S.H.I.E.L.D. security was the most annoying thing in the entire world. And for Matt that was saying something; he's met some really annoying people. Nick Fury was the most paranoid person to ever exist. Matt wouldn't be surprised if he bugged his closest friends' homes and hired spies to follow them around. If he had friends, that is.
S.H.I.E.L.D. security seemed to not care in the slightest that Matt was blind. They forced him to go through all the "regular" procedures. The even checked his glasses. His glasses.
It was by some miracle that they didn't find the escrima sticks disguised as his cane. Well, they did find them, but Matt was able to convince the agent searching him that the cane is supposed to come apart like that.
It took an hour and a half for the three of them to get through. An hour and a half. And then it took another twenty minutes to figure out which floor of the Triskelion Doctor Banner was held in. Needless to say, they were running a little late to their appointment.
The doctor didn't seem to mind though. He was kind and welcoming, though jittery and nervous. They were meeting in a somewhat large room. A large rectangular table sat in the middle, with four metal folding chairs around it. The room resembled an interrogation room one would find at a police station. The back wall was nearly covered in what Matt assumed was a two way mirror. His echolocation told him that multiple sets of guards stood outside.
Security, security.
"Doctor Banner? Hi, I'm Foggy Nelson. These are my friends: Matt Murdock and Karen Page."
Matt took his seat at the table as Foggy and Banner shook hands. Doctor Banner turned and offered his hand towards Matt, but he—playing the part of a blind man—stared at the wall and pretended not to notice.
There were a few beats of awkward silence before Banner lowered his hand slowly.
"If you would please take your seat, Doctor, we can begin our discussion," Foggy said, gesturing at the chairs.
Banner nodded quickly and went to take his seat, accidentally knocking the chair down in the process. He nervously fumbled with it for a moment before finally sitting.
Matt could hear Doctor Banner's heart beating rapidly and his hands trembling in his lap.
"Karen, would you mind getting us something to drink?" Matt asked.
"Of course," she said chipperly. "What would you like, Doctor? I can probably find some coffee. Maybe some tea?"
"Oh… uh, I'm fine. Thank you, though," Dr. Banner said quietly.
Karen smiled kindly. She picked up her purse and excused herself from the room, shutting the door behind her.
Matt folded his hands in front of him on the table. "Dr. Banner, how-"
"Bruce. You… you can call me Bruce," Bruce mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Bruce," Matt said, "how much of what's happening do you understand?"
"Just jumping straight into it. Okay. Um… they haven't told me much, to be honest. Whenever I ask anything, everyone always gives me really vague answers. I'm pretty sure they just want to keep me calm so the other guy doesn't make an appearance," Bruce shrugged.
"Oh man, that would suck! Especially considering the Hulk's the reason you're getting taken to court in the first place," Foggy chuckled. "You hulking out and destroying everything would completely mess up our case. Try to not do that."
Bruce blinked. "Yeah, I kinda figured that."
"Dr. Banner-"
"Bruce."
"Apologies," Matt said, "Bruce. How much do you know?"
"I'm being sued, right? Because of all the damage the Hulk has done?" Bruce sighed, rubbing his eyes wearily.
"Technically the US government is pressing charges against you, not suing you, which is actually a lot worse," Foggy corrected, sounding a little too pleasant considering the current situation.
"Great," Bruce muttered.
"Yeah, cause with suing all you'd have to do is pay a bunch of money. But when charges are pressed, you can get fined, sent to prison, or even get the death sentence! You also have to-"
"Foggy, that's enough," Matt said.
"Thanks for the reassurance," Bruce muttered, rubbing his chin.
"It's not as bad as my partner is making it seem," Matt said, trying to redirect the conversation. "However, the prosecution is trying to hold you accountable for the actions of the Hulk and we won't know how strong their case is until the preliminary trial. But we will use every second of our time, before and after the preliminary trail, to prepare for your case. Trust me Doctor Banner, you're in good hands."
"Preliminary trial?" Bruce asked skeptically.
"It's set for Monday of next week. You don't have to worry, we'll take care of everything," Matt assured.
"That's… that's really soon, don't you think?" Bruce asked.
"Trust me, the sooner we get the preliminary hearing over with, the better," Foggy said, waving his hand dismissively.
"Can't I just… not go?" Bruce asked.
"You could waive your rights to a preliminary trial, but I wouldn't do that if were you," Matt responded.
"Why not?"
"Because you're guilty. A kindergartner with internet access could prove it," shrugged Foggy.
"So I'm doomed."
"Not exactly," Foggy grinned. He flicked open the locks on his briefcase and began pulling out various papers.
"As you can see here," Matt said, waving his hand in the general direction of the papers. Foggy pointed to the title on one of them and slid it across the table. "This is the trial of one Bruce Robert Banner. Not the trial of The Hulk."
