Disclaimer: I do not own Daredevil, Arrow or anything else you may recognize
Thank you to everyone who has favorited, followed or reviewed this fic so far.
So this is the last chapter. It's been a fun ride with you all.
Chaos Sorcerer: Thank you for reviewing both the chapters. I'm glad you liked them. Yeah, Legolas is superhuman and after him, Oliver and Clint are the best. You're right about Clint but based on all the feats we have seen, Oliver beats him nicely in hand-to-hand. Let's just say that both seasons of Daredevil and Season 1 of Jessica Jones happened during Phase 1 of MCU and Spider-Man came at around the same time as Daredevil. Glad you liked Clint and Natasha's banter and I think Brian Tee can be Blue Talon. Matt crossing the line must be a shocking moment. Glad you liked how I made it like Man of Steel. Agreed, the movie could have been better but that moment rocked. Yeah, sometimes you can go with other pairings. Let's see what happens to Matt. I love Tony Stark, except in Civil War and Homecoming because he seemed like an asshole in both of them. Thank you again. Glad you liked my work and glad the references made you laugh. Just wondering, I wrote 2 crack one-shot fics of LOTR and I would love your opinion on them. Review them if you want to.
Chapter 20- Afternath
All the news channels around the U.S.A. were reporting the Undertaking. Most people were horrified at how psychotic Malcolm Merlyn turned out to be. The people who had decided to give him the Humanitarian Award were disgusted at themselves. People's fears about such technology being in the wrong hands was justified by this incident.
But public opinion of vigilantes changed drastically. People now saw Daredevil, The Hood and Nightwing in a more positive light and the police forces actually took a huge break from hunting them. Hawkeye and Black Widow's involvement were kept secret. Tony Stark- the Iron Man got a lot of credit for destroying the device and he took it. But underneath that exterior, he had a heart and he used Stark Industries' charity organizations to give money to the authorities to help treat the wounded, bury the dead and rebuild the Glades.
Moira Queen was incarcerated and awaited her trial. Quentin though, was demoted to patrol cop in spite of his heroic actions. Hall resigned from the SCPD due to the injustice.
Matt, Oliver, Natasha, Clint, John, Felicity and Tommy sat together in the lair.
Oliver got up and looked at Tommy remorsefully.
"I am sorry, Tommy", Oliver said, "I know he was your father. But I had to do it. He would never have stopped."
Tommy looked at Oliver and after a deep breath, said, "Don't be sorry, Oliver."
Oliver looked at him in confusion and he said, "My father died years ago, the same night as my mother. The man after that, was just a psychopath hell bent on revenge. So you don't have to be sorry. I am sorry, for everything I said to you."
"It's fine, Tommy", Oliver said with some emotion in his voice, "It's fine."
Oliver and Tommy then hugged each other for a minute and let go.
"Got to go now", Tommy said, "I have to do something to stop Merlyn Global from crumbling."
Tommy then walked away after waving goodbye.
Matt had not spoken a word since the end of the Undertaking. All his friends- especially Oliver and Natasha were now worried sick.
"Matt!" Oliver said, causing Matt to look at him, "Talk to me!"
"We won, Matt", Natasha said to him, "So don't be sad."
"I killed him", Matt said, "I killed Yamura. I don't know how I can be happy after taking a life."
"Sometimes, you don't have a choice", John told Matt, "You just gotta do what you gotta do."
"I had the rule", Matt said, "I swore to never break it. And now I killed him."
"And if you hadn't, he would have killed me", Natasha said to him, "Listen to me, Matt, you saved my life and I thank you for that. You don't have to be so depressed."
Matt just turned to her and said, "It was my worst fear."
As everyone looked at him in confusion, he revealed, "When I fought Crane, he hit me with the toxin."
Everyone's eyes widened in shock as Matt continued, "I felt myself as a killer. A ruthless monster who enjoys murder. And now it's coming true."
Natasha put her hands on his shoulders and asked, "Did you like it? Killing him?"
Matt shook his head and said, "No. Not one bit."
"Then you are not a monster", Oliver told him, "You saved a life. And taking the high road is never more important than saving people's lives."
"As long as you don't enjoy murder, you are a human being", Natasha said.
Clint then held out his hand and said, "Thank you for saving Natasha."
After a moment of hesitation, Matt shook it.
