Matt Murdock Shorts

You Clicked Your Heels And Wished For Me (Part I)

A/n: Time to suspend your disbelief about the American justice system, folks

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Matt's stomach sinks as he hears the verdict. Custody over you has been given to your parents, and a restraining order placed against him. He wants to sink as he hears it. Your family has never approved of your relationship and now that you've been declared insane, all connection he has to you is by extension, worthless. They have the power to step in and take you from him and they use it.

"Please." It comes out a whimper. "Let me say goodbye to her." He tries to steady his voice, though he doesn't know why that matters at this point. Learned behaviors are hard to shake. After being married to you for five years, constantly trying to win your parents over, it's not an easy habit to drop. But fuck it. They should see what they're doing to him. "Please, I'm never going to stop loving her, but I know I've lost here. I've lost her. Please, I'm begging you."

Your mom shakes her head. "You're only going to hurt her more than you already have by dragging this out."

"What's 15 minutes of your time to give your daughter closure? Like it or not, I'm still her husband. If it were up to her, she'd be in our home, with me. But you took that from her. I know you've always hated me, but she loves me. Giving her this might soften the blow for you. I don't expect you to do this for me. I hoped you'd do it for her, because maybe then I'd be able to sleep knowing you care about her opinions, and feelings to some extent. But it's clear you never cared about those things because you would have respected her choice to be with me from the start. So if nothing else, do it for yourselves so that she might be able to put aside her anger toward you for what you've done."

"What we've done? Matt, this is your fault."

"That someone targeted her? Sure, it might be because she's with me. But the simple fact remains that I kept her safe through all that. She's not crazy and we all know it. You checked her into a psychiatric ward. You didn't believe her. No, worse. You did believe her and you saw this as a way to get her away from me."

As your parents stand there speechless, trying to think of a retort, Matt continues.

"Don't bother with a response. I'm not here to argue or to hear excuses. I'm here, talking to you, because I need you to know that when you look at your daughter, and you see how unhappy she is, you did this. Now, you have the chance to give her a few last minutes with her husband. What's it going to be?"

Your parents stand there in silence for a minute before your father speaks up. "This is because you're right about one thing. She'll resent us for a long time for this, but letting her say goodbye might soften the blow."

Matt resists the urge to call him a selfish prick. He can't do anything to jeopardize these few minutes he's bought himself. "I know you're not doing this for me- or for her- but thank you."

-0-

You're sitting in the back seat of your parent's car, where you were swept off to after the hearing. That's another thing. Your car will be sitting idle- or they could sell it. And there's nothing you could do about it. Because when they classified you as insane, they took your driver's license. You lost your job. They froze your accounts. You're completely dependent. Your family can spend your money, sell your things- anything they want to do. They've already had a restraining order placed against Matt. If they'll take everything that matters in your life, what will the foreseeable future with them be like? The only hope you have is the knowledge that despite appearances, this isn't over. Matt won't give up on you. But until he can figure something out, all you can do is wait.