A Chance MeetingThursday 22nd March... Somewhen during the day
It had been nearly a week since she’d arrived at the school, and it had been a week of hard work for the new teacher. However, her view wasn’t shared by the companion who trotted by her side happily enough. Levi had become a star amongst many of the pupils, a welcome addition to class room stimulus. It did mean, however, that it took the class at least an extra ten minutes to settle down when they first met the golden retriever. As well trained as he was, Levi loved attention and with new people he would do anything to gain it. Of course, there had to be care’s taken in case of allergies to him. But so far, everything had been plain sailing as far as that was concerned.
Of course, as with most schools, the students had put her patience to the test. But she was used to it, to an extent at least. Probably one of the biggest issues she had to deal with was the mutant side of things. She was used to be discriminated against for being deaf, though it annoyed the hell out of her, and she was used to being in the minority. But now… The number of ‘normal’ humans in the school was tiny. From what she’d slowly been finding out, there was one other teacher who was human, and maybe two or three students. And out of a student body of hundreds, that was a dramatic difference.
All the same, it appeared that most of the students were pretty open to having a human teacher, most respecting her in the same light as they did many. It did help that most of them had family who were human rather than mutant. But there were a few she suspected of being trouble makers, who pushed her patience further than any of the others. She couldn’t, of cause, hear any of the comments that may be passed when her back was turned. And Levi couldn’t be expected to understand the words. But he could understand tones of voice, and more than once a student had received a silent stare from him, which was enough to put them on edge for a few moments. After all, they couldn’t be 100% sure that he wasn’t a mutant morpher in disguise, and that almost intelligent seeming gaze sometimes struck a nerve.
Sue was force to stop briefly as she felt the tell-tale paw on the back of her leg, released as quickly as she turned around. ”What is it?” The canine tilted his head to one side before pawing the air. It had been a specially taught action which meant one thing. School bell. The teacher chuckled and scratched loving behind those golden ears. ”No class now.. Unfortunately most kids don’t want to learn history every moment of the day” She chuckled again, feeling the golden fur flow soothingly over her fingers. But there was more to it than that. She could feel the energy in her companion, knew he wanted to just play. She sighed softly. ”Okay… fine. After this we’ll go fetch bunny and go for a walk. How does that sound?”
Almost as soon as she spoke, the retriever was on his hind legs, licking her face once before trotting around her, tailing wagging happily, held up high. Walk and bunny. Two of his favourite words. The latter referring to his favourite toy, a scrap piece of material which had once actually resembled its name sake. Sue chuckled softly to herself before continuing onwards towards her goal, a sheet of paper and a note book in hand. The Saturday previously, she’d put up a notice regarding the possibility of sign language as out of hour teaching. She’d already collected names before, and had looked at the student’s schedules to try and work out a best time. She was putting forwards Mondays and Wednesdays after lectures of course as possible dates. She might have to change them but she figured that they would technically be able to make them.
Sue would have suggested days earlier if she had been at the school long enough to actually know her own schedule at the time, but as it was it seemed that there would be a nice sized group taking it. Reaching the notice board, she started to make notes of the names and such, wanting to leave the sign up sheet there just in case anyone else took an interest. Of course, she recognised some of the names from her lectures, and Riley had been the student teacher to introduce her to the school earlier the week previous.
As his mistress worked, Levi looked boredly around the, to him, bare corridor. The school bell had indicated the start of class, and the hallway was now empty. With a huff, he lay down on the wall behind Sue, resting on his side, watching her with his hazel eyes. He was wound tight, in want of a game, but even now he knew better than to interrupt her. Then a new sound caught his attention and his head rose, looking down the corridor.
A man was heading towards them. Anything else about him could have happily gone unnoticed by the hearing dog. He had a stick with him, which he did kind of recognise though the connection wasn’t there as to ‘why’ he should have it. Not that it bothered the young dog. He stood up, tail wagging as he watched the man slowly draw closer. His scent had reached him as soon as his attention was caught. He smelt of medical stuff. A bit like the vets – something Levi could happily live without. But he didn’t look like a vet. With a glance towards his mistress, he then trotted to the stranger, jumping up briefly, tail wagging excitedly, though he never even placed a paw on the other, just jumping in the air for the attention a couple of times, barking softly, ears flicked forward slightly in his interest. All of which, for obvious reasons, went completely unnoticed by his mistress…
TBC: Matt Murdock
There is more than one way to be different in this world..
