Claire opened her eyes. "You're...you're..." Matt walked behind her and untied her hands. "The Man in the Mask!"

"So they call me," he replied, helping Claire stand up with his hand in hers. She stumbled, off balance from being drugged. Matt caught her arm with his other hand. This time it was his gloved hand touching her arm. "You all right?"

"Uh...yeah," Claire said. Matt released her and walked to the door, kicking it open. Claire pushed her hair out of her eyes.

"What you do, helping people. I've heard so many stories. But why?" She looked at his dark figure, standing in the shadows by the door. He turned around. She began trying to guess where his eyes were. He was now looking at her, and she always tried to make eye contact. Whose face was behind that mask?

"There are lots of people that need saving. And, I guess I just got fed up with all of the bad people in this city," he said. His voice was gentle, and a bit familiar. Not too, gentle, for he was still harsh enough when he needed to be, but gentle enough to mean that he was also a man who cared deeply about everyone else. He was the kind of guy that would give up his life for a stranger in a heartbeat.

"You saved my life back there," she said. "And you don't even know me." She took a step forward, then another. "Well, it wasn't exactly hard with them as kidnappers, but, yeah."

He gave a light chuckle. "I do know some about you, Claire."

"Oh, really?" Claire said. "So you heard them say my name. What else do you know about me?"

She was close enough to see him smile.

The familiarity was too great, and she could hold herself back from asking no longer. "Do I know you? I mean, from somewhere else. Without the whole black mask thing," Claire said.

His lips closed over his teeth, but he was still smiling. More like a smirk, then. "I suppose so."

They were inches apart. That's when she noticed something that she hadn't noticed before, through all of the action. It was his mask. There were no eyeholes.

Confused, Claire placed a hand on his cheek. For a second, he twitched, but then he stayed still. He was going to allow for her to continue.

Claire slipped her fingers under the fabric, inching the mask over his head. And then it was in her fist, and she was staring into the eyes of her hero. His eyes were of no use to him, yet they were filled with caring, compassion, and love.

She gasped. "Matt?"

"So I've been told," Matt said, smirking.

"All this time, it was you." He nodded. Claire exhaled, astonished. Her breath had a light hum to it, like the first note to a song.

"Someone tried to cancel our date. Sloppy, amateurs. Told me right where they were taking you." Claire laughed, but mostly with relief and happiness instead of amusement. She placed her head on Matt's shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.

"Thank you," she said. "Not just for tonight, but for all of the other people you've saved. They tell me all about you at the hospital. I suppose they're victims of crimes performed by much more experienced guys...but still just as grateful as I am."

"I saw someone who needed saving and I did. Well...I can't see, but...you get what I mean."

Claire backed up so she could look into his eyes. "How do you do it?" She squinted with curiosity.

"It's a long story. But, basically, my other senses were enhanced when I lost my sight."

"That's crazy." Matt nodded. There was a small silence. Not an awkward silence, but a thoughtful one, with each person thinking about the other.

Neither of them will ever know who leaned in first. They both had the same objective. Their lips fit together naturally. The kiss was deep and sweet, not too long but not too short either. Their lips moved in synchrony, perfectly.

When they finally broke away, Matt leaned his forehead against hers.

"I guess you didn't fall taking out the trash," Claire whispered. Matt laughed. It rose from his chest, which vibrated against hers, soothing her.

"Nah. A guy got me with a knife." She allowed him to lead her out of the building. They walked down the sidewalk, side by side. The nighttime breeze tickled their cheeks.

"So who's the little friend who stitched you up?"

"Me."

"So it was you who did it! It actually wasn't all that bad. I'm a nurse, though, and I'm all about stitches."

Matt smiled. "Yeah, well. I did my best. I used to stitch up my dad when I was a kid."

"I don't recall a Man in Black when I was young..."

"No, no. He was a boxer."

"Ohh." Claire paused for a moment. "Wait. You're Matt Murdock." She shook her head. "How did I not know that? I didn't even ask for your last name before I was gonna run off on a date with you. Crazy me."

"You're not crazy," Matt said. Claire just shook her head again with a disbelieving smile.

"But you lost your sight in the car accident? Saving that guy. I remember reading about it in the newspaper. Or, actually, hearing my dad talk about it, since I didn't read newspapers back then. You were always the people-saving type, weren't you?"

Matt shrugged. "My dad never wanted me to fight, though. Always wanted me to use my head, not my hands. That's one of the main reasons why I became a lawyer. Now I guess I use both."

"Wait...a lawyer? They're all about the law, and yet you're a vigilante, which goes outside of the law. That's...ironic."

Matt smiled. "I suppose."

They happened upon a small restaurant.

"My reservation has probably expired by now, so I hope this is okay," Matt said.

"It's wonderful," Claire said.

"I, uh, was wearing a suit. It was nice. Had a tie. But then I had to trade it for my mask, so, sorry about that."

Claire handed his mask back to him. "I like this suit, too. It kinda sucks, but I like its meaning."

"Yeah, well it's a work in progress."

Matt tucked the mask into his pocket so no one would see. Then, he opened the door for Claire to walk in.

Once they were sitting at a table, Claire spoke again. "You're pretty graceful for a blind guy. Would have never known from watching you just now."

"There are other ways to see."