Chapter 1 of an ongoing story that can be found on Wattpad: metalupyourazzz
Chapter 1: Goldwing
Chapter 1: Goldwing
Riker’s Island Prison
18:30
The room was small, mildew and condensation barely hid the chipped blue paint on the prison walls. In the center was a bolted table, fluorescent light buzzing faintly overhead. Two guards stood outside, their eyes flicking in disgust towards the prisoner at the table.
Benjamin Pointdexter was already seated when Rowan walked in. His hands flexed in his cuffs, fingertips pulling across the metal table. His crisp orange suit crinkled as he leaned against the chair, spreading his legs slightly as he toyed with the chain of his cuffs. His icy grey eyes met with her hazel ones, taking in the splotches of freckles across her olive tanned nose where a pair of black glasses sat. The corner of her lips curled into a small smile, admiring the rugged stubble adorning his perfect jawline.
She sat down across from him, placing a folder on the table, one that held various information about the man sitting across from her. Bullseye. The chair quickly chilled her skin through the black pencil skirt and tights she was wearing. However, under his piercing gaze, she felt warm. Too warm.
A beat of silence passed before she gently cleared her throat.
Pointdexter tilted his head to the side, curious, his tongue poking through his teeth slightly, “Who are you?”
Simple words, but there’s a sharp edge to them. Not confusion or fear. Calculation. He was trying to read her, her thoughts, emotions, intentions. The silence stretched for minutes, as she peeled open the file in front of her. Lifting a black bag onto her lap, she pulled out a note-pad and pen.
Her eyes flick from the notepad to him as she scribbled a few words onto the thick yellow page, before speaking.
“Your court-appointed therapist.”
That earns a soft, mocking scoff. A faint smile pulls at his mouth, before he leaned forward, interlocking his fingers.
“My last therapist worked for Fisk. Terrible posture. She didn’t talk much, she couldn’t. How are you supposed to be a therapist if you can’t talk?”
His gaze flicked back to hers, his eyes watched her as if studying prey.
“And now they send you.”
His eyes narrowed.
“What makes you so special?”
She crossed her legs, the tip of her pen going still as her focus went back to him. Before replying, she pushed her glasses further up on her nose, her gaze thoughtful.
“I’m not. I’m just here to fix you.”
Her hand went back to her pen, scribbling notes. He leaned back in his chair with a scoff. His forearms flexed, the veins popping as he crossed them together against his chest. He watched her closely, the way her eyebrows knit together as she thought, the way her teeth pulled her plump bottom lip between them. There was an air of professionalism to her, but under the crisp demeanor and a heavy scent of perfume, he could tell she wasn’t typical. Through her thin, white blouse he could see the dark lines of tattoos lining her arms. Drifting his gaze upwards, he noticed more small details about her.
She cleared her throat again, catching his attention. As their eyes locked, the air in the room turned electric. Rowan could feel the back of her neck prickle with tension, and her fingers found the top button of her blouse. Unbuttoning it, Dex watched her fingers work. He shifted his lap slightly, his hands curling into tight fists, knuckles white. It bothered him the way she held herself, the innocent look of her eyes clashing with the sharp tone of her silence.
Her eyes flicked to his once more, the corners of her lips curling into a content smile as she held the pen up in her hand, “You could end a life with this, yes?”
His mouth split into a wolfish grin, shifting his weight to be almost face to face with her. He plucked the pen from her fingers, flipping it through them in a fluid motion. His thumb rubbed against the ridged text of the pen before gripping it between his pointer and middle finger. He threw it with ease, the quick whisk of air across Rowan’s neck causing her to flinch slightly. The pen embedded in a small crack in the wall, not breaking, just hanging there. A thoughtful hum left his therapists’ lips as she stood up, brushing her skirt off. She pulled the pen from the wall, examining it, pulling small pieces of drywall from the tip of it. She sat back down, tapping it against the paper, her brows knit as she thought.
“What makes you want to kill, Mr. Pointdexter?”
His pupils dilated as she sat down, her blouse revealing her collarbone. Her subtle question and shift in tone made his teeth gnash together, jaw clenched in frustration. Annoyance. Intrigue. He pulled his hands to his lap, gripping the orange fabric of his suit into a tight fists as he spoke.
“It’s not about wanting. It’s about control. A perfect release of tension.”
His voice cut through her thoughts, the honesty of it a surprise. She pulled a lock of her auburn hair through her fingers, twirling it, the fluorescent lights casting an amber glow over her. His voice turned softer, almost intimate.
“Some kills are personal, more satisfying…”
He trailed off.
Her eyes were piercing through him over the rims of her glasses. The once hazel color of her irises were now a burnt amber. He could see a muscle twitching in her jaw as she tried to keep her composure, the pen in her hand bent as her fist clenched it. The fluorescent lights cast a glow over her that made Dex swear she looked inhuman.
He had struck a nerve.
The look in her eyes didn’t scream offense to him. No. It was raw, unfiltered rage. The corner of her lip threatened to twitch into a scowl, his own lips curling into a smile, a dimple popping out. A clock on the wall was the only sound that filled the thick tension that surrounded them. A sharp beeping broke the silence, a phone skittering across the table. Rowan’s slender fingers wrapped around it, her demeanor shifting.
“I’m afraid that’s all the time we have today Mr. Pointdexter,” Rowan hissed out, her eyes sharpening as she gathered her things. Files were sloppily shoved into her bag, papers crumpling as she moved quickly. Her heart was pounding in her throat, loud enough that she was sure her patient could hear it.
