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[ Matt udoesn't really ever stray from Hell's Kitchen. Usually because he doesn't need to, but there's also the very apparenty fact that he doesn't know other parts of the city to the extent he knows his own neighbourhood. But sometimes, a Devil's gotta do what a Devil's gotta do.
He just didn't think it would take him all the way to Greenwich.
While the trip isn't a total waste of time, in the end, Matt's not exactly successful. Already exhausted from a long chase, his guy get the jump on him, and there's a good chance that he'd finish the job if it weren't for some distant sirens that scared him away. Good, Matt thinks, as he drags himself to sit against the wall of the alley. He can smell the blood seeping out of him.
Just a couple more minutes, he tells himself, then he'll pull himself up and drag his ass back to Hell's Kitchen and deal with this there. ]
He just didn't think it would take him all the way to Greenwich.
While the trip isn't a total waste of time, in the end, Matt's not exactly successful. Already exhausted from a long chase, his guy get the jump on him, and there's a good chance that he'd finish the job if it weren't for some distant sirens that scared him away. Good, Matt thinks, as he drags himself to sit against the wall of the alley. He can smell the blood seeping out of him.
Just a couple more minutes, he tells himself, then he'll pull himself up and drag his ass back to Hell's Kitchen and deal with this there. ]
[ the funny thing about being a local sorcerer who has to grapple with cosmic realities on a minute-to-minute basis is that you still need to get your own groceries. they don't just appear in the cupboard, thank-you gifts from the universe you have to safeguard. stephen thinks sometimes the least the world could do is get him a free pizza now and then.
he also has to deal with jet lag not infrequently, from all the teleportation. that's why he's making his way back to the sanctum late at night with takeout. as he passes by the darkened alley he uses to cut across a city block he catches out of the corner of his eye a flicker of movement. for a moment he thinks it's just a cat—
it's someone collapsed against the brick, which isn't abnormal for new york, but stephen knows what an injured person looks like. and even though his medical license is due to expire any minute now he stops, squints to make out the darkened figure in the light. ]
You're far from home.
[ it's the loftiness afforded someone who isn't easily frightened, but for people who don't know what he does he mostly just sounds a bit too forward. ]
he also has to deal with jet lag not infrequently, from all the teleportation. that's why he's making his way back to the sanctum late at night with takeout. as he passes by the darkened alley he uses to cut across a city block he catches out of the corner of his eye a flicker of movement. for a moment he thinks it's just a cat—
it's someone collapsed against the brick, which isn't abnormal for new york, but stephen knows what an injured person looks like. and even though his medical license is due to expire any minute now he stops, squints to make out the darkened figure in the light. ]
You're far from home.
[ it's the loftiness afforded someone who isn't easily frightened, but for people who don't know what he does he mostly just sounds a bit too forward. ]
[ Matt cracks a smile, and he laughs - well. Wheezes. It's not particularly funny save for the fact that people generally freak out either because he's Daredevil or because he's bleeding out or both. Maybe it's a little refreshing to have someone be so blunt.
And calm. ]
I thought I'd do some sight seeing.
[ Now that is funny.
In an attempt to keep up appearances, Matt wraps an arm around his stomach, as if somehow that might hold the blood in and give him some extra strength, and uses the wall to push himself up. Even in the dark, the way he staggers and sways is impossible to miss. ]
And calm. ]
I thought I'd do some sight seeing.
[ Now that is funny.
In an attempt to keep up appearances, Matt wraps an arm around his stomach, as if somehow that might hold the blood in and give him some extra strength, and uses the wall to push himself up. Even in the dark, the way he staggers and sways is impossible to miss. ]
In Greenwich Village? [ he steps over quickly and sets down his takeout bag, one hand on matt's back and the other on his front to steady him out as he staggers back against the wall. ]
Hey, easy.
[ there's professional gentleness in that voice, someone who wasn't trained to coddle but rather to instruct. he leans matt against the brick and guides his hands away from the wound, brushing his own fingertips over a tear in the more flexible strip of the man's armor. he pulls his hand back, unsurprised and dismayed to find it wet. he looks him over, jaw set, thinking. ]
I take it you don't do hospitals.
Hey, easy.
[ there's professional gentleness in that voice, someone who wasn't trained to coddle but rather to instruct. he leans matt against the brick and guides his hands away from the wound, brushing his own fingertips over a tear in the more flexible strip of the man's armor. he pulls his hand back, unsurprised and dismayed to find it wet. he looks him over, jaw set, thinking. ]
I take it you don't do hospitals.
They don't have vigilante insurance options.
