Introductions II

Fauna

The car sped through the streets and weaved in and out of traffic. Fauna sat silently, her arms and legs feeling numb. This is it, she thought. This is what she feared. Her father knew of her after-hour adventure, not to mention that it coincided with the Daredevil's visit. Grayson and his partners would punish her for her betrayal. She scolded herself. How could she have been so stupid to allow herself to mess everything up. All she had to do was keep her head down, mind her own business and do what her father wanted.

Sure it wasn't the life she dreamed or the best way to live. But she'd be alive and so would her mother.

"So Fauna, have you thought about my proposal?"

The tall, broad shouldered man next to her was Ace. Her father's right hand man. His daytime persona was all business. He was always clothed in fine suits and italian leather shoes. However, at night he shed that skin like a snake and became an unstoppable mercenary. Fauna had caught a glimpse of what he could do when she dropped some paperwork off at her father's office, the broken and bloody man at Ace's feet pleaded for his life. Fauna literally had to bite her tongue and made a mental note never to cross him.

Ace was dangerous, charming and cunning. Fauna often witnessed how he could persuade anyone to do anything. He had a smile that said everything a woman ever wanted to hear, but underneath it he was a killer.

Fauna turned and looked up into his piercing gray-blue eyes. A strand of his raven hair fell across his forehead. Hints of a large tribal tattoo inched up the left side of his neck. She wondered if he would be the one task to kill her. Did he already know and have a plan? He could do it so easily. Fauna found herself hoping he would make it quick.

The proposal he spoke of was about a date. He wanted to take her to dinner, and probably much more than that. He promised he could get her father to agree to let her stay out late and possibly even have the following day off without being penalized.

But the only thing she could think about was all the horrible things this man did for her father. The people he's killed probably number in the hundreds. The thought of going on a date with him turned her stomach.

"No, I haven't." Fauna answered. "I didn't need to. I told you I'm not interested in dating someone from work." She pulled her eye's away and stared out the window.

"Umm." Ace's voice rumbled in his throat. "That's disappointing. You're breaking my heart."

Fauna mentally roller her eyes, she very much doubted he had a heart. Moments later the car drove through the main gates and the shipping yard. It pulled directly in front of the main office building. Her father's office was on the top floor, far from her own in the neighboring run-down building with constant heating and a/c issues. She was either freezing or about to suffer a heat stroke. She supposed those problems wouldn't matter any more. Ace hoped out of the car and walked around to open her door.

Fauna didn't move, her legs were frozen.

"Any time now, you'd don't want to keep him waiting." Ace said.

She still couldn't, she was going to walk into this building alive and be carried out dead. She thought of her mother. She wished she could see her one last time. A tear rolled down her cheek. Ace came into her peripheral vision as he knelt down just outside the door.

"I know you're not very fond of your father, I understand. But it doesn't matter." He said in a harsh tone. "If you won't willingly come, I'll take great pleasure in forcing you."

The thought of his hands on her was terrifying. Fauna shifted in the seat and Ace stood allowing her room to step out. The other two men in the car left while she followed Ace onto the elevator and up to the 11th floor. Her father's office was just ahead and Fauna felt like turning and fleeing. Perhaps she could make it out of the building. But there was nowhere to go. It looked as though the number of guards had doubled, maybe even triple in some sections of the shipping yard.

Like he knew what she was thinking, Ace stole a glance of her over his shoulder and knocked on the door and slid it open.

"Mr. Grayson, Fauna is here." He announced.

He announced her arrival like she had any choice in the matter. Ace pivoted to the side and opened the door wide enough for her to slip past him. He nudged his head to motion for Fauna to move. Her legs felt like jelly, but she forced herself.

"Sit down." Her father's voice sounded agitated. Fauna took the seat just across from his large oak desk. She glanced to her right and looked out the wall of windows. At least it was turning into a beautiful sunset. The brown leather of her father's chair swiveled around and she met his eyes. He looked agitated as well. His salt and pepper hair was not in its usual slicked back style. It was messy as if he'd been running his hands through it most of the day from stress or worry. He stared back at her for a moment, then grabbed a piece of paper from his desk and studied it.

