28. The only solution…
The phonecall Vera got took her breath away. She had been honestly shocked when she heard Brett's voice in the phone, checking the ID to actually find out it was him, but by the time he told her why he was calling, she was ready to pinch herself to make sure it was real. Matt had visited the officer of law slash his friend. And he had asked about the Devil Worshippers. And he had also broken Brett's jaw, apparently.
No doprdele.
Vera stood frozen for several moments, her brain slowly rebooting after the shock. Well. What now? Obviously, there had to be something she could do, if not helping Brett – it was too late for fixing that –, then helping to prevent something similar happening to anyone else. Even though Vera had no idea how and if there was anyone else who was in danger of being on the receiving end of Matt's affection right now. She doubted it was her though.
The only thing she could think of – as lame as it was – was to talk to him. She had no clue what she would tell him, but she needed to find him first anyway. She needed to go to his place. It was her first option. Except, well. She fucking didn't know where his place was. She never had been in Matt's apartment. But she knew few people who had.
Vera was left with three options here – and she choose the one she hoped would be least painful. A person who would probably ask least questions. With no real plan, she dialled.
"Vera? You okay?" the familiar female voice asked and Vera turned her gaze up, supressing slightly hysterical laugh. 'Okay' wasn't exactly the word she would use right now.
"Hey, Claire…"
Claire indeed didn't ask many questions. She sounded bewildered, sure, but she seemed to have a moment of clarity, judging by her, oh, right, and honestly seemed to be more taken aback by the fact Vera had never been to Matt's apartment than Vera's weird request. Vera didn't want to bother with visiting Claire and taking a key Matt's personal nurse surely had, only learning the address, hoping Matt would let her in eventually.
Yeah, about that.
She got lucky – she didn't even had to wait in front of the apartment building for too long, someone else letting her in; she secretly hoped Matt didn't run on her during that short time period. She walked up to the top floor (any other day, she might giggle at it, Matt simply liked being at height, close to the rooftops, didn't he – but she really didn't), knocking at 6A, praying wordlessly.
Once. Twice. Three times. Vera sighed, leaning to the door. She had no doubt he heard her – if he was in – but she tried again anyway.
"Matt. Come on. Please, can we talk?" she called out, keeping her voice rather down, but not too low in case he was enchanted in… well. Anything. Breaking things. Or something. He would probably punch and break things, right? She sighed again. "Matt-"
Vera jumped when she actually heard the lock opening, taking a deliberate step back. That was easier than she- the door opened. And there was a guy. A blond guy, bearded, with bright gleaming seeing eyes and a little surprised expression. He offered her a smile while Vera's heart missed a beat. Oh shit. Oh shit, of course. It was too easy, wasn't it?
"I'm… I'm so sorry. So sorry," she blurted out. His smile widened. Oh crap. "I… I think I got a wrong apartment," she explained, already turning away, her mind racing. Claire had said top floor, right? And she had said-
"Vera," the man greeted her warmly and Vera froze in the middle of her movement, shocked. How the fuck did the man know her name? She spun back to him hesitantly.
"Uhm-"
"I'm Danny, hi." He raised his hand in awkward an wave as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Vera… did not understand. Had she met this guy? She quickly checked him over – he wore a rather loose shirt (was that even a shirt?) and too short pants and- he was barefoot? She was pretty sure she would remember him. Right? But there was something familiar about him, something she could put her finger on.
"Hi… Danny," she waved back hesitantly. "I'm sorry, do I… do I know you? You actually- never mind. How do you know my name again?"
Danny's face twisted in sad grimace. "Oh. He didn't mention me."
Vera took a moment to that statement to sink in. "Who didn't-" Then it hit her. Did he actually… he knew Matt? Did she get the right apartment? Was he like… apartment-sitting or whatever? And Matt told him about her…? The wheels in her had were turning so loudly he might actually hear it. "You mean Matt? Uhm, no. I… is he at home?"
