Life worth living

by Lazydaily

Matt and OC neighbor. For TTS in the app

15. Chapter 15

I scrubbed hard at the kitchen counter, grinding my teeth absently as I worked. My apartment smelled like the fresh baked pumpkin pie that was cooling on the stove. I had even made a homemade whip cream to go with it.

The past couple of days I had been restless ever since Kilgrave had escaped from that sealed room leaving more death in his wake. It had taken us a little over an hour to find Hogarth at her soon-to-be ex-wife Wendy's house. Kilgrave had gotten the bullet wound from Trish's gun and the stab wound from Louise stitched up by her before he had disappeared without a trace. Meanwhile, Hogarth's selfish stupidity had led to her ex being controlled to attack her, compelled to slice her with a thousand cuts. Jessica and I had shown up shortly after Pam, the secretary I learned Hogarth had been having an affair with, had knocked Wendy in the head with a decorative vase. Unfortunately for Pam, the hit had been fatal and she was facing charges now.

During all of this, Trish had been holed up with Albert trying to create a vaccine that would work against Kilgrave while also trying to keep him hidden from him. It was practically guaranteed that Kilgrave wanted Albert dead; we already knew he was looking for him. Hogarth had called us shortly after helping Kilgrave escape, asking us weird questions specifically about Albert and whether he had managed to kill himself or where he might be if he'd survived the command.

On top of it all, Simpson was out of the hospital and missing after he had attacked Trish last night. He had shown up at Albert's hotel hopped up on who the hell knows what from what she made it sound like.

And Clemens was just plain missing. He'd stayed behind at the abandoned CDC building to secure the area for police to arrive and take in the crime scene of Louise's death, but last we knew the place had been burnt down and we couldn't get ahold of Clemens anywhere.

Over the past couple of days I had been trying to find any sort of clues or anything to get a lead on Kilgrave's whereabouts, but it was useless. He was covering his tracks, whatever he was doing.

And now, today was Thanksgiving. I had a few minutes before I was supposed to be next door at Matt's pretending my psychopath ex wasn't still on the loose and I hadn't just witnessed more death in the past few days than anyone should. The last thing I felt like doing was making small talk and drinking, but I didn't want to let Matt and his friends down. Jessica had insisted I go and be normal and that she would call me the moment she had any news.

A knock at my door broke through my thoughts and I stopped mid-scrub of the counter. I let out a huff, rubbing the back of my hand across my forehead before heading to my sink and rinsing out the sponge before washing my hands. I could hear Foggy shouting my name through the door; he was loud and excited and I wished I could muster up an ounce of it in return as I headed down the entry hall of my apartment.

"Took you long enough to answer!" he exclaimed when the door opened.

I let him pull me into a tight embrace and easily returned it. I couldn't resist the small smile that slid its way onto my face; I had forgotten his happiness was mildly contagious.

"I was just cleaning," I told him as I pulled away.

"Well stop cleaning and come on over to Matt's already!" he told me, grabbing my arm and trying to pull me over. "It's Thanksgiving! Let's celebrate! You can be boring and clean later."

I laughed lightly and pulled him back to a stop. "Hang on, Foggy, let me grab the pie," I told him. "I didn't go through the effort of making it for nothing."

At my words, he began pushing me back into my apartment hastily and following in behind me.

"No, we definitely can't leave that behind," he agreed as he pushed me into the kitchen. "Man that pie smells good! I didn't know you baked."

"I stress bake," I told him as I pulled the pie off of the stove. "I also made whip cream for it, because I hear you can't have pumpkin pie without it."

Foggy's jaw dropped as he saw me pull the container from the fridge. "You made whip cream?"

I shot him an amused grin. "It's incredibly easy, don't look at me like that," I told him. "Alright, now I'm ready."

Foggy looped his arm through mine and led me back out of my apartment, pausing just so I could lock it up behind me. Then we crossed the hall to Matt's apartment; once inside I was hit with so many appetizing smells.

We found Matt and Karen in the kitchen; Karen was gathering plates to set Matt's table while Matt was checking on something in the oven. My eyes surveyed the counter as Foggy let go of my arm, rushing to help Karen. There were a couple bottles of wine and four glasses beside them and three covered trays of food spaced out along the counter.

"Olivia!" Karen greeted as Foggy took the plates from her hands.

She rushed over and pulled me into a hug, one which I did my best to return with the items in my hand.

"Happy Thanksgiving!" she chirped as she pulled back.

"Uh, thanks, you too," I told her awkwardly before placing my pie on the counter.

"It's been like a week and a half since we last saw each other at Josie's," she said.

So much had happened since then that it felt like the night at Josie's had been so much longer ago.

"Yeah," I agreed, smiling softly. "It's been awhile."

I turned and placed the whip cream in the fridge, noting how unusually empty it was. When I turned back around I startled; Matt was standing just behind me, a soft smile on his face. He pulled me into a hug which I eagerly returned, taking comfort in his warmth and familiar scent. He'd stopped by my apartment the past few evenings after his usual nighttime outings and I had been filling him in on what was happening while he told me about his nights. We offered each other what comfort we could, but that was all we'd done. There hadn't been another night of sex or even kissing since that one night–not with Kilgrave on the loose again.

"Happy first Thanksgiving," he whispered beside my ear.

