Reality Check

Fauna

Fauna took a ragged breath and groaned. She reached up and grabbed a cold damp cloth that lay across her forehead. She groaned again. She hated cold, wet things. Her head hurt and decided keeping her eyes closed was probably for the best.

"No, don't do that. Keep it there." Her mother's familiar voice was soothing. "You hit your head when you fainted."

Fauna complained with a growl, but obeyed. "Mom, I don't like…"

"I know." Louisa interrupted. "You hate cold things. I swear…" she continued, "if anyone ever wanted to torture her for information all they need to do is hold an ice cube above her. She'd sing like a canary."

A bolt of pain blasted through Fauna's head, why was her mother talking about her like she wasn't there. "Mom don't tease, I had the worst nightmare."

"Oh, you poor thing." She took the cloth and dipped it back into the cold water, then placed it back in Fauna's head. "Is it school? Is it pushing you too hard, stressing you?"

Fauna squeezed her eyes tighter as a tinge of pain vibrated her skull. "Something like that, yeah."

"Maybe you should talk about it, what's happened lately?"

Fauna took a moment to think about it. She imagined the truth spilling out of her mouth. Well, mom, a crazed, violent vigilante is threatening me, following me around because I accidentally discovered his true identity and I quit school and began working for my gangster, criminal father behind your back to pay for the medical bills and medication you thought was free. Oh yeah, and I've been having delusions, been hearing things, and could swear that the dangerous vigilante I just mentioned had been sitting right here in your living room. That's why I passed out. Not to mention I've lied about everything for the past year or so. What's been happening with you lately?

Fauna signed. That would be disastrous, she thought. Perhaps one day, but not now.

"Well, I dreamed I came home and this horrible and mean person was here." Fauna confessed a half truth, thinking it might help with the guilt she felt. It didn't, she rubbed her sore temples.

"Oh, well. Nothing to worry about there. It's just me and Mr. Murdock."

"Matt, remember?" Matthew corrected.

Louisa turned to smile, "yes, that's right. Matt."

Fauna nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of his voice. Her eyes popped open. She swallowed feeling like there was an apple stuck in her throat. She felt like she would choke to death. Her nightmare was real, she hadn't imagined it. It was happening right here and now. She sat up quickly, ignoring another blast of pain. As she brought her feet to the floor she swiveled around to face her adversary. There he was, across the room leisurely sitting in a chair. His gaze slightly off to the side.

Louisa stood. "I'll get you some tylenol."

Fauna tried to blink him away, but failed.

As Fauna's mother walked out of the room, Fauna reached out and grabbed the crafting scissors next to her mother's scrapbooking materials on the side table.

Matthew didn't flinch at the defensive move. They stared at each other in silence.

Mountains of questions flooded her mind. Why was he here? How did he find her and her mother? Had he followed her? What was he planning? What did he want? Most importantly, what was he here to do? She knew he was clever. He probably had all kinds of lawyer tricks to discover all he needed to know. Add on those nightly activities and special abilities of his and it would be impossible to hide anything from him. If she was honest with herself those questions didn't matter.

The worst part was she knew what he wanted... control. Control of her and the situation between them. Not to mention how much he wanted to rid the city of her father, Grayson. Did he know Grayson was her father? There was only one person she'd do anything for, give up everything for. Die for. Now that he knew, it would be over. She'd have to give up everything to him. He'd use her mother, threaten her life to keep his secret. Threaten her mother to control her. The worst possible scenario was before her.

If she gave up everything to him, there'd be nothing left, especially of Grayson. She'd be out of a job, but more importantly the only source that pays for her mother's medication would be done. Until she was done with Grayson herself, she could never turn him over to Daredevil.

SHIT! She screamed at herself. She had to think of some way to get rid of him. She was being too slow in catching up to reality. Lately, it was getting harder to keep everything together. She couldn't eat or sleep. She was exhausted, malnourished, overworked and stressed out. She was being beaten and threatened daily.

This wasn't her, none of this was her. Giving him that information the other night could have done Grayson in. Suddenly, she felt grateful it had been botched. She wasn't ready for Grayson to end.

She couldn't lose, not here, not in her mother's house. Fauna glared at him. He kept his eyes on the floor. She knew what he was capable of, what choice did she have but to fight. Could she hurt him? Could she kill him?

"Leave." She demanded. "And never come back here." her voice cracked.

"It's not that simple," he said in a smooth voice.

"I don't care, my mother is not going to do anything for you and neither am I, not anymore."

He shifted and looked toward her. Fauna's breath caught in her throat.

