No words of comfort or commiseration from Karen over Matt's statement that things should have been looked into sooner. Nothing but a cold slap in the face rebuke of his question about Frank. Perhaps that was warranted, but it just felt like a further divide between them. Maybe this was just how it was between them now. Nothing but shop talk. Matt nodded, accepted that, and forced himself to his feet. "No problem." The air was thick with tension and even though he was useless at this part of the investigation, he tried to hone his senses. He could at least pick out boxes that weren't just full of papers - narrow down that list so Karen and Kate could rifle through the boxes that were filled with papers.
He lightly tapped one away from the two women, in another aisle. He opened his mouth to call to Karen, then thought better of it given her earlier reaction. Opening it quietly, by himself, Matt traced over remnants of their old office. Over relics that pre-dated Karen, but ones she knew about in passing. Stupid, silly old jokes. Avocados at Law plaque. Photos. The baseball they'd toss back and forth when planning a defense. Matt's chest ached. Stories that wouldn't mean anything to anyone now. Nobody but him. Foggy would have hated him, for ruining things so much with Karen that even this felt like it'd be an annoyance to share. Now wasn't the time to get sentimental. He closed the box, shoved it back.
Foggy would have hated so much about what Matt was doing right now.
To save the city, he had to stop honoring his best friend.
"It's gotta be in these rows." He moved back to where Karen and Kate were located, his voice rough but entirely professional. "Everything back there is earlier. So... if it's a later case, it's probably in this row or the next. Find it yet?"
Karen noticed the shift in Matt's tone. Like holding hands up, taking a step away from the mess you've made. From the mess they made. She had called, he had bee evasive. But he was grieving ad she had given up, stewing on her own bitterness. Sometimes she wondered. She hated that part of the person she had become.
With Frank things were easier. Maybe that exaplained it. Frank didn't hold her up in an altar because he saw perfection in her. Frank saw the dents and appreciated that she never judged him for his own. There was a mutual understanding there.
"Yeah, that's what I thought, it should be around here". Her flashlight marker an area as she sighed, her voice much lighter as she approached him, almost bumping onto Matt. An olive branch of sorts, an attempt at being apologetic by brushing away the tension.
Kate was groaning in the back, ranting with Lucky about her frustrations with paperwork, what a real life nightmare that was. How she was going to ban paperwork from Bishop Security.
Karen spoke in a whisper, aware that only Matt would hear her.
"If you're not careful it's gonna sound like you're jealous."
Matt breathed out a small, quiet laugh. A soft noise that didn't carry. Was he jealous? Probably. Yes, a little. There was history with Karen, so many what if's that he knew wouldn't be explored or explained. They had circled back to one another countless times over the years. Something though always seemed to end up keeping them apart. Him. It probably was him. He was a self-destructive force to whomever he touched. Wasn't that always what Elektra had said about them? That they were the only fire each other could touch without being consumed. Maybe there had been some truth in that. He didn't think Karen was perfect, but he also didn't want to keep hurting her.
In a quiet voice he said, "I heard your heartbeats. Yours and Frank's." He held up a hand so that he could finish, managing a smile. "Whatever makes you happy, Karen. You know? I just wish the best for you." It hurt a little to say, to put into the world something that had felt lost already, but he meant it. His smile widened then, that charming Matt Murdock devil may care grin that eased away some of the lines that years and trauma brought to his face. "And me? I'm -" Better off alone, "doing great. Really good. I'm..." Going to finish what Foggy started, even if it finished him in the process, "I have no complaints. So, uh. We should get back to work. Well, you should get back to work. I'm gonna stand here and look pretty while you crack the case."
That's the thing about Matt Murdock. The reason why they had danced around each other for years, fighting a mutual attraction and flirting during late nights of research. Playfully shooting their shots while having a drink at Josie's. Having to set up a 'friendship rule' once they realized that even a casual and open relationship would only further complicate things in Nelson, Murdock & Page. They had tried that back when Karen's name wasn't on the door and it was hard to forget how that turned out, the tensions that grew in the office even when Foggy and Matt were the ones that argued.
Things worked perfectly the way they were. At least, that's what they thought back when they had a future ahead of them. When nobody supected the world could shatter under their feet from one day to the other.
But the thing about Matt Murdock is, that's all it takes. A sweet smile. That natural charm of his. He has a way of luring you back in if you don't keep your guard up. Suddenly, all those what if's and unfinished stories, they all become louder if you're not careful around them.
"It's nothing like that," she argues, despite of what Matt said about her heartbeats. Frank's too? Her lips say something, but her heart betrays her again. It's hard to close certain doors for good.
Karen glances at him, her hand bumping against the back of Matt's.
"Good. Because I also wish the best for you, Matt."
She can't help herself, her hand reaching for Matt's and squeezing it.
"Guys?"
Kate's voice suddenly bursts the bubble. Karen instantly lets go.
"Guys, I think I found it. I think it's the right date."
A knowing look crossed Matt's face at Karen's denial, but he doesn't call her out on it. No more than she calls him out on his shit right now. "Adrenaline, I'm sure," he said softly, letting them both hide under that banner of excuses. For her and Frank. For both of them. There was something just nice about talking to her again. His hand squeezed hers in return as he said, "I'm glad you're back, Karen." The city needed her help. He needed her, even just as a friend. Maybe she might need him, too.
At Kate's voice Matt let go of Karen's hand as well, turning toward the younger woman. He brushed his hand on his shirtfront and headed over to where she was with the container. "Good Work. Is the motion to dismiss in there?" He waited for one of them to read it. He heard the surprise in the tone when it was being read, his brow creasing as he listened to it.
A charter. Red Hook was a free port.
"Exempt from the jurisdiction of the city, and the country, for that matter. Vanessa has used the port to store art for years now. She's doing it without customs, without taxation. Without fear of seizures. She could launder money legally. And now, our mayor is building a new complex over there. This charter would make it untouchable. Gambling, smuggling, all of it legal.
This is about the Fisks building their own city state.
Pulling out the lid, Kate found that there wasn't many files in the box. She was glad that Matt reminded her what she was looking for, even if Karen was already crouching by her side and looking over her shoulder.
"Is it this one?" She asked, holding it out for the blond to take. "Yes, that's the motion Foggy filed. Good job," she complimented Kate as she the archer handed her the file. Both women got on their feet and met Matt midway while Karen read it outloud.
Even though Kate didn't fully understand the situation, the bits and pieces were starting to make sense. Soon, all three of them were gathering their things, closing up, heading to the port.
With Lucky again on shotgun, Kate watched as more and more police cars took the streets. It was a message, but not just for them. Fisk needed people to feel safe under his watch.
Without a word, Karen shrugged out of her jacket, handing it back to Kate. "Put this on to cover your uniform. Matt, can you lay down?"
If anybody stopped them, they wouldn't fool anybody. But the last thing they wanted was for anyone to spot the girl un purple with her ponytail and the guy dressed as a devil in the back of her car. Halloween is too long time ahead of them.