Unbeknownst to her, Dex was staring at her with an intense hunger. His stomach churned with a fire he hadn’t felt in years. His fingers itched to trace the curves of skin visible under the thin silk of her shirt. He wanted to see if the fire under her skin matched his own. His jaw clenched as he fought the urge to text the limits of his restraints just to feel her fiery locks against the roughness of his skin. Instead, he relaxed himself, acting indifferent to the haste of the woman in front of him.
Her heels left hurried clacks on the concrete floor as she rushed to the door. Before she left, she turned in the doorway, her gaze cast to the floor as she spoke, “Good luck, Dex.”
His breath caught in his throat as his name fell from her lips. His chains clanked against the table as his hands balled into fists under it. What he would do to hear it again.
The sound of her heels echoed down the hallway as she walked towards the exit. She tossed her hair over her shoulder, mentally kicking herself for making a scene. Making him know she was weak. Her palm slammed into the door, leaving a small dent as she angrily stormed to her car.
Back in the room, Dex’s eyes bore a hole into the door where she left. His leg bounced under the table, the chains rattling against the leg. His movements paused as something poked into his shoe. His eyes shifted to the floor, where a small object lay there. In her haste, a paperclip had slipped off a page in Rowan’s files. Sliding down in the chair, his fingers worked towards the floor as his eyes never left the guards posted by the door.
As his fingers wrapped around the clip, the same wolfish grin from earlier appeared once more. His little goldwing angel had given him an escape.
He picked the lock of his cuff carefully, sliding them from his wrists. After unlocking his ankles, he bent the clip until it was fully straight.
He cracked his neck, rotating his wrists, sighing in contentment as his shoulders dropped into a predatory stance. He was going to enjoy this, every second.
And then, he was going to see his angel.
✧₊⁺🕯⋆.˚୨ৎ ᡕᠵデᡁ᠊╾━ ✧₊⁺🕯⋆.˚୨ৎ
Rowan climbed the steps of her apartment, fatigue lacing her every step. One foot crossed over the other awkwardly as she shuffled to her door, wiping her heels on the mat. Fishing through her pocket, she pulled a key ring out, the various keychains and metal clanking against each other. Sliding the key into the lock, she turns the handle, sighing in relief as she entered her home. As she slipped off her heels, her phone vibrated in her pocket. Looking at the screen, the bright light illuminated the room as she scrambled for a light switch as she balanced on one foot.
“Hello?”
She answered the phone with ease, tucking it between her shoulder and ear.
“Rowan, it’s Heather Glenn.”
Rowan padded into the kitchen, pulling a wine glass from her cabinet, pulling out a bottle of red wine, “Heather, what are you doing calling so late?”
She kept her tone light as she poured a half-full glass.
“Have you seen the news?”
She sipped her wine.
“No, why?”
Heather’s voice came out in a fearful whisper, trembling and cracking, “Benjamin Pointdexter escaped from Riker’s at 8:30 this evening.”
Rowan swallowed hard, the once sweet wine turning bitter in her throat. She choked it down, setting the glass on the table, “Oh.”
She fumbled for a remote, pressing her phone against her chest, her pulse wild. She turned her television on, pacing back and forth as she chewed her nail. Flipping through channels, she finally found a news one. The news reporters hands shook as she read lines from the thin sheets of paper that her knuckles were turning pale holding.
“Wanted fugitive Benjamin Pointdexter, also known as the vigilante turned criminal Bullseye has escaped from Riker’s Prison. We will update you further as we gather more information. He is at large and must be deemed a threat if spotted…”
Rowan gasped as a small chill hit the back of her neck, the hairs standing straight up. The reporter droned on in the background as a muscular hand slipped across her chest, settling under her chin. Familiar fingers wound across the soft skin of her face, squeezing the tender flesh of her throat, tracing the rapid beat of her pulse point. Her fingers trailed to the ones caressing her, tracing the large veins popping out, intertwining her fingers with his. Her head involuntarily tilted back, his breath hot on her skin, lighting her ablaze.
“Hello, angel.”
His voice wound around her, her heart slamming against her chest. She squeezed her eyes closed, not scared of him, but fear pierced through her. Fear of the way he was making her feel. She couldn’t feel this way, he was a criminal. A evil, terrifying man who could kill her without a second thought. But she couldn’t stop, she didn’t want to. The way he looked at her with the same hatred, the same rage…she wanted more.
His thumb etched around her pulse point in a lopsided circle, feeling the steady rhythm skip a few beats. They stood there for what felt like an eternity, an eternity of him worshipping her every movement as she trembled under his touch. His calloused fingertips brushed the edge of her collarbone, ghosting his nails across the delicate flesh. He had to clench his fist to lessen the ache to dig his fingertips in, to make her his.
Just as quickly as he came, he was gone.
Rowan let out a ragged gasp, clutching her front, eyes wild. An amber glow flickered in her eyes as she stared at the gift he had left her. Sitting on her coffee table was a single flower, vibrant and lush, petals still damp. She picked it up, rubbing the petals between her thumb and pointer finger, the flower sizzling under the heat. It was a rose.
A blue rose.
She looked over her shoulder, seeing a glimpse of him on the rooftop across from her. Stumbling over herself, she ran to the window, palms pressing into the glass as her breath fogged her view. He stared at her, his hand clutched to his chest, unmoving. The look in his eyes was one of pure desire, obsession. A slight tilt of his head was all that signaled to her, his back turning as he disappeared from her view.
