𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘-𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍 - the lovers of the past

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𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐀 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐒 the bar, ignoring Matt as he called out her name, and just to add a cherry on top for the man, she slammed the door shut behind her.

She took a moment to inhale deeply and when she opened her eyes, they latched onto the back of Foggy Nelson's head. His head was in his hands as he muttered curses under his breath, very colorful curses, about Matthew in particular.

Olivia sighed before slowly reaching out an arm and laying her hand on the man's shoulder.

He whirled around in his chair and the moment his eyes fell upon yet another dead face he simply said the words, "You're not going to break up with me too, are you?"

Olivia chuckled before using her strength to pull Foggy out of his chair and into a hug, a hug which he returned with full force. "Oh, thank God" She heard him mutter before he pulled back, smiles on each of their faces.

"Hey, Foggy." Olivia greeted the man with a soft voice.

"You're alive too?"

She chuckled as she took a seat at the bar, "I'm alive."

"What the hell happened?"

Her shoulders slumped as she reached inside of her jacket and procured her wallet, she called the bartender over and ordered both herself and Foggy a glass of bourbon before turning to the man on her left. "How long do you have?"

Foggy scoffed as his mind drifted back to the way Matt had treated him, "I got all night."

With an understanding nod, and a short smile directed to the bartender as he brought the two their drinks, Olivia delved into an explanation. Foggy listened intently as the wolf spoke about everything from when they had disappeared from the precinct to when they had found out about Fisk's return.

The emotions that played on Foggy's face made the woman feel an immense amount of guilt, he lived his life for well over a month believing that his best friend had been killed whilst saving the city.

"I- I would have come to you sooner Fog, but-" She paused as she took another deep gulp of her drink, savoring the burn at the back of her throat, "I didn't want you to have any false hope. Seeing me might've made you think he got out alive and at the time, I didn't know if he was gonna make it."

"I get it, Liv." He understood her. His logical thinking brain understood, the other part of his mind didn't like it, but he understood.

She was right, had he or Karen have seen her, they both would've held out hope that their best friend had made it and from the way Olivia had described his injuries, it was a miracle that he was alive.

"I'm sorry." He breathed as he ran a hand through his disheveled hair and knocked back the rest of his drink.

"For what?"

"We- Me and Karen, we asked you to bring him home and you did... But what you had to go through; we shouldn't have guilt-tripped you into thinking you had to follow through."

"Hey," She set a hand on his arm to gain his attention. "I would have stayed with him until the end, even if you didn't ask."

Foggy's lips twitched as his eyes fell onto the sweater she was wearing. It was oversized and even he could smell that it wasn't hers; the woman perpetually smelt like alcohol or jasmine and when she had raised a hand to draw the bar tender's attention, the whiff he got most certainly wasn't either of those smells. "Well, I'm glad he's letting someone care about him, at least."

She scoffed and rolled her eyes as she grasped her glass and took a sip. "He has not made it easy."

"Matt doesn't make anything easy, ever." He chuckled, making the woman let out a laugh of her own, "So uh, what are you gonna do now?"

She thought for a moment before twisting in her chair, leaning sweater covered elbow on the sticky bar and resting her temple on her closed fist. "I'm gonna help with Fisk. I can't let him do it alone."

"Good. Thank you. But make sure you keep yourself safe too, me and Karen were going out of our minds worrying about both of you."

"I'll do my best."

The conversation stilled for a moment as each of them sipped at their bourbon, Foggy recoiling at the taste every time whilst he watched Olivia drink it as if it were water. His eyes once again fell to the jumper. "So... have you slept with him?"

Olivia's eyes widened and, in her surprise, she choked on her drink, the bitter drink thankfully spraying back into the glass, only a droplet or two landing on the bar. "Christ, Foggy."

The sight made Foggy let out a loud chortle as he watched the wolf slam the glass back down and wipe the bourbon from her chin. "It's a valid question."

Olivia stared at him in complete shock, her mouth agape, "No, it isn't!"

"You've stayed with him this long and he's let you, you're wearing his jumper and Jessica told me about you two flirting. I'm a lawyer, I put things together."

"You didn't put shit together foggy Nelson; I haven't slept with him!"

"Huh." Foggy huffed before his grin became sly, "Maybe if you did, he wouldn't act like an ass."

Olivia laughed freely at the man, her cheeks hurting, "Yes," She drawled out in an amused tone, "I'm sure if we slept together it would solve all of his issues."

"Eh, some at least."

Olivia bit her lip after a laugh left her mouth. She honestly hadn't expected to be put in such a good mood, especially after another disagreement with Matthew. And yet there she was laughing with Foggy and choking on her drink at his sexual assumptions.

The wolf raised her hand, the grin still on her face as she beckoned over the bartender and ordered them both another drink. "I can say with complete honesty, that I am not sleeping with Matt, okay?"

The alcohol in Foggy's system buzzed and a lazy grin grew on his face as he tapped the side of his nose, "For now."

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After a long conversation and many more glasses of bourbon, Olivia eventually cut Foggy off, his words were slurring and his eyes were drooping. She called the man a cab and waited with him for it to arrive, tuning out the god-awful song that Foggy decided to start singing.

