𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘-𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 - the lost mother

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𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐀 𝐖𝐎𝐊𝐄 𝐔𝐏 at around nine in the morning, an acceptable time for most people but after the night she and Matthew had together, well let's just say she could use another hour or so. She woke with a yawn before her eyes cracked open, almost blinded by the light that flooded through the window.

"Morning," Matthew mumbled, his voice husky from sleep and making his chest rumble where her head was rested.

Olivia made some sort of noise in acknowledgment as she re-shut her eyes causing him to chuckle as the hand that he had resting on her head played with the long brunette strands.

With another long yawn, Olivia slowly lifted herself up, stretching her arms above her head to relieve the kinks that came with sleeping with another person. She blinked to adjust herself to the light and grabbed her discarded oversized sweater from the ground to cover her bare chest before her eyes flickered to the clock on the wall; confirming they didn't have to actually get up and meet Nadeem for another few hours.

The wolf returned back to her original position; head on his chest, arms tucked against her chest and legs tangled as she let out a small hum, "Enjoy your night off?"

Matt let out a content sigh as he moved a hand to lift Olivia's face from his chest before pressing their lips together, "Very much so."

"Tired?"

"You proved that you have super stamina; so yes, I'm tired."

Olivia laughed and illuminated her eyes to stare into his, watching as his settled onto hers; something she didn't know if she would ever get used to. "Was it worth it?"

"Definitely." He murmured as he pulled her onto his lap, looking up at her eyes as the vibrant blue broke through the scene of reds and oranges.

"You know...." Olivia dragged out with false innocence, "We still have three hours until we have to meet Nadeem."

His attention could help but shift to the feeling of her hands sliding further up his chest, "Is that so?" Matt slowly lifted his hand to the back of the wolf's neck, pulling her down as the other settled on her waist.

"Mhm..."

"We better make the most of it then."

⋆⋆⋆

And make the most of it they did.

The pair had finally forced themselves out of the bed just half an hour before they had to meet agent Nadeem. Olivia had to stifle a laugh as she watched Matthew get dressed and cover his chest that had... new and small bruises; she might've gotten carried away.

"What are you laughing at?" Matt questioned her as he pulled his black shirt over his head, a small smile on his face.

"Nothing, nothing at all."

"I find that hard to believe."

Olivia bit her lip before clearing her throat, her voice filled with honey as she walked over to him, tracing a small line down his neck, pulling the top of his shirt down just slightly to catch a glimpse of the small purple mark that rested there, "Well, you might have bruises covering you, but I'm sure Sister Maggie can tell the difference between a bruise and a hickey."

Matthew shook his head at her, "And I can only guess that yours healed?"

Olivia glanced down, pulling her sweater away as she chuckled, "As if they were never there."

"That's unfair."

"You'll get over it." She spoke before kissing him, pulling away just as he kissed back to go and get dressed.

"Okay. That was unfair." He complained childishly, causing Olivia to bark a laugh as she swapped her sweater for an all-black outfit.

"What are you gonna do, sue me?" Olivia challenged as she approached him once again, her head tilted with a grin on her face.

"Don't tempt me."

⋆⋆⋆

Olivia and Matthew did eventually finish getting ready and did their best to make the room look as undisturbed as possible before taking their leave; out the fire escape, of course.

Olivia was honestly beginning to wonder if it was just a thing that Matt did in his everyday life too. The pair had a casual conversation on their way to their meeting point; honestly, Olivia had begun to forget what a casual conversation was. Matthew had asked about her brother and uncle and what they were up to back home. Olivia wasn't entirely sure, after all, it had been a busy couple of months and she hadn't had all that much time to check-in.

She felt bad for not keeping her family up to date on what she was doing, or even checking on what they were doing so, when she next had a hot minute off, she decided she would call them... well, facetime them as she still hadn't gotten around to grabbing herself a new phone.

"Okay," Matthew began, breaking the wolf from her thoughts, "He's down there."

Olivia peered over the edge of the roof they were perched on and caught sight of the agent who was looking around for the pair. Matthew did as he always did and took the dramatic route of jumping down the building whilst Olivia shook her head, beginning to wonder why Matt had become a lawyer rather than an acrobat and took the metal stairs that led to the ground.