Backing away from the window, the rose burnt to ash in her hand. The adrenaline pumping through her veins caused her to get woozy, a pressure building in her chest. She stumbled to the floor, heaving and spluttering as the pressure grew more intense. Dropping to her knees, she caught a glimpse of herself in the floor-length mirror hanging on the wall by her living room. Her eyes were bright amber, the glow casting a hollow picture on her face. Her cheeks looked sunken in, dark circles around her eyes, skin peeling and cracking. She whipped her head to the floor, letting out a shrill wail as the pulsing in her body grew more intense. Her insides felt like they were melting, the heat rising quicker and hotter as she could have sworn she felt her lungs light on fire. The pressure released finally, a small explosion of flames surrounding her body, filling the room with a harsh glow. As fast as it started, it burnt out, flinging her back into her couch. Gulping in the air around her, Rowan’s eyes turned hazel once more slowly fading shut as the world turned black around her.
She dropped to the floor, unconscious, her body exhausted from the explosion.
Outside her building, Dex stood, watching as the bright light that had once filled the street fade out. His brows furrowed underneath his mask, a surprised hum slipping through his lips. He turned, slipping through the darkness of the street, disappearing into the night. He would be back. He’d make sure of it.
tags: @fallingfavourites @see-the-divine // prev // next
Pairing: Matt Murdock x Livia Yersova (OC), mentions of June Yersova x Joaquin Torres (may get a feature piece later)
Word Count: 6,336
Summary: Livia faces some emotional hurdles and clears them with a very obvious lack of grace. But when all else fails, why not return to what you know? Even if what you know is a vigilante suit…
When it came to Matt coming over, Livia was regretting her decision to invite him. She didn’t care about the extra cooking. She generally made enough for leftovers and meal prep anyway. It was just the idea of having that conversation with him.
She has actively avoided it for a reason, after all.
The meal itself was easy enough. June managed to fill any awkward silences with her own stories. Matt seemed to keep a smile on his face for the whole night.
It made Livia’s heart ache, made her yearn for a peace she couldn’t quite have.
“Oh.” June said suddenly as her phone rang. “Um…”
“Go ahead.” Livia motioned towards the other woman’s room. “It’s about that time.”
“Well…” She looked at the screen, bit her inner cheek, and then looked back. “He’ll understand. I can call him later.”
“Wow.” Livia nodded then looked over to Matt. “She never ignores his call.”
“Really?” He raised his brows. “Guess this is important.”
“It is.” June agreed. “Okay, we’ve stalled enough. Livia, go.”
“Okay.” Livia shrugged. “What happened with you at the bank, June?”
“Hmm?” She pressed her lips into a line and raised her brows. “Come again?”
“When one of those guys had his gun aimed at Matt, you freaked out. I felt it. You were practically shaking after. What was that?”
“Uh… Well, it- It was nothing. Nothing.” June shook her head.
“Liv, maybe we don’t.” Matt tried.
“You know, don’t you?” Livia faced the man.
“Maybe.” He sighed. “When we went to California, she had some-“
“No!” June cut in.
“We have to tell her.” Matt reasoned.
“That’s not what we’re talking about.”
“It sort of is, Bug… We can’t fix everything if we’re still keeping secrets. You can read our minds but we can’t read yours.”
June chewed the inside of her cheek as she thought. She was quiet but gestured for Matt to continue. Livia watched as the blonde sunk into her seat with a huff, crossing her arms and trying to make herself smaller.
Matt waited until Livia was focused on him to talk.
“She was having nightmares in California.” Matt explained carefully, telling the story with such gentleness and care that Livia was still shocked that he ever sent June to Natasha. “She’d wake up, just drenched in sweat. Sometimes she’d scream, other times she was crying… It was always the same thing. One of us-“ He gestured between him and Livia. “-dying.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Livia gently asked June.
She shrugged a shoulder, pretending it didn’t matter. “What were you supposed to do about it?”
“If I had known, I-“
“There was nothing you could’ve done, Liv.” June sighed, seemingly exhausted at the idea. “I figured it out on my own.”
“The problem is you’re not on your own, not anymore.”
“Never again.” Matt agreed. “June, I’m sorry for everything. When I said what I did, I wasn’t thinking. I was so hurt by what Natasha had said that I…”
Livia hesitated.
She never hesitated when it came to Matt but this time she did. She reached slightly towards his hand before letting hers land on the table. She tapped her fingers, eyed the distance between their hands, but did nothing about it.
Matt’s head cocked in her direction, sensing whatever reaction her body was giving away. He offered the slightest smirk, almost proud of what he had discovered. Livia just shook her head. She was going to withdraw her hand but Matt reached over before she could. He laced his fingers through hers and it felt like the most natural position she had ever been in.
She was so entranced by the feelings that she didn’t even hear what else Matt was saying. Some sort of apology, some grovelling, the usual.
It was almost as if her bones were made to fit with his. Every hole in her heart and soul, every gap in her bones, every valley of her muscles, any possible opening or cavity within her seemed to match with something in Matt like puzzle pieces. It was exhilarating to have those small things filled, to simply feel complete even if just for a fleeting moment.
Matt completed Livia in ways that no other man had. Marc had done his best but there was a softness that he lacked, to no fault of his own. Steven was sweet and loving, but there was an edge that Livia needed to combat her own. Billy was the only one that arguably competed with Matt for that space, but he had gone bad long before she knew him.
Then there was Dex. Ben Poindexter was a man that she probably never should’ve taken to bed, but there was something in that instability that called to her. She saw her darkest potential in him. Maybe she thought she could fix something broken in herself if she could fix him, but it very well could’ve been too broken for her to do anything with.
She came back to the conversation when Matt gave her hand a small shake.
“I know you think you need to be alone to figure everything out.” Matt said gently. “But just like you told her, you’re not alone. I’m always here for you, Livvy.”
