(Poetic Vulgarity - D4vd)
Two weeks. That's how long it had been since Danica had seen, or heard a word from Matt. He hadn't tried to come see her at her apartment and Danica certainly wasn't going to make a fool out of herself and knock on his door again. She was smart enough to know when she wasn't wanted and to solidify that, anytime Danica asked Foggy, he got dodgy and said Matt was busy with a case which she found odd considering that would have to mean Foggy was busy as well, however he reached out to talk with her and got lunch and dinner with Danica too.
In those two weeks, Danica had started working, had a celebratory dinner with her Father, gone shopping for furniture, and was introduced to Foggy's potential girlfriend Karen, so she was too busy to have time to even think about Matt. Or at least, that's what she kept telling herself. But as much as Danica thought about Matt, Pete was also intruding her thoughts.
She had contemplated calling him, asking him to have coffee again, or maybe even dinner but Danica had felt too shy, hoping that he'd call her instead but he didn't. Currently it was Saturday morning and Danica had just finished showering and blow drying her hair.
Standing in a robe, she looked through her clothes and started figuring out what she wanted to wear. When she had gotten dressed, Danica nodded in approval at herself just as a knock sounded on her door.
When Danica opened the door, she was surprised to see Matt. He looked worse for wear too, stitches on his eyebrow, a slightly busted lip, and from what she could see, a black eye that was almost faded away. "I like the new look." Danica told him as he immediately laughed.
"Thanks, I was going for the bad boy approach." He let her know as she hummed in response, staring at him while trying to figure out if she should be mad at him or concerned. "I have a good explanation why I haven't been around." Matt immediately went into addressing the situation, looking apologetic.
"I'm sure you do." Danica told him, already feeling her walls that she had been building up come down. "And I'm assuming you'd like to talk to me about it, so come in." Danica moved to the side and he stepped in, his cane sweeping around as he did while Danica closed the door behind him. "Couch is about 10 feet in front of you if you'd like to sit."
"Thanks but I'll stand." Matt told her. "I'm sorry that I haven't come by and that I wasn't at my apartment the morning we were supposed to have breakfast. I was walking across the street and got hit by a car. I definitely should have had Foggy with me or asked for help but normally I can hear the crosswalk telling me to walk, and I guess someone was just in a big hurry. I was in a lot of pain and couldn't really do much so I just waited until I finally was able to move around enough to come see you and talk to you."
Danica felt bad after hearing his explanation but for some reason, she didn't believe what he was saying. It didn't make sense in some ways but she knew that it would be wrong to accuse him of anything without proof. "I'm so sorry Matt. Have you gotten the drivers info? Are they facing any charges?" Danica asked as Matt shook his head.
"Hit and run. I don't really know what his car looked like either but some passerby's said it was a Lincoln. It's not a lot of info to go off of unfortunately."
"Yeah, it really isn't, that's so awful. If you ever need me to walk with you anywhere just let me know. I don't want you to get hurt." Danica offered as he gave her a smile which immediately made her heart melt.
"You're too sweet, thank you. I'll keep that in mind for next time. Having a pretty woman walking me around is much better then going alone." Matt complimented as she blushed.
"Mr. Murdock, I'm beginning to suspect you flirt with all the ladies like this." Matt put his hand on his chest in mock offense.
"Absolutely not. This is reserved for you and you alone." He told her and she couldn't help but grin at hearing that.
"Well, I sure do feel special." She responded playfully as he smirked.
"That's the idea. So, I heard you started your job. How are you liking it?" Matt asked her as Danica walked to her fridge and grabbed a water.
"It's nice, I like it better then what I had been doing before. Looking at the art everyday is amazing, plus it just feels like I was meant for it." She explained to him before grabbing another water for him. "Thirsty? I've got a water bottle."
"Yes please." He nodded as she walked over to him and reached for his hand before putting the bottle in his hand gently. As she was about to pull back, he grabbed her hand and held it. "Your hands are so soft." He murmured as Danica's face lit up in a blush, feeling her heart start beating rapidly in her chest.
