Something good
The next few weeks are uneventful. He has been thinking about finding another job. Because construction was just something he could do in the meantime. It was to support himself while he settled down.
Maybe he can do something with dogs. Work as an assistant at a veterinary. Learn more about animals in general. It would be something he wouldn't detest. It could teach him how to take better care of Max.
He still does odd-jobs for his neighbors.
They trust him. A lot. Maybe too much. They invite him for diners. Send him food.Take care of his plants when he gone.
The whole neighborhood is practically under his protection. Not that they would know.
The Punisher continues to go out. He stops several gangs and crimes. The whole criminal underground know he is back. No criminal can say that the Punisher disappeared with the snap. He left that clear with his guns and fists.
But there is someone new in the equation.
It isn't the Russians. Nor the Italians. Not even the Mexicans or Colombians who had tried their luck once. It can't be Fisk. After all that asshole became dust with the rest of the world.
It's a whole new player.
It isn't that obvious. Just some new criminals here and there. No one tells.him nothing. But his gut tells him there is something happening. Its not big. It isn't big yet.
But he knows he has to do something to prevent this from becoming another Fisk.
He becomes more intense with criminals. Torture before killing them. Information over immediate justice. But no one knows. No one talks.
He is tempted to ask Red. Maybe he knows. After all he hears everything. In more than one sense. But they haven't talked. Neither in or outside of the suit. It's probably his lawyer life getting a little to intense. He hasn't even written Frank in a few days.
Not that he worries. It's good to have some time for yourself.
So he does his own thing. He searches for a veterinary that might accept his dubious record. He continues to help his neighborhood. He continues to impart punishment to the criminals of this city.
Right now he is reading a book. Of love and otherdemons. A recommendation from a latinoamerican neighbor. It is hard to find a physical copy in English. But it's worth it.
It's Saturday again. So he just enjoys his book and coffee. It's still early and he already walked Max.
It'ss peaceful. A lifestyle he thought was lost when his family was killed.
Then Matt writes him.
-hello Frank-
-guess what?-
-You got a dog-
-what? No.-
-I got a new desk!!-
-Its arriving tomorrow-
-maybe you could come and help me unbox it?-
-a new desk? Does it look good?-
-fuck you Frank-
-thats what I need you for.-
-i need to know if the desk is respectable-
-my firm is very prestigious-
-it has a reputation-
-of being payed in pies-
-very prestigious-
-so, tomorrow? Around 10?-
-yeah I'll be there-
-see you-
-you wish-
It ends there. It feels good to have someone to talk to.
Taking to Matt leaves him smiling. It refreshing. Both when fighting and just talking. Matt always brings something new to the table.
And he is no idiot. He has some understanding of how these things go.
From the moment he saw Murdock. He knew he was doomed.
He has caught feelings for this human disaster. He fell. And continues to fall for Matthew Murdock. The lawyer and vigilante. The blind guy who does parkour at night. Who beats the shit out of people. Who values life above everything else. Who believes everyone deserves a second chance.
Fuck. He knows what feelings like these can do to a person. What love paired with loss does.
Matthew does dangerous things. Constantly puts others above himself. He can die any night at the hands of a mugger or drug dealer.
He knows what it did to him in the past. How just now, after several years, he started to move on.
He doesn't know what would happen if Matthew died.
But he can't take Daredevil away. He sees how it's part of him. How, even with the dangers, it makes him whole.
He knows Matt can defend himself. He doesn't need a babysitter. But he can try and help when Matt is too tired or distracted.
And isn't that an interesting thought? If you said this to him three months ago he would've laughed his ass off.
He stands up and leaves his cup of coffee in the dishwasher.
The day is a blur. It comes and goes. He has lunch. He takes care of his plants. Walks Max for a while. Then cleans his guns and knives. He leaves food for Max and walks out as the Punisher.
He tracks some guys down. Human trafficking and animal fighting rings. Neither of those gives out any new information. He stumbles into some weapon dealing so he deals with it too. Takes the stuff with him as well.