Her heart fell a beat behind at the nickname.
“Really, we should be blaming Uncle Frank.” June added, twirling her fork in the air as she spoke. “He’s the one who opened his mouth.”
“Or I can blame all three of you.” Livia countered. “You all hid it.”
“Cause we didn’t want to hurt you.”
“Yes, but can you just admit that you were wrong?”
June opened her mouth to speak, registered Livia’s expression, and then offered a frown of her own.
“I really am sorry, Liv. I didn’t know how to bring it up so I just figured it’d be easier not to say anything.”
“Thank you.” Livia nodded before turning back to Matt. “I could’ve been more willing to hear you out and for that, I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize for your feelings.” He offered a gentle smile.
“It just hurt so much to hear what had happened. But I guess I didn’t take into account everything else…”
“Does that mean he’s forgiven?” June asked excitedly.
“Depends.” She turned to June. “Do you forgive him?”
“Yeah, we’re good.” June smiled. “We can keep him around a little while longer.”
“Only a little?” Matt laughed.
“In that case, we will definitely work towards getting back to normal.” Livia told Matt.
“Sounds good to me.” He nodded. He shook her hand slightly, as if to confirm the deal. “However long it takes.”
“Yay!” June clapped. “My turn. Livia, you need to be more honest with us.”
“Right.” Livia nodded once. There was no point in arguing against that request. “What about?”
June’s eyes darted to Matt.
“I have been honest about that.”
“No, you haven’t.”
“Says who?”
“Says me.” Her pointed stare told Livia everything.
“Is there something specific you want to know?”
“No, because I think I already know, but you just won’t say it.”
“You’ve been waiting for a chance to bring this up, haven’t you?” Livia raised a brow.
“Maybe.” June shrugged innocently. “If you’re asking me to be open and honest, it’s only fair that I ask the same of you. Right?”
“She’s got a point.” Matt agreed.
“You’re only agreeing so she doesn’t turn this onto you.” Livia slightly rolled her eyes. Matt gave a slight tilt of his head in agreement. “You are right, June, so I’ll concede to answering anything you ask honestly when it’s just us.”
“That’s not fair!” June exclaimed.
“It is, and it’s all the compromise you’re getting.”
June pursed her lips as she thought.
“And the same goes for Matt.” Livia added.
“Hang on.” Matt chuckled nervously. “I’m not even sure what it’s about.”
“Deal.” June answered quickly, not allowing Matt to question it.
“Anything you’d like to add, Counselor?” Livia looked to Matt.
“Not at the moment, no.” He cracked a small smile. “I’ll let you know if anything comes up.”
The three of them finished dinner and moved to the living room for a movie. They were laying on the couch, watching one of the many movies Livia had missed during her five year disappearing act. It was of course June’s selection, but she had fallen asleep about halfway though. She was laying with her legs over the armrest and her head in Matt’s lap. Livia was angled on Matt’s other side, careful not to lean onto him.
“Are you comfortable like that?” Matt laughed slightly when Livia shifted beside him.
“Yeah.” She lied. As she moved, she winced at the slight pain in her ribs.
“I can hear your bones rubbing together.” Matt countered. “Did you do something recently?”
“Not since the flake’s apartment.” Livia shook her head, gently rubbing the tender spot. “Well, technically the bank is more accurate but that was only a few days ago so I guess it doesn’t count.”
“Okay. He was scared, right? You can’t hold it against him.”
“I fear it all would’ve ended the same way, regardless of how he testified.”
“Maybe.” Matt agreed. “So you haven’t gone out since?”
“No. Believe it or not, I haven’t. I still train with June, though, so I think she got me good at some point.”
“You train with June?” His brows went up in surprise.
“Have you seen her in a fight? If she’s not using mindwork, it’s like a toddler waving pool noodles.”
Matt laughed. “Hard to believe that if you two were from the same place.”
“I think that was always the point...” She reached forward and brushed June’s hair off her forehead. “Two very different purposes.”
“You two aren’t as different as you think.” Matt offered gently. He reached for Livia’s hand but she smoothly avoided it, tucking both of her hands between her folded legs.
“Maybe, maybe not. Either way, she’s in a better place now than I was at her age. She has you to thank for that.”
“She has you, too.”
“I guess the guy she’s with deserves some credit, too.”
“Right, right.” He nodded. “What’s his name again? Joseph?”
“Jared?”
“Jasper.”
“Jacob.”
“Jorge.”
“Julian.”
“This is what happens when she won’t introduce us.”
Livia laughed slightly. “So.. When does the missus expect you home?”
“The missus.” Matt nodded slowly.
“I’d hate to get you in trouble.”
“Since when?” He laughed.
“When have I ever gotten you in trouble?” Livia replied in offense.
“I don’t think we have time for that list.”
Livia laughed and smacked lightly on his chest. “You’re just asking to get your ass kicked, Murdock.”
“I thought you don’t do that anymore.”
“I saw the way you moved at the bank. Clearly, you’re out of practice. It’d actually be unfair to you to fight in the state you’re in.”
“Oh really?”
“Really.”
“Let’s go to the roof and find out.”
“Gladly.”
Before Livia stood, she scribbled a quick note in case June woke up while they were out, then she lightly twisted her torso to stretch her back. She watched Matt carefully rearrange June, who murmured some nonsense before settling back to sleep. Matt gestured for Livia to go first, a smug expression on his face. Livia couldn’t help but roll her eyes to herself as she stepped around him.
