Standing before the door and listening to the voices inside only caused Constantine's anxiety to spike higher. "In and out," they mumbled to themselves before pausing. If Matthew was in there, he probably knew they were here now. That might reignite the anger he felt the last night they saw him. But, if he wasn't…

Constantine wouldn't let themselves finish that line of thought. They'd face Matthew's rage a hundred times over as long as it meant he was alive. Holding onto that thought instead, they took a slow breath and knocked on the door. The sound of a chair pushing back came through and a moment later, the office opened up to them. "Hello. Please, come in," a smiling blonde greeted, motioning inside. "Did you have an appointment?"

Their eyes shot around the room in a quick scan, their heart dropping when they didn't notice Matthew then filling with hope once more when they noticed two other rooms. "I'm looking for Matthew Murdock," Constantine said in an even voice.

"I'll take them, Karen," came the familiar voice and they looked over to find Matthew standing at the open office door to the left. He thanked the exiting client with a smile before directing himself back at Karen. "It'll be quick." Constantine really hoped their expression didn't give them away, relief flooding them even as they resigned themselves to getting reprimanded.

"Thank you," Constantine smiled at Karen and crossed the room towards Matthew. Turning inside the office to face Matthew, Constantine noticed the way Karen glanced their way before quickly turning away. As soon as the door locked, though, Constantine braced themselves. "I shouldn't be here, I know."

"You really shouldn't," he said quietly, walking towards Constantine until he stood inches from them. "So why are you here?"

Constantine didn't back down, though, and looked straight at Matthew. "I was worried. You were out every night until a week ago. And I thought it was just a break, but then the second night came along, then the third. The longer I waited, the worse the scenarios became in my mind, and I just had to make sure you were fine. Like, actually fine, not your definition of fine," Constantine clarified with a wave of their hand. Matthew fought not to let his mouth betray him with any sign of a smile at the comment. He wanted to be mad. Needed to stay mad. "So, you're alive. You're fine. Have your go at me already so I can go back home and get some rest."

Any amusement Matthew felt dissipated at that statement and he tilted his head just barely. He'd been so elated to hear their voice, then angry at the fact they showed up unannounced, only to now be inundated with intense shame as he took account of their actual state. Slight tremor in their muscles and low immune system, puffy eyes and blinking as if trying to clear them out along with a minute, constant thud of blood at their temple. And he could imagine the mental toll if they were willing to get chewed out or worse just for checking up on him. "You're not driving are you?" he asked instead, motioning for Constantine to sit.

"No, I'm not," they assured, yet remained standing. "I have a taxi waiting below. I only came to make sure you were alive. I'll let you get back to work."

"Hey," he said, stepping in Constantine's path as they made to leave. They stopped, waiting for him to continue, and suddenly his words died in his throat. A promise to go see them once night came around had been about to spill from him, and he realized he was falling into the same pattern. "Thank you for checking in on me. Get some rest," he said and stepped out of the path. He sensed Constantine's relief and the guilt pierce his chest.

"I'm glad you're okay," Constantine said quietly and they gave him a small, unsure smile. "Have a good day at work, Matty," they added before opening the door and stepping out, giving Karen a soft "thank you" before leaving the office.

Matthew stood at his door, listening to them go, and his fingers tightened around his cane unconsciously. Karen watched him, her sharp eye noticing every detail of his body language. "Ms. Garcia is ready, Matt," she said, interrupting his contemplative state. He turned towards her with a smile, but she didn't trust it.

"Thank you," he said as the client stood and headed towards him.

The rest of the day went by in a blur and at the end, the trio in the office packed their belongings to head out. "Great job today," Matthew said to his friends as Karen locked up the office.

"We should go have dinner," Karen said as she turned towards Foggy and Matthew. "It's been a while since we've gone out together, don't you think?"

Foggy spun on his heels and clapped. "Yes! We can properly celebrate finally beating those Apollo thugs!" he said and moved quickly to Matthew's side, hooking his arm into his friend's. "You are not getting out of this one, buddy. One night won't kill you."

Matthew chuckled then pretended to give a defeated sigh. "As long as there's no Josie's afterwards," he said as the trio walked together. "I would like to wake up with full use of my faculties instead of with a violent hangover."

Karen picked the restaurant, a cozy hole-in-the-wall type of place. The trio's chatter was contained to work and the possibility of maybe getting a bigger office. Despite his earlier request, Matthew soon found himself dragged along to Josie's after the meal. He didn't object much, knowing he'd neglected his friends far too much. He decided to take the chance to make it up to them and enjoy the night.

Another couple of hours and the three were in a boisterous drunken state, talking over an empty pool table. Matthew was trying to rack the pool balls when Karen turned her attention to him. "So, Mr. Murdock," she started, trailing a hand along the side of the table. "Who was the mysterious brunette? A new client?" Matthew's expression flinched just for a quick second.

