The Invisible String: Matt Murdock/ Daredevil

17

The shock of the icy water stole their breath, but they kicked hard, swimming away from the chaos above. As the gunfire faded into distant echoes, they surfaced, gasping for air. Annalise glanced back toward the dock, her heart racing. "Are they following us?" she asked, her voice thick with fear.

"Not yet," Matt replied, his voice strained but steady despite the throbbing pain in his arm. "We need to keep moving."

They swam toward the nearest bank, pulling themselves out of the water and collapsing onto the muddy shore, exhausted and shivering. "Let's go," Matt urged, gritting his teeth against the pain as they stumbled through the darkened streets toward the apartment.

Nervously looking around, Annalise felt her heart race faster with every step as the familiar brick facade of the building loomed ahead, a beacon of safety in the night. They rushed to the fire escape, quickly climbing up the metal rungs until they reached the window. With a grunt, they tumbled through, crashing into the living room.

Foggy, Karen, and the others were already there, and their heads snapped up in shock at the sight of Matt and Annalise, drenched and disheveled. "What happened?" Foggy asked, eyes wide with panic. "Are you both okay?"

"Karen? Thank god." Matt managed, breathless, scanning the room.

"What the hell Matt?!" Foggy exclaimed, looking between him and Karen, who stood frozen in place, her eyes darting between them.

"We need to get you both cleaned up," Karen said, her voice trembling slightly, urgency lacing her words.

"Matt's hurt." Annalise exclaimed, her voice rising with urgency as she pulled his shirt aside to reveal blood soaking through the fabric.

Foggy's expression shifted from shock to a mix of horror and concern. "What the hell happened?"

"I'm fine," Matt protested weakly, though he could feel the fatigue creeping through him, the adrenaline beginning to wane.

"No, you're not! And I'm too weak to take your pain away." Annalise snapped, a fierce look in her eyes as she assessed his wound. "You need help."

In a blur, they rushed to the couch, where Annalise helped him ease down, the fabric clinging to his drenched body. "Sit," she ordered, her tone brokering no argument as she retrieved a first aid kit.

Matt complied, wincing slightly as he leaned back, feeling the weight of panic and pain settle over him. "It's just a scratch," he insisted, but Annalise's focused expression told him otherwise.

"It's deep," she murmured, examining the wound closely. "We need to clean it out."

"I can handle it," he insisted, but Annalise knocked his hand away, determination etched in her features. "Let me help," she said gently.

He reluctantly nodded, allowing her to take charge. She meticulously cleaned the wound, her fingers steady but her brow furrowed in concentration. "Just breathe," she whispered, her own heart racing as she focused on the task. "You're going to be okay."

They worked in silence, the only sound the soft rustle of the first aid supplies as Annalise stitched him up. Matt winced but felt a sense of comfort in her presence, a bond forged through shared terror and urgency. Once she had finished, he leaned back into the couch, exhaustion settling heavily into his bones.

"Thank you," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

She smiled faintly, relief washing over her. "You don't have to thank me. We help each other, remember?"

With a shared understanding, they both knew that this was more than just survival.

"Lets get cleaned up, your arm and side shouldn't be bleeding anymore." Annalise grabbed his hand taking him into the bedroom. Foggy and Karen were still holding each others hand, silently comforting on another as his thumb gently stroked her palm. Annalise's hart warmed momentarily at the sight, they were adorable.

"We'll be out in a minute, relax we're all alright." She quipped lightly, trying to ease the tension. Karen nodded turning to hug Foggy as Matt and Annalise disappeared round the corner. Matt nudging the door shut behind him as he was dragged by her.

As they entered the bathroom, Annalise left the light off, neither needing light to see. She tugged at the bottom of his shirt, implying him to let her take it off. He obliged, leaving him shirtless. Turning her around he slowly unzipped her protective gear, his hand remaining on her skin second too long to be accidental. Annalise turned back to him, her breathing calming down at the touch.

"Same time tomorrow?" She questioned, making the situation momentarily less harsh. They were in their own world right now, no danger, no harm, just them.

Peeling off the remaining clothing, she stepped into the shower, the warmth of the water cascading down over her body, washing away the remnants of their ordeal. The steam filled the small space, wrapping around them like a comforting embrace. Matts head twitched to the side, a knowing smirk cascading onto Annalise's face. She felt his heart rate escalate slightly, his body temperature significantly begin to rise. Her hands drifted to her hair, a small smile playing on her lips at this point. Matt groaned quietly, shaking his head in disbelief.

"You know, don't you?" Matt questioned, his mind visualizing the slight before him.

"That you can technically see me every time I shower? Yeah, I had my suspicions,"

Matt huffed a quite laugh, blood coating half his upper torso.

"Are you getting in at all, or just enjoying the show?"

As Matt entered, taking off his last piece of clothing, he felt Annalise's fingers brush against his skin, her touch electrifying. He turned slightly to face her, and in that moment, everything shifted. Their eyes locked, and the air thickened with unspoken words. Annalise reached up, tracing the line of his jaw with her fingers, and Matt leaned into her touch, heart pounding.

"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked, concern lacing her voice.

"I am now," he replied, his gaze steady. "With you, here."

The connection deepened, and without thinking, Matt closed the distance, capturing her lips with his. The kiss was soft at first, tentative, but it quickly grew more urgent, fueled by the adrenaline still coursing through their veins. Annalise responded instinctively, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him closer as water cascaded down their bodies.

Their kiss deepened, becoming a desperate mingling of breath and warmth, as if they were trying to erase the horrors of the night. The world outside ceased to exist, and in that moment, nothing else mattered but the two of them, together.

As they pulled away, both breathless, they shared a knowing smile, a promise of support and strength that transcended the chaos around them. They had faced darkness, but here, in the safety of each other's arms, they found light. They were not just survivors, they were partners, ready to take on whatever came next.