"Nope. Wanna come in?" he offered, already stepping aside to make space for her. Vera had no time for that. On the other hand the offer was tempting if anything. But it would be like invading his privacy, right? Plus… no time for that. She needed to find him. Not to mention she had no idea who this guy was.
"No, not really… I wasn't… I haven't been there before," Vera admitted and Danny's eyes went wide, his face incredulous.
"You're kidding me. Come in! How is that even possible?"
Vera could come in. At least to find out what Danny's deal was? She could spare few minutes. She shushed her conscious screaming at her that Matt might be breaking someone's jaw at the moment and reluctantly entered a narrow hall, losing her shoes. She followed Danny further to the apartment and… lost the ability to speak. Because. What. The. Actual. Hell.
Vera wasn't sure what she expected from Matt's flat, but she sure didn't think it would be so spacious. Sure, his living room, dining room and kitchen was basically one room, but the said space had tall ceilings, massive rafters, raw brick walls. The kitchen perfectly organized, some abstract art on the wall, sliding door partly open so she could peek into his bedroom. None of that surprised as much as the stairwell which lead- to the roof. It must have led to the roof. Of course he had a rooftop access. She had like a million questions popping in her head as walked to the tall windows with no curtains. For one – how the hell could Matt afford this place?
It was when she reached the window, huge shiny billboard catching her eyes, making her squint, she got an answer. Danny had big lights on – yet, when she looked at her hand, moving it in the sea of colours from the opposite building, it was evident that the billboard would disturb most of the people. Unless they were blind. Sort of. If they eyes didn't work. No one wanted it – so it couldn't be that expensive.
Vera looked around the apartment once more, finding Danny leaning onto the wall separating the hall and the kitchen, smiling almost graciously, as if he was saying yeah, I know.
"Wow. That's. Wow," she finally found a way to control her lips. So, she got few more questions she wanted to ask Matt now. But she still needed to find him first. "Thanks for… letting me in, I guess, but I should be going. I need to talk to him and he's not answering his phone and- any idea where he is?"
"Ouch. You guys had a fight?" he asked, grimacing somewhat knowingly. "Because he was like really angry. And before, he was like- glowing, I never saw him like that and then – puf, he's here again, dragging that cloud around him as usual, darker if possible. Dresses up, leaves, comes back even more pissed off, grabs his bag and disappears."
Well, Vera knew there was a reason why she should come in and talk to Danny. That was new. So he knew Matt rather well? How?
"You- what- is- yeah, I kinda… pissed him off," Vera admitted, biting her lip nervously. When Danny said Matt dressed up...? And when he said he disappeared that meant…? "He didn't approve of some of my activities I was engaged in while he was gone…"
"Yikes. Did you cheat on him?"
"What?!" she blurted out, startled. What kind of a question was that?! "NO!"
He raised his hands in no harm gesture, bouncing off the wall. "Sorry, sorry. That's right. Terri said you missed him-"
Vera was fairly sure she heard wrong. Did he just say-
"Terri?! What the- you know Terri?" Vera demanded in disbelief, her brain catching up with the sentence, sending her heart racing. "What do you mean she said- you talked to her? Matt talked to her? How is that even-" She froze, her mind faster than… the rest of her mind. How could Terri possibly talk to Matt? Or Danny? How would she even know Matt was in town? Did he reach out to her? Or- or. There was one more possibility. Vera wasn't sure she liked it, but somehow she felt she was right. Holy shit. "She saw him coming back. And she didn't- and he didn't-"
Terri knew Matt came back, because of her… ability. And she didn't tell Vera shit, but apparently she talked to him. Matt didn't tell her shit. He said Vera was the first person he tal- he said Vera was the first person he wanted to talk to, didn't he? Oh Jesus, lying in omission. But why?!