"Boss has called us back", Natasha said to them, "To report the specifics of this."
"We need to go", Clint said, "Goodbye."
Oliver shook their hands, thanking them for their help and then the four bid them goodbye as the 2 agents walked out.
As Matt sat there, Oliver said, "So what are you going to do now?"
After some consideration, Matt said honestly, "I don't know."
He then got up and said, "I'm going back."
Oliver held out his hand and said, "Thank you for all your help, Matt."
Matt shook his hand and shook John's hand too.
Felicity gave him a hug which he returned and then after giving them a nod which they returned, walked out.
Matt knocked on Laurel's door, holding a case.
Laurel opened it and seeing him, wrapped him into a tight hug which he returned.
She let go and said, "Thank God you're okay."
"I'm glad you're okay", Matt said, "I don't know what I would do if something had happened to you."
"Same", Laurel said as she hugged him again and kissed his cheek.
After taking a deep breath, Matt said, "Laurel, I want to show you something."
"What?" Laurel asked.
Matt put the case on the table and slowly opening it, took out the mask and set it down, "I'm Daredevil."
Laurel's jaw gaped open as she looked between the helmet and Matt.
"I am sorry I lied to you about this", Matt said, "I really am. But now I realize, you deserved to know."
"H-how?" was all she could say, "You're blind."
"I think I have a long overdue explanation waiting for you", Matt said and the two sat down as he told her about his accident and all that happened since then.
At the end of the story, he said, "I am sorry I didn't tell you sooner."
"Don't be", Laurel said as she held his face in her hands, "You saved me. You saved my father from that assassin."
Matt then took some deep breaths and said, "I don't think I can stay here right now."
"Why?" Laurel asked.
"I killed a man", Matt said.
"What?" Laurel asked.
"The assassin", Matt said, "I killed him."
"Why?"
"He was going to kill a friend of mine", Matt said, "But I killed him."
"Then you shouldn't feel bad about yourself", Laurel told him.
"I had sworn never to take a life", Matt said, "But I did. I committed a sin. Now I don't know what I am."
"You are a hero", Laurel assured him, "You help people, save their lives."
"The thing is", Matt said, "My greatest fear was that I would one day turn into a ruthless murderer. And now I think it is coming true."
"What are you trying to say?" she asked in a shaky voice.
"I need to figure out who I am", Matt said, "Alone."
"No", Laurel said as tears started flowing from her eyes, "We can figure this out. Together."
"I assure you, Laurel, this thing between us is not over", Matt promised, "But I need to do this alone. I can't let you get sucked in by this darkness inside me. Okay?"
With some tears in her eyes, Laurel finally nodded, "Okay."
"I am sorry", Matt said with tears and kissed her forehead. He then let go, picked up his case and walked out.
Matt sat in the confession booth, not saying a word.
"What is it you want forgiveness for, my son?" Father Lantom asked kindly.
"Something I had sworn I would never do", Matt said with a neutral face, "A grave sin that I have committed, father."
"I am sure if you are truly repentant, God will forgive you", Father Lantom said, "He always sees the good if the person's heart is free of any evil and malice. Is your heart free of them?"
"I don't know what is inside my heart, to be honest", Matt said, "I don't if I even want to go out there now."
"Whatever you do, son", Father Lantom said, "It is your decision. But remember, He is always watching."
Matt was silent now as he contemplated Father Lantom's words.
Matt stood in front of the case which contained his Daredevil suit. It was open right now. Matt could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He took a deep breath.
And then, he put his hand on the case's lid and slowly closed it. He then locked up the lid and pushed the case under the bed.
He rose up and picked up his walking stick. He then walked out of the apartment, to work in his old firm. In his mind, he could only say-
'There is no more Devil. Now there is only- Matt Murdock.'
So this story ends here. I thought to make 2 more chapters but then I decided this is a good ending point. But I plan on making this a trilogy so there are 2 more stories after this. The third one will be my alternate version of 'Arrow Season 2.' The second one- let's just say it's a surprise.
I hope I handled Matt's emotional turmoil after his first kill nicely.
Thank you to everyone who favorited, followed or reviewed this fic. Thank you to everyone who supported me in different ways while I wrote this. I greatly appreciate everything you have said to me.
It's been a pleasure, all of you. Goodbye, for now.
Please review. I always appreciate your feedback.
Until next time.
Aragorn II Elessar.