Church Bells ｡ Matthew Murdock

10 - THE DEVIL IN HIM

With the change in seasons, the world of New York City braced for a warm Spring, and an even hotter Summertime. Many praised the warmer months, but Juliette Allen despised the heat and did not practically enjoy sweat dripping down her chest as men from the bar eyed her skimpy outfit. Thankfully, Foggy Nelson knew how to cheer her up.

"Look on the bright side, your skin looks like it glows." He beamed across at her one warm morning as they hurried down the littered streets of Hell's Kitchen. The two were heading towards the tiny law office where Karen Page was currently trying to air out since they didn't have an air-conditioner that actually worked and this heat was dreadful. Foggy frowned himself with the comment. "Well, glowing sweaty skin does have a nice appeal, if you're into that."

Juliette was smiling despite the heat smudging her makeup and doing terrible things with her thick blonde curls. Lately, the weeks seemed to be moving very quickly and there had not been much change in her case against Markus, but she was trying to remain positive. Spending time with the boys and Karen seemed to lift her spirits, finding quite a nice little friendship with the trio. "Are you into that Mr. Nelson?" Juliette hummed out, faking a posh accent as she fanned her face with her hand, not having much luck in cooling down though.

Foggy paused, "What a question."

They laughed quietly as they came to the entrance of the Nelson and Murdock office and found Matthew Murdock himself walking towards them, white cane in hand. Juliette was already peering across at him before Foggy noticed. Strangely, she now noticed the little click and clack of the cane against the sidewalk and found it almost soothing. "What are we all laughing about? I do hope Foggy isn't oversharing about his disaster of a date last week."

"Have you know, Marci quite enjoyed our little rekindling of our relationship." Foggy pointed out, quite proud that his ex-girlfriend, or almost current girlfriend, was back in his life and he had somebody that challenged him. "But...we weren't discussing that. Actually, we were talking about sweaty women."

Juliette hid her grin while holding out her elbow for Matthew to take while they wandered up the steep stairs together. He let his fingertips grace her skin and didn't comment about how that it had become so natural for her to do so. He was not sure when their relationship had blurred or when it had become so normal for her to offer him a hand without thinking about it, but he liked it nonetheless. He even found himself wishing to take her hand when they walked down the busy streets, or feel her heartbeat with his palm when she laughed wildly at a stupid joke Foggy cracked at the bar. He did not know when his feelings for Juliette Allen had changed, but he suddenly found it harder to ignore.

The three laughed as they found their way into the stuffy office where Karen waited at her desk while fanning herself with the daily newspaper. "Jules, hey!" The pretty blonde was shifting away the newspaper quickly, something flashing in her eyes.

Juliette Allen noticed the change in her face though. She had not had the chance to pick up the newspaper today, a little busy trying to find her sundresses in her wardrobe but without much luck before stopping by the office and checking in. Matthew sensed the change within Juliette immediately, her arm falling away from him. Without hesitation, the Allen daughter marched forward and snatched up the newspaper, only to find her face splashed across the front page. She didn't have to read the article to know this was Markus O'Harris's handiwork. Greedy Lost Princess: Juliette Allen's return from disgrace.

"Juliette Allen, once a pretty and naive socialite crawls back into the world that had tossed her aside years ago, but once the princess to the Allen fortune, is nothing more than a greed hungry girl with no claim to anything." The words were piling from Juliette's mouth, her heart sinking as she read out loud the exposé on her. "The city's once beloved Allen name is tainted with her new reputation of making loose threats to the man that saved her parents's failing company, Mark O'Harris."

She couldn't bare to read on, her stomach twisting. The newspaper flew across the room, her anger slipping. "That bastard." The words were poison, but right now, she did not care. She turned back to her friends, seeing their saddened faces. "I can't believe he'd go to the press and spread lies about me, about my parents!"

Foggy hung his head, "It's a classic move from a big guy."

Matthew was the person to step forward and lightly let his palm touch her soft skin. Juliette could feel her head swimming with more doubt as hate seeped into her veins. "Markus is smart, he's trying to get the city on his side. He knows we're looking into the case, he's trying to discredit you before a trial or anything like that can even begin."

Juliette knew all this, but it still didn't ease her worries. It had been months since her little trip into the lion's den when she had promised her father that she would burn the company if she could not save it. She could still hear her threat echoing in her ears when she closed her eyes but today, she couldn't help but wonder if that had been a reckless mistake. "What can we even do? The whole city thinks I'm some brainless, social climbing wannabe. Nobody is going to pay much attention if I claim he killed my parents."

"Hey, we'll figure this out." Matthew offered out quietly, his hand moving up and down her skin in a comforting manner, but where Foggy Nelson did not see the way his best friend comforted the Allen girl, Karen Page did and it was not the first time she had noticed the two sharing quiet moments like this.

Foggy cleared his throat, "Yeah, we'll try and stop this attack before it goes any further. We can head to the courts, submit for slander in an upcoming case." Juliette's gaze swung over to him, a little hope shining in her heart. "If we get down there now, we should be able to stop Markus if he intends to lunch another exposé or something."

Quickly, the lawyers were gathering their belongings and bidding the women left in the office goodbye with the a promise to handle this situation quickly and professionally. Once the boys were gone, Juliette turned back to Karen who was trying to keep her composure. Clearing her throat, she watched as the pretty blonde bent down and retrieved the newspaper with a deep sigh. "Um, Jules, could I give you some advice?" Karen asked timidly.

"About the case?" Juliette frowned lightly, knowing very well Karen Page had gone up against big names to clear her own name, and thankfully, the boys had been successful. That had been weeks ago and Karen didn't speak much about it.

Karen shook her head, "About Matt."

That took Juliette Allen by surprise, her hands stilling on the newspaper for a second too long before setting it down on the corner of the desk and rounding to watch her friend. The women had shared many long nights while trying to work out the case details. They were quite close now but the topic of Matthew Murdock had never came up before. Juliette wasn't too sure what this was all about but gave a nod of her head anyway, "Um, sure. Of course."

There was a moment of silence, Karen trying to figure out her thoughts. "I don't really know what's going on between you both, it's none of my business, but just be careful with him. He's...different and I wouldn't want you getting hurt."

Juliette was lost for words. "He's my friend, but he's burdened, you know?" Karen went on softly, hoping she wasn't upsetting her friend but the truth had to be spoken out loud incase the Allen girl got in too deep before realising she could not get out. "Do you know what they say about the Murdock boys?"

"No?"

Karen dropped her eyes downwards, noticing another article in the newspaper. The Devil of Hell's Kitchen strikes again. "They say they've got the Devil in 'em."