"Thanks," I whispered back.

Our hug lasted longer than it should have for two people who were just friends. When we'd pulled away, Karen caught my eye with a mischievous smile. I ducked my head away shyly, tucking loose hair behind my ear.

"So is there anything you need help with?" I asked Matt, trying to sound casual and like I didn't see him every single night the past few nights.

"No, we're just waiting on the turkey to finish," he told me with a smile.

"How about some wine?" Foggy offered, heading towards the counter and grabbing a bottle. He began to open it as he continued on. "So I have to know what your ladies' favorite Thanksgiving food is. I know Matt likes the pumpkin pie–which thank you Olivia for making one. We always buy it to bring to my family's Thanksgiving when they have it because neither of us can bake to save our lives. Apparently neither can anyone in my family," he said with a shake of his head. "But you can bet your ass they sure know how to find a way to put meat in everything."

At my confused expression Matt briefly explained, "They own a butcher shop."

I laughed lightly. "Ah, I see. And honestly making it wasn't too hard." I watched as Foggy opened the bottle of wine before curiously asking him, "Your family isn't celebrating today?"

"It might as well be rocket science to me," Foggy joked as he began to fill each glass of wine. "And no, some years everyone's schedules don't align and Matt and I are left to fend for ourselves." He flashed me a big smile. "But I think we have great company this year." His focus returned to pouring the wine. "So I'm partial to the stuffing, especially when it's doused in gravy. Karen?" he asked, handing her a glass.

She took the glass from him with a thoughtful expression on her face. "Maybe the potatoes? Or the green bean casserole," she told him before taking a sip of her wine.

Foggy turned to me, handing me a glass with raised brows. "What about you Olivia?" he asked. "I'm getting the vibe that you're a stuffing fan like me."

I accepted the glass tentatively, my eyes darting down to it. I knew I'd have to probably tell them at some point tonight that I'd never celebrated before, but it sounded ridiculous even to me.

With a sigh I admitted, "I wouldn't know, this is my first Thanksgiving."

Foggy dramatically gasped and I saw Karen's eyes go wide at the admission. Matt sidled his way over beside me, gently grasping my hand and giving it a squeeze.

"I uh…didn't have a…family," I said lamely.

"Wait, did you grow up in an orphanage like Matt?" Foggy asked hesitantly.

"Something like that," I mumbled.

I wasn't about to explain I grew up in a lab being tortured and experimented on.

Matt squeezed my hand again and I squeezed it back, grateful for his presence.

"Well Happy first Thanksgiving!" Foggy boomed out excitedly.

His eyes lowered, catching mine and Matt's joined hands and he smirked. Immediately I dropped Matt's hand and held the wine glass between both of my hands instead.

"Is there something going on between you two now?" Foggy asked slowly, eyes narrowing suspiciously at Matt and I.

"What? No," I answered back a little too fast.

"Oh come on," Karen said with an eye roll. "You were just holding hands."

I felt the heat rise in my cheeks as I shook my head quickly. "We're just friends," I assured her.

"Friends with some serious sexual tension," Foggy pointed out as he raised his glass to his lips for a drink.

Matt cleared his throat loudly and cut in with, "I think the turkey is done now."

I took a drink of my own wine as he wandered over to the oven, watching him and trying to avoid Foggy and Karen's scrutiny.

"Oh my God, have you guys already slept together?!" Foggy burst out.

I choked on the wine, sputtering into my hand as Matt froze in front of the oven door.

"I knew it!" Karen exclaimed, turning to Foggy with a smug smile. "I win, you owe me twenty bucks."

Foggy frowned as he pulled his wallet out of his back pocket and pulled out a twenty, handing it over into Karen's waiting hand.

"You guys took a bet on that?" Matt asked curiously as he placed the roasting pan on the stove.

"You're not denying it," Karen countered.

"I…" Matt began, looking over to me helplessly.

"It was just one time!" I blurted, not sure how to get out of this.

So much for keeping this secret…shit.

"Well it was more than one time that night," Matt muttered.

Karen giggled as Foggy inhaled sharply, rounding on me and smacking me playfully.

"You minx ! I knew I shouldn't have believed you! Miss Oh-I'm-not-into-flirts-but-I-definitely-am!"

I ran a hand over my reddening cheeks, staring at the floor feeling mortified.

"I knew something was going to happen soon with the fact you live across the hall from each other," Karen gloated, "and the way you were staring at his ass while he was playing pool."

"Karen!" I whined, burying my face in my hand.

"You were staring at my ass?" Matt asked, the smug smirk on his face apparent even in his tone.

"Is this how Thanksgiving usually goes?" I ask, voice muffled behind my hand.

"More or less," Foggy joked. "But okay, I just have to know–are you two a thing now?"

I looked at Matt between my fingers and saw he was looking towards me, eyebrows raised. I chewed my lip nervously for a moment, contemplating how to answer.

"We…are…but…quietly?" I said slowly. When Karen and Foggy both made strange faces I continued, "Remember how I said that there was a P.I. investigating someone I knew?"

"You have a crazy, stalker ex?" Foggy asked curiously.

"Uh, yeah you could say that," I told him.

Foggy clapped his hands together and nodded firmly. "I knew it," he said. "Damsel in distress."

