Chapter 42: NYC Part 2: Daredevil

Marie watched Elise, through the lens of her camera, as she talked to a few of the artist on display at The Met tonight. They had arrived a little while ago, and Elise was crossing her T's and dotting her I's for her article. Marie had already gotten pictures of the artist by the piece they wanted, and then the group of them together, so she was wandering the exhibit and taking "artistic" photos… and spying… what was the purpose of a lens to look through at people if you didn't look at people.

New Art Scene of New York. That was the title that Elise was going with for the first article for J&G Publishing. A nice piece on up and coming local artist of color. Marie loved the colors and the tones that the artwork was set with, and was sure to keep an eye of a few of the artist in the future.

Marie rolled her shoulders and neck, wincing at the soreness and pain from her earlier incident in the alley. She hadn't even bothered trying to cover up the forming bruises. What would be the point if they hadn't fully developed yet. She was fully anticipating not wanting to get out of bed in the morning because she would be so sore.

She brought the camera back up when she spied a certain Captain enter, one she knew was for sure here to see Elise, and he seemed to have entered with two men, one with a white and red eye cane, and a blonde woman, all three facing away from her. She turned around quickly and waved Elise over, turning to point to Steve Rogers handing his coat to the man at the coat check.

"Steve came?" Marie asked Elise, "like you invited him and he actually came. I think he likes you."

"Shut it," Elise said, punching Marie in the shoulder lightly. "He likes art, you've seen his works." She continued at Marie's *bitch, please* look, "Okay, yes, we've been texting. And a few phone calls here and there since your birthday party and what not. I'm going to go say hi and get away from you and your facial expressions now. Let me have my denial of things."

Marie chuckled at the hiss in Elise's voice when she spoke her last sentence. She watched Elise walk to Steve and smiled when they hugged, before Steve offered Elise his arm, and they started walking together to view the artwork. Marie mumbled under her breathe, "why deny the cute that is the two of you?"

Marie turned back and to the doorway and froze at the sight of the blonde woman with two other men that had come in with Steve. "Jessica?" But the blond didn't turn and look at her, or even register that she heard her, and Marie failed to notice the slight turn of the head that the mane with the cane did after she spoke.

Marie lifted her camera and took a few photos of the blonde woman and spent a few moments staring at the screen, enlarging the picture. "Wow… doppelganger alert. God they could be twins."

"Doppelganger?" a voice said next to her.

Marie didn't squeak in surprise as she looked up and saw the woman and two men that had been at the coat check. The woman was standing next to the man with long hair, who was between her and the man with the cane.

"Hi… yeah, sorry, I took a photo of you," she nodded to the woman, "I am doing photography tonight and I saw you and you look just like my girlfriend, I had to take a picture. I can delete it if you want."

"That's okay," she said, looking at the photo, "do you have a photo of your girlfriend?"

Marie nodded and flipped through her photos of the event tonight to land on a photo of Jessica and Marie sitting around a fire in the backyard of their house in Portland. "See, doppelganger. It's actually kinda freaky. Do you mind if I keep it? To show her?"

"Yeah, that's okay… are you okay? Your face looks like it hurts."

"I'm okay now, I had a bit of a run in with a mugger going after another woman in an alleyway. He looks worse, as he got hit over the head with a steel pipe. Oh, I'm Marie by the way, photographer for J&G Publishing in Portland, Oregon. My friend Elise and I are out doing a couple of pieces for the travel magazine."

"I'm glad that you are okay. I'm Karen Paige, this is Foggy Nelson and Matt Murdock, attorneys at law here in New York."

At that, Foggy held out a business card, "if your interested or need anything."

"Foggy," Matt said in an exasperated voice.

"What? Just offering a hand in case she wants to press charges and needs a lawyer. You don't mind?"

"Not at all. Always nice to know a lawyers in whatever city you are in," Marie said with a chuckle, pocketing the business card. "But the other girl's father is pressing charges and handling the expenses and court case, so I think I am good at this time. But thank you."

"See Matt, I got this…"

"Oh, Foggy, there is Miss Romero, we should go say hi to her and her daughter. It was nice to meet you! Hope your girlfriend gets a kick out of the photo."

With that, Karen pulled Foggy, away to an older woman standing with one of the young artist. This left Marie standing with the last man.

"Did you want to go after them?" Marie asked, watching the two stop near to Hispanic woman.

"No, I'm good. But thank you. Are you and your friend enjoying your night?"

"I am, and she," Marie turned until she saw Elise and Steve standing and talking about a painting on the wall. She quickly took a photo of them, smiling and turned back to Matt, "She seems to be enjoying herself too. Impromptu hang out, maybe, Steve wasn't sure he was going to make it. He was the man that came in around the same time as you, Foggy was talking to him."

"Ah, yes, Captain Steven Rogers. He sounded excited to be here tonight. Someone to talk to about new styles of art and get some contacts in the new Art Community. We have met a few times and he has been excited to try his hand at less… destructive roles. I have heard that he is quite the artist."

"I have heard that too. I, unfortunately, have not seen much of his artwork… But I have seen what he sends in texts to Elise, and they are cute and well drawn. I'm not really into the creating of art myself, but I can appreciate it."

Matt chuckled, holding out his hand, "Care to walk the room with me and tell me about your favorite piece so far?"

Marie let him hold her arm and smiled, "Sure thing, but be warned, I'm not always the best with my words, but I'll try for you."

Marie spent the next good chunk of her night walking with Matt and eventually meeting with Elise and Steve to talk. Foggy and Karen joined them and they spent the rest of the night, until Elise and Marie had to go back to their hotel, at a 24 hour diner talking and taking turns describing what they thought about the artwork, and describing things to Matt when he asked. As they left the diner Matt waved them off and said, "So long and thanks for all the fish!"

The girls chuckled and waved back. By the time the two girls got back to the hotel they were staying at, Steve escorting them ("The gentleman thing to do"), it was close to 5am and they both crashed onto their beds.

Marie flopped over onto her back and said in the silent room, "Matt Murdock, The Devil of Hell's Kitchen, is such a nerd. And Foggy and Karen too. Plus those ridiculous descriptions from Steve, he is such a doofus. "

Elise chuckled from her face down position and gave Marie a thumbs up. Marie popped out of bed and headed to the bathroom, stopping at the foot of Elise's bed, "Don't fall asleep, you need to wash your makeup off your face before you sleep. Plus you wanted to send that email to Adaeze before you went to bed. I'm gonna take a shower and then pass out."

Marie heard Elise grumble as she rose from bed to get her computer as she headed into the shower, "I don't like being a responsible adult, but fine."

Marie chuckled and closed the door.

To be continued...