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petertingle-yipyip · 25 days ago

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TO FALL FROM GRACE - MATT MURDOCK

Two - In The Dark

//woah im actually sticking to my posting schedule, go me. anyways// tags: @see-the-divine @fallingfavourites // prev // next

Pairing: Matt Murdock x Livia Yersova

Word Count: 7,788

Summary: One night changes her entire life. Livia loses one of her best friends and another piece of herself. How many more does she have to give?

Livia hadn’t planned on going out. She didn’t feel quite herself so she didn’t believe herself to be part of her friend group, at least not in the way she used to be.

She’d only been back from the Blip for a few months. In that time, both her and Matt had been in and out of the social circle, what with her running off to help Yelena and sending him off to California. Neither seemed able to sit and talk to the other, which was just fine by Livia. She didn’t want to address the new skeleton in her closet anymore than the next person.

But then there was Foggy…

Foggy did everything in his power to keep Livia’s head out of the sand. He looped her into conversations, sent June to relay a message when she didn’t answer, dragged her chair away from her desk when he wanted her input. Franklin Nelson refused to be shut out during Livia’s spiral.

It was nice.

So when he insisted they all go to Josie’s after work, how could she say no?

Foggy took up a seat at the bar with June. Livia still had a hard time wrapping her head around the fact that June was an adult and now legally able to drink. She kept wanting to snatch the glass of liquor out of her hands and replace it with soda or apple juice, but it made her laugh to see her wince and cough as she drank it.

Livia was seated at the table with Matt and Karen. She had one leg propped up on Matt’s lap as she swirled her drink. Matt had a hand on her knee, tapping some beat only he knew. She still wanted to reach out, to lace their fingers together, but she refrained.

She still wasn’t sure where they stood. He was keeping something from her, same as June. The two seemed to be getting along better since they got back from California, despite June’s tantrum, but there was still a rift. Whatever was between them, however, paled in comparison to the chasm Livia felt between her and Matt.

It was just enough like old times, which should’ve been a comfort to Livia. Instead it was salt in the wound.

Karen and Matt didn’t seem to miss a beat. Livia would have to be blind to miss it. It was moments like that where she wished she was, wished she didn’t have to be so privy to everyone’s emotions. She wanted to trade her mindwork for any other kind some days, or even trade it away in its entirety.

Accepting it wasn’t possible, she downed the rest of her drink. Maybe a buzz would take her out of it enough to stop thinking.

At some point in the conversation, Matt realized she was stuck in her head. He leaned in, squeezing her knee lightly for her attention.

“Yes?” Livia tilted her head towards him. “Sorry, just thinking.”

“I could tell.” He gave half a smile. “What are you thinking about?”

She gave a tight, forced smile. “Nothing.” She adjusted in her chair, withdrawing her leg. “I’m gonna get a refill. You guys need one?”

“No need.” June announced and came over Livia’s shoulder with four glasses. She plopped into the open chair between Livia and Karen. “I come bearing gifts.”

“Well hello.” Karen laughed.

“Got so bad I had to leave.” June pulled a face. “Foggy does not have the game for Kirsten McDuffie.”

Livia laughed as she picked up her refill.

Matt gasped dramatically. “Don’t you dare!” He feigned offense. “Don’t underestimate our Foggy.”

“I don’t know.” Livia agreed. “Didn’t he try the moves on you way back when?” Livia pointed to Karen.

She tilted her back to laugh. “Oh, I forgot about that!” Karen grinned.

“I wonder where he learned it from.” June gave Matt a teasingly pointed look.

Matt only offered a shit-eating grin, which got a laugh from June.

Maybe those two were okay after all. Livia’s ability wasn’t exactly fine-tuned anymore so it was likely that she had misread it. Maybe she was projecting her own issues onto them. She decided at that moment to put that on the back burner for now.

“Don’t you think so, Livia?” Karen’s question brought Livia out of her thoughts.

She had been withdrawing into her own head so much lately. Who had noticed? Judging by the worry she felt thumping beside her, June at the very least did.

“Sorry, just-“

“Thinking.” Karen nodded, a furrow to her brows that Livia recognized as concern. She hated that it was so obvious she was out of it. “Is everything-“

“Do you think he needs new glasses?” June cut in. The girl knew Livia wasn’t herself, even if she didn’t know why, so she saved Livia from the question.

Livia looked over at Matt, who was already looking at her. He smiled softly in anticipation, brows raised with interest. She cocked her head as she took her time examining him. Livia wasn’t even looking at the glasses. Those made little difference to her. She just wanted a quiet moment to look at him.

June lightly kicked at Livia’s shin under the table and she realized yet another silence had stretched too long.

She had opened her mouth to answer when something outside snagged on her ability. She looked around and noticed Foggy was nowhere to be seen. She patted Matt’s arm but didn’t wait for him to say anything. She was on her feet and headed towards the door.