"I uh, I-" Danica tried to stammer something out but Matt interrupted her.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." He apologized as he let her hand go. Danica shook her head rapidly then.
"No! No, you didn't make me uncomfortable. I just- I haven't really um.. been touched by anyone else in that way besides my ex. In fact, I've never really been flirted with." Danica laughed awkwardly. "Im sure that sounds pathetic." Matt's raised his eyebrows in surprise before speaking.
"No!" He exclaimed loudly before talking quietly. "No, you're fine. I didn't know that.. So you've only ever been with one person?" He asked as Danica sighed.
"Yes, I guess you could say I've always been more interested in work rather than relationships. I only even met Marc because of work. He was interested in what I was doing as an illustrator. I had been illustrating old art pieces, filling in pieces where the art was faded or gone. Mostly Egyptian pieces, and he had some questions about it but then it went from there." Danica explained. "I know that might sound lame." She rubbed the back of her neck shyly.
"Not lame at all, don't worry." Matt reassured with a smile before he cocked his head. This happened the last time before he rushed off. Danica thought as she examined him.
"Um, what time is it?" He asked as she checked the time on the wall.
"It's 11:15." Danica told him as he made a face.
"I am unfortunately late for a meeting with a client but I'd like to continue this conversation. I know this keeps ending so abruptly but I'd really like a chance to just sit and hang out with you. The bar tonight maybe? It's the one Foggy and I go to a lot."
"I know the one, Foggy took me there the other week." Danica told him, trying not to feel like she was being messed with. He's Foggy's friend, not some asshole frat guy. Matt doesn't seem like the type to play with someone like that.
"Perfect, meet me there at 8:30?" He asked as she contemplated it for a moment before giving in.
"I will. As long as you promise to show up." She teased as he grinned in relief.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world." Matt smoothly answered before leaning in and pecking her on the cheek again like he had two weeks before. "I'll see you then." He told her before leaving.
Danica didn't know what to make of the last 15 minutes. He had shown up, woo'd her, then left just as abruptly. The cynical part of her was screaming at her to stop being so dumb but for some reason she felt like Matt was a genuinely nice guy with good intentions, even if he was extremely busy.
Still, that didn't stop Danica from feeling antsy about it and all day long she wondered if he truly was going to show up and by the time evening came, she was nervous he was going to pull the same stunt. Just as she was about to leave, a knock sounded on her door. Danica rushed to the door in excitement, hoping that it was Matt but composed herself before opening it only to be surprised to find that it was Pete.
"Uh, hi." He said simply, looking her up and down briefly before looking at her face again.
"Pete! Hey, how'd you know which apartment was mine?" Danica asked in confusion as he shrugged.
"I waited for you to get all the way up to your apartment the night I walked you home before wandering off and saw the light turn on from your window. Was really a gamble though." Danica was impressed by his deduction.
"What if it wasn't me?" She asked teasingly as he shrugged.
"Guess I would have had to knock on everyone's door until I found your apartment." Danica melted a little bit at that and found herself stepping to the side to let him in.
"Would you like to come in?" Danica asked as she watched him take a step in and look around.
"Nice place." He commented as he walked farther in. Danica shut the door behind him just as she got a phone call. Danica pulled her phone out of her pocket as she glanced at the caller ID and saw that it was Foggy. Pete glanced back at her as she answered.
"Hello?"
"Dani, just wanted to let you know Matt might not be able to make it so it'll just be you, me, and Karen." Danica chuckled dryly at hearing that but wasn't too phased this time. Third time in a row. She thought bitterly.
Don't worry about it, I won't be coming out tonight." Danica let him know as she stared at Pete who just watched her talk. He smirked as she said she wasn't coming out.
"Aw Dani, come on don't be like that. I'm sure Matt has a good reason, just come out and hang with us for awhile, please?" He asked as Danica felt torn for a second but as she glanced back up at Pete, she made up her mind.
"Maybe another night, okay? I had other things come up. I'll talk to you later Foggy." With that, Danica hung up feeling some what guilty for a moment.
"Hope I didn't keep you from your plans." Pete commented as she shook her head.