"I don't care who you are or what you're doing. You want to take down Grayson, do it on your own."

"That's not why I'm here. Foggy and I…"

"I. don't. care. Leave!" She demanded in a louder hushed tone.

Fauna burned with frustration as he sat so very innocent looking, almost vulnerable. The red tinted glass reflected the light filtering in through the windows. His suit was sharp and crisp. He held his cane upright with the handle tucked into both of his palms, resting against his chest.

"Fauna-" He began, watching the raging swirls of light within her. But Fauna didn't hesitate. She sprinted forward, head popping in more pain. Hoping to catch him off guard, she thrust the scissors toward his abdomen.

She hadn't. Matt was to his feet and blocked, pushing the scissors toward his side. The momentum he created spun Fauna around and her back slammed into his chest. Gripping her uninjured wrist Matt pulled her against him and locked her arms, criss cross, at her chest. The scissors pointed toward the ceiling still locked in Fauna's grasp.

Fauna's body buzzed, as it had before, when they connected. She pushed against his iron grip.

"Whatever you're thinking, you're wrong." He whispered in her ear. Before she could respond, Matt spun her around and back toward the couch. The back of her legs hit the edge forcing her back into a seated position. Once she processed what happened, she looked up. Matt was sitting back down in his chair, just as cool as before. A second later Louisa came back into the room. Fauna tucked the scissors under her leg.

"Here we are…" Louisa said, shaking the bottle of pills. "A couple of these and you'll be back to normal… oh dear, I forgot some water."

Louisa hurried back to the kitchen. Fauna tightened her grasp on the scissors.

Matt shook his head. His hands came up in surrender. "Fauna, I'm not here to hurt you or your mother."

Fauna couldn't believe him, she wouldn't.

"I'm not here for information on Grayson either. I'm here to help." He confessed.

"Get out." Fauna demanded, bringing the scissors up and toward Matt again. Yes, it was stupid. She knew that. She knew on her best day, she was no match for the Devil of Hell's Kitchen. But he was here, at her mother's house. The one place she felt was hers. A safe place, a place where the outside world didn't exist. A place where her life was normal, and she was still the girl she used to be. Tears stung her eyes. It was being taken away. The only piece of her life that was keeping her from breaking a part.

Yes, it was stupid. She felt it was the only option.

"She's coming back." Matt warned, his gaze falling to the scissors.

Fauna heard her mother in the hall, and tucked the scissors back out of sight. She looked back to Matthew, his gaze was back to being disconnected.

"Here you go." Louisa handed the cup to Fauna.

"Thank you, mom." She said, fighting the tears.

"Well, I better mind my manners and introduce you. Mr. Murdock, this is my daughter, Fauna."

Matthew's gaze turned slightly in their direction, reacting to the sound of her mother's voice. He was too great a pretender, the knots in her stomach twisted harder.

"Of course, you know that already." Louisa laughed.

Fauna watched him as a friendly, boyish smile transformed his face. To Fauna it looked genuine, but she knew better. He could strike without warning. "Please, call me Matt."

"Ah, yes. I keep forgetting." She smiled lovingly at him. Fauna felt the bile rising, and burning her throat.

"I'm so grateful that you were here," Louisa said.

Fauna looked up at her mother, confused.

"If Matt wasn't here you'd probably still be on the floor in the kitchen."

Fauna must have looked stupefied,

"What?!" Louisa said with a giggle. "You think I carried you to the couch?!"

Fauna mentally rolled her eyes, she felt the blood draining to her feet once again. Her head pounded hard, she had to force herself to stay upright.

"It was my pleasure. And Yes, of course. Fauna, it's nice to finally meet you. I've heard so many good things about you."

Fauna's stomach dropped out completely. Knowing her mother and how much she loved to boast about her accomplishments, which was embarrassing to no end with a normal person, The Daredevil had probably heard every detail of her life and then some.

"Look at you, you look so worn out." Her mother pressed her hand to Fauna's forehead. Fauna refused to take her eyes off Matthew.

"I'll get you some tea and chicken. Protein and a little sugar will set you right again."

As soon as her mother's back was turned Fauna brought the scissors out again. His eyes bore holes into her.

"You don't have to do that." He shook his head gently.

"The hell I don't, you come in here to my mother's house, and expect me not to react."

"I could have killed you three times over a moment ago, but I didn't."

"That's supposed to be soothing, you haven't killed me because you want something... A guarantee I won't tell your secret and Grayson, you want Grayson."

"Not at the expense of you and your mother's wellbeing."

"Ha!" She huffed a little too loud.