They met Foggy outside to find out there was an issue with one of Foggy’s clients, Benny. Apparently he had been getting threats so he was ‘stashed’, but something had gone wrong. He was calling Foggy in an absolute panic. Matt said he would take care of it but there was something else about it that didn’t sit right.

Something was knocking against her ability, someone achingly familiar. Who would go after Benny that she had that kind of tether to, she couldn’t say. It didn’t make sense.

As she was trying to piece it together, Foggy tried calling his client again and June was studying Livia’s reaction. Livia looked over her shoulder to where her car was parked, just at the end of the block. In the trunk was her bag of gear.

“Give me two seconds, okay?” Livia began back away.

“No, Liv.” June reached for the woman’s arm. “I don’t like this.”

“Just be ready.”

“What is going on?”

“I don’t know…” Livia’s eyes flicked to June’s covered hands and back. “But be ready for anything.”

June nodded and Livia all but ran down the street. She grabbed the materials out of her trunk and ducked into the closest alley. She kicked off her shoes, hopefully they’d still be there after, and stepped into her boots. She had already left her jacket at the office so she was only in the plain long sleeve. She shoved her arms into the bulletproof top easily and clipped her belt around her hips, wondering if her pants were loose enough not to rip during the action. She could handle a lot of things but a story about Exodus flashing half her neighborhood during a fight was not one of them. Her mask was around her neck as she took a quick inventory.

No guns, four knives, a pouch with shock disks (five or six, it felt like), and a grappling wire. As she was sliding her mask into place, she heard it.

The distinct sound of a silencer.

Then came June’s scream, the slam of panic that rattled Livia to her bones. It was nearly enough to double her over or make her fall to her knees.

Livia almost tripped over her own feet running back. More shots came as she got close and she shoved June and Karen behind her.

Livia couldn’t ignore how bad June was shaking. She spared a second to put her hands on either side of the younger one’s face.

“Hey.” Livia spoke quickly. She tried to ignore that damned presence now clawing at her back. She wouldn’t have been surprised if there were true marks on her skin from it. “I need you to focus right now. Okay? Are you with me?”

June nodded quickly but her eyes were blown wide with panic. Livia groaned in frustration before she shook June slightly. The small action seemed to snap June back to the moment and Livia could almost see the training take over. June glanced around before trying to drop to her knees.

Livia caught June by her arm and righted her.

“No, I need you to help evacuate.” Livia said firmly.

“But Fo-“

“No. Get people out. I will handle this.”

“Let me help!”

“You stay out here, you’ll go down too. That’s not happening. Now get in there and do what I asked. Keep your head down because you’re not bulletproof. Understand? Perchatki snyat'.” (Gloves off.)

June looked down at the fallen person and back. She swallowed hard, blinked away tears, and nodded. As she headed back into Josie’s, she tucked the leather into her back pocket.

That’s not just a person. A voice in Livia’s head scolded. It’s Foggy.

The smoke can that sailed past her head made her shove the voice to the back of her mind. If she dwelled on that, she’d be hit too. Livia whirled around to where it came from and her stomach dropped.

No wonder they felt so goddamned familiar.

“Hello, Karen.” He said smoothly, confidently and unbothered, as if he didn’t just shoot down your best friend.

“Dex?” Livia squinted. The smoke wasn’t bothering her but the mask he hid behind did.

Even with his face covered, she’d recognize him anywhere. His steps never faltered but his emotions wavered. Surprise. He didn’t plan for Livia to be there.

She could use that.

Livia had no choice but to engage first.

She couldn’t risk losing a knife (or giving Dex any more weaponry) so she slid a shock disk between her fingers. She toyed with it for a moment, letting him get just a few steps closer.

Livia had to ignore the tug in the back of her mind, the pull of someone familiar. She blocked it out, imagining a pair of scissors severing the old connection.

It didn’t quite sever but it was weaker now.

As soon as Dex was within her range, she snapped her wrist and sent the small disk flying. There was hardly any bare skin unless she wanted to take his eye out so she simply sent it for his neck. Even through the fabric, he jerked with the shock and his steps faltered. Before Livia could run at him and maybe get him to chase her down, lead him away from Josie’s, away from June, another figure came swinging in to tackle him through the front window of Josie’s. She only saw a blur of a figure, but she was willing to bet money that it was Matt.

Chaos raged inside but her feet were stuck.

Fear. Unbridled, unrelenting fear froze her in her place now that she didn’t have Dex to focus on. Livia forced her eyes closed, tried to find her bubble of silence, but she couldn’t. Not when she knew that her friend was on the ground with a bullet wound.

“Livia.” Karen’s shaky voice penetrated her thoughts.