With dealing he means he knocks them out for the police to find. If they are too much trouble he ends them quickly.
It's a simple night. Spent drinking coffee and fighting.
He gets home and sleeps relatively well. He still wakes up chilled and drenched in sweat. But he moves on.
Then he wakes up drinks another coffee, bathes, eats, and takes care of Max.
His trigger finger trembles. Summer has one week left before it starts to chill. So he doesn't take a jacket with him.
He arrives around 10:05 at Matt's office. He might bring Max next time.
He goes up the stairs and something feels wrong. When he finally reaches Matt's office he gets to know why.
Matt is standing in the middle of his destroyed office. There are some boxes that he assumes have the new desk. The window is broken. Papers ripped and thrown around. He takes a look at the handle. It's broken.
Someone broke in. He feels his blood boil but he focuses on Matt who is standing in the middle of this mess.
He looks fine. His clothes are in place. His glasses are there. His cane is trapped in a deadly grip. His mouth is drawn into a snarl. His head is tilted probably trying to find clues. He didn't acknowledge Frank.
"What happened here?"
His knuckles grow white while answers.
"I don't know. It was like this when I arrived."
He steps into the office. It feels like profanation.
"Do you know who might've?"
"Fisk, but he is gone."
"One of Fisk's goons, then."
"But why? It makes no sense. Fisk died the day of the snap. I didn't kill him."
"Revenge?"
"For what? Getting him in prison?"
He wants to ask if this was an attack on Matt Murdock or Red.
"Did they take something?"
Matt looks uncertain. His grip tightens. He might have to buy a new cane.
"No, I don't know."
He doesn't sound defeated. He sounds pissed.
"Let's search then. I'll help."
He doesn't say he'll hunt down the ones that did this. He probably already knows.
It takes a while. Taking papers and fixing furniture. The new desk is pretty, and definitely a good addition. The window stays like that. Broken. He might have a contact that might fix that.
Matt's shoulders remain tense through it all. Frank understands. This place has one of the things the man has left. This place is his sanctuary. The remaining memory of his friend. Just as the plaque that says Nelson, Murdock, and Page remains there.
This is an insult Red won't let slide.
Once things are in place Murdock speaks.
"Thanks, Frank. This would've taken a while alone."
"It's nothing."
There is tension. Like a thread ready to snap.
Daredevil is going out early today.
Not that Red would tell him. This man really thinks he is that good with his secret identity.
It's late and Frank's stomach growls.
Matt obviously hears and takes him to one of his favorite restaurants.
Once they finish ordering he talks.
"What do you think they might be searching for?"
"I don't know. I don't leave any money in the office. There are just case files. And most of them are pro-bono cases."
"Do you keep old files?"
"Yeah, sometimes."
"Did you keep Fisk's files?"
Matt pauses for a moment.
"Yes, but they are not in the office."
He nods and motions him to keep the location to himself.
So they might be searching Fisk's files. That… is not new. The person who did this must be related to Fisk in one way or another. The possibility of them searching files on Fisk just confirms it.
He looks at Matt who is lost in thought. If it wasn't because it's still early he might offer some booze.
"Isn't it Sunday? Are you going to mass today?"
"Oh yes. I will."
It certainly slipped his mind when he found the office like that.
"Would you mind coming with me? After mass, we can stop by my apartment and show you my collection."
Ahh yes. The carefully selected collection of alcohol Matt kept for himself.
He hasn't gone to mass since before Afghanistan. When he came back he avoided it. After Maria's death… he didn't have as much faith. If anything it would be blasphemy entering a church after everything he has done. He wouldn't be there to repent or search for forgiveness. He doesn't need it. He isn't sorry for what he has done.
He would do it again and again and again. Still does it.
But he knows Matt isn't trying to pull him back into religion. It's just an attempt at conversation.