"What's the difference?" Bruce asked wearily.
"It's the Hulk that's guilty of these crimes. Not you," Matt explained. "You and The Hulk are separate entities. If we can prove this at the preliminary hearing, along with the fact that you have no control of your actions as The Hulk, then there's a slim chance that we can get your case thrown out right away."
"But what if you can't prove that?" Bruce moaned. "Or what if you can prove it, but the judge decides to send me to prison anyway?"
"That's not how a preliminary trial works," said Matt.
"A preliminary trial is like a mini-trial. It's to decide what crimes you're being accused of, and whether or not there's enough evidence to even have a trial at all," Foggy explained kindly. "In the end, the worst that could possibly happen is you'll have to wait in a holding cell without bail for a while."
"And at the very least, I think it'd be fair to assume we can get you bail," said Matt. "Then you'd be able to leave and go about your business until the court date."
"If you can afford to pay the bail, that is," Foggy added. He shrugged. "But seeing how the Tony Stark is paying for all this, I don't think that'd be much of a problem."
Bruce sighed, picked up some of the papers, and began flipping through them. The door silently slid open and Karen quietly set a black coffee in front of Bruce, a coffee drowned in cream and sugar in front of Foggy, and a water bottle in front of Matt before taking a seat at the end of the table.
"You really think you can fix this?" Bruce asked, looking at Foggy skeptically.
"There's no one better to represent you," Foggy said, a wide smile on his face. "We're the best of the best."
"You're in good hands, Doctor," said Matt calmly. "I promise."
Bruce blinked. He smiled kindly, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "If you say so."
"We do say so," Foggy said cheerfully. He pulled out another stack of papers and slid them over to Bruce. "We just have a couple things we need to discuss…"
That went… surprisingly well, Matt thought. That would be a first.
Karen, Matt, and Foggy made their way down the almost empty hall, walking shoulder to shoulder. Karen and Foggy were talking excitedly and rapidly; Matt wasn't listening, instead focused too deeply in his own thoughts.
We have the information we need to get started, but the preliminary trial is less than a week away. That doesn't leave us with much time to prepare. That was probably intentional, unfortunately. We've worked with less time before, but never with this high level of a case. Never with this much pressure. Never against the entire US government. Maybe I should have looked into the case more before taking it. Maybe I should have let someone else take it. But no one else was going to take it, that's why we did! But maybe-
"Where are you, man?" Foggy lightly pushed Matt's shoulder, pulling him from his thoughts.
"Hmm? Oh, um..."
"Come on, Matt, get excited!" Karen said. She pumped her fists into the air excitedly. "We just met an Avenger!"
"Yeah, an Avenger who is wrongly being held in custody for something he shouldn't be held accountable for," Matt sighed. He pinched his nose under his glasses.
"Well, I think it was awesome!" said Karen. She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "However, no Avenger can compare to the Devil of Hell's Kitchen. He's the best."
Matt tried not to blush.
"I dunno," Foggy said, a hint of exasperation and lightly hidden anger in his voice. "I still say that guy's costume is stupid."
"It's awesome! Don't deny it," said Karen happily, not hearing Foggy's frustration.
"Horns? Really? He has horns, Karen. Look me in the eyes and you think that's not a total dork move," Foggy scoffed.
Matt frowned. He dropped his hand and gripped his cane much tighter than necessary.
"The one with horns is certainly better than that black shirt and mask he used to wear," said Karen, shaking her head. "That one was a little tacky, not going to lie."
"A lot of things about that guy is tacky," Foggy muttered. Matt tried to not be offended. He failed.
"Okay, that's enough teasing him. The guy did save my life, after all," Karen said. "Matt, do you have anything to add? You're so quiet today."
"Sorry. I'm just thinking." Matt shrugged his shoulders.
"As am I," Foggy sighed. His voice sounded much more cheerful when he spoke, but also forced. He threw an arm around Matt's shoulder. "Are we thinking the same thing right now?"
"Are you thinking about how much pressure this case is, and if we mess up, even a little bit, our lives, along with Doctor Banner's, are completely over?"
"Nope!" Foggy said, popping the 'p'.
Matt sighed, a small smile creeping on his features. "Are you thinking about lunch?"
"I'm thinking about lunch!" Foggy declared. Karen rolled her eyes and Matt snorted. "I was thinking Greek food! Any thoughts?"
"I think you're a child," Matt laughed.
"Boo! Any constructive thought on lunch, Karen?"
"I think Matt's right. We should be focused on the case," Karen said.
"Aww, come on," Foggy complained, sighing dramatically and raising his hands in surrender. "Alright. Alright. You got me. Shall we discuss our plans?"
"Over Greek food?" Karen chimed in.