Sensitive fingers brushed across the face of the Braille watch. Yeah it was nearly time. Five four three two one…. Matt leaned against the wall and covered his ears as the school bell exploded around him. After spending over a week in the Institute, albeit with most of that time passed in med lab he was getting used to its interruptions but that didn’t make them any easier to handle. His hearing was back to its usual heightened degree, just as his body was pulling itself back to something like health, the broken bones now mended and hurting a little less each day, though he had to admit they were still tender and painful to the touch. All in all it was pretty damned miraculous and he sincerely gave thanks for the twist of fate that had lead him to Xavier’s doors in his time of need. And yet…
Despite all the unhoped for progress he was still incomplete. Unable to function as he had before. Unable to be Daredevil. Weakness and injury had robbed him of the precision he had had before even his concentration lessened to a degree by the days of inactivity leaving him vulnerable to the sudden loud noises that reigned at the Institute. Still that would soon come back with training, as would his hard won speed and agility. He only hoped the same could be said of his radar.
If he said he felt blind without it people would no doubt think he was making a bad joke but it was nothing short of the truth. He had given up on true sight many years ago knowing that the darkness was never going to lift and give him back what he had lost. But the miraculous radar sense he had acquired after the accident had granted him a type of vision, melding the information that came from his other senses into a map of his surroundings that allowed him to navigate as easily as any sighted person and even more. His senses ranged around him making what was going on behind his back as clear to him as what he was facing. With it he was master of his movements. Without it…. I’m still the luckiest blind man alive he reminded himself.
Not that that was going to stop him from trying to get it back of course. Matt wasn’t fooled though. He knew it wasn’t so much the loss of hearing that was at the root of all this though it certainly had been the trigger. This was all about confidence, and like it or not being beaten to within an inch of your life did tend to make a dent in that no matter how good a face you tried to put on things. And there was nothing to build up confidence like getting back on the horse that had thrown you Nothing more suicidal either if you happened to be in his line of business.
Which was why Dr McCoy had offered him this solution. The Danger Room! Somewhere he could retrain without actually getting himself killed in the process. He had to admit he’d been impressed. And touched by the confidence the doctor had in him. His identity as Daredevil had been revealed in extreme circumstances but Hank had placed the schools secret in Matt’s hands simply to help him heal To keep him from further harm. And that was something the blind crime fighter wasn’t going to either forget or betray.
But first of course he had to get there and as discretely as possible, though he was hardly yet in the section of the school where his presence would cause undue attention. Still he had chosen a time when the corridors would be less busy as much for that reason as to spare himself the difficulty of manoeuvring within a multitude of rushing noisy students no matter how considerate they were on his behalf. The cane and dark glasses won him that much, signalling his handicap as clearly as if he had a sign pinned to his back. Blind man passing! Please take care!
Though it wasn’t a sign that everyone could read Movement. Coming fast. The sound of claws on wooden floor, the unmistakable smell of dog. Well loved recently washed dog, the scent of shampoo and leather and incongruously Calvin Kline perfume clinging to its coat the clean citrus odour almost overwhelmed by the blast of doggy breath directed his way. Matt braced himself for the inevitable collision but it never came. Instead there was excited barking and bouncing, the sounds of an animal, wanting to be friends but waiting for him to breach the gap between them. If he wanted to that was.
Matt smiled and held out a hand in the universal gesture of doggie acceptance. Hello boy. What are you doing here in the corridors on your own? he said softly reasoning wrongly that anyone accompanying the dog would have heard its barking and come running to save Matt from impending disaster.
It was a young male , that much he could tell by the strong heartbeat and the scent, neither big nor small as far as dogs went. About the size of a Labrador perhaps but without a Labradors squareness or bulk. The coat was soft and healthy beneath his fingers, not a short pelt and the long tail too was fringed and fluffy.While the ears were soft and silky. A retriever perhaps? Certainly something along those lines and friendly as only a dog could be.
Matt’s fingers curled under the offered chin scratching the soft fur then catching the name tag, feeling the engraved letters there. L…E…V…I Levi. Hi Levi I’m Matt lets see if we can find your mistress. A little more concentration and it was easily done, another reminder of how unfocused or just plain careless he had become. The perfume was easy to track and the woman who wore it not so far away at all her stillness having led him to overlook her presence up till now.
Was she watching them? If so her heartbeat indicated no uneasiness. Perhaps she simply had enough faith in her pet to know that he wouldn’t cause any harm even to one who couldn’t see him coming.Or maybe there was some other reason for her lack of reaction. In either case Matt was soon about to find out.
Re: A Chance Meeting
Tail was wagging more excitedly as he felt the man’s fingers run through his fur, nuzzling the hand lightly, squirming slightly in the typical retriever fashion. It seemed that his tail controlled the rest of his body rather than his head making the decisions. He sidled up to the man, ears flicking as he spoke, seeming to listen, giving a soft wuff as the stranger mentioned his name. Despite the medical scent that surrounded the stranger, he was friendly, which was always good.
