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     MATT SAYS IT WAS FATE, MEETING CASSIE. They both remember everything about that day. Even though she's Foggy's sister, and even if they hadn't met on that day in particular they would've met eventually, he still insisted it was fate.

The Nelson siblings had both settled into their dorm rooms just fine. Since neither had any friends yet, they tended to stick together like they had since they were kids.

Cassie was attending Columbia as well, but majoring in Visual Arts and minoring in Art History, while her brother was in the Law program. While she hoped to run her own gallery someday, he dreamed of running his own firm.

On that particular day, Foggy was sat with his laptop in front of him, attempting to add a few more classes to his schedule. Cassie was sat on the other bed, since his roommate hadn't arrived yet. When a series of loud knocks echoed in the room, she immediately hopped off the bed.

"Excuse me is this room three-twelve?"

"Yeah who are you lookin' for?" Foggy mumbled, without even glancing up from his laptop.

"Dude," Cassie hissed under her breath, walking over to her brother and giving him a slap on the side of his head.

"Oh— uh, sorry."

"What for?"

"...you're, blind, right?"

"Uh yeah, so they tell me. I hope that won't be a problem."

"Why would it?"

It was like a switch went off in his mind. "Oh! You're my roomie!"

Cassie sighed, shaking her head at her brother. "This dummy is Foggy. I'm Cassie, his sister."

"Nice to meet you Cassie, and Foggy. Matt Murdock," he stepped forward, hand outstretched.

Cassie closed the gap between them and shook his hand. She stepped aside when Foggy finally stood up and joined them.

"Wait, Matt Murdock... you're not from Hell's Kitchen are you?"

"Uh, yup. Born and raised."

"So are we! Yeah we heard about you when we were kids. You saved that guy crossing the street?"

Cassie noticed Matt seemed a little uncomfortable with the subject.

"I— I just did what anyone would've done."

"Bullshit you are a hero."

"I'm really not."

"Come on you got your peepers knocked out saving that old dude!"

Cassie picked up a pillow and threw it at her brother. "One day you're gonna say the wrong thing to the wrong person and they're gonna punch you."

"Please, it's nothing, no offense taken whatsoever," Matt chuckled. "Most people dance around me like I'm made of glass, I hate that. This is, this is a nice change."

"You don't need to worry about that with this guy," Cassie glanced at her brother. "I don't think he's ever had a filter."

As Foggy attempted to explain how it would be awesome now that he could be Matt's wingman and Matt could be his, Cassie began to quietly gather her things. There wasn't much, she'd just brought along a sketchbook, textbook, and pencil case.

"Leaving already?" Matt asked.

Cassie had only just slipped her backpack on, and she paused. "Oh, yeah. I was about to head back to my dorm, probably grab some coffee on the way back. Actually, do either of you want to come? It's close by."

"Matt, do you know of any good coffee spots on campus?" Foggy spoke up.

"No, I'm not too familiar with the layout yet."

"Well lucky for you we do and it's filled with luscious co-ed's. Shall we?"

A couple of minutes later, they emerge from the dorm building and begin walking down the street.

Without warning, Matt put his arm around Cassie and pulled her to the side. Less than a couple of seconds later, a girl goes speeding by, riding her bicycle on the sidewalk.

A car on the road honks at as the girl rides by without stopping, causing Cassie to jump a little.

"What is it with everyone today," Foggy shakes his head.

"Here," Matt holds his arm out, sensing her nerves. "I'll be like your seeing eye dog. Except I'm blind, but I'll still lead the way."

Cassie can't help but laugh, and all tension quickly went away. She links her arm through his and they quickly catch up to Foggy, who'd already begun walking again.

When they reach the coffee shop, Matt tries and fails to hold back a smile when Cassie's arm doesn't leave his, even as they're ordering.

He hadn't expected to make friends so quickly, and he genuinely appreciated that neither Cassie nor Foggy walked on eggshells around him. Random room assignments were always a gamble, and Matt knew he really lucked out.

Cassie glanced at the man that stood next to her as he ordered his coffee. She wondered how on earth he heard that woman on her bicycle. In any case she was thankful, not even wanting to imagine if she'd been sent to the E.R. after being knocked over.

What surprised her most was how quickly they eased into a friendship.

Once the trio had all gotten their drinks and snacks, they settled at a small table and sat there for over an hour just talking and learning random bits about each other.

"—and when he was little, one time Foggy—"

"Alright Cassiopeia that's enough out of you."

Matt took a sip of his coffee, before turning towards Cassie. "Cassiopeia huh?"