"Thanks for the offer. But I'm gonna pass. I left Max with Gabriela and I need to pick him up."
Matt nods.
"But I might pick your invitation. I've been waiting to see that collection of yours. Make sure it's not gathering dust up there."
Matt smiles and Frank is glad he said that.
"Well then, I'll call you once the mass is done. It's sometimes too long."
The food arrives and there is nothing more to say. The man's shoulders are still tense but he is no longer deep in thought or playing with his shirt.
They go their separate ways. He gets home and picks Max from Gabriela's place.
Max greets him by almost throwing him to the ground.
"Yeah, yeah, I missed you too. Thanks, Gabriela."
"Call me Gabi, or Gabs. Seriously Pete. Bring Max back whenever you want. And my pipe broke again. You don't mind having a look?"
He sighs.
"Seriously woman, what do you do to that damn pipe? Wait a second I'll bring the tools."
He goes to his apartment, takes the tool box he had to buy for his odd jobs. Max follows him.
"I'm sorry Pete. Really."
He finds the pipe, and yeah. It's leaking. He is good with tools and never has any of the other neighbors have had any issues with the things he's fixed.
So what is going on with this one?
He gets to it while Gabriela chatters in the background. Something about an ex and yada yada.
Max drops by his side taking a little nap while he works. He scratches Max absentmindedly.
"Did you hear the scandal yesterday?"
"What?"
"Yeah, well the prices have been rising and James couldn't meet payment. Last night, some guys came to evict him. Sergei heard the knocking and tried to kick them out. A fight broke out. The guys fought Sergei and James joined. It was a mess. Pretty nasty. James got roughed real bad. "
James is a single father that lives under his apartment. He has met his daughter before. Sergei is a former drug addict with a hot temper. He talks to the guy sometimes.
"How are they doing? Did the guys do anything else?"
"Yeah, James and Sergei are fine. Nothing broken at least. I visited James, he's purple all over. His daughter saw part of the fight. And she's terrified. Jumps at every little sound."
He clenched his fists. Misty is a sweetheart. (She reminded him of Lisa. Her smile and energy.)
"Are they going to do something?"
"I don't know. I don't think so. We can barely pay rent. How could we afford a lawyer?"
And she 's right. Even if they collected money from the rest of the building, a lawyer would be too expensive.
Thankfully Frank knows someone.
"I have a friend who can help." He stands up cleaning his hands. "He's a damn good lawyer."
"You think he'll accept?"
"Yeah, most of his cases are pro-bono. And he wins most of the time. "
She whistles while giving a wide eye stare.
"Sounds like a hell of a lawyer. I'll tell them."
He nods and scratches Max's head.
"Thanks for the help Pete, really. I don't know where we'd be without you."
"You'd have many broken pipes."
Gabriela laughs and accompanies him to the door.
"Enjoy the rest of your day, Pete!"
He waves and walks back to his apartment.
It's a shame Gabriela didn't give him any description of the men. If she had, maybe they wouldn't need a lawyer. If only he had been here. He would've gotten rid of those pieces of shit in a second.
A message from Matt brings him back.
-hey mass is over, are you in on not?-
-yeah, yeah, don't keep me waiting, choir boy-
-send me the address and I'll pick you up-
Matt sends him the address and he goes there. Next time he might bring Max with him.
The car he drives is nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, he borrowed it from a criminal months ago. He replaced the plaque, forged some documents. Now he is the rightful owner of it.
The surprise in Murdock's face is definitely worth it.
He parks the car and approaches Matt who tilts his head.
"I'm assuming that car is yours?"
"Yeah, technically."
Matt sighs.
"You know what? Don't tell me. You do you. Congrats."
He laughs.
"So, to your apartment?"
Matt hums and Frank takes it as a yes.
He walks towards the car again with Matt on his trails. He is sure the fucker hits him with the cane on purpose. Asshole.
"Your door is right in front of you."
Matt enters as he turns on the engine.
"Give me the address so I can put it in Google maps."
