she struggled to take a breath as she felt the guard’s punches. Matthew fell to his knee. The guard eyed Fauna, she tensed and drew in a sharp breath as he shifted to throw a punch at her. 

Suddenly the guard disappeared from her sight. Fauna looked down, Matthew had twisted and landed a kick to the guard’s knee. Both men groaned in pain. Matthew grabbed his side. It must be that wound I had seen before , she concluded. She looked between the men, the guard sprawled out on the floor, Matthew was taking a moment to catch his breath. Fauna, quickly, jumped over them and headed down the stairs making it the next landing. Behind her the men started exchanging blows again. She turned to catch a quick glance. Matthew now stood at the top of the stairs, heaving and holding his ribs as the guard tumbled down toward her. 

For a moment she thought the man had been knocked unconscious as he landed near her feet. Mathew began making his way toward them. Fauna continued down the last flight of stairs, until suddenly the guard’s hand shot out grabbing her ankle. Fauna cried out as she hit the floor. She kicked at him as Matthew leaped, somersaulting down and landing a leg drop on the man’s head. They both made it to their feet and to the exit, the body of the guard Matthew had knocked over the rail from the top lay at her feet. He was still unmoving and she couldn’t tell if he was breathing. 

“Wait.” Matthew whispered, stopping Fauna. 

His masked gaze shifted back and forth. “Something’s going on. Guards are on the move. Some hitting the rooftops.” His covered eyes lifted to the ceiling as if he could see them.

How did he know that? Fauna frustratingly thought, pursing her lips at him. She looked at the bodies of the guards. “These guys must have been taking position on this building.”

Matthew nodded in agreement. He stood motionless for a moment, tilting his head. “We’re not going to be able to get out this way, is there another way out of this building?”

Fauna shrugged, “I’m not in this building a lot. But I’ve seen the layout.” She immediately put her eidetic memory to use. Her father kept a blueprint of each building hanging on his wall for decoration. Once she found their position on the layout, she could begin searching for a way out. 

She stared off into the distance, focusing on the blueprints. She moved through them as if she was standing right in front of them. First she found the right building. Second she searched for their current position. Then a different exit. She traced their path on the layout. There was a small door under the stairs, she began... just around the corner of the exit they were at now. It would lead to this room. Then, they could go up, down the hall, then exit through that window. 

“Any time now, Fauna.” Matthew suggested. 

“This way.” She directed.

Fauna leaped around the unconscious body, trying her best to ignore the fact that he might be dead. Just add murder accomplice to her growing list of criminal activity. She reached for the handle of the door and turned, it wouldn’t open. 

“It’s locked.” She said, jiggling the handle again. Every nerve ending in her body came to attention as she felt Matthew behind her. 

“Move.” He demanded softly.

Fauna stepped out of Matthew’s way. He slammed his shoulder into it a couple times and then the door popped open. 

“Where does this lead?” He asked, looking in, studying the darkness. 

“To the file room on the first floor.” Fauna whispered. “There should be another door several feet away.”

“There is.” Matthew confirmed as he slowly entered the dark room. Fauna stayed where she was. She couldn’t see anything, but heard another door click open and the street light filtered in through the room’s window. It surrounded Matthew as he stood in the doorway on the opposite end. Fauna let out the breath she’d been holding, she could see the area now and was relieved. 

“You coming?” He asked, not looking behind him. She really didn’t have much of a choice so she forced her feet to move forward. Matthew moved into the room. “There’s a line of windows, stay low.” He said. She obeyed and knelt crawling along the floor, mimicking his movements. 

Matthew positioned himself just below the windows with that same look he got when he wanted to focus on something. 

“What are you doing?” Fauna asked.

“They’re doing something with the container.”

Fauna sat up on her knees to peer over the window seal. She saw a line of guards, several businessmen in suits, including her father. Ace was beside him and was suited up for war. They all stood around the open container. 

What were they doing? She wondered. But honestly, she didn’t care. Fauna wanted out of there. If the other guards were alerted of their presence they’d be in a lot of trouble. 

“We should go.” She suggested. 

“There’s a car coming.” He said shifting his weight to the other foot to focus in another direction

Fauna looked, and sure enough a black car with black windows was pulling up. She looked at Matthew. She was beginning to wonder if he was one of Grayson’s partners. How did he know these things, before they actually happened. Either that or he’s physic, she concluded. 

Fauna’s eyes darted between her father, the container, and the car that had now pulled to a stop. Her father, Grayson, walked over to the car, opening the door for whoever was inside. The sight of him sent her heart pounding again, if he knew she was there he’d flog her, then kill her. She wished she never knew him and her mother never got sick. It was hard to say the word cancer. 

A man stepped out of the car, her father bowed from his waist. Fauna’s face twisted in confusion. She watched as he led the man to the container. It looked as though the two were talking, but Fauna couldn’t hear it. Then her father stepped back and the man entered the container. A few seconds later a few guards sealed and locked the doors. 

What?! Fauna thought. Was he going to stay in there? 

“Let’s go.” Matthew said, breaking Fauna out of her trance. “Those guards are starting to stir awake.”

Fauna’s eyes went wide. They passed through the room and into the hallway, continuing to the opposite side of the building. Fauna jumped as Matthew grabbed her elbow.

“There’s no exit here, Fauna.” He said.

“I know, we have to go up, then back down.” She explained. He held her there for a few more agonizing long moments. He was using his lie detector skills, she realized. After studying her, he finally released her. 

Matthew stepped in front of her as they entered the stairwell. Fauna hesitated a moment as images from the last one flashed through her mind. She let out a deep breath once they reached the next floor. They entered the hallway, but suddenly Matthew stopped. Fauna collided into his back. 

“Ouch, sorry.” She whispered and vowed to keep a better distance from him. Colliding with him felt like slamming into a wall. His muscles rippled beneath his black shirt, but he didn’t budge or acknowledge her clumsiness. Her mother always said her ability to be a swan on the dancefloor but a fish out of water when she tried to do anything else took lots of talent. 

“Down the hall, the last office on the left has an emergency fire escape.” She instructed, but Matthew stood frozen. His head tilted to one side.  

Suddenly he grabbed her hand and began running. Before Fauna could think about what was happening, she was being dragged down the hall. She stumbled as he was too fast for her to keep up with. He didn’t pause his momentum. Matthew swung her around in front of him and tossed her into the office. Fauna felt like she was on a merry-go-round on the playground. As she tumbled across the floor, and rolled into the wall, she heard Matthew grunt, then a loud crashing sound. Bodies tumbled across the hallway floor, another man’s voice groaned in agony. 

She sat frozen for a moment as she listened to the fight in the hall. Fauna get up and get out of here. She told herself. She wasn’t sure why, but she hesitated. She wondered if she should leave him or help him. She drew in a deep breath and sighed. She stood, brushing herself off, Fauna tiptoed toward the door, listening as both men fought hard. 

Then there was silence. She froze, Fauna could only hear her nervous breath and her pounding heart. He’s the Daredevil for crying out loud! He’ll be okay. Just GO! Her instinct screamed at her. Go, go!! 

She turned from the door, to the fire escape. Even if I wanted to help, I would only get in his way, she concluded. She couldn’t help him, she didn’t know anything about fighting. With her luck, as of late, she’d just get caught providing him a distraction so he could flee. 

As she lowered herself down the ladder, she wondered if she did get into trouble, would he help her? She heard the stories of people he’d saved. She had seen it on the news, before her mother got sick. Some called him a hero, others a savior. Even some of the girls at school would fantasize about him.  

I wonder what they’d think if they really knew him, she thought. She was willing to bet he wouldn’t be so appealing if they knew just how terrifying he really was. 

Would he help me? She asked herself. As Fauna’s feet hit the concrete ground she guessed not. In his eyes, she was just as guilty as Grayson. 

She glanced up at the window she just crawled out of, there was no sign of anyone. She looked around. She was on the eastside next to the river. All she had to do was follow the narrow ledge and she’d end up on 49th. From there it was about thirty minutes to her apartment building. It was the long way around, but this time she didn’t hesitate and began running. 

She reached the end of 49th street. The streets were dark, but not completely empty. She hoped it wasn’t too, too late out. She didn’t want to be caught out between that time when the questionable people started walking the streets and the drunks started leaving the bars.

Once she made it to her building she breathed in deeply and blew out a long breath. “Thank goodness.” She whispered to herself. And for a moment, she wondered if tomorrow at work she’d stumble upon Daredevil’s body and Grayson throwing a large celebratory party. The thought turned her stomach. She found herself hoping he made it out just fine. 

She hooked the ladder with the old walking cane she found in a trash can and pulled it down. She placed it back behind the dumpster where she kept it hidden and began climbing to her window. 

“Took you long enough.”

His voice startled her and she fumbled on the last step to the landing of her window. Her eyes darted to the shadows. Her jaw, figuratively hit the floor. There he was leaning against the side of the building, waiting for her. 

He’s like a cockroach. She thought. Fauna wanted to punch him, however she was pretty sure that would be signing her death warrant.  Here she was feeling guilty she left him behind, terrified he had been captured, tortured, and more importantly giving up her name. 

He’s the one that left me, her blood boiled. She felt her face growing hot. 

He left her behind, perhaps the guards would have gotten her instead. Either that or she’d be raped by some drunken bastard as she made her way home because he kept her at Grayson’s a lot longer than she had planned. He wouldn’t have cared as long as he got himself out.

She wondered, as she stood in shock, when exactly did he leave Grayson’s? The hallway fight did fall silent before she left. Had he left then, left her while she stood pondering if she should help him. 

Like a fool! She thought. 

“I came to make sure you made it home.”

Sure you did. She said to herself. 

“And to clear up the matter of the container. You seem to think this was a one time deal.” He shook his head. “It’s not.” His arms were crossed in front of his chest. It made him  look less intimidating, though she knew better.

“I need more from you, Fauna.”

This was what she feared. He did say he wanted leads, plural. She had hoped it was just the way he said it, but that was wishful thinking. Obviously, Daredevil was no fool. Of course he would know the quickest way to take down Grayson would be to use her. And that was exactly what he intended to do. And that was a problem, she would have less time to think of a way to help her mother after Grayson was gone. 

She was so angry, she was frozen.

“Grayson is dealing with some very heavy hitters, I didn’t realize that until now. That man was one of three Japanese syndicate leaders. And based on their conversation something big is happening.”

Fauna stayed silent. She clamped her teeth together to keep herself from saying something she’d regret. 

“I need to know if and when any suspicious shipments are coming in. Or anything you hear that could be useful. Do you understand?”

She didn’t have a choice so she nodded. It was out of the frying pan and into the fire. She was making a deal with the devil, literally. 

Though somehow, some way she wasn’t going to make this easy for him. She was going to have to stall him for as long as she could. It wouldn’t be easy. He was clever, but so was she.

Matthew

He jumped from the fire escape and disappeared into the shadows of the alley. He remained close for a while. Listening to her. Fauna sat down on the fire escape steps and didn’t move. She sat there for a very long time, he almost decided to go back when he finally heard her stand up and crawl through her apartment window. She almost immediately went to bed.

Matthew cursed. 

He didn’t want to keep her involved, it was dangerous. But, not only would it give him excuses to feel her out periodically, to make sure she’s compliant in regards to keeping his identity a secret, it will allow him to get inside information on his new target. He had no idea the Japanese triad syndicate was involved with Grayson. Now that he knew, it was even more vital to shut them down. 

Tonight was dangerous for her. She shouldn’t have been there. It was clear she trusted him as much as he trusted her. She was checking up on his side of the story. Luckily he was there. Otherwise it could have had a different ending. Once he heard that she made it safely down the fire escape and to the street, he finished up with a few more guards and caught up with her. He followed her home across the rooftops, she was completely oblivious to his presence. 

She was furious when she saw him standing next to her window. It made him nervous that she didn’t say much. It was a long night, he didn’t want to push the issue. He’d see her soon enough. 

Matthew decided to call it an early night to catch up on the sleep he’s lost recently. 

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

A knock sounded at Matthew’s door as he tucked his tie into his collar. He heard his friend coming from a block away. When Foggy entered the building, Matthew smelled the familiar take-out and cheap beer mixed with Aqua Velva after shave and Irish Spring. 

Matthew smiled. He’s known that scent since the first day of college. He opened the door and Foggy stood smiling, holding coffee and a bagel. 

“You’re gonna love me!” He announced with open arms.

“Come on in, Foggy.” Matthew said, doing some last minute adjustments to his tie. He was glad he no longer had to act blind in front of Foggy. It made things much easier. It took conscious effort pretending not to see things. It was a relief that Foggy knew about his nightlife.

“Why am I loving you?” Matthew asked. 

“Dude, I just landed us a client. That’s two this week. Brought us a bagel to celebrate.”

“Just one?” 

“I already ate mine, couldn’t wait.”

Matthew nodded. “Thank you, but I’m good. I’ll just take the coffee.”

“Sweeeet!” Foggy picked up the bagel and began devouring it. “On a more somber note, Karen filled me in on Fuana slash Flora. Did you see her? How’d your night go?” Crumbs fell onto the table.

“Found her at Grayson’s last night, ran into a few guards. It was fine.”

“Man, she okay?

“Yeah. But those guards are hitting hard. They’re not average. They’ve been trained.”

“It's probably because they know Daredevil kicks ass.”

Matthew smirked but he knew Foggy only made jokes to lighten the burden of what he did night after night. Foggy still struggled with it, but he was glad he had someone to confide in.

“Fauna was checking on that empty crate, only this time it wasn’t empty. She thinks I was lying to her.”

“Ho-how are you two getting along?” Foggy nervously asked. 

“She doesn’t trust me, I don’t trust her.”

“You think she’s gonna tell on you?”

“Honestly, I don’t know.” Matthew braced himself on the table and sat down, across from Foggy. 

“Karen wants to help her, but her job there is off the books… and there’s only two reasons for that. One, she’s illegal. And we know that’s not true based on her birth certificate. Or two, her duties there are of a questionable nature. Probably the usual… greed, position, power---”

“No,” Matthew interrupted, “I don’t think so.” Matthew shook his head. “She doesn’t live like she’s taking in a sizable payday.”

“Threat on her life, or someone else’s?”

“Maybe,” Matthew could see the concern on his friend’s face. “Based on your conversation with her that’s possible.”

“What’s your plan?”

Matthew considered for a moment. Fauna told him she couldn’t quit her job. She wouldn’t. She was even willing to accept any punishment he could dish out because she refused his request. She also refused to give a reason. If he wanted the upper hand, he’d have to find out why.

“I need to know what’s keeping her there. And in the meantime, any information she gives up will bring Grayson to justice.”

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

Matthew joined his friend in court for most of the day. Though he was in a daze, he was still able to deliver the closing statements in court. Their client had made an honest mistake. And though the judge ordered a few months of jail and probation, it was a win. It could have been much worse, but the man didn’t have any priors and that was always good. 

Matthew decided he would swing by and check up on Fuana before he headed home to suit up for the night. He waited for her, this time from the opposite direction he had chosen before. 

He sat on the bus stop’s bench next to a man reading the newspaper. It didn’t take long for him to catch her scent on the wind. Then, she rounded the corner. She shone and shimmered against the setting sun. Matthew found it relaxing to watch the swirls of lights. He pushed his senses harder, just in case he needed them.

Suddenly a man stepped in front of her. For a moment Matthew thought it was an accident, but Fauna froze in place.

“Ms. Grace.” The man politely said. Matthew was pretty good at sizing people up, he would bet half a year’s salary that man was a lawyer. 

Fauna was startled and glanced around cautiously, then back at him.  

“Mr. Androle, what do you want?” She asked, crossing her arms at her chest, a defensive move, Matthew noted.

“Just to talk to you.”

Fauna glanced up at the clock tower. “I don’t have time.”