[ Matt cracks jokes in an effort to pretend everything is okay. Like he isn't bleeding out and chatting so casually to someone who's holding him up.
His head tilts a bit as he tries to keep his mind focused on anything but the shock threatening to take over his body. ]
You know any good doctors around here?
[ Matt cracks jokes in an effort to pretend everything is okay. Like he isn't bleeding out and chatting so casually to someone who's holding him up.
His head tilts a bit as he tries to keep his mind focused on anything but the shock threatening to take over his body. ]
You know any good doctors around here?
You're kind of looking at one.
[ kind of as a weird nuance, as he's not sure he has the time or inclination to explain, especially since the flow of blood doesn't seem to want to stop anytime soon. his fingers in the dark fold in and then fan out. there's a funny bloom of warmth in matt's side, a trace of magic to slow down the free spill of blood in his side, but his ability to heal the wound altogether isn't instantaneous. ]
Come on. I'm right around the corner.
[ he isn't, technically: the sanctum is still a block and a half down bleecker. but he can reorient reality a little to make it so, and that's just as good. ]
[ kind of as a weird nuance, as he's not sure he has the time or inclination to explain, especially since the flow of blood doesn't seem to want to stop anytime soon. his fingers in the dark fold in and then fan out. there's a funny bloom of warmth in matt's side, a trace of magic to slow down the free spill of blood in his side, but his ability to heal the wound altogether isn't instantaneous. ]
Come on. I'm right around the corner.
[ he isn't, technically: the sanctum is still a block and a half down bleecker. but he can reorient reality a little to make it so, and that's just as good. ]
[ Matt seems to always run into a medical professional exactly when he needs one. Normally he'd argue but he can feel how lightheaded he is, and he's not really sure he could figure out how to argue anyway. ]
You're not gonna .... Take my picture and plaster it on social media, are you?
[ He makes it sound like a joke, but it's obvious that he's serious. It's the only thing that makes him hesitate before he follows. ]
You're not gonna .... Take my picture and plaster it on social media, are you?
[ He makes it sound like a joke, but it's obvious that he's serious. It's the only thing that makes him hesitate before he follows. ]
[ stephen huffs. ]
I don't really have an online presence right now, if that helps.
[ and then he curves his arm around matt's back to help him walk. as they turn the corner and pass an apartment building there's another alleyway where there normally isn't, and the path leads to a place that it shouldn't necessarily, but it's indistinguishable in the dark until a streetlight crackles ahead: the way out spits them on a sidewalk like any other sidewalk, just across from the sanctum sanctorum. even if matt could see the path they took doesn't seem like magic so much as it just seems like they took a back way. ]
That's my place. Slowly, now.
I don't really have an online presence right now, if that helps.
[ and then he curves his arm around matt's back to help him walk. as they turn the corner and pass an apartment building there's another alleyway where there normally isn't, and the path leads to a place that it shouldn't necessarily, but it's indistinguishable in the dark until a streetlight crackles ahead: the way out spits them on a sidewalk like any other sidewalk, just across from the sanctum sanctorum. even if matt could see the path they took doesn't seem like magic so much as it just seems like they took a back way. ]
That's my place. Slowly, now.
[ Luckily, Matt's none the wiser. He stumbles along, grateful to have the devil's luck on his side. All he can do is vaguely nod that he understands, his breathing getting shallower as he tries to push his body to hold on just a bit longer.
Once they're through the door of the home - Matt notices it echoes a bit more, that they don't walk any stairs or get into any elevators, but it's not a townhouse. Too big. Too different sounding. His brain is too foggy to sort it out. ]
Need to sit down -
Once they're through the door of the home - Matt notices it echoes a bit more, that they don't walk any stairs or get into any elevators, but it's not a townhouse. Too big. Too different sounding. His brain is too foggy to sort it out. ]
Need to sit down -
Yeah. Here.
[ and then, a little ways to the side of the massive foyer, there's a bench. to most it will have seemed as though the bench was always there.
he eases matt down on top of it and hunkers down beside him. ]
I need a look at your injuries. I understand your type doesn't like getting undressed in front of others, but you also shouldn't be dripping blood, so ...
[ and then, a little ways to the side of the massive foyer, there's a bench. to most it will have seemed as though the bench was always there.
he eases matt down on top of it and hunkers down beside him. ]
I need a look at your injuries. I understand your type doesn't like getting undressed in front of others, but you also shouldn't be dripping blood, so ...
[ He huffs out something that is probably supposed to be a laugh. Matt knows he can't really weigh his options here. The mask comes off first, and he drops it carelessly to the floor by his feet before he starts fumbling around for the buckles that keeps everything in place. It's definitely harder than usual with the pain spreading through his abdomen. ]
Might need some help here.