The streets were still chaotic, but it was clear that Fisk's side was already becoming more formulaic. Police were flooding the streets, especially as they got closer to the free port. Matt gave a small nod, wincingly laying down in the back. "Sorry," he muttered to Kate, since it meant lying across part of her, too. In another life, he might have been able to rest, but right now he was too on edge. Too focused on what needed to be done. The city was slowly succumbing to being under Fisk's thumb.
Matt was realizing that this wasn't something they would likely solve in one night. He didn't want to yet admit to that, though. He wanted to get to the port, to blow the case open. To dramatically overthrow Fisk with his lies and deception, lock the man behind bars, and be done with it. He'd gallantly fight his way to victory, and everything would be right by morning.
It was a nice story.
When the car stopped he slowly, achingly sat up and they sneaked as close as they dared. It was crawling with Task Force members. It made Matt wonder, briefly, how Frank was doing out there. How Peter was, and all the rest. "All right. Stay here. I'm going in. You both watch one another's backs and stay out of sight." Maybe if he said it the right way, they'd listen to him.
They did not.
"It'll be Josie's all over again!" Karen hissed at him, holding his arm. She knew the target that would hit hardest. "You go in there, you'll die. Or you'll kill. You're hurt, you won't survive. Is that what you want?"
Matt's momentary silence spoke volumes.
Karen sucked in a breath and looked at Kate with worried eyes. She knew Matt had survivor's guilt with Foggy. She couldn't let him give into it. "Look, Fisk has the courts, he's got the cops, he's got an army. You can go down there and fight on his terms and probably die, but you won't beat him like that. You have to be smart." Her voice broke. "I'm right there with you. I feel lost, and angry, and fucking helpless. The whole city does. You don't get to leave it. Leave us.
You remember I once asked you what it was like, living in the darkness?"
"It's not dark," Matt said, his voice a ragged edge filed down to just the core of what was left. "It's like a thousand suns." He pushed himself to sit up more. Across the water, he heard his city cry. A sound full of rage and pain. A sound that was deafening, but still capable of turning to joy and celebration. "You're right. But we can beat him. We're gonna take this city back.
We just need an army." He turned to Kate. "You think you and Alice can get that secure channel to contact BB Ulrich?" If anyone could get the word out to the right people about a resistance, it was BB.
Kate felt on edge the moment Matt rolled off her lap and all three of them sneaked as close to the port as they could without getting detected. She had good reason to feel at unease. Matt could argue everything he wanted. Kate could attempt to be as optimistic as she usually was about every mission. But there was one thing that all three of them knew: this one was a suicidal.
"Matt, you can barely stand on your feet." Sure, it wouldn't be the first time he fought past his levels of exhaustion, but did he really want to risk it again?
Kate looked at Karen for aid, because even her brain was too tired by now. Karen, thankfully, always had a way with words and expressed exactly what Kate wanted to. What Matt needed to hear and couldn't argue with.
"If you go in there, there's no way I'm staying put," Kate promised. "And we're really outumbered. There's --" She simply shook her head. "There's no way, Matt. We aren't getting out alive."
But it was Matt himself that found out a solution. As much as they all wanted to put an end to this nightmare tonight, they needed to focus further ahead.
"Alice!" Reaching out behind herself and into the pocket in her quiver, Kate remembered that Matt mentioned something about their private channel. Kate had been so busy she had completely forgotten about it.
"Wait." Holding her phone at arm's lenght, Kate took the chance to snap a few pictures. It wouldn't mean necesarrily much to the general public, but it was proof. Why was the task force flooding Red Hood the night of the shooting? It would make no sense whatsoever to have an army right there.
Karen gestured in direction of the car. "You two need to rest, you can barely stand on your feet any longer," she told them as they slowly started doing down the pile of rubble where they were hiding. "We don't fight Fisk with his weapons. We expose the truth, we change people's minds and we bring justice."
"I knew bringing the both of you would be trouble," Matt grumbled good naturedly as both women combined forces to argue him off the ledge. They were right. It would be ego and revenge driving him down to fight his way through the port. Even if by some miracle he managed to battle his way inside that fortress and killed Fisk, it wouldn't stop this. No, he had to undermine Fisk. He had to tear him down in other ways, with all the darkness that Fisk had built by now. The corruption ran so deep that just removing Fisk wouldn't even suffice. And there wasn't any way he'd be coming out alive if he ran in.
Foggy should have been the one to survive, but he wasn't. Matt had, and he owed it to everyone still living to do something smarter about it.
He placed one hand on each woman's shoulder, giving it a small squeeze as they headed back. He heard Kate clicking pictures. Smart. Matt couldn't see so he never thought to take footage. He could hear what was being said a bit, track movements of heat signatures, but that wasn't the same thing.
Nodding at what Karen said, well aside from the resting part, Matt added, "You're right. It won't be won with just fists. We need to figure out who is on our side, though. Gather what forces we can start with and build out a support network from there. I'm thinking we send word to everyone we know and trust to meet at Josie's. We do it as privately as we can. This meeting has to be off the grid. I want copies of that information we took given to Kirsten. She needs to see the truth. And we check in at Riker's." He tilted his head at Kate. Matt Murdock would absolutely right now go in there and fight a prison if he had to... though he fervently hoped he wouldn't. If needed though, he would. "Let's call and see how Luke is holding things down until the power comes back on. Kate, you think your friend on the force would come to this meeting, too?"
"If by trouble you mean saving your life?" Kate asked, a little out of breath already and carefully watching her every step. She had already slipped twice and thankfully, had not fallen on her ass. "Then yeah, Karen and I are guilty as charged."
Women: Matt's true weakness and worthy adversary.
Agreeing on the plan, all three of them watched each other's backs, making sure to stay out of the light and undetected as they made their way out of the true danger zone.
"I'll text Wendy and ask her if she knows anyone she can trust who'd like to join." They needed to thread with care, making sure not to say the wrong thing to the wrong people, specially not from within the force. She knew Wendy would be careful though. She had already mentioned a few coworkers who were far from pleased with how Fisk was handling things already, specially those who had once been close to the NYPD's old commissioner and remained faithful to him.
"I'll talk to Grill too. He's a firefighter and I know they've suffered defunding, too. I doubt they're too happy with Fisk either."
Making it to the car, Karen handed Kate her jacket again, no needing words to remind her of their previous plan. "We need to take our time. Reach out and regroup. BB has her own channels and I'm sure she'll know where is safe to reach out," the blond pointed out. "But you two need to rest first." She was firm about this last point. Matt could barely walk anymore. "People need to see you strong and ready to fight again." Daredevil, Hawkeye, Spider-Man. People needed those symbols to be strong at times like this.
Kate, claiming her spot on the very end of the backseat, left room for Matt to lie down as comfortably as possible and rest his head on her lap. She was already sending Alice the photos and videos she'd taken.
"Do you have somewhere to crash at, Karen? We can all go to the penthouse."