She couldn't help but chuckle, but it quickly faded. This is what he'd been doing these last few days. It's why she hasn't seen him. He had been setting her up, looking for more angles and ways to pressure her.

"Fauna, I'm genuinely here to help your mother."

His words floated over Fauna. She was too busy wondering if she threw the scissors as hard as she could, would they stick in his chest. Getting within arms length of him was useless. She would never get anywhere that way. How would she explain the dead man with scissors sticking out of his chest to her mother? She pushed that thought away, she decided to worry about that later.

"Don't" He warned.

"Don't what?" She asked.

"Throw the scissors at my chest."

Her heart jumped, how did he know what she was thinking? "You're a mind reader too?" She asked, half kidding.

"If I was, I wouldn't need you to take down Grayson. I also would have avoided inadvertently telling you who I am. So, no. I'm not a mind reader. I am, however, very good at anticipating people's actions. You're easy, you speak a lot with your facial expressions."

Fauna ignored him. She threw the scissors as hard as she could muster. Then, launched herself from the couch.

Matthew caught the scissors and dropped them to the floor while effectively blocking a right punch, then a left. He couldn't help himself and smiled. She wasn't half bad for someone with no training and weak.

He caught her arm in an attempt to strike his stomach. He placed one hand behind her elbow and the other at her wrist. Effectively keeping her fist locked against him.

Fauna pressed her injured arm against his chest to pull herself free from his grip.

Matthew wouldn't let go. He stepped forward, forcing Fauna to step back. Again, she found herself knocked back down on the couch. Matt sat down beside her, pinning her hands down on her lap. She tried jerking free.

"Fauna-." He said, keeping his voice low.

"Let go!" She demanded.

"You're the one attacking me."

She looked at him furiously.

"Wow!" Matt exclaimed, as he watched her skin brighten and swirl vigorously. It was beautiful. Nothing he's ever seen before.

"You're the one interfering in my life-" She yelled in a whisper.

"I'm here to help your mother."

"- and why are you looking at me like that? Stop it."

"Shh!"

Louisa walked back carrying several plates. Fauna wanted space from him. She was too close, their bodies brushed against each other. Her skin vibrated where they touched. Matt shifted his hands around, but kept his grip.

Fauna was flabbergasted, what would her mother think? A moment ago they sat across the room from each other. Now they were side by side. Fauna's face heated, as her mother's expression changed.

"I was checking Fauna's pulse, I think it might be a good idea to keep your eye on her over the next couple of hours. She might have a concussion." Matt let go of her wrists. "I think eating is a good idea."

Fauna shifted and scooted a few inches away from him. If Matthew noticed, he didn't let on. He stood and moved his way back to the chair across from her. Pretending to feel his way.

Her mother shook her head as she gently poured the tea into Fauna's cup. Steam rose up between the two of them. Fauna wished it would form into a wall that could hide everything she was feeling and thinking. She could feel Matthew reading her emotions and thoughts like a book. Who knows what else he was sensing with those weird abilities he has, she thought.

"School really wears you out don't they? Matthew… you must know a lot about that, going to law school and all."

"Yes, it can take its toll." He replied. He reached up, straightening his round rimmed glasses. "I must say thank you, Louisa, I've enjoyed myself-"

Fauna didn't doubt that. Her cheeks heated.

"-but I should be going. We have a lot of work to do over the next couple of weeks. I'll send Karen to help with those boxes of files tomorrow."

Work! Fauna wondered.

"Oh, please. I should be thanking you. It's exciting and it's such a relief."

"Wait, what? What's a relief. What work?" Fauna asked.

"Fauna, are you that tired dear? This whole thing was your idea. You're the one that met Mr. Nelson."

Fauna's face contorted.

"I don't believe my firm has had the chance to fill Fauna in on the updates of your case. You see, we needed to get started right away, so we came straight to you."

"Oh, I see." Her mother nodded.

Matthew stood. "Since I must be going, I'll let you do the honors."

"I'll walk you out." Louisa said with a smile. Fauna wanted to reach out and stop her mother from offering her elbow and helping him. She didn't want him near her, let alone touching her. She forced herself to stay put. She didn't want to alarm her mother. Or should she? Perhaps it was best, she thought.

As they walked side by side. He looked like a civilized gentleman, but underneath, he was savage and dangerous.

At the door she overheard him, "Louisa, if there's anything at all you or Fauna need, please call. We're here day or night."

Fauna decided to take that as a threat. It was his way of telling her he could get to her mother either as a lawyer or as a vigilante, so do what he wants. Fauna jumped to her feet, furious. She stepped forward, but stopped herself from bolting toward the door with all guns blazing. Her face grew hot in anger. Not here, and not with her mother around, she coached herself.