She began walking away, but he grabbed her elbow, effectively stopping her. Fauna fear intensified, Matthew wanted to intervene. 

“Please, Ms. Grace. I’ve been waiting for you for a couple of hours. The least you could do is hear me out.”

She glanced at the tower again, “fine.”

Mr. Androle smiled and guided Fauna to the bench he had been occupying. 

“I just need your cooperation in this…” he paused a moment. “...situation. I can see that you’re the girl making the decisions here, so I’m coming directly to you.”

What the hell is this , thought Matthew. 

“I understand your hesitance at this situation.” Mr. Androle said. Matthew listened intently and began to panic. What situation was this man referring to?

“I encourage you to accept the offer from my client.”

At those words Matthew’s mind began spiraling. He had wanted to help the girl, thinking if he showed a little kindness she’d accept his help, and tell him why she was at Grayson’s. He was planning to apologize and hope they could start over. All the while she was making deals, and possibly accepting offers. 

“Mr. Androle, if you want my cooperation your client is going to have to offer much more than that measly little sum.” 

Matthew’s hands squeezed his cane so tight his knuckles went white and his palms began to throb.

“If you’ll excuse me, I must be going now.” Fauna stood and began walking away. The lawyer made no move to stop her.

Matthew advanced on her as Mr. Androle stepped into a car and drove away. His blood was boiling and his heart pounded in rage. She was caught red handed, playing with fire. Taking offers on his identity. How much was it worth? How much would it take to give up his name, to give up his life, Foggy’s life, Karen’s? 

Well, thought Matthew, if she wanted to play with fire, he’d give her the devil. 

He was unsure what he was going to do, but he had to get to her, stop her. Keep her quiet. He came up behind her as inconspicuous and casual as possible. She jumped and her heart began pounding as he tightened his grip around her elbow. 

Fauna yelped and froze. 

“Keep walking.” He gritted through his teeth.

“What…?” She took a glance at him in shock.

“Are you deaf… WALK.” He growled lowly at her, pushing her roughly forward. 

She complied looking up at the clock tower. “I’m not sure what this is, but I need to get home.”

Matthew’s grip clamped down harder. Fauna tensed and tried to pull away, but he jerked her back into him. 

She started panicking when they began to pass her apartment building. “Wait! This is where I live. We’re passing it.” She pleaded, her voice shaking.

“Keep your voice low and keep walking.” He demanded. Matthew pulled her along and she was stumbling over her feet. She was purposely trying to slow me down , he thought. This time Matthew wasn’t going to fall for her tricks, somehow she got past his senses. He wouldn’t allow it again.

“Please, I need to go.” She begged, pulling away from him, “wait, please.” 

Matthew just pushed her forward, not listening. He was angry, more at himself, he had let her fool him. He didn’t know how or why but she got past his senses. And he was too willing to let her, he wanted to believe someone could be trusted and honest. 

This was exactly what he feared and exactly why he threatened and blackmailed her. He thought it would be enough, clearly greed is too strong.

“What are you doing?” She squirmed. “Where are you taking me?”

He halted, she stumbled at his abrupt stop. “I said keep your voice down, do what I say and don’t try anything. If you do, I’ll snap your neck right here on the street.”

“Please, you don’t understand. I need to get home.” 

Matthew tilted his head studying her, it took a moment for his threat to sink in.  Her eyes widened, her breath quickened. Then the clock tower behind him rang out. Her eyes darted to the tower, Matthew could smell the fear rolling off her. 

Good, he thought. She needs to be afraid. He began walking again. When the light faded enough for him to duck down an alley. He swung her forward against the building. She stopped herself from colliding with the bricks and quickly turned to face him. 

“I don’t understand?” She said breathlessly. “The paperwork on the container wasn’t filed---”

Matthew slammed his fist into the bricks next to her head. 

She gasped and turned away. Dust and specs of broken brick momentarily flew through the air. Matthew tasted the salt as her eyes welled up in tears.

It won’t work, not this time. He reminded himself that women could be just as evil as men. He couldn’t allow her gender to interfere with his interrogation.

Chapter Text

Trust Issues II

Fauna

Fauna’s mind was reeling. What was happening? What had I done? Why was he angry? He was so very angry. She was frozen in fear. For a moment she thought he had hit her. The impact vibrated her body as she pressed herself against the wall. Once his fist collided with the brick, her mind went blank. Fauna couldn’t think or move, she couldn’t speak. She wasn’t even sure if she ever did.

Matthew placed both hands at either side of her head, forcing her to look at him. She straightened herself, trying to avoid any physical contact with him. His shoulders heaved with heavy breath, his lips in a grim line. His head was bowed and tilted. He was focusing on something. 

What? She wondered. Why is he doing this to me?

Fauna couldn’t help but whimper when Matthew raised his head. His red tinted glasses bored down into her. He didn’t need the mask to be terrifying. He was just as capable in his lawyer suit, possibly even more. In his black mask and armor, he seemed to be reserved, controlled. Here, right now, there was no control, there was no reservations. He was loose and unhinged. 

“Pleas---”

“Fauna.” He cut her off quickly. “Tread lightly.”

It was a warning. His voice was like a snake set to strike, it sent shivers throughout her entire body. Fauna wondered what time it was. The more minutes that ticked by, the more punishment she’d be subjected to. Of course, that would depend on if she survived this encounter. 

“You’re making deals behind my back, who wants my name?”

Confusion splashed across her face. She still didn’t understand and didn’t know how to answer his question. As far as she knew everybody in Hell’s Kitchen wanted to know his name. 

“I, I don’t---”

Matthew slammed his hands against the wall. Fauna shuttered at the  feeling of the impact so close to her, her hair fluttering gently in the wind. She felt like she couldn’t breathe.

“Don’t test me.” 

Fauna felt the electricity in the air.

“Just Don’t.” He growled. “Who?”

“Everyone does.” She blurted, hoping it was the right answer.

Matthew lowered his head again. 

“Who’s the client, Mr… Androle works for?” He said it slowly, gently. Dangerously. 

For a moment Fauna was confused, how did he know about Mr. Androle? Then it became clear to her. He had overheard the conversation she had with Mr. Androle and thought it was about him. How did he hear that conversation? She supposed the same way he knew about all the other things. 

She shook her head gently. She couldn’t tell him. If he looked into it, it would lead him straight to her mother. She’d rather die. 

“No, that… that’s something else.” Her chest grew tighter, was she breathing? She wasn’t sure. Before Fauna could comprehend his movements he had her wrist, twisting her around. She cried out as he pressed her hard into the bricks. She couldn’t breathe. 

“Who?!” He yelled in her ear.

She cried out at the pain in her wrist. “It wasn’t about you!” She sobbed, “I promise. It wasn’t about you.”

Matthew yelled his frustration. He released her and took a few steps back. Fauna fell to the cold concrete. She heard his heavy breathing behind her. 

Suddenly his hands were on her again, jerking her to her feet. “What are you doing?” She asked.

“What I should have done in the first place.” He began walking, pulling her along. “You’ll be coming with me, until I can figure things out.”

Fauna’s panic hit a higher level. She couldn’t go with him, she had to get into her apartment, stop the clock from running with her fob.

“No, no.” She cried, but he wasn’t listening. His grip tightened as she struggled. “Please!” She begged. “I can’t go anywhere.”She wanted to stop him but didn’t know how. Everything began pressing down on top of her, all at once. Her mother. Grayson. The pressure and stress. The rules. The abuse she’s endured. All the threats and secrets. Daredevil. His hands on her. 

“No!” She screamed. Suddenly a broken bulb above them exploded. Exposed wires leading to it sparked, a line of electricity crackled to life. Matthew momentarily released her in surprise. He looked up to see the source. As Fauna followed his gaze her hairs stood on end. Reacting to the buzz floating through the air. He looked back at her, reaching out for her again. As she screamed, a stream of electricity lashed out toward Matthew. 

He threw up his arm to block it. Fauna watched in horror as his body went into convulsions when it connected with his skin. She felt it pulling her, like a line connected from her to the wire. And it was tugging her forward.

After mere seconds the stream of violent electricity was gone. Fauna’s balance faltered and she stumbled when the tugging disappeared. Matthew doubled over in pain, then he fell to the ground with a hard thud. Fauna reached out to him in shock. Was he hurt? Well, of course… he just got electrocuted. Was he dead? 

Like lightning Matthew’s hand shot out, grabbing her again, she gasped and jerked away. 

Run! She screamed at herself. Now was her chance to get away from him. For now anyway. She stood on shaky legs and ran. She believed it was too late, and it wouldn’t matter if he believed her or not. He was going to do whatever he had planned regardless. So she thought it best to prolong whatever that plan may be. 

Fauna didn’t look back. She was too terrified that he’d be right behind her. She didn’t stop until she shut and locked the apartment’s door. She double checked the lock on the window and shut the curtains. She ran into her bedroom, then the bathroom, closing and locking as many doors as she could along the way. She lowered herself down against the farthest corner she could get to, shaking and began to sob. She checked her phone’s time. 

“Fifteen minutes.” She whispered. “Fifteen” 

Matthew

“Matt!” Foggy whispered. “Matt!”

Matthew sat, leaning against the same brick he held Fauna against just twenty minutes earlier. The electric shock he sustained caused his senses to go wild. He sent a location alert to Foggy. Thankfully his senses began to normalize a few minutes before Foggy arrived. 

He spent those few minutes listening to Fauna cry and for some reason repeat the same word over and over, fifteen. As far as he could tell she was telling him the truth. But he wasn’t going to take any chances. He planned to take her back to his apartment and hold her there until he could decide what to do.

“I’m here.” Matthew grunted, sitting taller. 

“There you are, you okay?” Foggy knelt down next to Matthew. 

“Yeah, I think so.” Matthew took a deep breath. “My senses came back a few minutes ago.”

“What happened?” 

“Fauna.” He said, shifting to brace himself on the wall so he could stand.

Foggy reached out to help steady him. “Matt, maybe you should wait…”

“No, I’m alright.” Matthew pushed himself up. “She was talking to a lawyer, he was urging her to accept some kind of deal.”

“Oh man, are you serious?! Was it about you?”

“I thought it was.” He groaned as he straightened himself. His insides still buzzed from the shock. “I interrogated her. She seemed to be telling the truth, but I don’t know for sure.”

“You… interrogated?” Foggy said with a look of concern. He knew what Matthew was capable of when he questioned. “Did you hurt her?”

Matthew looked at Foggy. “Maybe… I dunno. I kinda panicked and lost my temper.”

“Damn, Matt.” He scolded. “You didn’t go all evil Daredevil on her, did you?”

Matthew didn’t acknowledge that question. Foggy took a deep breath and sighed. But after a few minutes of silence Matthew realized Foggy wasn’t going to let him get away with not answering.

“What do you want me to say, I panicked and probably overreacted. But she was making a deal, Foggy”

“Did she? Did you hear her give up your name?”

Matthew’s stomach turned. First, at the possibility of his name being handed over and second, he already knew what Foggy was saying. He lost his temper. People get hurt when that happens. 

“No, she didn’t.” He answered. 

“Well, how’d you end up with your super senses all jacked up?” Foggy replied, nodding.

Matthew peered up at the broken wire. “I got electrocuted.”

“Oh wow, no wonder I smell burnt hair.”

Matthew huffed. 

“Well, where is she now?”

“She ran away, she’s in her apartment right now.” 

“Aright, come on.” Foggy grabbed Matthew’s arm and placed it over his shoulders. “Let’s get you home.”

Matthew listened as Fauna continued to cry.

Chapter Text

Fifteen

Fauna

Fauna sat at her desk, mostly waiting for her father to call her into his office, she knew it was only going to be a matter of time. Fifteen, she reminded herself. At least it would only be fifteen. Before, she had been thirty minutes late and he punished her by smacking her palms with a steel rod thirty times. She didn’t have full use of her hands for a week, even after that it took a long while for the pain to go away. 

She couldn’t understand why he hated her so much, why he did the things he did. She didn't know him very well, he left her mother when she was a little girl. But working for him has taught her that he holds no value to human life. He did what he wanted in order to stay in control, have power, which often resulted in displays of cruelty. 

She stared at the stacks of papers on her desk. She was supposed to be working her way through them. However, she was too tired and worried. Fauna spent the morning terrified. Last night proved a certain vigilante was dangerous and deadly whether he was dressed as a lawyer or masked in black. This morning she was actually thankful she made it to work. She was going to have to be extra careful on her way home. Perhaps I should sacrifice some of my food money for a taxi, she thought as a light knock sounded at her door. 

The door cracked open, and a large figure slipped through. It was Ace. Her heart stopped beating for a moment. Was it time?

“Good afternoon, Fauna.” He said, but without his usual slithering smirk. 

“Is it?” She replied as perky as possible, shuffling papers to make herself seem busy. Though instead of walking around her desk, like he always did to try to intimidate her, he slid in the other chair that sat opposite of her. Fauna watched him move. He was smooth and graceful. Like a snake in water, she thought.

He stayed silent a moment, watching her. He took an audible breath. 

“You were late last night.” He said, “why?”

Fauna forced herself to keep her eyes down on the papers. Obviously she couldn’t tell him the truth. She expected this and was prepared. She thought it wouldn’t do any harm to give them some truth, knowing Ace and her father were pretty good at sniffing out liars. Just like Daredevil, she thought.  Her blood boiled, what was happening was his fault. All of it actually. Everything hit the fan the moment she met him. 

“Um, I accidentally ran into someone I used to know. They kinda...freaked out on me, because I kind of...disappeared. She grabbed me and wouldn’t let go.” She paused to look up at him. His face was unreadable. “She wanted an explanation.”

“And what did you tell this person?”

“Nothing, of course.”

“Your father isn’t going to be happy no matter the excuse.” He shifted. Fauna’s eyes darted to him. Her heartbeat went from a normal fearful to pounding. 

“I know.” She said quietly. 

Ace stood, straightening his suit. “You know, I could get you out of it... if you like.”

“Thank you, no.” She went back to her papers. She wanted to, but that would mean owing him a debt. She couldn’t imagine what he’d want in return. Actually she could imagine, and it was things she couldn’t bring herself to do. So she refused him. She heard his footsteps heading for the door. 

“Exhale.” He said.

Confused, she looked up at him. Half his massive body was hidden behind the door. He was looking at her. Fauna saw something flash in his eyes. She wasn’t sure exactly what it was, but it was gone. 

“What?” she asked. 

“At the moment of impact, exhale. It takes the edge off.” 

Then he left and shut the door. Fauna threw the papers at the door. They scattered throughout the air and floated gingerly to the ground. He could help her regardless of refusing him, but he chooses not to. 

An hour later she was walking toward her father’s office. She looked out the window to her right as she walked, imagining life elsewhere. Her school, the rehearsals and performances, her friends, they all seemed like it was another life, another person. She knocked softly. 

“Come in.” Her father’s voice was slightly muffled by the door.

The door clicked as it opened and she slid in, quickly making her way to the chair. Grayson was on the phone, but he wasn’t talking. 

“Ah, finally!” He said into the receiver. “Now, I need you to make sure there is no police anywhere near the docks tonight. Is that doable?”

Fauna listened intently. Something big was happening tonight if he needed the streets cleared. She wished he’d put some of these things down on paper, that way she could start collecting evidence to use for blackmailing. She pushed that thought aside, if Daredevil had his way, it wouldn’t matter how much evidence she collected. 

“Good, good.” Grayson continued. “That’s what I pay him for.” Then he hung up the phone. His eyes fell on her. She quickly learned in her early days, men like him liked submission. She looked down at her hands. 

“You were late last night.” He said. 

Fauna nodded, hearing the top drawer of his desk squeak open. She tried to draw in a deep calming breath, but it was cut short by the fear rising up. Just fifteen. She reminded herself. 

