Peter was able to keep himself from asking questions until they had entered the apartment. But the moment Mr Murdock asked him something, and he knew it was safe to talk, everything spilt out.

"What superpowers do you have? Wait, do you have super senses? Can you see into the future? Do you know what I'm going to say now?"

Kid, calm down" Matt chuckled "but, I can safely say that, no I can't see the future"

"Okay, so super senses? Or wait, how did you get your powers? Do you know -"

"Kid, stop" had tried to sound friendly, but he learned from previous experience that that isn't his forte. He had to stop the rambling though. He had to ask some questions of his own.

Peter snapped his mouth closed instantly "Sorry sir"

"Don't worry about it" Matt inhaled for a second "Why don't you sit down? Do you want anything? Or would you rather take a shower?"

Peter complied and sat down on the couch, but a shower did sound amazing. His hair has graduated from soaked with blood from his broken nose, to crunchy with blood. Flaking off whenever he touched it. "If it wouldn't be too much of a problem, a shower does sound good. But really, I don't want-"

"Okay, kid, the bathroom is on your left, there are fresh towels and everything in there. And you can just use anything in there, just see what you can find"

The boy shuffled off in the direction of the bathroom "Thank you, Mr Murdock"

Matt let out a hum and went to get himself a beer from the fridge with a frown on his face. The difference between the excited and curious boy of a couple of seconds ago and the boy with such an intense aura of sadness surrounding him is surreal. Almost as if they were two completely different people.

It's almost as if Peter was hesitant or even scared to talk to him. And he could for the life of him not understand why, as it was obviously not daredevil he was afraid of. He was more afraid of Matt, as in normal, ordinary, Matt. But they never met before today. He had never seen or even heard of this kid. But clearly, this kid did know about him.

Everything he found on the internet about Peter Parker confused him even more. As in he did not find anything. No records, no email address, nothing. This kid must be a ghost or he gave a fake name, which would mean that the kid could lie without him finding out that he did. Highly unlikely. So ghost it is, also unlikely but who knows.

All the while Peter was in the shower. He started out standing, just having the water washing over him. Trying to keep out the thoughts that haunted him. Always followed him. But, they eventually came, not even the nice soap and the warm water could keep them away.

What are you doing here?

You don't deserve this

All the people you love left for a reason

You were the reason

You fucked up

It's all on you

That was how he eventually came to sit curled up under the stream of water. Just sitting. Maybe if he sat here long enough, his problems would just wash away with the water.

May is dead because of you

Nobody remembers you, that's your own fault

This is punishment for everything you did

You deserve to be in pain

You don't deserve help

You should be helping

Not the other way around

And now you're just sitting around moping, typical

It has been way too long. He has been in the shower for way too long. What must Mr Murdock be thinking right now? He must think he's the most selfish person ever. Wasting somebody else's water like this.

So he got to his feet. Turned off the water. Stepped out of the shower and took one of the incredibly soft towels.

He had to get out of here. He had to take care of himself, alone. Just as he had been able to do these last couple of months. He didn't need help. This was just a rough patch. His injuries weren't even that bad, besides, he was probably already healing.

In lieu of better options and after a quick inspection to see whether or not the blood was that noticeable, Peter just put on the same jeans.

The shirt he had on before didn't pass his inspection. There was simply too much blood on it. He did have another shirt, which he pulled out of his backpack. In which he threw his bloody shirt. The blood was mostly dried anyways, no need to fuss about it now. The new shirt wasn't exactly clean so to say, it hadn't been washed in a while. But it wasn't covered in blood and that had to be good enough for now.

He shuffled out of the doorway, ready to make a beeline to the door to get out. It was bad enough that he took advantage of the shower. He should stop bothering Mr Murdock now. He had been enough of an inconvenience.

But Mr Murdock was right there, right in front of him. No chance of just sneaking out. So Peter just stood there, like a deer in headlights.

"Hey kid," he said, trying to dilute the tension a bit "I don't have much in the fridge, but I can make you an egg or something. What would you like?"

"Uhm, actually Mr Murdock, I'm not hungry, I think I'm just gonna…"

"Would you stop lying?"

"Wha-what?"

"If I wouldn't have been able to tell that you're lying because of your heartbeat, I would notice how your stomach is literally growling right now."

"I'm sorry" Peter's voice trembling "can I just leave?"

"Kid, please, I'm just trying to help you." He sighed and combed a hand through his hair "Just, I'm not going to force you to stay, but please do" "I don't know what's going on or anything but I won't hurt you, you'll be safe here"

"I know, but you… you won't be…"

"What do you mean? Are you going to hurt me?"

