章節 6: First Meeting With a Person of Interest

Disclaimer: I own nothing. This history have no interest in offend any party. Having the sole objective of only entertain the readers. Enjoy~

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"For everything that is great and inspiring is created by the individual that can labour in freedom"

- Albert Einstein

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I enter the office that look a litle precarious. But, not through negligence of the owners, I can tell, as it is very clean, and certain things like the lamps, chairs and tables have new and clean appearances.

So it's just the general condition of the building. Expected, I'd would say, knowing who the people I'm visiting are. Foggy Nelson and Matthew Murdock, is "Foggy" a nickname too? Like "Matt"? I couldn't remember for my life his true name now. I notice the looks of the two, the most notable is the slimmer and fittest with brown hair and sunglasses even indoors, Daredevil himself, The man without fear, but I think he at least isn't being recognized by that name. He is referred to as the Masked Man or Devil of Hell's Kitchen.

"So he must have started recently." I think to myself.

The other is shorter and fatter, with blond hair slicked back. He's friendly looking, seems like a nice guy and fun to be around, and he's the first one to greet me when I walk in. (But no doubt Murdock noticed me coming much earlier)

"Oh.. Welcome to Nelson and Murdock, the best law office of this street. How can I help you?" he says standing up to shake my hand.

"Good Evening, I call early. My name is Hector Carvalho, A pleasure." I say squeezing the hand that was extended , and then purposefully making a faux pas, I reach out to Matt who was still seated.

"Matt, hand at 12 o'clock. Shake it" Nelson say joking. "I'm sorry, I should said early but he is blind you know, but no less good in what he does" he says assure me.

"I'm Franklin Nelson and this not so handsome man is my associate Matthew Murdock" he continues as Matt stood up and extended his hand. I know he can "feel" my hand, but he left some inches aways, and after it's been explained that he's blind, I'm the one who has to shake his hand.

"Sorry, I should have noticed" I apologize

"No problem, in truth... I'm flattered that you don't notice" he says good naturedly.

After leading me to a chair Foggy sits in front of me and starts talking.

"You call early asking if we can handle guardianship, opening of probate proceedings and others. We are not specialized in anything in truth... So why don't you share your trouble, so that us can counsel you with the best of our capabilities?" Foggy says much more professionally.

"How do you even know that there is a trouble?" I ask just to light the mood before the heavy talk.

"Someone only search a lawyer in trouble... *Sigh*.. because of this that people hates us so much." He says a little dramatically, seeing right through my act of make small talk.

I chuckle a little before I starts more solemn.

"Well, my parents died yesterday... in a car accident..."

"Oh… I had guessed from the matter discussed over the phone, but my condolences," Foggy says empathetically.

"No kid should have to go through that," Matt adds, and Foggy looks a me with a complicated look. Okay, he lost his parents early too.

"The problem is how... You see, my parents are successful doctors, and this accident is very abrupt... Okay... listen to me... I know that every accident is like that, out of the blue, but I really think it was weird." I say trying to convey my concern and the reason I came here.

Foggy shows a surprised face for a moment and speaks. "Wait… Carvalho... It is the couple of doctors who were in the newspaper this morning, the ones who fell into the river." Foggy declares after having remembered

"So you think there's some foul play going on?" Matt asks leaning forward a little, maybe wants to hear my heartbeat. Huum... now I need to be careful in what to talk.

"Yes…I know it might sound desperate…but I know my parents. My dad drives as carefully as possible, I always make jokes about how old he looks. And always take care that the car is in the best condition." I say, starting my argument.

"They were coming so we can celebrate my birthday, goddamit..." the two wince a little, because of the tragic situation in an occasion that should have joyous.

I press forward. "When I went to recognize their bodies, there were no marks that they tried to escape the car, it didn't look like they had a concussion. My father is a great swimmer, he is muscular and over 6ft tall. There's no way he could have just been knocked out like that! And the two at the same time?? The first thing my father would do in an unavoidable accident would be to try to protect my mother… and even she had no signs of trying to escape or fighting for her life. I may be thinking too much, I don't have proof... But I can't shake this feeling that something is strange" I conclude.

"And before you misunderstand... I'm not here for you to investigate or anything." I say putting my hand on the universal "stop" sign for both of them. "I want to doublecheck all my inheritance and..."