Might need some help here.
[ stephen looks, because of course he can look. the man is handsome, easily, all cheekbones and a ready smile. there's plenty to like there, but there are more pressing matters at hand. ]
Well. Since you showed me yours.
[ he puts his hands out, turns them in air, and the various straps and buckles that hold together matt's armor start to unravel themselves. there's odd atmospheric pressure shifts near his hands, ebbs and flows in some kind of energy he pulls from thin air.
and then it's easy work, manual work, to help push off his clothes. a first aid kit pops up too, out of nowhere. ]
Hold still.
Well. Since you showed me yours.
[ he puts his hands out, turns them in air, and the various straps and buckles that hold together matt's armor start to unravel themselves. there's odd atmospheric pressure shifts near his hands, ebbs and flows in some kind of energy he pulls from thin air.
and then it's easy work, manual work, to help push off his clothes. a first aid kit pops up too, out of nowhere. ]
Hold still.
[ Were he in his right headspace, Matt would let out an incredulous laugh. Instead, he settles for: ]
Of course.
[ Leave it to him to find the super powered doctor living in Lower Manhattan. He can't quite feel it the way Stephen does, the way the magic moves, but Matt's hair stands up on his arms as if there's something in the air. ]
Of course.
[ Leave it to him to find the super powered doctor living in Lower Manhattan. He can't quite feel it the way Stephen does, the way the magic moves, but Matt's hair stands up on his arms as if there's something in the air. ]
Snitches end up in ditches.
[ but his voice is extremely dry, in a way that suggests empty threat. ]
I'm going to close this up. I don't suppose you have a ...
[ needle phobia, he's about to say, but then he gets his first good look at the man's eyes: unfocused, unseeing. stephen blanches, fixates for a second, just to see if he can tell whether it's temporary, but. huh.
he shakes himself. there it's all manual, the way he pops open the kit, starts to staunch and clean up that unusual bloodflow. he's quick about it, the way only a medical professional can be, and that's even well before he pulls the suture kit out next. ]
[ but his voice is extremely dry, in a way that suggests empty threat. ]
I'm going to close this up. I don't suppose you have a ...
[ needle phobia, he's about to say, but then he gets his first good look at the man's eyes: unfocused, unseeing. stephen blanches, fixates for a second, just to see if he can tell whether it's temporary, but. huh.
he shakes himself. there it's all manual, the way he pops open the kit, starts to staunch and clean up that unusual bloodflow. he's quick about it, the way only a medical professional can be, and that's even well before he pulls the suture kit out next. ]
[ Over the years, Matt's gotten very good at pointing out the moment when someone realizes he's blind. He exhales, then inhales sharply at the sting of antiseptic. ]
It's permanent. The blindness. Don't worry.
[ It's easier to talk through this part. Keep his mind on something else other than the inevitable but familiar discomfort. He and his dad used to talk, too, when Matt would clean him up after a fight. ]
It's permanent. The blindness. Don't worry.
[ It's easier to talk through this part. Keep his mind on something else other than the inevitable but familiar discomfort. He and his dad used to talk, too, when Matt would clean him up after a fight. ]
[ Columbia isn't so bad. Matt had, of course, been nervous. It's not as if his life has ever been focused around being sociable. Growing up at the orphanage, he'd been angry and isolated himself. And, yeah, obviously school wasn't great. Not only was he blind, but he was smart, and had no parents, and then to top it off, he was being trained to fight an ancient ninja clan.
So. University? That was daunting, even for Matt Murdock.
But he'd ended up with a better than good roommate, and he settled into his classes, and people liked him. Really liked him, actually. And Matt's not complaining.
He's especially not complaining about one Stephen Strange. Matt gets it. Stephen's kind of a jerk, very intelligent and ambitious but kind of a dick. He's got a reputation and Matt's good at hearing people talk, and Foggy's even said a thing or two, but Matt likes him. More or less. Clearly he enjoys Stephen enough to keep going back, and Stephen seems to have some fondness for him.
Maybe it's just because the sex is good and Matt's got enough of a impulsive streak that he doesn't really mind. ]
Did you change your laundry detergent?
[ It's asked with a laugh, as Matt stretches himself out on Stephen's bed, hands behind his head while he turns his nose into the pillow. ]
I like it.
So. University? That was daunting, even for Matt Murdock.
But he'd ended up with a better than good roommate, and he settled into his classes, and people liked him. Really liked him, actually. And Matt's not complaining.
