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After what happened at the Bulletin, Dex had went home to his apartment. It wasn’t long until he had felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, he had recognized the number. At first he didn’t want to answer the call, as doubt was flooding his mind. And when he did, he heard Fisk’s voice, he told him you and Daredevil were hiding in the church. That he had send some men over there to deal with the situation. Fisk had promised him a bright future within the FBI if he would accept the task of killing you. Fisk reminded him that you would become a problem if you were not dealt with soon. He called you a ‘threat’ to him and Dex. Dex had clenched the phone in his hand, breaking it almost as his knuckles turned white. He hadn’t realised before how strong his urge was to keep you safe, even after everything. After all the lies, he still couldn’t get you out of his head. And the thought of getting you out of his life was not an option yet. There were too many questions left unanswered, something he couldn’t stand.
He had wanted to tell Fisk to go to hell, but instead he told Fisk he would take care of it. Knowing it would give him the opportunity to speak to you.
When he arrived at the church he had seen Hunt go inside the church followed by others he recognized from work. They were FBI, he had worked with these people. He listened as he heard Hunt talk about how Fisk had tried to manipulate you, and how he had called him Fisk’s 'plan B’.
He had heard you threathen Hunt at the mention of his name. It had taken him by suprise that you were still defending him. Even now, now that your own life was on the line, you still thought of him. He stood facing you now, you were bloodied and bruised, a mirror of him.
You hesitated to step closer to him, not knowing how he would respond to you.
“Dex.. I.. -” you started but he was quick to interupt you.
Unlike you, he did take a step in your direction “Wanna tell me why you didn’t tell me we were raiding your ex’s apartment?” Dex asked you as he tried to catch his breath. You knew Dex was angry, and you knew he had every right to be angry.
“I was as suprised as you are.” Matt’s voice suddenly sounded, suprising you as you had not noticed him coming inside the church.
Dex’s attention was immediately on Matt, you tensed as you knew this could turn ugly quickly. “How’s the shoulder ?” Dex was mocking Matt.
Matt gritted his teeth in silent fury “Why don’t you ask her how her head is after you threw that stapler ?”
Dex didn’t answer him, and you felt the tension getting stronger.
You stepped closer to Dex, in a way that it blocked his direct view on Matt. “He didn’t know that was me at the time, Matt.” You said.
Matt tilted his head, probably out of suprise at how you mentioned his identity right now. There was no point in hiding it anymore, Dex knew.
“Maybe he shouldn’t just throw stuff at people then.” Matt tried to make it sound casual but there was a criticising tone to it.
“Perhaps you should stick to beating up people in alleys, at least people won’t have to see your horrible dressing sense then.”
Matt tilted his head “Funny coming from the guy who is wearing mysuit.”
You were mentally face-palming as the both of them continued their battle of words.
“Will the both of you just SHUT THE FUCK UP for a moment !” your voice was loud enough to make the words bounce against the walls of the church “Please.”.
There was silence for a moment and you stepped closer to Dex, who was still watching Matt like a hawk. “I don’t know what Fisk told you about me. But I know that you have every right to be angry at me.”
“Why did you lie to me, (y/n)?” his voice was brittle for a second.
You crossed your arms in front of your chest, you had to keep yourself together. “I lied to you because I had to protect my friends, and I had to protect you, Dex. Fisk knows something about my past. He was using that information against me trying to manipulate me into doing his bidding. When I refused to work for him Fisk tried to have me killed, that is why he send Hunt after me again.”
“Again ?” Dex sounded confused.
“You…you don’t know?”
“Hunt attacked you before, when?”
“The day I didn’t show up for work, Dex.” you exhaled “Remember when I got my coat drenched in whisky?”
Dex remembered because you had thrown the towel at him “Yeah.”
“That was a trick from Fisk. He had a waitress spill the drink on me and while she pretended to help me, she stole my phone. I only realised it the morning after, when Fisk called me. He asked me again to work for him. I refused and then Hunt tried to kill me, a bullet grazed my shoulder and I was bleeding badly.” you confessed.
