Sunday dawned and you had barely slept. Dragging yourself out of bed, you set about eating breakfast and cleaning your apartment. Your stomach is in knots considering everything that happened last night. Foggy’s adverse reaction, the revelation about Matt, the fact that your two worlds would collide tonight and, most disturbingly, the stalker. At least, you were labeling them a stalker since they were supposedly following you.
You were still questioning that. Why would someone follow you? You are a nobody. Maybe Foggy was right and you were being followed because of who your friends are. It still didn’t make any sense to you though. You were just their friend and nothing else that you did affected their missions in any way that mattered. Matt had to be mistaken. It had to be someone following him or maybe even Foggy. It couldn’t be you but you knew in the end, no matter who the target was, your friends would help.
A quick trip to the grocery store, an afternoon of baking to calm your nerves, then on to a shower and getting ready for your friends. You aren’t sure how you feel about Foggy right now. The way he had acted the night before disappointed you immensely and now you’re questioning your feelings for him. He’s a really good guy but could you trust him when the first test of your burgeoning relationship had him turning his back on you? You had long held onto the quote, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” You didn’t often let yourself get to “shame on me.” Too often you have let people use you, step on you, and hurt you because you thought you needed their friendship. You were never going to be a doormat again.
Bucky woke with an ache in his chest and a purring Alpine there, too. He smiles softly at the cat, strokes its soft fur, and tries not to think about the night before. It had hurt when Joaquin had told him you were going on a date, but then seeing you had broken his heart. You were lit up the entire night in a way he’d never seen you. You had never looked at him that way. He thought after the way you two had kissed, maybe he still had a chance. Maybe he just needed to tell you how he really felt but now he knew that you really did only want to be friends.
He gets up and goes about his morning routine. Start the coffee, feed Alpine, make breakfast, and concentrate on the good things. If only his brain would let him.
Sunday dawned and you had barely slept. Dragging yourself out of bed, you set about eating breakfast and cleaning your apartment. Your stomach is in knots considering everything that happened last night. Foggy’s adverse reaction, the revelation about Matt, the fact that your two worlds would collide tonight and, most disturbingly, the stalker. At least, you were labeling them a stalker since they were supposedly following you.
You were still questioning that. Why would someone follow you? You are a nobody. Maybe Foggy was right and you were being followed because of who your friends are. It still didn’t make any sense to you though. You were just their friend and nothing else that you did affected their missions in any way that mattered. Matt had to be mistaken. It had to be someone following him or maybe even Foggy. It couldn’t be you but you knew in the end, no matter who the target was, your friends would help.
A quick trip to the grocery store, an afternoon of baking to calm your nerves, then on to a shower and getting ready for your friends. You aren’t sure how you feel about Foggy right now. The way he had acted the night before disappointed you immensely and now you’re questioning your feelings for him. He’s a really good guy but could you trust him when the first test of your burgeoning relationship had him turning his back on you? You had long held onto the quote, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” You didn’t often let yourself get to “shame on me.” Too often you have let people use you, step on you, and hurt you because you thought you needed their friendship. You were never going to be a doormat again.
Now, you wondered how it was going to be with Foggy when he came and especially how Bucky, Sam, and Joaquin would be when introduced to Matt and Foggy. You hope tonight would go smoothly and you could figure out who this person that was following one of you wants.
You set about arranging things when there’s a knock on the door. You glanced at the clock and realized it was over a half hour before anyone should be arriving. Opening the door, you come face to face with Bucky.
“Hey! You’re early,” you smile as you let him in.
“Yeah, I just…” Bucky looks down at his feet then back up to your face. You read him in an instant and move to hug him.
“You’re having bad dreams again?” you say as you wrap your arms around his torso snugly.
“Yes,” Bucky whispers, holding onto you tightly.
“They’re not real. You’re okay,” you whisper reassurances to him while the two of you sway together. It isn’t the first time he’d sought out your comfort. It took him a long time to tell you about them and he still wasn’t comfortable sharing the details.
“Thanks, doll. So, um… are you still seeing that Foggy guy?” Bucky asks awkwardly as you separate.
“Um, yeah. Kinda,” you say, turning away.
