Matthew sighed wearily as a parade of eligible young men and woman were announced. He could hear their giggles and twitters. This was going to be a long night…
"Who are you listening for?" Matthew tilted his head,
"No-one Father Lantom…."
"It's that boy from the alley isn't it? That's why you were so generous with the invitations!"
"I told you, it's for the city and its people"
"I know you think that…but your head's been turned despite only meeting him once…in a dirty alley"
"You would have me marry someone I've met once tonight!"
"An eligible young person. It's that or nothing"
…..
Foggy smiled as the world whizzed by. They were so close now!
…..
"May I introduce Miss Sarena, Daughter of Mr Saragosta, Head of the most powerful silk manufacturers in the United States?" Matthew smiled and bowed, kissing the young lady's hand. She giggled,
"You are as handsome as your photo…although they did not mention-"
"The scrapes?"
"You're blind…pardon me for being so blunt"
"I trust that it will not be an issue?" Her heartbeat seemed to suggest that it would be.
…
Foggy climbed out of the car, his eyes widening at the sight of the 'palace'.
"I'm frightened Ben…" Ben frowned, "….I'm only a boy….I'm not rich, despite everything!"
"And I'm only a dog…not a driver. Enjoy it while it lasts" Foggy grinned and nodded before heading inside. He vaguely heard an announcement before he entered the main dancing room. Everything went quiet as he glanced over the side of the balcony.
…
Matthew smiled as he heard a familiar heartbeat enter the room. He was here! He pulled his red devil mask, which matched his red suit, over his eyes and hurried to meet him, mumbling a quick but insincere apology to Miss Sarena. The suit was new, so no-one should tie Daredevil to him…hopefully. He could hear Sweeney apologising to her, but he didn't care. He needed to hear this man again, touch him again.
…
Foggy came to the bottom of the stairs and bowed. Suddenly, a man in a red devil's mask appeared. Despite the mask, Foggy knew exactly who he was. The crowd parted for them and the pair met in the middle.
"Daredevil…" whispered Foggy under his breath, smiling as the man smirked.
"It's you…" Daredevil whispered back, "…isn't it?" Foggy shrugged one shoulder,
"In the flesh…" Daredevil grinned and held out a hand. Another man came to take his cane away and Daredevil bowed slightly.
"Sir. It would bring me great pleasure-I mean, would you do me the honour of letting me lead you through this first…" He paused, as if he couldn't find the words to speak. Foggy took his hand,
"Dance?" Daredevil nodded sheepishly, as if embarrassed by his slip up,
"Yes. Dance!" He chuckled. Foggy nodded and the pair held hands as the music began.
"They're all looking at you" observed Foggy as they swayed from side to side. Daredevil didn't even turn,
"Believe me, they're all looking at you…" The pair continued to dance, Foggy chuckling as Daredevil lifted him up in the air without even a huff. The music came to an end and the pair bowed to each other.
…
"Who is he?" asked Wesley, turning to his mother who was glaring at the young, masked man dancing with the prince.
"I don't know…"
"It's a stunning suit…." Muttered Marci,
"…And he is very handsome…" Wilson sighed and cuffed the pair around their heads.
"Concentrate. Matthew has to notice you, so get yourselves out there!"
"But no-one has asked us to dance!" Vanessa sighed as she pulled a couple out from the crowd, introducing them to Wesley and Marci. Marci was paired off with the man and James with the woman. The music began again.
…
"Come with me…" whispered Daredevil as he led Foggy away from all of the dancing. They ran into a secluded area of the gardens.
"So you're the prince! You're Matthew Murdock!" gasped Foggy as he spun around to glare at the masked figure.
"Not technically a prince…" muttered Matthew
"…Why are you going around beating people up if you've got all this money? Why don't you help them that way?!" Matthew sighed,
"All money does is cause problems…." He lifted up his mask to reveal unseeing eyes, "…after my Father's big success, my family was targeted. He died and I was blinded as a result. Due to the chemicals I was exposed to, my other sense increased dramatically, I see in so many other ways! BY becoming Daredevil, I take care of the criminals in the city in a more direct way."
"…You're not an apprentice then…" Matthew chuckled,
"Stick, my trainer, seems determined to turn me into another one of him….so I'm an apprentice grumpy, old blind man!" Foggy laughed. Matthew suddenly became very serious,
"Please forgive me…I didn't want you to treat me differently because of all this. I mistook you for a simple worker and now I see that you didn't want to outdo me!"
"Little chance of that" chuckled Foggy as they wandered through the gardens.
"No more surprises or secrets?" Matthew held out a hand, which was soon grabbed by Foggy,
"No more surprises or secrets" he agreed. Suddenly, he spotted a statue in the courtyard,
"Is that meant to be you?" he exclaimed incredulously. Matthew laughed,
"How bad is it? Sweeney told me that he commissioned it ages ago and I haven't had the courage to feel it…I'm assuming I either look awful or way too good?" Foggy shook his head,
"It doesn't do you justice...trust me"
…
"Who is he!?" yelled Sweeney as he burst through the doors.