With a shudder, she forced herself to kneel at their sides. Livia’s lower lip was trembling as she willed herself to keep looking at Karen. She didn’t want to see Foggy covered in his own blood. She didn’t want to have another body burned into her memory.

After the way Elektra’s and Sam’s death followed her, she couldn’t add Foggy to that.

“I don’t-“ Karen tried. Livia could tell the woman was trying not to hyperventilate. “I can’t- What am I supposed to do?”

“Keep pressure.” Livia’s voice was detached. If the Red Room was good for anything, at least it taught her how to pretend death didn’t matter in the moment. She’d fall apart later. “Someone will have called EMS by now…”

“Liv.” She thought she heard Foggy whisper.

Livia didn’t look - she couldn’t - but she did reach out and squeeze his hand.

It felt colder than it should’ve.

“Don’t you fucking die on me.” Livia whispered. The tears threatened under her mask.

Another figure slid to their knees on the opposite side. Livia glanced and saw June, eyes blown wide with tears streaming down her cheeks and her bare hands holding tightly to Foggy’s. She was mumbling something, something Livia couldn’t pick up. Everything was muffled, drowned out by the blood rushing through her, but her resolve was firm.

If there was ever any God that was on her side, Dex wouldn’t survive the night.

Livia pushed to her feet and drew one of her knives. She ignored Karen’s protests, walked straight through the smoke, and found Dex preoccupied with his fight.

He didn’t see her coming till it was nearly too late.

Nearly.

Matt had kicked Dex into the bar top and stepped back to catch his breath. Once Dex turned, Livia was there swinging her blade across what would’ve been both of his eyes. He dropped to his knees and went directly

for her rib.

With a nimble side step, she avoided the blow. Her knee was driving upwards before Dex could react and it slammed straight into his nose. She held her knife between her teeth as she reached down and grabbed his shirtfront to slam him to the floor. She put her knee to his throat and leaned her weight down as she reclaimed her blade.

There was a lot she could’ve said, curses and hateful and cruel things, but he didn’t deserve to hear them. All he deserved was the pain, the suffering he’d inflicted onto her.

She angled to drive her knife through the side of his neck when he yanked her aside by a fistful of hair. Her knife clattered away and she cursed when her back hit the bar. She slammed a fist against the heavy wood as the men continued the fight through the sliding doors to the pool tables.

She was on her hands and knees, trying to regulate her hitching breaths, when a debilitating wave of panic hit her. It churned her stomach, made her head spin, blurred her focus.

Her head turned towards the open front door. All she could see was Foggy’s legs and who she thought was June kneeling. If she pushed her power, she could tell who it was, but she couldn’t afford the distraction. The sensation of wanting to puke was bad enough.

“Help, Cherry!” Matt called out.

Livia turned to see a few people who had been caught in the crossfire. She shook as much of the sensations away as she could while she pushed to her feet. She stumbled past the civilians, past Matt’s reaching hand and Cherry’s hustling frame.

As cruel as it may have sounded, the bat’s patrons weren’t her problem. Livia wasn’t going to stop until she choked the life out of Dex herself.

She followed him up the backstairs with three knives left. Her steps were light, any sound swallowed by the soles of her boots. Like a predator, she stalked intently until Dex paused to catch his breath.

Livia practically tackled him.

She slammed her body against his to knock him off balance. Her knife was drawn in one swift movement and she jammed it forward, piercing deep into his shoulder. He groaned loudly as the blood began to flow.

Not enough. Not enough. Not enough.

She yanked it out and jabbed it forward again, aiming to slice him open so his guts would spill out. He jumped back and earned a shallow wound instead. Livia kicked out and her foot connected with his sternum.

He stumbled back, coughing and rubbing the area. She flicked the blade and watched it bury itself into his leg.

Not enough. Not enough. Not enough.

Livia was moving in for another attack when one of Dex’s knives flew at her. It embedded itself between her ribs, though the top took most of the impact. She still felt the blade puncture skin, only a couple inches at most. She smiled at him as she pulled it out, ignoring the burning pain and steady flow of blood.

Livia flipped it in her grip and threw it right back. His eyes went wide before he ducked. The blade buried into the wall, level with where Dex’s adam’s apple would’ve been.

By the time Dex righted himself, Livia was there.

She grabbed the front strap of his holster and yanked him close. Without her usual padded gloves, her bare knuckles slammed into his hidden face. Cheekbone. Jaw. Nose. Eye socket. Livia didn’t care. She was throwing the entirety of her weight in the punches, watching his head snap to the side with every shot. She didn’t even care about the pain it brought upon her own hand, how it shot in her arm and triggered the old pain of damaged nerves.

She wanted him broken. She wanted him bloodied. She wanted him bruised and swollen and unrecognizable, pleading for her to either kill him or spare him. She wanted the coroner to have to identify him through dental records, that was if he had any teeth left in his mouth by the end of it.