"Be emancipated" I complete by saying the real reason for having coming to that office.

I want complete control over my money and my life. I don't want to be at the mercy of I don't know who for the next two years.

Also, if whoever did this to my parents did it for the money... My emancipation will take him out of his comfort zone, and he'll have to act more drastically, step out of the shadows, and when he does... I can fight back.

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POV: Matthew "Matt" Murdock

I hear him coming, even before the door opens. Ever since that fateful day in what my life take a 180º degree turn, I've had this gift in compensation for what I've lost.

And so I know that this is not a normal young man. At first I thought he might be an enemy, an assassin sent by one of the many I've stepped on my toes during my nightly activities. Someone who finally connected my two identities and decided to attack me while I'm at my most vulnerable, and with someone to protect.

He moves calculatedly and almost without making a noise, when he entered he looked around, as if checking something, maybe escape routes or if there was something dangerous in the room. His breathing is trained and heartbeat calm, but the muscles seem coiled to move at any moment.

I also notice that his attention is more focused on me than Foggy, it would be hard to notice if I didn't have super senses.

But it's strange, such a young person shouldn't act like he's been living dangerously for years. My suspicions continue even when I shake his hand and notice the lack of calluses, he doesn't constantly hold weapons, nor sticks, swords, crowbars...

He looks like a paradox. Like someone more trained and experienced had switched bodies with a teenager. It looks like an action movie plot, seems absurd... But aren't we living in absurd times?

People with abilities that look like they're straight out of a comic book are real now, and their appearances are increasingly frequent. I myself can be included in the midst of absurd things. Maybe he's like me, I'll have to watch him carefully.

He could be a danger to Foggy.

When he sits down, he adjusts his chair so he doesn't have his full back to the door. Another point that he is is not normal. His feet were always and completely on the ground, so he could get out of the fragile sitting position at any moment. (Can't talk, I'm sitting just the same)

As he begins to tell his story I pay special attention to his breathing, temperature, and heart rate.

He's not lying, he never lied, and when he talks about his parents I see the first cracks in the strong face and silence that he puts on. Holding back imperceptible tears, pounding heart, muscles tensing and then relaxing.

He really looks like he's here for legal advice only.

Maybe that's because I can relate with his story of losing his parents so soon. It doesn't matter if he has something special or a secret. I think.

I will do my job as a lawyer and help him as best I can.

......

Hector P.O.V

"So you suspect that someone was responsible for your parents' deaths, and that person is close to you" Foggy begins.

"And you could be next on the list. But not to be eliminated... but controlled, when that someone has you under guardianship." Matt finishes the reasoning.

"Precisely. I may be overthinking. But I want to be prepared for the possibility."

"And do you have any suspects in mind?" Matt asks

"No" I shake my head. "If it was really foul play, it's probably a family member on my mother's side. My father is an only child and my paternal grandparents are in Brazil and they are simple people who live on a small farm. My mother's family on the other hand... She has a brother and sister. Inheritance from my grandparent. And she inherited most of it from being my grandpa's favorite and she's always been more disconnected from the rest of the family."

"I see..." Foggy says going over my papers. "The Belluci Family is really well in life. And I think that you mother... And now you, have at least 60% of everything in shares. And I'm not even talking about money and other properties."

"I believe you were right to look for us. You'd be surprised at the ugly things people could do for a lot less money. " Matt says to me while Foggy is still looking at my papers.

"But let me say a word of warning. Your seeking of independence will derail the plans of whoever is after your wealth. So take care of your own life, it's the most important thing..." he says seriously. "We will try to seek your emancipation as quickly and quietly as possible, we know a judge who has a soft spot for orphan child" he concludes.

"Thank you, Mr. Murdock. Murdock…" now would be a good time to cover up a certain flaw in my actions in coming here.

"Would you happen to be related to Jack Murdock? The 'battlin Murdock'?" I ask surprised. I even use D4C to quicken my heart for a moment and make my surprise more "genuine".

"Oh…yes. He is my father." Matt responds to little put off by the sudden shift of conversation.