“Why do you make me do this?” He asked, it was more of a rhetorical question, so she didn’t answer. He considered the fact that he had to take time from his day to punish her, her fault. Nothing, no explanation or excuse she could give would make him care. He only cared if she submitted. This was for mom, she coached herself. Mom would have died, could still die if she wasn’t here. 

“I’m sorry.” She said quietly. He grabbed her wrist and roughly extended it out and twisted it over to expose the inside of her forearm. Fauna yelped at the sudden jerk. He slammed the small metal rod down on her tender skin. 

Fauna cried out, but quickly snapped her lips closed and clenched her teeth so tightly she thought they would crack. Then another hard smack. She groaned and whimpered. She fought against the natural instinct to pull away. Her father held her firmly.

“I don’t hear you counting.” He said calmly, as if he was holding a normal meeting. He slammed down again. 

“Three.” She said through tears. “Four, five.” Her body began shaking. She forced herself to focus on her mother. Her sweet smile, her voice and the fact that she can still call her and perhaps see her soon. If she wasn’t here right now, none of that would be possible.  

Her armed throbbed, pain shot up spreading throughout the rest of her body. Then, Daredevil popped in her mind, and everything that has happened. Then she remembered Ace and the advice he had given her earlier. Why would he do that?   She wondered. He had said to exhale. She wondered why he offered that small bit of help. He actually gave her advice to ease the pain. There wasn’t a kind bone in that man’s body.  

She inhaled and exhaled as her father’s arm came down again. “Thirteen.” Did it work? It seemed the pain was not as bad, or it could be that her arm was going numb. She tried again, “Fourteen.” Again it helped. She wished she’d done it from the beginning. Tears fell in a constant stream. She didn’t want to cry, she didn’t want to let Grayson see her cry, but it was impossible with the pain.

 “Fifteen.” 

She doubled over as her father released her arm. She could barely move it. It was swollen red and bruises were already forming.

“Now, go home. I want you back here tonight. I have a job for you.” He said, sitting back down into his chair. Again she wanted to ask why he hated her so much, why he didn’t want to protect her like a father was supposed to do. Instead, she chickened out. Questioning him would only make it worse. 

Fauna stood on shaking legs and focused on breathing through the pain as she made her exit, thankful that it was over. 

She walked the street slowly. Holding her arm to her chest, protecting it. Grayson let her go a bit early, so there wasn’t any need to rush home. She could enjoy the daylight for a little longer. But there was still the matter of Daredevil. He could pop out of nowhere. 

She must have looked crazy to people she passed on the street. They were giving her funny looks. The way she held her arm at her chest, and kept looking around, even turning periodically to see who was behind her, but she didn’t care. She didn’t want to be caught off guard again. Once she made it into her apartment she breathed a sigh of relief. She placed a scarf in the freezer, then double checked the locks on the door and window. 

She supposed that if a man like Daredevil wanted in, not much could stop him. A few measly locks would stand in his way, but checking them made her feel better. She undressed and looked over her face. The bruise on her cheek was fading. After showering she wrapped the cold scarf around her forearm. She usually hated cold things, but it provided a little relief. She put another garment in the freezer for later. 

Fauna had a couple hours before she was due back at the shipping yard. She set her alarm to make sure if she fell asleep she’d be woken up in time. There wasn’t much else to do, but sleep inside her apartment. She admitted with everything going on she could use the extra sleep. 

She decided to check the locks one more time and grabbed the blanket from the bed and laid down on the couch. The throbbing in her arm subsided just a bit, the cold cloth was helping. She took some deep breaths and tried to clear her mind. 

Just as she closed her eyes and began drifting off her door buzzer sounded. Her eyes flew open, almost in a panic. 

“Was it time already?” She asked the empty room. Did her father send a car for her? She looked at the time. She had another hour. Confused, she stood and made her way to the apartment’s intercom. No one ever buzzed her, unless it was someone from Grayson. Even then they were never early. Ace always made sure it was right on time. He was weird that way, very punctual. 

She pressed the button and paused a moment before speaking. “Hello?”

“Oh um, Fauna? It’s Foggy. Foggy Nelson.” 

Fauna’s heart jumped. What?!! Why was he here? And, he knew her name. She felt embarrassed for using Flora as a cover. She let go of the button and looked around. He was Daredevil’s friend. Was it a trick to get to her? She somehow dismissed that. She figured he didn’t need anyone's help if he wanted to take her out. She went to her window and peered out. Careful not to get too close, just in case he was out there. 

“Please, I need to talk to you about… a mutual friend.”

She huffed, shook her head and quickly made her way back to the com. “He’s your friend, not mine. Go away.”

“Please. Could you give me a minute?”

“How’s that?” Mrs. Carmichael buzzed in on the conversation. 

Fauna rolled her eyes and sighed. “It’s okay Mrs. Carmichael. It’s for me.”

“Is that a young man I hear?” It sounded as if she just woke up. “He sounds nice, Fauna. You should let him in.”

“Oh no, no. Mrs. Carmich---” It was too late she hit her buzzer to open the door. She said a quick prayer that perhaps Foggy wouldn’t take advantage. 

A few minutes later a light knock sounded at her door. 

“Fauna?”

She silently scolded Mrs. Carmichael. If anything he was persistent. She thought. Must be the lawyer in him. “Go away.” 

“Look, I know things aren’t great right now.”

“That’s an understatement.”

“Please? I would really like to talk to you.” He begged. She looked through her peephole. He was dressed in a bargain barn suit and looked like a teddy bear. But more importantly, she couldn’t see if he was alone. 

“Is anyone else with you?”

“All by my lonesome. Scouts honor.” He looked at the peephole and waved, giving a half-hearted smile. She remembered his kindness and concern for her when she visited their office and wanted to believe him. She understood why Daredevil wanted to keep him safe, he must be a very good friend, that lovely Karen too.

She removed the chain and unlocked the door. She opened it but stepped far back, thinking someone or anyone could try to enter and grab her. Though it was a false sense of security.  

“Hi.” Foggy said, stepping inside.

He closed the door behind him. “Want me to lock it?” He pointed to the deadbolt. 

Fauna shrugged, stepping further back. She guessed he either wanted to keep her from making a hasty exit or he was being very courteous toward knowing how scared he thought she must be from dealing with his partner.

Partner. Fauna reminded herself. This man was Daredevil’s partner and couldn’t be trusted. He held his jacket in one hand and his briefcase in the other. He looked a bit disheveled and honestly concerned.

“People are expecting me in less than an hour.” She declared, just in case he was going to try anything. 

“Oh, right. Just in case I try anything, right?” He gave a laugh, but it quickly faded. He cracked a joke. Fauna understood, he was trying to ease the tension. “Don’t worry. I’m your average guy. Matt doesn’t even know I’m here by the way. He’d probably protest. He hates it when his vigilante ways mix with his day life.”

“Why are you here? How do you know where I live anyway.”

“Matt told me.”

“So… you know about his night life?”

“Yeah, and that’s why I’m here.” He sat his things down on the floor and slid his hands into his pockets. “I just wanted to come by and say that I’m really hoping we can all work this out.”

“You’re gonna threaten me to keep his secret, too?”

“Uh, no, no. I just…” He displayed his palms to her in submission and sighed. Fauna noticed his struggle and frustration on his face. He was concerned about his friend. “Look, Matt’s a good guy. I mean good as in a decent human being. He’s just trying to help people. This is the first time we’re dealing with this kind of thing. You know someone finding out about him.”

“Maybe he’s a decent human being to you and the people he cares for. Not so much to others.” She nodded.

His expression changed to disappointment. “He’s just trying to keep people from getting hit by crossfire.”

“I understand that.” She said, and she did. Fauna understood the desire to hold on and protect the people you love.

“I know you two kind of---”

“There’s no kind of about it.” Fauna said, cutting him off. “I don’t have any plans to sell his information, okay. I never did. You and Ms. Page were nice to me, I don’t want you getting hurt, because of him. Too many do, I don’t want to be the cause of it.”

They shared a glance and a moment of silence.

“He heard you talking about accepting some deal?”

“It wasn’t about him. My world doesn’t revolve around him, you know. He could have just asked me about it. Use those lie detector skills or something.”

“Yeah, he can be a hot head sometimes.”

“Look, I need to get ready and go.” Fauna maneuvered around Foggy and opened the door to encourage him to leave. 

“Right, of course. Just please… he’s just scared sometimes. We’ve lost people, he’s lost people. All he wants to do is the right thing.” Foggy turned and innocently reached for Fauna’s covered arm to offer comfort and compassion. 

Fauna gasped and winced, turning from him in pain. Foggy immediately released her. “Whoa, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean---”

“And all I want is to be left alone, please go.”

Foggy backed out of the apartment, concern and fear spread across his face. Fauna slammed the door and locked it. 

Matthew

Matthew watched as Foggy exited Fauna’s apartment building. He was reaching in his pocket and brought out his phone. A moment later Matthew’s phone rang out.

He didn’t give his friend time to answer with a greeting. Foggy began talking as soon as he heard Matt pick up. “First of all, I’m sorry. I went to Fauna’s to talk to her. Second, Matt, what the hell man. You said you didn’t hurt her.” 

“First of all,” Matthew replied. “I know, I just watched you leave. And second, I didn’t hurt her.”

“What?!! You’re there. Man, I told her I came alone. She won’t believe me now.” He paused a moment. “Why is she hurt, then? I barely touched her, she could have a broken arm.”

“I didn’t, Foggy.”

“Are you sure, I mean maybe you got so freaked out you didn’t realize it.”

Matt knew that could be a possibility, but he was sure.

“Look, Matt.” Foggy sighed. “You haven’t really done a great job convincing her to keep your identity a secret. Perhaps you should just leave her alone for a while. She seemed like she was telling the truth to me. What did your superpower senses pick up?”

“As far as I can tell she’s telling the truth.”

“Then let’s just leave her alone, like she wants.”

“I can’t do that, Foggy. If the Triad’s involved we got big problems. I’m gonna stick around and to see what she’s up to tonight.”

Foggy sighed. “Uh, bigger problems than everyone finding out about you?!!”

“I know it’s not ideal. But what options do I have?” 

“Oh man, just be careful and call me. And what about Fauna?”

“I’m going to try to keep her out of it as much as possible.”

“Just don’t hurt her anymore, I can’t have this on my conscience, Matt.”

“I didn’t hurt her, not like that anyway. And Foggy…” Matthew waited.

“Yeah.” He groaned.

“Can you and Karen look into this lawyer, Mr. Androle? From the look and smell of him he’s high end.”

“Sure thing.” Foggy replied with low enthusiasm. 

Matthew hung up and crouched down on the rooftop, waiting for Fauna to exit the building. He didn’t have to wait long before her shimmering figure lit up the dark night.

Chapter Text

Shadow

Fauna 

Fauna peered out the door’s window of the apartment building. She looked right, then left, and sighed. She actually hoped there’d be a car. She’d settle for dealing with Ace rather than Daredevil. She took a second glance before stepping out. She walked as quickly as she could, tightening the shall around her shoulders. The night was briskly cold, and it was all she had. 

She admitted she was very nervous for tonight. She wasn’t sure what to expect or why her father wanted her there. Her arm still very much throbbed and was terrified that Daredevil would pop from the shadows. Suddenly a horrid thought came to her.  

What if he did and I didn’t make it to Grayson’s? Her heart stopped as did her feet. She took a moment to glance around. She was mostly alone, just a few late night stragglers here and there. She continued on. 

She made it to the gates of the shipping yard with no trouble. Four men, fully armed, guarded the gate. As she approached, one man spoke into his radio. 

“Tell Mr. Gayson that Fauna’s here.” He said, while the other men unlocked the gate and let her through. 

“Go to dock Twenty-three.” The same man said. 

She nodded.

 As she drew closer to the dock she noticed the workers packing small crates into one of the warehouses. She saw Ace directing some of the men and her father, his back to her, casually looking on.

“Fauna, it’s about time.” Ace called out.

She mentally rolled her eyes and did not acknowledge him.

“Ah, good.” Grayson turned. He had a clipboard in hand, “Now I can get out of here. I’ve more important things to do.” 

Her father thrust a clipboard in her hands. She winced as it connected with her arm. “Follow me.” He said, walking into the warehouse. She obeyed, taking a quick glance at the clipboard. It was a manifest with different sections of Hell’s Kitchen listed, but it was empty. 

“Now,” Grayson began. “I want you to begin recording the serial number to each of these crates and assign them a specific area.”

Fauna looked up from the papers. Crates were stacked high all around. They weren’t large, one man could handle carrying one, but there were so many of them. Too many , she thought. This was going to take all night, possibly two. What were in them anyway? She heard workers coming up behind her, so she scooted out of the way so they could pass. They brought in more crates, and kept stacking them. 

“Get started.” Grayson said, walking out. 

Fauna didn’t wait, it was cold and was going to be a long night. She figured if she kept moving it would help keep her warm and she’d get finished much faster. 

She began moving around, writing down each number on the manifest. When she filled one part of Hell’s Kitchen she moved on to the next. She started in the farthest corner or the warehouse, away from where the workers were currently stacking crates. After about twenty minutes they stopped packing them in. 

“Thank goodness.” She whispered to herself. She looked up to see where the workers were. She saw Ace on the opposite side of the room, he towered over a stack of crates as well as most of the other men. Her eyes darted from one of the crates to Ace and the men. She thought she might have enough time to peak in without them noticing. Her eyes again darted from the crates to the men and back again. 

Curiosity got the better of her. If she was ever going to get any evidence, now was the time. She reached for the lid, but kept her eyes on Ace. It wouldn’t budge. She studied Ace’s movements for a moment, when she decided he was too occupied to pay any attention to her she turned to the crate and used both hands to pry it off. 

“Come on.” She begged. Then, with a quiet crack it popped off. She looked up to Ace. Did he hear that? To her, that cracking noise sounded like a trumpet blaring loud enough to wake the dead. Based on Ace, it wasn’t noticeable. She breathed a sigh of relief. Her heart pounded in her ears. She silently moved the lid away and reached inside. She felt something soft and plushy. 

Confused, she pulled the object out. It was a small white teddy bear with a red ribbon tied around its neck. Her eyebrows furrowed. She looked up, the men were still in their corner, so she began inspecting the bear. She turned it over and over not understanding why there were stuffed bears in the crates. Fauna noticed a loose string by the neck and casually pulled at it. The seam unraveled leaving a small hole in its side. She reached into the hole and pulled out small bags of white powder. 

She sighed, “drugs.”

“Aye, careful with that you idiot!” Ace screamed at a worker, startling Fauna. She yelped and quickly returned the bear and put the lid back in place. Grabbing the clipboard she went back to work, but her heart was racing.

She needed to get to her desk. A while back she hid a small disposable camera inside of it hoping one day she’d capture some evidence. This was her chance, right here, right now. She could also get copies of the manifest. Blackmailing Grayson wasn’t ideal, but she needed something to keep the money flowing for her mother’s care. Even long after Daredevil was through with him. 

But she had to get that camera and get back down here and get pictures. She took the clipboard and headed for the exit. She had herself a plan, and felt a new sense of motivation. 

“Um, Ace.” She called out. 

He turned. “What?”

“I don’t have enough room to fit all these serial numbers, I’m going to have to go and make some copies.”

He eyed her a moment, long enough to make her nervous, as if he knew what she was planning. 

“Well, make it quick!” he said with a wave of her hand, dismissing her. Fauna felt a smile spread across her lips, something that hasn’t happened in a long while.

She nodded and made her way to the exit. Fauna was about to open the door, but she heard an odd thud that stopped her. She put her ear to the door and listened quietly for a moment. There was no other sound, it must have been my imagination, she concluded.  