"No way," Foggy interjected as he finally decided on a pool cue. "She was definitely not a client."

"What makes you say that?" Matthew asked, finishing the set up and grabbing his own pool cue. He should've known this line of questioning was coming from the moment Constantine showed up, but Karen had lulled him into a false sense of security to ensure his guard was down. He often forgot she was crafty and the thought made him smile, even if he only wanted to change the subject.

Foggy's eyes were giving Matt a certain look, and the vigilante forced himself not to shift. "She didn't have an appointment. She didn't even give a name, but you were out of your office in seconds," Foggy listed off on his fingers. "And she was smoking hot."

It was Karen's turn to give Foggy a look. "Are you saying you only represent unattractive clients?" she asked before bursting in laughter when Foggy began stumbling over explanations. "I'm joking, Foggy," she said and leaned over to break the rack before returning her focus to Matthew. "So? Who is she?"

"It's 'they'. Ti – that is – Constantine is non-binary," Matthew relented after a few seconds, carefully moving around the pool table to gauge his first shot. The shortest, most basic explanation would be best. "They're the one that's been treating me."

Karen raised an eyebrow at the nickname, but said nothing of it. "You must have made an impression for them to come looking for you," she said instead, stepping sideways to let Matthew aim properly.

"It's not like that," Matthew assured, though his tone had a morose quality to it. "I'm simply their patient."

Foggy raised both hands at this. "Whoa, whoa, back up. A total hottie that wasn't immediately charmed by Matthew Murdock? I definitely want to know them better." This caused an involuntary laugh from Matthew. "In all seriousness, though, the look on their face when they first walked in was not one of a detached nurse. Or, well, doctor," he corrected. "They looked deeply distressed, Matt."

"At least until you popped out of your office," Karen added as she held herself up with the pool cue. "Then there was relief."

"So that automatically means they're interested in me?" Matthew's skeptical expression hid the part of him that was elated at the thought. It didn't take long for guilt to drown that thrill at the thought of Constantine suffering.

"It means Constantine cares. Worrying about another human doesn't require romantic attachment, you know," Karen stated and hit a striped ball, landing it easily into a corner pocket. "Do you trust them?"

There was no hesitation to Matthew's answer. "With my life. Literally," he said and picked up his scotch for a deep drink. His mind was in a whirl now and he wished his friends would change the topic. The idea of their attachment not being romantic should've brought relief. Instead, it only complicated his emotions. He couldn't help wanting more when Constantine felt so much like coming home, every time.

"Then stop being an ass," Karen retorted as she took a drink of her own beer. The comment made Matthew wince, but Karen didn't let that stop her. "At least keep them in the loop about whether or not you're alive instead of driving them to hunt you down at your workplace to make sure you're still breathing."

"It's the bare minimum, really," Foggy agreed as he lined up his shot. "I definitely related to that rollercoaster of emotions flashing across Constantine's face." Matthew's brows drew together at this. "Then again, their wishing is probably in vain. Hell, we barely get texts ourselves."

Matthew's guilt grew, this time at his terrible communication with his closest friends, and he gulped down the last of his scotch. "He's doing better," Karen defended as she rolled the pool cue between her palms. "Maybe not to the level we'd like, but we can go to bed not too worried that he's out in some ditch, bleeding out."

Foggy hummed and gave a slight nod. "Okay, I'll give you that. You do pick up calls more often," he said before picking up his drink. "I know there's nothing going on between the two of you, but today's visit still supports Karen's statement – Constantine cares."

"It also wouldn't hurt to have a new friend," Karen suggested casually. "Widen your circle a little."

"You're saying that after everything we've been through?" Matthew asked with a scoff. "No. It's not fair to risk them even more. Bringing them into my other life isn't safe."

"But you did, Matthew," Karen cut in. "That was not the look of someone just looking to keep your running. That was someone that spent enough time with you and learned enough about you to care and worry about your well-being, even if it didn't involve physical wounds. Like it or not, Constantine's already involved."

Josie brought Matthew another scotch, one he downed in a single gulp. "Alright, alright. We've piled on him enough," Foggy intervened when he saw this. "Besides, we're here to celebrate! Apollo's scummy lawyers have been defeated and justice is victorious once more!" Karen sighed and went to Matthew, hooking her arm around his. "We're living up to our motto, assigned by our lovely new partner: we are small but awesome!"

"I don't mean to harp on you. But we care about you, too," Karen noted with a smile now. "And I saw the way you looked at them," she whispered under her breath as Foggy aimed to take a shot at a striped ball. "Never thought I'd see that look again. You deserve to be happy, too, you know."