Matt chuckled as he came to stand beside me, throwing his arm around my waist and throwing all pretense out the window now.

"That is something she most certainly is not," he laughed out.

"So how long has this been an actual thing?" Karen asked curiously.

"Just a few days," I told her. "But uh for now if you guys could just pretend we're only friends out in public, I'd appreciate it."

"For how long?" Karen asked curiously.

My eyes darted to Matt beside me, leaning into him as a small smile spread on my lips. "Hopefully not much longer," I mumbled.

"So I guess you don't need a cat now," Foggy pointed out.

I rolled my eyes at him, grinning despite myself. With everything that had happened since I'd run into Jessica shortly after moving here, I couldn't believe how being with these three people somehow put me at ease and made me…happy. How I could laugh and joke and forget about what was waiting for me outside of this apartment after tonight. My chest ached for a time when I could just fully enjoy the present without worrying if the people around me were going to be safe.

"Okay," I began, "I think we have done enough focusing on me for the evening. What's up at Nelson and Murdock?"

"We have a new client," Matt replied.

"The type with money?" I teased.

"No, Mrs. Cardenas isn't, but she is sweet," Foggy told me. "Her landlord is trying to push her and her neighbors out; they sent workers to turn off the water, heat, and gas in their building under the pretense of doing renovations, but then the workers left. Claimed the drug dealers made it too dangerous to work there," he said with a roll of his eyes. "It's all bullshit."

I frowned, glancing between him and Matt. "You serious? It's getting cold out, she doesn't have heat? Or water? Who the fuck does that?"

"Wealthy assholes," Foggy told me. "Karen and I are trying to help her clean up the place. Fix the holes in her drywall, things like that."

"You ever need an extra hand," I told him, "I have no idea how to do that but I can learn." I tapped a finger to my chin, remembering something. "You know I might actually have a friend who knows how to do some of that stuff. He told me he used to volunteer at Habitat for Humanity; I'd have to ask him if he's available to help, but I'm sure he would."

I felt Matt lean over, placing a gentle kiss to my temple.

Karen sent me a warm smile as she said, "That would be great! And I have no clue what I'm doing either, but Foggy has a cousin who is good with drywall. And the internet always helps."

"We were planning to stop by on our way home tonight," Foggy continued. "Figured we would bring her some food."

I pointed firmly at Foggy, a serious look on my face as I told him, "You better bring her a massive piece of pie then."

Foggy raised a hand to his forehead in a salute. "Will do," he assured me before turning to Matt. "We ready to eat? Cause I'm starving. I've held off eating all day for this."

I raised a brow at him curiously as Matt pulled away, heading into the kitchen. "People really do that?" I asked Foggy curiously.

"Oh yeah," he answered. "I am going to eat so much turkey and stuffing. And pie ."

"Want to do the honors?" Matt asked Foggy, holding up the carving knife.

"With your track record lately," he answered, rising from his place at the table, "we would be spending the evening in the ER because you cut your hand off or something."

Matt ducked his head and pretended to be embarrassed–which would have been believable if I didn't know him better.

"Yeah, you're probably right," Matt agreed sheepishly. "Best not to let me near the knives tonight."

As Foggy carved the turkey, Karen and I set to work setting up the other dishes, pulling off the aluminum foil and finding serving spoons for each. After being kicked out of his own kitchen, Matt made his way towards the table, pausing beside me just to plant a kiss on my cheek as he passed. Momentarily distracted by the sweet display of affection, my eyes trailed after him as a corner of my lip pulled upwards.

"I think you look both look sweet together," Karen whispered beside me, bumping her hip lightly into mine.

I blushed, grateful for when Foggy announced the turkey was cut.

And then the kitchen erupted in laughter and noise as everyone filled their plates, occasionally bumping into each other in the small space. I giggled when Matt accidentally spilled gravy on his tee-shirt when Foggy bee-lined past him to the stuffing. I watched, setting my plate down on the counter beside me, as he dabbed a finger in the stain and tasted it.

"You know to stay out of my way when it comes to stuffing, Matt!" Foggy joked over his shoulder.

I grabbed a handful of paper towels and headed towards Matt, still laughing a little. Matt frowned at me when I reached him, his head tilting to the side at the sound of my amusement.

"Are you laughing at me, Miss Allen?" Matt asked in faux disbelief.

"Of course not," I said, trying to hold in the laugh and failing horribly.

As I reached to wipe his shirt, his finger swiped at the mess and then quickly reached up to dab it across the tip of my nose. I stood still for a moment, mouth hanging open as Matt smirked at me. Then we both started laughing as I playfully slapped him on the shoulder.

"I was going to help you clean off your shirt" I exclaimed in a tone of betrayal.

"Oh, well in that case," he replied, stepping over towards me and grabbing my chin in his fingers. He leaned in and swiftly licked the spot of gravy off of my nose before stepping back and grinning down at me. "I'd appreciate the assistance."

My face was flushing as I focused on wiping up the stain the best I could, trying hard not to pay too much attention on the feel of his hard abs beneath my hand.

"You might just want to change shirts," I told him. "Unless you want to wear gravy all night."

"Wouldn't want that now would we?" he asked, shooting me a wink before wandering out of the kitchen towards his room.