Even though he was exhausted and injured, Matt's step had the preternatural ease of one with supernatural senses and thirty some years of ninja training. He moved slowly, but with certainty. Indeed, each time either Kate or Karen seemed at risk of slipping, his hand darted out to catch them at the elbow and help steady. Sometimes supernatural abilities came in handy. Especially when he was being annoying about them being right and wanting to toe that charming line of not getting shoved out of the car.
He nodded at Kate's suggestions. "Good. I'll reach out to Cherry, Jess, Luke, Danny, and Peter." His friendship group of those he knew well enough to drag into this was small and mostly revolved around other vigilantes - even if Jess swore up and down she wasn't a vigilante. He hoped that seeing the charter would sway Kirsten, but she would fight from her own angle. "And Josie, of course. I'll let her know to expect us." The older woman was like the gruff maternal figure who wasn't afraid to throw you out on your ass, but as also the first one to offer a hand back up when asked. It was a second home, in an odd way. His only home now.
Matt let out a groan as he settled into the back seat. He tried to keep it quiet, but his body was protesting the constant movement and up and down. At least once he settled in, it was nice. The belt buckle was unpleasantly digging into his ass, but Kate's lap was... nice. Karen wasn't wrong that they were all deliriously tired at this point.
"Karen, it's almost like you don't trust us not to be reckless," he deadpanned at her constant warnings to take it slow. Which... given he'd been about to do a suicide run, maybe she had reason to keep hammering him over the head with it. "Fine. We find someplace safe, send out the messages, and regroup at Josie's tomorrow morning. Fair?" As to where that regroup happened, he stiffened a little. Head tilted at Kate. "Fisk knows about the penthouse," he reminded her quietly. He did not want the same thing to happen twice in one night. "We can if you want, but... well. If I keep an ear out, I can pick them out far enough away that we might be able to avoid them entirely, so they won't have reason to bomb it." Which would mean he wouldn't rest, but he was fine with that.
It came naturally. Maybe she was too used to the way Lucky often slept with his head on Kate's thigh. Which... She later wouldn't want to think too deep about, because her hand? It moved naturally, stroking Matt's head as he rested on her lap.
"Well, we can't use our money to pay a hotel," Kate pointed out, wondering if Fisk would risk another assassination attempt, specially in a far more wealthy area in Manhattan. It was probably awful to think that way, of putting more value in certain areas and the people there. But would Fisk have the balls to attack the rich and wealthy?
"I can get us a couple of rooms," Karen offered. "They might be keeping an eye on our accounts, but I doubt he's keeping an eye on me. Not yet." It had been a long time and the Fisks had other worries on their plate.
"What if I make the donation?" Kate suddenly asked. Karen met her gaze through the rearview, frowning in confusion. "What do you mean? What donation?"
Kate flexed her fingers, her nails gently scratching at Matt's scalp as she got lost on that thought, on an idea she had barely enough time to entertain back at the hospital as she waited for Matt to regain consciousness.
"Back at the ball. Fisk pulled me aside for a chat, he did with most of the people he invited. He blackmailed me, asked me to make a donation to his cause." She hated the idea of giving him even a single a penny, of the blood that would run because of the money so many people would hand him in order to protect themselves. "It could give us a window, maybe? Make him think I'm scared, that I'm not gonna fight him. Maybe take his eyes off my moves for a while if I'm careful?"
He wasn't expecting the hands to touch his hair. He sucked in a little breath in surprise, eyes widening slightly, before he relaxed under Kate twirling through his sweat and blood slicked hair.
"The payment systems are all down," Matt pointed out in a mumble, a reminder of the city-wide blackout. "Nobody's paying for anything right now. Hotels can't charge cards or book rooms if they wanted. It's all being run on the honor - or threat - system." He remembered that from the rooms needed with Alice and the survivors from his building. He slowly, painfully, eased himself up on one elbow. "There's literally no way to charge or power anything right now. Even the hospital's backup generators didn't work. The banks couldn't transfer a donation right now, either." He wasn't saying he didn't get Kate's desire or intention, just that right now, the city was literally on lockdown in every sense of the word.
"I vote we go to Josie's. There's bathrooms there. I've washed up in a sink before. We can sleep on the floor. And we'll be ready for when people start arriving. Beyond that... we can figure the rest out in the morning. See who comes and what resources they can provide before we make further decisions. ... but that's just what I think."
He knew both ladies would chime in with their thoughts, whether they agreed or not.
"Yeah, that's a good point," Karen sighed as she took a turn, finally getting them out of the pier.
"Well, I'm not saying - I'm not saying making the donation right now," Kate clarified, worried as she wondered if that was a stupid plan. "But, you know, tomorrow or in a couple of days. Make him think that he's scared me. That what he did worked."
Maybe the penthouse won't be on his watch then.
At the mention of sleeping at Josie's, Kate sat a little more upright, her hand resting on Matt's forehead. "I'm sorry, you give me shit for walking on my bare feet but you want to sleep on the floor of a bar?"
Karen shook her head. "We can go check Kate's place. If they're thinking of giving a hit, then they're already there" she pointed out. Just like they had been already waiting out of Matt's place when Frank arrived. He had been keeping Karen up-to-date with everything he saw until Matt arrived. "We'll go straight to Josie's if that's the case."
"Well, I'm not going to lie down in the bathrooms, Kate," Matt pointed out wryly when she complained about Josie's and sleeping there. "There are break rooms and the office, you know. Spaces that aren't trampled on and had sex in. I'm sure she even has a couch in her break room."
It made the most logical sense to him, but he couldn't drive, so they were at the mercy of Karen's choices.
Matt sighed. He just wouldn't sleep. Even if people weren't already at Kate's, they might come later before they got to Josie's. The task force hadn't actually been at Matt's place when Matt arrived. They'd been traveling en route and, once realizing Matt had indeed been present, then attacked. The less movement the better in his mind, far safer and more sensible to go to one location and hunker down for now rather than going to Kate's and then Josie's after. It wasn't his choice though, so he'd just... keep watch. He'd stay awake and vigilant, he wouldn't let happen to her place what happened to his. He could get them all out in time, let the task force know they were getting away, lead them away from Kate and Karen if it came to that.
"I still say it's not the most sensible plan, Ms. Page, but you're driving, so. It's up to you, ultimately."
Karen huffed out a dry laugh. "Do I even want to know?"
Kate dropped herself back against her seat, making Matt's head bounce lightly on her lap in her annoyance. "Oh, right, because nobody in the history of bars has ever fucked in the couch of a backroom," she argued. "Bet that with your nose you'll get to catch each and every scent of what guys left as souvenirs there."
Lucky, who had been curled on the front seat next to Karen, whined.
"I really didn't want to know that," Karen pointed out. "And don't you even think of saying that anywhere near Josie."
"I'm just saying, it's so hypocritical of you, Matthew," Kate continued arguing, never one to dropping an issue.
Something that Karen knew all about after twenty years of being friends and working with lawyers.
"Fine, we're going straight to Josie's then." Her tone was that one of a mother ready to turn the car back around if the kids in the back didn't stop fighting. "Because I know a certain someone won't drop this and get any shut eye if he thinks the other plan is not good enough."