“Kinda? What does that mean, doll?”
You sigh, “He…I talk about you and Sam and Joaquin a lot but…”
“He never put it together, huh?” Bucky says
“Exactly. So, when I told him, he was upset which was really hypocritical of him. And I just,” you shrug, “I like being his friend but I don’t think we’re right for each other.”
Bucky’s heart twists at the familiar sound of those words. The last thing you said to him before you left the night he kissed you, ‘I really love being your friend’, played through his head multiple times a day. He forces himself to replay it whenever he thinks of you. His way of trying to quash his feelings for you.
“You don’t have to see him again if you don’t want to,” he says as he squeezes your hand.
“Well…actually, Matt and Foggy are coming tonight. There’s something going on that you guys need to know about.”
“What is it, doll?”
“Just… let’s wait until everyone gets here and then everything can be explained all at once. I don’t want to go over it multiple times. I have a feeling we will anyway.”
“If that’s what you want. Are you going to break it off with him tonight?”
“I don’t know, Bucky. There’s not really anything to break off. It’s just been a couple of dates. Nothing’s really happened between us. Not that he hasn’t tried,” you trail off.
“Do you feel like he’s just trying to get you in bed?”
You scoff, “that seems to be the only thing anyone wants from me lately.”
Bucky’s brows furrow, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that,“ you turn away to walk to the kitchen.
Bucky grabs your hand to stop you, “No, tell me.”
“Please, Bucky, I can’t do this right now,” you squeeze your eyes shut as your heart breaks.
“Do you think-”
Bucky’s words are cut off by a knock on the door. You hurry away to answer it, grateful to be avoiding the conversation. You couldn’t stand to hear Bucky explaining how you were a convenience, how he didn’t mean to hurt you, or whatever it is he was about to say. You just couldn’t do it right now. Not after the disappointment with Foggy and the confusion of this person following you. As soon as you open the door, Sam and Joaquin bustle in making jokes and being their normal jovial selves. You explain to them about Matt and Foggy joining you for the evening and watch as they exchange glances before looking at Bucky.
“Okay. This’ll make for an interesting evening,” Sam says.
It was just a few minutes later when there was another knock on your door. You find yourself sick to your stomach as you go to answer it. This was even more awkward than you imagined and your heart was hurting immensely.
Opening the door, you paste on a smile, “Hi Matt. How’s the head?”
“Fine. Thanks for asking,” Matt makes his way into the apartment.
Foggy is standing a little ways away, hanging back as he looks at you with an unreadable expression. You stare across at each other for a moment before you finally break the silence, “Hi Foggy.”
“Hi beautiful,” he approaches you slowly and puts a hand to your face gingerly. “I’m so sorry about last night. I shouldn’t have gotten upset with you.”
Before you realize what he’s doing, he’d leaned in and captured your lips with his. You quickly pull away when you hear footsteps. Glancing to your side, you see Bucky scowling at the two of you. Your heart sinks knowing that Bucky probably thinks less of you for letting Foggy kiss you.
You duck your head embarrassed by the whole situation, “Um, lemme introduce you to everyone.”
Foggy follows you to where the guys are gathered in a tense standoff. Matt’s head is cocked in Bucky’s direction with a peculiar look on his face.
“So, you must be the guy that swept our friend off her feet,” Joaquin attempts to break the ice.
Wishing the floor would swallow you whole, you laugh awkwardly, “Guys, this is Foggy Nelson and Matt Murdock. They’re attorneys. Matt, Foggy, this is Joaquin Torres, Bucky Barnes, and Sam Wilson.”
“Not that you need any introduction,” Matt extends his hand towards each to shake.
When Foggy does the same, you watch as Joachin smiles, Sam eyes him, and Bucky positively glowers at him. Foggy seems to shrink into himself and doesn’t keep eye contact as he shakes Bucky’s hand. You can’t blame him. Bucky can be intimidating.
Wondering if he’s annoyed with you, Foggy, or the whole situation you attempt to steer everyone to the food, “Why don’t we eat, and then I can explain what’s going on.”
“Why don’t we discuss the issue and worry about the food later?” Foggy says gently but you find it no less frustrating.