"Looks like you were dangerously close to missing curfew." He tossed the paper back on his desk.

Fauna opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off.

"She was just a few blocks from her apartment, she would have made it if I hadn't picked her up." Ace said from behind her. She fiddled nervously with her fingers and had to stop herself from turning to eye him.

"Thank you Ace, that'll be all." Grayson said without looking in his direction. He kept his eyes on her. She heard the door shut behind her and that familiar emptiness filled the room. Fauna and her father might as well have been a thousand miles from each other. There was no love between them, not even a hint of some kind of concern or empathy for one another.

Fauna never knew him and if it weren't for his money helping her mother she'd never care to.

"We have a problem." He declared.

Fauna swallowed hard. Her heart felt as though it was going to burst through her chest.

"We had a break in last night."

Fauna wondered if now would be a good time to get down on her knees and start begging.

"It was that damn Daredevil. Apparently we've finally made it to his radar." Grayson continued. "What I need to know from you is if you saw or heard anything suspicious before you left work?"

Keep your calm, Fauna coached herself, just stay calm. How was she supposed to answer him? Was it a test? Did he know she was here or didn't he? If he didn't know then she needed to lie, lie like crazy.

But if he did know and she lied anyway he'd probably have her killed. Of course if she told him the truth, he'd probably have her killed. So that was a lose-lose situation. Fauna decided to take the lying route first.

She shook her head no. Hoping and praying he really didn't know anything about her presence last night. But Fauna couldn't stop thinking about that guard that almost smashed her head into a mushy mess.

He nodded. "Starting tomorrow there will be a few new rules. From now on every door has new security systems. You'll need this." He tossed a small object to her.

She caught it as it hit her lap. With shaking hands she turned it over. It was a badge with her name, picture and a barcode printed on it.

"No more keys to enter the buildings. It'll keep track of who and when someone enters a building, much like your apartment building, but much more high tech."

She nodded her understanding.

Grayson stood, his chair rolled back against the wall and he walked over to the windows. He tucked his hands into his pant pockets as he looked out at the orange and pink sky giving way to the dark.

"I'm also changing your hours."

Fauna snapped her head up from the badge.

"Starting tomorrow you start at 9am and finished by 6pm. Be back home at 6:30pm. On a few nights I want you back here from 8:30pm until 10pm. You are to be back home by 10:45pm on those days. For now these are the only two places you are allowed to visit."

"What?" Fauna was confused and heartbroken. From the sounds of it she would be able to go anywhere beside work and that awful apartment. She tried to avoid that place as much as possible, always staying out until the last minute of her curfew. He called it her home, she called it her prison. Now it really was going to be her prison.

Grayson made his way to her.

"I can't go to the park or visit Mom? I won't be able to-"

Grayson backhanded her across her cheek. Fauna's head snapped to the side at the impact. She groaned in pain and her hand shot up to her face. She panted at the sudden shock.

"You don't question." He straightened himself as he towered over her and slid his hands back into his pockets. "You do what I say. Your mom and the park are privileges I allow out of the goodness of my heart. You should thank me for them." He smiled. "Do you understand?"

Fauna nodded.

"Good."He sat back down in his chair. "You must understand, Fauna I'm doing this to protect you."

She knew that was a lie. He wasn't doing it to protect her. He was doing this to protect his company.

"It's just that, I'm not allow- able to make personal calls on my cell. If I can't visit mom she's going to start worry about me."

Grayson clasped his palms together at his chest. After a few long moments of silence he nodded. "You may call me once a day and make it short, no more than five minutes."

It wasn't what she'd hoped for, she'd rather see her mom, but at least it was something. And at least he didn't know she wasn't here last night and she wasn't going to be killed. She had a lot to be grateful for at the moment.

"Ace!" Grayson called out.

A moment later Ace came through the door.

