Adopted by the Devil - Matt Murdock (BOOK ONE)

Chapter 26

Jasper tightened the cloth wrap around his arm, blood seeping through it slowly. Everything was a blur honestly as he walked through alleys and deeper and deeper into the city. This is how he coped, getting himself into trouble.

He stumbled and leaned against a brick wall before sliding down onto the pavement. He snuffed a sob into his sleeve as he felt the stinging on his arm. He didn't want to see what he did, how bad his arm looked under the cloth. He sobbed quietly, his hands trembling as he focused in on the pain.

Footsteps echoed quietly through the alley and stopped right in front of him. "What are you doing kid?" Jasper looked up, his eyes red and puffy as he looked up at the masked vigilante in front of him.

"Why do you care? You didn't do shit." Jasper sneered, getting up and grinding his teeth. He shook his head, biting his lip so hard it bled. "Y-you didn't stop him from shooting her, do you even care that she died?" he sobbed, his chest heaving. Daredevil sighed shakily and walked towards him. Jasper shook his head but before he could protest, the hero's arms wrapped around him and held him tight.

"Let it out kid... if you don't it'll kill you," he simply stated, holding his hand on the back of Jasper's head. He sobbed hard, falling into him.

"W-hy do you care..." he whimpered, his hands gripping the suit. "W-why I don't understand..."

Just there, Matt felt himself slip through the mask of the superhero but pulled it together. He wanted to console and tell Jasper everything but it wouldn't help. It would make him hurt more. Daredevil pulled away from him and wiped his cheeks, holding his face. His emotions were raw, the heaving in the young boy's voice and his words.

"Because you're a kid and no kid deserves that. No one does, you hear me?" he stated, holding his jaw. Jasper sniffled, his nose stuffed as he felt the gloved hands against his cheeks.

"I... I don't know... I don't know what to do..." he muttered, his eyes unfocused. "I should... I should get home.." he whispered. Daredevil nodded, his arm wrapping around him.

"Then let's get you there," he said softly, walking Jasper back down the street.

After what seemed like hours to Jasper, Daredevil helped Jasper to his front porch and once he rang the doorbell, Caroline swung the door open. Her eyes widened and helped Jasper in.

"Oh gods my boy what did you do.." she said softly, helping him to the couch and sitting him down. She turned towards the door and stopped, Daredevil nowhere to be found.

"I uh had a feeling he would split.." Jasper muttered as he leaned back against the couch, closing his eyes as Caroline grabbed her kit and sat across from him. "I uh. I don't blame you for anything... by the way," he hesitantly admitted, tears falling as she cut the material off his arm. She exhaled, tears forming as she looked upon the state of his arm, the skin cut up in sporadic motions.

"Jas... I know this is hard but, you can't do this.." she whispered, cleaning his arm with some rubbing alcohol. He hissed, grinding his teeth. He nodded shakily, tears clouding his vision.

"I-I know.." he whimpered, Caroline's hand finding his as she bandaged his arm. "I just... didn't know h-how... How to regulate it... T-the hurt.." he whispered, lifting his head and looking into Carolines. Caroline's heart broke.

this young man, no this boy before her, had been broken and beat to what he believed was beyond repair, looking up at her with what hope he held. He wanted help she could see it. She got up and sat beside him before pulling him into her embrace. "If I could I would keep every danger in the world away from you," she whispered, rubbing his back and brushing his hair from his brow. He nuzzled into her, gripping her sweater as he curled up into her.

From the stairs, Quinn looked upon the scene and sighed softly, hesitantly stepping onto the ground floor and walking towards them. She sat on the other side of Jasper, gently placing her hand on his back and hugging him. Her arms wrapped around him and hugged him tight. "We're here Jas..." she whispered, resting her cheek on his shoulder bone. Jasper found himself taking her hand and sobbed in their shared embrace. He wanted to stay this secure, staying in this safe hold for as long as he could. His mind wandered, fearing what could happen to any of them at anytime

Tonight he wanted to find Harrison. He wanted to make him hurt but he honestly wanted Harrison to maybe kill him. He wouldn't have to deal with the hurt or the fear. He was grateful for Daredevil showing up when he did before he found his dad. He wanted to make him hurt but he couldn't go after him just on a whim.

He was going to make him pay for everything he did. He was going to find Jake, and make him really know what it was like. He was gonna find his mother, tell her exactly what was on his mind.

Everyone who had wronged him and his family, he would get them to pay.