Fauna opened the door and peered into the darkness. Where’s the street lights, she wondered. Suddenly the darkness moved, startling her. As her eyes adjusted to the night she saw him, the Devil of Hell's Kitchen was standing just a few feet away. There were bodies laying at his feet, his broad, muscled shoulders heaved breathlessly. His covered eyes bore holes into her.

Fauna stepped back, slamming the door shut. Though she knew that wouldn't do any good, it was all she could think of. 

She began backing away from the door, it was only a matter of time before he made his way into the warehouse. And she didn’t want to be here when that happened. 

"What are you doing?!" Ace yelled at her. But all Fauna could do was stare at the door. He stormed to her, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her. She finally tore her eyes away from the door and looked at Ace. She must have looked terrified, his expression changed from confusion to understanding. He knew something was wrong, someone was out there and he had a good guess who it was.

With a loud bang the door exploded, splinters flew through the air. Ace pushed Fauna to the floor, and covered her with his body. As quickly as she felt his weight crash down on her, it was gone. When she looked up, Ace was on his feet and gun drawn. Shots rang out toward the door. The guards began shuffling into different positions. The lights exploded above their heads and the warehouse went dark. 

Fauna scrambled back on her hands into the maze of crates hoping to find a hiding place. Once she was far enough away, she got to her feet. She ran deeper into the warehouse, all while hearing men grunting and groaning, bones breaking, their screams rang out. 

She ducked behind some crates, after a few agonizing minutes, the sounds stopped. She didn’t move for a few more minutes, she just listened. All she heard was silence. Her thoughts began swirling. She had to get out of here, she needed to get out. Though, even if she did it was too late, he knew she was here. He’d come for her, he knew where she lived and she’d just be another victim of his brutal delivery of justice.

She lifted herself from her kneeling position, even though it was dark and she couldn’t see very well, her eidetic memory could help her. Three steps ahead and turn right, she coached herself and forced her legs to move. Six steps then another right. She tiptoed as fast as she could, she hoped without making too much noise. Left---

“Aah!” Fauna screamed as she collided with a guard. He scrambled back.

“Stop, right there. Don’t move.” He commanded. “I’ll kill you, don’t move.”

Fauna threw her hands up in submission and backed into a crate. “Okay.”

“Where is he, where’d he go?” His panicked voice and wild eyes told Fauna the man was panicked and terrified. He might shoot her in an accident. She knew exactly how he felt.

“I--I don’t know.” She replied. 

“Don’t lie to me.” He screamed, thrusting the gun toward her. 

Movement on top of a stack of crates caught her attention. Her eyes darted to the shadows. Daredevil jumped from the crates, grabbing the gun. A single shot rang out. Fauna took cover, but there weren't many places to hide. She watched as Daredevil knocked the guard to the ground. He stood over top of him, his back turned to her. He punched the man and effectively stopped the guard from getting up, another punch knocked him out completely. As the man’s body went limp, Daredevil turned, facing Fauna.

She gasped at his sudden movement. She took a step back in response and hit a crate behind her. They wobbled and some began toppling down toward her. Fauna fell to her knees and braced herself for the impact. Daredevil quickly stepped over the unconscious body at his feet and covered Fauna with his body. 

She heard the crates smashing into the floor. Curious as to why she hadn’t been hit by one of them, she opened her eyes. Daredevil stood over her, blocking the falling crates. His body heat surged outward, and reminded her of how freezing she was. She looked into his covered eyes, and found nothing but an abyss. He tilted his head to the side in the normal way of his and extended his hand to her.

Yeah right! She silently said to herself. Not in a million years would she willingly place herself in a position that allowed him to have any physical advantage. She wanted nothing to do with him. However, not much point to all that now that he was this close to her, too close.  Then, from out of nowhere. Ace flashed into Fauna’s line of sight. He jumped from a crate and slammed into Daredevil. Both men went tumbling to the ground, grunting and brawling.

Fauna saw an opening and wasted no time, she ran. 

Matthew

Matthew hopped the rooftops, he’d lost Fauna’s trail and was trying to pick it up again. First he headed toward her apartment, but turned around when he couldn’t sense her. She headed somewhere else and had gotten farther than anticipated. The last guard he fought was very well trained and took a while for them to come to a draw. The drug shipment was large, Matthew had made the right choice to follow Fauna. Now, at least half the drugs were eliminated thanks to a small fire caused by some gasoline and a cigarette someone dropped during the fight. He wanted to make a sizable dent in Grayson products hitting the streets. Tonight felt like a success. Now that he knew for sure what they have been up to, it was time to start collecting evidence to help get them prosecuted. 

He was relieved that Fauna didn’t know what was in those crates. She put herself at risk inspecting one. Maybe now, she’ll want to quit her job, Matthew thought. But deep down he knew that wouldn’t happen. There was more going on, he felt he had only scratched the surface. Maybe if she couldn’t quit, she would be willing to help, instead of him forcing her. Matthew observed how frightened she was tonight. It amplified when she had seen Grayson, then again when she saw him standing at the door. 

He had smelled blood on her, but hadn’t had enough time to determine how hurt she was before engaging the guards in the warehouse. Matthew paused on a corner ledge listening. Fauna didn’t head back to her apartment, she was going somewhere else. He stretched his senses farther. Then, after a moment, he found her. He leaped from the ledge following the sound. Her heartbeat was still frantic and heading toward the park. 

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

He found her on a park bench. She was tucked into herself. She was shivering, her body temperature was dropping. With the rain threatening to fall, she could be in danger of hypothermia. Her hair lightly swayed and she was on the verge of tears. He listened for anyone nearby, for a moment his senses glitched as they usually did when he was around her. They had done so back in the warehouse, that was how he missed that last guard tackling him. 

There were a few joggers on the opposite end of the park, otherwise they were alone. Matthew debated whether he should take his mask off or leave it on. Honestly she was terrified of him either way. When she opened that warehouse door and saw him, he thought her heart might actually explode, her blood pressure skyrocketed. Her reaction to him was his fault, so it wouldn’t matter if his mask was on or off. He kept it on.

He approached her slowly, with his palms out, hoping it would seem less threatening. “Fauna.” He gently called out.

She gasped and when she saw him she stumbled back causing her to fall to the ground from her seat. 

It was written all over her face, she was about to flee. He began sprinting toward her. “Fauna wait.”

She turned scrambling to her feet and started running. She was smaller and wasn’t particularly fast, matching her speed wasn’t difficult. As she ran into the trees he reached out for her. He slid beside her and hooked his arm around her waist. She tried pushing him away, but stumbled in the attempt. He pulled her to the ground, as they tumbled over one another, Matthew hooked his other arm around her head, protecting her from injury. 

Once they came to a stop Fauna began kicking and punching him. But with Matthew’s training he easily subdued her. In a panic she cried out and squirmed. He kept her pinned under him, avoiding her injured arm. Though her struggle against him was making it difficult. 

“Fauna. Stop.” She wasn’t listening, and on the verge of hyperventilating. “Fauna!” He tried again, but it only frightened her more. He held her wrists with one hand and slipped off his mask with the other. 

“Fauna, stop. I need you to just breathe.”

She looked into his eyes with wild eyes. “Breath.” He coached. The wind blew harder against them. She shivered beneath him.

“Please, let me go. I won’t tell anyone about you, I promise I won’t.” She begged. Matthew understood, she believed he planned to hurt her, possibly kill her. Based on the other night, he couldn’t blame her for thinking that way. 

He shook his head, “Fauna. Just breathe. Deeply, in and out.” 

He kept his eyes on her and for the first time noticed exactly how readable she really was. He supposed he was too wrapped up in his own self and problems to see it before. She struggled to hide her emotions, her confusion, and fear toward him, especially her anger. After a few moments of coaching her she was calm enough. 

“I’m going to let you go, don’t run.”

She nodded and he released her. She backed away from him, settling against the base of a tree. Matthew stayed crouched on the ground. 

“How did you find me?” She asked, fighting back tears. But Matthew didn’t answer, he was studying her. “I didn’t go back to my apartment because I knew you’d go there.”

He smelled the blood and bruising on her forearm, but he couldn’t see it,

“I knew you didn’t go home, I followed the sound of your heartbeat”

Her eyebrows furrowed. “You can hear my heartbeat?”

Matthew nodded, “Yes, right now it’s telling me how frightened and angry you are.” He watched as she worked through the information he had told her. 

“So you have super hearing, and super smelling abilities?”

He nodded. “Something like that.” It sounded crazy, but in today’s world of super beings, Iron Man, and aliens it wasn’t as far fetched as it was when he was a kid.

“Fauna, you’re bleeding.”

She looked herself over and then at him confused. 

“Your arm.”

Matthew didn’t miss that she quickly glanced down, barely acknowledging it.

Matthew sighed. He needed her to open up to him. She needed to start trusting him. “I wanted to apologize for the other night, I was… out of line.”

She didn’t acknowledge him. Instead, her eyes darted left then right, planning another escape attempt. 

“I don’t want to hurt you Fauna, I never have.”

Her eyes snapped to his, Matthew sensed her blood pressure rising slightly. He saw that in her eyes he had hurt her and she blamed him for it. He could accept that, now it was time to make amends. 

“Then what, what are you going to do? I know who you are, you don’t want me to, but it’s too late.” She wrapped her hands around her shoulders. “I mean, you’ve beat up everyone else at the warehouse, I’m the only one left.”

“You were never on my target list. I came here tonight because I want to know about your arm.” He needed to get to the bottom of why she was at Grayson’s. Why was she hurt. He needed to get under the surface, and perhaps they can begin to help each other.

She swallowed nervously. “Nothing, it’s nothing.” She shrugged.

Matthew instinctively tilted his head, listening. It was a lie. Her heart jumped and sped up. The way her expression changed she knew that he knew she was lying.

He shook his head and lowered it to the ground. He knew right away she wasn’t going to let him inspect it without a fight. Might as well get this over with, he concluded. He sighed and stood, tucking the mask into his back pocket. As he came toward her she tried backing away. By the surprised look on her face she forgot about the tree behind her. Her back hit it as she stood. Before she could run, he reached for her.

Matthew grabbed her wrist and pulled. He twisted, pressing his back into her. He carefully pinned her arm at his side. She yelped and tried pulling away, but his movements were too quick and she was unable to escape.

“No!” Fauna screamed. She pressed her cold palm against his back with her free arm, trying to push him away.

Matthew ignored her protest and extended her arm in front of him to get a better look. She squirmed.

“Let go.” She demanded, now pounding her fist into his shoulder blade. Her attempt to hurt him was laughable, there wasn’t much power behind her punch.

“Hold still.” He demanded, deciding that laughing at her attempt was not appropriate at the moment. She ignored his request and continued hitting him.

Using his teeth he slipped off his glove and unwrapped the scarf covering her arm. She jerked, but he held her firmly. When his fingers touched her skin she frantically squirmed, trying to stop him. Matthew tasted the salt in the air. Tears, he determined. 

“No! Let go.”

Matthew gently slid his fingers across her arm, feeling each and every welted bruise. On the second pass he counted them. Fifteen. Fifteen marks. The night he held her, interrogating her about the lawyer, he heard her repeating that number, terrified. Why? He wondered. 

“How did you get these?” Matthew asked, peering at her over his shoulder. 

She shook her head and went still, finally accepting her attempts were futile.

“Fauna.” 

“It doesn’t matter. Let go.”

“Are you a self mutilator?”

“No!”

Matthew determined that was true. Matthew inhaled deeply and listened carefully. Her bone was bruised. Someone much stronger than her did this. “Who hurt you?”

“Just let go, please, and leave me alone.”

“What happened?”

“Nothing.”

“Tell me.”

“Let go.”

“No, tell me who did this.”

They were in a standoff. Neither one was willing to give in. At least she stopped shivering so much, he thought. His body heat provided her relief from the cold. Matthew had suspicions, based on her reactions to Grayson it could very well be him.  Both times he was with her at the docks she was terrified of him. 

“Grayson.” He said quickly, listening intently to her.

“No.” She cried, her tears falling freely. 

Matthew’s jaw clenched at her lie. “Why?” 

Her heart pounded. “Why?! Why?!” She grew angry, punching him again. “Because of you! Because I was fifteen minutes past curfew. Because you decided I was guilty without even asking!” 

She stumbled back against the tree as Matthew released her. He whirled around, shocked. He studied her for a moment to make sure she wasn’t lying, but Matthew didn’t have a need for that. It was more out of habit. Instinct told him it was the truth.

“This is all your fault!” She continued. “Everything that’s gone wrong is your fault. Did you know I was this close, this close---” She pinched her fingers togethers displaying a small distance between them. “--- to getting the evidence I needed against Grayson, but no, you show up and ruin everything! Everything, once again.”

Matthew turned his back to her. He was listening but all he could process was the punishment she took because of him. He had hurt her badly. Not directly, but it was close enough.

She continued. “You know, you say you want to bring Grayson and his empire to justice, but it seems to me all you know how to do is punch people.”

“Fauna.” Matthew paused when her breath hitched and she maneuvered herself from the tree, ready to run from him if needed. He sighed in his disappointment. She was just as terrified of him as she was Grayson. “Get home before you freeze.” 

He stayed nearby, waiting for her to start making her way home. He wasn’t going to leave without making sure she got there safely. She didn’t move for a long while and for a few minutes he thought he was going to have to go back and force her. Finally she began walking. He had planned to talk to her, make amends and try to come to some kind of compromise. 

When she admitted what happened and why, he was furious. Too angry to continue. He wanted to go straight to Grayson, beat him into oblivion and warn him never to touch her again. After a few breaths he couldn’t, it would only make things worse. 

As far as Fauna was concerned he’s accomplished that by leaps and bounds. Learning what he has he’d have to agree with her. Pains of guilt and anger swept over him as he watched her shimmering figure shiver and shake. He could hear her teeth chattering as she walked. He ran the events of the night he had taken her through his head. She had tried to tell him about her curfew, begging for him to stop and allow her to go home. 

He refused her, he didn’t listen. He was a professional at that and at pushing people past their limits. He didn’t accept opposing feelings, beliefs, opinions or views of those around him. That’s what made him a good lawyer, but he always tried to do what he thought was right.  

Fauna stopped and glanced around, then looked straight at him. She couldn’t see him of course, but she bore into him anyway. Suddenly she began frantically searching for something. She paused, looking so defeated, and accepted the fate whatever it was she looked for and continued walking. 

Once she was safely home and in bed, Matthew didn’t call it a night. He was too ramped up. Instead, he went looking for something to fight.

Chapter Text

Going Home

Fauna

Fauna watched as Daredevil disappeared quietly into the shadows. She glanced around peering in the darkness, half expecting him to jump out at her. She said all those things to him and he allowed it. He even allowed her to hit him… without retaliating? She considered herself lucky he didn’t turn around and punch her back. She wrapped her arms around herself. Her arm throbbed, it had never stopped, but the events of the night had taken her mind elsewhere. She forced herself to put one foot in front of the other and began walking home. 

She was cold, probably on the verge of freezing, and chills ravaged her body. As she continued down the street a different kind of chill overcame her. It began at the base of her spine and went up to her neck, she shivered and stopped. It was that odd eerie feeling that happens when someone is watching you. Fauna looked around. She was alone. Her eyes settled on a patch of shadows underneath a dimly lit billboard high atop a tall building. She turned away, deciding she better hurry home before Grayson---

Fauna gasped and searched for her Fob and phone. They were nowhere on her. Had she dropped them when she tumbled to the ground in the woods? No, she realized. Defeated, she turned and began walking again. She had left them in the warehouse on a crate by the door. She said a silent prayer her father would understand. If not, she honestly couldn’t care at this moment. She was too hungry, too cold and too tired. 

She pressed Mrs. Carmichael’s doorbell. 

“Hello!” She answered with a sleep filled voice.