"Josie runs a professional bar," Matt argued in defense of his friend. "I'm pretty sure that no, she doesn't just have people fucking in the breakroom and her office. Are you saying nobody's ever fucked at the penthouse? If anybody has ever fucked there, than you can't complain about people fucking anywhere else - especially claiming that my friend violates health codes that residential homes aren't held to regarding standards." He was exhausted and more than a little heated at the implication that Josie ran a shithole. She didn't. Well, not in that sense. Only in the best sense of being a neighborhood dive. Josie held a lot of respect though for her place, and Matt respected that. He had no doubt that the public bathrooms had seen some action, but not that the rest of the place was some sex pit.
Plus it wasn't just sex that was an issue, even if Kate always made everything about sex. People just walked in and out of bathrooms all the time, people pissed and shit in them. While drunk. They puked in them. Going barefoot in a public bar bathroom was gross for so many, many reasons.
Hearing Lucky whine, Matt moved to sit lean off of Kate's lap. He was now mostly lying on the floor of the car, but he could reach Lucky to pet him a little. Low, near the gear shift, so his hand wouldn't be seen.
"Well, it wasn't a good plan," he muttered. A part of him debated just getting out of the car and walking to Josie's, that might be more pleasant than dealing with the two women he was dealing with right now. He wasn't sure he could subject Lucky to being left alone like that, though. "It's okay, boy. It's all right."
"Fine, whatever!" Kate spat, scowling as she tried looking out of window, a black mirror giving her a fragment of her own reflection. She saw herself, looking hurt as Matt kept going on with his rant. Specially as he rolled off her, almost as if he needed the physical distance.
Her aching heart shifted on the rythm of its beating, showing true hurt.
"Matt..." Karen sighed, shaking her head. But she dropped the issue, letting the car become silent.
Not even those pets managed to stop Lucky's whimpering.
He noticed her hurt. Matt tried initially to rationalize it in his head. Kate had started and forced the argument. She hadn't stopped. Matt was programmed to respond in kind. It was part of his nature, part of his profession. Perhaps if the night hadn't been as awful as it had been he'd have been able to walk away and let her win the argument, but it had been a terrible night and he felt like he was being ganged up on by them. It was one thing when he'd been trying to run in and fight Fisk, it was another when he couldn't see the logic in making two stops when they were trying to lay low.
Somewhere in him said that he was the adult here. That for all Kate said she was on equal footing with him, he felt guilty for fighting back against a young woman who'd also had a rough night. Even if it was just because she had pricked his defense of another friend, Josie.
He did shift to just sit on the floor in the car. Folded up as he was hurt him physically, but it seemed wiser than continuing to be close to Kate when she was upset. He pet Lucky, even if it didn't seem to be doing anything to help the dog.
"If you'd just wanted to see your penthouse, you could have just said that, you know," he finally said in a low voice. "It wouldn't be the smartest option, but I would at least understand you wanting to see it. And pick up what you could from it. So we can stop by. If you want. To get what you need." A beat. "Josie is really proud of her bar, though. So. Talk shit about me if you want, but be nice to her about the place."
"Matt," Karen called his name again. As glad as she was that he had changed the tone of his voice, she knew that lecturing an upset girl after everything they went through would do little to change the atmosphere.
"No, I don't want to go to the penthouse," Kate muttered, keeping her voice quiet as her tone showed she was truly upset now. She wiped her eyes with the heel of her hand before wrapping herself on Karen's jacket, turning even more towards the window until both Karen and Matt could mostly just see her back.
"I was messing around, I wasn't being serious." There was bitterness in her voice even though she sounded apologetic.
"It didn't sound like joking to me. It sounded like you were arguing." Proof that even with his abilities, they weren't foolproof with intentions. At least not when emotions were running this high. "So. I didn't pick up on that." A beat. "Josie's gets looked down on a lot for being a shithole. It isn't. Not even to joke about. And... I don't want you to lose one of your homes tonight, too."
He'd lost more than just a place this evening. He'd lost his remaining memories of the past. Sure, Kate had other places to live, but the penthouse was where she grew up. How many pictures did Eleanor save there from those treasure boxes? Matt didn't want her to go through what he had tonight.
He was supposed to lead an army, and he couldn't even keep his temper in check when purposely needled.
Some leader.
He was going to screw all of this up so badly.
"... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought your home into the argument." Kate had been vulgar, but he hadn't had to stoop to that level, too. "I won't do it again."
Kate didn't say anything except a quiet 'that's okay' after Matt apologized, instead chewing on one of her nails as her heartbeat little by little shifted into a more calm rythm.
She was frustrated and embarrassed, having messed up and acted like everything she didn't want to be around Matt. Or around Karen. She felt indeed like a child again, letting out stuttering breaths as she fought to hold her tears back.
So much for being an adult, for being professional. For being up to the circumstances. Now she would't be able to even face Matt's friend without feeling guilty. Truth be told, she now just wanted to go back home. Hide. Forget about how the world had gone to hell.
Maybe deep down she had wanted to stop by the penthouse. Have something familiar to hold onto.
The rest of the ride had been long and quiet, the silence interrupted as Karen asked Matt to check if he heard anything suspicious. Sirens afar, cops anywhere near the next few roads. Luckilly, Josie's block was dark and quiet.
What he said didn't seem to help, so he left it be lest he make the situation worse with Kate. Once they arrived at Josie's and stealth walked to the back of the bar, they were let in by the older woman. The lights were off, obviously, but she had some candles doing inside where it wasn't near the windows. Matt gave her a hug, even though she didn't know who he really was. She did know Daredevil though and welcomed him, along with Karen and Kate. Of course they could use this space as a meeting ground. No, she wouldn't think of letting Fisk frighten her away. They could also use her upstairs apartment if they wanted to wash up. There were some clothes there as well, some old suits of her old paramour for Matt, though he declined to protect his anonymity. At least for now.
Matt set to talking to the people he knew. Luke would stay at the prison until the power was back at least - things were maintaining for right now. He let Karen know, so she could tell Kate. Everyone else would meet at the allotted time in the morning. BB was staying suspiciously silent for now - he worried about her, but maybe she was in a strategic position that would be compromised by reaching out just yet. Matt hoped that was the case, rather than the alternative.
Frank hadn't checked in, either.
Matt stood near the closed door near the back of the building, still in his uniform. The thought of sleeping seemed laughable right now. He should be out there. He was tempted to go out and help who he could until morning. Put on one of those old suits even, wrap a scarf around his face. Or did the world need to see Daredevil out there, bold and proud? Probably.
For the first time really, Matt had to think strategically outside the courtroom, beyond just his own movements. He felt woefully out of his depth.
Head tiled at the heartbeat behind him, he just said, "You can go wash up ahead of me. I'm good."
Kate had not been wrong. With Josie's warm welcome and generosity, she could't shake off her body a sense of guilt that came with what she initially had intended to be taken as nothing but banter. But that's the problem, isn't it? Matt might not be able to get intentions behind some words, but Kate doesn't get the cues. Never knows when to stop because she has never taken a 'no' for an answer easily, has she?