NO," He almost yelled, with which he almost made himself flinch "no," He corrected himself when he realized how ungrateful he was acting to the man who saved his life "I mean, something bad will happen, it always does, it's just, I should just go."

"Peter," Matt said as gently as he could "you know I can protect myself, I will be fine, I can handle myself"

"Yes, I know, I know, it's just…"

"You still think something bad is going to happen" Matt stated.

"Yea- yeah"

"Okay, tell you what, you stay here for tonight-"

"But-" Peter interjected

"Wait," Mr Murdock cut him off "let me talk" he almost looked like a school teacher, shushing a student.

Peter blew out a huff of air in defiance, wanting to talk back but nodded.

"Okay, you stay here tonight, eat something, and tomorrow we'll search for a more permanent solution that doesn't have you living on the streets. While also not putting anyone in danger. Sound okay?"

Even though Mr Murdock was nice, his shower warm and his food delicious… He just couldn't do this. He had sworn… He won't do it again. He won't put other people in danger just because little peter parker was a bit lonely. The selfish bastard that he was. Even the thought! No. Why was he even considering this?

But one night won't hurt, right?

He contemplated for a moment longer, but realised that this was by far his best option "Okay"

"Great! So, what kind of egg?"

"Uh, scrambled, please"

"Coming right up"

Peter ate his scrambled egg in silence, after one bite he realized how hungry he actually was and the rest was gone in just a couple of seconds. Matt was already there with another serving.

Mr Murdock wouldn't take any of his shit. He would have to get a whole lot better at lying if he wanted to lie to him and his freaky abilities. And it wasn't as if lying had ever been one of his strongest [suits]. He had to go about this another way. He had to convince Mr Murdock he was fine, without lying. That won't be too hard right,,, After all, he was fine! That's the truth. No lying here, no sir.

Mr Murdock kept insisting that he slept in his bed, which Peter wouldn't accept at first. But it was hard to argue with Mr Murdock, it was like he was even more determined to help Peter than Peter was to not be a burden. Which definitely said something.

So Peter slept in the bed, and Mr Murdock slept on the couch. The only thing Peter was able to say to himself to make him feel slightly better about the whole situation is that it would only be for one night. Then he could go back to being a shadow. Not mattering. How depressing that sounded, and how he hated it, it was better than the alternative. He couldn't lose more. He was at rock bottom, and if Peter had anything to do with it, it would stay that way.

But according to Matt, Peter didn't have anything to do with it.

So the next morning Peter woke up to the smell of a breakfast sandwich shoved underneath his nose.

"Wakey, wakey" Matt said, throwing the sandwich wrapped in tinfoil at him "let's go! We've got places to go, people to see"

Peter snatched the sandwich out of the air, right before it would hit him square in the face. "Uhmm"

"No, little Peter" Matt wasn't above a little manipulation here and there "We are doing things my way today, you've stayed in my house, so I will choose the activities for the day. Them's the rules" and if it would get Peter to do what he wanted… "so get up, get dressed, let's go!" Just for his own good.

He walked out of the bedroom and Peter followed him no more than half a minute later, still pulling his shirt over his head. Matt smirked to himself, he really should manipulate people more often, exploiting his lawyer skills for his own sneaky plans and all that. But on the other hand, no he shouldn't. You're either catholic or you're not. But this time… He figured the big man upstairs would give him a pass.

First stop: the office. Nelson, Murdock and Page would be expecting him. It's a normal weekday after all. No reason not to go in, and he may also have an ulterior motive.

"Okay, first we have to go to my office just to drop off some documents. But don't worry, after that, I'm all yours. We've got the entire day"

"Uhm, I wasn't worried," he said snarkily "you could also go about your normal day, and I would go about my own day and you let me go" The kid seemed to come out of his shell more than last night. The meal and sleep and not being beaten to a pulp probably helped. But Matt liked to think that he was growing on the boy.

"Good one!" They stepped outside of Matt's apartment building. His cane making a rhythmic tapping noise on the concrete.

"Soo? I can go?"

"Nope, not yet, I want you to meet someone"

"As a lawyer, you should know that this is sounding dangerously like kidnapping"

"Mhm," Matt said thoughtfully "but you seemed to have forgotten one crucial point"

"And what would that be"

"That I'm also daredevil, so I'm clearly not above doing something not strictly legal"

"Ah, fair point" Peter sighed, "you know, it's really impossible to argue with you"

"Yes I know, I thought I told you: I'm a really good lawyer" Matt smirked, his eyes crinkling up all the way under his glasses "here we are." He stopped and opened the door for Peter "after you"

They had to walk up two, rather raggedy, flights of stairs before they were actually at his office. There was an elevator but… No, never again. That was a thing straight out of nightmares. So the stairs it was.