"That explains a lot! I thought you look familiar. You too looked surprisingly fit for someone who was blind... sorry... My dad was a big fan of Battlin Murdock. And I watched with him. He loved that your father never gave up. He would take one and give back a stronger one. We always spar a little after watching boxe..." I say excitedly. And it's all true. In this life my father and I watched various types of sports like this. I think my father wanted me to be more active. Or wanted to find a sport I enjoyed as a hobby.

Now with a outstanding move I've solved why I seem to be such a good fighter. It fly over my head that Batman's subconscious acts might have gotten me into trouble.

And also because I focused more on Matt, he is suspicious. That was my mistake. Seeing a hero and character like that for the first time. My calm facade aside I was a little nervous and excited in the inside. And I know his senses may have picked up on something...

"Oh…thanks. It's always good to meet a fan of my dad" he says smiling a little.

After that Foggy stops reading the papers and gives Matt a summary, after a little discurssion between the three of us I say goodbye to both of them.

...

After saying goodbye to the lawyer duo, I find myself walking through a mall, there are certain things I plan to buy like a new laptop and smartphone (which I'll know isn't bugged or anything, yes I'm paranoid that way), no corrective glasses and some tools .Things I can take in the backpack I brought with me when I bring my papers.

Matt and Foggy assured me that they will get my emancipation, apparently my good school record, tragic history and other things can move the court decision in my favor.

I may need to take a psychological test, or participate in legally mandated psychiatric counseling until age 18. The Judge not wanting to let me alone, and wanting to make sure I don't get lost in the wrong way apparently. Understandable, I am a child alone in the world with much money, can be a recipe to disaster. But I can accept, for my independence and freedom.

When I get home I will email other documents that they have sent me a list. It will be good to have the consent of my grandparents... the paternal ones, who are the only ones alive.

The important thing is that I don't come under any uncle's guardianship, I emphasized that part, implying that I distrust any of them to Foggy and Matt. They understood, and perhaps they will use this distrust to appeal for my emancipation. But as a last resort, I don't want to appear suspicious.

Changing the subject, the experience of meeting a hero proved very important to me. Not because I'm a fanboy (although I like Daredevil), but because I realized something I had overlooked.

People can read me very easily.

In this world privacy is a distant concept to those that who will get involved with the world of superpowers. Telepathy, super senses, X-ray vision, precognition, postcognition.

Not to mention technological surveillance.

In this world it's hard to have a secret. I need to be prepared for everything. And information is too valuable, to be given so easily to others.

One more reason to avoid contact with the world of heroes or villains for now.

Daredevil isn't a problem knowing I'm… more than I look. He acts alone, so will hard for it to spread. He doesn't have much time to investigate me. And even if he tries to confront me, I can win. He's nice, but not one of the strongest.

But this encounter reminded me why I've been so careful, I don't have any kind of plot armor against powers. Some kind of bullshit against mind control. Killgrave can make me his bitch with one word.

And this scares the shit of me.

Despite all this potential that I have, is just that... potential. I need to be extra carefull until I can handle these threats.

It reminds me of Jojo in my past life, even though Jotaro is one of the strongest in the world. One of the best, if not the best, close-range stand in purely physical combat. And one of the most overpowered time-stopping skills. He almost died to A RAT in part 4.

In combat, just because you're stronger doesn't mean you're absolutely certain to win. There are many factors. A dangerous game of rock-paper-scissors, where someone weaker can easily finish you off, because they skill set is your counter.

Finally I finding a deserted place, I use D4C, and I start moving between things until I get home. It could be because I'm not used to it, or because I haven't assimilated Valentine 100% yet, but I can't use D4C teleport for more than a few blocks.

I decided to go home using it to practice and increase the percentage.

....

Now is the hardest part of my day. Break the news to my grandparents.

I pick up the phone and dial the international number for them.

"Hello. Who's talking?"

"Grandma... It's me Hector, I'm callin..."

"Oh Hector, my little grandson. How are you? It is fine? Eating properly? So long... ooh~. I'm so glad you called. Your grandfather just left, but I can call. RAIMUUNDOOO!!! Hector is calling!!! Come fast."

I give a low laugh listening to how my grandmother acts. But I grit my teeth and prepare to break the news soon.

The longer I take, the harder it will be.

"Grandma, I have something bad to tell you..."

In that conversation alone I spoke the words I most hated to speak in my entire life. And I heard my grandmother's happiness turn to ash because of it. It's like I'm suffering the news all over again.