Yay, somebody likes this. And yeah, I made the professor pretty uncharitably cruel there. In his defense, he would have come around eventually (he's mostly annoyed at Logan for bringing back the wrong student) and he doesn't know Matt's listening. Also, I needed the insecurities borne out of that conversation to last a lifetime on Matt's part.
X Present X
There was a knock on the door that pulled time back into focus. He was under the covers, silk buffering from the heavy pair of wool blankets. They pushed down, all around him, helping to keep him in the moment. He'd found a pair of pajamas and socks waiting for him when he got out of the shower and they were cozy, familiar. He hadn't realized he'd forgotten clothes when he'd gotten into the shower. It was warm under the covers and that made it hard to think, unless that was the sleep debt finally catching up to him. It'd been a long time.
They knocked again and Matt jolted back to the present. Heartbeat centered lower, metallic edge to the knock, cedar and grease scent unmistakable. "It's not locked, Logan," he said. His voice came out whispish, but that wouldn't be a problem.
Logan came in and dragged a chair to the bedside, boots heavy, jeans catching on the keys in his left pocket. He was wearing a flannel shirt and carrying a pair of coffee cups, one in each hand. Matt wondered for a moment how he'd shuffled them to get the door open. "Brought you a present," Logan set one of the cups down on the bedside table.
"Thanks," Matt replied.
"Wanna talk?" He asked.
Matt shrugged. He hadn't felt like doing much lately.
"That's alright, I'm in a talkative mood. I'll get you caught up on all the news. Lets see. You were here for the funeral, but you missed the wedding - Raven and Irene finally tied the knot. Irene's moved into an assisted living facility, her osteoporosis is getting to her and Raven worried. But Anna Marie was the proudest of her mamas. That was six, seven years ago now? We've gotten some new students, I really think you and Idie would get along, she reminds me of you sometimes. And I want you to talk to Ruth, Ruth Aldine, before you leave. She has Irene, of course, but she really could use some role models who are blind and closer to her own age. I tried to get her involved in a group at Westchester, but she's real shy and she struggles with words and it just didn't work out.
"Kurt changed his mind about seminary school, though I imagine he'll want to talk to you about that himself. Me and 'roro, we're keeping on. She's getting older but she's still smart as a tack and damn if she isn't more beautiful every time I see her. The longer we stay together, the more I think I might have finally found someone who'll stay...anyway, we've been good. Running the school is a hassle. We brought Moira over from Scotland to help with designing the curriculum and we brought on a full time therapist because we're professionals like that. Made some changes to the curriculum, though most of the older kids end up taking AP classes down at the local high school if they can. The college bound kids really care about that. I'm teaching history this semester, same as ever. Just wrapped up a three month seminar into indigenous peoples of the Americas and total war. Pretty fucking depressing, and I had to do a lot of outside research. But we brought in Dani's parents to give a lecture and took a field trip to Canada to talk about policy and religion with a doctor I knew through James and Heather. I feel like the kids got a lot out of it."
Logan set the empty coffee cup down on the floor beside his feet. "You've gotten thinner, kid. Food not agreeing with you any more? Or just too tired to eat?"
Matt didn't say anything, but Logan didn't seem to mind.
"Well, I'll go down to the kitchen and get something you'll like. I'll be back in a bit, okay? I've got a book I'm working on, researching new curriculum techniques for the little guys. Artie's finally hit his sixth birthday and it's great how he brings the younger kids together, but we've never had a student so young we needed to do times tables before. Always something new to learn about."
Logan eventually came back with a bowl of basmati rice and 'just a taste' of palak paneer, which Matt couldn't just let sit there and get cold as it filled the room with the delicate fragrance of tumeric and cardamom under the heavy layers of ginger and cashew cream. Logan read his book, offering to collect something from the library for Matt, and when Matt turned him down reading out excerpts on the integration of found objects into children's play and the ways that can expand dexterity and creativity. This wing of the institute was quiet in the evening and eventually Matt found the words to say so.
"Did nobody tell you? We changed the name to the Jean Grey School after the professor died. Don't worry about Jeannie, she's alright. We had a bit of a scare, but she's back with us. But then we'd already changed the nameplates and put in the statue and done a lotta paperwork. Its our little in-joke, I guess. But yeah, the kids know you're back, so I told 'em to keep it quiet indoors for a bit. And I'm the scary headmaster, so they're listening for now."
X The Near Future X
Karen must have been relaxing at home too, because she was rocking the casual-casual look. Like business casual but with more sweatpants. But Foggy figured if there was anyone who could pull off sweatpants as business casual it was probably Karen. Also, does it count as business if you're sitting home alone typing up a story? His mind tends to wander when he's stressed. She was already pacing at Matt's door by the time he arrived with the emergency key. She gave a little wave and a tight smile.