He's especially not complaining about one Stephen Strange. Matt gets it. Stephen's kind of a jerk, very intelligent and ambitious but kind of a dick. He's got a reputation and Matt's good at hearing people talk, and Foggy's even said a thing or two, but Matt likes him. More or less. Clearly he enjoys Stephen enough to keep going back, and Stephen seems to have some fondness for him.
Maybe it's just because the sex is good and Matt's got enough of a impulsive streak that he doesn't really mind. ]
Did you change your laundry detergent?
[ It's asked with a laugh, as Matt stretches himself out on Stephen's bed, hands behind his head while he turns his nose into the pillow. ]
I like it.
Well, it wasn't exactly a reunion Matt would have imagined, but for them it seemed fitting. Under other circumstances, he could have probably laughed at the familiarity - Frank arrested, cuffed to a hospitalbed - but. That probably wouldn't have gone well.
Regardless, it had been short lived. Once Matt had left, intending to leave Karen to deal with Frank while he himself did some digging, shit hit the fan. Of course it did. After Frank's escape, Matt hadn't been able to keep up with the whirlwind that followed. Then, nothing. He knew to some degree that Frank probably wasn't dead, but the radio silence was unnerving. It was always unnerving, but Matt always moved on. He hadn't been expecting Frank to call. Or to call again, or that Frank would pick up when Matt called.
How it happened that Frank's here now, Matt's not going to question it. He's glad for it, glad to have back the only person that understands him. Maybe, he thinks, as Frank gets some much needed rest, maybe Frank needs to have that, too. It's not worth getting too much into. While Frank sleeps, Matt gathers up some clean clothes for him and some food. Something to make Frank feel a little more human and a little less Punisher.
Regardless, it had been short lived. Once Matt had left, intending to leave Karen to deal with Frank while he himself did some digging, shit hit the fan. Of course it did. After Frank's escape, Matt hadn't been able to keep up with the whirlwind that followed. Then, nothing. He knew to some degree that Frank probably wasn't dead, but the radio silence was unnerving. It was always unnerving, but Matt always moved on. He hadn't been expecting Frank to call. Or to call again, or that Frank would pick up when Matt called.
How it happened that Frank's here now, Matt's not going to question it. He's glad for it, glad to have back the only person that understands him. Maybe, he thinks, as Frank gets some much needed rest, maybe Frank needs to have that, too. It's not worth getting too much into. While Frank sleeps, Matt gathers up some clean clothes for him and some food. Something to make Frank feel a little more human and a little less Punisher.
Frank could really use some proper rest. He'd been doing fine for a while, trying to find some sense of normalcy, of peace, and nearly heading in that direction with confidence, but he should have known that there's no real peace for someone like him. Staying away from New York had been good for him yet he was inevitably pulled back, and some part of him also felt the guilt of leaving behind people hew knew cared about him. Despite all the shit and stress, they still want him safe and sound and happy.
Seeing Matt again for the first time after grieving his "death" was a shock to the system, but given the state he was in at the time, they didn't get a proper reunion. He'd known Matt was okay but actually seeing him again was different. Guilt settled in again despite all he had to do. He'd been so ready to give up, to give in...
When all is said and done and Russo is buried six feet under, Frank takes some time off to clear his mind and finally embrace who he's been all this time. If they need to be apart a little longer he knows Matt will understand, and if he doesn't then Frank deserves the rejection. A couple months on the road later and he's pulled right back to New York again, this time with a sense of calm and peace he hasn't felt in years.
Waking up in Matt's familiar bed, he doesn't wake with a start from nightmares or uncertainty. Instead, he smells coffee and breakfast, and when his arm reaches out across the bed he's disappointed to find it cold and empty. A turn of his head and he sees Matt getting some clothes from his closet, and Frank slowly sits up to rub at his eyes.
"Shit, how long was I out?"
Seeing Matt again for the first time after grieving his "death" was a shock to the system, but given the state he was in at the time, they didn't get a proper reunion. He'd known Matt was okay but actually seeing him again was different. Guilt settled in again despite all he had to do. He'd been so ready to give up, to give in...
When all is said and done and Russo is buried six feet under, Frank takes some time off to clear his mind and finally embrace who he's been all this time. If they need to be apart a little longer he knows Matt will understand, and if he doesn't then Frank deserves the rejection. A couple months on the road later and he's pulled right back to New York again, this time with a sense of calm and peace he hasn't felt in years.
Waking up in Matt's familiar bed, he doesn't wake with a start from nightmares or uncertainty. Instead, he smells coffee and breakfast, and when his arm reaches out across the bed he's disappointed to find it cold and empty. A turn of his head and he sees Matt getting some clothes from his closet, and Frank slowly sits up to rub at his eyes.