"Hey, you okay? You look kinda pale. Do you have spins? That's sign of a concussion right? Double vision? Wanna throw up?" Danny worried, making her way to her and the questions snapped her from the trans while freaking her out even more.
"Sign of a- how the hell do you know I had a concussion?! You-Terri told you. Of course she told you. Or she told Matt, or maybe he somehow found out earlier, because he always finds things out, freaking eavesdropper, and he told you." He probably heard her doctor or something. Yeah, that sounded like Matt. "And then Matt came to check up on me yesterday after they released-oh my god, she knew he would come to me, that's why she was so- alright, I think my head is spinning."
Her head was spinning. Because it was all coming together – possibly in the worst way. She felt his hands carefully reaching for her forearm, ready to steady her if her body decided to nestle on the floor. Vera blinked at the sudden vertigo.
"Hey, hey. It's okay. Do you want a glass of water? Vera! Hey! Can you hear me?" Soothing voice. The words. Syllables that suddenly made sense. The darkness edging her vision got possibly even darker.
"Ježišmarja," she heard herself cursing, her knees actually feeling weak. "You- you're the one who saved me, aren't you? From… uhm."
Danny had been there. Danny had saved her from being raped. So Danny could probably fight. And he could fight very well. Her brain slowly processed the information. Very slowly. He led her to a couch and she sat down heavily.
"Yeah. I brought you to the hospital. But hey, the save was more like a team work," he exclaimed and Vera would swear she heard a grin in his voice.
So, so agonizingly slow brain.
"Team wo- no doprdele. Dopr- you were both there?! " she cried out in horror, the last puzzle pieces falling into place. Of course they were both there, she remembered two men. Matt had had to be in town already at the time. And if he had, he would hear them. And Bryan had several broken bones. In each limb. A lecture. A very, very painful lecture. Of fucking course. She should have made the connection the moment she had learnt Matt was back in town. For days. Vera would wince at the idea of Matt being able to do something like that, but truth to be told, with all of the info Danny fed her, this was rather one of the least concerns she had at the moment. And it wasn't like he hadn't done that before – in front of her.
Her mouth finally caught up with her brain. "He's the one who- exactly how long has he been in town?"
"…for a while. But that's really not something I should be telling you, right? I mean I told you a lot of things I shouldn't have already. What about the water, huh?"
This was too much. Breathe, Vera. You've been through worse. You revealed much worse things. Well, maybe it was cumulative and she just reach her ceiling. Finally.
"Yeah. Yeah, thanks. Actually, you have something stronger than that?" she asked hesitantly, sensing that whiskey, even the cheap one she mixed with coffee most of the times, would do. Danny, who walked to the kitchen, stopped dead in his tracks.
"That's… probably not the best idea. I mean, your head is already spinning."
"Danny, right?" Vera reassured herself, hoping she didn't screw his name while processing all the information she got.
"Yes, madam. Danny Rand," he saluted.
"Trust me, Danny. I need something stronger, it helps. But water on the top of that might not be such a bad idea."
"If you say so. Is beer working for you? Because we… uhm. Matt doesn't have anything else. Neither of us… went shopping yet."
Vera grimaced at the idea of drinking beer. She always had been a black sheep of Czech people. She didn't like beer. She could handle light beer breath, but definitely not a drink. And yeah, that was something she should be thinking about right now, sure. If anything, she should be thinking about the best approach. When she would finally find him. Alcohol breath wasn't on her to-do list, so there was that.
"I think I'll settle just for the water," Vera gave him a weak smile and he lighted up, nodding enthusiastically. Who the hell was Danny Rand? Warm, beam of sunshine fighter occupying Matt's apartment? That's… weird. But hey, she was kinda used to weird, right?
Vera only spoke up when he placed a glass of water on the table, seating himself next to her on the couch, feet up. "Okay. Sorry for the whole… freak out. It's just… it's A LOT. First things first – thank you. Thank you so much for saving me. Secondly, I'm still not sure who you are, but it's nice to meet you. Thirdly, whatever you said and you think you shouldn't have, don't worry about it."
