Edited: 30/05/24. Maybe it'll be finished by Halloween!

"No, Your Honor, um, the defense is ready to proceed." Foggy said, after a few beats of silence. He got out of his chair before he started his speech defending the one they call The Punisher. Matt was no where to be found and in all honesty Blair was surprised to see the blond man without his right hand man. "Uh, ladies and gentlemen of the jury the defendant, Frank Castle, is not... Sorry.Um... Mr. Castle is as much a victim No, he's not."

Right now, Foggy wanted to scream. Not only was he recovering still from his night out with Blair two nights ago, but his partner hadn't showed up. This may have been their hardest case and Matt wasn't here!

He looked in the crowed, finding a woman with darkish hair watch. She smiled softly a "you got it" mouthed in his direction. Foggy hoped Blair was right.

Her brows were pinched with sympathy, her legs bouncing. She had missed the day to support her favourite lawyers — even if one totally hated her. Matt could be unpredictable, but this was not the type of situation to leave Foggy alone: had he gone and got himself killed? She wouldn't be too shocked, he did lack the ability to say no the men wielding knives, then again she also loved danger.

Foggy watched her for a few seconds before he nodded. She was right, if anyone could do this, Foggy Nelson could!

"Okay, so you're 19, standing in hot sand sun burning down noise yelling, gunfire. The only thing that you know for sure is that you're surrounded by an enemy that wants you dead. But you do it. You endure it. Why? Because you have orders. And you have a duty. And also because your life doesn't end here. You have people you love waiting at home. Because aside from being a decorated marine the man before you is a good husband and an excellent father." A small breath left his mouth.

"Frank Castle returned from the hell of war wanting nothing more than to pick up his life. But his wife, young son, and daughter were brutally murdered by criminals, and no one, not the police and certainly not the District Attorney stepped up to make it right."

As far as Foggy was aware, this was the first and last time he's defending a murder, especially with out his partner! His stupid late partner who seemed to appear at the doors. Talk about fashionably late! He sighed, a mixture of anger and relief.

Blair followed Foggy's sight, her own worry flushed on her face. The man was injured, more so than usual. Standing, but she could only assume in agony.

"See, Frank Castle never came home. He just traded in one war zone for another. This trial isn't about vigilantes. It's about the failure of the justice system. And how one man, Frank Castle, is being used as a pawn to cover up that system's mistakes. The prosecution wants blood. But as the judge just said to get it, they have to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. So all I'm asking of you today keep an open mind. That's all, Your Honor."

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

"Foggy Nelson." Blair smiled, clapping her hands as she made her way to the man, a bright smile on her face, pain hidden behind her painted lips. "You are amazing."

"Blair! Oh god you're ok!" The man gripped the girl in a tight hug, refusing to let go until she pushed him away. "I'm sorry I left you, I was drunk and oh god. You're ok right? Nothing happened? I called Matt to find you, did he find you?"

Blair tilted her head slightly. Why would Matt find her. "Matt has a new girlfriend, why would he be trying to look after me?" She laughed lowly. "I got home, I'm not sure how, I'm not actually sure how I'm not hanging, I mean I threw up yesterday morning."

"I can still taste the tequila." Foggy grumbled.

"Enough about that, your speech was amazing, Foggy, you're definitely the best lawyer someone can have." Her hand touched his arm, her smile becoming genuine. "You're a good friend, and I'm sorry I've been a state recently. We are celebrating, ok?"

"No more drinks, B, you can out drink a pirate."

"How about we get food?"

Foggy's eyes narrowed on the girl. "Just food?"

Blair laughed, a nod following.