Deep brown eyes watched as the man seemed to look up from him, and towards his mistress. He watched carefully, wondering if the stranger was going to call to her, or maybe start towards her. The he would have to work. Not that the golden furred canine minded. Work tended to be highly enjoyable, giving him attention and occasionally treats. He just had no want to fail her. As it was, he just seemed to stand there, which just made Levi squirm again and nuzzle his hand lightly before another movement caught his attention.
Sue had knelt down briefly, retrieving the bag she had previously left rested against the floor. Placing notebook and pen inside the bag, she nodded slightly to herself, placing the small bag over her shoulder. Eleven students had placed their names down for sign language lessons. That was good at least, a nice size. And a teacher too. She was hoping the faculty would pick up some along the way, but to take the time to learn it certainly showed more respect. And if the class got much larger, just so she could have an extra pair of eyes, and more importantly, ears.
”Come on then…” She spoke calmly though with a tease of excitement in the sometimes plain sounding speech, slightly broken. ”Better find bunny” If Sue had known about the man standing behind her, she would have never dreamt of saying anything of the sort, and certainly not of seemingly ignoring him. Beside Matt, the canine squirmed again slightly before giving a light wuff of excitement, before pausing and looking up at the man he’d befriended, then back to his mistress. She didn’t know he was there. He should tell her.
Tail still wagging, claws clipped across the floor as the young male seemed to nearly bound across the floor, coming to a halt beside the history teacher, sitting up on his hind quarters and stretching up so his paws rest lightly on her hip. Brown eyes lowered to her canine companion in surprise, hands moving to steady him and herself, resting lightly on his neck. ”Levi… what is it?” His eyes turned to Matt, still resting lightly on his mistress’ side. Following his gaze Sue turned her eyes to the man in surprise, straightening up and about to apologise for not hearing him if he’d spoke when she paused.
Shades, white stick. It nearly cried out that the handsome man who stood a short distance away was blind. Yet those unseeing eyes were pointed in her direction. Had Levi taken it upon himself to make friends again? Or had he spoken out hearing someone was there. The history teacher couldn’t imagine being blind, except with a deep fear. Just as Matt relied upon his hearing to learn about the world around him, she relied on her eyes. To loose that would deaden the world she lived in to a passing rush she could touch only with her flesh and never anything more. It was hard enough not being able to hear her own voice, hearing the pronunciation of new words, but to not see them either… She wondered if the reverse was true for him, that he had adapted to catching onto the smallest sounds as she did the smallest visible details. Of course, Sue couldn’t know to what depths Matt relied on his hearing, but she could understand the basic, normal human adaptations in away. And the frustrations.
”Sorry, I didn’t know you were there..” She offered slowly, the slight smile obvious in her voice as it was often for most people. Naturally she would often say ‘I didn’t hear you’ but that often seemed too ironic, especially with people she’d only just met. The soft whisper could be heard as she softly rubbed Levi’s neck. ”You could have told me” She spoke light heartedly before giving him a gentle push, encouraging him to bounce down from her, tail wagging happily again.
Her careful gaze slowly took in the appearance of the man before. Having not seen his movements, she wouldn’t have noticed any signs of limping. There was a small scar on his right cheek, but that was all she noticed, and it seemed to be fading quickly enough. Otherwise he was dressed casually, like he was planning on going on a walk or the like and she, or more to the point Levi, had disturbed him. Sue quite readily admitted that he was a handsome man, probably on the same par as a man at her previous work place she had always had a secret fondness of. But at the same time the pair were completely different. She hadn’t met him before, that much was startling clear, so she couldn’t help but ponder if he was one of those mysterious faculty members who had a habit of never being around when the newbie turned up. Oh well. Now was as good a time as any to start introductions.
”I’m Sue, sorry about Levi” She chuckled lightly as she spoke, running her hand through her hair, tucking it behind her ear. ”For a hearing dog, he tends to be over excitable” She explained simply. She rarely introduced herself straight off as being deaf unless people started looking away from her or they needed to know for some other reason. Part of her felt that if she did that people might look on her differently. But she would quite happily refer to Levi as her hearing dog. Although she wasn’t sure about how people’s minds worked on it, it often seemed that although they would then know she was deaf, the association was different.