Livia was so consumed by her rage, a mania she hadn’t truly felt in so long, that she didn’t give a reaction when Dex laughed.

Only when her knuckles were raw and bloody did she ease up.

Livia threw Dex to the floor and wrapped both of her hands around his throat. She had her knees pinning his arms down and her nails were digging into the side of the tender flesh.

Not. Enough.

She reveled in the way his eyes bulged in panic, the way he jerked under her weight, the way he clawed desperately at her legs.

Livia was going to watch him die and she was going to enjoy it.

Her focus only broke when Matt’s baton came flying in to break the lightbulb above her. She looked up for a second but it was enough. Her hands loosened by only a fraction but Dex capitalized on the distraction. He slammed his forehead against her nose and she fell off.

Livia could taste the blood trickling from her nose and across her lips. She almost laughed too.

Dex went clambering up the next flight of stairs and Matt was right behind him. He stopped for a moment to haul Livia to her feet. She pushed him slightly away. The blood gushing from her nose was a bit more important than his presence.

Livia pinched the bridge of her nose and braced her other hand against the closest banister. She closed her eyes as the familiar taste of blood settled on her tongue. Her mouth was open enough to allow her to breathe.

She had to remind herself how to do that.

Downstairs, on the sidewalk just outside Josie’s, one of her best friends was bleeding out. Livia had no idea how much time he had left, if the paramedics had arrived, if June was still calm. Her adrenaline had reinforced those shaky walls quite nicely but it was only a matter of time until that was gone.

She had to take advantage.

It took a few minutes but the bleeding finally stopped. She could taste it in her mouth still but it wasn’t leaking down her face anymore. There was still the vague warm sensation in the back of her throat, the pressure in her sinuses, but she’d gone through missions with worse.

That’s what it was now anyways. A mission, with Ben Poindexter as her target.

Livia’s feet dragged slightly as she made her way up to the rooftop, the wire pack in her hand. She shifted it around for her finger to find the trigger.

It was only her and Dex.

She watched his shoulders move with a heavy sigh before he turned and threw a knife. She dropped to a knee and clicked the button, sending the wire to wrap around Dex’s ankles.

Once it wrapped, she yanked with all her strength. Dex crashed to the floor but she continued to pull, spinning the slack around and around until he was at her feet.

Livia showed Dex mercy last time. She spared him years ago.

What a mistake.

She spit on the floor near him, a mix of saliva and blood. Dex’s eyes were wide and she cocked her head. For a brief moment, she wondered what she looked like from his perspective.

She smiled, likely showcasing bloodied teeth, and stepped aside. Matt immediately took her place and began beating on Dex again.

The tug in Livia’s chest brought her to the ledge. She leaned over and saw the flashing lights of emergency vehicles. Bodies were being wheeled out of the bar beneath white sheets. That sight made her wonder what had she ignored on her way through the place.

She noted the top of two blonde heads, both kneeling over a third person.

Karen and June were still with Foggy. It gave Livia some hope that he’d make it, but not enough to silence the voice in her head.

He’ll die. Dex made sure of that… A life for a life.

A thud from behind Livia drew her attention. There was Dex, weak and beaten and breathing heavy.

She grabbed his shirtfront and dragged him to stand on the ledge with her. One hand stayed fisted in the material while the other drew a knife to place the tip specifically in the space between his ribs.

Dex had the audacity to laugh again.

She pressed the blade enough for the tip to break skin.

“Why?” She whispered. She had no voice for anything else. “What do you gain?”

He simply grinned and Livia couldn’t stop herself. She buried her knife to the handle.

Matt grabbed Dex, screamed in his face, and the grief slammed her so hard she had to step back just to ensure she didn’t go over the edge.

Foggy was gone.

Livia fell to her knees immediately. The second she did, the walls seemed to fall with her and she was hit by not just Matt’s pain, but June’s and Karen’s. Her stomach rolled with the sudden feelings. Her body was ice cold.

She couldn’t move even when Matt shoved Dex over the ledge.

Matt stumbled over to her side, his helmet discarded. With shaky hands, she reached for Matt and he didn’t hesitate to pull her close. His arms were around her so tight she thought he might crack a new rib.

She squeezed her eyes shut, mask digging against her skin. She didn’t care. She didn’t care about anything other than Matt’s embrace.

Livia took a massive step away from her social life after that. Karen left. June shut herself in her room for a long time. Livia could hear her voice at night, on phone calls and video chats with the boy she was sweet on. Livia wanted to ask about him, find out some more about him, but she couldn’t find it in herself to try and face June.

On some level, Livia carried the guilt of Foggy’s death. Poindexter was the one who took the shot, she understood that. However, Livia was the one who spared the man’s life years ago. She consented for his spinal repair, albeit in hopes he’d be paralyzed.