The vehicle eventually showed and Olivia held up a hand, waving the man goodbye until the car was out of sight. She stood there for a moment; the conversation had gone much better than she had thought. Foggy didn't seem to care that she had kept their whereabouts to herself, all he cared about was that the pair were alive; only fueling her anger at Matt for turning his back on his dearest friend.

She sighed, the air that escaped her smelling as potent as the alcohol she had consumed, and decided she needed to head back to the church. Matt was reckless and Olivia knew he would be planning something against Fisk, and whatever that something may be, she wasn't about to let him do it alone.

It didn't take her long to trek her way back to the building, she managed to enter quietly and not disturb anyone, and thankfully she could hear Matt down in their basement; sure, she wasn't looking forward to the thick tension that seemed to emanate after their spats, but at least she knew he wasn't in the streets in the middle of the night getting beaten up or dishing out punches himself.

Her steps echoed throughout the space as she made her way down the steps, hands shoved inside her pockets, and the taste of bourbon still on her tongue.

Olivia continued her way towards the temporary bedroom, not bothering to throw a glance in Matt's direction, though her lip did twitch as the man let out a sigh when she passed. Silently she removed her jacket and placed it on the foot of her bed, tugged down her jeans to swap with a pair of fresh sweatpants and slipped her feet into some comfier, fluffier socks.

She used the elastic on her wrist to tug her thick hair to the top of her head and into a bun, a few strands escaping but she couldn't be bothered to tuck them away.

Keeping her head held high in petty defiance she walked to her bed and slid under the covers, facing away from the vigilante.

Matt let out a small breath, tilting his head towards the woman he had argued with just a few hours prior. He could smell the alcohol on her and knew she had stayed to drink and talk with Foggy, patching up whatever wound Matt had left on his old friend.

He felt bad for leaving his friend behind, saying those things to him; but he needed Foggy and Karen safe.

"Olivia..." He winced as she sucked in a harsh breath and flipped her body to face him.

"What could you possibly have to say to me?"

The air grew thicker as the tension between the two built; something that seemed to be a common occurrence between the two. Matt thought for a moment; he knew he had to tell her his true intentions for visiting Foggy, he needed to tell her that he actually needed his old friend's ID.

He didn't know how to tell her. He knew the woman would probably scream and yell and most likely smack him. But there was no point in trying to hide it; he needed her help.

"I'm sorry."

Olivia blinked, her brows furrowing at the words she never thought she'd hear the man mutter. "Excuse me?"

"No, I am- I am sorry Olivia." He moved to sit on the edge of his bed, facing the woman. "I want Foggy and Karen safe, with Fisk out, they aren't. He knows they were involved last time and- and I said those things to him to give him a reason to stay away from me, to make it easier for him."

Olivia swallowed as she listened to his reasoning, it was exactly as she thought. The man did still care for his friends and his harsh words were to simply drive them off; to cut all ties so that they were safer.

"And..." He spoke into the deafening silence the woman offered him as she listened, "You were right."

At that, Olivia truly believed the world was going to implode. She sat up, covers bundling in her lap as she tilted her head to the side, eyes narrowed as she shifted so sit opposite them. "I was right?"

He swallowed heavily, his face pointing towards the floor as their knees brushed against one another's, "I was lying when I said that the only reason I don't fight you being here is because you can handle yourself." He reached out to grasp her clasped hands in his, they were cold; just starting to warm up after being exposed to the chilled nighttime air.

"I care about you, Liv. A lot." With a hesitant touch, he brought a hand up to her cheek, his thumb carefully gliding across her cheekbone.

Her eyes closed, focusing on the hand on her face that warmed with the touch, she swallowed lightly as he spoke, her heart beating a tiny bit faster.

"You can handle yourself, and you did save me; twice. But I care about you too, and I hope that you understand that I have to go after Fisk, but I need them safe too."

Olivia exhaled softly as she brought a hand up to cover the one on her cheek as she leaned into it, "I do understand Matt, but I don't have to like it."

He chuckled softly, "No, you don't; does that mean you won't be joining me?"

"You're kidding me, right?" Olivia laughed as she squeezed the hand beneath her own, slowly pulling it away from her face and clasping it in hers whilst they rested on her knees. "I've come this far with you, I'm not a quitter."

"Oh, I know..." He paused, debating whether to admit that he had stolen Foggy's wallet now and ruin the small moment they were having. He didn't want to go back to sitting in silence and having her anger directed towards him for his stupid actions, but she needed to know.

She could see the pensive look on his face and narrowed her eyes, "What is it?"

"I took Foggy's wallet."

"You- you what?"

"I need his ID-" He carried on explaining himself despite the exasperated sigh that hit him in the face, "-to get into the prison they kept Fisk, to talk to someone."

Olivia let shook her head, a huff of air leaving her lips in disbelief, "God, Matt-."

"I know-"

"You know, sometimes I don't know whether to hug you or knock you out."

"I'd personally choose the former." He spoke. He knew he was testing her limits by joking after telling her that he had literally stolen his best friends' wallet so he could use his identity inside of a damn prison.