"No way. I can take us there."
"You sure?"
"I grew up here, Frank. Or course I am."
They take two wrong turns. Matt wanted to go through a wall. For a while they went in the opposite direction of the road. They end up close to the warehouses in which criminals tend to work. So Red's senses aren't the best in a car. Noted.
"Nice place you've got."
"Shut up."
They end up using Google maps.
Once they actually get to Red's apartment it's around six o clock.
They climb up the stairs to the fourth floor and he enters, for the first time, to Matt's apartment.
"Make yourself home."
It's big, there's a small hallway, which has a coat hanger, that leads to the living room. The living room is connected to the kitchen and is decorated with windows that go from the floor to the ceiling in arcs. Pretty similar to murals in a church. There are some stairs leading to the fire escape. His bedroom doesn't have a door. Just by its side he can see another door to what he assumes is the bathroom. There are no plants, or photos. He can't see a single decoration other than a table in the middle of the living room. The table is accompanied by two sofas. He can see some books thrown around the table. But nothing else.
This is the house of someone ready to leave at any moment.
There is a billboard across the street. He guesses once its night time it must be a nightmare to deal with. Not that Red has much of an issue. Red moves around with confidence. His cane hangs at the entrance. He walks around the kitchen, counting the cupboards before digging in.
He sits down on one of the sofa's. It's soft and made of a comfortable material. Probably expensive. It makes him sigh, relieving the tension he didn't know he had.
"What do you prefer, vodka or whiskey?"
"Whiskey."
"Mmm same."
Matt approaches with a bottle of whiskey in hand and two glasses with ice.
They start small. Barely anything in their glasses. It's still early after all. And neither wants to get drunk fast.
"So, opinions?"
"On the booze? It's good. Nelson was right, you really have an expensive taste."
"Glad to hear. Good things are hard to come by. Like this for example."
"You are talking from experience."
"It's hard to find someone to share this with. Not someone I can trust."
It startled Frank. He never thought he'd hear that from the devil himself. In or out of the suit.
"Is that so? Then hopefully you won't mind me asking some questions."
He might as well use this chance to reveal everything. Apply just a bit of pressure.
"Hmmm yeah, shoot me the best you can."
"How do you get those bruises, Matt? And don't tell me you fell. I am not fucking stupid."
Matt recoils like he hadn't expected that question.
"Then what else do you want me to say, Frank. I'm blind I run into things oft-"
"Don't insult me, Matt. I can connect two and two together."
"What exactly did you connect huh?"
There is a threat there. Don't ruin this. Stop before you say do something you can't undo.
"You move pretty well for a blind guy. You are blind there is no doubt about that but there is a fluidity to your movements people lack. You move just like you fight. Under the suits you think cover your muscles, you can still feel them. You might change your voice but your mannerisms are still there, Red."
Red doesn't move. He is frozen in place, head tilted with his glasses over his eyes. They shine red, reflecting the dim light of the billboard.
"Why are you here Frank? What do you want?"
He shocks his head.
"Nothing really. Wanted to get that out of the closet."
"Don't -
"No Red listen. I don't care. I couldn't care less. Your identity and what you do with your life is up to you. I find you, Matt Murdock, interesting. It's just better to have that out of the way. Continue being Daredevil. The only difference is that now you have someone out there with you who knows."
Matt looks tired. More so than before.
He sighs, takes off his glasses and rubs his nose bridge. It is a habit Frank has seen him do, many, many times.
"How long have you known?"
"Around a month or two. I definitely didn't know that first time at the bar."
Matt nods and shifts to refill his and Frank's glass.
Frank almost fears he ruined the moment before Matt laughs. It's slow. Tentative. But it's there.
"Goodness gracious Frank, you let me make a fool out of myself for months. Really?"
He chuckles and raises his glass to take a sip.
"You have to admit, it was interesting and ridiculous."
And it's back to the way it's been for months now. The world turned into dust but they found something good in exchange