Disclaimer: Still don't own Defenders, or any of the characters associated with Marvel
Summary: Takes on the final scenes between Foggy and Karen, and continues from there. May not include all of the Defenders.
Authors Note: First time writing for any of the comic book series on Netflix
The Way Back Chapter 2:
"I can hold them off without a body for a little while longer. The truth is we may never find one under all of this," Misty gestured to the Midland Circle ruins with her left arm. The other remained in a sling cradled close to her body. She'd insisted on leaving hospital as soon she felt well enough. Her bosses approved her for light duties, seeing the need for expertise and manpower.
Danny remained still as he watched the site for a few moments. Police, and clean-up crew swarmed the site. "What are you looking for?" She asked. He shrugged; he didn't know. The only thing he knew was that Matt Murdock's story felt unfinished. He hadn't known the man that long, but they had something in common. Stick wouldn't train just anyone. To overcome blindness and become that… it took something special. If he were part of the Iron Fist's army he felt honour-bound to at least search for a body.
"Tunnels. It looked like there could be an entire network hidden from the schematics." 'Protect My City.' It sounded like a man ready to die, or least willing to. He saw Murdock last from a distance; a blur taking punches, and evading Elektra Natcheos.
"What about Elektra. If he died, she did too. He meant something to her." That much was clear at the end, after Matt was threatened by Jessica and Luke into admitting it.
"The other lawyer said they were occasional lovers." It explained the not hitting back part of his approach.
"He insisted there was a connection. That she knew who he was, and what they were to each other." Danny added. They walked back to the waiting car. "I know something of the power that brought her back. It turned her into an empty vessel, susceptible to others' will. By the time they met there was nothing left of the woman he knew," Danny added.
"Men can be such idiots," Misty said. From what limited sense she made of what happened, that wasn't happening. Elektra wasn't the woman who died in Murdock's arms. That one remained gone, and she doubted would ever be back.
"The man had a conscience; a faith that couldn't be broken. Whatever was between them, must have been deep. He was willing to die in order to convince her she was still human, and she was still worthy."
Misty sighed. "Eternal love, and all that." She remarked. They stopped at the station. Before she got out she turned in her seat. "I'll hold them off for three days. I'll make sure our guys clear the scene each day for three hours. Take Luke, or Jessica and search for the body. If you find anything let me know."
"Understood, and thank you." Danny replied. Misty shrugged, and shut the door. She wasn't sure if he should be thanking her. At best they'd find a body, or at worst body parts. Either way Matt Murdock's story would be over.
Karen took the key from its hiding place. It was her third straight day of searching for clues there. So far, she found nothing. The loft was tidy, as she'd expected with everything in its place. The couch, and two chairs were exactly three steps away from each other. The bedroom with its barn door for privacy were five steps from the living room.
She hadn't been in there yet. It felt like if she opened the door without him there, she'd violate his privacy somehow. She knew she couldn't keep coming back to 'search' without going in. She put it off in favour of the other private spot. The long wooden chest settled up against the wall in the entry hall. She knelt before it running her hands over its smooth top. If there was some secret he still held from her it would be here.
The lock fell off at a touch. Karen knew better than to go further in opening it, and instead felt for her phone. She scrolled looking for Misty Knight's contact, and dialled.
"Knight," Misty greeted the caller.
"You might not remember me. My name is Karen Page. I'm at Matt's place. I think there's been a break-in." Murdock told her of his other identity before leaving with Luke, and Jessica.
"I remember you Miss Page." She held tight to Nelson's hand at the police station as the other trio arrived back after the explosion. The woman's broken look said it was more than friendship with the Devil of Hell's Kitchen.
A break-in at a dead guy's apartment wasn't exactly at the top of her "to do list," for the day. But given the morning's conversation with Rand, she couldn't afford to ignore it. "I'm on my way," she said. She could do it alone, the lofts weren't that far, she could walk it. It would do her good to clear her head.
She felt as if she were the one that started it all. When Luke got out of jail, she pushed him to use his abilities to do good. She was the one that had him checking on different youths. He was committed to living clean, taking it slow. Luke was unstoppable once he decided to try and find the truth of something. He would have hooked up with the other three at some point, it was only a matter of time.
She paused to hide her badge. This was supposed to be unofficial. The outside door was wedged open, and she pushed her way through and climbed the stairs. The door his loft was ajar, allowing her easy entry.
"Karen?" She called. The other woman had withdrawn to a stool by a kitchen island. "I'll call you back Foggy," she said, and ended the call. 'It was good she called a lawyer,' Misty thought.
"I've been coming here to look for clues," she started. Misty suppressed a smile, sensing that was the middle of the story. Karen looked like she was weighing something. She started again.
"I think Matt's alive."
"A building collapsed on top of him. According to Danny he didn't fight back when Elektra attacked him. There is no way they could have both lived after that."
"Rationally I can accept that. There is no logical way he or Elektra survived down there. Not with the rubble on top. But I can't… shake this feeling he's out there somewhere."