"Well, I'd personally choose the latter." She retorted as she grasped the pillow at her side to smack him around the head.

"That's how you're planning to knock me out?" He chuckled, grabbing the pillow as she attempted to hit him again.

She sighed and let go, "No. I'd use my super strength and hope it'd knock some sense into you."

"Doubtful."

"You're lucky I like you." She groaned as she fell backward, her back connecting with the soft duvet.

Matt ducked his head and tossed the pillow towards her, it landing on her stomach. "Oh, I know."

They were both silent for a moment, the only sound coming from the slightly sped-up thumps of their hearts. "Hey, Matt? Can I ask you something?"

"You want my tragic backstory?"

"No," She laughed softly, "Well, actually..." She paused as the question sat at the tip of her tongue. She knew why Matt's mood and whole demeanor took a drastic change; it wasn't just the fact that his senses had been lost, nor the fact that he was contemplating his role in the world; what God wanted for him. She knew it was also partially due to the loss of Elektra.

He hadn't mentioned nor spoke about the woman ever since Father Lantom had confirmed that nobody else escaped alongside them. She felt odd asking such a personal question; but after the conversation about her past and the one they had just had? She figured there was no better time to ask. "Can I- Can you tell me about Elektra?"

She could hear the change in his heart; the way it pumped harder and she didn't miss the sharp inhale he took at the question.

Matt wasn't entirely surprised to hear the woman asking about Elektra, if anything, he had expected her to do so sooner. Though he supposed Olivia was waiting for a good time to ask, not that there would ever be a good time. But now was better than any other time that had passed.

"You uh-" He cleared his throat, listening as she lifted herself back to a sitting position across from him. "What do you wanna know?"

Olivia shrugged as she thought back to the woman she had only met on a few occasions. "Who was she? What was she like when she wasn't stuffing wolfsbane into me like a chicken?"

Somehow, yet again the wolf had managed to pry a laugh from the vigilante, trust Olivia to make a joke about a time she had almost died on a table because of a tiny flower.

He hesitated for a second as his eyes closed, memories of his time with the woman flashing inside of his mind before he was finally broken out of his trance when Olivia once again reached out to wrap his hands in her own.

Her voice was soft, understanding, she knew the pain of reflecting on the memories of a ghost; "You don't have to tell me."

"No, I want to."

Olivia tugged on his hands lightly and Matthew followed her directions, moving to sit beside her. Despite the conversation about to take place; when Olivia leaned to rest her head on Matt's shoulder, he found a small sense of comfort and the sides of his lips twitched upwards as he leaned his head on top of hers, swiping his thumb across the hand that was intertwined with his.

He told her everything. Told her things that not even Foggy knew. Everything from how he had met Elektra, the things they had done together; the things she had gotten him to do, such as torturing a man and trying to convince him to finish the job which is where their relationship had come to an end.

He told her how he had come home one day to find Elektra sitting on his couch, asking for his help. The time they spent together after that rebuilt their friendship; Matt explained how whilst Elektra wanted their friendship to transform back into what it once was, she had wanted all of the lost and old feelings to return, but Matt hadn't.

He wasn't interested in becoming what they used to be, he loved her, that much he admitted, but unlike the woman herself, he wasn't in love with her. Those feelings had died the moment she had tried to make him a murderer and yet he couldn't destroy the friendship they had.

"She still loved me, but I didn't want that. I thought those feelings she still had for me would be enough to get through to her, back at Midland Circle, I guess not." He spoke, voice barely above a whisper.

Olivia lifted her head; the pair's faces were close enough that Matt could almost taste the bourbon that lingered on her breath. Her voice dropped, "That's not your fault."

When he didn't say anything, she brought a hand to cup his cheek; his stubble grazing her palm as she carefully avoided putting any pressure on his bruises. "Hey." She breathed, "I mean it."

He swallowed back the lump in his throat as he listened to both of their hearts pounding away. The tension between them was palpable, and whilst it almost always was, something was different this time.

Their breaths mingled for a moment longer before Olivia took it upon herself to stop them doing something they might later regret. Even that moment between them had changed things, each of them could feel it, but as much as Olivia wanted to lean forward and start something she -at the time- very much wanted to finish, she couldn't.

Matt was in a dark place; he was dealing with things that she didn't understand and they had just finished talking about his dead ex. It wasn't the time nor place for either of them. She wanted to be there for him, he needed it and he deserved it.

It wasn't just for Matt either. She didn't know how she felt, each time they sat down and had a proper conversation she would find her heart beating a little faster, and she couldn't ignore the fact that Matt's would match its pace.

And the conversation with Foggy? It made her think about it, more than she'd care to admit.

But for now, she was confused, and as much as she hated to admit it, the big bad wolf was scared. They were going up against Fisk and who the hell knew what would happen?

So, for now, she forced herself to pull back, giving each of them room to breathe and squeezed Matt's hand, "Thank you, for telling me."

Matt was disappointed, his eyes slightly downcast... and yet he couldn't help but focus on the pounding inside of the wolf's chest. There was something between them, neither of them could deny that.

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19-08-2020