“Um, hi Mrs. Carmichael. It’s Fauna, I’m really sorry. I forgot my keys, could you buzz me in please?”

“Fauna! What are you doing out so late?!” Her voice raised in excitement. “You out with a man tonight?”

Fauna rolled her eyes at the smile she heard in the old woman’s voice. “Something like that, could you let me in?”

“Oh, yes. Yes, but don’t make a habit of this.”

“Thank you.”

As soon as the door unlocked she jumped inside. Though the building wasn’t as warm as it should be, Grayson made sure of that, it was a relief from being outside. After a very hot shower and a quick bite she wrapped herself in her blanket as tight as she could. 

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

Three days later, things remained quiet for Fauna. Her father was furious she had lost her fob and phone. Fortunately for her he blamed Daredevil and was too occupied with him and dealing with the loss of his product to pay any mind to her. Ace delivered another fob and phone as she made her way down the hallway. 

She was about to thank him for protecting her from the exploding door at the warehouse, but then he opened his poisonous mouth. She decided any gratitude would encourage his advances toward her. She stayed silent as he offered her a malicious smile. When she tried walking away he grabbed her arm. 

“You know Fauna, it will happen.” He pulled her toward him. 

“What, exactly, will happen?” She asked, squaring her shoulders. 

“Me and you.” He pinned her to the wall, propping his elbow just above Fauna’s head. 

She  inhaled her nerves, hoping they weren’t visible to him. She wondered why he did it. He couldn’t possibly care, not with that stone cold heart he continuously displayed. She seriously doubted he even had a heart. She would, right now, bet her life that if she placed her ear to his chest there would be silence. He towered over her, piercing her with those razor sharp eyes.

“The only way that’ll happen is if you force me.” She spat.

He peered down, smiling as if enjoying the idea of it. He lowered his head to the soft tissue of her neck and inhaled.

Fauna squirmed, but he held her in place. His low chuckle hummed against her skin. 

The sound of boots echoed down the hall. A guard appeared, calling Ace. Taking advantage of the distraction, she slipped from his grasp and dived into her office. 

Fauna had not heard or seen Daredevil. He had not been by her apartment for any updates. She wondered if something had happened to him. Perhaps, she will never see him again. She felt that was only a wishful thought. Fauna pushed it from her mind as best she could. She didn’t want to jinx it, life had pretty much returned to normal. It was even better in some ways. Grayson had not been around and he has yet to ask her to work at night again. Every day she was off by six and didn’t have to return until nine the next morning. 

The only downside was not being able to go to the park or see her mother, but at least she was able to get out to the roof. 

She’s spent her evenings watching the stars, enjoying the quiet relief of being left alone. At work she’d been doing the usual, pushing papers. For the last week it was like she was invisible with everyone in a frenzy about Daredevil. Besides the occasional glances she received from Ace, no one bothered her. 

At least he was good for one thing , she sneered. She looked up at the clock, it was almost time for her to leave. A hard knock sounded at her door. Ace plowed through. He was slightly disheveled, which was highly unusual for him.  He was always so smooth, so calm and collected.

“You have the day off tomorrow.” He growled, agitated.

Fauna sat back in her chair astonished, her mouth fell agape.  Her father requires days, nights and weekends. Rarely ever getting a day off. One day off in a month would be a miracle. This would be two days. It was impossible, she thought. 

“What?! Why?” As soon as the words left her mouth she knew how stupid it sounded. The reasons didn’t matter, she’d love a day off. It was stupid to question it. She was just so shocked, she didn’t know what else to say. Her heart inflated with excitement, then it deflated. It only meant she’d be stuck inside her apartment all day. On the account of all Daredevil’s mischief, she wasn't allowed to be out and about. She sighed and nodded as Ace straightened his suit. 

He smirked, Fauna hated that look. 

“Grayson will allow you to visit your mother tomorrow.” He continued ignoring her questions. Fauna’s astonishment turned to shock. Grayson was going to not just give her a day off but also allow her to see her mother. She couldn’t believe it. 

“You owe me,” He said. Fauna’s eyes darted to his. He was straightening his tie. “Not only did I save your life the other night, but I convinced him it would be a good idea. We don’t want anyone to suspect your involvement here… now do we?!”

Fauna was ecstatic that she could see her mother, but her stomach turned. The look in his eyes was predatory. She did her best to pretend to be indifferent to his suggestion. She wouldn’t owe him anything and began shuffling papers once again. 

“What, no thank you?”

She refused to look at him. Then, she heard his leather shoes stepping closer. She jerked as a cold finger grazed across her, now faded, bruised cheek. 

“I wish you’d let me make things easier for you.” He said slowly in a low tone. 

She ground her teeth together to keep her mouth shut. Ace chuckled. 

“Just for that, you’ll be cleaning the floors before you leave tonight.” He said, standing and making his way to the door. “And Fauna.” He turned and she looked up and met his gaze. “Make sure they shine.”

She hissed at him as soon as the door closed and their earlier conversation came to mind. Ace was definitely capable of forcing her. If she didn’t get out of here, that could very well happen. 

Then a horrible thought crossed her mind. That’s what all this was leading up to. He was like a cat playing with a mouse. He enjoyed watching her squirm. He took pleasure from it. Eventually, he would do exactly that, force her when the cat and mouse game got old.  Ace was a man that got what he wanted, no matter what.

The thought stayed with her the rest of the night as she swept, vacuumed and mopped all three floors. For the first hour she verbally thrashed Ace. 

Then, she began to worry about Daredevil. Her mind went wild with thoughts of why he hadn’t been around lately. And began cursing him.

As the hours passed by she scolded and verbally berated all the men in her life that were making Hell on earth for her. It was three in the morning before she finished. 

Fauna was exhausted, and dead on her feet. The thought of seeing her mother pushed her through the last couple hours, but now she dreaded the walk to her apartment. She gathered her things and stepped out. When her bare skin touched the cold night air it woke her up a bit.  Everytime she blinked she felt like keeping her eyes closed, she had to force herself to keep them open. Her light footsteps were suddenly joined by a heavier step not too far behind her. 

She continued walking, listening. Her eyes darted from side to side trying to see behind her, but she didn’t want it to be obvious. She stopped, the footsteps behind her stopped as well. She continued, and they continued. She walked faster, so did they. It was late, no one else was around and someone was following her. Her eyes were wide in fear as she began to panic. 

Perhaps I’m just paranoid, she thought. Perhaps they’ll turn down one of these other streets. Then she heard a voice in the wind, though she couldn’t make it out.  After another moment there was a thud and some shuffling. Her stomach flipped as she imagined it was her hitting the ground and being dragged away. Fauna’s curiousiness got the better of her and she whirled around, posing to attack. She stopped and studied the streets around her. No one was there, no sound, and no signs of another person at all. Was I imagining it, she wondered. 

She rolled her eyes at herself. Dismissing it as her tired mind playing tricks. She turned and continued home. 

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

Even though Fauna was exhausted over such a long night she couldn’t sleep. Once she was awake enough to comprehend the daylight shining through her window, she rushed to get ready and headed for her mom’s house. Fauna couldn’t wait. Her mother’s cooking and tea was all she could think about. The smell filled her as she opened the door and stepped in. Her stomach turned in anticipation. She dropped her bag by the door and heard her mother clanging pots in the kitchen. 

“Mom!” She called out. “Mom, I’m home!”

Her mother appeared at the end of the hall. “Oh goody, Fauna!” 

Louisa clapped her hands together as she walked up to Fauna, wiping her hands on her apron. “I’m so glad you’re here.” She extended her arms out for a hug. Fauna did the same. She inhaled her mother’s scent and locked the image of Louisa in her mind. She was certainly a sight for Fauna’s, quite literally, sore eyes.

Fauna smiled as her mother released her. “Oh!” She gasped, looking at the faint bruise on her cheek then down to her bandaged arm. “What happened?”

“Oh, I... slipped in rehearsal. Nothing serious.” She smiled. Her mother was used to Fauna having bumps and bruises everywhere and often from dance rehearsals. Fauna watched her mother’s expression turn to understanding. Louisa nodded and continued her way down the hall. Pains of guilt knotted Fauna’s stomach.  

“Well, come on into the kitchen.” Louisa shouted. Fauna stood still for a moment taking in all the familiar items placed in the unfamiliar house. Her mother had been living here a while now but since Fauna didn’t get to visit as often, it just didn’t feel like home. When she didn’t respond to Louisa’s calls, she came back through and took Fauna by the hand and dragged her to the kitchen.  “I’ve got tea made, a fresh pot, and you're in time to see Mr. Murdock before he leaves.”

Fauna’s mind stumbled back to the present at the mention of Daredevil’s last  name. Her face scrunched in confusion. Surely she had heard her mother wrong. She was lacking a lot of sleep, especially after her long night, surely she must have imagined it. Great, she thought, I imagined footsteps last night and now I’m imagining things being said that weren’t really said. Fauna wondered if all the stress and worry was finally catching up with her. She was finally cracking. Either that or, she thought, perhaps there were two Murdocks' in Hell’s Kitchen. Of course there were. Just like there were Williams’, McBrides’, or Jacksons’. There were even probably two Matthew Murdocks' in Hell’s Kitchen. One being a perfectly normal and kind human being and another an evil mastermind taking justice much too far. That was wishful thinking, she concluded. 

 She quickly normalized her face, and began to clarify with her mother as they entered the kitchen. “Um, mom…?” Her words withered away into the air, as she stood in the doorway. She had indeed heard her mother correctly. Daredevil, also known as Matthew Murdock also known as evil-mastermind-vilante, also known as the man making Fauna’s life Hell, sat at her mother’s kitchen table. Fauna’s face heated as she felt every fiber of her being explode. At the same time the lights flickered and buzzed. 

Once Fauna realized she didn’t combust into flames, she tried regaining control of herself. However, she felt the blood draining away. The room spun and then everything went  black. 

Matthew

3 hours earlier…

Matthew stepped out on the curb as Karen continued to argue with the cab driver about the price of the fare. Matthew knew he was being dishonest, but he couldn’t tell Karen that. He didn’t have too, she had her own suspicions, hence the argument. 

He took a deep breath, inhaling the scents. Taking a moment to study each one. He pinpointed Fauna’s scent seeping from the house in front of him. It was faint, but present. 

“Low life!” Karen slammed the door and stepped next to Matthew. 

“Were you victorious?” Matthew asked.

“Of course.” She smiled at him, offering her elbow. He gently accepted and they began walking toward Louisa Bosk’s house, as the cab’s tires squealed away. 

The front door opened as they approached. Mrs. Bosk appeared.

Karen leaned in slightly, her breath on Matt’s ear. “She’s already standing at the door, waving.” She warned him. “Three steps up, four feet ahead.” 

Matt nodded as the scents from his surroundings flooded him. He usually shut himself down, saving his energy for more important things. However, Fauna had been here, he seemed to be unable to avoid the temptation. Her faint scent was present, however pinpointing exactly what it was still eluded him. 

“Hello, welcome!” Louisa smiled. 

“Thank you Mrs. Bosk.” Karen released Mattew’s arm once they reached the door. “My name is Karen Page. We spoke on the phone.”

“Yes, of course.” Louisa nodded. 

“And this is Matthew Murdock. He’s the lawyer.” Karen explained.

“Mr. Murdock, it’s so nice to finally meet you.” 

Matt smiled, “Please Mrs. Bosk, call me Matt. I… I’m very pleased to meet you.”

“Please come in.”

“It’s a lovely home, Mrs. Bosk.”

“Thank you.” Her demeanor turned nervous. “I’ve never done anything like this before. Please, sit down.”

Karen helped Matt to a chair, by giving him some directions. 

“Mrs. Bosk, I don’t want you to worry,” Matt began, “There’s a lot of work to do. I won’t promise it’ll be easy. I won’t promise it’ll be quick. But if we put in the hard work, the time, I believe we will have a chance.”

Louisa smiled. 

“Mrs. Bosk, Matt and Foggy aren’t the most well equipped lawyers or the most well known. But they are passionate, loyal and hard working men. They won’t give up.”

Louisa smiled with relief.

“I--is this your daughter?” Karen asked, pointing to a picture sitting on the mantle. 

“Yes. Fauna.”

“She’s very beautiful. Tell me about her.”

“She’s my star.” Matt noted the affectionate tone Louisa;s voice shifted to. 

“She’s lovely and sweet. And the most perfect daughter I could have ever asked for. She complains I brag on her too much. But I can’t help it. I’m so proud of her. All her accomplishments. I often joke that she’ll be able to retire by the time she’s thirty.” Louisa laughs. “She gets so embarrassed when I show her off---”

“Show her off?” Matthew interrupted. 

“Yes, her room.”

“Oh please!” Karen requested. 

As they made their way down the hall Fauna’s scent grew stronger. As Louisa opened the door his senses went haywire. 

“Fauna would absolutely kill me if she knew I was showing you this.” Louisa flipped the light switch and stepped into the room. 

“Wow!” Karen exclaimed. “I mean really. Mrs. Bosk, I can see why you are so proud.”

An alarm sounded from the kitchen. “Oh, my chicken. I’ll be right back.”

As Louisa left the room, Karen released Matt's arm. He reached his hand out and found a hard surface to lean against. His vision was glitching and his ears rang loudly. 

Karen took in the room and all it contained.

"You still there, Karen?" Matt asked, breaking the silence, trying to pull in his focus.

"Oh Matt, I wish you could see this."

"Tell me." He said, inhaling deeply. That had been a mistake, her scent was strong here and all around him. He was fighting to keep from losing control of his senses. He closed his eyes behind his glasses and focused on Karen's voice. 

"Well, I don't know where to begin. It's --." She paused. 

Matt took another deep breath, this time through his mouth, trying to regain his composure. That again was a mistake, the taste of her settled on his tongue. 

"-- it's like a little museum. There's newspaper clippings, framed and covering one wall. Trophies overlap each other on every shelf. Some almost as tall as me. Beautiful gold and glass awards are scattered everywhere. Metals hang, covering another wall. And wow!..."

Matt heard Karen's footsteps hasten across the room to where Fauna's scent was pulling him. 

"These dresses are beautiful! And these costumes. Wow! They all look custom made."

"They are." Louisa stepped back into the room. 

"Oh!" Karen exclaimed. 

"The red velvet one is my favorite. It looked amazing on her. Still would, if I'd ever be able to convince her to put it on again." 

"This all is very impressive." Matt said. 

"Is there anything recent she's done?" Karen asked. 

"Rent on Broadway." 

"Whoa." Karen exclaimed.

"But that was a couple years ago. She's into her studies at Julliard. I didn't see the point, but going to college was very important to her."

Matt's focus came whirling back to him and settled on Louisa’s heart. It sped up, and Matt heard a sadness in her words, like desperation. A longing for something. 

"I guess it's her way of taking a break from it all, after all, she's worked since she was so young."

Guilt, concluded Matthew. Letting a child so young take on such responsibility. 

A long silence ensued. 

"Well, Mrs. Bosk. We should probably get started." Karen suggested. 

"Of course."

Karen took her place beside Matthew and they walked from the room. He could breathe normally the more distance he put between himself and Fauna's belongings. 

After settling on a plan to get the case against MacFinn started, Matthew asked Karen to update Foggy and begin their investigations. Matthew wanted a little time alone with Fauna's mother. 

Louisa stood from the table to retrieve the newly heated kettle from the stove as it whistled. Matthew took a few seconds to get another read on her. She had been anxious since he entered the house. The medication she was taking seeped from her skin. Matt had trouble placing exactly what kind it was. And there was something else. He had expected Louisa to look the same to him as Fauna does. He imagined her mother to have the same swirling light. He admitted the disappointment he felt that she didn't. It meant Fauna was more unique than he thought, and more puzzling.

"Mrs. Bosk…"

"Please Mr. Murdock, call me Louisa." She demanded, pouring the hot water into his tea cup."