Matt's landing alerted Nadeem to his presence and he spun to face the vigilante whose face was, as always, covered. "You're late."

"We were early, but we needed to be sure about you," Matthew spoke as he nodded his head towards Olivia who sat herself on the stairs, arms crossed as she leaned back with just her eyes visible over the top of the turtleneck. "What's his name?"

"Yeah, well, I need to be sure about you, too. You have a history of hurting people. I'm not handing you a federal agent if you're gonna kill him." The Agent retorted.

Olivia rolled her eyes; Matthew had already stated that he was the real daredevil and she was certain that the news had never reported a death by his hand.

"He does hurt people." She spoke as she pushed herself up to walk over to the pair, "He doesn't kill them, he gives them a second chance which is more than what a majority deserve."

Nadeem scoffed, "The agents he beat up the other day? One of them is in the hospital. All of them just doing their jobs."

Olivia nodded slowly as she furrowed her brows, "Right. But they aren't dead, and eventually they'll return to their desks and play straight into Fisk's hands just as you are now. If they had caught him who would be taking care of Fisk?

"If you're right about him, taking Fisk down is our job."

"Oh really?" Matthew drawled out, his voice plain. "Because we both know where he's sleeping these days. But I understand. If there's one thing we agree on, Nadeem, it's the greater good. Like house incarceration in exchange for good intel. Sometimes you and I have to hurt one person to save another." Those words made Olivia's smile turn smug as she caught sight of Nadeem's face, "So what's his name?"

"I need your word that you won't touch him."

"My word can't mean anything to you."

"But I need to hear you give it. Both of you." Nadeem insisted, his eyes darting to Olivia's.

"Well, I need him to testify against Fisk, so you got it." Matthew agreed before tilting his head as a gesture for Olivia to give her word.

Olivia nodded, "Alright, we won't touch him."

"We're gonna slip into his place. Look for any evidence that ties him to the Bulletin attack or to Fisk. If we find any, we leave it where it is. And we set off his fire alarm on our way out."

Matthew nodded, the plan coming together in his mind it was perfect really. They could get in, find what they needed, leave it undisturbed, and therefore kept them in the clear. The fire alarm would give a justified reason for a search warrant. "The fire department arrives, and you circumvent a search warrant."

"But if we don't find anything, the guy goes on with his life."

Olivia huffed and rolled her eyes, if they didn't find anything, they wouldn't have much of a reason to go after the man. "Yes, he can go on with his life, who is he?"

"Special Agent Ben Poindexter."

Olivia blinked, "Right, well, I'll leave the two of you to it."

Agent Nadeem shifted on his feet as he faced her. He had to admit that whilst he knew of the devil's actions; this woman intimidated him more. She stood with her head held high, shoulders pushed back and eyes narrowed. He didn't know who she was, or what she had done. He would have preferred to keep her within his sights. "You're not coming?"

"You are a federal agent and he is the most well-known vigilante there is," Olivia spoke as she reached out to pat Matthew's chest, not entirely able to kiss him, both due to clothes and their company. Her eyes locked with Nadeem's, "I'm sure the two of you can break and enter well enough on your own."

With that Olivia strolled her way closer to the building a quick glance back at the pair who had turned to face her and with a covered grin she bent her legs and used her strength to push herself off the ground and latched on to the roof, hauling herself up before looking down at the two; "Good luck."

Nadeem cleared his throat as he watched the woman disappear. He didn't know what he was expecting, but it wasn't that.

"We should go." Matthew spoke as a corner of his lips twitched upwards at her dramatics.

"Yeah..."

⋆⋆⋆

Olivia had in fact returned to Jessica's apartment; she didn't quite feel the need of having three sets of hands to break into one man's apartment. One she had arrived at Jessica's; she strolled through the front door and came face to face with the P.I herself.

"Liv?" Jessica spoke as she took a step back. Don't get her wrong, she was thrilled to see her friend but after spending the night she didn't think the wolf would return, knowing she had other things to take care of. "What are you doing back?"

For the first time since Jessica had known her, Olivia actually looked somewhat bashful as she brought up a hand to push her hair back, "I uh--" She stammered, "Thought I would clean up after last nights... activities."