At that time of night, the roof was abandoned. No one from her building really went up there anyway except for a couple of teens that went up to hide from their parents while they smoked. Livia wandered the open space, stretching either shoulders and loosening her hips. She heard Matt’s footsteps a few feet behind her and she assumed he was doing something similar.
“Ladies first.” He offered.
She faced him with a smile.
“Be my guest, Matthew.” Livia held her arms out to the side, offering a wide open shot to her torso.
He laughed slightly, the kind of chuckle that sent a jolt through her. The jolt was the kind that meant her life and her thoughts were going to get very complicated very quickly.
As if he knew she was distracted, Matt acted first. He came at her and threw one quick punch. Livia reacted just in time, catching him by his wrist.
She spun her hand around his forearm to push his arm down while she dropped to a knee. Her other arm wrapped around his weight-bearing leg and with a yank, she flipped him over her shoulder.
He landed with a thud and Livia had to laugh. Just a small chuckle.
“Are you taking it easy on me?” She teased.
“Just getting warmed up.” Matt smiled.
They both stood and this time, Livia made the first move.
She went to sweep his legs but Matt avoided it with an acrobatic flip.
Livia knew better than to give him too much time. Once his feet landed, she went to kick out at his chest. Matt also knew her tendencies so he was expecting the kick. He smacked it away and threw one of his own, a high roundhouse that she had to duck under.
She righted and aimed a kick for his ribs. He caught her foot and pinned it under his arm. His other hand gripped her shoulder.
She reached forward and put one hand behind his neck and the other hooked his elbow. With a small hop, she let her body weight drop to drag Matt down. On the way down, her free leg lifted to swing over the arm she had caught.
The back of Matt’s shoulders hit first, meaning her other leg was now free. She spun quickly, adjusting her position to lock Matt into an armbar.
He tapped out quickly.
“Not looking good for you, Matty.” She continued her teasing as she released him. She tumbled backwards to get her feet under her. “I think June could even beat you.”
“You’ve made your point.” He replied from the ground. He shot a hand up, a silent request for her to help him up.
With a small eyeroll, she obliged.
“I really didn’t think you’d be this out of practice.”
“You’d be surprised how fast I catch on.”
“Alright then.” Livia smirked. “One last round?”
“If you say so.” Matt gestured to the space between them.
She moved intently this time, walking in slow circles around him. He spun with her in an effort to keep her in front of him. They both knew he could react to her moves easily and he didn’t need her to be in front of him, but it was all part of the game. That’s what it was to the two of them at the end of it.
A game.
A tricky little cat and mouse neither were going to concede in. It had always been that way for them, she realized. Neither of them were ever truly available to the other, be it due to another relationship or something threatening their lives or someone taking their turn to be “dead”. It was a vicious cycle of want, of yearning, of chasing the impossible.
Livia knew that and yet she let herself fall back into the cycle every damned time.
She needed to get off that train of thought and quickly, so she punched him.
The sloppy attack missed and Matt took a quick step to the side. He threw his elbow towards her chest but she got her hands up to block it and push him away. She swung on him again but he ducked under it, quickly switching his feet to angle himself at her side. He had a leg behind her and Livia quickly recognized he was either going to flip her or trip her.
When he reached across her waist, she didn’t waste time. She drove a knee upwards, forcing the joint into his armpit to block his range of motion and give herself some space. Matt reacted by hooking a foot around her planted ankle.
She went with the momentum of the pull on her ankle and lifted her leg for a kick to his chest. Unfortunately, it was exactly the motion Matt was hoping for. He caught her foot, bracing her ankle against him as he moved closer. She cursed to herself when he caught hold of her planted leg.
With a quick spin, he pulled Livia to the ground and pinned her on her back. Her heart was racing, breath coming hard and fast.
It was the thrill of the fight.
It was the thrill of him.
He still had hold of her leg, bracing it against his hip, when she closed her eyes. She sighed before she let herself laugh. It was genuine, truly enjoying her existence for the moment.
“Maybe this was a bad idea.” She said quietly, eyes darting across his face. So many things were racing through her mind, thoughts she couldn’t entertain. Thoughts she was purposefully trying to avoid.
“What makes you say that?” He asked in the same low tone. He hadn’t released her leg, nor had he attempted to put any distance between their faces. Livia almost thought he had moved in closer.
She had to maneuver her hands carefully to his chest and push him away. She hardly gave him a nudge and he complied without protest.
“You know why.” She answered, shifting away from him.
She stayed on the ground and drew her knees to her chest. One arm wrapped around them and the other fidgeted with her hair.
“Just say the word, Livia.” Matt tried.
“Say what?”
“You know what.”
“There’s nothing to say.”
“Say it, right now, and everything changes.”
“If there was something to say, I’m not going to.”
“Why not?”
“Aren’t you happy?”
“That’s not what this is about.”
“Maybe, but I’m asking anyway.” She shrugged. “So just tell me. Are you happy?”
“Don’t… Don’t ask me that.” He nearly whispered. “You can’t ask me that.”
“Why? Because we both know the answer? I can’t hear your heartbeat but I can feel the truth. Are. You. Happy?” She repeated the question slowly, enunciating each syllable.
“Yes…” He said it quietly, like a whispered confession in some sacred place.
“Exactly.” She smiled sadly. “We both know how this goes. Are you feeling bad for living your life- living a good life without me? I don’t blame you for that. Your life had to go on, Matt.”
“That’s not-“
“You’re happy. June’s happy, That’s all I could ask for…” She began heading back towards the building’s entrance. “I won’t ruin that for you.” She added over her shoulder.
“Are you?”
The question stopped her at the door. She knew exactly what he was asking, but she acted as if she didn’t, if only to give herself time to formulate her lie.