Matt chuckled, "only if you call me Matt."

She looked up at him, "deal". She replied. 

"How long have you lived in New York?" He asked. 

"Most of my life." 

"Fauna too?"

Matt's ears went on high alert when Louisa's heart sped up. 

"Yes." She answered, smiling. 

It was a lie and Matthew sensed her heightened fear. It was intriguing and unexpected. 

"Was she always interested in performing?" 

Louisa smiled and relaxed a little. "Not entirely, she was very shy and quiet. I encouraged her to take a dance class to help her make friends and open up." She laughed quietly and continued, "she blossomed like a flower, especially when she met Jenna."

"Jenna?"

"Fauna's best friend. They're inseparable."

Matthew nodded. Then his breath caught in his throat and Fauna's scent filled his nostrils. He swallowed hard realizing it was growing stronger. He stretched his senses. Her familiar heart beat flooded his ears along with her light footsteps on the sidewalk. She was close. This was going to be interesting. 

Chapter Text

Reality Check

Fauna

Fauna took a ragged breath and groaned. She reached up and grabbed a cold damp cloth that lay across her forehead. She groaned again. She hated cold, wet things. Her head hurt and decided keeping her eyes closed was probably for the best. 

"No, don't do that. Keep it there." Her mother's familiar voice was soothing. “You hit your head when you fainted.”

Fauna complained with a growl, but obeyed. "Mom, I don't like…"

"I know." Louisa interrupted. "You hate cold things. I swear…" she continued, "if anyone ever wanted to torture her for information all they need to do is hold an ice cube above her. She’d sing like a canary."

A bolt of pain blasted through Fauna's head, why was her mother talking about her like she wasn’t there . "Mom don't tease, I had the worst nightmare."

"Oh, you poor thing." She took the cloth and dipped it back into the cold water, then placed it back in Fauna's head. "Is it school? Is it pushing you too hard, stressing you?"

Fauna squeezed her eyes tighter as a tinge of pain vibrated her skull. “Something like that, yeah.”

“Maybe you should talk about it, what’s happened lately?”

Fauna took a moment to think about it. She imagined the truth spilling out of her mouth. Well, mom, a crazed, violent vigilante is threatening me, following me around because I accidentally discovered his true identity and I quit school and began working for my gangster, criminal father behind your back to pay for the medical bills and medication you thought was free. Oh yeah, and I’ve been having delusions, been hearing things, and could swear that the dangerous vigilante I just mentioned had been sitting  right here in your living room. That’s why I passed out. Not to mention I’ve lied about everything for the past year or so. What’s been happening with you lately?

Fauna signed. That would be disastrous, she thought. Perhaps one day, but not now. 

"Well, I dreamed I came home and this horrible and mean person was here." Fauna confessed a half truth, thinking it might help with the guilt she felt. It didn’t, she rubbed her sore temples. 

"Oh, well. Nothing to worry about there. It's just me and Mr. Murdock."

"Matt, remember?" Matthew corrected. 

Louisa turned to smile, "yes, that's right. Matt."

Fauna nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of his voice. Her eyes popped open. She swallowed feeling like there was an apple stuck in her throat. She felt like she would choke to death. Her nightmare was real, she hadn’t imagined it. It was happening right here and now. She sat up quickly, ignoring another blast of pain. As she brought her feet to the floor she swiveled around to face her adversary. There he was, across the room leisurely sitting in a chair. His gaze slightly off to the side. 

Louisa stood. “I’ll get you some Tylenol.”

Fauna tried to blink him away, but failed.

As Fauna’s mother walked out of the room, Fauna reached out and grabbed the crafting scissors next to her mother’s scrapbooking materials on the side table. 

Matthew didn’t flinch at the defensive move. They stared at each other in silence. 

Mountains of questions flooded her mind. Why was he here? How did he find her and her mother? Had he followed her? What was he planning? What did he want? Most importantly, what was he here to do?     She knew he was clever. He probably had all kinds of lawyer tricks to discover all he needed to know. Add on those nightly activities and special abilities of his and it would be impossible to hide anything from him. If she was honest with herself those questions didn’t matter.

The worst part was she knew what he wanted... control. Control of her and the situation between them. Not to mention how much he wanted to rid the city of her father, Grayson. Did he know Grayson was her father? There was only one person she’d do anything for, give up everything for. Die for. Now that he knew, it would be over. She’d have to give up everything to him. He’d use her mother, threaten her life to keep his secret. Threaten her mother to control her. The worst possible scenario was before her. 

If she gave up everything to him, there’d be nothing left, especially of Grayson. She’d be out of a job, but more importantly the only source that pays for her mother’s medication would be done. Until she was done with Grayson herself, she could never turn him over to Daredevil. 

SHIT! She screamed at herself. She had to think of some way to get rid of him. She was being too slow in catching up to reality. Lately, it was getting harder to keep everything together. She couldn’t eat or sleep. She was exhausted, malnourished, overworked and stressed out. She was being beaten and threatened daily.

This wasn’t her, none of this was her. Giving him that information the other night could have done Grayson in. Suddenly, she felt grateful it had been botched. She wasn’t ready for Grayson to end. 

She couldn’t lose, not here, not in her mother’s house. Fauna glared at him. He kept his eyes on the floor. She knew what he was capable of, what choice did she have but to fight. Could she hurt him? Could she kill him?

“Leave.” She demanded. “And never come back here.” her voice cracked.

“It’s not that simple,” he said in a smooth voice. 

“I don’t care, my mother is not going to do anything for you and neither am I, not anymore.”

He shifted and looked toward her. Fauna’s breath caught in her throat. 

“I don’t care who you are or what you’re doing. You want to take down Grayson, do it on your own.”

“That’s not why I’m here. Foggy and I…”

“I. don’t. care. Leave!” She demanded in a louder hushed tone.

Fauna burned with frustrated as he sat so very innocent looking, almost vulnerable. The red tinted glass reflected the light filtering in through the windows. His suit was sharp and crisp. He held his cane upright with the handle tucked into both of his palms, resting against his chest. 

“Fauna---” He began, watching the raging swirls of light within her. But Fauna didn’t hesitate. She sprinted forward, head popping in more pain. Hoping to catch him off guard, she thrust the scissors toward his abdomen. 

She hadn’t. Matt was to his feet and blocked, pushing the scissors toward his side. The momentum he created spun Fauna around and her back slammed into his chest. Gripping her uninjured wrist Matt pulled her against him and locked her arms, criss cross, at her chest. The scissors pointed toward the ceiling still locked in Fauna’s grasp.

Fauna’s body buzzed, as it had before, when they connected. She pushed against his iron grip.

“Whatever you’re thinking, you’re wrong.” He whispered in her ear. Before she could respond, Matt spun her around and back toward the couch. The back of her legs hit the edge forcing her back into a seated position. Once she processed what happened, she looked up. Matt was sitting back down in his chair, just as cool as before. A second later Louisa came back into the room. Fauna tucked the scissors under her leg. 

“Here we are…” Louisa said, shaking the bottle of pills. “A couple of these and you’ll be back to normal… oh dear, I forgot some water.”

Louisa hurried back to the kitchen. Fauna tightened her grasp on the scissors. 

Matt shook his head. His hands came up in surrender. “Fauna, I’m not here to hurt you or your mother.”

Fauna couldn’t believe him, she wouldn’t. 

“I’m not here for information on Grayson either. I’m here to help.” He confessed. 

“Get out.” Fauna demanded, bringing the scissors up and toward Matt again. Yes, it was stupid. She knew that. She knew on her best day, she was no match for the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen. But he was here, at her mother’s house. The one place she felt was hers. A safe place, a place where the outside world didn’t exist. A place where her life was normal, and she was still the girl she used to be. Tears stung her eyes. It was being taken away. The only piece of her life that was keeping her from breaking a part.

Yes, it was stupid. She felt it was the only option.

“She’s coming back.” Matt warned, his gaze falling to the scissors. 

Fauna heard her mother in the hall, and tucked the scissors back out of sight. She looked back to Matthew, his gaze was back to being disconnected. 

“Here you go.” Louisa handed the cup to Fauna. 

“Thank you, mom.” She said, fighting the tears.

“Well, I better mind my manners and introduce you. Mr. Murdock, this is my daughter, Fauna.”

Matthew’s gaze turned slightly in their direction, reacting to the sound of her mother’s voice. He was too great a pretender, the knots in her stomach twisted harder.

“Of course, you know that already.” Louisa laughed. 

Fauna watched him as a friendly, boyish smile transformed his face. To Fauna it looked genuine, but she knew better. He could strike without warning. “Please, call me Matt.”

“Ah, yes. I keep forgetting.” She smiled lovingly at him. Fauna felt the bile rising, and burning her throat.

“I’m so grateful that you were here,” Louisa said. 

Fauna looked up at her mother, confused.

“If Matt wasn’t here you’d probably still be on the floor in the kitchen.”

Fauna must have looked stupefied,

 “What?!” Louisa said with a giggle. “You think I carried you to the couch?!” 

Fauna mentally rolled her eyes, she felt the blood draining to her feet once again. Her head pounded hard, she had to force herself to stay upright. 

“It was my pleasure. And Yes, of course. Fauna, it’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard so many good things about you.”

Fauna’s stomach dropped out completely. Knowing her mother and how much she loved to boast about her accomplishments, which was embarrassing to no end with a normal person, The Daredevil had probably heard every detail of her life and then some. 

“Look at you, you look so worn out.” Her mother pressed her hand to Fauna’s forehead. Fauna refused to take her eyes off Matthew.

“I’ll get you some tea and chicken. Protein and a little sugar will set you right again.” 

As soon as her mother’s back was turned Fauna brought the scissors out again. His eyes bore holes into her. 

“You don’t have to do that.” He shook his head gently.

“The hell I don’t, you come in here to my mother’s house, and expect me not to react.”

“I could have killed you three times over a moment ago, but I didn’t.”

“That’s supposed  to be soothing, you haven’t killed me because you want something... A guarantee I won’t tell your secret and Grayson, you want Grayson.”

“Not at the expense of you and your mother’s wellbeing.”

“Ha!” She huffed a little too loud.

She couldn’t help but chuckle, but it quickly faded. This is what he’d been doing these last few days. It’s why she hasn’t seen him. He had been setting her up, looking for more angles and ways to pressure her. 

“Fauna, I’m genuinely here to help your mother.”

His words floated over Fauna. She was too busy wondering if she threw the scissors as hard as she could, would they stick in his chest. Getting within arms length of him was useless. She would never get anywhere that way. How would she explain the dead man with scissors sticking out of his chest to her mother? She pushed that thought away, she decided to worry about that later. 

“Don’t” He warned.

“Don’t what?” She asked.

“Throw the scissors at my chest.”

Her heart jumped, how did he know what she was thinking? “You’re a mind reader too?” She asked, half kidding.

“If I was, I wouldn’t need you to take down Grayson. I also would have avoided inadvertently telling you who I am. So, no. I’m not a mind reader. I am, however, very good at anticipating people’s actions. You’re easy, you speak a lot with your facial expressions.”

Fauna ignored him. She threw the scissors as hard as she could muster. Then, launched herself from the couch. 

Matthew caught the scissors and dropped them to the floor while effectively blocking a right punch, then a left. He couldn’t help himself and smiled. She wasn’t half bad for someone with no training and weak.

He caught her arm in an attempt to strike his stomach. He placed one hand behind her elbow and the other at her wrist. Effectively keeping her fist locked against him.

Fauna pressed her injured arm against his chest to pull herself free from his grip.

Matthew wouldn’t let go. He stepped forward, forcing Fauna to step back. Again, she found herself knocked back down on the couch. Matt sat down beside her, pinning her hands down on her lap. She tried jerking free.

“Fauna---.” He said, keeping his voice low.

“Let go!” She demanded.

“You’re the one attacking me.”

She looked at him furiously.

”Wow!” Matt exclaimed, as he watched her skin brighten and swirl vigorously. It was beautiful. Nothing he’s ever seen before.

“You’re the one interfering in my life---” She yelled in a whisper. 

“I’m here to help your mother.”

“--- and why are you looking at me like that? Stop it.”

“Shh!” 

Louisa walked back carrying several plates. Fauna wanted space from him. She was too close, their bodies brushed against each other. Her skin vibrated where they touched. Matt shifted his hands around, but kept his grip.

Fauna was flabbergasted, what would her mother think? A moment ago they sat across the room from each other. Now they were side by side. Fauna’s face heated, as her mother’s expression changed.

“I was checking Fauna’s pulse, I think it might be a good idea to keep your eye on her over the next couple of hours. She might have a concussion.” Matt let go of her wrists. “I think eating is a good idea.”

Fauna shifted and scooted a few inches away from him. If Matthew noticed, he didn’t let on. He stood and moved his way back to the chair across from her. Pretending to feel his way.

Her mother shook her head as she gently poured the tea into Fauna’s cup. Steam rose up between the two of them. Fauna wished it would form into a wall that could hide everything she was feeling and thinking. She could feel Matthew reading her emotions and thoughts like a book. Who knows what else he was sensing with those weird abilities he has, she thought. 

“School really wears you out don’t they? Matthew… you must know a lot about that, going to law school and all.” 

“Yes, it can take its toll.” He replied. He reached up, straightening his round rimmed glasses. “I must say thank you, Louisa, I’ve enjoyed myself---”

Fauna didn’t doubt that. Her cheeks heated. 

“---but I should be going. We have a lot of work to do over the next couple of weeks. I’ll send Karen to help with those boxes of files tomorrow.” 

Work! Fauna wondered.

“Oh, please. I should be thanking you. It’s exciting and it’s such a relief.”

“Wait, what? What’s a relief. What work?” Fauna asked. 

“Fauna, are you that tired dear? This whole thing was your idea. You’re the one that met Mr. Nelson.”

Fauna’s face contorted. 

“I don’t believe my firm has had the chance to fill Fauna in on the updates of your case. You see, we needed to get started right away, so we came straight to you.”

“Oh, I see.” Her mother nodded. 

Matthew stood. “Since I must be going, I’ll let you do the honors.”

“I’ll walk you out.” Louisa said with a smile. Fauna wanted to reach out and stop her mother from offering her elbow and helping him. She didn’t want him near her, let alone touching her. She forced herself to stay put. She didn’t want to alarm her mother. Or should she? Perhaps it was best, she thought.

As they walked side by side. He looked like a civilized gentleman, but underneath, he was savage and dangerous. 

At the door she overheard him, “Louisa, if there’s anything at all you or Fauna need, please call. We’re here day or night.”

Fauna decided to take that as a threat. It was his way of telling her he could get to her mother either as a lawyer or as a vigilante, so do what he wants. Fauna jumped to her feet, furious. She stepped forward, but stopped herself from bolting toward the door with all guns blazing. Her face grew hot in anger. Not here, and not with her mother around, she coached herself.

“You are too kind Matthew. You, Foggy and Karen. The taxi is just at the end of the sidewalk.”

Fauna was going to have to tell her mother everything, she didn’t have a choice anymore. Both of them were in danger. They could run, go somewhere no one would find them. Fauna stopped herself, that would be impossible. For the same reason, from when this all began to right now, her mother’s medications were here. Well, at least she could warn her mother never to let Matthew in the house ever again. She was in danger no matter what happened. 

Fauna let out the breath she had been holding as the front door closed. She heard her mother’s approaching footsteps. 

“Mom, listen---” Fauna, realizing Matthew, with his Daredevil super senses, could probably still hear their conversation, and stopped. She wondered how far away he could hear and how long she would have to wait. 

She bit down on her tongue as her mother entered the living room with a smile so big wrinkles formed around her eyes. Fauna couldn’t believe her own eyes. The way her mother looked, so happy. Not only that, she was humming. Louisa practically danced her way over. Fauna hasn’t seen her mother like this in such a long time, a very long time. Louisa wrapped her arms around Fauna and squeezed. 

