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Post by Spider-Man Beyond on Oct 15, 2006 19:16:33 GMT -5
Daredevil: The Man without Fear! #1 Guardian Devil Part 1: The Boy with Fear Written by Jason Blankenship Edited by Daniel Dyer I sit there, perched on a ledge, listening to the sound of the city’s pulse, all while the rain falls down on me. I feel the night-time air call out to me. A part of me longs to be out there, joining in the thrill of whatever adventure the city offered. I glance back at the sleeping form of my father and with a heavy sigh; I pick my book back up.
I won’t let Dad down.
If he knew the things I did at night… the adventures I have as I turn the city into my playground. But he can’t know. Not ever… I’m afraid of what it might do to him. And what he might do to me. So I pick up my book and study, because I can’t let him down.<>
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Post by Spider-Man Beyond on Oct 15, 2006 19:23:51 GMT -5
Matt Murdock hated recess more than any intelligent, well adjusted boy his age should. He paused at the doors leading out to the playground. He then sighed and turned and walked back to the class room. Mr. Lee, his teacher glanced up from the magazine he was reading. “What’s wrong now, Murdock?” Mr. Lee had done what nearly every other teacher in Clinton had done. He’d mostly given up on his students and preferred to count the days until summer rolled around. “Nothing, sir. I’d just rather read in here.” “Bull$&*, Murdock. You’re going outside. All boys need fresh air.” “No, really sir, it’s okay…” But Mr. Lee would hear none of it, and he dragged Matt outside. Matt watched the school doors close and sighed. “Hey look at what we’ve got here… the great Daredevil…” Like sharks smelling blood in the water.“Yeah, takes a lot of balls to read books all day.” The second bully's comment flowed along the same train of thought as most of the kids in Matt's class. Matt turned around, trying his best to swallow his anger. “Aww, I think Daredevil’s gonna cry. What’cha gonna do, Daredevil? Read a book at me?” Matt felt his rage boiling up, threatening to overtake the rational centers of his brain and his fingers tightened around his book. “Look, I think Daredevil’s getting mad… c’mon, Daredevil, take your best shot…” “Don’t be like me, Matt, I don’t want you a misshapen washed up old has-been boxer… you use your brains and become a doctor or a lawyer. Promise me, Matt.”Matt sighed and shrugged, “Guess you’re right, I am just gonna go read a book.” Matt walked over to a corner of the playground and sat down with his book. He sighed and began studying math, trying to block out the “Daredevil” chants. <>
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Post by Spider-Man Beyond on Oct 15, 2006 19:27:13 GMT -5
After school, Matt went to the gym where his father worked and practiced, and continued to study, doing everything he could to keep the ringing taunts of the children on the playground from echoing in his head. After a bit, he couldn’t handle it anymore and began hitting one of the spare heavy bags, doing everything he could to get the rage out of his system. He wasn’t aware of the old man, clutching a blind man’s cane and staring intently in his direction. All Matt knew was the bag and the feel of the bag sagging slightly under the pressure of his small fists. Left after left, right after right, hooks and crosses and haymakers. The bag was the children who tormented him, and every punch silenced them. He stopped, exhausted and turned to see his father watching him, a disapproving look on his face. “Matt, what’ve I told youse about fightin’?” “I wasn’t Dad, I was just blowing off steam… I’m gonna get back to studying.” Matt sat back down and opened his book, unaware of the blind man’s smirk before he left the gym. <>
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Post by Spider-Man Beyond on Oct 15, 2006 19:29:44 GMT -5
“I’m telling ye, Matt, you’ve got it easy compared to how me ole man treats me. I mean, if he’s sober nuff t’ notice me, he’s usually poundin’ on me. Yer ole man just wants you to study and do good. Mine can’t stand me.” Matt shrugged, trying not to smile at his friend’s thick Irish accent, “I know people have it worse than I do Lest, it’s just… I want to hit these kids so badly… and it’s very frustrating.” Matt walked to school with the only kid he knew that didn’t mock him for reading as much as he did. Lester Benjamin was a kid in his building that was nothing but trouble. He drank, he smoked, and he had as much a problem with authority as Matt did. He just didn’t hide his problems the way Matt did. And he wasn’t as smart as Matt. So, they had worked out an arrangement where Matt tutored Lester, and Lester watched Matt’s back. Lester though, had a problem attending school and being there to keep the bullies at bay. But Matt never went back on his word. Ever. “Don’t you worry about a thing, Murdock… I’ll take care of things.” <>
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Post by Spider-Man Beyond on Oct 15, 2006 19:31:45 GMT -5
Recess found Matt again assaulted with the taunts. He sat there, trying to focus, trying not to give into his rage. The leader of his tormentors knocked the book from his hands and Matt’s eyes locked with his. “What’cha gonna do bout it, Daredevil?” Matt’s answer was cut off by a baseball hitting the side of the bully’s head. He dropped and his cronies turned to see Lester perched on the fence separating the school yard from the rest of the kitchen. “Bullseye.” <>
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Post by Spider-Man Beyond on Oct 15, 2006 19:33:38 GMT -5
“That was awesome, Lester. The look on their faces… priceless.” Despite Lester being hauled off from recess, Matt waited in the school's library until detention was over so that he could walk home with his friend. “Well, I did say I’d take care of it for ye, Matt.” The boys turned as they heard the screech of brakes and Matt’s eyes went wide. There was an old man crossing the street, oblivious to the impending danger. Matt had only a split second to make a decision. A decision that would change his life forever. He dropped his books and rushed into the street, knocking the old blind man out of the way. The truck swerved and one of the barrels of its payload fell from the bed. And fire erupted into Matt’s eyes. And then his world became darkness. Continued...
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