"Wasn't anything important." She responded. "So what brings you to my humble abode?" Danica asked as Pete glanced back at her with a slight chuckle.
"You humble abode, huh?" He asked as he walked around her apartment, taking it all in and looking at all the pictures of her and her family hanging up on the walls. "I was in the neighborhood actually and wanted to see how you were. Your face hurt anymore?" He asked as she watched him look at her pictures.
"No it doesn't hurt anymore, the bruising faded quick too thankfully."
"That's good." He murmured before pointing to her Dad. "This your Dad?" He asked as she walked over to look at the picture, standing beside him.
"That is. He's my rock." Danica said as she stared at the picture too. It was the last family photo that they all had together.
"And is that your Mom and brother?" Pete asked.
"Yeah, it is. That's the last photo we all had together before.. before my brother Travis decided to commit suicide." Danica spoke quietly as she reached out to the picture and touched it fondly.
"I'm sorry to hear that." Pete murmured as they stood in silence for a moment.
"He fought his battle for a long time before it won. I did everything I could to help him for so long, I used to do anything just to get him to smile but it was so hard for him. Wherever he is now, I hope he can finally smile. Maybe he's with mom." With that Danica started to cry, feeling everything and turning away quickly. "I don't know why I'm crying, it's been years since all of that. Tonight has just been bad, I got stood up again for the third time by the same person." She laughed dryly. "God, sorry for the sob story."
"You're fine. Guy sounds like a loser to stand you up once, let alone three times. Shouldn't let anyone do that to you, you're too good for that." Pete tried to comfort her before softly grabbing one of her shoulders and turning her back to him. "Don't cry, he ain't worth your tears." Using one of his thumbs, he wiped away a tear that was on her cheek gently before pulling away.
"Sorry." She whispered looking down.
"Stop saying sorry." Pete told her firmly before making his way over to her couch and gingerly sitting down. "Wasn't planning on staying long but I can't leave you like this so guess you'll have to put up with me for a bit longer." He grunted out before gesturing for her to sit down next to him. Danica shuffled over to the couch and sat down on the other side as he cleared his throat then. "What's so special about this guy anyways to have you like this?" He asked curiously.
"I don't know, he's just nice." Danica murmured as Pete raised an eyebrow at her.
"Doesn't seem very nice if this is the third time he's stood you up with no notice. Shouldn't have let it slide even once."
"What can I say? He's had some pretty good excuses. Maybe I'm just gullible."
"Maybe." Pete told her and she looked at him only to see he was smiling at her playfully and her heart felt like it was fluttering in her chest as his smile and she couldn't help but smile back. She playfully shoved his shoulder then.
"Thanks Pete, you sure know how to comfort a girl." Danica told him sarcastically as she stuck her tongue out at him and he chuckled.
"You're smiling, aren't ya? Think I'm doing a decent job." He told her as she stared at him for a moment with a soft smile. Suddenly Pete reached out and touched her hair softly, wrapping it in between his fingers and then once again pulled away just as suddenly as if he didn't have control of himself. "Sorry, don't know why I did that." He muttered and looked down.
"No, it's fine! Don't be sorry, I-" Danica was interrupted by the ringing of her phone and looked down at it. It was Foggy. She silenced the call and let it ring as she looked back up at Pete who got up then, avoiding her gaze.
"I should be on my way." He told her as Danica jumped up frantically then, not understanding.
"Already? You just got here a little bit ago." Danica blurted out but instantly was ashamed at the way she was acting and felt herself pulling away then. Don't beg someone to stay where they don't want to, that's beneath you. Her inner monologue ringed in her head. "Sorry. I don't mean to keep you from whatever you gotta go do." Danica murmured, looking away then. She could feel Pete's stare on her but didn't meet his eyes, feeling small and vulnerable again, thinking it would show if she looked him in the eye. "I'll show you out."
Silently she walked over to her door and opened it for him and he started slowly walking out and then turned around in her doorway. "Can I come by again?" Pete asked her and the quell of hope fluttered in her chest before she stomped it out again.
