Chapter Text
Matt was incredibly anxious, he had no idea what he was going to do. He had pushed Foggy hard to take the defense of the Punisher. It was the trial of the century and what he was going to do with Elektra could make him miss the most important part of it. Matt couldn’t not go with Elektra to figure out what that hole in Midland Circle was for. But he also couldn’t leave Foggy out to dry, especially since he had recently forgiven him for hiding everything about his sense and Daredevil. Matt ran a hand through his hair and sighed, he was going to have to make a call.
Matt picked up his phone, “Call Elle.”
“Calling Elle.”
Elle picked up almost immediately, “Hey Matt, what’s going on? It’s not our usual time for our weekly call.”
Matt sighed, and tried to figure out how to word his request then changed his mind, “You know what, Elle I’m sorry for bothering you. I can figure it out on my own.”
“Matthew Michael Murdock, getting you to call regularly was like pulling teeth. So when you call spontaneously, I know something is up and you better tell me, or I’m driving there myself and banging on your apartment door.” Elle said in a no nonsense voice that the nuns would have been proud of, but at the same time was more comforting than most of them had ever been.
Matt sighed and rubbed his forehead again, “I need your help. You know the Punisher case?”
“You mean the trial of the century that you and your friend took? Yes, both Emmett and I have been following it and are waiting to see how you and Foggy deal with it.” Elle said patiently.
“Well, I have the opening statement tomorrow, but Elektra is back in town.” Here Matt paused because he knew that while the Woods-Forests couple had never said anything bad about her, they had never really thought that she was good for him. He heard Elle’s hum and he plowed on, “I promised I’d help her with a family emergency and it could make me miss the trial. I don’t think it will but there’s a chance and I just can’t leave Foggy like that. I can't be such a shitty friend.”
Elle hummed in understanding, “So what do you want from me Matt?”
Matt sighed, “I know it’s a huge ask, but could you maybe call Foggy and give him some advice on what to do if I can’t make it?”
Matt could almost hear Elle’s incredulity through the phone, “You want me to consult on this? From a distance?”
Matt winced, “I know, I know. Anything that connects you to this case would tank your reputation, and you are so busy with your own cases but—”
Elle cut him off, “Matt, with me coming on there’s not much I could consult on. You and Foggy have the foremost information on this case. You have to agree that there’s not much I can do from Cambridge.”
Matt sagged on the couch, “Yes, I know. It was a crazy thought.”
“Which is why Emmett and I are coming to consult and be moral support or co-counsel in the courtroom for Foggy if you can’t make it and if he agrees.” Elle said, her tone light as if it was no big deal.
“Wait what?!” Matt exclaimed, shooting up from his couch and beginning to pace, “No, Elle I can’t ask you or Emmet to do that. It could ruin both of your reputations. You also both have jobs you can’t just take off for me.”
“Matt, you just agreed that consulting from a distance would be useless. If we’re there we can be co-counsel. I know you know the benefit of having someone else on the same team there. It’s less stressful. Besides, you said you might not make it. We will only be there as back up if you don’t make it.” Elle reassured him, “Also let us worry about our jobs. Both Emmett and I are tenured and I think our bosses would kill us if we missed the chance to at least consult on this case.”
Matt sighed in defeat, “There’s no chance of me changing your mind is there?”
“Absolutely none.” Elle said cheerfully, “You called for help Matt. Both Emmett and I promised that we would do everything in our power to give it whenever you needed it. This is within our power, we want to help you. So let us help you Matt.”
Matt sighed again, but he could feel a knot loosen in his chest, “Okay….okay. If I can’t stop you. I can send over the audio files of the case and of my notes so you can listen to them on the way here. Also I’ll let Foggy know that I called in some help.”
“Good plan.” Elle agreed, “Matt, you have told him about us right? I know we haven’t met Foggy because our car broke down and we were late to your graduation from Columbia law, but you have told him we are lawyers right?”
Matt furrowed his brow, trying to think of what could have provoked his question, maybe it was that one time one of his classmates had freaked out that he knew the Wood-Forest couple personally. But he had mentioned Elle and Emmett to Foggy repeatedly. Hell, he’d even off-handedly talked about how Sam, who he called Little Sam because he knew it irked Sam to no end, was applying to law school this year.
“Of course I have.” Matt said disgruntledly.
“Okay,” Elle said, “We’ll be there. You do your best to get there too, but we’ve got you if you can’t make it.”
Matt let out a sigh of relief and croaked out a quiet, “Thank you.”
Matt could tell that Elle was smiling warmly on the other side of the line, “It’s no trouble Matt. Now go do your thing with Elektra.”
Matt exhaled quietly, “Okay I will.”
“Good. Even if you miss the opening statement tomorrow, I will see you for the rest of the trial Matt.” Elle said in a warning tone, “If we’re going to be there for opening day, we will be there for the whole trial.”
Matt let out a sigh that was half tired, half relieved for more support, “Thank you Elle.”
Matt was about to hang up when he heard Elle call over to Emmett, “Pack up! We’re heading to Hell’s Kitchen.”