The Devil Went Down To Gotham (DD x JL x YJ)

The Apartment

After everyone calmed down from laughing, Matt spoke to the Bat family.

"From what I can tell, it must be about 4:00. Would anyone like to stay for a bit and have dinner? I'm ordering Chinese from Tasty Joe's down the street.", Matt asked with a raised eyebrow.

Dick, Jason, Tim, and Damien all turned to look at Bruce. Silently asking to stay and learn about the retired vigilante. Dick wanted to stay because he wanted to learn all of his stories and fights. Jason didn't really care for Matt, he was still a stranger but he couldn't turn down free food. Tim wanted to learn about him because, well, he likes to absorb information about everything and everyone. Damien was the same as Jason, still staying weary of Matt until he could trust him.

Bruce looked at his kids and then back at Matt. "If you're willing to have us then yes, thank you Matt.", Bruce said smiling towards Matt.

Matt returns the smile and gestures towards the stairs to his apartment, "Right this way then."

Everyone followed leisurely behind Matt to his apartment door. After he unlock his door, Matt pushed it open for the family to follow him inside. "It's not much but it's home. You guys can take off your shoes and put them by the door.", Matt said as he walked away further into his apartment, discarding his keys and phone on the kitchen counter. The Batfam looked at one another and shrugged, but did as they were told.

The Batfam took in the decent sized apartment and looked at every detail of Matt's home. Five pairs of detective eyes flew across the apartment, looking for any details about the Man without Fear. All of them saw pictures with a boy that looked like Matt and what they presumed to be his father, some pictures of a blond heavy set man, a fairly beautiful woman, and Matt together in many photos around the apartment. There was also some newspaper clippings along with some photos in a court house around a degree on the wall.

When they took a closer look at the degree, it was a bachelors in law. Dick had already background checked who Matt was in Hells Kitchen. He knew he was a lawyer and a damn good one too. He saw the reviews and news articles on Matt's accomplishments. Dick also had mad respect for how Matt took payment on cases. He didn't discriminate or do it for money. He was a genuinely good person.

Dick may have known about Matt's accomplishments but Bruce and his brothers didn't. But Matt was aware of what they were looking at and already knew they were going to have questions. Though Matt was not prepared for how loud they were going to be.

"You are the lawyer that put the King Pin, Wilson Fisk, away in prison! That is so cool! How did you do it?!", Tim shouted in surprise.

"Wait a fucking minute! You are the one who defended Frank Castle, The Punisher, in court! What the hell!", Jason yelled.

Damien didn't say anything because he didn't know who those people were or why they were important, but it did peak his interest.

Bruce stood silently still observing the situation.

Matt had winced at Tim and Jason's yelling, slightly rubbing his ears.

Matt sighed and took off his red glasses to rub his eyes.

"Yes to both of your statements. I can't really go into talking about Fisk. Too many bad memories and quite frankly not enough time in the day to. Sorry but I will tell you next time, I promise Tim.", Matt tilted his head towards Tim with a small smile.

Tim blushed a little from embarrassment and nodded.

"As for Frank, I haven't heard from him in a while. Last I checked, he escaped prison and finished off the last people whom were responsible for his wife and kids' murders. He came to visit one time after the job was done. Told me he was going into hiding and he'd see me around, but that was just a week before my supposed death. So...", Matt said sitting down on his black couch with his face tilted towards Jason, shrugging his shoulders.

"Damn.", Jason whispered under his breath in awe.

Matt chuckled at that but said nothing more.

Everyone became silent after that. All were unsure of what to say next.

"Well, you guys make yourselves comfortable. There is a tv in there with all sports channels, you can thank my friend for that. Down the hall is a library both brail and normal text, and sorry for the mess in there. My friend calls occasionally for help with cases so my desk is a bit of a mess. Yes, you have my permission to look, but put it all back after your done. If you're bored you can go do something in the gym, please be careful and don't destroy the place. I'm going to go make the phone call for food to be brought over. Go nuts but no fights please.", Matt stated getting up from the couch and heading towards the kitchen for his phone.

Tim and Dick made their way to the library/office and Jason headed towards the room with the tv. Damien stuck with Bruce for a few minutes then headed down into the gym to investigate it further. Bruce decided to wait for Matt to get done with the phone to catch up.

20 minutes later...

Matt had just hung up the phone and walked into the living room. Bruce was still there walking around looking at the pictures. Bruce already knew Matt was in the room, Matt knew Bruce did too.

Bruce turned around to face Matt.

"How long has it been Bruce? Two years since I last saw you?", Matt said thoughtfully.

"Yeah that sounds about right.", Bruce smiled at the other man, " Other than Daredevil dying, how have you been really?"

Matt hummed, "Well let's see...had a great couple of cases for the law-firm and a few screwed up ones, went solo for a while free lance a client or two, a friend of mine died a year ago and was resurrected, then brainwashed by the Hand. Ran into a few new local vigilantes to stop them and her from destroying the city. We won and at the end my friend was put to rest and I retired. That about sums up my past dilemmas since we last spoke. What about you Bruce?"

Bruce was silent for a moment then spoke, " Hm, I adopted Tim about a month after our encounter, Damien came into the picture about three months ago, been trying to handle juggling being a dad, a mentor, a vigilante, a leaguer and the supervisor for the young justice group. It's had its ups and downs."

Bruce sounded exhausted and wanted to release some pent up emotions, Matt knew he was keeping up a front for his kids. Matt did the one thing the man need at that moment.

Matt pulled Bruce into a tender hug. Bruce's head was placed on Matt's right shoulder. Matt put this muscled arms around Bruce and squeezed just slightly holding him in comfort.

"You have done an amazing job with those kids. You are doing the best you can and that is all they care about. There will always be bumps in the road and some learning curves. When you are having trouble with the vigilante stuff, let them help, I'm sure they would help anyway they can. If you ever seek asylum, well I'm always here to listen when you need it.", Matt whispered in his ear.

During Matt's little speech, Bruce had wrapped his arms around Matt's middle.

"Thank you, Matt. I really needed that.", Bruce whispered back relaxing into him.

Bruce didn't know this, but Matt did. Matt could sense that all the BatKids heard their little conversation. He didn't mind though. They were looking out for their dad.

Matt will most likely deny this but the three that were weary of him before, now had gain more respect for the blind man.

Matt was caring for this family one person at a time whether he knew it or not.