cuts ✧ matt.murdock

nelson and murdock - attorneys at law

"And she made me promise only to serve it to my future husbands. You know it's like filled with virtue or something..." The blonde finished her sentence with a smile as I entered the room.

"I thought I detected a whiff of virtue in there..." The brunette lawyer trailed off as all three of them realized I had entered the room.

I was dressed in my casual attire (hoodie and jeans) so I shouldn't have intimidated them, but the look on the blind lawyer's face was one of a surprised and mildly afraid man. He looked like he had just seen a ghost.

"Detective Moretti." Nelson greeted me with an unsure smile. "What brings you to our humble establishment?" He gestured around the room and laughed.

"I just came to," I looked at Murdock's strange look of horror. "Check up on a few things." I tilted my head to the blind man.

"Is everything okay?" Page's smile turned to sadness as she thought over the many things that this could possibly be leading to.

"I was wondering if I could speak with Ms. Page, gentlemen," I explained as I rested against the doorway and crossed my arms.

"Karen?" Nelson asked the girl, obviously wanting to know if she was up for it.

"I- yes. Uh... yeah sure." She was obviously having a fight with her conscience as I awaited her response.

"Can we use this room?" I asked the other two as they both nodded. Karen gave a strange look to the two men, then quickly followed me into the room.

"W-what do you want?" She asked, probably still shaken up from the other night. I didn't blame her.

"I wanted to talk about last night."

"What about it." She quivered.

"What did the man in the mask say?"

"N-nothing. He just beat up that guy and took the drive..."

"The thing is I know you're lying. Do you know what my first question was for you in the precinct?"

"Yeah..."

"Can you answer that for me now. What did you take?"

"The pension file."

"Yes. And this pension file has now been broadcasted over the whole city. That means the people know what you know. That means you hold back no information. That makes you vulnerable. In a city like this, everyone is expendable."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you are flying under the radar of a seriously dangerous corporation, one that has been in the making for generations. Do you know what you just did?" She did not answer. "You restarted a war. That isn't something I can let happen. Do you understand?" I asked menacingly.

"Y-yes..."

"Good!" I ended the conversation with an obviously fake happiness. I exited the room and went back into the center of the office- if you could even call it that.

"You're done already!" Nelson exclaimed. I looked over to Murdock, whose face was whiter than snow. He looked like he knew more about me than I did about him. That was a look that I was growing to hate.

"Are you all right Mr. Murdock?" I asked, puzzled by his continuously strange behavior.

"Y-yeah." He ended his answer with a curt nod.

"Why don't you stay with us for the meal?" Nelson suggested as Karen's shaken up body came back to the room.

"Umm, I really shouldn't..." I looked down with feigned embarrassment. Maybe I should become an actor?

"No please! We need to repay you for keeping Hell's Kitchen safe from all those assholes out there!" Nelson smiled, and offered up the empty seat between himself and Murdock. I graciously took it, Page seating herself across from me.

"Thanks, Nelson." I threw a smile at him.

"Call me Foggy! This here is Matt." He pointed to his colleague across from him. "He is a grumpy little shit but I'm sure he'll warm up to you." Matt hesitantly laughed at the last bit, and Karen tried to hide a grin. "So... I don't want to be the only one talking...Matt?" He asked for some backup as I smiled again.

"I just want to know how someone of your age can become Head Detective at such a busy precinct?" Matt asked me. What is that old saying? Curiosity killed the cat? I think curiosity might kill the Matt? Wow. I'm so funny...

"That is a very good question, Murdock." I preferred to call him by his last name for the time being. I had plenty of time to find nicknames for all three of these young faces. "However, my age should have nothing to do with my abilities and work performance. I'm sure you young lawyers should fully understand." I rested back in the hard chair, smirking as the three of them smiled.

"Any news on the man in the mask at the precinct?" Foggy asked as he started to lean forward. It felt like we were third graders gossiping at a sleepover.

"You know I can't reveal sensitive information like that Mr. Nelson. But I can tell you that whoever he is, not everything he has and will do will be good. I'm sure he will slip up and reveal his identity at some point." Matt flinched as I finished my sentence. I avoided looking at him and continued to explain. "At least he chose to protect the right people." I glanced at Page and sent a smile her way. I didn't mean to shake her up before. I just needed to make her understand.

"Well, I think we should be thanking him." Foggy smiled at the three of us. "For now."

"How ominous." Murdock slightly smiled through obviously gritted teeth.

"He's a nut. That's all." Foggy explained.

"He's not a nut." Page defended. "I mean he's a little weird maybe--"

"We're just glad you're okay." Matt interrupted quite sincerely.

"Hear hear!" Foggy chimed in.

"Well if it weren't for you two I'd still be in that cell." She thanked them.

"And you detective. Thanks for... helping out!" Foggy smiled again.

"Well, there are some arrogant pieces of shit who need to be prodded around at the precinct. It's one of my many skills." I almost scoffed the last part, and it was all in a joking manner.

"Many?" Matt asked with a grin.

"Yes, Murdock. I have a list." I cleared up because it obviously needed to be.

"You've written a list?" Foggy laughed.

"It is on my fridge."

"You have a fridge! I'm learning more about you by the second." Foggy joked, making everyone in the room light up with toothy grins.

"I'll have to change that." I winked yet again, directed it to all three of them. "I should probably head off now," I sighed, knowing too well that I should not be there. I still hadn't found out if Karen recognized me from last night, but I needed to tie up a few things. "But thanks for everything guys. I'm sure I'll be seeing more of you three!" I secretly was hoping not, but at least they were good company. That was hard to come by these days.

"Okay!" Foggy waved as I walked to the door. "Be safe."

"I'm a cop, Nelson." I pointed to the holster underneath my hoodie and prodded it. "I carry a gun."