One thing she had once explained to a group of students was that more often that not, you couldn’t tell by looking at someone if they were deaf or not. Even if they had an assistance dog they didn’t have the bright yellow placards that guide dogs or dogs for the disabled wore. If you saw a blind or disabled person walking down the street, you would be able to tell, whether it was a white cane, a wheelchair, an assistance dog or the like, you could tell and allowances would often be made. Not for the deaf though. It seemed to be something a lot of people had difficulty understanding, but Sue had learnt to cope, if not necessarily accept that. It was the way of the world. And she was one of the lucky few. She had too many deaf friends who couldn’t function in ‘normal’ society because they weren’t accepted, weren’t catered for. Which was one bonus of working with the hearing, the well-abled. She could at least spread some understanding.
"I was wrong, to think that I might belong. But I will never forget what I was... Who I am.. What I did, just to learn that"
Re: A Chance Meeting
There was movement then, finally but not towards him as he might have expected. Instead the woman knelt, a subtle rustle of clothes , a change in the concentration of heat signalling the action to the blind man. Was she kneeling to call the dog? It didn’t seem like it. Sounds of something briefly scuffing the ground as she picked it up! The smell of leather! A bag probably! She was putting something in a bag, the clasp clanking slightly as she closed it. Then came her voice and with it understanding.
”Come on then… Better find bunny” She was facing away from him, her words bouncing off of the nearby surface of the wall. Words that were clear and loving but overshadowed by the slight impediment that told him she didn’t hear her own voice, anymore than she had heard the dog barking or his own approach. He was there behind her and she didn’t know it, nor was he sure of how to announce his presence without startling her unduly. Fortunately Levi didn’t seem to have that problem.
Bounding up to her he stopped just in time not to bowl her over, though not soon enough to stop Matt from taking a concerned step forward. Easy! He knows what he’s doing! Matt told himself as he tried to imagine what was going on between the young animal and the woman he so obviously adored. Some sort of signal that much seemed clear. He’s telling her I’m here. He’s being her ears. Now that is a good dog.
She was turning towards him now, her heart rate indicating surprise as she did so. ”Sorry, I didn’t know you were there.” She did well when it came to speech, her voice neither too loud nor devoid of emotion as many deaf peoples tended to be. Matt could appreciate the effort that must have taken. After all he had had a brush with deafness himself just recently, thankfully not for long.
The lack of hearing had terrified him, robbing him as it had done of sight as well as sound. But it had also given him a better understanding of all that you lost when the world suddenly became silent. Though like the darkness that surrounded him it was something that could be overcome. If you had the courage and determination to do it. As this young woman seemed to have.
He wondered if she was a mutant. If she was it didn’t seem that her power compensated for her handicap as his did. But then his blindness and his powers both came from the same source. One exterior to his genes. A freak accident that had transformed him rather than an inherited trait. Maybe she can weave fire or sprout wings Matt thought curiously as he heard her softly chastise the adoring retriever before introducing herself. ”I’m Sue, sorry about Levi”
She had a nice laugh one that invited you to join in . Matt found himself smiling back as she went on ”For a hearing dog, he tends to be over excitable”“Matt Murdock” he replied, turning slightly to face her squarely as he spoke. And don’t worry about Levi he’s been a perfect gentleman. He just wanted to play. Though I fear I’m a poor substitute for the famous bunny. I can throw a stick with the best of them though he went on mischievously. Provided of course he promises to bring it back.
Re: A Chance Meeting “Matt Murdock” He turned to face her a little better as he spoke, and Sue was trying to decide what to make of that. Was he merely focusing in on her voice, to make it more obvious he was paying attention? Or was he doing so to allow her to lip read? Either was a possible answer, and both had rather big gaps in her mind. When the student teacher Riley had introduced her to the school building it’s self, he had offered both sign language and the chance to lip read. There were some deaf people who could do neither. Either way, she was quietly grateful. Through many years of therapy and practice, Sue could often partially interpret even if the person in question was facing sideways on to her. But it made life so much easier when they looked towards her.
Eyes focused automatically on his lips, though not a stare. The ‘able-bodied’ often found it unnerving, she found, to have someone staring at their lips. It seemed that they took almost as much offence to it as if she were some perverted guy with a much less… appropriate gaze. But that was human nature, unfortunately. Acceptance was hard. That’s why they were all here after all, even herself. To find a place where they would be accepted. But as a human amongst mutants, it wasn’t really that easy.
” And don’t worry about Levi he’s been a perfect gentleman"~Good boy~ She smiled slightly, risking the swiftest glance down to the retriever. Hearing his name, the young canine merrily trotted over to Matt, nudging his hand lightly before sitting between the two humans, just off to the side slightly, his head tilted to one side. After all, he wanted to play. So why were they standing here talking?
