S3 alternative for clouded_heart

[thoughtbubble]

The nuns urge him to stay still but Matt starts walking very slowly with a cane as soon as his legs no longer give away whenever he stands. Stubborn as he is, even with nowhere to go, he leaves his bed and the wheelchair behind to pace in the halls while kids play outside. His body resists the movement, stiff joints, soreness, and sudden sharp pains in muscles and shooting through wounds, before subsiding when he clutches his side or shifts to the other foot. With his powers missing, everything seems muffled, like he's trapped in a giant container and can't truly touch the outside world. He wonders if he'll ever be able to get his gift back, if maybe God decided he didn't deserve it.

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[clouded_heart]

Foggy pauses, smiles slightly. "You're welcome, Matty."

He heads out quietly, dropping a word that Matt needs more painkillers and water and that he'll be back in a few hours to get some food into him and with some clothes.

He takes a while. There's clearing some time at work, collecting what he needs to work out of office and then heading back to the old loft apartment. He and Karen hadn't let it go yet, hadn't been able to face it. They both took some personal items to protect them, but he grabs those on the way through as well from his place.

Lastly, he gets them food. Gets some of Matt's (and his) favourite pancakes and the right mix of toppings to add and then brings the whole lot with him to the orphanage.

Sister Maggie looks disapproving but shows him through silently.

"Hey, I'm back," he calls softly.

[blessmefather]

Maggie stops to express her surprised approval of Matt's decision to contact his friend. Matt has no comment and she leaves him to rest. He sleeps a couple hours while Foggy is away and gets lost in his thoughts when he wakes.

What will he do if his powers never return? Can he keep his friends safe? Losing anyone else might finally destroy him. He's barely getting by now but he can't tell anyone.

He snaps to attention when he hears someone at the door. Foggy's voice- Matt lifts his head to smile in his direction. "Hey."

[clouded_heart]

Foggy comes over and sets down the duffel bag he has with him. The pancakes go on the side table and then he drops his jacket over the chair someone's moved in for him. "Hey. Okay, we're going to get you sitting propped up, with some pillows, keep the strain off, then some food in you and we can go through the rest after, okay?"

No, he's not Matty and his ridiculous buff self, but he knows he can heft Matt's weight. He's done it before and Matt's lost weight and condition with his injuries. "I went to Mama Murphy's for those pancakes, right, arms around my neck."

[blessmefather]

Matt can smell the food though he's distracted by how faint it is, he doesn't trust his guess at what it is. He nods in agreement with Foggy's proposal. The mention of the pancakes distracts him for a moment before he realizes that Foggy is moving in to sit him up right then. "Oh!" Matt catches on and reaches up to lock his arms around Foggy's neck.

"Hello sir." Since they're in each other's space he tries to cover any awkwardness with humor.

[clouded_heart]

Foggy huffs his amusement and hefts, carrying the weight of Matt's upper body and getting the pillows arranged behind him, propping him up into a sitting position. "There you go, buddy. Safe to let go."

He lets Matt decide in his own time when he's ready to let go, though.

[blessmefather]

He'd be reminded of dizzy drunken nights after passing midterms or finals together if his body felt stronger. Foggy was a reliable anchor when it started to feel like the ground was tilting.

His weight gets settled into the stack pillows, which are just firm enough to keep him upright. When Matt moves to let go though, his arms seem to be locked in place. I don't want to. Some part of him insists. Don't be weird. He reminds himself, pulling his arms back from around Foggy's neck finally.

[clouded_heart]

Foggy waits a moment and enjoys the excuse to keep holding Matt and being the strong one. Physically. For a moment. Because Matt doesn't let anyone take care of him but he's letting Foggy get away with it and Foggy is secretly hoping it's because Matt wants to let Foggy in that bit and not because he's actually too injured to put up any resistance.

When they both let go, he stays perched on the side of the bed for now, moving the wooden bed tray over Matt's lap. "I didn't get you coffee because I was scared Sister Maggie would disapprove and God would smite me for annoying her, but I did get a malt milkshake with the pancakes and... I brought something that might cheer you up?"

He digs out the special present, laying it on the table of guiding Matt's hands to it. Jack Murdock's robe and gloves. "I've been keeping them safe."

[blessmefather]

Matt grabs the ends of the wooden tray set in his lap to be sure it's steady and balanced, then carefully examines the contents. He snorts and smiles at Foggy's comment about Sister Maggie and God, wondering faintly if the milkshake or coffee would really be more offensive. Matt hadn't exactly been enthusiastic for meals so she'd probably let it go this time, as long as he ate.

"Wow, thanks," Matt started saying but there was more. Things felt different without his regular senses but Matt knew what the surprise was at a single touch. The instant it hit him he was overcome by a wave of mixed emotions, relief and pain. His brow furrowed as he smiled, holding it in.

"Wow," he says finally. "You even thought of this. Thank you, Fog... I don't know what to say."

[clouded_heart]

"It's not like I don't know what they mean to you. I collected them and the trunk when- I wanted to know they were safe." For when Matt came back.

He busies himself with getting the pancakes sorted out, making sure the lid is secure on the milkshake and then sliding back onto the bed, taking Matt's hand with his own and pressing the cup into it. "Try that first. I don't want to be the reason you puke."