“Am I what?” She didn’t look at him, didn’t take her hand off the knob.
“Happy.”
Livia drew her ability within herself. She felt it course in her veins, every bit of power she had interlaced with her blood. She used it to create a sense of truth, for she needed to believe those next words just as much as she needed Matt to. He wouldn’t know she was lying if she could maintain that control.
She had to maintain it.
“Of course.” She answered, a tone so foreign she wasn’t sure it was her own voice. Detached but seemingly honest, dripping with fake sweetness, just enough to convince him. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“So we lie to each other now…” Matt nodded in understanding.
“I’m not gonna lie to you if I don’t have to.” She shrugged a shoulder. “We can’t tell June we had this conversation.”
“Now you’re asking me to lie to her?”
“Not lie. Just not to bring it up.” Livia countered as she turned to face him. “I know she wants more from us. If she knew we’ve agreed to-“
“Hang on. I didn’t agree to anything.”
“C’mon, Matt.” She said tiredly. “You know as well as I do that you and I are doomed. We always have been.”
It felt honest enough, but the words cut through her like a knife. She wanted to believe Matt would pick her, but part of her knew he never would. What did she have to offer when compared to a woman like Heather? Where Livia brought pain and blood and bruises, Heather offered peace, stability, and gentle hands. Livia’s hands were rough, scarred, misaligned from broken bones and dislocations. Heather’s were pristine. Heather’s words were polished and comforting while Livia’s were soaked in lies and sharper than the blades she brandished with ease. Livia lived her life under a security blanket of violence.
“You deserve peace.” She took one step forward. She couldn’t allow herself any more than that. “Heather gives you that.”
“What about what you deserve?” He closed the distance between them.
“I think I’ve gotten more.” Her hand up on reflex, aiming to push him back his chest.
She didn’t know why she thought she could try with Matt. She wanted him. God, there was nothing she wanted more. But there was nothing special on the table from her. She could never stop hiding under that blanket she grew up with. She physically wasn’t capable of letting that cursed thing go.
He caught her by her wrist as soon as her fingertips met the material of his shirt. Her mouth opened to argue, to come up with some weak excuse as to why they could only be friends, but his next actions were too quick.
He gave a small tug and pulled her against his chest. She landed with a soft ‘oof’ and tensed immediately. She knew she was supposed to pull away. She had to stick to what she said. But the feeling of being in his arms, being held so close, she was suddenly terrified for it to end. Something about life outside of that embrace suddenly seemed like the worst thing she could imagine.
There was no use in pretending anymore, but that didn’t mean she would stop wanting.
So she sunk into the embrace. Her arms wrapped around him and her hands balled into tight fists, catching the extra fabric of his shirt. He sighed, leaned some of his weight against her, and dug his fingertips into the soft skin at her sides.
How long they stayed tangled together, she didn’t know.
She just knew she had to be the one who pulled away.
“Don’t tell me-” Matt tried, a certain desperation in his voice that she figured only she would recognize.
“I know.” Livia cut him off. She had no idea what he was actually going to say, but someone had to stop. Someone had to get control before they crashed. “I know.” She nodded once then went back inside.
Matt came back in soon after and they resumed their positions on the couch. This time, Livia leaned against the opposite arm just to ensure her and Matt couldn’t accidentally touch. It was drastic and obvious, but she couldn’t find it in herself to care.
It was what was best.
It was what she had to do.
She only hoped he understood, but he was gone before either her or June woke up. June ranted about it in the morning, how it was rude and inconsiderate to just up and leave in the middle of the night, but Livia had nothing to say on the matter. She was sure Matt understood what she was doing and he probably decided that he had to do his part too.
She received another collect call from Rikers Island. She knew only one prisoner there and she’d chew off her own left foot before dealing with that man.
Livia expected the office to be relatively awkward, but Matt was nearly as skilled at facades as she was. No one was any wiser to the eggshells surrounding the two. She was both impressed and annoyed by his capability. Things went as expected, both keeping to their own work for the most part, until Angela Ayala came in.
“Hey.” June appeared behind Livia’s computer. “The Ayala girl is here, wants to see you and Matt.”
Livia was out of her seat without hesitation. “Is she okay?”
“Looks fine, physically.” June shrugged. “But she’s shaken up about something. Matt took her to the conference room.”
Livia nodded her head for June to follow.
“...with all those people going missing.” The girl was explaining when Livia walked in. “Hi, Ms. Yersova.”
“Hi.” Livia smiled. “Sorry I’m late. What’d I miss?”
“Angela was explaining what her uncle was looking into before his death.” Matt explained as Livia sat on the table beside him. He lifted his hand as if to put it on her leg, then he course-corrected at the last second and placed it on the table, tapping his pointer finger.
June shot Livia a confused look over Matt’s shoulder but, thankfully, the blonde didn’t say anything.
“I really think it had something to do with those missing people.” Angela nodded. There was no room for doubt in her and Livia couldn’t help but crack a small smile. “He was tracking those kidnappings.”
“Angela, I know you’re upset and you have every right to be.” Matt began, trying to talk her down. “But this isn’t safe.”
“Don’t tell me how to be, Mr. Murdock. Don’t pull that therapy talk that I’m processing, or trying to control, or whatever.” She said, both angry and heartbroken at the same time. “Or that I should be in school, because that’s what Hector would’ve wanted… This is what he would’ve wanted.”
“And what is that?” Livia asked, earning a quiet sigh from Matt.
“Someone finishing his work, someone actually doing something for once.” She sniffled.