"No answer. I talked to Fran, she says she hasn't seen Matt in a few weeks but that they haven't rented the place out to someone new."
Foggy nodded. "Okay." The key clicked in the lock and they stepped into the entryway.
It looked like a tornado had gone through the place. There was a cane lying on the floor, snapped in half. Papers from Matt's files were littered over the floor. Someone had ripped the cushions out of the couch and slit them open. The cabinet by the stairs was open and the trunk within strewn onto the floor. Karen caught his eye, then went to investigate. No Daredevil stuff on the floor, but maybe whoever turned the place over had taken it with them. Foggy went to the kitchen.
It was empty, and not normal Murdock-humans-need-food-for-sustenance empty. There was nothing in the fridge, not even a bottle of water. The cabinets were similarly bare, except for what looked like a flour spill on a lower shelf. The mason jars Matt had been using to hold dry goods he found in the trash can, shattered, along with their contents. In fact, it looked like all the non-perishables had been thrown in the trash.
The bedroom wasn't much better. All of Matt's clothes were left in a pile on the floor. The mattress had been upended and left on it's side, boxes that had been under the bed were all emptied dumped on the carpet. Matt's watch sat in a patch of calm on the table beside his bed.
He turned to leave the bedroom and nearly ran into Karen and most certainly did not let out a shriek because Foggy wasn't rattled by the ghost town/crime scene that had replaced his ex-bestie's apartment.
"Sorry!" Karen said. She scrubbed her hand over her face. "I don't think Matt's been here for awhile. And he wouldn't do this, right? Even if he were having some sort of...break, he wouldn't break the bathroom mirror and empty all his food into the trash, right?"
"I'm thinking organized crime, of some sort. Either Matt got himself in trouble or somebody figured out Daredevil. Those are about the options, right? The question is, where'd he go next?"
"You don't think someone took him?" Karen hoisted her purse higher on her hip.
"Well, one, Matt's Daredevil. I think the place would be more messy, like with blood and stuff, if that had happened. And second, he came back here after all this," Foggy said. "There are some things that are perfectly in place. His watch is right where he'd have put it. The windows must have been open to blow the paper into the entryway, but he shut them and locked latched them. His work shoes are right between the night stand and the bed, where he always puts them. It's a compulsion. He came back here, got changed probably, straightened a few things and didn't come back. We need more evidence. Let's hit Matt's church next and see what he was doing before all this."
Re: Matt + the X-Men [FILL 4/?]
X Present X
There was a knock on the door that pulled time back into focus. He was under the covers, silk buffering from the heavy pair of wool blankets. They pushed down, all around him, helping to keep him in the moment. He'd found a pair of pajamas and socks waiting for him when he got out of the shower and they were cozy, familiar. He hadn't realized he'd forgotten clothes when he'd gotten into the shower. It was warm under the covers and that made it hard to think, unless that was the sleep debt finally catching up to him. It'd been a long time.
They knocked again and Matt jolted back to the present. Heartbeat centered lower, metallic edge to the knock, cedar and grease scent unmistakable. "It's not locked, Logan," he said. His voice came out whispish, but that wouldn't be a problem.
Logan came in and dragged a chair to the bedside, boots heavy, jeans catching on the keys in his left pocket. He was wearing a flannel shirt and carrying a pair of coffee cups, one in each hand. Matt wondered for a moment how he'd shuffled them to get the door open. "Brought you a present," Logan set one of the cups down on the bedside table.
"Thanks," Matt replied.
"Wanna talk?" He asked.
Matt shrugged. He hadn't felt like doing much lately.
"That's alright, I'm in a talkative mood. I'll get you caught up on all the news. Lets see. You were here for the funeral, but you missed the wedding - Raven and Irene finally tied the knot. Irene's moved into an assisted living facility, her osteoporosis is getting to her and Raven worried. But Anna Marie was the proudest of her mamas. That was six, seven years ago now? We've gotten some new students, I really think you and Idie would get along, she reminds me of you sometimes. And I want you to talk to Ruth, Ruth Aldine, before you leave. She has Irene, of course, but she really could use some role models who are blind and closer to her own age. I tried to get her involved in a group at Westchester, but she's real shy and she struggles with words and it just didn't work out.