She was shy as she thanked their host, who wasted no time in setting a bowl with water that Lucky eagerly drank from. She offered refreshmets too, motherly as she noted just how tired all of them looked. Truth be told, Kate felt emotionally drained too. She had been forced to leave her home. Then there was the gala and Matt getting shot. The fight in his apartment, finding out about Foggy. Running from one spot of the city to the other as they slowly watched everything fall apart around them.
Karen spoke enthusiastically with their host as they shared a drink, leaving little room for Kate to participate in this conversation about the past. She was almost thankful for it, mostly listening to those shared anecdotes while taking sips from her cup of tea.
Eventually, after excusing herself, Kate left both women at the bar, heading back towards the stairs that would lead her up to the apartment. She was so tired that she had a headache already. Her head throbbed as she dragged her feet, feeling a little betrayed by a Lucky who had stayed down at Karen's feet instead of coming along.
And there she found him, lurking in the dark in a spot where the candles Josie had set up could barely reach with their light. Matt blended in with the darkness so well that she couldn't help the brief fright that shocked her to her core. For a brief moment Kate was really glad to be a decent person and not his enemy. Because a guy like him hunting her down? She would have given up before even fighting him.
She wasn't sure if she should approach him or not. But Matt spoke first. Only then did Kate step closer.
"I'm good too," she lied.
Silence took over again.
"The internet is gone now too," she offered, wondering if a mixture of catching up with the news and making casual conversation would make things easier. She doubted it. "Someone posted on social media something about a guy the police claims was a vigilante, but people took videos and they're saying it was just a guy in a beanie." That's what it was all coming down to? Vigilantes becoming scapegoats. "It was going viral and then the internet went down." People still had extra batteries, could still use their phones as weapons by recording the police and threatening with exposing them.
But what happens when you can't share your truth?
They can't rely on it to connect with each other. Like Alice predicted, Fisk would soon be monitoring social media. They would probably keep an eye on Matt's phone. On everyone he loved.
He heard the lie. He heard everyone's lies. A part of Matt wondered why people bothered at all with him when they knew what he could do. It left the onus on him to either call them out or accept it for the other person's sake. He was too tired to do any calling out. He was standing because he was pretty certain if he sat down he might not be able to get back up again. He'd put distance between himself and the three women, stowing himself near the exit in his crisis on leaving or not. That was also the thing, wasn't it? Matt wasn't ever truly alone. He couldn't be. Even standing by himself in the shadows, he heard what was going on outside. He could help more people if he went out there. If he made a mistake out there, he might bring enemies down on Josie's and ruin what they were planning for tomorrow.
He leaned one hand on the doorframe, letting his weight shift from one foot to another to give each aching foot a momentary break from carrying his weight. He listened to Kate, not forgetting how young she'd sounded in the car. How she'd been crying. 'There's a fire raging inside of you, Matthew. The only thing a fire cannot consume is a fire that is it's equal.' Perhaps Elektra had been right about that part, but either way, it did burn away everything else he cared about around him. And once the fire was out inside of him, what would even be left?
He didn't know who he even was anymore.
He gave a small nod at what she said. His voice sounded hoarse when he spoke. Had he even been yelling that much? Or was his body simply at its limits? "The internet will return when the power does, most likely. Fisk can't keep the city blacked out forever. Peter and Alice are good at technology, so they might be able to set up a secure channel that Fisk can't hack. If they can't, we go old school. We use burner phones with one another. We get the word out by mouth. People have rebelled in the past without the internet. We can, too. I've already contacted those I trust to come tomorrow. I told them to bring those they trust, too. Nothing in life comes easy, why should this be any different?"
Nothing in his life had ever come easy, at least.
As to Heather... "No." He didn't elaborate beyond that. He wasn't going to. He might love her, but he couldn't trust her. She might spill whatever he said to Fisk, and right now, he couldn't risk that.
He gestured up the steps.
"Go. Wash up, get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be a big day. The coming days are all going to be big. We are taking back this city, Kate. I may not know everything, but I do know how to keep fighting."
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streetlevel) wrote2024-12-23 08:39 pm
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He lightly tapped one away from the two women, in another aisle. He opened his mouth to call to Karen, then thought better of it given her earlier reaction. Opening it quietly, by himself, Matt traced over remnants of their old office. Over relics that pre-dated Karen, but ones she knew about in passing. Stupid, silly old jokes. Avocados at Law plaque. Photos. The baseball they'd toss back and forth when planning a defense. Matt's chest ached. Stories that wouldn't mean anything to anyone now. Nobody but him. Foggy would have hated him, for ruining things so much with Karen that even this felt like it'd be an annoyance to share. Now wasn't the time to get sentimental. He closed the box, shoved it back.
Foggy would have hated so much about what Matt was doing right now.
To save the city, he had to stop honoring his best friend.
"It's gotta be in these rows." He moved back to where Karen and Kate were located, his voice rough but entirely professional. "Everything back there is earlier. So... if it's a later case, it's probably in this row or the next. Find it yet?"
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With Frank things were easier. Maybe that exaplained it. Frank didn't hold her up in an altar because he saw perfection in her. Frank saw the dents and appreciated that she never judged him for his own. There was a mutual understanding there.
"Yeah, that's what I thought, it should be around here". Her flashlight marker an area as she sighed, her voice much lighter as she approached him, almost bumping onto Matt. An olive branch of sorts, an attempt at being apologetic by brushing away the tension.
Kate was groaning in the back, ranting with Lucky about her frustrations with paperwork, what a real life nightmare that was. How she was going to ban paperwork from Bishop Security.
Karen spoke in a whisper, aware that only Matt would hear her.
"If you're not careful it's gonna sound like you're jealous."
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In a quiet voice he said, "I heard your heartbeats. Yours and Frank's." He held up a hand so that he could finish, managing a smile. "Whatever makes you happy, Karen. You know? I just wish the best for you." It hurt a little to say, to put into the world something that had felt lost already, but he meant it. His smile widened then, that charming Matt Murdock devil may care grin that eased away some of the lines that years and trauma brought to his face. "And me? I'm -" Better off alone, "doing great. Really good. I'm..." Going to finish what Foggy started, even if it finished him in the process, "I have no complaints. So, uh. We should get back to work. Well, you should get back to work. I'm gonna stand here and look pretty while you crack the case."
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Things worked perfectly the way they were. At least, that's what they thought back when they had a future ahead of them. When nobody supected the world could shatter under their feet from one day to the other.
But the thing about Matt Murdock is, that's all it takes. A sweet smile. That natural charm of his. He has a way of luring you back in if you don't keep your guard up. Suddenly, all those what if's and unfinished stories, they all become louder if you're not careful around them.
"It's nothing like that," she argues, despite of what Matt said about her heartbeats. Frank's too? Her lips say something, but her heart betrays her again. It's hard to close certain doors for good.
