“Discussing your kidnapping of children?” Stark said.
“Kidnapping implies we took them rather than coming into them by accident.”
“Then what do you call it?”
“Questionable guardianship.” Murdock intoned. His voice still low and gravelly. His mask was thick and the eyeholes quite restrictive. It really did look like his eyes were black and restrictive. If not for his condition, Sam would have wondered how he could see well. Obviously not an issue.
“Questionable-“
“They were left with me. We’ve been working on it.”
“Right. So as we’ve repeated, you don’t encourage their soldierness”
“Not until they’re eighteen.” Murdock intoned and Nelson smiled ruefully.
“Yes, because then they’re adults and won’t at all be affected by their brainwashing.” Nelson shrugged. “As adults they can decide to join organizations to do as you do, which is why we do not encourage them.
“It is what it is. We’re working on the situation. I was actually a bit closer in finding a way to retain guardianship with some of them and move them somewhere safe. We know a few social workers. Good people. You’ve kind of put a damper on it.”
“And you think we can’t do that?” Stark said incredulous. “I have access to many more resources than you. I could pay for all their therapy many times over.”
“I think you’ll put them in the system and wash your hands of them.” Murdock said.
“We wouldn’t just-“
“Really? With your empire, security concerns and general life you wouldn’t put it behind you?” Nelson said. “It would be easy to pretend it’s all wrapped up and go on with your lives.”
“We could check up on them.” Sam interjected. “It’s common to stay in touch with cases-“
“The system failed some of them once. They wouldn’t stay.” Murdock said. “Judy ran away from a bad family, no social workers looked in. Sue was basically dropped into our mentor’s lap.”
“Okay, can we stop calling that boy Sue? That’s not his name. What you want to toughen him up?” Steve groused.
“Foggy?” Nelson grinned.
“They wouldn’t tell us their names. So we had to work with the situation. . Sua sponte.” The eldest boy. “Habeas corpus” The eldest girl. “Res judicata. Actori incumbit probatio.” He grinned with some humor. “Sue, Bea, Judy and Tory. I’m a lawyer, not a parent so we gave them pseudonyms. They stuck.”
“What’s Vlad short form then?” Stark asked asked. Now both looked at them like they were stupid.
“Vladimir.” Natasha said. A look of annoyance crossed the Nelson’s face.
“Vladislav.” Murdock intoned.
“You got his name.”
“Yeah. He’s quite proud of it. But he’s eight. Not quite a soldier yet.”
“He’s not a soldier. He’s child.” Natasha growled.
“Yeah, and that’s where our common teacher failed. He’s not nice but he isn’t a complete monster.” Daredevil shrugged.
“So he dumps them on you and what hopes for the best.”
“So what now? I mean, no offense but I want them no where near you.” Nelson said sounding cheerful. “If you want to make a legal case out of it we can but I’m sure we can have a DA bring up charges of assault, attempted murder and kidnapping.”
“Hey we had cause.” Stark snapped. “You left a note-“
“What was I supposed to do? I needed time to make sure Judy was safe! I saw an opportunity with Potts. I took it.” Daredevil replied. “You beat my students and maybe killed one. The only reason I’m not going after Hawkeye is because I can’t risk that yet-“
“Yet?” Sam muttered softly.
“If he dies I will come after him.” Daredevil said as if he had heard Sam’s questioning clear as day. “I’ll make it clear why they call me the Devil.”
“Daredevil.” Nelson’s tone was rough.
“I didn’t say I’d kill him but he’s going to regret hurting them. Accident or not.”
“Enough!” Natasha declared. “We aren’t going anywhere with this line of questioning. We’re just going to go in circles.”
“Yeah, if well Mr. Red wants to act like a decent human-“
“Tony, stop it!” Steve snapped.
“Daredevil-“
“I don’t know what you want. I simply wanted to be left alone.”
“The children-“
“Can speak for themselves.” Daredevil snapped. “This isn’t the time or place. We need to wait for Vlad’s recovery. Then, then we can discuss this better. Foggy-“
“So it’s fine when you make impositions on their future?” Stark said. Sam raised a brow.
“I don’t think they’re going at it alone. If they want the kids safe they’re probably talk to them.”
“Exactly.” Nelson said. “He gets it. We’re not forcing anything on them, except maybe not fighting as much as they want.”
“So, we wait? You know we can’t let you stay around-” Romanoff began. Daredevil laughed.
“In the months I’ve had them the worst they’ve suffered are minor injuries.”
“Bea gave Sue finger a fracture.”