Jessica had varied emotions cross her face, first was confusion, then realization, and then that slowly morphed into a smug grin, "You slept with Matt, didn't you?"

Olivia let out a laugh as she bypassed her friend, headed towards her old room, "Yes Jessica, I did."

Jessica nodded as she followed after the wolf, leaning against the doorway as she watched her change the bed covers. "Did it lighten him up?"

"Of course it did."

"So, are you and your little bed buddy... just bed buddies?"

Olivia shook her head as she laughed and continued to strip the duvet of its sheet, tossing them into a pile on the floor, "Well, we confirmed that we're in a relationship." The wolf moved towards the bathroom, pulling out some old sheets before returning and raising a brow at the look on the P.I's face. "What?"

"A relationship? You don't do those. The entire time I've known you it's been one-night stands, not even a single date."

Jessica was right. The whole time Olivia had been in Hell's Kitchen she had never been on a date nor in a relationship. Even back in Beacon Hill's. It never really felt right and she had never tried to connect with anyone, she had her family and supernatural disasters to focus on and upon her move, she had cases.

Though that was more of an excuse than anything. Olivia didn't want to let people into her life in fear of them leaving, in fear of them running for the hills if they ever found out that she was a beast that howled at the moon or in fear that death would steal them, just as it always did.

But with Matthew Murdock it was different. She didn't enjoy nor did she ever relate to people who told their sappy love stories, but she couldn't deny the feelings she held for the vigilante. She had fought by his side, shared her story, listened to his own and slowly her affections built. Somehow, despite the situations the pair had found themselves in, they began to care for one another. Matt genuinely made her happy and by the light in his eyes the night prior, she returned the favor.

"I know." Olivia sighed as she paused in her bed making to look towards her friend. "But, we've spent a lot of time together and..."

"And?"

"And I think I'm-" Olivia paused, her own mouth not allowing the words to even come to fruition on her tongue.

Jessica dropped her smile upon seeing the genuine frustration that washed over the wolf, "You can't even say the words, can you?"

"Out of the tens of people I've ever said them to..." Olivia cleared her throat as she tossed the newly covered pillows onto the bed before slumping onto it. "You, Derek, and Peter are the only ones left alive."

Jessica joined the wolf on the bed as she bumped her friends' shoulder, "You know, telling someone you love them doesn't kill them, it's not a curse, no matter how much you think it is."

"Jessica Jones, are you giving me relationship advice?"

"Apparently."

They sat in silence for a while; the air between them calm and comforting. Olivia's mind was running a million miles a minute as she pondered Jessica's rather insightful words. She did find it difficult to tell someone she loved them; with her family it was no problem, with Jessica, the pair would always joke about it to make it just that little bit easier. It seemed trivial, stupid even to be scared of saying three words to somebody but it made her feel vulnerable and that was a feeling that she despised.

"Are you sure you wanna be doing that?" Olivia questioned the woman; knowing that emotional conversations like the one they were currently having didn't come easy.

"I'd have punched anyone else but, well, you did almost die so I guess I can listen." Jessica smiled.

Olivia felt a soft smile tug at her lips; Jessica's words might have sounded as if she were teasing but Olivia knew her better than most, the P.I meant what she had said. The wolf hesitated for a moment as her smile faltered and she shrugged, "I love Matt."

"You love Matt?"

"Yep."

It was silent for a moment before Jessica hummed, "Well, you said it."

Olivia swallowed, finally registering what she had said, "Now I just have to tell Matt. Don't know how to do that."

"Maybe put more emotion behind it, don't make it sound like you're telling him the weather like you just did."

"Got it. Emotion. Why aren't we good at that?"

"Trauma."

⋆⋆⋆

Olivia had spent another hour or so with Jessica; the two sliding their previous conversation to the side in favor of drinking whiskey and Redbull. Jessica had also procured an old phone that Olivia had used before upgrading, handing it over, and telling the wolf to stay in touch before Olivia ultimately decided to leave Jessica to the case she was working on and instead headed back towards the church.

By the time she had gotten there, the sun was beginning to set and she could only guess that Matthew would return soon, hopefully with some good news, for once.