Karen glances at him, her hand bumping against the back of Matt's.
"Good. Because I also wish the best for you, Matt."
She can't help herself, her hand reaching for Matt's and squeezing it.
"Guys?"
Kate's voice suddenly bursts the bubble. Karen instantly lets go.
"Guys, I think I found it. I think it's the right date."
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At Kate's voice Matt let go of Karen's hand as well, turning toward the younger woman. He brushed his hand on his shirtfront and headed over to where she was with the container. "Good Work. Is the motion to dismiss in there?" He waited for one of them to read it. He heard the surprise in the tone when it was being read, his brow creasing as he listened to it.
A charter. Red Hook was a free port.
"Exempt from the jurisdiction of the city, and the country, for that matter. Vanessa has used the port to store art for years now. She's doing it without customs, without taxation. Without fear of seizures. She could launder money legally. And now, our mayor is building a new complex over there. This charter would make it untouchable. Gambling, smuggling, all of it legal.
This is about the Fisks building their own city state.
Let's go see what they're hiding."
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"Is it this one?" She asked, holding it out for the blond to take. "Yes, that's the motion Foggy filed. Good job," she complimented Kate as she the archer handed her the file. Both women got on their feet and met Matt midway while Karen read it outloud.
Even though Kate didn't fully understand the situation, the bits and pieces were starting to make sense. Soon, all three of them were gathering their things, closing up, heading to the port.
With Lucky again on shotgun, Kate watched as more and more police cars took the streets. It was a message, but not just for them. Fisk needed people to feel safe under his watch.
Without a word, Karen shrugged out of her jacket, handing it back to Kate. "Put this on to cover your uniform. Matt, can you lay down?"
If anybody stopped them, they wouldn't fool anybody. But the last thing they wanted was for anyone to spot the girl un purple with her ponytail and the guy dressed as a devil in the back of her car. Halloween is too long time ahead of them.
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Matt was realizing that this wasn't something they would likely solve in one night. He didn't want to yet admit to that, though. He wanted to get to the port, to blow the case open. To dramatically overthrow Fisk with his lies and deception, lock the man behind bars, and be done with it. He'd gallantly fight his way to victory, and everything would be right by morning.
It was a nice story.
When the car stopped he slowly, achingly sat up and they sneaked as close as they dared. It was crawling with Task Force members. It made Matt wonder, briefly, how Frank was doing out there. How Peter was, and all the rest. "All right. Stay here. I'm going in. You both watch one another's backs and stay out of sight." Maybe if he said it the right way, they'd listen to him.
They did not.
"It'll be Josie's all over again!" Karen hissed at him, holding his arm. She knew the target that would hit hardest. "You go in there, you'll die. Or you'll kill. You're hurt, you won't survive. Is that what you want?"
Matt's momentary silence spoke volumes.
Karen sucked in a breath and looked at Kate with worried eyes. She knew Matt had survivor's guilt with Foggy. She couldn't let him give into it. "Look, Fisk has the courts, he's got the cops, he's got an army. You can go down there and fight on his terms and probably die, but you won't beat him like that. You have to be smart." Her voice broke. "I'm right there with you. I feel lost, and angry, and fucking helpless. The whole city does. You don't get to leave it. Leave us.
You remember I once asked you what it was like, living in the darkness?"
"It's not dark," Matt said, his voice a ragged edge filed down to just the core of what was left. "It's like a thousand suns." He pushed himself to sit up more. Across the water, he heard his city cry. A sound full of rage and pain. A sound that was deafening, but still capable of turning to joy and celebration. "You're right. But we can beat him. We're gonna take this city back.
We just need an army." He turned to Kate. "You think you and Alice can get that secure channel to contact BB Ulrich?" If anyone could get the word out to the right people about a resistance, it was BB.
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"Matt, you can barely stand on your feet." Sure, it wouldn't be the first time he fought past his levels of exhaustion, but did he really want to risk it again?
Kate looked at Karen for aid, because even her brain was too tired by now. Karen, thankfully, always had a way with words and expressed exactly what Kate wanted to. What Matt needed to hear and couldn't argue with.
"If you go in there, there's no way I'm staying put," Kate promised. "And we're really outumbered. There's --" She simply shook her head. "There's no way, Matt. We aren't getting out alive."
But it was Matt himself that found out a solution. As much as they all wanted to put an end to this nightmare tonight, they needed to focus further ahead.
"Alice!" Reaching out behind herself and into the pocket in her quiver, Kate remembered that Matt mentioned something about their private channel. Kate had been so busy she had completely forgotten about it.
"Wait." Holding her phone at arm's lenght, Kate took the chance to snap a few pictures. It wouldn't mean necesarrily much to the general public, but it was proof. Why was the task force flooding Red Hood the night of the shooting? It would make no sense whatsoever to have an army right there.
Karen gestured in direction of the car. "You two need to rest, you can barely stand on your feet any longer," she told them as they slowly started doing down the pile of rubble where they were hiding. "We don't fight Fisk with his weapons. We expose the truth, we change people's minds and we bring justice."
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Foggy should have been the one to survive, but he wasn't. Matt had, and he owed it to everyone still living to do something smarter about it.
He placed one hand on each woman's shoulder, giving it a small squeeze as they headed back. He heard Kate clicking pictures. Smart. Matt couldn't see so he never thought to take footage. He could hear what was being said a bit, track movements of heat signatures, but that wasn't the same thing.
Nodding at what Karen said, well aside from the resting part, Matt added, "You're right. It won't be won with just fists. We need to figure out who is on our side, though. Gather what forces we can start with and build out a support network from there. I'm thinking we send word to everyone we know and trust to meet at Josie's. We do it as privately as we can. This meeting has to be off the grid. I want copies of that information we took given to Kirsten. She needs to see the truth. And we check in at Riker's." He tilted his head at Kate. Matt Murdock would absolutely right now go in there and fight a prison if he had to... though he fervently hoped he wouldn't. If needed though, he would. "Let's call and see how Luke is holding things down until the power comes back on. Kate, you think your friend on the force would come to this meeting, too?"
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Women: Matt's true weakness and worthy adversary.
Agreeing on the plan, all three of them watched each other's backs, making sure to stay out of the light and undetected as they made their way out of the true danger zone.
"I'll text Wendy and ask her if she knows anyone she can trust who'd like to join." They needed to thread with care, making sure not to say the wrong thing to the wrong people, specially not from within the force. She knew Wendy would be careful though. She had already mentioned a few coworkers who were far from pleased with how Fisk was handling things already, specially those who had once been close to the NYPD's old commissioner and remained faithful to him.
"I'll talk to Grill too. He's a firefighter and I know they've suffered defunding, too. I doubt they're too happy with Fisk either."
Making it to the car, Karen handed Kate her jacket again, no needing words to remind her of their previous plan. "We need to take our time. Reach out and regroup. BB has her own channels and I'm sure she'll know where is safe to reach out," the blond pointed out. "But you two need to rest first." She was firm about this last point. Matt could barely walk anymore. "People need to see you strong and ready to fight again." Daredevil, Hawkeye, Spider-Man. People needed those symbols to be strong at times like this.