“Except when Bea gave Sue a hairline fracture.” Daredevil amended. “In summation, in the time you have meddled they have been shot, stabbed, and now impaled by an arrow.” Daredevil growled the last part. “Give me one reason I should let them around you.”
“We can help. You said they’re soldiers or were intended to be. You can plan all you want but you don’t have access to the therapist we do. We can help with deprogramming and trauma. Maybe if they need tutoring. You cannot tell me that they all have their schooling. Have they been going to school?” Sam asked. He received a looks of gratefulness from the others.
Nelson shrugged. “True. It would take longer for us to access those things for them. And you’re right; they’re not going to school. They’re doing a home school course but some of them are behind, some of them are ahead in some areas.”
“We never said it was perfect.” Daredevil said.
“So you’re going to let them suffer?”
“They’re getting some rudimentary forms of therapy from Matt’s priest.” Nelson said. “I’m not religious but the guy’s got a way with words and people. He also doesn’t insist on the Jesus and Hellfire.” Daredevil had a smile on his face. Sam wondered how much he found it amusing to be talked about as if he weren’t there.
“So what-“
“We wait. We weren’t lying when we said the kids were involved in this process. If they want your help they get it. We’ll take any help in getting their legal status sorted. Especially Vlad and Judy’s. They’re not American.” Nelson said. “Immigration law isn’t my strong suit but deporting a stateless boy is difficult and Judy will vanish.”
“We’ll see what we can provide and let you know.” Steve said. He sounded frustrated.
“Now regarding compensation-You’re kidding. Two bit lawyer.“ Stark growled.
“You don’t think we’re going to pay for this do you?” Nelson said. “I have no idea how much an air evacuation cost or medical treatment here but it certainly cannot be cheap.
Then there is the issue you created when you caused the children pain and suffering, quite literally. Not to mention kidnapping Judy. I don’t think the media will take kindly to hearing that you threw a boy into a crate, Stark. We don’t even need to release the whole truth, just enough and you’re PR will drop.”
“So what you’re blackmailing us.”
“Blackmail is illegal.” Daredevil said. “We just want the best for the children. Maybe trusts in their name to help pay for things like college.
“Think of it as more of a settlement.” Nelson said. “Mostly because we want to avoid court fees and a lawsuit would put the kids at risk of exposure from snooping.”
“What are you thinking?” Stark asked, reluctant. Sam was actually quite impressed by the way they lawyers were working. Murdock couldn’t appear too lawyerly but still was helping bolster Nelson’s arguments and legal threats. Their main points were really showing their dedication for the children, as if they were their clients. “How much are you getting?”
Nelson shrugged. “This isn’t a ‘case’ and I’m sure your lawyers can draw something up for us to review. I would like a copy in Braille for my partner as well, since he has a vested interest in the matter. ”
“Right, I’ll give Legal a call.” Stark looked pissed but seemed to agree that it was the least the best course of action. They continued to discuss the situation for almost an hour. They were at a tentative agreement of drawing a settlement and discussed what support they could offer for the children. Seemingly a tentative truce was realized before Nelson and Murdock before they went off to the children, splitting up to stand guard with each group.
Of course, the tentative agreements met during their discussion hinged on Vlad surviving and waking up. If that did not occur, well there was going to be hell to pay. The team was tired but knew they couldn’t stop there. It was a waiting game, but they had to keep working on a few issues before disbanding. Sam thought they were doing well to wrap up their fuck up when a rapping at the door caught their attention.
Natasha opened the door. The person standing there surprised them. It was Judy. The expression that met them was tinged with the hints of violence and anger. Sam knew that face too well. Here expression was that of a survivor.
“They told me what you had talked about.” ‘They’ being Nelson and Murdock. “They don’t know I’m here so I have to be quick.”
“How did you get here?” Steve asked, maybe this was the ticket to confirming their less than pleasant suspicions.
“I said I had to go to the restroom. It wasn’t a lie but it wasn’t the entire truth.” They wondered why the lying part was so emphasized. “They are good people – Daredevil, Foggy and Matt. They don’t treat us like we’re broken, even if we kind of are.
“I just need for you to know that I will go along with a lot of things because I don’t want to stop. I want to continue to fight. But Vlad doesn’t, he wants to live a normal life or he thinks he does. That’s what Vlad and I were arguing about when you, “ she glared at Natasha. “ and that idiot chased us.
“I want him to have that choice. Don’t mess it up for him. “
“What about you? Aren’t you concerned about how your handler used you?” Natasha pointed out. Judy smiled.
“Stick didn’t use me. He saved me. He didn’t make me go with him. He made me stop being afraid and gave me the chance to fight back. He didn’t kill us when we were weak. I know what I am and I know you think of me.” She looked at them stubbornly.