At the time Fauna didn’t know about the cancer, but in retrospect she saw her mother’s sadness and loss for life. She hasn’t seen her happy in at least two years.

“Oh, honey… I’m just so excited!” 

She let go and made her way into the kitchen. Fauna followed and watched as her mother popped a pan of heart shaped cookies in the oven to bake. 

“That dear Foggy says we have a real chance at sticking it to MacFinn.” She thrust her spatula through the air as if she was stabbing something. “It’s such a relief, like a breath of fresh air.” She inhaled deeply letting her shoulders rise, then fall dramatically as she exhaled. 

Fauna couldn’t help it, she smiled, then cursed Daredevil. He and his associates had her mother’s hopes very high. 

“But I’m not getting my hopes up.” Louisa spun around, her apron swung out like a ballerina’s tutu. It was as if her mother read her thoughts. One look at Fauna and her mother’s face fell to gloomy sadness.

“Fauna, what’s wrong.” Louisa sat next to her, reaching out for Fauna’s hands. She pulled Fauna to her, then spun her around in a dancer’s twirl. “You look as though someone’s died, is school going okay, perhaps you need a vacation? How’s your grades? Oh, I probably shouldn’t spin you like that, how’s your head?”

“It’s fine mom.” Fauna shook her head, brushing off the major lie she was telling. “It’s just that, we don’t…” She paused wondering if he was lurking around, listening to their conversation. She sighed. “We don’t...know these people.”

“Fauna, you’re the one that initiated their services.”

“I know, but honestly I wasn’t sure about them and that’s why I didn’t tell you. What if they work for that other lawyer, Mr. Androle?”

Louisa’s face contorted, looking at Fauna like she was being ridiculous. “Well, I’ve got a great feeling about them, and I consider myself a great judge of character.”

Fauna grew frustrated. “Mom, we don’t know what these people do!”

“They’re lawyers, Fauna. They do... laws.” Louisa stood and went back to the oven to check her cookies. 

“Yeah, well…” Fauna glanced around the kitchen and lowered her voice. “...what about... at night?!” She was doing her best to circle the exact details of the situation.

Her mother twirled around, eyeing Fauna. Louisa scrunched up her face, giving her the ‘are you serious, what’s wrong with you’ look and then went back to her cookies. 

Matthew Murdock is Daredevil, Mom!!! Fauna wanted to scream. She wanted to blurt it out and tell her mother he was dangerous and was only here to threaten her. It sounded crazy. She sounded crazy saying it. The whole world saw him as a helpless blind man, there’s no way anyone would believe her. Besides, Louisa was back to humming and dancing. It physically hurt Fauna to think about ruining the happiness her mother was feeling. She couldn’t take that away. Not right now, anyway. 

Fauna watched as her mother sat the cookies on the table. Fauna was no longer hungry. She lost her appetite as soon as she saw him sitting at the table. She sighed, not knowing what to do and wondering how in this world did things just keep getting worse. She needed to switch tactics, she needed to keep Daredevil away. Especially when it came to Grayson, she had to secure the financial backing for her mother’s medicine first. 

“Mom, maybe we should just accept MacFinn’s offer. Mr. Androle came to see me and really insisted. Perhaps we should listen to him. You could go on a cruise, have a nice time---”

“What?!” Louisa yelled in surprise. “He came to see you?”

Telling her mother about her second encounter with Mr. Androle probably wasn’t a good idea.

“He did, but it was fine.”

“Did he threaten you, like he did the first time?”

“Well, no. Not exactly. It was fine.” Fauna shook her head. Why would it be so upsetting , she wondered. And then Fauna realized, he must have been back here too. “Mom, did he come back here?”

Louisa closed her eyes and sighed. After a moment she nodded. Fauna’s heart sped up. Mr. Androle and MacFinn were being insistent. In Fauna’s mind that wasn’t good. She had heard Grayson talking about hurting someone that wasn’t being cooperative. Could MacFinn and Mr. Androle do the same?

“Fauna Grace…” She was pulled from her thoughts by her mother’s serious tone. Louisa only used that tone and her full name when she was in trouble. Fauna looked into her mother’s blazing eyes. “We’re doing this. I don’t care if we win or lose or get screwed over. MacFinn will know that I’m not a pushover, I’ll fight.”

Fauna watched disappointed and in silence as her mother’s Irish temper flared. She hung her head, nothing would stop Louisa now, not even if she believed that Matthew Murdock was Daredevil. As mad as she was right now, Fauna believed Louisa might even acquire his services to do a little encouraging of her own. 

“Come on!” She demanded stalking off down the hall, throwing her apron to the ground. 

“What?” Fauna asked, following her. 

“We’re gonna get started right now.”

“On what?” Fauna asked, following her mother to the garage. 

“Mr. Murdo-- Matthew, wants all the old files I saved during my time at MacFinn. We’re gonna get started.”

Files and paperwork was the last thing Fauna wanted to deal with on her day off. She huffed and decided to look on the bright side, at least she was here with her mother. Fauna didn’t want to admit it, but that was the only good thing she could think of. 

Her mother was the only bright light in her life. Everything else was gone. She had to do everything she could to hang on to it. Yes, it would be lovely to think Matthew was on her side. It was nice to think he wouldn’t hurt her or her mother. But the truth was he had. If it weren’t for him her and her mother could possibly be free by now. Fauna was so close to the evidence she needed the night they first met, but he ruined it. He forcefully dragged her into an alley and was about to take her unwillingly to God’s knows where. Manhandled her on multiple occasions. Lied. As her anger grew, the lights flickered gently in her mother’s basement. 

Fauna stopped herself on that last accusation. Hadn’t he? She wondered. He has lied, she thought, but couldn’t recall what it was he’d lied about. It didn’t matter, she decided and shook the thought. No, Matthew Murdock was not on her side. She wouldn’t trust him and wouldn’t help him anymore. As the lights returned to normal, her thoughts went back to the alley when Matth--, Daredevil, Fauna huffed, was electrocuted. Then another question invaded her mind. Why had he not threatened her. So far, each time she met him, he used threats. This time he hadn't. 

Matthew

“Hold here a moment.” Matthew stated as he slid into the backseat of his taxi. 

“Your money, pal.” The driver muttered. Matt bowed his head and tuned in on the conversation between Fauna and Louisa still inside the house. 

He could feel the tension from here, Fauna was bursting with anxiety and nerves. 

Louisa was dancing around, excitedly. That was good , thought Matthew. She was gonna need that energy for the coming months. A little fight would help get her through a stressful trial. 

Fauna abruptly stood, “Mom, listen--”. 

Matthews anxiety hit the roof. This was it, she’s going to tell her mother about him. Who he was, what he’d done. Would Louisa believe her? Matthew asked himself. It was quite possible his life was about to change drastically. He ignored the pain in his hands from gripping the handle of his cane too tightly. 

As Matt continued to listen, he realized something had stalled Fauna. He tilted his head, straining. Was his senses going haywire again? Had he missed it. 

Louisa embraced Fauna. Hard, apparently, as he heard Fauna make a small grunt. “Oh, honey… I’m just so excited!” Louisa exclaimed. 

Fauna’s usually soft steps, thumped across the floor, rushing toward her mother. They were in the kitchen now. As Louisa continued her excited rant, dancing around, his focus remained on Fauna. Her heart beat wildly, he could hear her exacerbation. Suddenly she began to calm down, her heart was slowing. Was that a smile he heard? He imagined her face lighting up, her eyes brightening. 

Matthew chuckled when she mentioned what lawyers might do at night. She was trying to tell her mother without actually telling her mother.  But her anxiety picked back up again, but Matt knew she decided not to tell her mom. He understood why, and understood the burden Fauna was taking on. There wasn’t anything he could do for that right now. The important thing was that she had a chance to give him up. He gave that to her. She had decided not to. Perhaps he could trust her. 

“Hey pal, we going somewhere or what?” 

Matt pulled himself from the women in the house. “Yes.” He replied and gave the driver his address. Mr. Androle, Matthew thought, needs a visit. Whether this Androle would be visited by the lawyer or the vigilante, Matt hadn’t decided yet. 

Chapter Text

New Leaf

Fauna

The next morning Fauna checked her itinerary. She had a few errands around the building and then she was to meet with her father in a couple hours. After Daredevil’s visit to her mother as a sweet and innocent lawyer, Fauna was more determined than ever to collect anything she could to blackmail her father, take care of her mother, and rid her life of all the bad. Which meant taking higher risks.

She slammed a file down. So far there was nothing, actually there hasn’t been anything since that night of  the warehouse fire. 

She cursed him again. He's been making her job much more difficult. Scooting around Grayson's has been easy. However, it's been impossible to do so around Daredevil. 

She picked up her clipboard, it was time for her errands. Luckily for her she was only transferring file boxes from one building to another. Nothing unusual. Hopefully she could spot something of interest. This time she decided to take along the small camera she had hidden under the loose tile located under her desk leg. She had found the hiding spot while retrieving her loose coins that had fallen from her wallet.

"Taking bigger risks." She said. Lately, with her luck it was very possible she'd be caught with it because of some unusual circumstance. 

Recently, that's all she felt she was... a victim of circumstance. Today she felt revitalized, it was probably just the extra vegetable broth she forced herself to eat for breakfast and her mother's delicious chicken and tea. She ate everything in sight when she was with her mother. It was the only time she ever gets a meal since working for Grayson. However, she was convinced it was her decision to stand up to...

"Mister Perfect Lawyer Vigilante." Fauna mumbled to herself.

Yes, he just kept knocking her back down, smirking while he did so, but it felt good to try and hit him. She swiped her badge for access into the adjacent building and ran into Ace.

Fauna's heart flew to her throat. 

"Ace!" The ceiling light above their heads shattered, hitting Ace's shoulder and littering him with tiny shards of glass. He looked up, brushing the debris off his impeccable blue suit. Then his head tilted toward her, his raven hair shifted.

Suddenly the area between Fauna's breasts, where she had stuffed the camera, grew heavier.

He smiled and stepped closer, "My name sounds good coming from your lips." The glass crunched under his feet. His broad shoulders dwarfed the hallway. Fauna couldn't believe she'd seen some girls giggle at those kinds of lines. 

"I have an itinerary to keep up with." She pushed past him. Surprisingly he let her, but caught her elbow before she got too far. He pulled her back into him.

Fauna stiffened. If Ace found the camera on her she was dead. Very dead!

"I'm getting impatient, Fauna. Very impatient. Your debt grows and I'm looking to collect."

Fauna spun around to face him, "What?!"

Her tone surprised him. He stepped back and released her.

Though his expression only lasted half a second, she still caught it. She was surprised she surprised him. His smile returned, Fauna shrank back into herself.

"Just to name a few... the warehouse fire."

Fauna scrunched her face in confusion.

Ace continued, "I shielded that smooth skin of yours from the door when that asshole kicked it in." He reached toward her. Fauna stepped out of reach, just as his finger grazed her cheek.

She needed to get away from him. If he was looking for leverage on her, she was currently being served on a silver platter if he decided to search her. According to her father Ace could seize, search, interrogate, and murder anyone at any time.

He slid his hand back inside his pocket. His smile returned and rocked back on his heels. She had never seen him do that, she thought it looked odd on a cold blooded killer who was kidding himself, she thought.

"You can't hold that against me. I was just in your way as you ran." She really wanted to add, like a coward. She thought better of it. She tried to side step him, but he cut her off.

"or maybe I wanted to feel you under me." The snake-like smile brightened his eyes maliciously.

Fauna cringed. "Ace. I'm going to get in trouble if I don't stay on time. I have to do my job."

"And I have the Job of finding the second assailant."

Her feet felt like lead. She forced herself to keep walking and ignore his comment, but she knew he was referring to her.

"You remember, right? Daredevil had a partner that first night he showed up here. Pretty sure it was female."

Fauna turned. "I don't, sorry." She shrugged and turned to leave again.

Ace nodded. "Rick gave a good description of her before he disappeared."

Her stride staggered. That night's events ran through her head again. Rick must have been that large security guard she encountered and escaped from.

"Eight  o'clock, Fauna. Saturday. I'll inform Grayson you'll be out that night."

She kept walking, tears about to explode from her eyes. She wouldn’t cry. Not anymore. She decided this morning she had been crying too much. Saturday was four days from now. She had four days to get what she needed and get the Hell out of there. For now she had to push Ace from her mind and keep focus. 

As she exited one building, carrying her files, she noticed something new by the docks. At the excitement of finally finding evidence and having her camera, the threat of tears quickly faded.

She put the boxes down by the door and stepped to the edge of the alley to take a peak. Six large, unmarked trucks were lined up near several small fishing boats. Armed guards stood by. It was odd for two reasons. One, she had never seen fishing boats docked at Grayson's shipyard before. And two, the guards were not Grayson's. They're uniforms were different, something else she'd never seen before. Something familiar poked at her, but she quickly pushed it away.

Thanks to Ace she only had a few seconds. She double checked her surroundings to make sure she was alone, she slid the camera from its hiding spot and snapped a few photos, then slid the camera back.

Fauna opened the door to her father’s office and stepped inside. Grayson was talking with a man, his back was turned to her. She stayed silent and invisible until she was told otherwise, that was the rule.

“The container’s cargo has been loaded on the trucks.” The strange man said.

Fauna sighed. She had just missed what was on the trucks.

Grayson smiled, “Well, that’s fantastic.”

“However, my employer was not happy about the sudden changes in delivery that occurred and the price of our extra security measures.”

"With a certain individual making life difficult for most of us, I'm sure your employer understands." Grayson suggested.

"He can be a patient man, but does expect the problem to be dissolved."

“Plans are moving forward in that regard. He won't be a problem for anyone much longer.” 

“And you can give me your word on that.”

“Of course.”

Fauna knew they were talking of Daredevil, but what did they mean? Were they planning a trap, going to kill him, did Grayson already know who his true identity was?

The man stood, bowed his head, and turned, walking past Fauna without acknowledging her. She took a quick glance at him, then lowered her eyes once more. It was all she needed to store the man's face in her memory. 

Grayson cleared his throat.

She raised her eyes to him, her father stared at the chair in front of his desk. That's the way things were between them. He never acknowledged her directly, unless she did something wrong. 

She moved quickly to sit down, as soon as she did, Grayson opened a desk drawer and took out a manila envelope. There was no "hello, how are you" greeting or a warm hug. Nothing like what should be between a father and daughter. Just a cold emptiness. Would she ever have the courage to ask why, she wondered.

"You are to deliver this envelope to precinct 15 today. Tell the clerk at the front desk, Davis. Then they will tell you what to do."

He handed Fauna the envelope. She wondered, hoped and wished he had just handed over everything she needed. Her heart pounded at the prospect as she took it from him.

"This envelope is sensitive. If anything happens to it, I will be holding you personally responsible."

She nodded. Could it really be that easy? After all the trouble she has been through the last few months and it's just being handed over. No, no, she stopped herself. You can't get excited, not yet. She had to see what was in that envelope.

"Well..."

Fauna blinked out of her thoughts at the sound of her fathers voice and realized she had sat there too long.

"Get going!" He demanded.

"Yes. of course." She stood and left.

Fauna ran back to her office.

The envelope was light and thin and most importantly it was unmarked. Which meant it could be replaced. Unfortunately, she didn't have any in her office and because of the tracking Fob she was forced to carry, she couldn't go too far out of her way to find one. It would look suspicious. That left out the only store she was sure that carried a similar envelope.

The day was already half over and the 15th precinct was in the heart of Hell's Kitchen. She grabbed her bag and headed out, trying to calm her excitement and anxiety.

She grabbed her phone to ring her mom, taking full advantage of Grayson's new Daredevil rules he placed on her and allowing one quick phone call daily.