I picked my plate back up from the counter, grabbing Matt's for him as well, and joined Foggy and Karen at the table. They had been deep in a discussion about Mrs. Cardenas and what they were hoping to work on at her house tomorrow as I sat down.

When Matt returned to the table, the conversation soon became lively, turning from talks of previous Thanksgivings to childhoods. I listened, ignoring the ache in my chest, as Karen talked about playing basketball in high school and Foggy discussed how he was supposed to become a butcher–the topic making both Matt and Karen groan. Matt told Karen and I a little about his father's boxing career, sounding both reverent and sad. And I discussed my time at university in Alaska, answering Foggy's many questions about the state.

It wasn't long before we had made our way onto dessert with Foggy exclaiming his excitement for the baked good as Matt quietly whispered a thank you into my ear, squeezing my knee under the table.

"Okay, this pie is way better than any pie I've ever had on Thanksgiving," Foggy told me as he stabbed another forkful. "And how do you make whip cream taste like heaven?" He straightened, pointing his fork at me, pumpkin pie speared on the end. "Can you make other desserts this well?"

"Oh come on," Matt groaned. "She's not your personal baker, Foggy."

"Dude, we can share whatever she makes," Foggy shot back. "Don't ruin this for me." His eyes darted back to me. "What else can you bake?"

Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Matt stiffen beside me. Foggy and Karen were too focused on the pie and conversation to notice the subtle change in his demeanor. I saw the smile slip from his face, his eyes focusing hard on the table.

"I uh…" I began, clearing my throat and trying to focus on his question. "Yeah, I mean pies aren't my specialty actually."

Foggy gasped, dropping his fork. "Are you serious? This isn't even your best?"

"I actually am really good with–"

Three loud knocks sounded from across the hall, loud enough that I could hear them clearly in Matt's apartment. I felt Matt's hand suddenly land on my knee, gripping it tight. My brow furrowed as I turned to him.

"What is it?" I whispered to him.

He didn't need to answer.

"Olivia!" the distinct angry British voice shouted in the hall. He pounded harder against my front door. "You should answer your door before I start trying the others!"

I could feel the hair on the back of my neck beginning to rise at his voice as the realization hit; Kilgrave had finally found my apartment. What was worse was that he was going to find me in Matt's apartment–with Matt, Foggy, and Karen. My hands began to shake as I lightly placed them against the table, pushing my chair back.

"Is that the crazy ex?" Foggy whispered as he leant over the table towards me.

"Yeah," I breathed out.

"I'm calling the cops," Karen said, immediately sliding her phone out of her pocket.

"No, don't!" I said sharply, throwing out a hand to stop her.

She paused with her fingers above the screen, her eyes studying me closely.

" Olivia !"

I sighed, my eyes closing for a moment. I could feel the adrenaline racing through my body causing involuntary tremors.

"They can't help," I told her, opening my eyes. "Just…just stay in here. I'll deal with him."

Karen immediately rose to her feet across the table from me, her jaw set firm as she shook her head. "You are not going out there."

"She's right," Matt said, standing up next to me. He leaned in close, whispering so only I could hear him. "I can't help right now, not as Matt Murdock."

"Which door should I choose first?" Kilgrave's annoyed voice bellowed through the hall.

I shook my head, stepping back from the table. "All of you just stay here in Matt's apartment," I ordered. "I mean it."

I crossed the room, heading for the front door. An abrupt tug on my elbow pulled me to a stop. I turned, seeing Matt standing there with a pained look on his face.

" Don't ," he pleaded.

"I'm not going to stand by while he decides to kill one of our neighbors, Matt," I growled low. "Stay here. Don't act like you're anything more than a new acquaintance if he…if he comes in." I removed his hand from my arm, squeezing it tight. "He's not weakened with Sufentanil tonight. He's not going to be as easy for me to handle as he was before. Don't…" I paused, swallowing hard. "Don't give him a reason to want to kill you."

I dropped his hand and quickly made my way down the entry hall of Matt's apartment. I tried to control my breathing, squaring my shoulders as my hand briefly lingered on the doorknob. And then I pushed it open and stepped into the hall, swiftly shutting the door behind me.

Kilgrave turned from my door at the sound; his eyes swung back and forth between the door behind me and myself before they finally settled on me. They were narrowed in suspicion as his back straightened, trying to tower over me from across the hall.

"Now I'm pretty sure the private investigator I hired to follow you didn't tell me the wrong apartment number, did he?" Kilgrave asked.

I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to portray a level of calm and strength I wasn't feeling as I glared back. My heart was racing in my chest and I was glad he didn't have Matt's ability to hear it.

"It's Thanksgiving, if you didn't realize," I shot at him. "My neighbor knew I was new here and alone. Invited me to join their meal. What do you want?"

He eyed me silently for a moment, sizing me up before he finally spoke.

"I came to tell you what I told our dear Jessica," he said, his hands sliding into the pockets of his dress pants.

I frowned at his words.

Why hadn't she told me she'd seen him? Unless he…

"What'd you do to her?" I growled immediately.

He chuckled in amusement, grinning menacingly back at me. "You're wondering why you didn't hear from her, yes?" he asked. "Now, for once, I didn't do anything. That…'I hate Kilgrave' group or whatever it is, had enough of her."

"What?"