"You are too kind Matthew. You, Foggy and Karen. The taxi is just at the end of the sidewalk."

Fauna was going to have to tell her mother everything, she didn't have a choice anymore. Both of them were in danger. They could run, go somewhere no one would find them. Fauna stopped herself, that would be impossible. For the same reason, from when this all began to right now, her mother's medications were here. Well, at least she could warn her mother never to let Matthew in the house ever again. She was in danger no matter what happened.

Fauna let out the breath she had been holding as the front door closed. She heard her mother's approaching footsteps.

"Mom, listen-" Fauna, realizing Matthew, with his Daredevil super senses, could probably still hear their conversation, and stopped. She wondered how far away he could hear and how long she would have to wait.

She bit down on her tongue as her mother entered the living room with a smile so big wrinkles formed around her eyes. Fauna couldn't believe her own eyes. The way her mother looked, so happy. Not only that, she was humming. Louisa practically danced her way over. Fauna hasn't seen her mother like this in such a long time, a very long time. Louisa wrapped her arms around Fauna and squeezed.

At the time Fauna didn't know about the cancer, but in retrospect she saw her mother's sadness and loss for life. She hasn't seen her happy in at least two years.

"Oh, honey… I'm just so excited!"

She let go and made her way into the kitchen. Fauna followed and watched as her mother popped a pan of heart shaped cookies in the oven to bake.

"That dear Foggy says we have a real chance at sticking it to MacFinn." She thrust her spatula through the air as if she was stabbing something. "It's such a relief, like a breath of fresh air." She inhaled deeply letting her shoulders rise, then fall dramatically as she exhaled.

Fauna couldn't help it, she smiled, then cursed Daredevil. He and his associates had her mother's hopes very high.

"But I'm not getting my hopes up." Louisa spun around, her apron swung out like a ballerina's tutu. It was as if her mother read her thoughts. One look at Fauna and her mother's face fell to gloomy sadness.

"Fauna, what's wrong." Louisa sat next to her, reaching out for Fauna's hands. She pulled Fauna to her, then spun her around in a dancer's twirl. "You look as though someone's died, is school going okay, perhaps you need a vacation? How's your grades? Oh, I probably shouldn't spin you like that, how's your head?"

"It's fine mom." Fauna shook her head, brushing off the major lie she was telling. "It's just that, we don't…" She paused wondering if he was lurking around, listening to their conversation. She sighed. "We don't...know these people."

"Fauna, you're the one that initiated their services."

"I know, but honestly I wasn't sure about them and that's why I didn't tell you. What if they work for that other lawyer, Mr. Androle?"

Louisa's face contorted, looking at Fauna like she was being ridiculous. "Well, I've got a great feeling about them, and I consider myself a great judge of character."

Fauna grew frustrated. "Mom, we don't know what these people do!"

"They're lawyers, Fauna. They do... laws." Louisa stood and went back to the oven to check her cookies.

"Yeah, well…" Fauna glanced around the kitchen and lowered her voice. "...what about... at night?!" She was doing her best to circle the exact details of the situation.

Her mother twirled around, eyeing Fauna. Louisa scrunched up her face, giving her the 'are you serious, what's wrong with you' look and then went back to her cookies.

Matthew Murdock is Daredevil, Mom! Fauna wanted to scream. She wanted to blurt it out and tell her mother he was dangerous and was only here to threaten her. It sounded crazy. She sounded crazy saying it. The whole world saw him as a helpless blind man, there's no way anyone would believe her. Besides, Louisa was back to humming and dancing. It physically hurt Fauna to think about ruining the happiness her mother was feeling. She couldn't take that away. Not right now, anyway.

Fauna watched as her mother sat the cookies on the table. Fauna was no longer hungry. She lost her appetite as soon as she saw him sitting at the table. She sighed, not knowing what to do and wondering how in this world did things just keep getting worse. She needed to switch tactics, she needed to keep Daredevil away. Especially when it came to Grayson, she had to secure the financial backing for her mother's medicine first.

"Mom, maybe we should just accept MacFinn's offer. Mr. Androle came to see me and really insisted. Perhaps we should listen to him. You could go on a cruise, have a nice time-"

"What?!" Louisa yelled in surprise. "He came to see you?"

Telling her mother about her second encounter with Mr. Androle probably wasn't a good idea.

"He did, but it was fine."

"Did he threaten you, like he did the first time?"

