Chapter Three: Background
Daredevil grabbed his mask, pulling it over his face, but he knew the damage was done. Charlie had seen his face; there was no point in wearing the mask anymore. He took it off.
"I guess you saw, right? Well, I suppose you had a right to, you did help me, but you must never tell anyone who I am. Is that clear?"
"You're blind!" was all Charlie could say.
"You noticed? It's hard to believe, I know, but yeah. I am blind." Daredevil replied.
"You can't be. It's not possible!"
"Yes it is. Would you like a full story, or are you okay with the short version?"
"Give me the long. I don't understand a word of it, Matt."
"Wait. How do you know my name? I didn't tell you, I know I didn't."
"I believe this is yours?" Charlie answered, holding out Matt's carry-on. "I watched you hide it when you changed into your costume. I looked through it before I found you. I am sorry. I shouldn't have."
"You're right, you shouldn't have, but it doesn't really matter now. I guess I have to tell you the complete story anyway. So, from the beginning.
"My name is Matthew Murdock. I was born in Hell's Kitchen. My father was a boxer. In the ring he was called Battlein' Jack Murdock. He made me promise to study hard; he didn't want me to be a boxer, like him. So, I studied. Soon I decided to train, using Dad's equipment. I trained my body and my mind.
"I was fifteen when I lost my sight. I was coming out of the library when I saw a blind man crossing the street. There was a truck coming, I soon found out it was carrying toxic waste, but I didn't know it at the time. All I could think about was the man. I pushed him out of the way just in time, but I wasn't so lucky. A canister of the toxic waste fell out of the truck and spilled onto the street. I looked up into the heart of a manmade sun. Then everything went black."
Matt sighed. It felt good to talk about himself. He had kept it inside for so long, he really didn't spend much thought on who was hearing his story.
"I woke in a hospital room to the deafening sounds of everything. I soon found out that though I had lost my sight, I got something back in return. My remaining four senses functioned at superhuman levels. I can hear a heartbeat a block away, read a newspaper by simply feeling the impressions of the ink on the paper, identify a man by his cologne a mile away, and taste every grain of salt on a pretzel. Best of all, all of my senses combine to give me a sort of 'radar sense'. It's not like seeing; it's like touching everything at once.
"It took me forever to control my senses. Stick, my sensei, taught me to focus and fight. I am a master gymnast and martial artist. I can 'see' in 360 degrees, enabling me to track a criminal for miles.
"After my dad was murdered, I became Daredevil. I also fulfilled his wish. I am a lawyer, just like he always wanted me to be. My college roommate and I started a practice together, Nelson and Murdock, as I am sure you know from my carry-on.
"Anyway, that's my story. Now you must promise me that you will never tell a soul my true identity. I can't have people knowing I'm not as helpless as I seem." Matt concluded. "Since you know who I am, I don't see the point in wearing my costume, it's damned uncomfortable. Would you mind handing me my suit out of the bag?"
As Charlie waited outside for Matt to finish changing, questions buzzed around his head. He had just found out Daredevil was a blind lawyer from Hell's Kitchen! A blind lawyer! He couldn't get his head around it. Just then he heard Matt call "you can come in now."
Charlie opened the door to find Matt sitting on the bed. He was wearing his brown suit with a blue tie (not the best match in the world, but he could be forgiven), nice shoes, and dark sunglasses. His face was kind, though it had a few bruises from the explosion. Matt's hair was a rusty red, a shade or two darker than his costume. He was tall, or he would be when he stood. Charlie guessed he was about 6'3" and very strong, though the suit didn't show it. His billy club, Charlie realized, was also his cane. Interesting invention. I wonder how it works. No wonder he wanted it before. He stood there, staring at the handsome, mysterious man, wondering what in the world he was doing. After a moment, he walked to the chair in a corner and sat down.
Matt smiled, but quickly stopped when it hurt too much. "So, any questions? I can tell you are apprehensive."
"Just one. Why were chasing that woman in the airport? I know she had a bomb, but how did you know?"
"That's easy enough to answer. She ran into me as I was picking up my luggage and I smelled some ingredients of a bomb. I was curious, so I went after her. Hence, the chase and me being blown up."
Charlie smiled at his little joke, but then asked, "Did you know the bomber?"
"Before I answer your question, I want to ask you one. What is your story? Why did you help me?"