"Oh yeah," he droned on, amused. "Broke into her apartment and attacked her. The annoying red head knocked her hard with something before she untied me."

I took a step towards him but he immediately raised his hands.

"Ah ah, I wouldn't do that," he said quickly. "If you don't want anything to befall all those innocent and annoying 'survivors'," he air quoted the word, "I wouldn't try it."

I stopped, my jaw clenching shut as my hands balled into fists at my sides. I could still feel my body shaking from the adrenaline and fear coursing through me.

"What did you do?" I demanded.

He shrugged, still grinning. "Consider them insurance. For tomorrow."

When he didn't continue, clearly wanting me to ask, I rolled my eyes. "What's tomorrow?" I ground out.

"Hope's release," he told me smoothly. "The papers go through tomorrow morning."

I eyed him warily; there was no way he would have turned himself in. Especially not if he was standing here in front of me and not in handcuffs.

"How?" I asked suspiciously.

"I had a lovely chat with the D.A. today and suggested to him that Hope was innocent–he agreed. As did the judge who signed Hope's release papers," he said, presumably pulling them from his suit pocket and waving them through the air. "Like I said, she's being released tomorrow morning. And you and Jessica can have her, and your little support group, tomorrow morning as well." He raised a single finger and immediately added, " If you bring me my father."

My jaw dropped at his request. Of course there'd be a stipulation.

"Now don't look so surprised," he continued. "It's more than a fair trade. All of them for poor old Albert. I'd say you're getting the better end of the deal, little dove."

"Don't call me that," I snapped.

He only smiled as his eyes slid back to the door behind me. I tensed up, internally begging him to leave it.

"I'll contact you tomorrow morning about where we can make the trade," he told me, eyes still on the door. "But before I go, I'd like to meet the thoughtful neighbor who made sure my little dove wasn't alone for the holiday."

" No ," the word came out as a snarl, my teeth bared at him. "Leave them alone, you've got enough leverage already."

His smile darkened before his voice rang out, "Whoever's in there, invite me inside."

I felt my heart drop into my stomach, wincing when moments later the door slowly opened behind me. Matt was standing behind it, a torn expression on his face as he stepped aside.

"Please come inside," Matt said.

Kilgrave's eyes turned to angry slits as they took in the sight of Matt, scanning him up and down, no doubt noticing he was an attractive young man. A look of rage and jealousy mixed along his features before his eyes slowly slid to me.

" Gladly ," he snarled.

I stepped in front of Kilgrave, trying to block his path. There was no way in hell I was going to let him hurt my friends.

"Are you sure you want to do that, little dove?" he whispered venomously. "I think I'm the one with the power here, no?"

When I didn't react, he stepped around me into the apartment. In a rush I followed him inside, trying to stay in control of myself. I could feel myself shaking so hard that it had to have been noticeable.

"Well isn't this festive ," Kilgrave rumbled out as he eyed Foggy and Karen at the table. Foggy rose from the chair but Kilgrave pointed a finger roughly at him. "Sit back down," he ordered. Foggy sat. "You by the door," he continued, pointing at Matt. "come over here."

Matt walked over to the table, helpless to resist. I closed my eyes, trying to focus. The familiar vibration behind my eyes began and as I tried to mentally reach out towards Kilgrave, I heard him command the three to introduce themselves. I struggled to get a grasp on Kilgrave's consciousness; it was significantly harder than when he'd run into Matt and I a week ago after the Sufentanil attack. I couldn't seem to find a way in; it was like there was a wall of concrete and I was looking for a weak spot to slip inside but everything was ridiculously reinforced.

When my eyes shot open, I heard a collective gasp from Foggy and Karen. The noise caused Kilgrave to turn towards me. I watched as a small, pleased smile curled up on his face.

"Glad you could join us, Wraith," he cooed cheerily. "You really should be let loose more often."

"Shut up," I growled.

Kilgrave's eyes darted back to the table where Karen and Foggy were seated and Matt was standing. His head cocked to the side as he watched them for a moment.

"Seems only one of you was let in on Olivia's little secret, judging from the shock of that," he said, pointing at my altered appearance, "and the reaction to, well, me ," he mused. He focused on Matt, thinking aloud for a moment. "Well I see you're blind, but you don't seem too surprised about what's happening." He hummed in thought, rubbing his chin before his eyes darted over to me. "Is there something going on between the two of you?"

"He's just my neighbor," I answered quickly.

"Olivia, don't lie to me," he said, voice dark. "You know I hate it when you lie, little dove." His head turned back towards Matt. "You, neighbor, what are you to her?"

"Friends," Matt ground out.

Kilgrave frowned at the word before shaking his head. "Are you involved romantically?"

Matt seemed to struggle, trying hard to fight back the word. "Yes," he eventually answered.

Kilgrave looked murderous as he rounded on me, taking a step closer. I was straining mentally, frantically trying to find a way into his consciousness. I saw his eyes dart towards my nose, one of his brows quirking up.

"Having a difficult time, Wraith?" he teased. "You know, you went a long time suffocating her deep down inside of you. You should have been working on your abilities– perfecting them, growing them." He smirked, clasping his hands in front of him. "You've gotten weak, Wraith." He shook his head, tsk'ing as he did. "You have so much potential, you know that right? You keep trying to fight what you are instead of just embracing it, like me." One of his hands gestured back to the table behind him. "You keep trying to be normal, like them. You think they'll ever accept you? Like I do?" He took another few steps closer to me, quick and intimidating. " I know what you are. I know what they did to you. You could be…so much more, and yet you keep settling for such…mediocrity."