”He just wanted to play. Though I fear I’m a poor substitute for the famous bunny.” The history teacher nodded slowly, blushing lightly. Not that ‘bunny’ was a high kept secret. Just that it meant he had at least been behind her long enough to hear that. Longer probably considering that it seemed Levi was happily acquainted with the gentleman, considering some of the stray golden hairs which had found their way onto his trousers. Levi, however, just ‘wuffed’ softly at the toy’s name, his tail wagging happily. Yep. Bunny. Bunny meant fun and games and walking and.. and.. fun! Sue spotted the movement out of the corner of her eye, the slight rising of the head and movement of the throat a clear indicator that her companion had made some sort of soft noise in response. But before she could gently ask for the dog’s silence, Matt completed his introduction.
”I can throw a stick with the best of them though” …. “Provided of course he promises to bring it back.” A smile graced Sue’s lips in response as she offered a slight chuckle in response. Sub-consciously she adjusted the strap of the bag on her shoulder in thought. It wasn’t that awkwardness fell between the two of them, but there was a brief moment of silence as Sue wondered how on earth to continue a conversation without dismissing him. And she didn’t really want to do that, but she was still getting over the surprise of this young gentleman standing behind her to start with.
”As for bunny…” She paused, chuckling again. ”It’s an old rag of Levi’s… well, it used to be a bunny when he was still a pup. As for returning the stick..” Her tone lightened slightly, her smile clear in her voice. ”That depends on his mood. As well as being over excitable, he also decides to occasionally ignore his less… important training” Levi barked softly, getting a gently hush as she felt the vibrations through her hand. As far as the retriever was concerned, what was the point of obeying the command when you could have so much fun without obeying?
”I’m the new history teacher.. Sorry, I don’t think I’ve even heard your name before. Are you a teacher here or…?” Or what? The silence indicated that she was actually not really certain what could follow the all powerful ‘or’. Levi, however, didn’t really care, his tail ever wagging, coming back to his mistress and softly nuzzling her hand. Sue’s hand instinctively played behind his ears, nodding slowly. All Levi wanted was the walk that was promised to him. But it seemed he would have to wait a little while yet.
"I was wrong, to think that I might belong. But I will never forget what I was... Who I am.. What I did, just to learn that"
Re: A Chance Meeting
She had favoured his humour with a small laugh of her own. Now though there was silence, perhaps the hardest thing of all for a blind man to interpret with no facial expressions to base his judgement on. All he had to gauge her mood by was the normally unintelligible sound of the bag strap rubbing against her clothes and the steady beating of her heart. And so he waited, for the voice and the words that would give him his cue and let him know if he should continue walking or perhaps linger a little. When they came they were easy and companionable which in itself was nice, a return to normality after the trauma of the past week
”As for bunny… It’s an old rag of Levi’s… He could hear the dogs mounting excitement as the two names were bandied about His and Bunny’s.A promise of fun that he wasn’t going to pass up. well, it used to be a bunny when he was still a pup. Matt smiled ,imagining the havoc that an enthusiastic Levi could inflict on an unsuspecting soft toy.
As for returning the stick..” There was clear love in her voice, accepting the faults in her canine companion with easy grace, knowing that in all vital things he would never fail her. ”That depends on his mood. As well as being over excitable, he also decides to occasionally ignore his less… important training As if in agreement the dog barked happily, the two of them, animal and human in sync over this as in so much else. They were a team, that much was clear even without vision, embarked on a relationship of mutual respect and affection that made each one greater than they would have been alone.
It was something many people had suggested to Matt. A guide dog. He had always refused of course, offering ready excuses, unable to confess to the abilities he possessed that made such a companion unnecessary for him when there were so many who could have benefited from one. . But still the actual companionship itself! That might have been nice. There were times when the apartment felt lonely, when it would have been good to have someone there to welcome him from the office or from a mission. Yeah sure he told himself wryly you could so fit a dog into your lifestyle. Maybe you could make it a little cape and booties as well. Not to mention a mask Which would probably go the way of bunny in no time flat.
His interesting little reverie was interrupted by Sue saying ”I’m the new history teacher. So… older than the students then! Another piece of the puzzle to slip into place. Sorry, I don’t think I’ve even heard your name before. she went on Are you a teacher here or…..?
I suppose you could call me a guest he said with a light laugh. Or more accurately a patient of the good doctors! Temporarily at least. I had an accident a little while ago Matt told her, the lie coming easily to his lips as they always did when he covered up the after effects of his double life. Doctor McCoy has been patching me up. There again the glaring understatement was delivered without hesitation. In fact, this is the first time he’s let me out of med lab on my own since I got here. So I can understand how Levis there is feeling. I was itching to go for a walk myself. He flashed her a mischievous grin Though I wasn’t really thinking of chasing any rabbits, real or imaginary. Not just yet anyway.