Charlie was caught off guard, but answered his question. "I am a reporter for the Times, though a junior one. I was at the airport today because a Senator was coming back from Iraq where he had been helping the war effort, and I wanted an interview," he glanced at his watch, then said, "well, I guess I missed that opportunity by a few of hours. I saw you leaving the restroom and I thought, 'he looks like he knows what he is doing'. Then I saw you hide your bag, and I guess I just got hooked. I had to find out what you were doing. I decided to follow you. I did, and heard the explosion. I found you half unconscious; I couldn't just leave you. People were coming, I had to get you away." He finished with a small smile, "you were very strange. You asked for your billy club."
"Ah, yes. I lose a lot of billy clubs, and they are a pain to make. Anyway, I guess you answered my question so now I'll answer yours.
"No, I didn't know the woman, but she told me her name before she handed me the bomb. I think it was Angelica Devil. No Angelica Demon, that was it. I don't recognize the name, but judging by the way she fought, I'm betting she was military. You wouldn't happen to have a computer would you? Is there any chance of you Googling her? You might find something. I would help you research, but I need to sleep. I feel like the bomb went off inside my head."
With that, Matt laid back, his feet sticking out from the end of the bed, and fell asleep. Charlie left to search for information regarding Angelica Demon.
As Matt slept and Charlie researched, Angelica Demon was at her hideout. She'd lost her opportunity to assassinate the Senator, and she was furious. "Daredevil will pay!" She shouted aloud at the empty room. While she was musing the failed attempt, her phone rang. The voice on the line was angry.
"You have failed. We are not happy."
"Give me one more chance. I ran into a difficulty I didn't expect," begged Demon.
"What happened?" the voice asked, coldly.
"Daredevil. I won't be surprised again, I promise sir. You can count on it."
"It's too late."
The phone went dead. Demon stared at it for a moment; then she started to plan.
Charlie returned three hours later, holding a tray full of food for Matt. He gently shook him awake. "Matt, I have food. I thought you might be hungry."
"Thanks, I'm starved." He said, as he flipped open his watch cover and Brailled the time. "Is it eight o'clock already? Shoot, may I borrow your phone? My cell is out of power; I always forget to charge it. I promised Foggy I'd call him when I got in. I don't know what I'm going to tell him." Matt continued.
"Yeah sure. There's one in the hall." Charlie asked, and suddenly felt stupid. He hid his mistake by putting the tray of food on the nightstand next to the bed.
"Thanks, I'll only be a moment." With a slight grown, Matt raised himself from the bed. "Wow, why is it after you wake up you feel all the pain anew?" He mused as he went down the hall to the phone.
Charlie heard him dial, and tried not to listen as he explained to Foggy why he had left the airport so suddenly and not called sooner. "Something came up. I'll explain when I see you. It might be a while, I don't know." He heard Matt say. He's done this before. Skipping out without anybody knowing where he's going.
-DD-
Matt ate his meal thoughtfully. He didn't know quite what was happening. Once again he listened closely to his surroundings. Outside the window he heard a car door shut quietly. Matt listened harder, straining his ears. Then he heard a familiar heartbeat, but he couldn't place it. Where did I hear that? Was it at the airport? No, it couldn't be. Must have been my imagination. Before he could put a name to the beat, the car started its engine and drove off. Oh well, I guess I'll never know…
Matt quietly entered the kitchen without Charlie noticing, carrying his empty tray. Charlie jumped back when he finally saw him. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." Matt apologized, "I just wanted to ask whether you found out anything about our bomber."
"Don't worry about it, should have been paying attention." Charlie smiled, obviously pleased with himself. "I logged onto the New York Times' website, and found some stuff. You were right, there wasn't much. I did find an article dated June 12, 2005 about an Angelica Demon, of the army's special forces about some military action. It didn't give much information.
A few months later, that same person was given a dishonorable discharge for not obeying her commanding officer in the line of duty. I don't know if that's her, but it could be. After that last article, I didn't find anything else, except an obituary dated a year ago. A plane exploded apparently, no bodies were ever recovered."
"Excellent! I think you are right. That would explain her military training. She was really very good. Also she was ruthless and angry as I don't know what. I wouldn't put it past her to have faked her own death, either " Matt thought aloud.
"Thanks, for the bed and the meal," he added, suddenly. "You've been a big help. I don't know how I would have explained my presence in the supply room. You saved me from telling a lot of really bad lies, but I really should be getting back home. How far from Manhattan are we?"
Charlie thought for a moment, and then replied, "about three hours. Too far to drive tonight. I'll drive you home tomorrow, bright and early."
Matt smiled; it still hurt, but not as much, and said, "That sounds great." He paused to check his watch. "I guess now's as good a time as any to say good night, so good night. I'll see you in the morning."
"Yeah, 'night!" Charlie called at Matt's retreating back. Matt waved without turning around