In the meantime, Olivia had called her family and certainly got more than what she bargained for. Not only were Derek and Peter on the other end of the phone but apparently Scott and Stiles had paid the two a visit, Stiles was still his old self; calling Peter out on every syllable he spoke and in return got empty threats. Even though she wasn't there, it still felt like old times; especially once Scott and his puppy-like personality tried to step in before ultimately giving up with a heavy sigh.

Derek, as ever, simply rolled his eyes in sync with his little sister who chuckled on her end of the call. The conversation wasn't anything too important, just a catch-up; hearing Peter complain, hearing Stiles complain about Peter complaining hearing Scott ready to pull off his own ears and hearing Derek's voice gain more edge as he kept in the temptation of throwing his uncle out the window.

Matthew eventually returned and upon hearing the wolf talking, he slowed his steps, approaching her quietly in the hopes of leaving her undisturbed.

"Who's with you?" Derek questioned, hearing the light footsteps through the phone.

Olivia paused; her family didn't quite know what was happening in Hell's Kitchen, but Olivia was almost certain that Derek still kept up with the news, and therefore knew that a Mr. Matthew Murdock was a wanted man, as was the 'Devil of Hell's Kitchen'. It wasn't up to the wolf to give away that she was with Matt, but he trusted her family immensely.

With a quick movement, she muted the call, "It's my family and two kid-adults... that I trust completely."

"If you trust them," Matt breathed as he approached the wolf, planting a slow kiss on her lips, "So do I."

Olivia swallowed, her heartbeat racing loud enough for him to hear; something that made his lips twitch. With a nod of acknowledgment to herself, she unmuted the call, "Sorry, I'm uh, I'm with Matt, Matthew Murdock..."

"Matt Murdock? The uh- the man that the FBI has an interest in. Do you ever make smart choices?"

"No, I'm a Hale, we don't do that." Olivia spoke plainly before letting out a deep sigh, "Look, there's a lot you need to know and I'm gonna tell you, we are going to tell you."

The conversation was a rather lengthy one, especially with Stiles interrupting ever few minutes with questions for the Devil of Hell's Kitchen; Olivia had to mute the call for a moment just to tell Matt that it was better of he entertained the boy, or he would never go silent. Matthew and Olivia managed to explain the details that Derek had requested.

Those on the other end of the phone were rather starstruck by the information they had received. Stiles's mouth was agape as he struggled to even blurt out a single word, Scott had his brows furrowed, puppy-dog eyes swimming with confusion, Peter had his lips pursed and arms crossed as he leaned back in a chair and Derek was silent; trying his best to formulate a response to his sister and the devil seated next to her.

"Do you-do you need help?" Was the first thing Derek could say, the voice of Scott in the background agreeing that he too would help if needed.

Olivia didn't want them involved. Perhaps it was stupid or naïve of her to deny the extra support and added strength, but a bunch of wolves and the devil of Hell's Kitchen parading around together would quite have the stealth that was required to deal with a man such as Fisk. "No. We have some information that we're working with and it'll draw too much attention. Beacon Hills needs you; protect our home and if we do need you, I promise that I will ask."

"You better, little wolf." Peter drawled out with a chuckle, "Because if you get hurt, I might just have to maim your little boyfriend."

"I appreciate the sentiment Peter, but I don't think maiming will be needed, so you can take Matt off your menu."

"Whatever you say."

Once the call with her family had ended, Olivia let out a deep sigh. It felt like a relief to get everything off her chest and finally allow her family to know what was happening.

⋆⋆⋆

It was late when the wolf had gotten off the phone with her family and as much as she wanted to know what Matthew and Nadeem had uncovered, she needed sleep and thankfully, Matthew agreed and put off the conversation until morning.

When the sun rose and light filtered in through the windows Olivia tossed and turned beside Matt before eventually groaning and slipping out from under the covers; accidentally waking the man as she did.

"You know, you kicked me at least seven times last night," Matthew spoke as he threw his legs over the side of the bed, listening as Olivia swapped her clothing.

Olivia chuckled as she launched a sweater towards Matt, the material being caught moments before it could hit him, "That bed wasn't made for two, but you insisted."

