Chapter Text
Foggy Nelson stared into the mirror and assessed the damage. The blood on his face was mostly down to a split lip. He grimaced at the pain as he dabbed the drying blood away. A soft knock came from the locked door behind him.
“Can I do anything?” A voice called through the thin wood. Foggy’s lips turned up in a small smile, ignoring the pain in his lip.
“No, thank you.” He called back, leaning closer to the mirror to check that the blood had all been wiped away.
“I closed out with Josie…”
Foggy dropped the bloody paper towels into the garbage under the sink. He reassessed, straightening his tie and running his fingers through his hair. He couldn't help but give a large smile as he reached for the doorknob.
This is a love story
One Hour Earlier
Foggy leaned against the bar, clinging to his glass like a lifeline. It had been a desperate attempt to come to Josie’s. It wasn’t the first place most people would look for someone to take home, but it was the closest dive bar to the shop. If anything, while the liquor was questionable it was at least strong.
You know when you’ve done... everything? You’ve done the near abusive workouts and shitty scheme diets. You’ve kept your fallback life plan from being a total failure, even if it probably doesn't pay as well as your dream job would have. You even manage to tell your probably-out-of-your-league on/off situationship that you deserve more than occasional hookups and no emotional involvement. You’ve done everything, and you still feel… Like it’s not enough..
He tosses the rest of his drink down. It burns just enough to keep him from feeling embarrassed by his overtly obvious prowling. He wondered if everyone around him could smell his desperation, no one had even talked to him in nearly an hour-
“Is this seat taken?” Foggy startled at the voice. He turned and felt his jaw drop. This man was probably the single most beautiful person he’d ever seen. Even with the douchey sunglasses indoors, the way he was smiling stole Foggy’s breath away from him. He tried to be casual with the way he glanced down at the stranger's body, taking in the look of the tight dark denim on his legs and the stylish black jacket.
“Only by my wallows, and they’d probably stiff me with the bill at the end of the night so go for it.” Foggy joked self-deprecatingly. It earned him a laugh from the stranger and Foggy knew immediately he wanted to hear it again. The man slid into the empty seat, his body turned to face Foggy.
“Bad night?” He asked, folding his hands on top of the bar. His hands tapped the bar in front of him. “Hey Josie, can I get another round here, whatever he’s having.”
Foggy laughed incredulously, no way was this insanely attractive man walking up and buying him a drink.
“How can anyone have a bad night in this lovely establishment, right Josie?” Foggy smiled sweetly and got a huff from the bartender in response. That was practically a warm agreement in Josie’s world. The stranger laughed again and waited for Josie to set the glasses in front of him before sliding one over to Foggy.
“My name is Matt Murdock.” He said, offering a hand. Foggy took it quickly, hoping his palms weren’t an unacceptable level of sweaty.
“Foggy Nelson, nice to meet you.” He replied instantly before hesitating. “Wait- Matt… Murdock? Are you… You’re not from Hell’s kitchen are you?” He asked. It took him a second to realize he still had not let go of the man's hand. He quickly dropped his hand and reached for the glass.
“Yeah, born and raised,” Matt said and Foggy wondered if he imagined the hesitation. The bell that was ringing in his head finally connected.
“So am I! I heard about you when you were a kid- saving that guy, crossing the street.” Foggy couldn't help the excitement in his voice. He remembered how cool it was seeing someone his age being called a hero in the papers, even if what had happened was slightly tragic. As the story came back to him Foggy looked back to the glasses, now they made sense.
“Yeah- I just, I just did what anyone would have.” He was humble, on top of supermodel hot. Foggy couldn’t stop the snort in his throat.
“Bullshit, you are a hero.”
“I’m not-” Matt chuckled nonchalantly, bringing his drink up to his face.
“Come on, you got your peepers knocked out saving that old dude.” Foggy couldn't stop the excited babbling, even though he was pretty sure he’d stick his foot in his mouth if he didn't quit while he was ahead.
“They didn’t get knocked out,”
“Good, because that would be… a little freaky. No offense!” There, he’d done it. You could always bet on Foggy Nelson to say exactly the wrong-
“None taken.” Matt’s smile softened. Foggy let the moment sit before Matt continued. “Most people dance around me like I’m made of glass… I hate that.” And it twisted Foggy’s heart to hear the vulnerability in those words. He tried to imagine how it would feel to have everyone tiptoe around him, pitying him. It would drive him insane.
“Yeah, you’re just a guy, right? A really- really good-looking guy.” Foggy didn’t mean to say that last part, but his mouth betrayed his thoughts. Matt froze, his head tilted slightly to the side looking dumbfounded.
“Oh- uhm…” Matt stuttered out and Foggy had to think quickly on his feet to save this. He practically shouted out the first excuse that came to mind.
“I mean- girls must love that, the whole… wounded handsome duck… thing. Am I right?” He laughed stiffly, hoping that he hadn’t made an irredeemable ass out of himself.
“Right! Uh, it’s been known to happen but… Not exactly my scene.” Matt said, lifting his hands to pull the jacket he was wearing off. That’s when Foggy saw the unmistakable white of a clerical collar. Oh, he was a priest. Foggy had just shamelessly hit on a priest.
