Title: Thin Air – The Murdock & Bruhn Edition
Characters/Pairings: Matt, Karen, Felix B. (OMC)
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Alternate Ending No. 1 to "Thin Air".
Author's Note: So how would you all feel about an alternate endings special feature? Because when I was writing the story, I was trying to come up with ways of where to leave it, and I realized there were a few possible scenarios. So which one to pick? And then I realized… maybe I don't have to. I'll just write them all.
The next chapters are all going to be alternate endings that pick up where I left off in the first chapter. Fair warning: You might not like all of them. Please don't throw inanimate objects, okay? And I'd love to get your feedback on which one you liked most and least. Or tell me if you have a different idea yet, maybe I'll write and add it.

Day 386

Matt and Karen have a bit of a déjà vu when they're standing in front of their office building, staring at a plaque that has been newly fastened to the wall. It's silvery and shiny, and the letters are engraved rather than embossed.

"Look at that," Felix proudly says. "Now it's official. Murdock & Bruhn is a thing."

Both Matt and Karen have big smiles plastered on their faces. Matt affirms, "Yes, it is. Time to break out the champagne."

Karen says, "Well, good thing I'm the one with foresight among the three of us, because… ta-da!"

She reveals the mini bottle of champagne from behind her back and theatrically opens it. Some of the foam wells up and spills down the side of the bottle.

She laughs, "Damn, I'm making a mess already. I'm obviously no expert in handling of expensive alcoholic beverages."

"Give it here already," Felix grins at her and takes a sip straight from the bottle. He holds it out to Matt. "To Murdock & Bruhn. Here, your turn, Matt."

Matt accepts the proffered bottle and also takes a sip. "Murdock & Bruhn."

Karen is next. "To a great partnership." She toasts the bottle in the direction of the sign. "Aren't you supposed to throw it against the wall?"

"Not, that's for christening ships," Felix comments.

"Can we please not mention ships when I'm around?" Matt cuts in. "Besides, alcohol in public? Isn't that illegal?"

"Watch them sue us. We have a spectacular defense attorney."

Day 697

"Okay, Murdock, we gotta talk."

Matt thinks it's never good when a conversation is opened that way, and it turns out it isn't.

Felix is sitting across from Matt in one of the armchairs in Matt's apartment. Matt is still recovering from a busted knee that suffered a particularly vicious blow from a tire iron two nights ago. He's achy and exposed, and he has a feeling he knows what's coming.

And, yes, Felix goes full frontal assault. "You know, it's taken me a long time to actually convince myself this is even possible, but there's only so much bullshit I can take, and now I just gotta say it." He pauses. "Daredevil."

There's a long silence, and when Matt realizes Felix is waiting for his reaction, he asks, "What about Daredevil?"

"You're him."

"Come on, you know that's ridiculous."

"But is it? I'm not usually the conspiracy theorist kinda guy, but ever since I saw that suit hanging there by your door, I've been thinking. Every now and then, you have these 'mystery injuries'," he draws quotation marks in the air, "that come with some threadbare explanation, and, oh, which happen to coincide with some big gang bust or explosion or, I don't know, other major Daredevil activity. Cause, by the way? No blind person is this clumsy.

"And then I looked at photos of the Man in the Mask, and I looked at your jawline, and then I looked again, and the similarities are just too striking. To the point where they're not just similarities anymore. Now, this may sound kinda creepy, which it isn't, but I've watched you. You and him, you're the same person."

"You followed me?"

"No. Jesus. I mean I watch the way you move around, the way you hold your body. Are you going to deny it? I know you have issues, but please don't lie to my face."

Matt doesn't know how to respond. He presses his lips shut, and Felix takes that as a yes. "Does Karen know?"

"Know what?"

Felix gets up from the chair and starts pacing. "Jesus fucking Christ. You just basically admitted it. Tell me I'm wrong."

"I can't do that."

"And why not?"

"Okay. Let's say I was this person you think I am. Do you know what would happen if Daredevil's identity was revealed? He'd become a target. Everyone he knows would become a target. People get hurt when that happens. Good people."

"And who says his identity would be revealed?"

"I do. Because one day, there's going to be a reporter offering a large sum of money, or a criminal mastermind with effective methods of torture, or, I don't know, just the plain slip of a tongue in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"So, theoretically, if you were that person I think you are, how many people do you think know his identity and have kept it a secret all this time?"

Matt shrugs. "How would I know?"

"Guess."

"I don't know. Two? Maybe three."

"And have they come forward? Have they been bribed or tortured or spilled the beans?"

"No," Matt says, realizing the lines are now getting too blurry.

Felix sits down again on the other armchair that is a little closer to where Matt is sitting. "Well then, put me in line as number four. Cause I think the guy needs a fucking medal for all that he does."

Matt thinks this is interesting, because Felix has never really made his stance on Daredevil all that clear when the topic came up in the past.

