Frank blocked and jabbed. Jack grinned and then moved quickly with a combo. Frank stumbled. "Yes!" Frank shook off the blow and made an assault. Matt cocked his head as he took in the sound.
He wondered what the footwork was like without the visual cues. Kid had an idea of what boxing should be like and had some training so he might have a pretty good picture. Frank blocked and smirked as he managed to get Jack into a corner. Kid jumped.
"No! Come on, Dad!" Frank concentrated on getting Murdock to acquiesce. So far Frank hadn’t won a single spar. Give him mixed combat and then he’d get something but boxing with rules? Yeah it was a good challenge.
One miscalculated move on Frank's part allowed Murdock to escape the corner. Kid whooped. Frank glowered and tried to corner Jack again. Jack evaded it with quick footwork and had him down again. Frank conceded. Jack would win again. Though he had been close.
Okay, closer.
The man grinned in triumph. Frank returned it because it had gotten his adrenaline thrumming. He wanted to suggest another match but Matt came to the ring and crowed on about his Dad's skill. Frank couldn't get annoyed because the kid quickly started asking questions making sure his visualization of the spar had been correct.
Jack glanced at him. Frank shrugged as he answered a question meant for his moves but aimed at Jack. It was fine. Answering together seemed to make it less awkward. The kid went from directing the inquiries to just his dad to Frank immediately.
“How'd you corner my dad?"
"Luck?" Frank answered half humoring and half honest. He hadn’t really planned it but had gone with the opening when he saw it.
"Liar. You just don't want dad to know so he can't prepare against it next time he goes up against you."
"Matt." Jack warned. "It was a good fight. You can't expect everyone to tell all their secrets. Besides if it was skill then that means I can up my game." Kid grinned. He looked excited.
“Then you’ll keep up your streak.”
“I will beat you, Murdock.” Frank said.
“Well I’ll be waiting for that day.” Matt stuck out his tongue. Frank laughed. Kid was a card. Jack rolled his eyes.
“I guess we should set up are next match.” They did and chatted a bit about. Matt felt his wrist. Frank saw a watch.
“Is it ten? Can we go home? I’m hungry.” Frank and Jack looked at the clock on the wall.
“Yes, it is. We have to go Frank. We’ll see you for the game?” Jack said and helped his kid get his things.
“Yes. I’ll let you know if I can’t.” Kid nodded as well and said goodbye as well.
The gym was empty now. He moved to a bag. His mind refocused. He thought about his aim tomorrow. He was getting acquainted with the black market of New York. He pounded the bag.
A few days later he met with Jack and Matt at restaurant-bar mix in the day. They watched and listened to the game over snack food. Matt seemed to indulge less enthusiastically in food than Frank would expect of a preteen.
Jack was eyeing his kid every once in a while but seemed content as long as his kid ate. Frank decided not to ask about it or look into it. Kid could’ve been a picky eater. God knows that his had their-had had their phases. It was a good game and ended with Frank paying after losing a bet on who would win.
The next time he saw them was at their sparring time. Frank was going against Jack and hoping to burn out his frustration. The last few days were unprofitable in terms of new information, new equipment and made him feel like he was going around in circles.
Jack’s greeting was terse. Frank didn’t think much into it until Jack aimed and didn’t seem to be pulling his punch as much as usually or holding back as usual. Frank had hell of a time and found he was struggling to keep up within the rules of boxing. This didn’t have the usual pace and Frank didn’t actually find himself liking it.
“Alright, let’s take a breather.” He rasped and for a moment thought Jack wouldn’t. His look on his face was furious and frustrated but Jack pulled back and immediately moved to a bag. Frank frowned and let him hit for a few seconds before stopping the bag.
“We going to have a problem tonight? If you can’t spar I can work alone.”
Jack glared at him. “No.”
“You sure because this isn’t the normal. I want to improve my fight not actually fight.” He gave Jack a knowing look. “I wouldn’t stick to boxing.” Jack gave a solid punch to the bag and Frank let go. Damn that was a hard hit.
“No, I’m not fine.” Jack took a breath. “Look, you’re right. This isn’t a good day for us to spar. I’m not in the right mind set.”
“What is it?” Frank asked because this was new and if it meant the end of their sessions he needed to know.
“Nothing. Just a fight I have scheduled.”
“The one against Alvarez?” Jack snorted.
“No, that one got cancelled and rescheduled with another fighter. I have one in two days. Half the pay.”
“Shit. You going to make it for the month?” Money trouble was a common issue in Hell’s Kitchen.
“Yes. It’s-I need to find someone to look after Matt.” He sighed. “My neighbor usually watches him but she’s out of town. I know he’s old enough to stay alone. It’s just he hasn’t been alone since his accident.”