Matt took mercy on Foggy, leading the conversation into a comfortable topic. It was apparent pretty soon that Matt was not only hot but cool as hell. Or heaven? Foggy considered the wording briefly while Matt laughed his way through a story from his college days. Foggy insisted on picking up the next round. He had nearly forgotten that his reason for coming here had been to find someone to have a shameless one-night stand with. He nearly forgot anything that wasn’t Matt at this moment. The chemistry had been strong and they passed a couple of easy hours of conversation before Josie was announcing the last call.
The men had relaxed with their drinks, Foggy had shucked his jacket not long after Matt. Matt had folded up the arms of his black button-up, exposing strong-looking arms. Foggy swore that only j crew models could look so casually out together.
“So, Murdock, there a story to go with that?” Foggy asked, gesturing to the collar because he wants to know, wants to hear Matt keep talking. “The priest thing I mean.” Matt just smiles and leans towards Foggy.
“It seemed like my calling. As for the story, maybe I’ll tell you another time.” And the look could be described as nothing but devilish. That was- totally not a mixed signal. Foggy’s breath caught in his throat. He forced himself to drag his eyes away from Matt, it was not cool to take advantage of the guy’s blindness to openly ogle at him.
The moment was broken when Foggy heard a derisive laugh from behind him. Just the laugh made his skin prickle uncomfortably. He had grown up chubby and nerdy, Foggy knew when he was being laughed at. He glanced over his shoulder and saw a couple of mean-looking men over at the closest pool table, both pointedly not looking at him, still snickering. When he looked back at Matt he was shocked to see the man stiff and looking ready to throw hands.
“You want to say that again?” Matt asked, directed towards the men. Foggy’s eyebrows knitted together, he hadn’t heard them say anything, how had Matt when he was further away?
“Said this isn’t a fairy bar. No one wants to see that shit here.” One of the men called, rising to the challenge. Foggy felt mortified, he’d never had a problem at Josie’s before. Hell’s Kitchen was even considered one of the top queer-friendly neighborhoods in New York.
“No- It’s my bar. And I don’t give a shit about these boys here but you’re pissing me off, De Luce. Get the fuck out.” Josie interrupted from behind the bar, staring daggers at the two men. Foggy knew she probably had her hand wrapped around the baseball bat she kept under the counter.
The bar had gone quiet, the remaining patron's eyes were all trained on the altercation. The men sneered at Josie but decided it was better to head out. She had a ruthless reputation when it came to bullshit in her bar. They scoffed as they dropped the pool cues onto the table and shoved roughly past the tables. It seemed the angrier of the two couldn’t turn up a chance to roughly shoulder check Foggy as he passed which had Matt jumping out of his chair.
“I believe you owe my friend here an apology,” Matt said in a voice that made it sound nearly like a threat. Meathead one pushed against Matt’s chest. Foggy tried to protest but was cut off.
“What are you gonna do about it?” He growled back, pitching his voice deeper to make up for the fact that he stood several inches shorter than Matt. Foggy could see the punch coming, the way the man started to pull back his arm. He however didn’t realize that speed and proximity of it would have the man’s elbow ramming straight into his jaw. Foggy leaned back, making a pained noise. He lost focus of what was happening in front of him but heard the tell-tale sound of fists making contact with faces before several other patrons got between the men. Josie slammed the bat down on the bar top.
“Fucking out. Or my next move is a call to your parole officer.” Foggy had his hand over his mouth, he could taste blood. When he looked at Matt to see if he’d been hurt he saw that the man looked relatively collected for just having been in a bar fight. It looked like he’d taken a fist to the face, his glasses slightly askew. The two meatheads stumbled out the front door nursing what looked like at least a bloody nose each. Matt turned to Foggy with a worried expression.
“Are you bleeding?” He asked quickly, raising his hands between them like he wanted to touch Foggy.
“It’s not bad, I’ll just clean it up in the bathroom.”
Foggy stared into the mirror, the split wasn’t bad. It didn’t feel great but as long as he didn’t smile it wouldn’t hurt much. A knock.
“Can I do anything?” Matt asked through the door. Foggy smiled.
“No, thank you.”
“I closed out with Josie…”
Foggy made sure the bloody paper towels were in the trash before looking back to the mirror. He fixed his tie, and his hair even if Matt couldn’t see it. He smiled still, despite the sharp pain, and reached for the doorknob.
Matt was leaning against the wall, worry all over his face and Foggy’s jacket over his arm.
“I got your stuff. You okay?” Matt continued to worry as if he hadn’t taken a fist to the face to defend Foggy.
“Yeah, are you?” Foggy said, taking his jacket from Matt. If he allowed his fingers to brush against his bared forearms a little longer than necessary, no one had to know.
“Yeah…” Matt reassured. He shuffled his feet quietly for a moment before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a card.
“If you… ever want to talk. I’ll uh, I’ll be there. I’m always… there.” Matt said softly gesturing to the card with the name and location of what must be Matt’s church. Foggy chewed his lip as he stared down at the card.
“Thanks, I’ll… I’ll keep that in mind. Do you… Do you need someone to walk you home?” He couldn’t help but ask. Matt shook his head.
“No, think I’m gonna grab a cab tonight. Will you-” He hesitated, and Foggy held his breath. “Be okay to get home?” Foggy deflated. He forced himself to smile, even if it was only for his benefit.
“Yeah, thanks. I’ll... see you around?” Foggy asked hopefully. Matt didn’t raise his face to meet Foggys but he could still see the smile on his lips.
“Yeah. I’ll see you around Foggy.”