Before they arrived Matt paused for a second, just to make sure that it wouldn't be too much for Peter. If there were too many people, it might spook him. He wanted everything to go as smoothly as possible, no need for any hard stuff for Peter's sake. But everything was good, the office was silent except for Karen's heartbeat. Foggy must not have arrived yet.

Peter's heartbeat was a bit elevated. Obviously nervous about who they were meeting. He heard the kid wiping his sweaty palms on his jeans.

"You okay kid?"

"Huh?"

"Just… let's go in, everything is going to be fine"

"If you say so…"

"I do say so. Take a deep breath" Matt breathed in deeply, motioning Peter to do the same. When he complied Matt breathed out again slowly while Peter followed. "let's go"

Peter took another breath in and stepped through the door.

Karen turned around as she heard something behind her and was surprised to see… a teenager? What's a teenager doing here? When Matt appeared behind said teenager, it didn't exactly make anything any more clear.

"Wha-" She started

"Hey Karen," Matt said "This is Peter, Peter; Karen" He gestured in between them as if that would explain anything

"Uh, hi Peter" Karen said with a small wave "Matt, can I talk to you for a second?"

"Sure" he turned back to Peter to say "Make yourself at home, I'll be right back"

Karen gave Peter a tight awkward smile, and bodily pushed Matt through the door of the conference room. Leaving the kid standing in the middle of the room, looking out of place.

"What the hell are you doing here with an actual child?!" Karen whisper shouted

"Well…"

"Oh god, what did you do?"

"Why would you assume I did anything?" Just as Karen was about to open her mouth he continued "No, don't answer that" "I just found him last night, he was being beaten by this street gang and didn't want to be taken to the hospital. I figured no health insurance, but there was something more. So I took him to Claire… Anyways, what I'm trying to say is that there's something going on here. Something weird."

"Weird as in a kid living on the streets and not having health insurance?" She put a comforting hand on Matt's shoulder "I'm sorry to tell you this Matt but that's not as uncommon as you might think"

"No, but that's not it…" shrugging Karen off "All of that is true but there's something else" He paused "He knows me"

"What do you mean 'knows you'"

"As in he knew who I am, speaks as if we know each other" Matt dragged a hand over his face "but I'm a hundred per cent sure I have never met this kid before in my life"

"So he's full of shit"

"Hmh, don't think so. I just know that I need to know more. And this kid needs help, Karen. I don't think he has anybody. So I might as well help him. Two birds with one stone and all that"

"I don't like this" "teenagers are bad news, what if he murders you in your sleep"

Matt looked unimpressed "you're serious"

Karen shrugged "you never know these days"

"Sure…"Matt said sarcastically "I'm not convinced, and anyways, he said that he wouldn't hurt me"

Karen let out a snort "you just straight out asked him if he would murder you? That must've been an interesting conversation"

"Yeah, well, point is, he's not going to hurt me." Matt retorted "And it won't hurt to help him"

"Okay sure, always knew that it would just take some time before we would be taking in strays"

Matt shot her a disapproving look "so… Anyways… I was thinking maybe he could do some work around here" he gestured around the office "since you're no longer our secretary and we are severely lacking one…"

"Ugh, why do you even ask me?" she sighed while Matt still looked at her for an answer "I don't see why not"

"Great!" Matt said with way too much enthusiasm and walked out of the conference area.

—

Peter had tried his best not to eavesdrop… But if it's about you, is it even officially eavesdropping? Also, it wasn't his fault he has enhanced senses, and could literally hear them talking if they would be a block away. A little wall was like nothing. Anyways, he had heard everything. And one would think that a kid living on the streets would be at least kind of happy to hear that somebody wanted to help him. But not this kid.

The only thing Peter took out of this entire conversation was that Mr Murdock just wanted to know how he knew about him. Mr Murdock would only help him until the mystery was solved.

So big decisions had to be made. Should he either tell Mr Murdock to protect him, so he could get away since he wouldn't be interesting anymore? Or should he get a couple more meals in and not tell him to get to sleep in a real bed for one more night?

Well, that's incredibly selfish, nope bad idea. Telling him is better.

But maybe after lunch? Better to pretend he didn't hear this for just a little bit longer.