Take the Money and Run

Matt stalked toward Fogwell’s gym. He was too angry to think straight and it was too early for him to go out as Daredevil and take his anger out on criminal’s. Nothing was going how he wanted it right now. First he narrowly escaped Fisk at the art gallery, and now he and Foggy were arguing about taking a case that would allow them to pay rent, but it was defending a man who clearly was morally wrong, even if the law was on his side. Matt was so distracted that when he got to Fogwell’s that he didn’t pay attention to where he was going and tripped over a can of paint that the top was not fixed on properly.

Not only did the paint get all over the floor, but it got all over Matt himself. Matt growled in frustration. The smell of the paint was almost too much for his senses to handle. He could go to the bathroom and try to wash it off, but Matt was never one for making good decisions, so he decided to take all of his frustrations out on the punching bag with the paint still covering his hands. Matt was too busy beating the stuffing out of the punching bag to hear the click of heels announcing someone else’s presence.

“Matthew!” Vanessa called to Matt from relatively close by and Matt froze, “What are you doing?”

Matt really didn’t want to give away how good he was at boxing. Apparently a blind man who made art and wanted to buy art had made enough of an impression on her for her to track him down. He really didn’t want to know what she would make of a blind artist/boxer who tracked her down specifically. That might send up some red flags.

“Uh,” Matt clenched and unclenched his fists trying to think of an excuse when he realized that the paint was still on his knuckles, “Making art?”

Vanessa walked closer to him. Matt could tell she was examining the punching bag, which he could smell had paint transferred from his knuckles all over it. She then glanced at the floor and the mess of paint that was evidence of his fall.

“Is your piece just the punching bag or does it include the floor?”

Matt chuckled nervously, about to run his hands through his hair but then thought better of it before lying, “The piece is definitely the punching bag. The paint on the floor was me being too excited to get started.”

Vanessa chuckled, “I can understand the artistic fervor, especially for something like this. I know I said that I don't often buy pieces for my gallery, but for this, I want to buy for myself.”

Matt blinked, “I’m sorry what?”

Vanessa smiled at Matt, “This art is amazing. Mathew, your frustration and anger are clear, but it also expresses your determination and strength. I want to buy this art.”

“Really?” Matt asked in disbelief, “But the paint is still wet and technically this isn’t even my punching bag. I was going to clean it off later.”

“Matthew, absolutely not!” Vanessa exclaimed, “This should not go unseen! I will cover the cost of replacing the bag and pick it up when the paint is dry. How does fifteen hundred sound?”

Matt blinked, that was a lot of money and it was way too much. Vanessa may be dating a crime boss, but Matt was not going to let her waste her money on something he hadn’t even meant to do.

“No, that’s—”

“Too little? How does two thousand sound?” Vanessa asked as she walked around the bag again, “And afterward, I could set up a show for some of your other pieces and see if anyone else was interested in buying them. You could get good prices for them, if they’re all like this. Especially with your story.”

Matt shook his head and held out his hands trying to get her to pause, “No, two thousand is too much, I really can’t take your money. What do you mean by my story? And while we’re on it how did you find me?”

Vanessa smiled as she took her eyes off of the punching bag and focused on Matt, “Matthew, you told me you were a lawyer. A blind lawyer named Matthew Murdock, it was easy to find your firm, but there was no one there. So, I asked around and I was directed here.”

“Oh.” Matt said.

Vanessa continued, “Art is also about the story of the artist Matthew, if we tell people that this is your way of raising money for your firm, of showing people art that you cannot see yourself? I promise you will sell out quickly. And Matthew, you can take two thousand for this piece. I insist. If you refuse, I will add more money to my offer.”

Matt grit his teeth in frustration, but sighed. Nelson and Murdock really needed the money. And his inner Foggy was screaming at him to take the money and run.

“Fine,” Matt agreed.

“Oh, you don’t mind if it’s all in cash do you? My grandparents grew up in the Great Depression and made me paranoid.” Vanessa explained, “It’s easier for me just to give you cash.”

Matt read between the lines. She was probably getting the money from Fisk and he only dealt with cash, which was harder to track.

Matt nodded, “That’s fine.”

“Oh, and we need to talk about your gallery showing!” Vanessa gushed as she grabbed Matt’s arm and led him away from the punching bag/art piece, “We can exhibit this one of course! What do you call it?”

Matt panicked, “Battlin’ Jack.”

“Interesting.” Vanessa said before she began to talk shop.

Two days later, there was a brand new punching bag in Fogwell’s gym and Matt was handing a large manila envelope over to Foggy.

“Matt what is this?” Foggy asked hesitantly, opening it then his mouth dropped open, “Matt where did you get all of this?”

Matt sighed, “I really don’t have time to talk about it.”

Matt then left Nelson and Murdock thinking about how he was going to come up with eleven more artworks on top of his caseload and Daredevil. However, not answering Foggy’s question would result in Foggy reaching an understandable, but incorrect conclusion.

Foggy slammed the cash onto Karen’s desk announcing, “Karen, I think Matt is a stripper.”