It was already afternoon when Alex reached the streets of Hell's Kitchen. He entered a building marked by a small board: Nelson & Murdock, Attorneys at Law. Inside, Matt Murdock sat at his desk, his head tilted slightly, already sensing who had walked in. His enhanced senses traced the unique warmth and steady rhythm of Alex's presence. A flicker of surprise crossed Matt's features.
"You—" Matt stood up.
Before he could ask, Foggy Nelson bounced forward with a wide grin. "Mr. Kane! The leader of Knight himself. You've been all over the news—right up there with Tony Stark. It's an honor to meet you." He clasped Alex's hand eagerly.
Matt raised a hand. "Foggy, I'll handle this one. He's here for a private meeting."
Foggy's grin faltered, surprised that his friend knew such a big shot. He hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "Alright. But if you ever need legal help, Nelson & Murdock is the place. We give our clients our full attention." He shot Alex a friendly grin before stepping out.
Alex grinned, leaning back in the chair he'd pulled up. "Vigilante by night, lawyer by day. How do you manage a life like that, Mr. Murdock?" The question was a casual jab, and the sound of it, so confident and self-assured, was a punch to Matt's gut. The hope that Alex was here for another reason, any other reason, evaporated instantly.
"How did you find me?" Matt asked, his voice low and guarded.
Alex smiled faintly at the exit. Then his gaze shifted back to Matt. "With my resources? It wasn't that hard. A blind man with your history—I'm surprised no one else could figure it out yet. Well, enough about that. We need to finish our earlier conversation—about working together."
Matt leaned back slightly, hands folding on the desk. "You've done your homework. But I work alone, and my methods aren't like yours."
Alex's face soured into a look of disapproval. "I know you're just an ordinary human, but that doesn't mean our paths are different. If they were, I wouldn't be here."
"Same?" Matt scoffed. "You guys kill people without even blinking. I believe no human has the right to take a life."
A flicker of confusion crossed Alex's face, then a slow understanding dawned. "Ah! It seems your meeting with the Umbra wasn't exactly pleasant. I give them a certain level of freedom due to the nature of their tasks, but I assure you, we, the Knights, are very cooperative with the law enforcement."
"I don't think law-abiding people kill on whims." Matt countered, the disgust clear in his tone. "You show the public one face and another in the dark. Which face should I trust?"
Alex let out a laugh. "Haha, that's quite hypocritical of you to say, Mr. Vigilante. I heard you even get up after getting beaten and won't stop until you beat up your opponents to a pulp. That's why they call you 'devil,' yes?"
Matt tried to find a defense, but no words came. But Matt's silence was its own answer. There was no changing his mind with words. Alex had to show him another way.
"You know what happened in Harlem two days ago, right? It was only seven miles from here." Alex crossed his legs, his posture easy. Matt nodded slowly. He'd heard about it everywhere. Even the stories were terrifying. He couldn't imagine what the victims went through.
"I heard the Knights were a big help to the military," Matt said, his voice full of relief. "Helping them save all those people."
"Pff..." Alex scoffed, a look of pure contempt on his face. "That's their story for the people. It was the military who caused it in the first place. And that's not even mentioning the two people they killed with their own stray bullets—the ones they covered up."
Matt's face twisted in disbelief. "Wha—why would they—"
"You said it yourself, Mr. Murdock." Alex interrupted him. "You trusted the face they showed you, the face that you didn't see... Oh, forgive me. I forgot that you can't... Well, you get the gist. This world is always double-faced. They all have a hidden side they wish to hide from the others. You asked me earlier which face of mine you should trust? Neither. Just trust in yourself. The only thing I ask is that you do it under the Knights' banner. I get the fame you'll generate, and in return, we'll give you the tools you need to stay true to your convictions."
Matt was silent for a long time. But he couldn't refute Alex's logic. He, too, had seen the two-faced nature of the world. "When you say 'tools'... what kind are we talking about?"
Alex smirked. "Well, for starters, you're in deep need of proper gear. Wearing a black cloth mask and sweatshirt to fight criminals? You're lucky you haven't encountered anyone truly skilled yet. I can provide you with armor tailored for you. And if you agree to undergo a procedure, you'll gain the ability to heal—even your eyes can be restored."
Matt shook his head slowly. "My teacher told me sight is a distraction for people like me."
Alex smilingly tilted his head. "Do you think this teacher of yours will refuse a chance to see this world clearly? To see its beauty, its colors? And if you think sight distracts you, then just block your eyes. The most important thing is the power to heal." Alex pointed his chin slightly at the wound visible on Matt's face out of habit; he forgot Matt couldn't see...again.
But Matt understood. He instinctively caressed the wound on his hip from the night before. "If I agree to this, what will you expect of me? Are you really only in this for fame?" He sharpened his senses, listening for the conviction in Alex's heartbeat.
Alex's tone hardened. "This might sound insulting, but you, the Devil of Hell's Kitchen, are a small-time player. My stage is much, much higher, and I'm aiming even higher. But without having a proper foundation, I can't reach there, and if I get tied down in every alley fight, I'll never be able to try for it either. And my Knights always see my benefits, so I need someone from the outside—someone who will truly care for the people. That's your role. The public will see what you do and praise the Knights. Everyone is happy."
Matt heard the steady, firm beat of Alex's heart. It was filled with a certain truth. What Alex said was selfish, but it also contained a strange, undeniable righteousness.
Matt took a deep breath; he extended his toward Alex, well, toward a general direction of Alex anyway. "Fine. I hope you stay true to your words."
Alex smirked. He clasped that hand. "I will never betray who trusted me. I have a slight ick towards betrayal, you see."
With that handshake, a new partnership was forged. But it was only a small step toward something much greater.
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