“So you did this voluntarily? All of you.” Judy looked away.
“No, maybe. It wasn’t- our lives aren’t easy. But we had a choice, even if it wasn’t easy.”
“Judy.” A new voice cut in. They saw a boy behind her. The second, the boy called Tori. He glanced balefully at them.
“Tori. I was just leaving.” He snorted.
“I heard what you were saying.” He shrugged. “She’s right about Vlad and I think Bea wants out too. So you know, don’t fuck it up more than you have.” They left.
“Well that was enlightening.” Stark said then shook his head. “I think we should meet later. We’re tired. I have to look into Pepper and the business too.”
It was agreed. One of them maintained a presence at the medical center in order to keep an eye at the children and Murdock.
Sam took the next shift. Bruce and Wanda left. He was not surprised to learn that ‘Daredevil’ had vanished and Murdock turned up in his place to ‘relieve Foggy’. Nelson left with the remaining children. The man smiled unpleasantly at him when he was sensed or however Murdock did his act as Daredevil.
They talked briefly, in half veiled sentences but Sam got an idea of how Murdock operated. He was blind, legally and actually fully blind. Murdock could lose his eyes and he wouldn’t be affected in his sensory experiences, which apparently were in hyperdrive to provide him enough information to fight and operate beyond the ‘norm’ of most people who were blinded or born blind.
“Are you going to follow up any kind of action with Clint?”
“Hawkeye?” Murdock shrugged. “Daredevil had a point and I’m sure he was honest with whatever he said.” He smiled. “Me, I don’t know. I depends on the man. Guilt is a hell of a feeling.””
“Personal experience?” He asked wondering what Murdock could have lived.
“Catholicism.” Sam laughed.
Two days passed in tense silence. All communication was followed through Stark legal. In the evening of the second day Vlad woke up, coherent and confused.
He'd live and with him the first step was set down to move the children closer to a facsimile of a normal life. That was really what all of them had wanted, if only they had addressed the matter differently due to ignorance.
They still had to find the children’s “ mentor”. Daredevil and the children were the failures which meant somewhere several children were still undergoing training and becoming little soldiers for someone.
Minifill 10b/10b Daredevil and Bb!soldiers
“Kidnapping implies we took them rather than coming into them by accident.”
“Then what do you call it?”
“Questionable guardianship.” Murdock intoned. His voice still low and gravelly. His mask was thick and the eyeholes quite restrictive. It really did look like his eyes were black and restrictive. If not for his condition, Sam would have wondered how he could see well. Obviously not an issue.
“Questionable-“
“They were left with me. We’ve been working on it.”
“Right. So as we’ve repeated, you don’t encourage their soldierness”
“Not until they’re eighteen.” Murdock intoned and Nelson smiled ruefully.
“Yes, because then they’re adults and won’t at all be affected by their brainwashing.” Nelson shrugged. “As adults they can decide to join organizations to do as you do, which is why we do not encourage them.
“It is what it is. We’re working on the situation. I was actually a bit closer in finding a way to retain guardianship with some of them and move them somewhere safe. We know a few social workers. Good people. You’ve kind of put a damper on it.”
“And you think we can’t do that?” Stark said incredulous. “I have access to many more resources than you. I could pay for all their therapy many times over.”
“I think you’ll put them in the system and wash your hands of them.” Murdock said.
“We wouldn’t just-“
“Really? With your empire, security concerns and general life you wouldn’t put it behind you?” Nelson said. “It would be easy to pretend it’s all wrapped up and go on with your lives.”
“We could check up on them.” Sam interjected. “It’s common to stay in touch with cases-“
“The system failed some of them once. They wouldn’t stay.” Murdock said. “Judy ran away from a bad family, no social workers looked in. Sue was basically dropped into our mentor’s lap.”
“Okay, can we stop calling that boy Sue? That’s not his name. What you want to toughen him up?” Steve groused.
“Foggy?” Nelson grinned.
“They wouldn’t tell us their names. So we had to work with the situation. . Sua sponte.” The eldest boy. “Habeas corpus” The eldest girl. “Res judicata. Actori incumbit probatio.” He grinned with some humor. “Sue, Bea, Judy and Tory. I’m a lawyer, not a parent so we gave them pseudonyms. They stuck.”
“What’s Vlad short form then?” Stark asked asked. Now both looked at them like they were stupid.
“Vladimir.” Natasha said. A look of annoyance crossed the Nelson’s face.
“Vladislav.” Murdock intoned.
“You got his name.”
