Chapter 30
Matt was a firm believer in law and justice but when that system fails he takes it into his own hands to correct it, even if it does mean getting his fist bruised and cracked ribs. But being a catholic he also believes everyone deserves a second chance, using prison as a place to realise what they had done wrong.
Killing.
He's against murder by any means and the woman who was sitting in front of him was very much relaxed as he read out every crime committed making her hands covered with blood.
"Ms Johnson, you're guilty of First, Second and third-degree murder, Involuntary Manslaughter, Homicide, Arson, Aggravated Assault, Assault and Battery, Battery, Bribery, Counterfeiting, Kidnapping, Forgery, Fraud, Perjury, Cybercrime, Trafficking, Embezzlement, Money Laundering, Expungement, Extortion each recorded to have happened on multiple occasions, am I corrected?"
Daisy, as she told them to call her 'Ms Johnson' made her feel her real age, Which she had problems with, nodded her head. Their hair brushed against the fabric of the clothing she was wearing.
The racing hearts of two out of five in the room, Foggy and Karen, was enough to know that they were even the slightest bit scared about this woman. The files they were given good them more than they needed to know and the list he read out was just vastly scaled down.
Matt wasn't afraid of her not anymore at least. Their prior meets when Hydra was trying to get to him had left them both with minor injuries at best before they stopped trying altogether. Maybe he should be grateful that the person trying to recruit him was half the mind-saner than the average foot soldier to the organisation.
"So..." This time the girlfriend talked instead, seeming more invested in the case than the actual person herself. As Daisy lent back in her chair, Wanda lent her arms across the next and listing intently to each word said.
Matt sighed, running a hand down his face before straightening up, "I won't pretend it's anything good. Because it isn't. Look at the abundance of crimes with multiple charges on each with the added amount of people you have been listed to your looking at life imprisonment without possibility of release or parole. You'll be lucky to not be put to death."
The mood in the room decreased below the point that it was before, almost suffocating as their hearts were revenged in their chests. Except one.
"Can I have the room alone with the client? Alone." Matt pronounced which earned him three looks of confusion but they obeyed with a little persisting, the young couple sharing a small group conformation which Matt pretended to hear.
Soon enough it was just the two of them at opposite sides of a table. Silent as ever with the air conditioning making a sort of low buzzing across the room, or the slightest heat coming from the light that illumined the room.
Matt leaned on the desk, tilting his head slightly as he focused on the woman in front of him, "What are you playing at, Johnson? I just told you you can get a life if not a death sentence and you are perfectly fine with it. Last week you were practically begging me to get you out. What's changed?"
Her composure tightened as she sat right in her chair, "I've had a week to think," Her voice was softer, as if mournful, and she sighed, "What I've done, there's no coming back from it. Each victim whether guilty or innocent where brutally murdered or tortured before their fateful death. I shouldn't deserve the life I have. Sure Wanda May tell you about my 'horrific' past and while it's true. I was never manipulated like Natasha to kill, I did it out of pure boredom or just because I can. I was raised to be how I am, I'm just tired."
Daisy slummed back in her chair as she ran a hand down her face, she wasn't lying there was no doubt about it. She wanted what would await her very shortly. Matt had worked with anyone but people who want life and he can’t say he wasn’t sombre, the woman in front of him was practically digging her own grave with nothing to change her train of thought.
“You haven’t talked to them about this, have you?” Them meaning the Avengers, Daisy let out a small humorous laugh because what could be funny in a situation like this?
“Of course not. They would do their best to persuade me to plead ‘Not Guilty’ even as far as pushing insanity to hopefully get a few years at best. I’m not insane, like I said I was fully aware of what I was doing under no influence. But at least they care, You know, it is what matters most. Just a little too much for comfort.”
“So exactly why did you call me then, when you can go and walk directly to the government and give yourself up?” The question had been weighing on him slightly, Daisy seemed to be a decent person away from the murders and such but why call them if she already knew what she wanted?
“Comfort, not for me but the team. Sure maybe I wanted a way out but once again I took the time to think and realise what I have done. Too late to back out when they think everything is going to be fine and find me a way out. They need it, especially Wanda.”
