I meant to say this last chapter, but I wrote Ch. 20 while drinking flowers (Rosehip Hibiscus Tea), which made me feel super rad. I wonder if I made anybody go "OH MY AUTUMNAL VEGETABLE!" because they knew a Dan last chapter. Do you get the joke I just made? I'm hinting at "Oh my gourd" because a gourd is an autumnal vegetable. I'm so funny, right guys? ...Right?
Apologising, Matt took his phone out of his pocket, and fumbled around, trying to find the decline call button, which was always at least a marginally difficult task, as he owned a smartphone (a variety of complicated decisions led him to that choice) and he couldn't see what was on the screen.
Warner reached across the table, taking it from his hands, originally with plans to hang up for him, until he saw who was calling.
"Who's Karen?" He asked, but before anybody had a chance to respond he began to talk on the phone, "Hey Karen."
Foggy realized what was happening, but knew it would be too entertaining for him to stop. Vivian, armed with her secret crush and all the illogical jealousies which were brought with it, was trying to figure out who Karen was. Matt wanted to take the phone back, but he was helpless, unable to take it back without pulling into question his blindness, so all he could do was sit there, eavesdropping on the conversation.
"Who is this?" Karen asked, a hint of worry in her voice. After everything that's happened to the members of Nelson and Murdock (she counted as a member, being that she was their secretary), she was always wary when somebody other than Matt answered his phone.
"It's me, obviously." Warner lied, grinning like a cat.
"You're not Matt."
"I just sound different because I'm in an area with bad service, so it makes my voice sound weird."
"I don't believe you."
"I'll prove it to you. Ask me anything and I guarantee that I'll know the answer."
"Anything?" Karen asked.
"Anything." Warner promised. Matt heard Karen pause, probably considering what the best possible question would be.
"If...if you could be a...vegetable...what would you be?" Matt didn't know this, but Karen chose that question because of the day they hung up their Nelson and Murdock sign, and Matt had said Avocados at Law. She wasn't sure if Matt would even answer it the way she thought he would, but she was sure that he could just google any other question.
Warner was stumped. He thought he would just be able to guess the answer to the question, but this was the kind of question a kindergartener would ask. He put his hand over the talking bit of the phone.
"Murdock, if you could be a vegetable, what vegetable would you be?"
"Avocado." Foggy replied, before even thinking about it. If Matt had a chance to answer, he would've said please give me my phone back and never talk to Karen every again thanks.
"Actually an avocado is a fruit." Vivian said, not liking that her fiance was talking to this so-called Karen, not liking it that Matt talked to this Karen, and absolutely loathing it when people got their food classifications wrong. It's kind of like when people get frustrated over somebody saying purple instead of violet. This didn't stop Warner from giving that answer to Karen, however, as silently Foggy passed a ten dollar bill to Matt (long ago they made a bet on if an avocado was a fruit or a vegetable, but neither of them cared enough to look it up on the internet).
"I'm still not don't talk the way Matt does."
"Maybe you're just not hearing me right." Warner said, curious about how far he could take this, considering Matt couldn't just get fed up with it and take his phone back.
"Who is this for real?" Here Vivian took the phone from Warner.
"Hi, sorry about my idiot boyfriend. He took the phone from Matt when you called, and I guess he decided to mess with you."
"Oh...no it's fine...who is this?" Karen only felt more confused, but at least now she was pretty sure that somebody didn't attack Matt or something awful like that. It's not like Matt would be able to hold his own in a fight.
"My name is Vivian Kensington, you were talking to my boyfriend, well, fiance, Warner. I'm really sorry about that." Vivian smiled the same smile she'd always give Elle, which surprised her, because Karen couldn't even see it, but she sounded sweet. God, why did she feel so jealous?!
"Oh, congratulations on your engagement...can I talk to Matt?"
"Oh, yeah, of course. Sorry." Vivian passed the phone to Matt, putting it into his hand.
"Ah...Sorry about that…" He sighed, glad to have his phone back, and happy to be able to talk to Karen.
"It isn't your fault." Karen told him, and Matt swore he was able to hear her smile, "How's Harvard?"
"It's alright...the professor who invited me here is...interesting."
"I heard that a girl got kidnapped there, is that true?"