A few rings in, her mom picks up.

"Hello."

"Hey mom, just checking in."

"Hi honey, you sound peppy this morning. Those tests go okay for you?"

"I am feeling better." She replied, purposely avoiding the question about school work and ignoring the pain of her forearm from carrying the file boxes.

Chapter Text

New Plan

  Matthew

Matthew sat in the dim lit room listening as Foggy questioned their client. His reading on the man accused of arson told him he was not telling them the truth. The side glances Foggy was giving him told Matt he was beginning to doubt the man as well. Matt shook his head slightly to signal Foggy. He nodded in agreement.

Matt stood and scooted his chair back under the metal table. "Thank you for your time, Mister Morgenston."

"Hey. Hey where's he going?"

"Mister Morgenston, at Nelson and Murdock we have a strict clientele policy- - -"

Foggy continued to explain as Matt closed the door to the room. The precinct was bustling with activity at this time of day. He leaned against the wall shutting out the noise and waiting for Foggy.

Matt's phone rang. Karen was calling.

"Karen ." He answered.

"Matt!" Karen responded. "I've got to talk to you and Foggy!"

She was breathless, Matt could hear her heart pounding.

"Karen, is everything okay?"

"I'm fine!" she said, then paused, to catch her breath. "This is big, Matt, B-I-G. Big!"

"Okay-okay. Me and Foggy are finishing up, we'll meet you at the office."

"Okay. Bye." She hung up without waiting for his reply.

Matt grunted his curiosity and slid his phone back into his pocket.

Suddenly her scent surrounded him. It was so unexpected he jumped to attention. His feet began moving before he could think.

Once he found his way back to the lobby she was easy to spot. Her back was to him as she stood in a long line of people waiting to see the clerk. The fire and darkness scattered and fled in her presence. She lit up the room with the bright swirls.

Her heartbeat was erratic. Her breathing was shallow and fast. She was nervous. Scared. Why was she scared to be in a police station? Matt realized she was getting a little easier to read, and that was a relief. He seemed to be getting used to the odd sensations he experienced around her.

Abruptly the room went silent and his vision blurred. Matt removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. Except for that , he thought. A few seconds later his head swirled, then cleared. Matt sighed and shook it off. A part of him wanted her close. He wanted to explore the reasons why he reacted to her this way. The other part of him wanted to help. Something more was going on. Fauna was deeper than she realized. Besides, he had to make things right. After all he's done, he needed to make it right. That's why he has a new plan.

He took a moment to regain his surroundings, then walked up behind her and leaned forward.

"Hello Fauna." He whispered gently.

Her heart jumped at her sharp intake of breath. Then she sighed. Her shoulders dropped in disappointment.

She didn't turn around. She didn't have to. She knew his voice, Matt did not take that as a compliment. 

"I've got to be hallucinating."

Matt smirked. "No. What are you doing here?"

"What are YOU doing here?" she responded, keeping her voice low.

"l asked first."

"Are we in fourth grade? So what, I asked second." 

Matt didn't need any special abilities to see her agitation.

"Okay." He conceded, calmly and surprising Fauna. "I'm here seeing a potential client. This is a police station, I find most of my clients here...your turn."

Fauna stayed silent. She was debating with herself, by what he could sense, she was leaning hard toward not telling him. She did make her intentions perfectly clear at her mother's house.

"Fauna, your heartbeat and breathing are all over the place."

"Don't do that!" She demanded over her shoulder. " Stop scanning me. Or reading me. Or whatever you call it."

"Alright. Are you.. . okay?" He asked.

"Fine, go away ." She replied quickly.

Matt grimaced.

"I feel you probing." Fauna said over her shoulder.

"That's because you're lying."

"Yes. I'm lying. People lie. Congratulations on your recent discovery."

Matt smiled, she had more spunk than usual. Probably because her stomach wasn't protesting as badly from lack of food.

"Matt, ready to go?" Foggy asked as Fauna moved forward in line.

Fauna caught a side glance of the blonde, shaggy haired man.

"Yes. He's ready." Fauna answered before Matt could.

"Oh hi, Fauna. Fauna?! OH! Hey Fauna, wh-what are you doing here?"

"I'm here on business." She answered, surprising Matt. She didn't mind talking with Foggy. She liked him. He couldn't blame her for that. Foggy was more relatable. Foggy hadn't hurt her the way he had.

"Business?" Matt inquired.

"Yes, business. You satisfied? I'm delivering a package."

"What's inside?"

"I'm sure you'd love to know."

"Fauna."

"I don't know." She snapped. "And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you. I meant what I said at my mother's house. If you want to know you'll have to take it. Which, I'm sure, you wouldn't mind."

Matt nodded. This new plan might be a little harder than he thought.

"You didn't open it?" Foggy asked, trying to break the tension.

"No. It's sealed. I looked for an envelope on my way here, but I couldn't find one. They were either the wrong color, or too big, or too small."

Foggy poked his head around her and studied the envelope for a moment. "Pretty sure I got one right here."

Fauna turned around to face the two men. She kept her eyes on Foggy and ignored Matt.

He opened his briefcase and handed it to Fauna. She compared the two.

"They're identical." She exclaimed. "Thank you Foggy, you're a lifesaver."

"Sure. No problem." He smiled.

Matt stared Foggy down.

"What?" He mouthed. Matt shook his head. knowing the contents of that envelope could land her in worse trouble than she's currently in. 

"Okay, looks like my job is all done here. I'll see you outside Matt." Foggy patted him on the back and headed out.

Fauna stepped out of the clerk's line heading for the ladies room, still ignoring Matt's presence.

He tightened his grip on his cane in frustration. He didn't want her going in on this alone, but what choice did he have? He'd just stick to his plan and hang back until she needed him. 

Chapter Text

Fauna

There weren't many pages inside the envelope. It didn't take long for Fauna to take a quick glance at them and snap a few pictures. She would process the information in her head later, when she had time. The only thing truly disappointing was there weren't any details in the papers, no definite condemning evidence.

That was okay, she felt good. Better than she felt in a while. Nervous, Scared. Yes. But she was optimistic. She hasn't been much of anything for a while, this felt good.

She finished up in the ladies room and peaked out the door, hoping a certain somebody was gone. Thankfully he was. She hopped back in line and began considering what was about to happen. Somebody on the police force was about to receive a package with times and dates. It wasn't hard to conclude that Grayson had someone in his pocket. Possibly multiple people.

Fauna moved forward, she was next. "Davis. . . Davis." She whispered to herself. "Davis."

"May I help you?"

Fauna looked up. The clerk was an older gentleman, he looked like a cop that grew too old to walk the streets so they stuck him behind a desk until he decided to retire.

Fauna smiled. "Hi, um... Davis." She hesitated then nervously answered.

The clerk stared at her. Fauna began to grow uncomfortable as the seconds ticked by. She wondered if she had done it right. She went back to earlier in the day when Grayson gave her the instructions. Yes, she did everything he asked. 

The pounding of her heart went to her ears.

"Down the hall, room four." He said, his voice was considerably lower than before.

"Thanks." Unsure of the situation, she made her way down the hall.

Fauna turned the knob on the door label number four. The room was dark. A quick glance to her side and spotted the light switch. She raised her hand and flipped the switch. 

POP!

Fauna yelped as she watched a stream of electricity encircle her fingers. The light switch crackled and fizzed. The overhead lights blinked brightly, then dimmed.

She cursed, inspecting her fingers for any burn marks. Thankfully there were none. "That was weird." She shook the feeling from her hand. 

The room was a small interrogation room . Fauna had never been in one before and glad of it. It was dirty and smelled of mildew. The ones on TV looked much nicer.

She wasn't sure what to do. There was no one in the room . Should she leave the envelope on the table? Should she sit? She didn't like either of those ideas so she decided to stand and wait.

Matthew

"Foggy, you just handed over to her the ability to get herself in all kinds of trouble."

"Sorry Matt." Foggy said. "I didn't realize that until after. You couldn't have gotten from her anyway. Not without causing a scene."

"I know. That's why I plan to track the person she's delivering it to."

"Oh, yeah. Sorry man. Guess I'm not skilled in all the vigilante stuff." 

Matthew explained the phone call from Karen. Foggy went ahead to the office. Matt stayed behind to make sure Fauna got home safely. 

He jumped up from the bench and started to run when he heard the loud POP and Fauna cry out. He froze in place, realizing the crowds of people around the area might think it odd of a blind man running through the street. This was a busy time of day. He couldn't just blast through the doors.

Instead, he tuned in on Fauna. She was alone in the room and fidgeting nervously. He could hear and smell the buzzing of electricity in the air.

She was okay.

He found the bench again and waited.

Fauna

The seconds ticked by slowly. She jumped and spun around at the sound of the door slamming shut. A dark headed man stood before her.

"Well, it looks like Grayson's tastes are improving." He remarked as his eyes moved up and down her body.

Great , she thought, another one . Just keep it business, she told herself. Mostly to help calm her nerves.

"Davis?"

He stared at her for a long moment, studying her, just as the clerk had done.

"Yes. well..." He paused, looking her over once again. "Give it here girl."

He stretched his hand toward Fauna. She handed him the file and he began opening it.

He studied the document then his eyes met hers. "Well, go on. Git!"

Fauna didn't hesitate. Her hand was around the knob opening the door. Suddenly it slammed shut and the knob slid from her hand.

She felt the man at her back.

"Tell Grayson I enjoyed the scenery this time." He chuckled.

Fauna cringed and opened the door. She hurried from the building as fast as she could. 

She took a deep breath of the fresh air and made her way down the precinct steps. She was glad that it was over. She felt a weight lift from her shoulders. There was a little doubt that everything wouldn't work out today, but it had. Her good feeling returned. She began walking toward her apartment. Hopefully soon it will no longer be.

"A flower?"

Fauna stopped as a young girl thrust a daisy before her, cutting off her path.

The poor looking flower was drooping, but the girl's eyes pleaded. She looked the same way Fauna felt, hungry and tired.

"I'm sorry, I can't. "

Fauna couldn't afford it. The girl's eyes dropped, disappointment shifted her face. And Fauna's heart broke. She wished she could help her, but she needed her money for a few extra groceries.

"Allow me." Matthew said from behind Fauna.

She turned and glowered at him. "You're following me?"

He reached around Fauna and handed the young girl a bill.

"Thank you!" She said, her voice lifted with excitement .

Fauna stepped to the side to keep from touching him. She caught the scent of his aftershave and soap in her nostrils. She wanted to decline his offer to buy the flower. Under normal circumstances she would, but she couldn't deprive the young girl.

Matt met her eyes, holding the poor flower up for her. Silence surrounded them. She turned on her heel and began walking away, ignoring his offer.

"Fauna wait." He called after her.

"You're kidding, right?" She continued walking.

Matt met her speed, his cane swinging side to side.

"I'd like to talk to you."

"Talking requires two people having a conversation." She kept walking. "What you want is an interrogation."

"Fauna."

She ignored him.

"Fauna."

When she still gave no response, he grabbed her elbow, gently.

"No." She protested, turning and pushing him away.

He let go. "You had someone following you." He revealed, keeping his voice low.

Fauna froze. "What?"

"It's alright, I took care of it." He released her. 

"What?!" Fauna was horrified. Questions flooded her mind. Did he actually just kill someone, how can he be so casual about it? Who was it and why were they following her? Would she be in trouble if Grayson had sent the man? Was it a man? Did he kill a woman?

She stared at him. He had that look he gets when he's reading her.

"Don't worry I made it look like a mugging."

A small inaudible sound left Fauna's lips. "You just killed someone in broad daylight? Is there nothing you won't do?"

"Killed? No, Fauna. I didn't kill the man. I do my best not to kill people. So far, I've been successful in that regard."

"No, just beat up, kidnap, taunt, stalk. . "

"Fair enough." He interrupted.

More questions flooded her mind. How long had the man been following her? Did he see her searching for an envelope to replace the one Grayson gave her. Did he see the exchange she had with Foggy?

Here she was feeling good, thinking she had gotten away with today, now she wasn't so sure.

"It's okay Fauna. He wasn't inside the precinct." Matt's voice snapped her back. "He was outside, waiting for you."

Her facial expression must have given away what she'd been thinking.

Silence again filled the space between them. Fauna wasn't sure what to do or say. Giving him inside information backfired on her. She'd made it clear to him to leave her alone. He wouldn't. She tried stabbing him with scissors. To her everlasting humiliation, that didn't work either. 

She sighed with a deep breath and watched as he swallowed nervously.

"I'd like to. . . " he paused, adjusting his glasses.

Fauna found it fascinating to watch the Devil of Hell's Kitchen struggle awkwardly.

"I'd like to walk you home."

Her face scrunched in confusion. "Why?"

"I'd like to make sure you get home safely."

"It's not my home." She muttered.

He nodded. "I know."

Fauna turned and continued walking, but at a much slower pace. Matthew came up beside her and gently took her elbow again.

She jerked away. "What are you doing?"

"It would look odd for me to be leading you." He explained.

"You want me to help you pretend to be blind?"

He shrugged, giving a boyish grin.

Fauna looked around nervously. People were all around them. They were mostly the nine-to-fivers heading home for the day. Conceding, Fauna turned and waited. Matt took her elbow once again.

Matthew

Fauna was swirling like Matt had never seen before. Almost like something has re-charged her. He didn't miss how she recoiled when he took her arm. Nor how she pulls away every chance she gets.

Matt coached himself to stay calm, take a gentle tone and be patient. No matter what she says or does. So far his plan seemed to be working. She was allowing him to walk with her.

Though it was a silent and awkward walk, he thought, it was still a victory. It took everything in him not to ask about the envelope. He wanted to know who sent her and why. Most importantly, why she was working for Grayson. She was clearly in distress, abused and neglected. Why was she putting herself through this? 

"Are you going to start questioning me yet?" She broke the silence.

"Why should I, when all you're going to do is shoot me down?"

Matt smiled, trying to make the conversation light.

"Why don't you just tell me what you want." Fauna demanded.

"I did. I want to walk you home."

"You're lying." She accused, raising her voice.

"Are you going to attack me with scissors again?" He chuckled, watching her grow embarrassed.

"You're laughing at me."

"I'm laughing with you."

"I'm not laughing." She brushed her hair out of her eyes. "Yes. okay. It was stupid. Not in a million years could I ever defeat you in a fight. I didn't know what else to do. You made me so angry showing up at my mother's house like that. You could have given me some warning."

"You're right. I should have." Matt halted, stopping Fauna with him. He turned her to face him. "And you could, with the proper training." Shutters vibrated up his arm when her hair brushed against him.

He inhaled, she overtook his senses. This time, surprisingly, he didn't lose any of his abilities. He studied her. The lights swirling within her were leaping toward the sun. He had seen this before, then it hit him.

Her scent... he knew what it was. It was the sunlight. It was warm and soothing, like the first day of Spring when everything was in bloom and brand new. It was sweet as it moved freely through the atmosphere, yet grounded as it penetrated the earth. It was fresh and crisp. And yet the sweetness of a perfectly ripe berry freshly picked from the vine. He never came across something so natural and invigorating. He found himself wanting to keep her there; hold her still and just breathe her in. He didn't want to return to the world of only knowing the stench of people's habits and daily antics. 

Matt watched her momentarily in awe, craving the scent. For the first time he couldn't determine where someone had been, how long ago they'd been to the bathroom, whether or not they'd washed their hands, what they had shoveled in their mouth to be eaten, or who they'd slept with.

He snapped out of his trance when he noticed she was giving him that confused look again.

He took a deep breath. "I should have been up front with you about your mother. It was a mistake and I'm sorry."

Her breath hitched, "What?" She searched him with her eyes.

"I'm apologizing, Fauna." 

Her heart jumped.