Re: A Chance Meeting”I suppose you could call me a guest” That threw Sue slightly. She had heard of students having visitors of course, but she expected them to be friends from home, not an attractive man who could not have been much different to her in age. Not that either of them could have exactly been called ‘old’, for she would guess that, like herself, neither of them had yet to hit their 30’s, or if he had he could only be in them by a year, maybe two. And she didn’t think family were arriving till tomorrow.
”Or more accurately a patient of the good doctors! Temporarily at least. I had an accident a little while ago… Doctor McCoy has been patching me up.” The history teacher nodded slightly as a glimmer of understanding had dawned on her. Although she had not heard of the good doctor, despite his reputation, before coming to the institute, she was quick to understand that he was one of the top medics in his field. Well, in a number of fields to be more precise from the small bits of information she had been given. So it was hardly a surprise that he took in patients from outside the institute. He might have been a friend of the doctor’s, or of the school. If not, perhaps this incident was more than he was making out.
”In fact, this is the first time he’s let me out of med lab on my own since I got here. So I can understand how Levis there is feeling. I was itching to go for a walk myself.” A smile couldn’t help but grace her lips as he spoke, though she knew he was probably not fully joking. She hated being ill, unable to do anything. True, Levi hated it more, especially when there was no one around to take him for walks, but that wasn’t really an issue most of the time. Her eyebrows lifted slightly at the grin, eyes flicking to the dark glasses briefly, an instinctive reaction to try and steal a look at the person speaking.
Lip reading, in some respects, was similar to watching a foreign, subtitled film. At first, your eyes would fix on the words, and the actions on the screen would be missed. But, as time went on, you would be able to widen your field of vision, taking in the details as well. Consciously, it would no longer feel like you were staring at the screen, though some may have envisaged that you were, hence her earlier common concerns. But sub-consciously, your eyes were still on those words, and you missed more details than you would think. And Sue often missed a common one, and that was the eye to eye contact which so often told you in great detail the intentions behind the speaker. But, as her eyes silently registered the glasses, her consciousness kicked in, rebuking her. He lacked that as well, though he could possibly pick up details in the voice, and he lacked it 24/7, not just when he happened to be talking to someone with sun-glasses on.
”Though I wasn’t really thinking of chasing any rabbits, real or imaginary. Not just yet anyway.” To any who could have seen her face, they would have seen the larger smile which came forward at his words, and she couldn’t help but laugh lightly at his comment, though as light as it was it was a honest, heart-felt laugh, which brought Levi’s attention to her in wonderment. There was no pause this time, well, not in silence, though Sue waited for her laughter to subside a little, it was still clear in her voice.
”Well, if you’d like, your welcome to come along. Seems Levi’s decided you’re a new friend anyway, and I wouldn’t mind the company” She admitted merrily enough. Of course, there was the issue of bunny. She couldn’t exactly just leave the rag now she’d promised it to Levi. Nor could she, having just offered that the man could accompany them, leave Matt just standing there whilst she raced round trying to find it. Especially as sudden doubt filled her mind. Where had she left it? In the car maybe? That would certainly make life easier as she could ensure that that was on route. Saying that, maybe Levi would be happy enough to just go for a walk with a stranger. It was a good stimulus for him.
”Though, if you already had somewhere else in mind, I will leave you to it. I’ve already promised Levi his walk… and I can’t exactly allow my young man to get in a strop with me” She joked lightly, her hand automatically petting the golden retriever still, who had switched to deciding to sit there silently whilst he waited for these humans to sort themselves out. His tail still brushed softly over the wooden flooring though, occasionally lifting to then pat back down lightly. All he wanted was his walk and maybe bunny as well. But it seemed like he would have to wait still longer to get it.
"I was wrong, to think that I might belong. But I will never forget what I was... Who I am.. What I did, just to learn that"
Re: A Chance Meeting
He liked her laugh. It was easy and open and brought them another step closer to being comfortable in each others presence. ”Well, if you’d like, your welcome to come along. she told him Seems Levi’s decided you’re a new friend anyway, and I wouldn’t mind the company” Company sounded good to him too. Especially after the trauma of the last week.
Matt was a social animal in many ways, his days normally filled with ready companionship in stark contrast to the solitary nights when he patrolled the streets as Daredevil. Not that all of his nights were spent alone of course. His ready charm and good looks made sure of that. Still it wasn’t always easy just to find time to enjoy the simpler pleasures of life. Like taking a walk in a park on a sunny day with a charming woman you’d like to get to know better.