He sighed, running a hand down his face before he turned and focused on Matt. He shook his head as he glanced back at me over his shoulder. "You know what I have to do now, right?" he asked. "You know how I feel about you being with anyone else."

"If you don't leave, I'm calling the cops!" Foggy suddenly threatened.

Kilgrave burst into laughter at his threat, clapping his hands together in amusement. "Oh, please do. They'll be needed here for the crime scene soon, anyway. But how about instead, you pick up that carving knife."

Foggy rose from his chair and headed into the kitchen, grabbing the knife.

"Bring it here," Kilgrave called out, bored.

Foggy made his way back to the table, fear etched across his face. I could feel my heart breaking as I forced myself to push even harder against Kilgrave's mind. I just needed a weak spot, just one.

"Now, romantically involved neighbor ," Kilgrave snapped angrily, focusing on Matt, "take the knife."

"Stop!" I begged, watching as Matt hesitantly took the knife from Foggy.

"Bring the knife to your chest," Kilgrave ordered firmly, watching in satisfaction as Matt did. He glanced over his shoulder at me again. "We're just starting, little dove. Relax." A dark smile spread over his lips. "If you want this man's heart so badly, I'll let you have it. Bloody and beating in the palm of your hand."

"You're sick!" Karen shouted at Kilgrave.

I shook my head frantically at her, urging her to keep quiet. Her eyes widened when Kilgrave's attention turned on her. He crossed the room to stand beside her, brushing her hair off of her shoulder.

"Pretty," he observed, his fingers lingering along her cheek. He glanced at me, brows raising. "Maybe I'll bring her with me, since you seem so opposed to having me. And in her mind I'll be what, raping her every day? That's what you called it?"

Karen let out a whimper as she sat trapped in her chair. Kilgrave leaned down beside her, his eyes on me. I saw both Foggy and Matt tense.

"Kiss me," he ordered.

Karen leant forward, whimpering as she tried to obey his command.

I felt something inside of me snap, fury rising up to the surface; burning heat coursed through my body and there was an intense pressure building in my temples. My teeth ground down hard against each other as a strange wave of focus overtook me. I threw one hand forward, a surge of energy knocking Kilgrave roughly to the floor. Karen got up towards him, still trying to follow his command. Closing my eyes, I pushed, reaching out to all three of their minds. It physically hurt, as if a knife was being pushed into the base of my skull; and then almost instantly I could feel all three of their consciousnesses now, aware of their fear and their anger. When my eyes flew open, I watched as Karen backed away from Kilgrave, Foggy pulling her behind him. Matt tossed the knife onto the table.

"I said kiss me ," Kilgrave roared the order at Karen.

"Go to hell," she growled back.

Kilgrave's eyes snapped in my direction, growing wide at the sight of me as he processed what was happening. And then it dawned on him.

"You're shielding them?" he said in surprise.

"Leave them alone," I snarled, my fist shaking from the weight of holding onto three other minds, blocking them from Kilgrave.

He laughed as he eyed me, slowly rising to his feet. "She's right there, just under the surface," he pointed towards my face. "Let her out already, Olivia. Let her free."

"Shut the fuck up," I growled, feeling blood pouring down from my nose, dripping down my chin.

"Stop fighting who you are!" he roared back. "You were meant for this!"

My head snapped to the side at the words, ones that were very familiar.

"You were born for this. This is your purpose," Whitlock's cold voice said.

A growl rumbled up from deep in my chest and I snarled at Kilgrave. The pleased smile on his face was short-lived. Keeping my right hand grounded against my side, holding firm to Karen, Foggy, and Matt's consciousnesses, I reached forward towards Kilgrave with my left hand, feeling my mind split in half as I mentally gripped his throat. He began to choke, sputtering and gagging. I yanked him forward through the air towards me until he was a few feet away, his feet dangling two feet off of the floor as he clawed at his throat. My eyes locked on to his, entrapping them with mine. He stared, trance-like at me.

I could feel my entire body shaking with tremors, my legs beginning to go weak at the knees. I didn't have much left in me, but I had enough to at least get him out of here and keep them safe.

"You're going to return to where you're staying," I commanded, my voice sounding even more metallic than usual. "You're not going to remember coming here and meeting any of them. Now leave ."

I opened my left fist and Kilgrave collapsed to the floor of Matt's apartment on his knees with a loud thud . I waited a moment, my right fist still closed so tight my nails were drawing blood. Kilgrave rose to his feet and made to exit the apartment as if he was in a trance. I waited until he had left for a few moments before I released my right hand; I could instantly feel the pressure in my head dull at the release of their three minds.

" What the hell just happened?" Foggy snapped from behind me.

The room was beginning to spin around me and my eyes were fluttering closed. I took a step to turn around and face Foggy, entirely prepared to explain and profusely apologize before taking my permanent exit from his life, but I stumbled. My legs gave out from under me and I was falling forward.