"Please not you too. I don't know why I got the weird name and my brother got such a normal one. Like wouldn't that be odd to introduce your kids? This is Franklin, and this is Cassiopeia. One of these things is not like the other."

Foggy thought about it for a moment, "I mean it does sound kind of cool."

"Maybe until you learn who she actually was. Cassiopeia," she turned her attention towards Matt, "was a queen who constantly boasted how she and her daughter were more beautiful than the daughters of the sea God Nereus. It angered Poseidon so much that he tied her to a chair up in the heavens. A torture chair, specifically. So that half the time she'd be stuck upside down."

"I'm pretty sure mom and dad just thought it sounded cool."

"I like it," Matt smiled. "Despite the history of the name, it still sounds beautiful. And hearing your voice, it suits you in a way."

Hearing this, Foggy shook his head. "Nope. You two are not allowed to flirt. I object."

"Alright your big spiel for coming here was that there were... luscious co-ed's? Was that what you said I can't quite remember..."

"Touché my sister, touché." Foggy got up to go and order another cup of coffee.

It wasn't until he was already in line that Cassie looked at his cup. "I'm pretty sure he just wants to talk to one of the girls in line, because his cup is still half full."

There was a moment of silence between them, but both were surprised with how comfortable it felt. After another moment, Matt spoke up.

"So, are you going to study law too?"

"Oh no, I really admire what my brother's doing but I don't think I'm cut out for that. I'm an art major. Focusing on visual arts and art history related classes."

Matt nodded, genuinely interested. "That's still really cool. What do you plan to do once you graduate?"

"Well the big end goal is to someday run my own art gallery. That's my dream career. But right after graduation? And possibly even while still in school towards the end, hopefully start out at any gallery that'll hire me. Maybe as a receptionist first just to get my foot in the door."

"You'll do great wherever you apply."

Cassie tilted her head slightly. "You sound pretty sure for someone who just met me."

"When you're blind, you tend to pick up on other things a lot faster. For example, your voice. You speak with confidence, and that counts for a lot. Like... okay who's your favorite artist?"

"That's an easy one. And this may be incredible cliche because I feel like a lot of people say him. But it's Vincent van Gogh."

"Why?"

Pausing for a moment, Cassie gathered her thoughts before speaking. "He led such a hard life. I know he wasn't the only artist to ever be dealt hardships, but when you look at all that he went through... multiple illnesses, a year in a psychiatric institute, towards the end over a period of ten weeks he produced over 175 paintings and sketches. His works are phenomenal. Beautiful, especially when you look beyond the painting. But he died by his own hand, believing himself to be a failure. I can't imagine how hard his life must've been. Ever since I learned more, I just became fascinated by all of his work. Seeing the beauty he could produce despite struggling so much, being proof that beauty can sometimes be pain, it's a lot of the reason why he's my favorite artist."

"See," Matt shrugged. "You're passionate about what you love. Even I can see that. And that means a lot, because I'm... you know, blind."

"Well thank you, can I quote you on that or put you down as a reference on my next job application?" Cassie grinned.

"Another thing I've learned to pick up on, you're smiling right now, aren't you?"

"Aw c'mon you're still flirting?" Foggy sat back down, having finished his conversation.

Cassie glared at her brother. "I'm sorry weren't you just over there flirting with a complete stranger?"

"She's not a stranger anymore," Foggy wiggled his eyebrows. "Got her number and everything."

"Okay yet I can't flirt with my new friend and your new roommate? And that's not what we were doing by the way, but still."

Matt shook his head. "Seems a little hypocritical if you ask me."

"Exactly!" Cassie scooted her chair closer to Matt's, leaning her head on his shoulder. Matt immediately picked up on what she was doing and grabbed her hand, holding it up high so that Foggy had to see.

"Okay okay okay point taken you can let go of each other's hands and scoot your chairs apart again thank you very much."

From then on, it became a running joke between Matt and Cassie. Whenever they were all together, they'd usually mess with Foggy just a little bit.

A close friendship quickly blossomed, and if they weren't in class, you could count on the three friends to be hanging out together.

It wasn't surprising that Cassie developed a bit of a crush on Matt. But he never spoke about dating anyone, and Foggy seemed pretty intent on him and Matt being each other's wing men, so Cassie never said anything.

Besides, she was just his roommates sister, and clearly he only saw her as a friend. And when she thought about it, she decided she'd rather have him as a good friend, than confess her crush and risk losing him. So... Cassie simply stayed quiet.

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