The Invisible String: Matt Murdock/ Daredevil

21

"You're stubborn," she shot back, though her hand lingered over his where it rested on her waist.

For a little while, neither of them moved. The sounds of Karen and Foggy's quiet bickering filtered in from the lounge—clattering mugs, a muttered complaint about toast being "charcoal," the faint laugh that followed. It was domestic, ordinary, and in a way, it was healing all on its own.

By the time they emerged into the main room, the tiny apartment smelled like burnt bread and cheap coffee. Foggy was slouched at the table rubbing his lower back dramatically while Karen poked fun at him for hogging the blanket on the couch.

Matt leaned against the doorframe, his hand brushing Annalise's arm for support, though his expression was composed.

"Sleep well?" Foggy asked, waggling his eyebrows.

"Better than you did, apparently," Matt returned smoothly.

"Yeah, no kidding," Foggy muttered. "My spine's filing a complaint."

The banter faded, though, when Karen set her mug down with a small sigh. "We need to move."

The room went quiet.

Annalise looked down at the table, her fingers tightening slightly. "I know," she admitted softly. "We need a place to stay, give us time to form a plan."

"Yeah, especially with two couples now living here." Foggy pointed out, his usual warmth undercut with a know-it-all grin. "And I'm not sure my back can survive another night on that couch."

The attempt at humor made Annalise smile faintly, but she could sense him and Karen figured out their feelings for one another.

Karen leaned forward. "What if we just go look? Nothing far. Just a few blocks. Somewhere cheap, under a different name. Safe enough to buy us some time as Fisk plans his next move."

Annalise hesitated. Her instincts screamed against letting anyone go. But they couldn't stay here forever. "If you stay close. Within earshot. If something happens, you come back immediately."

"Done," Karen said firmly, already grabbing her jacket.

But Matt stiffened. "No."

Everyone turned to him.

"I can go," he said sharply, rising too quickly from his chair. The motion tugged at his stitches, but he ignored it, his jaw tight. "Fisk has eyes everywhere. You don't know what you're walking out into."

Karen opened her mouth to argue, but Matt was already moving toward the door, worry flickering behind his calm exterior.

"Matt," Annalise tried, reaching for him. He turned to her, "They could still be actively searching for any of us, it's better me then any of you." Pivoting towards the front door again he continued.

So she did the only thing she could.

She reached out with her ability and tilted his balance.

Matt staggered mid-step, the floor pitching beneath him like a ship at sea. His hand shot out for the wall, his equilibrium spinning violently away from him. She was already there, catching his arm, guiding him toward the couch. "You're not going anywhere."

"Did you just-?" he muttered through gritted teeth as she pressed him down.

"Yes," she said bluntly. "Because you weren't listening."

Foggy and Karen froze in the doorway, wide-eyed.

Annalise looked up at them, her tone even but firm. "I'll explain later. Just go. You two need to find a place. We'll be fine."