“The chemical spill.” Frank added realizing he had said that out loud. Jack nodded.
“You heard then.”
“Yeah.”
“Do you know what was on those trucks? It is bad enough that, sometimes, industrial waste is passing on our streets but this was some secret new compound. Matt has to go to the doctors to make sure he doesn’t get cancer and God knows what. So far he hasn’t had any signs of poisoning or cancer, which I’m thankful for but it’s affected him.
“He can’t eat what he used to and sometimes having him get dressed is a pain because everything feels like sandpaper to him. His, his sense of smell has gotten better but I don’t know if that’s the chemicals or just because he can’t see anymore. You haven’t seen him collapse because he says he can hear everything.”
“You don’t want to leave him alone.” Frank said and seethed.
“Yeah but I probably will need to.” He sighed. “I trust Matt. I don’t trust what those chemicals are doing to him or did. I’m just worried he’ll be gone when I’m away and if he’s alone he can’t get help.”
“I’ll watch him.” Frank said. Jack paused. Frank didn’t know why he had offered. He hadn’t meant to. He seemed to be doing that a lot. He wondered how much more getting shot in the head affected him that he hadn’t realized.
“You don’t have to.”
“Look. I’m not going to bullshit you and tell you I know what you’re going through but I know what it’s like to worry about your kids. The worst thing my kids dealt with were sprained joints before but I can look after him for you just once.” Jack stared at him.
They hadn’t known each other long and it wasn’t something Jack clearly had expected. Hell Frank didn’t know why he had offered but he wasn’t going to turn tail.
“Let me think about it.” Frank nodded. “Thank you for the offer it’s just-“
“I get it.” Jack nodded.
“I think I can spar now. For real.”
“Good.” Their fight was better and Frank managed to work out some of the frustration he had brought with him. At the end of the fight Jack looked more collected and answered.
“I’ll take up your offer but under my terms.” Frank agreed. It wasn’t much. Just meet and stay at a dinner where Jack knew the people who worked there. Afterwards Jack would meet up with them. Matt would know not to leave and the workers would make sure he didn’t leave with Matt.
A matter of trust and a matter of concern, Jack was all that Matt had and visa versa. Besides Frank might be able to get a bit more out of the kid about Rand Chemicals. Once he was done with his business they were on the top of the list of scumbags to target.
He couldn’t take down the company with a gun alone but he could help maybe find something and slip the right words in the right ears. Until then Frank could help with babysitting.
Fill 5/? : Frank/Jack Murdock: Matt gains another father
He wondered what the footwork was like without the visual cues. Kid had an idea of what boxing should be like and had some training so he might have a pretty good picture. Frank blocked and smirked as he managed to get Jack into a corner. Kid jumped.
"No! Come on, Dad!" Frank concentrated on getting Murdock to acquiesce. So far Frank hadn’t won a single spar. Give him mixed combat and then he’d get something but boxing with rules? Yeah it was a good challenge.
One miscalculated move on Frank's part allowed Murdock to escape the corner. Kid whooped. Frank glowered and tried to corner Jack again. Jack evaded it with quick footwork and had him down again. Frank conceded. Jack would win again. Though he had been close.
Okay, closer.
The man grinned in triumph. Frank returned it because it had gotten his adrenaline thrumming. He wanted to suggest another match but Matt came to the ring and crowed on about his Dad's skill. Frank couldn't get annoyed because the kid quickly started asking questions making sure his visualization of the spar had been correct.
Jack glanced at him. Frank shrugged as he answered a question meant for his moves but aimed at Jack. It was fine. Answering together seemed to make it less awkward. The kid went from directing the inquiries to just his dad to Frank immediately.
“How'd you corner my dad?"
"Luck?" Frank answered half humoring and half honest. He hadn’t really planned it but had gone with the opening when he saw it.
"Liar. You just don't want dad to know so he can't prepare against it next time he goes up against you."
"Matt." Jack warned. "It was a good fight. You can't expect everyone to tell all their secrets. Besides if it was skill then that means I can up my game." Kid grinned. He looked excited.
“Then you’ll keep up your streak.”
“I will beat you, Murdock.” Frank said.
“Well I’ll be waiting for that day.” Matt stuck out his tongue. Frank laughed. Kid was a card. Jack rolled his eyes.
“I guess we should set up are next match.” They did and chatted a bit about. Matt felt his wrist. Frank saw a watch.
“Is it ten? Can we go home? I’m hungry.” Frank and Jack looked at the clock on the wall.
“Yes, it is. We have to go Frank. We’ll see you for the game?” Jack said and helped his kid get his things.
“Yes. I’ll let you know if I can’t.” Kid nodded as well and said goodbye as well.