"He didn't give us a name!"
"And you didn't think to ask!?"
"Well I was so busy introducing Miss Blanchard to Sir Hugo I-"
"O shut up you idiot!"
…
"Won't they miss you at the party?" Matthew sighed,
"Maybe…but let's not go back just yet" The moon shone high above them, illuminating the gardens. Foggy glanced at Matt, who seemed deep in thought,
"What's wrong?"
"When I go back…they will try and pair me off with a lady who they've chosen for me…I'm expected to marry for advantage."
"Who's advantage?" Matt chuckled,
"Good question…"
"Surely you have rights…you know, you should complain! Get a lawyer or something!" Matt laughed,
"You're looking at one right now! No, no. It is Sweeney's decision…backed by Father Lantom"
"You're a lawyer?! No, of course you are. Lawyer by day, vigilante by night, it's perfect!...Maybe they'll change their minds?" The two stopped and Matt sighed,
"I fear Father Lantom may not have much time to do so…"
…..
"People are saying he's a prince…." Muttered Stick to Sweeney as they strode down the corridor, "…and our own 'prince' seems much taken with him"
"He went straight for him! You have to admire his efficiency…."
"Surely if the boy is rich, then this is good?"
"I've already promised him in marriage….to Miss Sarena" The pair felt another's eye on them and they span around,
"O I'm dreadfully sorry!" gushed Vanessa as she curtsied, "I didn't mean to interrupt!" Sweeney sighed,
"It's you who'll have to forgive me Madam" Before he could leave, she held up a hand to stop him,
"Your secret is safe with me…"
…
"I've never shown this place to anyone!" exclaimed Matt as he gently tugged on Foggy's arm, his stick tapping against the cobbled stones. The pair came to a hidden courtyard which was filled with beautiful flowers and a swing in the middle.
"Wow!" Gasped Foggy as he went to the swing…he paused.
"You should…" Foggy mock glared at Matt,
"Don't listen to my heartbeat…I shouldn't anyway"
"You should"
"I shouldn't"
"You should!"
"I will…" Foggy climbed onto the swing and Matt gently began to push it to and fro, taking delight in the little laughs that Foggy let out. Suddenly he heard something fall against the concrete floor and snap,
"Dammit!" muttered Foggy, "There goes the mask…"
"You were wearing a mask?" He heard clothes rustle as Foggy shrugged and climbed off the swing,
"It's in half…some great disguise this is! Why make a glass mask?!" Matthew chuckled as he strode over and gently took one half of the mask from Foggy.
"Who are you?" asked Matt. Foggy shook his head,
"If I told you, everything will be different…"
"I don't understand, can you at least tell me your name!?" Foggy smiled,
"My name is-" Suddenly he heard the bells toll as the hour struck midnight. He span away from the prince,
"I have to leave…it's hard to explain. Dogs and avocados and things!" He ran off into the bushes,
"Wait, where are you going?" Foggy peaked his head out from a bush and smiled at the flustered man,
"I'm so glad I saw you again….this was the best night ever!" And with that, he left. Matt sat down on the swing in bemused shock,
"Dogs and avocados?" He grinned and shot up, deciding to give chase to this wonderful, if slightly strange, boy. Foggy huffed and panted as she ran past the crowds of people with Matthew giving chase. As he ran through the dance floor, he was grabbed by a young blonde woman who was screaming,
"My prince, my prince!" He lead her towards the stairs that the man had run up, ignoring the yells of a man saying that he "had the wrong sibling!" When Foggy reached the top if the stairs, he ran straight into a priest who seemed as shocked as he was,
"Young man!" Foggy pressed his hands together, as if in prayer in apology,
"Father, please forgive me!"
"Think nothing of it my son…" Before Foggy could rush down another corridor, he turned back to the priest,
"Are you Father Lantom?" The priest nodded, "I just want to say that Matthew is a wonderful person, who truly loves you. Excuse me!" And off he ran. As he headed towards the car he heard the yells of Matthew behind him,
"Wait, where are you going!?"
"Sorry!"
"Come back!" Foggy climbed into the car, yelling for Ben to drive already! They shot off into the night and when Foggy looked back, he saw Matt holding up the other half of his mask as if trying to summon him back. He heard Sweeney and Stick behind him,
"Sweeney, I'm going out for a bit…"
"Nonsense. I'll fetch the boy…Father Lantom needs you here! Stick, with me!" Stick sighed and cuffed Matthew around the back of the head,
"I was actually enjoying myself, you had to choose that one didn't you!" Matt grinned in pure joy,
"Yes I did"
...
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