Whos still here, raise your hand? Sorry for the late update my people! I got a job and it eats up all my time. I'll try to update more often, but I can't make any promises. Anyhow! Thanks to everyone who's still here and yeah! Onto the chapter! It may be a bit shorter, but its something! I'll try to make the next one longer!
I own nothing!
Once again, Matt makes his way to the church, Foggy and Leslie trailing behind slightly as they make their way across town. Foggy continues to prattle on about various movies that Leslie hasn't seen and she just nods along half attentively. Matt occasionally jumps in and corrects a missed point in one movie or another, but he mainly lets the mistakes go in favor of focusing on the world and Leslie's spiking heart rate. He knew she was nervous when they made the trip to Foggy's last night, but that seems like a cakewalk compared to her now.
Her hands tremble violently as they clamp down on the book she didn't pack away. Her breathing is shaky and erratic, and it gets worse every time someone passes by. Her head turns at every sound at a neck breaking speed, causing multiple people to turn their heads in their direction. That, of course, scares Leslie more and causes her to slow her pace slightly from nerves.
Matt believes the only thing keeping her from having a full out anxiety attack in the middle of the sidewalk is Foggy. His constant talking about nothing of import seems to be keeping Leslie grounded against the hustle of the daytime world.
Finally after what feels like a decade's worth of walking, the echoes of the organ inside the church ring in Matt's ears and he releases a sigh of relief he didn't know he was holding. The morning hymns grow louder as the group moves closer, but it feels like a warm welcome to the tense vigilante. He slows his pace to level with Leslie, who of course cringes when he does, and lifts a hand to point at the large building in front of them.
"That's the church," he explains, earning a similar sigh of relief from the teen as he does. "Father Lantom said you could stay for the day while Foggy and I work."
As he expected, Leslie doesn't give an audible response,but Foggy leans forward slightly and turns to look at her. "She looks worried," he says, holding his hand out to stop the group at a street corner. "Then again, she always does. But this is different. She looks terrified."
Matt turns his head down and sends her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry," he says calmly as cars race by on the street. "You'll be safe there. The Father and the sisters will take care of you." Leslie exhales heavily and tightens her grip on the book, giving a weak half-nod at the statement before looking forward. The smile falters on Matt's face when her heart rate refuses to lower, but he doesn't have a chance to respond before the cars stop and the people around them start moving again.
The trio make their way across the street and to the front doors of the church without incident, both men keeping Leslie between them. Matt reaches out and grabs the chilled handle, pulling open the door and causing three nuns to look at them. Leslie inhales sharply at the sudden acknowledgement and steps closer to Matt, who simply smiles warmly at the sisters and nods politely. "Good morning, sisters," he says, earning similar nods from the nuns in reply. "Is the Father awake yet?"
One of the sisters nods once more and hurries off to the back, causing Leslie to cringe away at the quickness of her movements. A moment passed before the sister and the Father emerge from the back. "Matthew," Father Lantom says warmly, though Matt can tell he only woke up about half an hour ago. "Glad to see you in the daytime. Who are your friends?"
Matt's smile grows as the Father enters and he nods in his direction as well. "Good morning, Father," he says, extending the hand not holding his cane as Father Lantom approaches. Father Lantom accepts the hand and shakes it a few times before releasing him and accepting the hand Foggy extended. "This is my friend and coworker, Foggy Nelson," he introduces as Foggy says a quick hello. "And-"
"This must be Leslie," the Father finishes, turning his attention to the teen standing between Matt and Foggy. Leslie cringes away at Father Lantom's gaze and takes another step toward Matt. "Matthew told me about you," Father Lantom says, extending a welcoming hand in her direction. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Leslie tenses harshly and flinches away, again tightening her grip on the book so much Matt is surprised it hasn't torn yet. She turns her head toward Matt slightly and he nods once in Father Lantom's direction. Another nervous inhale from Leslie before she pries a hand from the bent paperback and slowly reaches out toward the Father. Her grip is light on his hand, which surprises Matt due to the death grip she still has on the book in her other hand.
Father Lantom doesn't hold for too long and as soon as he releases her hand, it snaps back to take its place on the book. He smiles warmly and straightens, turning his body to address Matt directly. "She'll be fine," the Father assures, motioning one of the nuns forward with a wave of his hand. "The sisters will take good care of her."