"She has her instructions. See her out."

Fayra still cupped her cheek in her hand as Ace wrapped his large hand under Fauna's arm and pulled her to her feet.

"Let's go." He said, dragging her out of the office. Fauna tried to keep up, but his longer legs moved too quickly for her shorter ones. She kept stumbling. The only thing keeping her from falling was Ace, he kept a tight grip on her arm.

She kept stealing glances at him. His jaw kept clenching together as if he was angry. Fauna wondered if he was angry with her because she questioned Grayson, she had crossed the line. And why was he in such a hurry?

By the time they made it to the gate Fauna's arm throbbed. He swung her around to face him and let go. She stumbled backward toward the gate.

"Go on, get home, before it gets too late."

Fauna didn't hesitate, she turned and began walking. She was thankful his hand was finally off her. She looked back as she turned the street corner. Ace was still watching her from the gate. She turned and bolted down the street.

As Fauna drew closer to her apartment she began counting down the blocks. For the first time since she moved there she was happy to go home, as her father called it. She touched her cheek. By now it must be bruising. It was tender and felt swollen.

Only a few steps away from her building something yanked her hard into the alley way. She tried to scream but an arm wrapped around her neck and another hand clamped down over her mouth. Her cheek stung at his touch and static electricity surged through her body as it made contact with the man behind her. The tiny hairs all over her stood on end. She clawed at his arms as he dragged her farther into the alley.

No! Fauna screamed, but since she couldn't get a sound through her lips she could only scream inside her head. No, no, no!

The man behind her shifted his arm from around her neck to her shoulder and pushed her. For a moment his hand came off her mouth as he spun her around, but clamped down again before she could utter a scream.

Fauna's back hit the brick wall and her eyes went wide in fear when she realized who it was. The Devil of Hell's Kitchen was only inches away from her. He placed his forearm against her neck and pressed down. Not enough to hurt her, not yet anyway. She pushed against him. Beating and pushing at his chest, it was hard as steel and completely unmovable.

"Did you tell them?" His growl was deep and dangerous. It cut through her like a knife.

Fauna searched his black mask in confusion, she didn't understand. Tell who, what? But the only thing she could think was how she couldn't breath and once again the most feared man was standing before her. Violence and anger seeping through out him.

"Did. You. Tell them?" He growled again.

Fauna began shivering. She moaned a protest

"I'm going to remove my hand from your mouth. If your voice goes above a whisper I'll cut off your air supply. Do you understand?"

Fauna could most definitely understand. She nodded through the little movement she had in his grip.

The man in black slowly peeled his hand away. Fauna had to clamp her lips down and force herself to comply with his demand.

"Now, tell me. Who have you told?" His tone was less harsh than before, but still very much dangerous.

She shook her head, "I-I don't understand."

Suddenly he was closer, pressing her harder into the wall. The pressure on her throat was disorienting. She turned her palms to his forearm and frantically tried to release some of the pressure.

"The little I know of you tells me you lie when questioned. This time I'll warn you once, before I start breaking bones. I will know when you lie. This is something you don't want to lie to me about."

Thunder rolled across the sky as Fauna's heart pounded harder.

"You recognized me today in the office, you know who I am, where I work and who I work with. Now, tell me who have you given this information to?"

If Fauna could drop her jaw to the floor she would have. She was shocked and stupefied. She searched his face again, trying to understand where he was getting this from. How could she know who he really is? She could only see his mouth and chin.

It only took a few seconds for Fauna to figure it out. The cut on his face, It was covered by the black mask but it was there the night before.

The blind man at the lawyer's office had the same cut, in the exact same place. She had been so preoccupied with everything else going on she hadn't realized it until now. The truth would have hit her eventually, once she began rolling the day's events around in her head, it always did.

It was perfect. A masked vigilante pretending to be a blind man by day. No one would ever expect him. This was Mr. Nelson's partner, Matthew Murdock. Matthew Murdock was Daredevil. Fear began taking over.