“Yeah. He’s quite proud of it. But he’s eight. Not quite a soldier yet.”
“He’s not a soldier. He’s child.” Natasha growled.
“Yeah, and that’s where our common teacher failed. He’s not nice but he isn’t a complete monster.” Daredevil shrugged.
“So he dumps them on you and what hopes for the best.”
“Pretty much.” Nelson said.
“Wanda said he gave them to Murdock.”
“Murdock knows me.” Daredevil said. “We know Foggy. Hence why we’re here.”
“So what now? I mean, no offense but I want them no where near you.” Nelson said sounding cheerful. “If you want to make a legal case out of it we can but I’m sure we can have a DA bring up charges of assault, attempted murder and kidnapping.”
“Hey we had cause.” Stark snapped. “You left a note-“
“What was I supposed to do? I needed time to make sure Judy was safe! I saw an opportunity with Potts. I took it.” Daredevil replied. “You beat my students and maybe killed one. The only reason I’m not going after Hawkeye is because I can’t risk that yet-“
“Yet?” Sam muttered softly.
“If he dies I will come after him.” Daredevil said as if he had heard Sam’s questioning clear as day. “I’ll make it clear why they call me the Devil.”
“Daredevil.” Nelson’s tone was rough.
“I didn’t say I’d kill him but he’s going to regret hurting them. Accident or not.”
“Enough!” Natasha declared. “We aren’t going anywhere with this line of questioning. We’re just going to go in circles.”
“Yeah, if well Mr. Red wants to act like a decent human-“
“Tony, stop it!” Steve snapped.
“Daredevil-“
“I don’t know what you want. I simply wanted to be left alone.”
“The children-“
“Can speak for themselves.” Daredevil snapped. “This isn’t the time or place. We need to wait for Vlad’s recovery. Then, then we can discuss this better. Foggy-“
“So it’s fine when you make impositions on their future?” Stark said. Sam raised a brow.
“I don’t think they’re going at it alone. If they want the kids safe they’re probably talk to them.”
“Exactly.” Nelson said. “He gets it. We’re not forcing anything on them, except maybe not fighting as much as they want.”
“So, we wait? You know we can’t let you stay around-” Romanoff began. Daredevil laughed.
“In the months I’ve had them the worst they’ve suffered are minor injuries.”
“Bea gave Sue finger a fracture.”
“Except when Bea gave Sue a hairline fracture.” Daredevil amended. “In summation, in the time you have meddled they have been shot, stabbed, and now impaled by an arrow.” Daredevil growled the last part. “Give me one reason I should let them around you.”
“We can help. You said they’re soldiers or were intended to be. You can plan all you want but you don’t have access to the therapist we do. We can help with deprogramming and trauma. Maybe if they need tutoring. You cannot tell me that they all have their schooling. Have they been going to school?” Sam asked. He received a looks of gratefulness from the others.
Nelson shrugged. “True. It would take longer for us to access those things for them. And you’re right; they’re not going to school. They’re doing a home school course but some of them are behind, some of them are ahead in some areas.”
“We never said it was perfect.” Daredevil said.
“So you’re going to let them suffer?”
“They’re getting some rudimentary forms of therapy from Matt’s priest.” Nelson said. “I’m not religious but the guy’s got a way with words and people. He also doesn’t insist on the Jesus and Hellfire.” Daredevil had a smile on his face. Sam wondered how much he found it amusing to be talked about as if he weren’t there.
“So what-“
“We wait. We weren’t lying when we said the kids were involved in this process. If they want your help they get it. We’ll take any help in getting their legal status sorted. Especially Vlad and Judy’s. They’re not American.” Nelson said. “Immigration law isn’t my strong suit but deporting a stateless boy is difficult and Judy will vanish.”
“We’ll see what we can provide and let you know.” Steve said. He sounded frustrated.
“Now regarding compensation-You’re kidding. Two bit lawyer.“ Stark growled.
“You don’t think we’re going to pay for this do you?” Nelson said. “I have no idea how much an air evacuation cost or medical treatment here but it certainly cannot be cheap.
Then there is the issue you created when you caused the children pain and suffering, quite literally. Not to mention kidnapping Judy. I don’t think the media will take kindly to hearing that you threw a boy into a crate, Stark. We don’t even need to release the whole truth, just enough and you’re PR will drop.”
“So what you’re blackmailing us.”
“Blackmail is illegal.” Daredevil said. “We just want the best for the children. Maybe trusts in their name to help pay for things like college.
“Think of it as more of a settlement.” Nelson said. “Mostly because we want to avoid court fees and a lawsuit would put the kids at risk of exposure from snooping.”