"Thank you for this, Father," Matt says gratefully, extending his hand in Father Lantom's direction. "I'm sorry for springing this up on you last second-"
"Don't worry, Matthew," the Father says with a dismissive hand wave as the nun comes to a stop at his side. "You were in a ...less than usual situation. I'm happy to help in any way I can." Matt smiles at the assurances and Father Lantom turns his attention back to Leslie. "Sister Diana will be tending to you throughout the day," he explains. "Of course myself and Sisters Rosaline and Molly will be here, as well. But Sister Diana was the first one to volunteer."
The nun behind the Father nods and also looks to Leslie. "Pleasure to meet you," Sister Diana greets, tone as welcoming and pleasant as Matt remembers all nuns to be. Well, most of them. Others, admittedly, had their moments, but most of them were always nice. "I can take her bag," she continues, turning away from Leslie to extend a hand to Matt, who obliges gratefully as she turns back to Leslie. "If you would follow me, we'll get you set up in one of the spare bedrooms and then we can get started with the day."
Leslie tenses and tightens her grip on the book, seeming to shrink into herself as she takes a half step closer to Matt. He takes a small step away and motions her forward with the hand not holding his cane. "It's okay," he assures gently. "You'll be safe here. Sister Diana and the others will take good care of you."
"Yeah," Foggy agrees, smiling widely and extending his arms forward. "And after we get done working, Matt's going to take us out for ice cream!"
The teen exhales shakily and steps toward Sister Diana, failing to see the baffled look on Matt's face. "I am?" he asks quietly, tilting his head in Foggy's direction as the Sister leads Leslie away.
"Of course you are!" his friend says, throwing an arm over Matt's shoulders and turning him toward the front doors. "Leslie needs it!" Foggy turns his head to look over his shoulder as they walk down the aisle. "Thanks Father!" he calls as Father Lantom waves his good-byes. "See you later!"
Matt calls his own farewells before he's steered out the doors and back into the hustle and bustle of New York. "Do you think she'll be alright?" he asks, putting on his blind man routine and tapping his cane in front of him.
"She's going to be fine," Foggy assures, dragging out the word and unhooking his arm from Matt's. "You worry too much! Just breathe." He inhales dramatically through his nose and puffs out his chest, earning a few quiet laughs from Matt in return. "Ahh!" he says. "Better?"
"I guess," Matt answers looping his arm through Foggy's as he normally does when they walk.
"Good!" his friend says. "Cause now you gotta start thinking of how you're going to apologize for worrying Karen."
##########
The rest of the trip to the office is filled with meaningless chatter, Matt only half listening as he mentally plots out his plans of action for tonight. He could go around punching more Russians, but that got him nowhere last night. He wants to start making progress by the end of this week and get this whole thing sorted out fast, but so far nothing is falling into place. Damn their loyalty.
Foggy leads the way as they walk up the stairs in their office building and opens their door, causing Karen to look up as they enter. "Morning," she says happily, straightening from her spot over her desk as Matt enters. "You're back!" she says, surprise and a touch of glee lightening her tone. "Foggy said you were sick, so I thought you'd be out for the rest of the week."
Matt smiles and pats the wall beside the door, settling his cane in its usual place against the wall before slowly stage feeling around the room. "It was just a day thing," he lies, stopping in front of her desk. "I feel much better now. It must've been the tea you sent."
Karen returns the smile as Foggy shuffles around in his bag for her thermos. "I'm glad," she responds, accepting the thermos when Foggy steps forward and hands it to her. "Did you want me to make more? You can take it home tonight in case you feel bad again."
The smile grows and Matt nods gratefully. "Thanks," he says. "I'd appreciate it."
Returning the small nod, Karen takes the thermos and walks to the small kitchen near the front of the office. "I'll start it a few minutes before we leave," she calls as she empties the small amount of cold tea down the sink. "That way it'll be hot when you go."
"Thanks, Karen," Matt repeats, slowly padding his way to his office. "Is the internet working?" he asks as he slides into his seat and opens his laptop lid.
"Probably," Foggy answers as Karen goes to check the router. "Why?"
"Research."
"What are you researching?" Karen calls, slapping an open palm against the small box in the other room.
Matt can feel the look Foggy is giving him as he feels around on his braille reader when the computer boots up. "Buildings owned by either of the Ranskahov brothers," he replies quickly to Foggy, listening to his friend inhale heavily in understanding as Karen walks back in. "For a zoning case."