”Though, if you already had somewhere else in mind, I will leave you to it. Sue went on I’ve already promised Levi his walk… and I can’t exactly allow my young man to get in a strop with meHmm Well yes he had had somewhere else in mind when he had left med lab with Hank’s strict instructions not to overdo things still ringing in his ears. The danger room! Maybe not a very good name as far as marketing was concerned but probably pretty accurate all the same. Except of course it was supposed to keep him out of danger. At least till his powers came back properly.
The doctor had walked him down to it the previous day showing him the entrance to the secret part of the schools facilities, making sure he could punch in the access code without any difficulty. There hadn’t been time to try out any of the programs themselves though so Matt was still a little unsure of what exactly he would face when he asked for the training modules Hank had suggested. "Something not to difficult to start with" the physician had said as he had reeled out the names and numbers "but not so easy that you’ll get bored either". It had sounded like a reasonable compromise and in any case Matt had been pretty sure that McCoy wouldn’t have let him go if he hadn’t been sure that his patient would be safe. Safety being a relative term of course where people like them were concerned.
Matt wondered again if Sue was one of those who knew of the lower levels of the Institute and its goings on. Hank had explained that those who did normally carried com badges like the one Matt now had tucked into the pocket of his jogging pants, though of course if Sue did possess one hers would have had to be modified to house some sort of visual message he supposed and probably have a vibrate function to alert her to the messages. Unless Levi barks when it goes off, he corrected himself Which he certainly seems smart enough to do.
However so far the blind man hadn’t heard anything like the inaudible hum the devices gave out, inaudible to almost anyone but him that was, coming from the young woman who stood waiting for his answer and she didn’t seem to him like someone who would just have left something like that lying around back in her room. So. Odds are she doesn’t know he decided. And that means we’d better keep it that way.
Still keeping secrets wasn’t a problem for him. After all his whole life was a secret in its own right. It was just nice to be in a place where he had at least some people he could share his with. It would have been nicer still if Sue had been one of them. But then again you couldn’t have everything, right? Not long ago he had lain at deaths door, condemned in a normal world to spend the rest of his life helpless and disfigured even if he had managed to pull through.
The Shiar machines had saved him from that giving him a second chance. One in which he could casually choose between learning to fight again or spending some time just enjoying the life he had so unexpectedly been given back. And in very pleasant company too. There really was no contest. "Well if you’re sure your ‘young man’ wouldn’t get jealous I’d love to tag along" he told her with a winning smile. "I certainly can’t think of anything else Id rather be doing right now than taking a walk with a couple of new friends."
Re: A Chance Meeting
The question, as always, was who was the more impatient? Not that the history teacher could be called impatient as such, but when it was your eyes which had to do the listening, she couldn’t afford for her gaze to falter for a second. Once you knew someone, and they understood you’re needs it became easier, you could function more, ‘normally’. But to start with, the effort was always mostly on Sue’s side of the equation. More so now than normally. She had become pretty sure than the man before her could focus on her voice at least, perhaps on some of her movements. But without knowing how well he had adapted to his own disability, she didn’t know if he would be able to face her no matter what. Which just meant she had to ensure she could see his lips.
No, if the word impatient was to be applied, it had to be Levi, who sat there, watching the two humans in quiet despair. How many times had his name and walk been mentioned? Not that, of course, he understood that, nor the number of times. What he knew was that they were supposed to be having fun. And with each mention of one of his ‘play’ cue words, his excitement grew. Golden muzzle softly nudged the leg of his human, staring up at her with his deep oaken eyes. His reward? A light scratch behind the ears in a request for his patience. Humans. All they ever wanted to do was yip at each other!
"Well if you’re sure your ‘young man’ wouldn’t get jealous I’d love to tag along" A light smile crossed Sue’s face at the use of her occasional term for Levi. Which only brightened as he accepted the invitation. He may not have been a teacher, but it would be nice to spend more time with someone more her age. Not that she didn’t spend some time with the other teachers, but in her own way she was different a gain. A non-mutant, and deaf at that. Not that they would ever mean to exclude her in such away. But no matter where you were, society noticed the difference. The trick was to use your differences to fill a niche. After all, that was why she was here. But it was more than that as well. The teachers were nice enough, and so were most of the students, but when you lived and worked with the same people, there was a need to see a new face, find new company. And when ‘they’ turned out to be an attractive man, she wasn’t exactly going to turn them away!
"I certainly can’t think of anything else Id rather be doing right now than taking a walk with a couple of new friends." A slight nod of agreement came from the teacher, smiling still. That’s exactly what she’d been thinking. The chance to meet new people her own age, in this sort of environment, she knew would be slim. And if he was only a guest then she decided there and then she should at least make the effort to get to know him a bit more. And she knew Levi was a sucker for company. Especially if they were capable of throwing a stick, as he had mentioned he would be.