"I did and now I regret it."

"You're a charmer Matt, thanks."

The vigilante grinned as he approached the wolf and planted a chaste kiss on her lips, "You're welcome."

The second Olivia had deemed herself 'awake' and not just on auto-pilot mode, she turned her attention to Matthew the pair discussing exactly what the vigilante had found in Pendexter's apartment; the remnants of the suit's scent, a giveaway that the agent was the man playing the new version of the Devil in Hell's Kitchen. Not only did they find out that Poindexter was their man, but the tapes that the agent possessed too.

Matthew played their contents, Olivia and Sister Maggie closely listening to the words. From what Olivia could gather, the man was... messed up, to say the least. Yes, Olivia had killed, but her intentions were always to protect another; it wasn't much of an excuse but at least she had one. Agent Poindexter had killed, just to kill. He had trouble expressing his emotions and threatened and scared people when he couldn't.

"I didn't have anyone either, but I'm nothing like him." Matthew muttered as he wrapped his hand, "The tapes make it sound like he was a killer at a young age. The guy's a psychopath. And I had a chance today, a shot to catch him off guard, and I blew it."

Sister Maggie shook her head, standing from her seated position next to Olivia who didn't quite know what to say, "You did what you thought was right. You kept your word to Agent Nadeem."

"Yeah. And how many people will die because of it?"

⋆⋆⋆

"Matt," Olivia spoke as she pushed herself from the bed. She walked over to where the vigilante was once again using their make-shift punching bag and held it steady for him, "You let him go, you did do the right thing. Had you taken him, you know Fisk would find somebody else to take his place, and then we'd be back to square one, trying to find out the hell it is. This way, we know who's in the suit."

Matt's forceful punches ceased for a moment as he exhaled sharp breaths. She was right; they knew it was Poindexter, they could find all they needed about him, have Nadeem keep an eye on the man. If Matt had taken him there and then, there was not a chance that Fisk wouldn't find someone to replace the agent. "You're right. But it doesn't stop people from getting hurt."

"I know it doesn't, but above all, we need to get rid of Fisk; that's when people will stop getting hurt..." Olivia smiled, and did as she always did; changed the subject for their benefit, "I spoke to Jessica today."

Matthew hummed as he readjusted his position, sending punches at the bag the wolf held, "Was she happy we didn't drink her alcohol?"

"Well... yes."

"You both drank it together, didn't you?"

"You know me too well."

Matt chuckled as he shook his head, "What'd you talk about?"

Olivia hesitated, thinking back to the somewhat emotional conversation she and the P.I had together, and Matt, sensing her hesitance paused his punches, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, we actually spoke about you."

"You did?"

"Yeah, she guessed that we were 'bed buddies'; her words, not mine." She laughed as Matt joined her, "I-- I have something that I need to-" Before she could finish, both she and Matt tilted their heads in sync upon hearing Sister Maggie on the floor above them, in the nave of the church.

"I don't know if I have the strength to get through this. He's so stubborn. Full of fury and foolish pride." The Sister spoke, sadness and desperation lacing each syllable "Please... watch over him. Keep him from making the same damned mistake that took you from us. Our son is too much like you, Jack."

Olivia's eyes widened as she watched Matthew recoil. Sister Maggie had welcomed the pair with such kindness, she had tended to both of them when they needed it most and she had given them a place to stay.

Olivia knew how much Matthew craved for family and how much he missed his father. He had the misfortune of watching as people came into his life and left, and now he had to listen as someone close to him revealed that she was, in fact, his mother. The mother that had left him as a child to grow up with a father who was ultimately killed.

As a child he had grown up with Sister Maggie doting on him, taking care of him until that one night wherein he had a nightmare and she never came; she left. She was his mother and she had kept it from him when he had needed it most, pretending to be somebody else.

Olivia covered her mouth with her hand, eyes softening as she watched Matthew crumble, sputtering out incoherent mumbles.

"Mom?" He whispered, shaking his head in denial as heavy breaths escaped him in bursts.

Olivia broke out of her stupor and dropped to her knees beside him as he clutched at one of her hands, gasping out, "No."

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08-09-2020