He smiled at her, albeit crestfallen, he thought about the time he’d lied to his friends or the only people he considered as family. Acting as a drunk to explain new bruising or late appearances at work. He chooses a life of vigilantism from other families and he just doesn’t stop, Daisy, however, chose family over fighting. She wants to stop throwing punches he doesn’t. Despite Botha's craving for violence, one can handle it better than the other.
Matt subconsciously ran a hand other his bruised and Beaten knuckles, dried blood and winching pain as he brushed other the bruising, “who’d you beat up last night then?” Daisy questioned over his musings, his voice a slight bit lighter than a second ago. An attempt at brightening the depressing mood.
Bundling up the loose papers and files that spread across the desk as Matt murmured something incoherent under his breath, “We can’t talk about this, I’m your Lawyer, you're my client. But if you are so willing then check the prison records to see the health of some guy who tried to mug a teenage girl.”
Not even a second later, an annoyed Wanda came through the door and followed a very much irritated Foggy and Karen, “Hey look, Matt, we tried to stop be but she threatened us we red, glowing hands and it was sorta intimidating soo…Sorry.” Foggy’s voice was meek and apologetic as he rambled along but Karen just huffed and put her head in her hands and mumbled to herself.
“No worries, Nelson we were pretty much done anyways,” Daisy spoke up amid an embrace from her partner.
“Oh, you were. We should tell the team your decision then.” Wanda's accented voice, one he can’t quite tell what it was but it was Slavic, pitched up before exiting the room dragging Daisy by the hand. Now he could slightly panic, sure he could tell them what she wanted but then he would come to the backlash even if it was the law or Daisy had a backup plan because it turned out he was extremely bad at lying. Despite his keeping his identity hidden for years, who would ever suspect a blind, catholic, Lawyer to be a law-breaking vigilante, with extremely good reflexes?
Soon enough they were standing in front of a very much anxious group of Avengers, it was weird to feel such anxiety radiating from people who saved the world twice. Yet they are people as well, worrying for a friend. Matt would be the same if it was Foggy or Karen.
“So what’s the verdict, Doc?” Stark pipped up as he lent off the back of the sofa, the gadget around his heart creating an annoying hum of energy. Matt remembers hearing something about Stark and his heart around the time of his last year at Law school, the news spread around like the wide fire that Tony Stark was ‘The Iron Man’ and had something attached to his chest. It sounds all odd to him at the time because of Television and such it never really clicked, he caved and decided to ask Foggy to explain it all.
Daisy sided next to him and whispered very slightly under her breath knowing he would hear her, “Follow my lead.” Great, she was going to lie. Not his favourite thing yet also something he's good at.
“We decided that we’ll do it all legally. Go through court to see how much time I’ll spend or even if at spend any at all.” She placed an arm on Matts's shoulder in a sign of friendliness, the only part about his is that if Matt didn’t know she was lying he wouldn’t know at all. Her heart showed no signs so skipping a beat, breathing not picking up a pace or sweating. It was obvious she knew how to lie without picking up any signals, Spies and all their tricky habits. But he played a long and smiled slightly like he always did.
Much to his remorse, the atmosphere in the room changed as their moods were content not knowing what he did. It was saddening really, even if they did go to trial no doubt the judge will end up saying the same thing he did. No matter the circumstances, Daisy was guilty of hundreds of deaths and admitted to torturing people while being sane. But even Matt can be completely sure if someone so sane do such things even some days he would wonder if he still was sane himself. Having a craving to beat up people can’t be good for your mental health, he might claim he does it to protect the city. Does he do but how much of it is for his pleasure and safety?
Stark invited them to stay for a while, But Matt thoroughly declined his invitation claiming more clients to catch up on and meet. But seriously needed to sleep, which isn’t something he’d usually say, but the sleep of everything he’d just read and heard. Yet one night's sleep could potentially cause the death of another which would no doubt he’ll feel guilt for because he could have prevented it.
Sighing one last time as he shook hands with each Avenger as they thanked them for their service, Foggy was gathering up autographs from everyone, before they go in the cab to take them back to the routine hustle and bustle of Hell's Kitchen.
They were all hoping to see him again when Daisy’s ‘trial’ date is confirmed but only he knows it will never be. Sending a Tilt of the head to Daisy before he shut the door because whatever she was going to do next was up to her, just how she does it he never knows. She’s full of surprises but it’s what she wants and he might as well respect her decision.
He only hopes it is done legally, without the flare of blood and guts this time around.