His smile grew wider. "Nah. I'm sorry I accused you of, uhm, cheating on Matt."
"Yeah. You know what? I think he would actually mind less if I did…"
"What did you do?" Danny pried, but not necessarily demanding. He just… asked.
"I… kinda helped the police to take down a group of bad people he was after earlier and almost got crucified along the way?" Vera offered hesitantly and his mouth literally fell agape.
"Holy-shit! Jesus- no, no Jesus, that's a bad, bad word, especially now. But Jes-"
"Ehm. Yeah. It's not like I planned it, alright?" she defended herself uselessly. "I should have only infiltrate them, become one of them and I did. I didn't expect they decide to change their manners and try to crucify one of their own! And I don't even remember it, I only got my hair cut and they put the crown on-"
"Stop. Just- stop right there. There are so many things wrong with what you just said. I would love to talk to you, but not now, because you have more important things to do, like finding your furious boyfriend. I spent some time with Matt, alright? He… he isn't exactly a ray of sunshine, or wasn't at the time anyway." Vera frowned. What exactly meant 'at the time'?
"When we were coming home, he could finally talk about you and- and you have no idea. It was hard to get back to… normal mode, it took a while, but the moment he started talking about you, he was happy. And then we came here, and all the not so nice things happened and you were in a hospital and then Terri came and then once more, when she wanted to tell us you were awake, and he lighted up like my fi- like a Christmas tree. Let me tell you, he's crazy about you. And he has quite a temper. So yeah, if he found out what you told me he found out, I think he went to break several other bones- oh, dammit, I should be looking for him too-"
This time it was Vera who felt her jaw falling. Danny was with him. Of course, it made sense, but she didn't want to believe it. They were fighting together. In Cambodia. Danny was a member of the ancient organization Stick lead or was a part of. It must have been the concussion, because dammit she should realize these things. On the other hand, it was hard to believe that. This guy?! Was he forced to fight? There was no way he would choose to do so. Right? Jesus, did he decapitate someone?!
No. He sure didn't. Vera chased away that awful thought, rather taking in all of his words.
"He already punched an officer of law and friend in one person, so- wait. You said he took his bag?"
Danny shrugged, apparently having no clue why it should be important. It was fucking important! "Yeah. I thought he was heading to your place actually. What do you mean he punched-"
"He's not breaking any bones. I think I know where he is."
"You do?"
"Yeah. He's in the gym." Vera was certain. And of course. She should have went there in the first place – at Fogwell's, there were actual things to punch. Then again, she wouldn't meet Danny otherwise. Or see Matt's flat. Things are happening the way they should, she reminded herself, swallowing the ironic chuckle that almost escaped her lips. Yeah, well.
"Huh. Okay. Whatever you say. Feel better?" Danny asked with unsure smile and Vera obediently drank the water he brought her. He looked pleased. He was easy to please, wasn't he? He was one interesting figure, that was for sure.
"A little. I should go talk to him. Thanks, Danny. For everything. I'm looking forward knowing you better. Something tells me you'll stick around."
He made a strange face. "Don't-uhm. Little advice? Don't say the word 'stick' around him, okay? Or me. Good luck, Vera. Just… be nice to him. He really likes you."
Stick. Right. Good point. Also… there was something warm spreading in her chest when she heard about Matt's feelings from someone else. Was it evident?
"I love him too," she assured him, rising to her feet, giving the blond an honest smile. "Bye, Danny. You're the best."
"Don't tell him that either!"
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
I wanted this chapter and the following one to be… well, one. Then I realized it was very long. So… yeah.
Alternative chapter title – The one in which Danny is not a thundering dumbass (again) and actually helps. Also, give him a stuffed bear for not telling her he's the Immortal Iron Fist the moment he opened the door for her.
Title from Florence and The Machine – Only if for a night