Kate, claiming her spot on the very end of the backseat, left room for Matt to lie down as comfortably as possible and rest his head on her lap. She was already sending Alice the photos and videos she'd taken.
"Do you have somewhere to crash at, Karen? We can all go to the penthouse."
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He nodded at Kate's suggestions. "Good. I'll reach out to Cherry, Jess, Luke, Danny, and Peter." His friendship group of those he knew well enough to drag into this was small and mostly revolved around other vigilantes - even if Jess swore up and down she wasn't a vigilante. He hoped that seeing the charter would sway Kirsten, but she would fight from her own angle. "And Josie, of course. I'll let her know to expect us." The older woman was like the gruff maternal figure who wasn't afraid to throw you out on your ass, but as also the first one to offer a hand back up when asked. It was a second home, in an odd way. His only home now.
Matt let out a groan as he settled into the back seat. He tried to keep it quiet, but his body was protesting the constant movement and up and down. At least once he settled in, it was nice. The belt buckle was unpleasantly digging into his ass, but Kate's lap was... nice. Karen wasn't wrong that they were all deliriously tired at this point.
"Karen, it's almost like you don't trust us not to be reckless," he deadpanned at her constant warnings to take it slow. Which... given he'd been about to do a suicide run, maybe she had reason to keep hammering him over the head with it. "Fine. We find someplace safe, send out the messages, and regroup at Josie's tomorrow morning. Fair?" As to where that regroup happened, he stiffened a little. Head tilted at Kate. "Fisk knows about the penthouse," he reminded her quietly. He did not want the same thing to happen twice in one night. "We can if you want, but... well. If I keep an ear out, I can pick them out far enough away that we might be able to avoid them entirely, so they won't have reason to bomb it." Which would mean he wouldn't rest, but he was fine with that.
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"Well, we can't use our money to pay a hotel," Kate pointed out, wondering if Fisk would risk another assassination attempt, specially in a far more wealthy area in Manhattan. It was probably awful to think that way, of putting more value in certain areas and the people there. But would Fisk have the balls to attack the rich and wealthy?
"I can get us a couple of rooms," Karen offered. "They might be keeping an eye on our accounts, but I doubt he's keeping an eye on me. Not yet." It had been a long time and the Fisks had other worries on their plate.
"What if I make the donation?" Kate suddenly asked. Karen met her gaze through the rearview, frowning in confusion. "What do you mean? What donation?"
Kate flexed her fingers, her nails gently scratching at Matt's scalp as she got lost on that thought, on an idea she had barely enough time to entertain back at the hospital as she waited for Matt to regain consciousness.
"Back at the ball. Fisk pulled me aside for a chat, he did with most of the people he invited. He blackmailed me, asked me to make a donation to his cause." She hated the idea of giving him even a single a penny, of the blood that would run because of the money so many people would hand him in order to protect themselves. "It could give us a window, maybe? Make him think I'm scared, that I'm not gonna fight him. Maybe take his eyes off my moves for a while if I'm careful?"
It might protect Eleanor too.
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"The payment systems are all down," Matt pointed out in a mumble, a reminder of the city-wide blackout. "Nobody's paying for anything right now. Hotels can't charge cards or book rooms if they wanted. It's all being run on the honor - or threat - system." He remembered that from the rooms needed with Alice and the survivors from his building. He slowly, painfully, eased himself up on one elbow. "There's literally no way to charge or power anything right now. Even the hospital's backup generators didn't work. The banks couldn't transfer a donation right now, either." He wasn't saying he didn't get Kate's desire or intention, just that right now, the city was literally on lockdown in every sense of the word.
"I vote we go to Josie's. There's bathrooms there. I've washed up in a sink before. We can sleep on the floor. And we'll be ready for when people start arriving. Beyond that... we can figure the rest out in the morning. See who comes and what resources they can provide before we make further decisions. ... but that's just what I think."
He knew both ladies would chime in with their thoughts, whether they agreed or not.
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"Well, I'm not saying - I'm not saying making the donation right now," Kate clarified, worried as she wondered if that was a stupid plan. "But, you know, tomorrow or in a couple of days. Make him think that he's scared me. That what he did worked."
Maybe the penthouse won't be on his watch then.
At the mention of sleeping at Josie's, Kate sat a little more upright, her hand resting on Matt's forehead. "I'm sorry, you give me shit for walking on my bare feet but you want to sleep on the floor of a bar?"
Karen shook her head. "We can go check Kate's place. If they're thinking of giving a hit, then they're already there" she pointed out. Just like they had been already waiting out of Matt's place when Frank arrived. He had been keeping Karen up-to-date with everything he saw until Matt arrived. "We'll go straight to Josie's if that's the case."
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It made the most logical sense to him, but he couldn't drive, so they were at the mercy of Karen's choices.
Matt sighed. He just wouldn't sleep. Even if people weren't already at Kate's, they might come later before they got to Josie's. The task force hadn't actually been at Matt's place when Matt arrived. They'd been traveling en route and, once realizing Matt had indeed been present, then attacked. The less movement the better in his mind, far safer and more sensible to go to one location and hunker down for now rather than going to Kate's and then Josie's after. It wasn't his choice though, so he'd just... keep watch. He'd stay awake and vigilant, he wouldn't let happen to her place what happened to his. He could get them all out in time, let the task force know they were getting away, lead them away from Kate and Karen if it came to that.
"I still say it's not the most sensible plan, Ms. Page, but you're driving, so. It's up to you, ultimately."
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Kate dropped herself back against her seat, making Matt's head bounce lightly on her lap in her annoyance. "Oh, right, because nobody in the history of bars has ever fucked in the couch of a backroom," she argued. "Bet that with your nose you'll get to catch each and every scent of what guys left as souvenirs there."
Lucky, who had been curled on the front seat next to Karen, whined.
"I really didn't want to know that," Karen pointed out. "And don't you even think of saying that anywhere near Josie."
"I'm just saying, it's so hypocritical of you, Matthew," Kate continued arguing, never one to dropping an issue.
Something that Karen knew all about after twenty years of being friends and working with lawyers.
"Fine, we're going straight to Josie's then." Her tone was that one of a mother ready to turn the car back around if the kids in the back didn't stop fighting. "Because I know a certain someone won't drop this and get any shut eye if he thinks the other plan is not good enough."
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Plus it wasn't just sex that was an issue, even if Kate always made everything about sex. People just walked in and out of bathrooms all the time, people pissed and shit in them. While drunk. They puked in them. Going barefoot in a public bar bathroom was gross for so many, many reasons.
Hearing Lucky whine, Matt moved to sit lean off of Kate's lap. He was now mostly lying on the floor of the car, but he could reach Lucky to pet him a little. Low, near the gear shift, so his hand wouldn't be seen.
"Well, it wasn't a good plan," he muttered. A part of him debated just getting out of the car and walking to Josie's, that might be more pleasant than dealing with the two women he was dealing with right now. He wasn't sure he could subject Lucky to being left alone like that, though. "It's okay, boy. It's all right."