“Because then all of her hard work would go to waste,” Bucky growls.
“Uh, right. Good point,” Foggy demures, glancing at Matt.
“Would you like me to make you a plate, Matt?” You ask.
“That would be great. I tend to make a mess of things,” Matt grins and you can’t help but quirk a smile at his double meaning.
“Right,” naming the dishes, you serve him a bit of everything and set the plate in front of him. Everyone else follows suit until the table is full.
“Alright. While we’re enjoying this meal why don’t you start?” Sam gives a no-nonsense raise of his eyebrow.
“Well, you see, um…” you stutter. Fuck, you hadn’t taken the time to work out how to explain this.
“If you’ll allow me?” Matt asks kindly.
“Thank you,” you nod as he takes the lead.
“We believe our friend here has a stalker of some kind. She’s being followed by someone. A… friend of ours realized it and had an altercation with the man when he tried to confront him. The man was skilled at fighting. We aren’t sure why but suspect that her affiliation with you is a factor,” Matt explains.
“Who’s this ‘friend’ of yours?” Sam asks.
“Daredevil,” Matt says clearly.
“You know Daredevil?” Joaquin asks, wide-eyed.
“Kind of. I met him for the first time last night,” you stammer.
“How do we know it’s not Daredevil following her?” Sam asks.
“He has no reason to lie,” Foggy defends his friend.
“How well do you know him?” Joaquin asks.
“Very well. He wouldn’t do that,” Foggy affirms.
“Daredevil followed her here? I thought he stayed in Hell’s Kitchen for the most part,” Bucky asks with eyes narrowed.
“She was at my apartment in Hell’s Kitchen last night,” Foggy explains.
“You were alone when I got here,” Bucky turns to you. “How did you get home last night?”
“I took a cab. Why?” you ask confused.
“With who?” Bucky’s fists clench at his side and the sound of his metal arm flexing is a tell-tale sign that he’s angry about something.
“Alone. What the hell are you getting at, Bucky?” You are confused by his demeanor and line of questioning.
“You think she has a stalker and you let her go home alone?” Bucky growls as he stands and leans over Foggy.
“I, I, I was upset. I wasn’t thinking straight. I didn’t think about it!” Foggy defends himself.
“It was you,” Matt says out of the blue.
“What are you talking about, Matt?” you ask.
“The night of your first date. Someone was following you but something was different about them than the times after that. A noise that accompanied them. It was his arm. He’s not the one following you now but that night, he was there,” Matt explains.
“What? Bucky?” you look at your best friend in disbelief.
“I can explain,” Bucky looks at you pleadingly.
“You damn well better!” you shout, standing to face him.
“Can we talk about this in private?” Bucky gestures to the doorway.
“Sure,” you say flippantly, “I apparently don’t get any privacy but sure. Let’s go.”
You walk out of the room and towards your bedroom, the only place that would afford you any privacy. Bucky followed you contritely but as soon as the bedroom door was closed, he started, “Doll, it’s not what you think.”
“Explain yourself,” you say quietly but with obvious anger.
“You weren’t talking to me and so I came here to wait for you to get back so I could. Joaquin called me, told me about his conversation with you, and that you were going on a date. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. It was stupid but I was worried about you.”
“So, you could have talked to me, but you decided to follow me on my date, instead?” you ask with arms crossed.
Bucky takes a deep breath before crossing his own arms and staring you down. He slowly leans into you as he speaks, “Yeah. I knew if you had a date you weren’t going to talk to me and when you’re upset about something you tend to get a bit reckless.”
Fuck, sometimes he knew you too well. Your body is reacting to his closeness making it hard to concentrate and, truthfully the two of you had bigger fish to fry tonight than this petty argument. You look into his eyes and relax your stance, “Fine.”
“About the other,” Bucky continues.
“What other?” you say.
“That comment you made earlier-”
“Later, Buck, please. Please, we have enough to concentrate on without hashing all this out again, don’t we?”
Bucky sighs, “Fine.”
“Thank you.”
“But I’m not letting it go,” Bucky says as you make your way to the door.
You pause with your hand on the knob and nod before leading the way back to the front of the apartment. As you sat back down, everyone stared at you expectantly, “Everything’s fine. We worked it out.”