Foggy raised his arms in the air in victory. "Yes! You're outvoted Matt! Greek food it is."
"Guys-"
"Don't be so nervous, Matt," Karen said. "Nelson and Murdock are on the case! No one will stand in our way!"
"Thanks for the support, Karen," Matt said, giving a small smile.
"It's not just support man, it's the truth! We're unstoppable!" Foggy cheered.
"I wouldn't go that far…"
"Who's doing prosecution anyway?" Karen asked.
"I am," said a fourth, new voice.
The trio stopped.
A man stood leaning against a door to their right, scrolling through his phone.
Matt frowned. The voice seemed… familiar.
They were most likely between 25 and 30 based off their heart beat, male based on the form he was able to 'see' with his crude echolocation, and obviously rich based off of the expensive cologne overwhelming his senses. It made him want to gag. But who…
"Jack," Foggy growled. Matt raised an eyebrow, startled. There was so much malice in Foggy's usually cheerful voice; it unnerved him.
"I'm sorry, who?" Matt asked.
"You don't recognize me, Murdock?" he scoffed. "Nah, I don't suppose you would, what with your less than 20/20 vision and all, but still… ouch. That hurts. We went to school together. Remember?"
Oh.
Now Matt remembered.
Jack White.
The most pretentious jerk to ever walk the Earth.
White had almost graduated at the top of their class at Harvard, behind only Matt. He was always bitter about that. He couldn't ever touch Matt, however; the teachers were always watching him like hawks. They seemed to think that he needed extra protection since he was blind. Matt was still annoyed when he thought about it.
Since Jack could never get close enough to Matt to do anything, he always took his frustrations out on Foggy. And he was crafty. He once framed Foggy for plagiarizing an essay and almost got him kicked out. Matt and Foggy teamed up to prove his innocence in the form of a mock trial (their first ever case together; It was actually what gave them the idea to start a law firm together) but Jack didn't even get more than a slap on the wrist.
Something in Matt's expression must have given it away because Jack grinned and said, "Now he remembers."
"What are you doing here, Jack?" Matt asked blankly, his voice and face devoid of any emotion.
"I'm preparing for the case, just like you two," he drawled. He slipped his phone into his pocket and stalked towards them.
"How did you get this case?" Foggy demanded.
"I should be asking you the same thing, Franklin."
"It's Foggy, actually." Foggy crossed his arms over his chest.
"Oh, how cute. You kept the pet name Murdock gave you." Jack played at his fingernails as he spoke.
"You guys know him?" Karen asked. She glanced back and forth between Foggy and Matt.
"You could say that," Foggy growled. His fists clenched.
"And who is this beauty?" Jack asked, lowering his sunglasses. He went to take a step forward, hand outstretched, but Matt blocked him with his cane.
"That's enough," Matt said coldly.
"Or what? You'll hit the air next to my head? Throw your cane at me?"
"You'd be surprised," Foggy muttered.
"Anyway, I ought to get back to work." He clapped his hands together and tilted his head back, staring at them from under his glasses. "Though, I suppose since you two are representing the defense, I shouldn't be too worried."
"I wouldn't be too sure, buddy. These two have their very own law firm!" Karen said, obviously trying to sound tough and failing. "They're the real deal!"
"Yes, I heard. Nelson & Murdock: Attorneys at Law? A little start up law firm in Hell's Kitchen? Honestly, I knew the big green beast was desperate, but I didn't know he was that desperate. You might as well accept defeat now," Jack clicked his tongue and tilted his head to the side patronizingly.
"We'll see," Matt responded coolly. "Now, If you'll excuse us, we have work to do."
Matt tucked his cane under his arm before grabbing Foggy's upper arm with one hand and resting the other on Karen's shoulder, steering them away. He could hear their hearts racing and feel them trembling beneath his fingers. If he didn't get them out of their right now, he was afraid one of them was going to do something stupid.
He wouldn't be mad if one of them punched Jack—most likely Karen, though these days Foggy throwing hands with someone wouldn't surprise him in the slightest—but then they could get kicked off the case. They couldn't afford that to happen.
"You two know that jerk?" Karen spat.
"We went to school together," Foggy growled. "He was a huge bully."
"Still is, evidently," said Matt. He released his friends and began pretending to lead himself using the cane.
"Let's just get out of here."
Authors Note: Thank you so much to everyone who read, favorited, followed, and commented on the first chapter! And thank you for all your patience with updating! I should have the next chapter up soon! I thought I should make a note that I haven't seen all of the Daredevil show on Netflix, so a few things are probably going to be inconsistent with the show. I'm mainly basing the characters on the comics because thats what I'm most familiar with, but I did some research and am trying to do a decent mixture of both the comics and show.
Thanks again! I hope you're enjoying it!
- Identical Snowflakes