"Shit, how long was I out?"
"I wasn't really counting. It seemed like a good sleep."
That is, Matt didn't hear any fitful turning or signs of restlessness, just a heavy, deep breathing. He gives Frank a vague, small smile, finishing gathering up clothes. At least he and Frank are similar enough in size that this can do for now.
"How do you feel?"
Setting the clothes on the edge of the bed, Matt sits beside them. He reaches out to press a hand to Frank's chest just to feel that he's there, smiling a little more.
That is, Matt didn't hear any fitful turning or signs of restlessness, just a heavy, deep breathing. He gives Frank a vague, small smile, finishing gathering up clothes. At least he and Frank are similar enough in size that this can do for now.
"How do you feel?"
Setting the clothes on the edge of the bed, Matt sits beside them. He reaches out to press a hand to Frank's chest just to feel that he's there, smiling a little more.
"Best sleep I've had in months." If he's being completely honest. He sits back against the headboard and sighs out, feeling more relaxed than he feels he has the right to be. He wouldn't be here if Matt didn't want him to be though, and the fact that he's been so accepting is... more than Frank deserves. They both need a break from all the shit.
He returns the smile and rests his hand against Matt's, thumb rubbing along his skin. Yeah, he's here, real and breathing.
"Good, I think. It's weird to say. I haven't felt good in so long." Which is so dramatic but - "Relieved."
He returns the smile and rests his hand against Matt's, thumb rubbing along his skin. Yeah, he's here, real and breathing.
"Good, I think. It's weird to say. I haven't felt good in so long." Which is so dramatic but - "Relieved."
"I get that."
And he does, really. Matt went through his own bullshit to get to this point, too, so he understands. For him, realizing he had people there that cared about him had helped. He hopes that it helps Frank.
"I'm glad you came back," he says, after a moment. "You can stay as long as you want, but I understand if you want to hit the road again."
And he does, really. Matt went through his own bullshit to get to this point, too, so he understands. For him, realizing he had people there that cared about him had helped. He hopes that it helps Frank.
"I'm glad you came back," he says, after a moment. "You can stay as long as you want, but I understand if you want to hit the road again."
Frank shakes his head almost immediately, gripping Matt's hand a little stronger.
"No, I came back for a reason." His time on the road was good for himself but seeing Matt again in the hospital... that moment kept returning to his mind over and over again. They have so much to catch up on. "I want to be here."
"No, I came back for a reason." His time on the road was good for himself but seeing Matt again in the hospital... that moment kept returning to his mind over and over again. They have so much to catch up on. "I want to be here."
"Good."
Matt laughs a bit. He leans over to nudge their noses together, enjoying the moment. It's quiet and there's no urgency for anything. He thinks about apologizing for not helping Frank, but decides against it. They can talk about everything later, when they want to.
No need to ruin this.
"I made breakfast. No rush to get up." Matt's certainly in no rush himself to leave Frank's side now that he's there.
Matt laughs a bit. He leans over to nudge their noses together, enjoying the moment. It's quiet and there's no urgency for anything. He thinks about apologizing for not helping Frank, but decides against it. They can talk about everything later, when they want to.
No need to ruin this.
"I made breakfast. No rush to get up." Matt's certainly in no rush himself to leave Frank's side now that he's there.
In the months they were apart Frank honestly couldn't stop thinking about how Matt was doing, how he was recovering, and hoping he was okay. He's a good man who probably deserves better than a guy like Frank, but they're in too deep at this point and no matter their experiences and differences, he can't imagine not coming back to this again. The time he thought he'd lost Matt forever was hell.
Eyes shut when they're closer and he leans in enough to press their foreheads together. "You're being extra nice to me. I'm almost suspicious."
But he's smiling again, happy they can have moments to pause at all.
Eyes shut when they're closer and he leans in enough to press their foreheads together. "You're being extra nice to me. I'm almost suspicious."
But he's smiling again, happy they can have moments to pause at all.
"Maybe I just missed you." Matt raises a hand to Frank's cheek, feeling the edge of Frank's smile with his thumb. "Don't get used to it."
He laughs and presses his lips to Frank's cheek. There's another nuzzle before he draws back, letting his hand drop to Frank's neck and giving it a light squeeze.
"I'm sure it's only going to be a matter of time before we want to punch each other in the face again."
He laughs and presses his lips to Frank's cheek. There's another nuzzle before he draws back, letting his hand drop to Frank's neck and giving it a light squeeze.
"I'm sure it's only going to be a matter of time before we want to punch each other in the face again."
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