Matthew allowed this to wash over him, fearful and hopeful. Eventually, he was jostled back into a merry mood, and an hour plus many, many shots later, Foggy was helping him into a taxi. "See you tomorrow, buddy. Drink water when you get home." Matthew grinned and nodded, waving as Foggy closed the car door. He wasn't sure if Foggy gave the driver an address, so he provided one before the lull of the car caused his focus to turn to not throwing up.

A familiar complex came into view a half hour later, except it wasn't Matthew's place. Still, he paid the driver and stepped out, his cane hazardously guiding him. When he reached the right door, he paused and let his forehead fall against the frame. Even with his senses muddled, he could hear Constantine's steady heartbeat when he focused. He wasn't sure how long he stood that way, eyes closed as the familiar pulse soothed his own racing heart. Gathering his courage, he raised a hand and knocked twice, inhaling slowly.

"Matt?" There was no confusing the concern in Constantine's voice, followed by the weight of their eyes on his body. "Are you alright?"

"I'm drunk," he admitted as he forced himself to stand straight. "And it's late. I know. But, can I come in?"

Constantine answered by pulling the door fully open and watching as he half-stumbled towards the couch. Their footsteps moved way to the kitchen after locking the door, the sound of running water filling Matthew's head like an ocean.

The couch sunk beside him a moment after and he took the glass of cold water offered to him. "Well, it's good to know even the devil of Hell's Kitchen lets loose," they said off-handedly, tucking their feet under them. "I should apologize, for dropping in out of the blue. But, I didn't really have another way to –"

"Stop," Matthew interrupted quietly. "I'm the one that needs to apologize. And I'm sorry Ti, really, for making you worry, for not letting you know I was fine," he said, his voice quavering now. "I didn't realize how bringing you into this world would affect you, and for that, I'm truly, truly sorry."

"Apology accepted," Constantine said when they were sure he was done speaking. "Drink your water. You're going to have a hell of a hangover tomorrow."

"That's it?" Matthew blurted out, forgetting the glass in hand altogether. "You're not angry or need space to think about it or want to punch me or something?"

"I only want to clarify one thing to you and it's that you didn't bring me into your world," Constantine replied after some thought. "After all, I could've left you at the rooftop, walked away without a word. You pointed that out to me. But, I chose to become involved, Matt. You didn't bring me into your world; I stepped into it of my own free will. So, yes, that's it. Now drink your water."

He obeyed this time, more to try and quiet his reeling mind. This was an outcome he didn't expect. It just kept being too easy to Matthew. He was used to reproaches and lectures on hurt feelings and real friendships, always ending with someone walking away. Hell, Foggy had done just that for a time and he was Matthew's best friend. He couldn't understand how Constantine was so accepting. Matthew began to wonder if Foggy and Karen may have been wrong about Constantine caring about him. "Did you get some sleep?" he asked after, needing something to distract him from his spiraling thoughts.

Constantine nodded, leaning forward slightly to remove Matthew's glasses and setting them on the table. He found something about the gesture strangely endearing. Most people preferred when he hid his blank stare, but not Constantine. "I'm fine," they added aloud. "I'm going out on a limb here and guessing this impromptu visit is because your friends asked and you told them about me?"

Matthew's head turned away as he nodded. "Just your first name," he said. "And that you're my doctor. I didn't feel comfortable sharing more, since I wasn't even sure if you'd be okay with them knowing anything about you at all."

He noticed them shift to rest more against the couch. "Do you trust them?"

"Of course," he answered, a hint of indignation in his voice at the absurdity of the question, a sudden realization Karen had asked the exact same thing. He noticed Constantine smiling now.

"Then I trust them to keep who I am a secret."

He couldn't keep his confusion hidden. "Why?" he asked.

"Because I trust you, Matty," Constantine replied and the nickname shot a shiver down his spine.

Trust. What had he done to earn their trust so completely? They hadn't even asked for the reason of his disappearing act, simply accepted the apology and moved on to take care of him. It was too much for his drunk brain to process and he gave a defeated sigh. "Okay."

"You need to sleep this off," Constantine added, their voice soft now. "Finish your water, please. I'm going to get you some bedding and pillows." Before they could stand, though, Matthew's fingers wrapped around their wrist to keep them in place.

He could feel their expectant gaze and he knew they were right – he needed rest. Still… "Can you just, stay?" he asked in a whisper. "Just," he tried to continue as his heavy head tilted to rest on Constantine's shoulder. "A quick minute," he exhaled, relief at the way the world's spinning slowed down enough to feel normal. The pair sat together, the silence stretching between the two. Constantine was sure Matthew had fallen asleep. They were considering the best way to get him settled onto the couch when he spoke up. "Ti?"

"Yes, devil boy?" The nickname drew a sleepy laugh from Mathew.

"Thank you."