"If you want to." Danica looked up and gave him a soft smile. Pete's eyes searched her face then before he slowly nodded.
"See you around." Was the last thing he told her before he walked out and down the hall. Danica stood there for at least five minutes as she stared out her open doorway before sighing.
"Yeah.. I'll see you around." She whispered quietly before going to shut her door only for it not to shut close. Danica turned around confused but it was Foggy with Matt by his side. She blinked in surprise. Did they see Pete leave? Danica thought to herself.
"I called you." Foggy spoke as Danica nodded.
"I am aware."
"And you didn't answer."
"I am also aware."
"Rude."
"If I was rude I would have told you to go eat a bag of dicks." Danica told him as he gasped in mock offense.
"That's no way to speak to a lady!" He exclaimed as she laughed.
"So sorry Mrs. Foggy, that was out of line of me." Danica did an over exaggerated bow and both Matt and Foggy laughed.
"I'm oh so thankful for the apology. And speaking of which, I have Matt here who is super duper sorry that he was late and is here to say that, right Matt?" Foggy elbowed him in the side then as Matt jumped.
"Ow!" He exclaimed while rubbing his side for a moment before turning his head in the general direction of where Danica was. "But yes, I'm sorry. I know you probably thought I was going to bail again but I was just running a little bit late. I came here with Foggy to convince you to come out with us. Please?" He gave her a dazzling smile and for a moment Danica stood there just staring at both of them. I wish Pete would have stayed. Was the lingering thought in her head before she shook her head of it.
"No?" Foggy asked with a crestfallen face.
"No?" Matt asked, repeating what Foggy said.
"Not no, yes. I was just thinking about something." Danica explained to them as Foggy grinned with a clap of his hands.
"Hell yeah! Let's all go get drunk together, come on." He motioned for Danica to come on.
"Let me grab my bag, you guys go on ahead and I'll catch up." She told them as she turned around and walked over to her coat rack, snatching up her purse before turning back to the door only to see Matt still standing there, waiting for her.
"Danica as we were coming up, were you saying something? I thought I heard you talking as we were coming up the stairs. And why was your door open?" He asked as Danica shifted from one foot to the other awkwardly, deciding to tell him the watered down version of the truth.
"I had a friend unexpectedly come over but they didn't stay long. I was just at my door watching them leave and got caught up in my thoughts. That's all."
"I didn't hear anyone as we were coming up though." Matt spoke, confusion on his face.
"I don't know, maybe they left quicker than you came up? Who's to say. But let's get going, shall we?" She asked as he nodded with a troubled look on his face but it quickly went away as he offered her his arm.
"We shall." He responded as she grabbed onto his arm and walked down the stairs with him where Foggy was waiting.
"God, you guys took forever. What were you doing? Making out?" He asked as Danica groaned at his teasing as they started walking down the sidewalk.
"Is there an off switch? Or do you just go?" She squinted at him as he grinned mischievously.
"I'm always this cute, don't you remember Dani? If you forgot then that means I didn't do a good enough job in High school and have to make up for it now."
"You're gonna make Danica go straight back up to her apartment if you don't quit." Matt smirked as Foggy laughed.
"Nah, she won't admit it but she loves it, isn't that right?" He asked as they stopped at the bar finally.
"Love is an overstatement. I'd replace that with detest maybe. I think that's more fitting."
They walked in then and walked over to where Karen was who grinned when she saw Danica. "You made it! I was worried you weren't gonna show up." Danica smiled back at her sweet presence. Danica liked Karen, she was a genuine person which was hard to find now a days.
"Well you can thank Matt and Foggy for dragging me out." She told her.
"I'll go get us all drinks." Matt told them. "Danica, you want anything specific?" He asked.
"Redbull and vodka?" She asked as he nodded.
"One redbull and vodka coming up."
"I'll come with you." Foggy told him and when it was just Karen and Danica, Karen turned to her with an knowing look.
"You like Matt, right?" She asked as Danica blinked in surprise.
"What?" She blurted out in confusion. Karen smiled easily at her as she watched Danica.