Matt caught me just before I hit the floor. He gently lowered me to my knees and sat beside me before pulling me into his lap. He wrapped his arms tight around my stomach as my body began to shake violently–from the adrenaline, from the fear, from the sheer exhaustion of whatever it was I'd just done.

"Hey, shh, it's alright," Matt whispered beside my ear, his breath warm. "I've got you. He's gone. You're okay. Relax. Breathe."

"Did you know about this?" he asked, rounding on Matt now.

"Foggy, can you just give us a minute here?" Matt called back over his shoulder, his tone sounding a little panicked. I felt his head turn back and he whispered beside my ear again, "You lost a lot of blood, sweetheart. Are you okay?"

"I've…never done that…before," I wheezed out.

Karen suddenly appeared in front of me, lowering to her knees hesitantly. She had a handful of damp paper towels in her hands as she swallowed hard.

"You…you have a lot of blood on you," she said cautiously.

I forced my head to roll forward off of Matt's shoulder and looked down. The entire front of my long sleeve shirt was coated in thick, red blood. Slowly, I raised my hands up in front of me. They were shaking vigorously and fairly pale. My right hand was bloodied from where the crescents of my nails had tore through flesh. Completely spent, my hands dropped to my sides and my head drooped back against Matt's shoulder, my eyes shutting. A moment later I felt Karen's tentative touch, cleaning the blood covering my face.

"That was him, wasn't it?" she said, her tone careful and curious. "Kilgrave? The one Hope Shlottman claimed compelled her to kill her parents." I heard the way her breath caught in her throat. "He's real, isn't he?"

"Yes," I breathed out.

Karen paused her task for a moment, exhaling a heavy breath to calm herself down.

" What ?" Foggy's tone of disbelief rang out.

My eyes opened and I watched as he appeared in my line of vision. He remained at a distance on his feet, eyeing me nervously. As much as it hurt, I couldn't blame his fear of me. I was honestly shocked Karen was kneeling in front of me like she was.

I inhaled a shaky breath, trying to sit up a bit against Matt and make eye contact with Foggy. "Kilgrave is real," I began to explain. "His parents experimented on him. When he was young." I paused, trying to fight down the rising sick feeling in my stomach. Matt suddenly nuzzled his face against the back of my neck and I took comfort in his affection. "He was dying from a neurodegenerative brain disease. His parents used a virus on him. It…mutated in him." I shook my head slowly, feeling dizzy at the gesture. "I don't know how it works, but people become infected with it and it makes them susceptible to his commands. It lasts for twelve hours."

"But not you?" Karen asked curiously as she began to wipe off my neck.

"No," I admitted. "Not me."

"Because of…whatever you are?" she pried.

My eyes spun towards her, taking in her nervous but interested gaze. They deserved the truth after what they just witnessed.

I sighed heavily and then nodded. "Yes. I'm…different. Somehow," I confessed.

A soft smile spread across her face. "I thought so. Ever since that guy at Josie's," she told me. "The way you looked that night, how he just sat back down. The way you stopped that punch." She cleared her throat before she looked down at the blood she was cleaning from my skin. "The way you bristled at the mention of Kilgrave. The weird questions you asked about proving he was real. It…it didn't add up. I began…trying to dig up information."

I winced at her words. "You knew?" I asked.

"Not much of anything," she told me. "You have a birth certificate. A few years of a work history. Records of a life in Alaska; of going to university there. You've got a high school diploma but no…history of anything before college. No internet presence or anything. It was like you just existed one day."

I smiled lightly, impressed. "You're smart," I told her. "Perceptive."

"So who are you?" Foggy pushed, his eyes darting towards Matt still buried against my neck. "And why did you never tell Karen or I? Why does Matt know?"

Karen finished cleaning me up as best as she could, rising to her feet and heading to the kitchen to toss out the bloodied towels in the garbage. My eyes followed her movements to the kitchen sink where she began to scrub at her hands. Matt's mouth very gently kissed my neck and my eyes slowly closed.

"Olivia?" Foggy pressed. "Or is that even your real name?"

"I didn't have a name," I admitted quietly, my eyes opening and turning back towards Foggy. "When they weren't referring to me as an object I was known as 647. I grew up in a lab–a place I always referred to as The Facility. I spent my life in a cage. The times I was let out of it was for…experimentation. Training. Torture."

Foggy grimaced as Karen appeared by his side. She looked horrified by the information, her eyes wide.

"Why?" she asked.

I shook my head. "I have no idea. When I was about thirteen they began injecting me with something. Experimenting on me with different trials. Wanting me to use my mind to…do things. They started to call me Wraith then." I shrugged lightly. "When I used my abilities I looked…different."

"And that Kilgrave was one of those experiments?" Foggy asked.

"No," I said softly, glancing down at my hands as Matt slid his through mine. "He rescued me. When I was seventeen. Killed the scientists who had been experimenting on me and then freed me. Took care of me." My eyes closed, feeling shame and guilt welling up inside of me. "We briefly had a relationship–before I knew what he was really like. And when I wouldn't use my abilities for him, he got mad. Found a drug that lowered the mental shield I have that keeps him from my head," I told them. "Spent months doing that until I formed a tolerance to it and could get away. And then I ran. Tried to start a normal life; never used my powers again. Until I moved here a few weeks ago and found out he was here."