Fauna's breathing turned to panicked panting. The lack of oxygen sent that fear into overdrive. There was no way he'd allow her to leave this alley alive, even if she told the truth. The only thing he needed was to know if she'd told anyone who he was. Then he'd make sure everyone who did know could never tell anyone.

Once Fauna realized what was about to happen she began pounding her fists against him, kicking him, and screaming.

Matthew

Matthew watched in horror as Fauna searched his covered face and then realized who he was. In his own shock he took a step back, releasing her.

How could he have made such a mistake? She hadn't recognized him at the office when she bumped into him. His senses seemed to be a little off around her, but he was so sure. And when he saw her being escorted out of Grayson Shipping, just as he arrived, he assumed she had told them about his identity.

She lunged at him, swinging wildly. Fauna collided with him. Matthew had to think fast. He didn't want to hurt her, but he had to take control of the situation, especially after he made a colossal mistake of practically blurting out his identity.

He blocked her punch, grabbed her wrist and twisted her around. At the same time he trapped her other hand and held them firmly against her chest. His other hand came up to cover her screams. She struggled against his grip.

He backed the two of them up to the wall of the building and slid down the wall to a seated position, forcing Fauna with him. She kicked at him so he hooked her legs under one of his. She tried to pull her hands and legs free, but he tightened his grip and pressed his leg down harder over hers.

Fauna's heart pounded erratically and loudly in Matthew's ears. Her breathing was out of control. She was terrified.

"Fauna." He said in a calm and even tone. She pressed against him, then struggled to free herself, with another burst of adrenaline surging through her at the sound of her name on his lips. Matthew pressed his hand harder against her mouth, forcing her head back against his shoulder. She was going to hurt herself.

Thunder boomed overhead and lightning lit the sky. Matthew thought it was supposed to be clear skies tonight as rain began pelting down on them. He felt the electricity in the air, his hairs standing on end.

He smelled and tasted the salt of her tears. "Fauna, calm down." He instructed. "You're hyperventilating." She responded with small panicked sobs through his leather glove. "I need you to focus on slowing your breath."

She tried screaming again.

"Fauna, take deep breaths through your nose."

But it was too late, her body began reacting. As she lost consciousness her body relaxed and her grip loosened.

Matthew gently laid Fauna's limp body down on her couch. Like him, she was soaked through from the rain. Her head fell to the side, her long hair cascaded down her shoulder and to the floor. For the first time he sensed the bruise on her cheek. He slipped off his glove and ran a finger across it.

Had he done that? No, he concluded. He would have known. That mark was caused by the back on a strong hand. He thought back to when she bumped into him in the hallway. She didn't have it then, nor in the park.

He stood taking in his surroundings, there wasn't much here. She didn't have many possessions. He found that odd for a young girl. The address on her ID and the apartment fob on her keychain made the place easy to find. For a moment he thought he must have the wrong apartment, but her scent was everywhere. This was definitely where she lived. He sensed the blanket in the next room.

After covering her he slid himself down the wall into a seated position on the floor. He noticed her lit body dimmed down as she slept. His sigh was heavy with guilt. He was now to blame for this situation, it didn't change his plan. This girl knew who he was, he didn't know her or trust her.

Hell, for years he didn't even tell his best friend. It wasn't that he didn't trust Foggy though. It was about keeping him safe. His secret weighed heavily on his friend. It was a burden. Foggy didn't let on to that fact, but Matthew could sense it.

Fauna also worked for some very bad individuals. So he'd do what he'd have to, but there was a line. He just didn't know how far he'd push that line.

Fauna stirred, the swirls of lights brightened. Her breathing changed slightly. Matthew sensed she'd be waking soon. He realized he was going to have to approach her in a different way. Both times he's made contact with her she'd lost control of her fear and breathing. He'd try to keep his distance this time and get a handle on this situation.

Fauna moaned and reached up and rubbed her eyes. Matthew thought of that old saying, third time's the charm. Hopefully that would be the case.