Felix presses on, "Did you know he rescued a little girl from getting dragged away by a pedophile two nights ago? Well, I'm guessing you would, but what you don't know is that she was my cousin's daughter. There was a fight, and Daredevil limped away from the scene with the girl to get her to safety. Left leg, she said. Sound familiar?"

Of course it does. He was there. The girl's whimpers had distracted him, and the creep he was trying to stop was nimble and quick on his feet.

"Seriously," Felix adds, "I don't know how you do it, and I'm not sure I want to know, but you have my promise that I will not tell a single soul. Because one day, it could be Seth. And then I'd want you there to save him."

Is that really enough reason for Matt to trust the guy? He's barely known him for two years, but Felix has never given him any reason not to. And they've come this far, how much of a chance is there really for him to keep denying it?

"Karen doesn't know," he finally says.

"But your friend Foggy, he did?"

Matt nods. "Yeah. He found out by accident. Found me half dead, bleeding out. Saved my life that night, probably."

"Do I want to know who numbers two and three are?"

Matt ignores the question and pleads, "Please don't tell Karen."

"Oh, I won't. This is your thing, and I'm not gonna get involved in any of the drama. You don't want to tell her, that's your decision. I'm just glad you told me."

"Well, it's not that you gave me much of a choice."

"You know me. Tenacious is my middle name. And before I forget, my cousin says thank you. Well, not in a 'deliver the message to your Daredevil friend' kind of way, but he's grateful."

"Thank you."

"Are you serious? If anything, we should be thanking you. You're a hero in my book."

Matt indicates his knee. "Yeah, some hero."

Felix gives him a bit of a grin. "Well, at least there's a silver lining in all this. You now have someone who can corroborate your BS in front of Karen."

Matt doesn't really think it's something to be joking about. "You know, I'm not hiding it from Karen by choice."

"Oh, but that's where you're wrong. Of course it's your choice. But it's one you have a damn good reason for. And I get it, Matt. I guess what I wanted to say is, you have my support. And I really mean that."

"Thanks, Felix."

Felix sighs and leans back. "Yeah. And I mean, wow. If I'd known I'd be partnering with the Devil of Hell's Kitchen…"

"You regret that now? We can—"

"No," he interjects. "It's kinda cool. I like it."

"Are you going to tell Donnie?"

Felix gives him a look. "Why would I be doing that?"

"Marriage? Not keeping secrets from the ones you love?"

"Yeah, look who's talking. And that's a no, by the way. Unless I have your blessing."

Matt briefly clenches his jaw. "See, this is the part where it gets tricky. I wish it wasn't this complicated."

Felix lifts his hands. "No, it's fine. Like I said, I get it. Don't worry about me and Donnie."

"So we're good?"

"Yeah, we're good. And I hope you get some rest. That knee really looks pretty banged up. You see a doc about it?"

"Daredevil and hospitals don't really get along. But, yeah, I've got someone. I just need a few days."

"Want me to get you anything?"

"No," he waves the offer off. "I'm okay. That someone? She's pretty good with getting me what I need."

Felix gives him a smirk. "Ah, I see what you're getting at."

"No, I don't mean that way."

"Uh-huh."

Matt sighs. "You're terrible. You're the last thing I need in my life."

Felix' smartphone buzzes, and he looks at it. "Okay, duty calls. Call me if you need anything, Matt. We owe you."

Matt gives him an affirmative nod, and Felix grabs his jacket. "I'll let myself out. See ya, Murdock."

Matt lets his body sag against the couch when Felix is gone, wincing at the pain in his knee. He hopes he hasn't just made the biggest mistake of his life.

Now, with Foggy he knew he would have eternal loyalty—no matter what. Felix was still a bit of a question mark, but if Matt was honest, his instincts told him that it had been the right thing to do.

And yet, guilt keeps nagging at his conscience that he can't deny. If he could trust a tentative friend, why can he not trust Karen with this? Foggy had been so angry with him that he didn't tell her. He can still hear Foggy's voice in his head. "She deserves to know!"

Yes, he thinks, she does. After everything, if anyone deserves to know, it's her. And why the hell is he still resisting? She's proven more than once that he can trust her, that she can fend for herself.

It's a split-second decision, but he fumbles for his smartphone and dials her number.

"Karen?"

"Matt. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah. Look, can you come over? There's something I wanna tell you."

He can almost hear her frown at the other end. "Now?"

"If you don't mind."

"O…kay. Are you really all right?"

He gives her a little chuckle. "Yes, I'm all right. Well, except for that busted knee. It's just… this is kind of important."

"All right," she says. "Give me an hour, okay?"

"Okay. See you then."

She brings a bag of chips and a six-pack of beer, as if she knew it was going to be a long night. With the sweating bottle in hand, she sits down across from him.

"All right then. What's so important that you couldn't tell me over the phone?"

And then he tells her. From the very beginning, not leaving a damn thing out.

And somehow… it's okay.

Amazingly, unexpectedly, it's very much okay.