"The way you look at him, it's easy to tell. Dani, your eyes are probably one of the most expressive that I've ever seen and it's a dead give away. It's a good thing Matt's blind or he'd definitely pick up on it."
"Oh man." Danica muttered, rubbing her face as it felt like it was on fire. "If it's that obvious, he must know."
"Maybe, but is it a bad thing?" Karen asked. "I mean he likes you anyways."
"I'm not so sure about that." Danica told her as Karen furrowed her eyebrows.
"Why do you think that?"
"Well," Danica started. "He's blown me off twice before this, with good reason the second time but he basically ghosted me for two weeks after even though he's my next door neighbor. I get that he was hurt too but damn, not even a call? Most people would say they get the hint, And yeah, he flirts with me but maybe he does that with all the girls. I think he's extremely nice, and handsome too but I'm not going to make a fool out of myself thinking that he genuinely likes me. I just got out of a relationship where I felt like the last thing on his mind, I'm not naive enough to do it again."
Karen stared at Danica, sadness in her eyes as she reached across the table and put her hand over Danica's comfortingly.
"Oh hon, I understand the hesitation but I promise you, Matt is a genuinely nice guy with good intentions. You've got your walls up which is smart but he's not like your ex, I promise." Just as she finished saying that, Foggy and Matt walked back up with drinks in their hands and Foggy handed Karen hers while Matt handed Danica hers.
"What were you ladies talking about over here?" Foggy asked as Karen pecked his cheek before taking a sip of her drink.
"Oh you know, just girl stuff." Karen responded vaguely as Foggy raised an eyebrow.
"Sure, I'll pretend like that isn't code for 'we were talking about you guys' and sip my drink." Karen laughed at that while Danica smirked at Foggy's antics.
"We could have been talking about literally anything, like our periods for example. Isn't that right Danica?" Karen turned to look at her as she nodded with a grin.
"Yeah, you know that heavy flow and what not. What's better Tampons or Pads?"
"Or even those new cup things." Karen pointed at her as Danica nodded in agreement.
"Yeahh! I've heard they're eco-friendly too which is also a plus."
"Okay please, I'm begging you to stop." Foggy groaned as they both laughed. Matt gave a half hearted smile and cleared his throat then.
"Danica, do you think I could talk to you in private for a second?" He asked as Danica looked at him in surprise but stood up.
"Sure, yeah." She told him as she walked with him over to the bar. "What's up?" Danica asked curiously, looking over his troubled face.
"I just.. You know I'm not messing with you when I flirt with you, right?" He asked as she blinked in shock. He could not have heard our conversation, he was all the way across the other side of the room. Maybe him and Foggy were talking about it at the bar?
"Oh um, I don't know you all that well Matt and-" He interrupted her at that.
"Well get to know me better then. And I'll get to know you better, too." He smiled at her and she smiled back, even though he couldn't see it. "I want you to trust me and trust that my intentions aren't to play around with your feelings, okay?"
"Okay. That sounds good to me." She told him softly as he took her by her hand then and they made their way back over to the table where Foggy and Karen were staring at them with equal smug smiles on their faces.
"Very cute hand holding you two." Foggy commented as Danica rolled her eyes but smiled regardless. What about Pete? Danica felt a stab of guilt in her stomach at the lingering thought but tried to brush it off. He doesn't like you, he just went to your place to make sure you were okay. Danica reasoned with herself.
The rest of the night was spent having fun, laughing, and drinking. When the bar finally closed, Danica and Matt where stumbling home together, giggling as they went.
"I haven't had this much fun in years." Danica told him, holding on to him as she suddenly tripped on the side walk. "Woah!" She exclaimed as Matt grabbed her around her waist to steady her. "I also haven't drank this much in years either." She gave him a goofy smile as he laughed.
"I can tell." As he said it, he pulled her closer to him by her waist and Danica was quickly aware of how close they were, being able to smell his after shave on his neck and she swallowed hard as she blinked. "Danica." Matt whispered quietly then as they stood outside the apartment complex completely still.
"Yes?" She asked back just as quietly, her heart beating in her chest rapidly.