Dex was silent as he was processing everything “Why didn’t you tell me ? Why didn’t you tell me you knew him like that?” he looked at Matt as his jaw clenched, he was trying to stay calm.
You rubbed your hand over your neck “I couldn’t call you, Dex. I didn’t memorize your number yet. I couldn’t ask anyone else in the FBI because Fisk has people there working for him, Dex. And I couldn’t come to you see you, the risk was too big. What if Fisk found out that I went to see you? I was so afraid that Fisk would harm you if he knew what you meant to me.”
You brushed your hand over your mouth.
“I went to Matt because Fisk was already after him, and my shoulder was bleeding too much.” you sighed “I didn’t tell you about Matt and I, because he is Daredevil. He saved my life countless times, Dex. I had to protect his secret identity. And we are.. were FBI, Dex. I was afraid of how you would respond to me being friends with a vigilante. I wanted to tell you but then all of this happened. I couldn’t call you, I couldn’t see you..” you were biting your lip hoping you wouldn’t cry.
Dex clenched his hand for a moment before letting it relax again, he looked between you and Matt for a moment “So what exactly is it now between you and him ?” his jealousy was evident.
“He’s my friend, Dex. A good friend but nothing more than that, not anymore.” you answered honestly.
His attention was on you, you knew how hard it must be to believe you. You had been in the same situation, you remembered how insecure you once were, it was something you didn’t want Dex to feel. You got closer to him and reached up with your hands slowly, putting your hands on the sides of the mask, looking at his reaction. He didn’t move away from you and you gently took off the mask from his head. Finally seeing those eyes you had missed so much. His hair disheveled.
You let the mask drop to the floor and cupped his face before you placed your lips on his. You lingered for a while, hoping to make it clear to him that it was him you loved. After that you looked him in the eyes, you prayed he would believe you. A mix of emotions seemed to run through him.
It made you take a step back, giving him some space.
He was distant, and you could feel your heart starting to break “I understand that you must have thought that I was using you, but Dex, I just wanted to keep everyone safe. And for a moment I.. we believed that we could stop Fisk..by making Jasper Evans testify. Fisk made a deal with Evans, if Evans shanked Fisk. Fisk would get him out of prison as well. Fisk played us all, Dex. The FBI, Matt, Nadeem and us.”
Dex was silent as the pieces of the puzzle all fell into the right places.
“The guy at the Bulletin..” he breathed.
You only nodded.
Dex’s steely demeanor was crumbling “The one I.. Fisk told me..”
“Yeah. That one.” Matt said and you shot him an angry look.
You placed your hand on his chest “Dex, look at me. Breath.”
His eyes were on yours as he started to breath normal again.
“Everything is going to be okay, we will get through this.” you were trying to comfort him.
“We ?” he carefully asked.
“Did you really believe I would ever abandon you, Dex? I told you, like gum to a school bench.” a small smile played on your lips.
“Even after…” he exhaled and looked at your hand on his chest “…everything I’ve done? ”
“Everyone deserves a second chance, Dex. I got mine, now let me give you yours.”
Matt cleared his throat “The cops are on their way here. You might wanna get out of here while you still can.”
You looked over at him questioningly.
He sighed “We’ll be fine.” he nodded towards Sister Maggie who was standing at the side listening. I trust you (y/n), and if you want to help him. I won’t stop you.”
You gave a quick nod “Dex, please tell me you drove here?”
“I did. Car’s outside, I parked it in a dark spot across the street.” Dex told you.
You turned to Matt “I’ll take him to my old place, you know which one i’m talking about right?”
“I know the place. You should hurry, you can still leave without them seeing you drive off if you go now.” Matt wasn’t cheery but he knew you would not abandon Dex.
You looked at Dex hopeful “Shall we?” you asked and you held out your hand to him
He didn’t answer, he just took hold of your hand and started to lead you out of the church. Before he pushed the door open that would lead to the back of the church he turned around and drew Matt’s attention “The devil hiding in a church is pretty ironic, don’t you think?” his usual smirk appeared on his face as he pushed the door open. You could only roll your eyes.