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Her aching heart shifted on the rythm of its beating, showing true hurt.
"Matt..." Karen sighed, shaking her head. But she dropped the issue, letting the car become silent.
Not even those pets managed to stop Lucky's whimpering.
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Somewhere in him said that he was the adult here. That for all Kate said she was on equal footing with him, he felt guilty for fighting back against a young woman who'd also had a rough night. Even if it was just because she had pricked his defense of another friend, Josie.
He did shift to just sit on the floor in the car. Folded up as he was hurt him physically, but it seemed wiser than continuing to be close to Kate when she was upset. He pet Lucky, even if it didn't seem to be doing anything to help the dog.
"If you'd just wanted to see your penthouse, you could have just said that, you know," he finally said in a low voice. "It wouldn't be the smartest option, but I would at least understand you wanting to see it. And pick up what you could from it. So we can stop by. If you want. To get what you need." A beat. "Josie is really proud of her bar, though. So. Talk shit about me if you want, but be nice to her about the place."
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"No, I don't want to go to the penthouse," Kate muttered, keeping her voice quiet as her tone showed she was truly upset now. She wiped her eyes with the heel of her hand before wrapping herself on Karen's jacket, turning even more towards the window until both Karen and Matt could mostly just see her back.
"I was messing around, I wasn't being serious." There was bitterness in her voice even though she sounded apologetic.
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He'd lost more than just a place this evening. He'd lost his remaining memories of the past. Sure, Kate had other places to live, but the penthouse was where she grew up. How many pictures did Eleanor save there from those treasure boxes? Matt didn't want her to go through what he had tonight.
He was supposed to lead an army, and he couldn't even keep his temper in check when purposely needled.
Some leader.
He was going to screw all of this up so badly.
"... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought your home into the argument." Kate had been vulgar, but he hadn't had to stoop to that level, too. "I won't do it again."
God he hoped they arrived soon.
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She was frustrated and embarrassed, having messed up and acted like everything she didn't want to be around Matt. Or around Karen. She felt indeed like a child again, letting out stuttering breaths as she fought to hold her tears back.
So much for being an adult, for being professional. For being up to the circumstances. Now she would't be able to even face Matt's friend without feeling guilty. Truth be told, she now just wanted to go back home. Hide. Forget about how the world had gone to hell.
Maybe deep down she had wanted to stop by the penthouse. Have something familiar to hold onto.
The rest of the ride had been long and quiet, the silence interrupted as Karen asked Matt to check if he heard anything suspicious. Sirens afar, cops anywhere near the next few roads. Luckilly, Josie's block was dark and quiet.
"C'mon."
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Matt set to talking to the people he knew. Luke would stay at the prison until the power was back at least - things were maintaining for right now. He let Karen know, so she could tell Kate. Everyone else would meet at the allotted time in the morning. BB was staying suspiciously silent for now - he worried about her, but maybe she was in a strategic position that would be compromised by reaching out just yet. Matt hoped that was the case, rather than the alternative.
Frank hadn't checked in, either.
Matt stood near the closed door near the back of the building, still in his uniform. The thought of sleeping seemed laughable right now. He should be out there. He was tempted to go out and help who he could until morning. Put on one of those old suits even, wrap a scarf around his face. Or did the world need to see Daredevil out there, bold and proud? Probably.
For the first time really, Matt had to think strategically outside the courtroom, beyond just his own movements. He felt woefully out of his depth.
Head tiled at the heartbeat behind him, he just said, "You can go wash up ahead of me. I'm good."
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She was shy as she thanked their host, who wasted no time in setting a bowl with water that Lucky eagerly drank from. She offered refreshmets too, motherly as she noted just how tired all of them looked. Truth be told, Kate felt emotionally drained too. She had been forced to leave her home. Then there was the gala and Matt getting shot. The fight in his apartment, finding out about Foggy. Running from one spot of the city to the other as they slowly watched everything fall apart around them.
Karen spoke enthusiastically with their host as they shared a drink, leaving little room for Kate to participate in this conversation about the past. She was almost thankful for it, mostly listening to those shared anecdotes while taking sips from her cup of tea.
Eventually, after excusing herself, Kate left both women at the bar, heading back towards the stairs that would lead her up to the apartment. She was so tired that she had a headache already. Her head throbbed as she dragged her feet, feeling a little betrayed by a Lucky who had stayed down at Karen's feet instead of coming along.
And there she found him, lurking in the dark in a spot where the candles Josie had set up could barely reach with their light. Matt blended in with the darkness so well that she couldn't help the brief fright that shocked her to her core. For a brief moment Kate was really glad to be a decent person and not his enemy. Because a guy like him hunting her down? She would have given up before even fighting him.
She wasn't sure if she should approach him or not. But Matt spoke first. Only then did Kate step closer.
"I'm good too," she lied.
Silence took over again.
"The internet is gone now too," she offered, wondering if a mixture of catching up with the news and making casual conversation would make things easier. She doubted it. "Someone posted on social media something about a guy the police claims was a vigilante, but people took videos and they're saying it was just a guy in a beanie." That's what it was all coming down to? Vigilantes becoming scapegoats. "It was going viral and then the internet went down." People still had extra batteries, could still use their phones as weapons by recording the police and threatening with exposing them.
But what happens when you can't share your truth?
They can't rely on it to connect with each other. Like Alice predicted, Fisk would soon be monitoring social media. They would probably keep an eye on Matt's phone. On everyone he loved.
"Have you talked to Heather?"
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He leaned one hand on the doorframe, letting his weight shift from one foot to another to give each aching foot a momentary break from carrying his weight. He listened to Kate, not forgetting how young she'd sounded in the car. How she'd been crying. 'There's a fire raging inside of you, Matthew. The only thing a fire cannot consume is a fire that is it's equal.' Perhaps Elektra had been right about that part, but either way, it did burn away everything else he cared about around him. And once the fire was out inside of him, what would even be left?
He didn't know who he even was anymore.
He gave a small nod at what she said. His voice sounded hoarse when he spoke. Had he even been yelling that much? Or was his body simply at its limits? "The internet will return when the power does, most likely. Fisk can't keep the city blacked out forever. Peter and Alice are good at technology, so they might be able to set up a secure channel that Fisk can't hack. If they can't, we go old school. We use burner phones with one another. We get the word out by mouth. People have rebelled in the past without the internet. We can, too. I've already contacted those I trust to come tomorrow. I told them to bring those they trust, too. Nothing in life comes easy, why should this be any different?"
Nothing in his life had ever come easy, at least.
As to Heather... "No." He didn't elaborate beyond that. He wasn't going to. He might love her, but he couldn't trust her. She might spill whatever he said to Fisk, and right now, he couldn't risk that.
He gestured up the steps.
"Go. Wash up, get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be a big day. The coming days are all going to be big. We are taking back this city, Kate. I may not know everything, but I do know how to keep fighting."
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