It had been years. Why hadn’t Dex moved on?

Why was he still so much the same?

The process of the trial took a year. Livia had testified against Dex, of course. He had stared her down the entire time except there wasn’t any malice in his stare. It was more like he was studying her, memorizing her, admiring her almost.

It left her feeling strange.

Truthfully, she wasn’t sure she should testify when it was brought to her. She thought to deny the subpoena, but the only reason she had was that it would incriminate her in regards to her vigilante involvement. Yet if she was caught lying on the stand, she’d be in trouble anyways.

Reluctantly, she had agreed but only after Matt told her if she didn’t, the next request would likely go to June and she wasn’t going to ask that of her.

When it finally came time for Livia’s statement, she felt relatively numb walking up to the stand. Matt still had

to give his after so she knew most of the heaviness would come from him. The emotion and grief and pain would come from his words. She would only provide facts.

“There is no other way to say this.” Livia began, meeting Dex’s scrutinizing stare with a blank one of her own. His head cocked slightly as he tried to puzzle her out. “The man on trial here today is capable of atrocious violence.”

Dex scoffed to himself.

“He is a man I thought I knew… Even the best of us can be wrong. The man before me today is a man who gunned down a friend of mine, a beloved member of his community, because of a grudge. I’ve seen heinous acts in my life but what happened that night overshadows them all… And it’s because of him. I trust this court will dole out equal punishment today.”

Dex raised his eyebrows in quiet question. He nodded to himself, as if accepting her words as part of a punishment.

He still felt so damned familiar she wanted to jump off the stand and tear his throat out with her bare hands just so it would end.

When Livia returned to the gallery, June laced their fingers. Livia patted June’s hand but didn’t let go. In fact, she squeezed her friend’s hand a little tighter.

Livia didn’t listen to Matt’s statement. She was too busy keeping her emotions in check.

Anger, grief, loneliness, sadness, anticipation. Everything swelled in her chest and she just wanted to scream. She wanted to be alone. She didn’t really know what she wanted.

Dex was sentenced to life without parole. That should’ve made her happy. She should’ve reveled in the fact that he’d never have a life again, that by taking Foggy’s and ten others’ he had his freedom taken away.

She wasn’t.

Not enough. Not enough. Not enough.

Livia still wanted him dead.

After the trial and after Matt spoke to Karen, he convinced June and Livia to come to his apartment for dinner. He stated that he wanted their company and June agreed on behalf of both women. Livia hadn’t found her voice again anyways, which also meant Karen left without a conversation.

At least they still kept in touch via texts.

After eating and chatting, June fell asleep on the couch. Livia didn’t blame her. The lights were low, the room was warm, and her belly was full. Matt was cleaning up while Livia sat in one of the stools by the counter.

“Thank you…” Livia said, her eyes on June. “She hasn’t slept soundly in a long time.”

“You’re both welcome here anytime. You know that.” Matt answered. “Maybe she just needed more background noise so she doesn’t think she’s alone.”

“She stays in her room a lot, talking to her boyfriend.”

“Joaquin, right?”

“You know him?” Livia’s brows raised. “June told you about him?”

Matt chuckled as he nodded. “Yeah, we talked about it when we went to California.”

“I can’t believe she told you more than she’s told me.”

“You and me both.”

“She never even said his name!” Livia threw her hands forward. “It’s always just ‘this guy’ or ‘my friend’.” Livia threw air quotes around to match.

“It took some coaxing to get it out of her, if it helps. I had to tell her something first.” Matt gave her a smile as he faced her. “He seems like a good guy, Air Force I think he said.”

“He said? You talked to him?”

“I interrupted a phone call.” He waved a dismissive hand. “He makes her happy.”

“Yeah…” Livia looked over at June, fast asleep across the sofa cushions. Her gloves were discarded on the coffee table and her hands were tucked under her head.

“Hey…” Matt’s hand landed on Livia’s, which made her look back at him.

“She used to have this jitteriness, like an anxious buzzing. I would feel it coming off her like a phone vibrating or something… It’s part of why I started calling her Junebug.”

“Does she know she reminded you of a beetle?” He chuckled.

“No.” She flashed a guilty smile. “But I came back and it’s basically gone. I assume it’s partly cause of him. Which is fine, of course. I want her to be happy… I don’t know, Matt. I don’t know if I’m angry I missed her growing up or just sad about it.”

“It’s okay to be upset about it. She is, too.” Matt was on his way around the counter.

“But-“

“Livvy.” His hands landed on either cheek. “You’re allowed to have your own feelings about everything.”

“It isn’t selfish to be upset because I missed it? I should just be proud of how she’s started to figure her life out.”

“You’re one of the least selfish people I know. You give so much to the people you care about.”