Misty left that line of questioning in favour of the wooden box on the floor in front of her. She appreciated a gut feeling. "You mentioned a potential break-in?"
"Yeah, the box." Misty knelt and took a fingerprint kit from her pocket. She dusted off the lock before moving the lock, and lifting off the top. Fragments of red leather lay piled up, unidentifiable accept for the mask. Misty let out a low whistle. Confirmation that Matt Murdock was the Devil of Hell's Kitchen.
"If that were taken from a body it would be whole," Karen commented. Misty shivered; she was right.
"Why are we here again?" Luke asked for the tenth time as they climbed down into the cavern. He stopped as Danny climbed down the pile of rubble joining him on the solid ground. Jessica was left up top to keep a watch.
"While I was captive I noticed a lot of things. Specifically tunnels. Goons, or whatever you want to call them entered the cavern from every direction. That suggests more than one entrance to that area," he paused considering his direction. "That way," he pointed the clear area behind them, and jumped down.
Luke followed, skepticism rolling off him. He still wasn't sure what was stranger, a guy who could focus his life force into his hand, or a blind vigilante. Both had saved his life, so he owed them something he supposed.
Danny led them into the half-open tunnel. He paused, eyes closed to summon the power into his hand. It came to life as they walked. "I don't think I'll ever get used to that," Luke chuckled. Danny shrugged understanding.
"It was hard for me too at first." He allowed. They'd arrived at the cavern where Danny was held. "I was tied up over there," the ropes still held onto the walls.
"The men came from that direction," he pointed. Luke knelt down next the wall to look for tracks. Danny held his fist above him; nothing. They began to walk, and noticed the wall solidifying, the rubble lessening. They felt a gentle breeze blowing.
"There's your way out. Now was it there before, or after the building collapsed?" Luke asked. Bricks overflowed the entrance, and an exposed metal arch outlined the entrance indicating it was by design.
"Backtrack. We need to look for footprints," Danny suggested.
"We wouldn't be able to see anything definitive." Luke climbed out into a sewer. "Wouldn't be able to track him even with police dogs; the water swallows the scent, destroys any footprints."
They returned to their entry point and climbed out. Luke waited until they stood on solid ground until spoke. A week before he would never have even thought this. "You don't think he could be alive could he?"
Danny thought for a few moments as they reached the police tape and Jessica. "It has to be a possibility. We know what they wanted me for; to unlock the secret behind a substance that gives so-called eternal life. It wouldn't be a stretch to imagine she used enough to bring Matt back,"
"Do you have any idea how crazy that sounds?" Luke asked. Then again, a week ago he'd have thought a blind lawyer that can fight crime was nuts too.
Jessica stood with Misty. "The question still remains: If Murdock's alive, then where is he? Is he injured? What kind of danger is he in? And oh follow-up: where's Elektra? She could be lurking around somewhere too right?"
Danny shrugged. He hadn't thought about it. Luke rescued him: "For now we treat her as a separate problem."
Matt's screams echoed throughout the hospital complex. "Get Sister Maggie," Sister Gwen whispered. She heard her assistant leave the room. She regarded her screaming patient, debating whether she could approach him. Sometimes a touch would quiet them, a silent assurance there was someone there.
Her skirts brushed the floor as she took the empty chair at his bedside. She moved to take his hand he leapt out of bed on the other side. He stood half naked, wrapped in bandages up against the wall. He was hesitant, sunk down into a corner.
Gwen stood straight, putting all of her authority into her voice "You need to get back in bed. You'll rip your stitches," red was staining some areas already. He gathered his knees into his chest, wedging himself between the bed, and the bulkhead.
"Matthew," Sister Maggie entered, and approached his side. She uncurled one of his hands from his knees and took in between hers. Something in Matt's mind knew this woman. She felt warm, familiar, and comfortable. "Mom." It should be impossible. Images of a funeral, burial. A rose floating on top of a casket.
Maggie smiled. This was the moment she thought she'd never see. She raised his hand to her face, and felt him begin to stroke her cheek. "Matthew," Maggie said his full name quietly. The stroking stopped, and the sightless eyes looked at her.
"It really is you," he said.
"It is my darling boy." She rubbed at her tears. "You need to get back into bed. Do as Sister Gwen says. She grasped him by the elbow and returned him to a sitting position on the bed. He swung his legs onto the mattress. She reached behind and fluffed his pillows. He leaned back, and she covered him with blankets. He closed his eyes,
"I'll be here when you wake up," she told him. Sleep pulled him back under.
Gwen glanced between them. A lot of the nuns had pasts in the community they served; it was why they worked so hard. Maggie's son was whispered about in dark corners, a lot of her sisters thought he was a myth. Narrowing her eyes she could see the similarities; same bone structure, eye colour.
"What do we now?" Gwen asked. Maggie took her seat at Matt's bedside and took his hand. Concern flickered, and she shushed him. He calmed, and was still. She turned to Gwen: "We bring him back."
Thoughts? I haven't decided on using Elektra yet.