The gym was empty now. He moved to a bag. His mind refocused. He thought about his aim tomorrow. He was getting acquainted with the black market of New York. He pounded the bag.
A few days later he met with Jack and Matt at restaurant-bar mix in the day. They watched and listened to the game over snack food. Matt seemed to indulge less enthusiastically in food than Frank would expect of a preteen.
Jack was eyeing his kid every once in a while but seemed content as long as his kid ate. Frank decided not to ask about it or look into it. Kid could’ve been a picky eater. God knows that his had their-had had their phases. It was a good game and ended with Frank paying after losing a bet on who would win.
The next time he saw them was at their sparring time. Frank was going against Jack and hoping to burn out his frustration. The last few days were unprofitable in terms of new information, new equipment and made him feel like he was going around in circles.
Jack’s greeting was terse. Frank didn’t think much into it until Jack aimed and didn’t seem to be pulling his punch as much as usually or holding back as usual. Frank had hell of a time and found he was struggling to keep up within the rules of boxing. This didn’t have the usual pace and Frank didn’t actually find himself liking it.
“Alright, let’s take a breather.” He rasped and for a moment thought Jack wouldn’t. His look on his face was furious and frustrated but Jack pulled back and immediately moved to a bag. Frank frowned and let him hit for a few seconds before stopping the bag.
“We going to have a problem tonight? If you can’t spar I can work alone.”
Jack glared at him. “No.”
“You sure because this isn’t the normal. I want to improve my fight not actually fight.” He gave Jack a knowing look. “I wouldn’t stick to boxing.” Jack gave a solid punch to the bag and Frank let go. Damn that was a hard hit.
“No, I’m not fine.” Jack took a breath. “Look, you’re right. This isn’t a good day for us to spar. I’m not in the right mind set.”
“What is it?” Frank asked because this was new and if it meant the end of their sessions he needed to know.
“Nothing. Just a fight I have scheduled.”
“The one against Alvarez?” Jack snorted.
“No, that one got cancelled and rescheduled with another fighter. I have one in two days. Half the pay.”
“Shit. You going to make it for the month?” Money trouble was a common issue in Hell’s Kitchen.
“Yes. It’s-I need to find someone to look after Matt.” He sighed. “My neighbor usually watches him but she’s out of town. I know he’s old enough to stay alone. It’s just he hasn’t been alone since his accident.”
“The chemical spill.” Frank added realizing he had said that out loud. Jack nodded.
“You heard then.”
“Yeah.”
“Do you know what was on those trucks? It is bad enough that, sometimes, industrial waste is passing on our streets but this was some secret new compound. Matt has to go to the doctors to make sure he doesn’t get cancer and God knows what. So far he hasn’t had any signs of poisoning or cancer, which I’m thankful for but it’s affected him.
“He can’t eat what he used to and sometimes having him get dressed is a pain because everything feels like sandpaper to him. His, his sense of smell has gotten better but I don’t know if that’s the chemicals or just because he can’t see anymore. You haven’t seen him collapse because he says he can hear everything.”
“You don’t want to leave him alone.” Frank said and seethed.
“Yeah but I probably will need to.” He sighed. “I trust Matt. I don’t trust what those chemicals are doing to him or did. I’m just worried he’ll be gone when I’m away and if he’s alone he can’t get help.”
“I’ll watch him.” Frank said. Jack paused. Frank didn’t know why he had offered. He hadn’t meant to. He seemed to be doing that a lot. He wondered how much more getting shot in the head affected him that he hadn’t realized.
“You don’t have to.”
“Look. I’m not going to bullshit you and tell you I know what you’re going through but I know what it’s like to worry about your kids. The worst thing my kids dealt with were sprained joints before but I can look after him for you just once.” Jack stared at him.
They hadn’t known each other long and it wasn’t something Jack clearly had expected. Hell Frank didn’t know why he had offered but he wasn’t going to turn tail.
“Let me think about it.” Frank nodded. “Thank you for the offer it’s just-“
“I get it.” Jack nodded.
“I think I can spar now. For real.”
“Good.” Their fight was better and Frank managed to work out some of the frustration he had brought with him. At the end of the fight Jack looked more collected and answered.
“I’ll take up your offer but under my terms.” Frank agreed. It wasn’t much. Just meet and stay at a dinner where Jack knew the people who worked there. Afterwards Jack would meet up with them. Matt would know not to leave and the workers would make sure he didn’t leave with Matt.
A matter of trust and a matter of concern, Jack was all that Matt had and visa versa. Besides Frank might be able to get a bit more out of the kid about Rand Chemicals. Once he was done with his business they were on the top of the list of scumbags to target.
He couldn’t take down the company with a gun alone but he could help maybe find something and slip the right words in the right ears. Until then Frank could help with babysitting.