Livia hung her hands on his forearms, tracing his initials with her thumb. She tilted her head back slightly as Matt took a step closer. He bumped her knees so she shifted the way she was sitting, adjusting her legs to give him a little more room.

Matt didn’t need more than that to come closer.

I love you.

The words were on her tongue. She could taste the syllables. It’d be so easy to say it. Maybe he felt it too, Maybe he was just waiting for her to say it. She just couldn’t find the voice to say them. Saying felt both perfect and out of place.

Instead, she sighed to herself and squeezed his arms slightly. Her eyes closed as she took a deep breath, her lungs filling with the familiar scent of his cologne. Her declaration of love could wait for another time.

“It’s been so heavy.” Her already quiet voice broke.

His hands slid to the side of her neck, his thumbs gently pressing under her chin to keep her head angled towards him.

Silently, she thanked his God she had fair control of her abilities. There was a faint pink sneaking across her vision but she blinked it away.

“I’m glad you’re here.” Matt said softly.

“You’d think I would’ve figured out this whole grief thing by now.” Livia joked weakly. “I’m sorry I’ve been so out of it.”

“I don’t blame you… I can’t imagine what it’s like for you.”

Livia knew the resolve she had was breaking. She knew putting space was the smarter choice. If she started down the road she was thinking, she’d never make it back. She let go of his arms and gently pulled on his shirtfront.

“I still don’t understand. It had been so long. Why would he-“ Livia began ranting about Poindexter. She hoped complaining about the man she hated would distract from the man in front of her.

“Liv?” Matt cut in gently.

“Yes?”

“Shut up.”

Before she could offer an argument, he pulled her lips to his.

The kiss was gentle at first, triggering sparks under Livia’s skin. Acting on nothing but habit, she slid a hand up his chest till her fingers found the nape of his neck. Her other hand remained gripping his shirt.

Matt pushed a hand into her hair, almost desperate to bring her closer. Any sounds she could’ve made were muffled with the kiss but the sensations through her body and mind made up for it, especially when Matt’s other hand hooked behind her knee to hold her leg at his hip.

Her skin was alive. Every inch was lit with a fire she hadn’t anticipated. Her heart was beating fast, pushing blood through her veins at a pace that rivaled an Olympic sprinter. She let the feelings live, let them thrive and grow just so she could revel in the way only he could bring her to such a state with hardly anything.

Her lips were tingling Her were flushed. Her hands were possessively holding onto him but Livia didn’t care.

She felt alive under his touch.

She loved him. She loved him with everything she had, in every way she could. She never wanted to lose him again.

After what felt entirely too short, Matt pulled away first.

He let out a breathy laugh and Livia smiled widely.

“Maybe we should…” He jerked his head towards the bedroom.

“With her sleeping on your couch?” Livia teased.

“TV and stereo are probably loud enough.” He shrugged innocently.

Livia shook her head fondly and glanced over at the TV. Once she saw what was on the screen, she immediately regretted looking. Her shoulders dropped before gently

pushing Matt back so she had room to stand. He reached for her hand as she passed but she kept moving. With the music off, she could hear his words more clearly.

“…declaring my candidacy for Mayor of New York.” Fisk’s voice confidently stated.

Matt was at her side, a hand lightly on her back. She put a hand on his arm and her fingers were digging in slightly. Her stomach dropped to her feet, making her feel sick.

“He can’t be serious.” Livia whispered. As much as she wanted to scream and shout, maybe even panic, she was hyper aware of the sleeping figure on the couch.

How would she keep June safe from that?

“Tell me he can’t do this. There’s gotta be something, right?” She faced Matt.

“I don’t know, Livia.” Matt confessed quietly.

“She’s going to flip out.” Livia put her other hand on the back of the couch. “If he’s Mayor, how can I keep her safe from him?”

“Hey.” He rubbed her back. “I’m right here with you. We’ll figure this out.”

Livia couldn’t stop the scoff as she stepped away from his touch. “Matt, you packed it up. What do you really think the system is gonna do against the Mayor? Against a Mayor who was able to abuse and manipulate the fucking FBI?” She hissed, mindful to keep her anger to a simmer instead of a meltdown. June needed good sleep more than she needed to scream. “If he gets that office, he’ll abuse that too.”

“You think you need to be Exodus for this?”

“I never stopped.” She let out a strangled laugh. “I couldn’t stop. It didn’t make sense for me to hang it up like you did. That’s part of why I hardly came around. I didn’t want to hear you saying how we owed it to Foggy or how we should leave that behind.”

“It’s not just about him, Livia. You know what that life does to us.”

“I know it kept me alive.”

“And I know it killed you.” Matt said sharply as he jabbed. a finger against her sternum. “Twice.”