"Unfortunately. I'm sure the...police...will rescue her soon."
"I hope so. Hey, when you're back in Hell's Kitchen, we should hang out." Matt froze. He had wanted to ask her something like that before, but even though he was called the Man Without Fear, he was rendered helpless when it came to asking out women...especially when that woman was Karen Page, who smelled like milk and lavender...who was just so…
"I... I'd like that."
"Great! You, Foggy, and I can go to Josie's or something…" The joy Matt felt was short lived.
"Oh...yeah...of course..." Even though Warner and Foggy couldn't hear Karen's half of the conversation, they both knew that Matt was blowing any chance that he had.
"I mean, if you want to hang out just the two of us…"
"N-no...it's fine, I mean, you haven't seen Foggy for the same length of time that you haven't seen me so it's only fair...Look, I should go...I'm at a restaurant...I don't want to be rude…"
"Oh, right, yea. Wait, if you're at a restaurant, why did Foggy text me to call you? Is he not with you"
"...no...he's right here…"
"Weird. Bye, Matt!"
"Bye…" Matt put his phone back into his pocket and Warner gave him a sympathetic look, offering up the word bro as condolences, but Matt didn't acknowledge that. Instead he said, "Foggy, did you text Karen, telling her to call me?"
"Why would I do that?" Foggy asked, Matt hearing his heartbeat jump as if he had just lied, "Have I told you how nice you look today? You know, sometimes your hair is really hit or miss because, you know, you can't see it but today you nailed it."
"If you do it again I'll put your phone in a glass of water." Matt stated flatly. He sounded more serious than he was, and Foggy knew this, so he didn't even try to retaliate.
"So, tell me, who's Karen?" Vivian asked, curious to know her relationship to the two lawyers from Hell's Kitchen.
"She's our secretary." Foggy replied, "And our friend."
"She makes sure Foggy keeps his pants on." Matt added, causing everybody at the table to laugh. The rest of the dinner carried on fine, until it was finally time to go. Matt and Foggy wished Vivan and Warner a good night, and they parted ways (After Warner told Matt to just go for it, because it's bullshit to just wait around hoping for something to happen, you have to just put yourself out there and fight for what you want).
The moment they got back to the dorm, Matt began to change into his Daredevil suit, mouthing a prayer as he did so. Foggy sat on the bed, watching as his friend switched and changed and shifted into a man so incredible, a man without fear. Even after finding out that Matt was Daredevil, it seemed so impossible to him. There were so many questions that he still had, even now.
"Why do you always say a prayer before going out as Daredevil? I mean, I know that you're Catholic, but…"
Matt shrugged, "It's always felt like the right thing to do. And for all I know, it's one of the things that have kept me alive this long."
"Good luck tonight."
"Why are you scared, Foggy?" Matt asked, hearing how his friend's heartbeat wouldn't maintain a steady rhythm.
"I always am when you go out gallivanting like this. Even when I know I don't need to be." Foggy admitted, crossing his arms. Matt was family. You worry for your family.
"I'll try to be careful. I promise." Matt smiled, pulling his cowl over his face. He said that he'd try to be careful, but part of being The Man Without Fear is doing arguably stupid things, because you can. After saying goodbye to Foggy, he lept from the window, disappearing into the night.
Well this chapter was a little bit dialogue heavy, sorry about that. It kind of felt like filler, but you know what, it was fun to write, so I'm not going to complain. It's fine if you do, but I'm not. I feel like this fan fiction is coming to an end, soon. I'm kind of sad about that. I think in one of my intros or outros I said that I thought it would span about 25 chapters and it feels like my estimate was pretty much correct. Also I managed to answer one of the questions in the previous chapter's outro, and now I'll answer another one for you! Just for you. Like, everybody else reading this thinks I'm answering it for them, but I'm not. This is all for you, baby. My cat was staring at my closet because, like most cats, she's savage af and she doesn't care about what other people think. Also, I'm about 76.83% sure that cats can see otherworldly stuff that humans can't, and a cat I used to have died in my closet, so, I mean, she might of been staring at a ghost. Whatever. You do you, Bella Boo! BUT SO ANYWAYS, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and hopefully I'll be able to come out with chapter 22 soon! Byesies!