Bucky sits and stares at Matt for a moment before narrowing his eyes, “So, you’re Daredevil. Not what I expected.”
Matt smirks, “Gave myself away.”
“I thought you were blind?” Joaquin says.
“Not exactly. I don’t see like other people. It’s like a world on fire but it allowed me to hone my other senses,” Matt explains.
“Okay, this is all well and good but let’s get back to the problem at hand,” Sam gets everyone’s attention. “Someone is following her which means she’s in danger.”
“Honestly, guys, I still don’t think he’s following me. How do you know he isn’t following you or Foggy, Matt?” you ask.
“Because when I was fighting him he said, ‘you won’t keep her from me’,” Matt frowns.
“You didn’t tell me that,” you breathe.
“I didn’t want to scare you more than I already had. I’m sorry,” Matt looks around the table. “He’s good. Whoever he is.”
“Have you met anyone new lately?” Joaquin asks.
“Just Foggy, Matt, and Karen. And my neighbor, Ben,” you say.
“Ben?” Bucky asks.
“I met him at the bar in Hell’s Kitchen the night of our first date and then…” you trail off.
“Then what, doll?” Bucky prompts.
“He showed up here the next day. He said he was looking for an apartment. He moved in the following week,” your brain runs through your interactions with Ben.
“What’s his last name?” Joaquin asks.
“I… I don’t know. He never said but his wallet had the initials BP on it,” you remember.
“What else do you know about him?” Sam questions.
You spend some time going over everything you know about Ben, every interaction, every conversation. Together, the six of you come up with a plan to confront Ben and find out who he is working for. Bucky secures your apartment, checking everything he can think of.
“Someone should stay with you,” Sam says with a glance at Bucky as he returns.
“No, I’ll be fine,” you shake your head.
“I’ll stay, beautiful. I should be with you,” Foggy says.
Bucky’s jaw clenches as he stares at you for your reaction.
“No, Foggy. I’ll be fine,” you say looking at your hands.
“I think we’ll head home,” Matt says.
“I’ll walk you out,” you say. Walking outside with them, you look at Matt, “Can you give us a minute?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“Thanks. For everything, Matt,” You say as he walks away.
“Of course. We’re friends,” Matt turns back to say.
When he’s out of earshot, you turn to Foggy, “Listen-”
“I already know, beautiful,” Foggy says. “And you’re absolutely right to. I, uh, made a pretty big jackass out of myself, didn’t I?”
“No, Foggy. You’re a sweetheart. I’d like it if we could be friends.”
Foggy nods with a small smile. You kiss his cheek, “Take care of yourself. I’ll see you later.”
“You, too. You’re always welcome to stop by Josie’s,” Foggy says before following Matt.
You walk back inside to your three friends. They all stare at you for a moment before Sam breaks the silence, “I think one of us should stay.”
“Sam, no. I’ll be fine. I think you’re all crazy. I’m still not convinced that he’s following me. Matt’s an alarmist,” you shake your head.
“Fine, we’ll go but take this,” Bucky hands you a .38.
“Do you know how to use that?” Sam asks.
You give him a disdainful look before checking the clip, replacing it, cocking the gun, and putting the safety on. You look back at him, “Yeah.”
“That’s my girl,” Bucky grins cockily.
“Alright, I’ll see you guys tomorrow,” you say, guiding them all to the door.
“Doll, maybe-”
“Good night, Bucky,” you push him through the door, laughing lightly.
“Night, doll.”
You start to close the door but Bucky’s hand shoots out to stop it.
“Oh, and I still haven’t let it go,” Bucky whispers. “See you later.”
You shut the door quickly behind him shaking your head. Shit, he was still going to make you talk through it all again. You didn’t know if your heart could take it. You clean up the remnants of dinner and then head to your bedroom but a knock on your door makes you turn on your heel. Assuming it’s one of your overprotective friends, you open the door saying, “I’m fine, really-… Ben.”
“They aren’t,” Ben says as he leans in the doorway.
“What?” you ask breathlessly.
“Your friends. They aren’t crazy,” he says as he pushes his way into your apartment.
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