”Great..” She spoke calmly, though the smile was evident in her voice, a lower hint of emotion maybe than she would have liked if she could hear. But that would always be the way. ”And trust me, Levi is probably excited over the idea of company than me..” She offered with a light chuckle. Once more, Sue tried to imagine what it must be like to be completely void of sight. But all she could manage was a dark silence. The woman hadn’t been born completely deaf, but it was a genetic disorder, and she never remembered hearing sounds. Maybe that was why she had adapted so well compared to others, that and the almost torturous work her parents and speech therapist had put her through. Even now she hated it. But, at the same time, she knew that without it she could never be where she was today.
Levi gave a soft yip as Sue turned slightly to start moving, the retriever brushing lightly against Matt as he raced down the hall a little way before stopping, looking back at the two humans, tail high and wagging. Come on already! Seemed to be the simple message the canine was portraying to the pair. For a hearing dog, he was actually unusually vocal, and had never been trained to be completely silent, mainly because he finished his training school life earlier than most, benefiting more from actually learning on the job. And he had never been a danger to Sue. So it worked well really, a true partnership. A friendship even. And Sue wouldn’t give that up for the world.
There is more than one way to be different in this world..
Re: A Chance Meeting
The dog was already heading down the hall, his voice, and it now was a voice to Matt’s ears, as individual as any humans, heavy with anticipation. Spontaneous! Asking for nothing but the moment! Matt had to admit he found it liberating. It was something humans rarely achieved. Or at least adult ones! Even if they were in the presence of the one they loved, as was so clearly the case for Levi. *Maybe Hank and Zia manage to pull it off* he thought suddenly remembering the fierceness of their combat in med lab. *Do they have the same intensity in their joy as they do in their anger? Because if they do….* It would be dangerous. It would be intoxicating. It would be something he wouldn’t want to miss. But that he wasn’t sure he could achieve. To be totally yourself! Hiding nothing! Confident that you would be accepted, for better or for worse, without question or sanction! Now that was commitment. Partnership!
*Ah but Levi doesn’t carry the burden of secrets that I do!* Matt told himself *His only crimes are perhaps chasing a cat when he shouldn’t have. And even then I doubt he would have left Sue to do so. *Mea culpa! mea culpa,mea maxima culpa.I have sinned! I have sinned! I have greatly sinned!* How many times had Matt confessed that to the priest, knowing he would return to the streets and do the same again! Too many times to have the easy innocence that Levi had. Less than he would have if Peter hadn’t found him and shown him another path.
!Even in the bible there had been a choice of angels. Gabriel or Michael! And he had come down so solidly in favour of the one who had borne the sword. So much so that he had been forced to renounce heaven for hell and take on the mask of the fallen. But maybe not today! Fighting would come later. In the interim there was still time to be Matt Murdock. Someone who could choose to chase sticks! To be a man rather than a demon! Which sounded fine to him at the moment.
“Company is always good” he said, being certain to turn to the woman and not her canine companion as he did "Though I think Levi may have outdistanced us.” Matt’s voice was light and his blind eyes were unreadable blanks behind the dark glasses *And by my estimation he may well be leading us on a bunny hunt.” For him it was as clear as the daylight he could no longer see.. His senses had picked up inevitably on the same trail that Sue’s guardian followed, scent and longing mingled in an enticing whole that could hardly be resisted By a dog anyway.
However his recognition of the attraction was in itself an admission of something perhaps, though of what he wasn’t exactly sure. Mutant ability? Well that would hardly be exceptional given where they found themselves. Or simply a human sensitivity to canine desires? That would be for Sue to decide, or to question as she saw fit. And here in this special place he would be free to answer
“ He seems to think its somewhere outside.” Matt added openly, waiting to hear her reaction if indeed there was one. His senses wandered however, following the trail just as Levi did. Petrol. Engine grease. The inefficient odour of an air freshener trying in vain to overpower the essential smell of dog! A car then And parked somewhere nearby. But then again Sue must have known that.
Her scent mingled companionably with Levis' in the confined space. Still perhaps no need to reveal all of that. At least not yet! Though he feared some of his cover might already have been blown And to be honest he didn’t really care. All that mattered was that he was there and alive and ready to take part in real life, as Matt as well as Daredevil. With or without his radar. And this was as good a place to start as any.
So it was with as clear a conscience as he could ever had that he said “ But since we were heading that way anyway it doesn’t pose a problem does it? At least it doesn’t for me !”
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