“Exodus had nothing to do with that.” She defended, smacking his hand away. She could almost hear every single wall of protection locking into place. “It was collateral damage against Russo and the Blip was random.”

Livia hated that term. Collateral damage. Too many people used it to justify hurting those around them. Just because it’s written off as unintended doesn’t mean there wasn’t suffering.

Intent doesn’t justify the results. Livia learned that lesson the hard way on more than one occasion.

“We can figure something out in the morning. Alright? All three of us.” Matt tried. She didn’t miss the desperation laced in his words.

“I don’t trust him.” She shook her head. “I don’t trust he wants to help the city… Do you?”

“What if…” He licked his lips, trying to buy time to come up with something. “I’ll ask Cherry to do some digging, see if there’s any red flags. Let me at least do this before you go running off.”

Livia sighed and rubbed her eyes. She was just so tired. She just wanted her old life back.

“There’s no way to keep this from her.” Livia’s hand fell away from her face and hit her leg with a light smack. “You know that right?”

“She can handle it.” Matt nodded.

“That's not what I’m worried about.” Livia mumbled.

“Liv?”

“I’m just gonna sleep on it.” Livia finally answered. “We’ll talk about it later.”

“Yeah. Okay.” He patted her arm. “I’ll get you some-“

“No, I’m gonna head out.” She cut him off. “Thanks for dinner.”

Livia tried to step around him. As much as her heart wanted to stay, her head was telling her better. Matt was always going to be her safe space. There was never any denying that. No matter who or what was in her life, she’d find a way back to Matthew Murdock.

But in those moments, she just had to think. She had to look at the facts, advantages, disadvantages. She had to consider every angle Fisk could be playing at. She couldn’t do that if she stayed the night.

She was barely two steps when he caught her arm.

“And what do I tell June when she wakes up and you’re gone?” Matt challenged.

“It’s not that serious.” Livia weakly tried to argue. She was just so tired.

“Tell that to the girl who woke up in cold sweats looking for you, the girl who had nightmares because you weren’t there.”

“That wasn’t my fault.”

“No, you’re right. Those five years weren’t on you.” He shook his head and let Livia’s arm go. “But this? Everything since? Alivia,-“

“Alivia?” She whispered, though Matt didn’t stop.

“-you came back almost three years ago and this is probably the most words you’ve said to me. This is the most I’ve been able to touch you without you running off.”

“What do you want me to say, Matt?” Her shoulders dropped. She had to pay very specific attention to the

volume of her voice. “My cousin is dead. My other cousin is a walking suicide risk but she won’t acknowledge it. One of my best friends is dead and another moved across the country, not to mention the one that’s off grid for who the fuck knows how long. And you…”

“What about me?” He asked quietly.

Livia swallowed whatever response she had. What could she say anyway?

“I’ll text her so she sees it when she wakes up.” Livia said instead.

“Don’t bother.” June mumbled from the couch. “I heard enough. If you two wanna argue, can you do it in another room?”

Livia looked down and noticed June hadn’t even opened her eyes. She shooed them away with a lazy wave before readjusting and falling back asleep.

Livia had nothing else to say. She simply squeezed June’s arm lightly and left.

Work the next day was no better. Her trio worked in the conference room on some case notes. June was tapping away on her ipad, glancing between her and Matt every so often. Livia caught her eye occasionally and she’d jerk her head towards Matt with a pointed look.

It didn’t take a genius to know she wanted Livia to say something. Livia simply shook her head.

Nothing outside of work was mentioned.

After Kirsten came in to remind Matt about a meeting, June smacked her hands on the table. Livia sighed before meeting her friend’s aggressive blinks. It was like she was sending a morse code message.

“Did you, um-“ Matt cleared his throat. “Did you wanna come, Livia?”

“No, thanks. June?”

June stared at Livia and kicked her shin, relatively hard.

“Ow.” Livia deadpanned.

“Stop it.” June hissed.

“I’ll see you both later.” Livia closed her laptop.

“Wait.” Matt tried. “We should talk about last night.”

Livia collected her computer and her bag. “Everything was pretty clear for me.”

“Liv!” June stood quickly.

“I’ll see you at home.” Livia told her. “Tell Kirsten I’m taking a flex day. I’ll be logged in if she needs me.”

June huffed in loud frustration as Livia left. The rest of the day was quiet. Kirsten texted to check in, which alivia didn’t answer. June came home ranting about the client meeting which wasn’t a client meeting at all but a blind date. She immediately decided she didn’t like the woman and it was time for Livia to “swallow her pride and get right with Matt”. Livia tried to remind June that it wasn’t just up to her but June kept talking through her plan to get them back together. It all seemed very elaborate and well-thought out. Livia could only guess how long June had been working on that.

At that point, Livia had to stop listening. The debate was on and Fisk had taken all of her attention. The topic was now vigilantes.