I focused on the feel of Matt's heart beating against my back as he pulled me tighter into himself. Foggy turned and eyed him at the gesture.

"And how did he find out?" he questioned.

"He uh…had an unfortunate run in with Kilgrave the other week when I was…with him," I said, trying to cover up part of the truth. "The P.I. and I are the only ones immune to Kilgrave and we've been trying to find a way to prove he exists to free Hope and get him arrested and sent somewhere strong enough to contain him. We discovered he's weakened by an anesthesia; lucky for me the night he ran into Matt he was still weakened from it. I was able to…make him leave and forget the run in ever happened. That's how Matt found out about everything."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Foggy asked. "I thought we were friends. I thought I knew you."

I winced at his words, feeling Matt's body tense up behind me.

"Foggy," Matt warned.

"No, it's fine," I told Matt. My attention turned back to Foggy and I frowned. "Look, I'm sorry for keeping it a secret, for what it's worth. But honestly, I didn't want to endanger any of you. I figured keeping it to myself was the safest option. None of you can help me with Kilgrave. And I…I just want to be normal. I don't want to be like this; I just want to stop Kilgrave and go back to my life before."

Karen crossed her arms, her brows knitting together as she stared down at me. "Don't you want to know what was done to you? Why you have these abilities? What they are? Who was experimenting on you?"

I shook my head swiftly at her questions. "No, no I don't. I don't want to know any of it. I got out of there alive. I've got a job, an apartment–a life. I'm not risking that by opening up a door to my past. I don't want to know." My eyes narrowed at the way she looked away, her shoulders tensing up. "And I sure as shit hope you're not trying to do any digging, Karen. It's not safe."

Her eyes snapped back towards me. "What about Kilgrave? He rescued you right? He seems to know something about your abilities."

I shook my head firmly, abruptly sitting forward and pulling from Matt's comforting embrace.

" Absolutely not ," I growled. "I don't care what he may or may not know–he's dangerous. Stay the fuck away from him, Karen. You know what he did to Hope? What he did to my friend that's helping me stop him? What he did to me? And probably countless other women? Or can you figure it out for yourself?" I pointed a finger roughly at her. "Stay. Away. From Kilgrave. My friend and I are taking care of him."

"Why can't that…Devil of Hell's Kitchen deal with him?" Foggy mused.

"No, he's not safe from his powers either," I said quickly.

Karen's eyes narrowed. "You say that like you've seen it happen."

I could feel Matt's body tense beside me, shifting uncomfortably. I squeezed his hands in mine reassuringly.

"I just know it," I answered.

"So…what was that," Foggy asked slowly, cautiously, "that you just did? When your eyes went all…white and glowy? You looked like you were having a brain hemorrhage." His hands rose up to his eyes, gesturing at them as he made a face towards me. "Your eyes are all bloodshot now."

"I–I don't know what that was," I answered him honestly. "I compelled him to leave but compelling him is almost impossible for me."

"And that…Force choke?" he asked, brow raising.

I sent him a sad smile. "I don't know. I mean, I can lift things, usually nothing too heavy. But I've never done that before–never something living. It's more difficult than an object. And I've never been able to block him out of others' minds before; reverse his commands, sure, but not…not whatever just happened. Certainly not all of those things at once. Something just…took over," I answered him lamely with a shrug.

"And–and you trust her, Matt?" Foggy asked hesitantly.

"Look, I understand that this is incredibly messed up," I told him. "I'll leave. Stay away from all of you. None of you need this."

I tried to rise to my feet but Matt was immediately pulling me back into him, wrapping his arms tightly around me. I saw the look of surprise on both Karen and Foggy's faces at the gesture.

"No," Matt muttered, holding me close. "You're not disappearing. Not from me."

"After that," I told him softly, my head turned partially over my shoulder towards him as I spoke, "it might be for the best that I keep my distance for now. Until…that's sorted." My attention turned towards Karen and Foggy in front of me. "As for your friends? You can't speak for them," I told him. "It's safer if they aren't around me either."

I smiled lightly at the pair before me, noticing the way Karen shot me a small smile in return. Foggy was raking his fingers through his hair looking distraught. I twisted in Matt's arms, leaning forward to cup his cheek, running my thumb along the stubble of his cheekbone.

"Let's just take a few days and let me figure this out," I whispered to him.

"No," he pleaded, nearly choking the word out. "I just finally got you, Liv, don't leave. Please."

My lip trembled as I watched the look of despair draw itself over his handsome face. Slowly, I leaned in and planted a gentle kiss on his cheek, lingering for a moment against the warm skin.

"It's just a few days, Matt," I told him. "I promise. I just need to keep you safe."

I pulled out of his embrace, standing up and turning. I glanced quickly at Foggy and Karen who were looking torn.

"I'm really sorry tonight happened," I apologized to the pair. "It's all my fault. You shouldn't have been in his way, but you should be safe now. He won't remember tonight."

I turned and crossed the living room, heading down the entry hall. My heart twisted in my chest, aching as Matt called out after me. I forced myself to leave, heading back to my apartment.

I was going to take the night to clean up, try to gain my energy back, and figure out how to save Hope, the Kilgrave survivor's group, and Albert. I pushed all thoughts of Matt to the side, ignoring the pain in my chest as I did.

It's almost over , I told myself. Just push through to the end. It's almost over.