“What are you thinking?” Stark asked, reluctant. Sam was actually quite impressed by the way they lawyers were working. Murdock couldn’t appear too lawyerly but still was helping bolster Nelson’s arguments and legal threats. Their main points were really showing their dedication for the children, as if they were their clients. “How much are you getting?”
Nelson shrugged. “This isn’t a ‘case’ and I’m sure your lawyers can draw something up for us to review. I would like a copy in Braille for my partner as well, since he has a vested interest in the matter. ”
“Right, I’ll give Legal a call.” Stark looked pissed but seemed to agree that it was the least the best course of action. They continued to discuss the situation for almost an hour. They were at a tentative agreement of drawing a settlement and discussed what support they could offer for the children. Seemingly a tentative truce was realized before Nelson and Murdock before they went off to the children, splitting up to stand guard with each group.
Of course, the tentative agreements met during their discussion hinged on Vlad surviving and waking up. If that did not occur, well there was going to be hell to pay. The team was tired but knew they couldn’t stop there. It was a waiting game, but they had to keep working on a few issues before disbanding. Sam thought they were doing well to wrap up their fuck up when a rapping at the door caught their attention.
Natasha opened the door. The person standing there surprised them. It was Judy. The expression that met them was tinged with the hints of violence and anger. Sam knew that face too well. Here expression was that of a survivor.
“They told me what you had talked about.” ‘They’ being Nelson and Murdock. “They don’t know I’m here so I have to be quick.”
“How did you get here?” Steve asked, maybe this was the ticket to confirming their less than pleasant suspicions.
“I said I had to go to the restroom. It wasn’t a lie but it wasn’t the entire truth.” They wondered why the lying part was so emphasized. “They are good people – Daredevil, Foggy and Matt. They don’t treat us like we’re broken, even if we kind of are.
“I just need for you to know that I will go along with a lot of things because I don’t want to stop. I want to continue to fight. But Vlad doesn’t, he wants to live a normal life or he thinks he does. That’s what Vlad and I were arguing about when you, “ she glared at Natasha. “ and that idiot chased us.
“I want him to have that choice. Don’t mess it up for him. “
“What about you? Aren’t you concerned about how your handler used you?” Natasha pointed out. Judy smiled.
“Stick didn’t use me. He saved me. He didn’t make me go with him. He made me stop being afraid and gave me the chance to fight back. He didn’t kill us when we were weak. I know what I am and I know you think of me.” She looked at them stubbornly.
“So you did this voluntarily? All of you.” Judy looked away.
“No, maybe. It wasn’t- our lives aren’t easy. But we had a choice, even if it wasn’t easy.”
“Judy.” A new voice cut in. They saw a boy behind her. The second, the boy called Tori. He glanced balefully at them.
“Tori. I was just leaving.” He snorted.
“I heard what you were saying.” He shrugged. “She’s right about Vlad and I think Bea wants out too. So you know, don’t fuck it up more than you have.” They left.
“Well that was enlightening.” Stark said then shook his head. “I think we should meet later. We’re tired. I have to look into Pepper and the business too.”
It was agreed. One of them maintained a presence at the medical center in order to keep an eye at the children and Murdock.
Sam took the next shift. Bruce and Wanda left. He was not surprised to learn that ‘Daredevil’ had vanished and Murdock turned up in his place to ‘relieve Foggy’. Nelson left with the remaining children. The man smiled unpleasantly at him when he was sensed or however Murdock did his act as Daredevil.
They talked briefly, in half veiled sentences but Sam got an idea of how Murdock operated. He was blind, legally and actually fully blind. Murdock could lose his eyes and he wouldn’t be affected in his sensory experiences, which apparently were in hyperdrive to provide him enough information to fight and operate beyond the ‘norm’ of most people who were blinded or born blind.
“Are you going to follow up any kind of action with Clint?”
“Hawkeye?” Murdock shrugged. “Daredevil had a point and I’m sure he was honest with whatever he said.” He smiled. “Me, I don’t know. I depends on the man. Guilt is a hell of a feeling.””
“Personal experience?” He asked wondering what Murdock could have lived.
“Catholicism.” Sam laughed.
Two days passed in tense silence. All communication was followed through Stark legal. In the evening of the second day Vlad woke up, coherent and confused.
He'd live and with him the first step was set down to move the children closer to a facsimile of a normal life. That was really what all of them had wanted, if only they had addressed the matter differently due to ignorance.
They still had to find the children’s “ mentor”. Daredevil and the children were the failures which meant somewhere several children were still undergoing training and becoming little soldiers for someone.
But this, this was a start.