“That’s why you guys were fighting last night…” June realized.

“He’s running for mayor but Matt and I can’t agree on what to do.”

“What is there to do?”

“Matt thinks we should wait and let Cherry do some digging first.”

“And you don’t?”

“I’d rather just confront him but I doubt he’d be honest.”

“He might not lie to me.” June offered carefully.

Livia looked over and saw the determined set of her jaw as she watched the debate. Vigilantes were now being comparable to cancer. June’s eyes were stuck to the TV but Livia could see the war raging behind them. This wasn’t something Livia could face for June.

“I’ll go with you.” June nodded.

“Okay.” Livia said simply. “But you pull the plug if you need to. At any point, okay?”

June finally looked at Livia. “I know. As long as you’re there, I think I’ll be alright… We should do it tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” Livia raised a brow.

“The sooner the better, right? We can lay that to rest and work on operation romance.” June did a little dance with her shoulders that made Livia laugh.

By the next afternoon, Livia and June had found where to catch Fisk. They waited at the end of the block, avoiding the crowd surrounding the door. June was glancing around, rocking nervously on her heels, patting a beat against her legs. The buzzing seemed to return in that moment.

“June.” Livia put a hand on her friend’s arm. “It’s okay. He can’t hurt you.”

“I know.” She nodded quickly. “I just… I haven’t faced him in years. What if I just turn into that scared little girl again?”

“You’re nowhere near that same girl.” Livia smiled softly. “We both know that.”

The noise from the crowd grew and Livia didn’t need to look to see that Fisk was coming. She gave June’s arm a small squeeze.

“Now or never, my dear.” Livia raised her brows. “Still gods?”

June blew out a sigh. “I think so.”

“Okay.” She smiled softly.

After June looped their arms together, they moved a few steps closer. She could see Fisk’s bald head over the commotion. A younger man, maybe around her age, was pushing through. He was clearing a path for Fisk, some sort of bodyguard or personal security.

Now that was something she could work with.

“Step aside, ladies.” He was a few feet away.

June was looking past him, fiddling with her gloves. Livia let the man’s unamused stare with a charming smile.

“We’re old associates of Mr. Fisk. We’d like a word.” Livia said smoothly.

“Not gonna happen.”

June pulled a glove off quickly but Livia covered the girl’s hand with her own. The movement made the man glance down but he gave no reaction other than a slight brow furrow. He met Livia’s gaze again but she maintained an innocent, soft smile.

“Just ask him. You may be surprised. Mister.?”

“Step aside. I won’t ask again.” He said flatly.

“I see.” Livia nodded slightly. “Well, if you try to touch either of us, I will break all twenty seven bones in your hand. It’ll be quick, though. I’m quite good at it.”

“Is that a threat?” He took a step forward.

Livia took one of her own, unfortunately dragging June with her.

“Not at all.” Livia shrugged a shoulder. “Just a statement.”

“It’s alright, Buck.” Fisk called from a few feet back.

Livia felt June shrink behind her. She turned her head and caught June’s wide eyes in her peripherals.

“I can’t do this.” She whispered, slipping into perfect Russian. “I can’t face him.”

“That’s okay.” Livia said in the same low tone, matching her choice of language. “You don’t have to.”

“I want to go home.”

Livia guided June a few steps away as Fisk got closer. On seeing June’s retreat, he froze. Livia thought she felt disappointment from Fisk, maybe even sadness, but she didn’t believe that. Wilson Fisk wasn’t a man capable of such feelings.

When she focused on June, Matt appeared at their sides.

“What’s wrong? You two okay?” Matt asked, a hand on either of their arms.

June nodded quickly, though she didn’t look his way. Her eyes were angled downwards towards their feet. Livia reached forward, pointedly ignoring Matt’s question, and lifted June’s face to meet her eyes.

“He can’t get to you.” Livia promised. “I won’t let him.”

“I know.” She sniffled. How had Livia not noticed the tears in her eyes? “I know…”

“She needs to get home.” Livia told Matt.

He immediately flagged her a taxi and Livia turned to see Fisk watching June go. There was an unmissable longing there and it made Livia want to claw his eyes out so he could never look at June again.

Livia looked over at Matt and June, the two engaging in a hushed conversation. He kissed her forehead before guiding her to the taxi. Livia smiled despite herself. When the door shut, she cleared her throat and faced Fisk.

“If you have the time, we’d love a word.” Livia spoke firmly. Matt was at her side then, taking a gentle hold of her arm. “Just a quick chat...”

“It’s been some time, hasn’t it?” Fisk answered. He looked between the two, glanced in the direction June’s taxi left in, and heaved a sigh. He hadn’t expected to see June again, let alone protected by Livia and Matt. Something about that made Livia happy. “I’d be happy to.”

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