"Well, no. Not exactly. It was fine." Fauna shook her head. Why would it be so upsetting, she wondered. And then Fauna realized, he must have been back here too. "Mom, did he come back here?"

Louisa closed her eyes and sighed. After a moment she nodded. Fauna's heart sped up. Mr. Androle and MacFinn were being insistent. In Fauna's mind that wasn't good. She had heard Grayson talking about hurting someone that wasn't being cooperative. Could MacFinn and Mr. Androle do the same?

"Fauna Grace…" She was pulled from her thoughts by her mother's serious tone. Louisa only used that tone and her full name when she was in trouble. Fauna looked into her mother's blazing eyes. "We're doing this. I don't care if we win or lose or get screwed over. MacFinn will know that I'm not a pushover, I'll fight."

Fauna watched disappointed and in silence as her mother's Irish temper flared. She hung her head, nothing would stop Louisa now, not even if she believed that Matthew Murdock was Daredevil. As mad as she was right now, Fauna believed Lousia might even acquire his services to do a little encouraging of her own.

"Come on!" She demanded stalking off down the hall, throwing her apron to the ground.

"What?" Fauna asked, following her.

"We're gonna get started right now."

"On what?" Fauna asked, following her mother to the garage.

"Mr. Murdo- Matthew, wants all the old files I saved during my time at MacFinn. We're gonna get started."

Files and paperwork was the last thing Fauna wanted to deal with on her day off. She huffed and decided to look on the bright side, at least she was here with her mother. Fauna didn't want to admit it, but that was the only good thing she could think of.

Her mother was the only bright light in her life. Everything else was gone. She had to do everything she could to hang on to it. Yes, it would be lovely to think Matthew was on her side. It was nice to think he wouldn't hurt her or her mother. But the truth was he had. If it weren't for him her and her mother could possibly be free by now. Fauna was so close to the evidence she needed the night they first met, but he ruined it. He forcefully dragged her into an alley and was about to take her unwillingly to God's knows where. Manhandled her on multiple occasions. Lied. As her anger grew, the lights flickered gently in her mother's basement.

Fauna stopped herself on that last accusation. Hadn't he? She wondered. He has lied, she thought, but couldn't recall what it was he'd lied about. It didn't matter, she decided and shook the thought. No, Matthew Murdock was not on her side. She wouldn't trust him and wouldn't help him anymore. As the lights returned to normal, her thoughts went back to the alley when Matth-, Daredevil, Fauna huffed, was electrocuted. Then another question invaded her mind. Why had he not threatened her? So far, each time she met him, he used threats. This time he hadn't.

Matthew

"Hold here a moment." Matthew stated as he slid into the backseat of his taxi.

"Your money, pal." The driver muttered. Matt bowed his head and tuned in on the conversation between Fauna and Louisa still inside the house.

He could feel the tension from here, Fauna was bursting with anxiety and nerves.

Louisa was dancing around, excitedly. That was good, thought Matthew. She was gonna need that energy for the coming months. A little fight would help get her through a stressful trial.

Fauna abruptly stood, "Mom, listen-".

Matthews anxiety hit the roof. This was it, she's going to tell her mother about him. Who he was, what he'd done. Would Louisa believe her? Matthew asked himself. It was quite possible his life was about to change drastically. He ignored the pain in his hands from gripping the handle of his cane too tightly.

As Matt continued to listen, he realized something had stalled Fauna. He tilted his head, straining. Was his senses going haywire again? Had he missed it.

Louisa embraced Fauna. Hard, apparently, as he heard Fauna make a small grunt."Oh, honey… I'm just so excited!" Louisa exclaimed.

Fauna's usually soft steps, thumped across the floor, rushing toward her mother. They were in the kitchen now. As Louisa continued her excited rant, dancing around, his focus remained on Fauna. Her heart beat wildly, he could hear her exacerbation. Suddenly she began to calm down, her heart was slowing. Was that a smile he heard? He imagined her face lighting up, her eyes brightening.

Matthew chuckled when she mentioned what lawyers might do at night. She was trying to tell her mother without actually telling her mother. But her anxiety picked back up again, but Matt knew she decided not to tell her mom. He understood why, and understood the burden Fauna was taking on. There wasn't anything he could do for that right now. The important thing was that she had a chance to give him up. He gave that to her. She had decided not to. Perhaps he could trust her.

"Hey pal, we going somewhere or what?"

Matt pulled himself from the women in the house. "Yes." He replied and gave the driver his address. Mr. Androle, Matthew thought, needs a visit. Whether this Androle would be visited by the lawyer or the vigilante, Matt hadn't decided yet.