Matt Murdock × Adelaide Watson : Daredevil has a heart too

The truth is bitter? Perhaps

We brought Natalie home. Well, Matt carried her home and then laid her on her bed. 

"Soon I am going to have grey hairs," he mumbled as he took off his mask and placed it in the cupboard in our room. 

"Welcome to parenting," I chuckled, trying to lighten the tension in the room. 

He sat on the bed with his head in his hands. I gave him some space for a while before I hugged him from the back, resting my head on his shoulder. "You're not a bad person. What happened tonight definitely crossed boundaries you had set for yourself. I am sorry that you had to go against what you stand for. But, because of you, the city is safe tonight. For however long that lasts. And our daughter is alive. Back home in her cozy bed. Natalie isn't another victim or another statistic. Your actions saved her," I said quietly. 

"How long till this horrible feeling goes away? Of taking a life?"

"It won't. It doesn't. You gotta come to terms with it Matt. Eventually. Because some lives deserve to be taken. Like that one mayor who is still alive and raising mayhem."

Matt snorted. "You hate me for keeping him alive huh?"

"Oh well. Hate is a strong word. Disappointed, sure! But never hate. Look, I get it. You're very selective Christian. But, jail is not the solution for some people. They keep getting out. It's a cycle Matt."

Matt nodded. Still, deep in thought. 

Then he spoke up, "Are we going to scold Natalie?" 

I thought about it. Frankly, I hadn't raised her. I know my mom was the strict but fair and kind grandma but I don't think she raised Natalie by scolding her. Hell, I wasn't even scolded growing up. Reprimands, sure! But yelling was a big no. And I was a pretty chill parent. I have taken my fair share of risks and being reckless. It would be hypocritical of me to yell at my daughter. 

"Loudly speak is a good option," I shrugged. 

"She is going to deduct our parenting points," Matt chuckled. 

"I think now I understand how those parents felt when I gave this point system therapy option to their kids. It's absolutely infuriating.  It makes me want to manipulate that dam points board. Who even came up with this therapy option. Yes it is effective but what the hell!" I ranted. 

Matt scoffed amused. Before he could reply our bedroom door opened. Natalie stood there rubbing her eyes. 

"Come sit Nat," I said softly. 

Natalie shuffled to sit between us. "Are you angry?" 

"What do you think miss heir to the biggest mafia?" I asked. 

"It was stupid of me. To go alone. I thought I could do it. You know since I am the heir as you said. I wanted to prove that I could do it. I can be strong but I almost died." She mumbled. 

"Atleast you're aware of it," Matt patted her head. 

"You wanna talk about it," I asked, wiping her tears. "Why you have been so snappy with us? Moody? Wanna elaborate on why you had to almost walk into death to prove yourself? I know I don't need to tell you that what you did tonight was absolutely stupid. Walking in without weapons to fight a serial killer is stupidity. And I know you're not stupid. So what is going on?" 

"I don't have anyone I can talk to right now," she replied, a bit hesitant. 

"What about me?" Matt asked. "Or your mom? Or do you mean something else?" 

"You don't know what it's like dad!" Natalie huffed. 

"What's what like darling?" He asked trying to deduce what exactly was bothering her. 

"I want to talk to Foggy! Before he died we used to talk everyday about the crumbling away due to Thanos. Dad, I cannot talk to you about that because you can't see. Five years of my life was taken! The fear as I crumbled away into dust, I saw it, I felt it and you didn't see it! You didn't feel the fear by seeing the disintegration. The confusion, the panic. Foggy was helping me through it," she confessed. 

And there, the problem finally came in front. The whole reason that made Natalie moody and reckless and snappy. The need to prove herself to oneself was not because she was worried about my approval but because it ate at her that she  missed five years of her life. The uncertainty of her existence was enough to lead her into whatever mindset she currently had. 

Matt looked hurt, Natalie wouldn't make eye contact all I could think was how to make this right.