June took a seat beside Angela and put a kind hand on her arm. Livia didn’t say it, but she was thrilled to see June offering someone she didn’t necessarily know a physical sort of comfort. The gloves were there, as was Angela’s jacket sleeve, but it was still more than the version of June she first met would ever offer.
“Therapy talk? Was I doing that?” Matt asked, humor tinting his words.
“Absolutely.” June answered, making Angela laugh. “I blame your girlfriend.”
“Be nice.” Livia said with a small smile before looking back to Angela. “Tell me what you remember about your uncle’s work.”
“Liv.” Matt tried quietly. She kicked lightly at his chair in response.
“All those kidnappings were all close to the old Q line.” She began, almost excitedly. This wasn’t a girl who wanted to run head first into danger. It was a girl who just wanted to be heard.
“The one they shut down?” June’s head cocked.
“Track 61.”
“Angela, listen. We’re just lawyers, right? I tried to help your uncle in court but this… That’s for the police.” Matt tried.
June shot Livia a look, a silent plea for her to do something. Livia gave half a shrug.
“The police killed my uncle.” Again, no room for doubt in Angela Ayala. “I’m not going to them.”
“Alright, fair enough, fair enough, but what do you want us to do about it?” Matt leaned back in his chair.
“How about literally anything?” Angela laughed. “You know, at least Ms. Yersova wants to hear me out. You can’t wait to shut me down.”
“That’s not-” Matt tried.
“Mr. Murdock is trying to say that getting physically involved in this may be outside our scope of practice as lawyers.” Livia explained carefully. “However, we may be willing to compile some additional evidence and present it to the NYPD. If we do enough of their investigating, they can’t possibly mess it up.”
She nodded, eyes red and watery. Livia wondered how much sleep the girl had gotten since her uncle died. How many nights did Angela stay up, cursing every police siren? Blaming any and every officer for her uncle’s death? How had grief haunted this young girl?
And what could Livia do about it?
“All about helping the little guy, right? But only on your terms.” Angela’s anger turned on Matt. “Cause when the little guy puts something for real in your hands, you don’t want it.”
Matt was quiet and Angela had enough.
She stood abruptly. “My bad for thinking you cared.”
“It’s not that simple, Angela.” Matt tried again, but the girl was out the door before Matt could finish.
“June.” Livia looked to her friend.
“I got it.” She nodded and hurried after Angela. Once the door closed behind them, Livia looked to Matt.
“You could’ve at least listened to her.” Livia said plainly. “That was really what she came here for, to have someone that she thought could be trusted hear what she had to say.”
“You know as well as I do that she wanted more than that.” Matt countered, surprisingly calm. Livia thought he almost sounded detached.
“And we can do that for her!” Livia urged, careful with the volume of her voice.
“No, we can’t. We don’t do that kind of thing because we are lawyers.”
“We are very capable of looking into something to make a young girl who’s just lost a major part of herself feel some sort of peace. Since when does that not matter to you?”
“I never said it didn’t matter.”
“That’s how you’re acting, Matt. That’s what Angela thinks. She left this office feeling crushed and you let that happen.” Livia stood from the table.
“Livia, there’s nothing we can do for her.” Matt shook his head.
“Sounds like nothing you can do for her.”
“Livia, we can’t do this.” He emphasized.
June came back into the room, hands in her back pockets and a frown on her face.
“Is she okay?” Livia asked.
“She’s lost in her own head.” June shook her head. “I didn’t… I don’t think she’s going to let this go. It worries me. Is that normal?”
“Yes, it’s called empathy, Bug. Welcome to my world.” Livia joked slightly. “What do you want to do?”
“Don’t ask her that.” Matt sighed.
“I want to try and help her, give her closure or something. We can do that, right?”
“I think so.”
“You know what? I’m done. I…” Matt put his hands up in surrender and left the conference room.
“Did I make the wrong call?” June asked worriedly.
“No.” Livia smiled. “Matt’s just trying to stick to this vow he made. It’s not you.”
“Do you think I’m right?”
“Absolutely. I can let a man suffer and not lose a wink of sleep over it. I can even let a grown woman. But to see her so… It just doesn’t sit right.”
“Okay.” June sighed with a nod. “Okay…”
“See what you can find on that old Q line.” Livia patted June’s shoulder. “But keep it discreet. I’ll see if I can get Matt to come around. Or at least be less pissed off about it.”
The issue with that one was that Matt didn’t seem to want to talk to either woman for the rest of the day. In fact, it wasn’t until the following night that she caught up with him. June left early for something with Joaquin and Livia decided to stay late, organizing some details on the kidnappings, so it was only her and Matt in the office.
She knocked on the conference room door before stepping in.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were avoiding me.” She teased as she entered, sitting opposite of him.
He cracked half a smile. “Now what makes you say that?”
“I know you’re not thrilled with how things went with Angela and I know that you’re not necessarily on board with what June and I are considering.”
“I just don’t think it’s safe. Do you?”
“I think that I’ve been the number one fugitive of several foreign governments since I was a kid. Tracking a kidnapping through abandoned tunnels is the least of my concerns.”
“I mean with Fisk in office… He knows you, he knows her. If you two step out in those outfits…”
“So that’s what this is all about.” Livia nodded in understanding.
“I don’t think a target on your backs does either of you any good.”
“I’d never say this to her but I honestly think she has an advantage no one else does. Fisk still cares about her. He genuinely loves her like family.”
“You think he wouldn’t do anything?”
“I think he wouldn’t hurt her.” Livia corrected. “He still thinks they can reconnect and I don’t doubt he realizes that having her on his side would be good for his image.”