"Kurt changed his mind about seminary school, though I imagine he'll want to talk to you about that himself. Me and 'roro, we're keeping on. She's getting older but she's still smart as a tack and damn if she isn't more beautiful every time I see her. The longer we stay together, the more I think I might have finally found someone who'll stay...anyway, we've been good. Running the school is a hassle. We brought Moira over from Scotland to help with designing the curriculum and we brought on a full time therapist because we're professionals like that. Made some changes to the curriculum, though most of the older kids end up taking AP classes down at the local high school if they can. The college bound kids really care about that. I'm teaching history this semester, same as ever. Just wrapped up a three month seminar into indigenous peoples of the Americas and total war. Pretty fucking depressing, and I had to do a lot of outside research. But we brought in Dani's parents to give a lecture and took a field trip to Canada to talk about policy and religion with a doctor I knew through James and Heather. I feel like the kids got a lot out of it."
Logan set the empty coffee cup down on the floor beside his feet. "You've gotten thinner, kid. Food not agreeing with you any more? Or just too tired to eat?"
Matt didn't say anything, but Logan didn't seem to mind.
"Well, I'll go down to the kitchen and get something you'll like. I'll be back in a bit, okay? I've got a book I'm working on, researching new curriculum techniques for the little guys. Artie's finally hit his sixth birthday and it's great how he brings the younger kids together, but we've never had a student so young we needed to do times tables before. Always something new to learn about."
Logan eventually came back with a bowl of basmati rice and 'just a taste' of palak paneer, which Matt couldn't just let sit there and get cold as it filled the room with the delicate fragrance of tumeric and cardamom under the heavy layers of ginger and cashew cream. Logan read his book, offering to collect something from the library for Matt, and when Matt turned him down reading out excerpts on the integration of found objects into children's play and the ways that can expand dexterity and creativity. This wing of the institute was quiet in the evening and eventually Matt found the words to say so.
"Did nobody tell you? We changed the name to the Jean Grey School after the professor died. Don't worry about Jeannie, she's alright. We had a bit of a scare, but she's back with us. But then we'd already changed the nameplates and put in the statue and done a lotta paperwork. Its our little in-joke, I guess. But yeah, the kids know you're back, so I told 'em to keep it quiet indoors for a bit. And I'm the scary headmaster, so they're listening for now."
X The Near Future X
Karen must have been relaxing at home too, because she was rocking the casual-casual look. Like business casual but with more sweatpants. But Foggy figured if there was anyone who could pull off sweatpants as business casual it was probably Karen. Also, does it count as business if you're sitting home alone typing up a story? His mind tends to wander when he's stressed. She was already pacing at Matt's door by the time he arrived with the emergency key. She gave a little wave and a tight smile.
"No answer. I talked to Fran, she says she hasn't seen Matt in a few weeks but that they haven't rented the place out to someone new."
Foggy nodded. "Okay." The key clicked in the lock and they stepped into the entryway.
It looked like a tornado had gone through the place. There was a cane lying on the floor, snapped in half. Papers from Matt's files were littered over the floor. Someone had ripped the cushions out of the couch and slit them open. The cabinet by the stairs was open and the trunk within strewn onto the floor. Karen caught his eye, then went to investigate. No Daredevil stuff on the floor, but maybe whoever turned the place over had taken it with them. Foggy went to the kitchen.
It was empty, and not normal Murdock-humans-need-food-for-sustenance empty. There was nothing in the fridge, not even a bottle of water. The cabinets were similarly bare, except for what looked like a flour spill on a lower shelf. The mason jars Matt had been using to hold dry goods he found in the trash can, shattered, along with their contents. In fact, it looked like all the non-perishables had been thrown in the trash.
The bedroom wasn't much better. All of Matt's clothes were left in a pile on the floor. The mattress had been upended and left on it's side, boxes that had been under the bed were all emptied dumped on the carpet. Matt's watch sat in a patch of calm on the table beside his bed.
He turned to leave the bedroom and nearly ran into Karen and most certainly did not let out a shriek because Foggy wasn't rattled by the ghost town/crime scene that had replaced his ex-bestie's apartment.
"Sorry!" Karen said. She scrubbed her hand over her face. "I don't think Matt's been here for awhile. And he wouldn't do this, right? Even if he were having some sort of...break, he wouldn't break the bathroom mirror and empty all his food into the trash, right?"
"I'm thinking organized crime, of some sort. Either Matt got himself in trouble or somebody figured out Daredevil. Those are about the options, right? The question is, where'd he go next?"
"You don't think someone took him?" Karen hoisted her purse higher on her hip.
"Well, one, Matt's Daredevil. I think the place would be more messy, like with blood and stuff, if that had happened. And second, he came back here after all this," Foggy said. "There are some things that are perfectly in place. His watch is right where he'd have put it. The windows must have been open to blow the paper into the entryway, but he shut them and locked latched them. His work shoes are right between the night stand and the bed, where he always puts them. It's a compulsion. He came back here, got changed probably, straightened a few things and didn't come back. We need more evidence. Let's hit Matt's church next and see what he was doing before all this."