"What do you see when you look at me?" He asked and Danica's eyes looked at every single part of his face then.
"Warmth." She spoke after awhile. Matt's grip on her waist tightened. "It's like you're glowing with it, and it's mesmerizing, like a light show that I can't tear my eyes away from." Danica murmured as Matt's fingers tangled in the back of her hair as he kissed her passionately.
Danica's eyes fluttered closed as she gripped the back of his suit jacket, his mouth making its way to her neck as he left chaste kisses as she gasped, his warm breath on her neck making her shiver and her heart race in her chest. Finally, he pulled away, breathing heavily as Danica's lips curved into a smile as she reached out and traced her fingers along his cheek, her other hand still gripping the back of his jacket. "I don't know what it is about you," Matt started, his voice low and husky. "But I feel myself being pulled towards you, like some magnetic force." He chuckled then "That sounds kind of cheesy, doesn't it?"
"Maybe a little bit." She grinned as she said it and this time he laughed before tickling her sides and Danica started laughing hysterically, wiggling around. When he finally stopped, she laid her head down on his shoulder, out of breath from laughing. After a moment she finally spoke again. "I like cheesy though, I admire someone who can be vulnerable and say just what they feel. Not many do." She told him softly. "I used to be that way and I have a lot of regrets being closed off. A lot of I love you's were left unsaid and then I never got the chance."
Matt was silent as he reached up and traced the scar on her face. Eventually as it started getting later, Danica yawned and Matt squeezed her hand before pulling her towards the apartment doors and then up them. When they got inside and up the stairs, they stood between her complex and his for a moment. "I had an amazing night with you, Danica." He murmured as he kissed her cheek. "Lunch tomorrow?" He asked.
"I'd love to." And as they parted ways, Matt stood outside and watched her go inside and as she was closing her door she stopped for a moment, sticking her head outside it. "Goodnight Matthew." Danica told him sweetly as he grinned.
"Goodnight Danica." He told her as she finally went inside and closed the door.
After that night, they spent almost every day together, even if it was just for a little while. They got lunch together, he would show up at the museum when she was on break, sometimes with flowers, they'd eat dinner at his place, and she would bring homemade food over to Foggy and Matt's office from time to time. However, they hadn't done much besides hold hands or occasionally kiss one another on the cheek. Danica was aware that Matt didn't want to take things too quick and although he wasn't aware of the fact, one day when she was in the bathroom at Matt's and was about to come out she had heard a tid bit of a conversation between Matt and Foggy.
"So, are you and Danica dating then? Whats the details?" Foggy asked Matt as Matt shook his head.
"No, we're not dating. We're just getting to know each other, becoming close. That's what people do, Foggy." Foggy raised his eyebrow at Matt.
"Does Dani know that?" He asked.
"Why wouldn't she?"
"Well I mean you guys hold hands, have been spending every day together, she brings you food, you bring her food and flowers, kiss on the cheek. Need I say more?"
"Like I said, we're getting to know each other."
Since hearing that, she had her guard up a little bit, feeling silly thinking that they were more and Danica's mind couldn't help but linger to Pete.
He hadn't called her or shown up since that night and it had been a whole month. She had thought about calling him but always talked herself out of it. If he wanted to speak to me, he would reach out. Is what she told herself every time she thought about calling him or texting him.
It was a particular Thursday after work and she was heading over to her Dad's apartment for dinner as she once again had Pete on her mind. Gah, why do I keep thinking about him? I should be thinking about Matt, not Pete. But still, Danica pulled out her phone and scrolled til she found Pete's number. For a moment, her finger hovered over the call button in hesitation but then she hit it. Instantly she was overcome with a wave of anxiety and after three rings, she ended the call and stuffed her phone back in her purse. "You're an idiot, Danica." She muttered to herself in annoyance as she got to Her Father's complex.
As she took the elevator to his floor, Danica called her Dad to let him know she was coming up but he didn't answer. "Must be in the bathroom." She said to herself with a shrug. The elevator door dinged open then and she walked over to his door. "I'll just let myself in."