Matt tilted his head in agreement. “But that doesn’t extend to you.”
“I don’t need it to.”
“Livia.”
“Matt.”
“You’re going to do this anyway, aren’t you?”
“Probably.” She nodded.
“And so is June?”
“Yup.”
He sighed heavily, tilted his head back to mumble towards the sky. Before he could say anything else to Livia, Cherry walked in. Livia offered a polite smile, but she really didn’t care for the man. Every time she saw him in the office, it made her think of Brett and the times he tried to arrest her as Exodus.
And the one time he actually did arrest her at the hospital.
Livia listened quietly to what Cherry had to say. He said that there was talk of a local serial killer totalling more than sixty victims. Her fingers tapped against each other, thumb tapping each digit as she counted up to sixty. She heard the name ‘Muse’ and he was painting in blood. The thought sent a chill down even her spine. It was saying something if it made Exodus shudder. Cherry hoped Matt would let it go and then he left.
“Are you?” Livia asked when the door closed.
“Are you?” He countered, turning towards her. “This is…”
“It’s horrific.” Livia nodded slightly. She stood and breathed deeply, patting him on the solder. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Matty.”
“That’s not an answer.” Matt called after her.
“Isn’t it?”
When she got back to the apartment, June had her research strewn about the coffee table. Two energy drinks were open, one was empty and on its side. Livia let out a low whistle.
“You never drink those.” Livia gestured to the cans. At least they were the small cans.
“I needed to focus.” June shook her head.
“I thought you were going out with your guy.”
June waved a hand. “Until this. Come look.”
“Looking.” Livia sat beside June on the ground.
“I caught these a little bit ago.” June flipped her Ipad to show a photo of a mural. Lady Liberty with blood coming from her eyes, and two girls slumped against the wall missing their eyes. “There was another body found with the same trademark and all these murals by this guy, Muse, they’re all-”
“Done with human blood.” Livia finished. “Yeah, Cherry came by and mentioned it to Matt. There’s estimated to be sixty victims of this guy.”
“Do you think Muse is the one at the old Q-Line? With all the kidnappings Angela was talking about?”
“If so, then we need to figure this out fast. I don’t think Angela is gonna sit back much longer.”
“I like the kid.”
“Me too.” Livia pushed herself to stand. “Alright, get changed. Cover your face and hands. Pull your hair up.”
June jumped to her feet. “I know how to dress for a mission.”
“Yes, but this is very specific.” Livia explained as she walked. She could hear June’s shuffling feet hurrying to catch up. “We get in, we look around, we get out. We leave no trace. No fingerprints, no hair, no DNA, no proof of us ever being there. Fisk has made it very clear that vigilantes are his top target. I won’t take an additional risk on your safety. Got it?”
“What about your gloves then?” June asked defensively.
“Look at my hands, June.” Livia spun to face her and held out her palms. June took Livia’s hands and examined them carefully. Through the contact, Livia felt the new wave of cold. “I don’t have prints to leave anymore.”
“Everyday I learn something new about you.” June swallowed. “And everyday I hate Dreykov even more.”
“At least we can say, with certainty, that he’s dead.” Livia patted June’s cheek. “You have three minutes to change or I leave you.”
June made a noise close to a squeak before hurrying away.
Livia took a moment to look at the disfigured pads of her fingers. Bits and pieces of prints remained, but nothing distinguishable. A partial print was all she could ever leave. The memory of losing those flashed in her mind. The hot knife scraping them away, individually removing each layer of skin. The chemical she never knew the name of dripped over the seeping wounds, as a promise they’d never return. It was another piece of her identity that place had taken from her.
She heard a thud from June’s room, followed immediately by “I’m okay!”. It made her laugh.
Maybe she didn’t need that little piece of identity anyway.
She hurried to change and equip herself when her implant sounded in her head. She hadn’t realized it was even on so she flinched at the sudden chime. She tapped it quickly, if only to shut off the sound.
“Where are you?” Matt’s voice was rough, angry almost, and hurried.
“Home. What’s going on?” Livia froze, her boot halfway zipped.
“June?”
“Falling off her bed. What’s going on?”
“Meet me at the Q-Line.” Was his only answer before he hung up.
“Okay!” June hurried into the room, her face mask in hand. “I’m ready. What’s that look about?”
Livia yanked her boot zipper the rest of the way and flashed June a triumphant smile.
“Our duo just became a trio.” She winked before sliding her mask over her eyes.
I have their storylines almost completely roughed out aujuugh I wanna share them with you guyse so bad
The TLDR is essentially, Bailey and Kitty are their own little isolated story in the daredevil/wider marvel universe. (I want them to stand on their own but they do know and interact with canon characters because oooo baby i love daredevil
They were partners during their time with the FBI, they die on the same day, at the same time miles apart from each other, and both get resurrected, completely unaware that the same thing happened to the other (they also dont find out for aaages)
Bailey gets out of the system, becoming a solo dispenser of Justice, Kitty gets dragged deep into corruption and pretty much becomes the definition of what Bailey is trying to stomp out
My favorite... maybe saddest part is that their entire time knowing eachother, Kitty is vying for approval and trying to reach the pedestal she has Bailey on
Kitty my beloved... suffer through an unimaginable amount of struggle but still feel second fiddle to Bailey... even though youre proving yourself just as strong as her by surviving the horrors... uuu Kitty...
some art of my oc mercy !! she's a vigilante that is based in hell's kitchen, but spreads out throughout the US if her presence is needed. she's an edgy catholic who actually takes her faith serious. after being rescued by frank castle, she finds herself in debt to him and gets pulled into his mess.
