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There's a gaggle of press and concerned onlookers outside Nelson & Murdock, which has sustained some damage in an explosion. NYPD have roped off the area in front of the law office, and around an overturned van. The pavement and cement is scalded from the gasoline explosion, and the front facade of the law office has been completely blown away. Inside, there isn't much damage, save for an overturned desk and some scattered papers. Fortunately, they keep the really sensitive stuff, such as depositions and financials, locked down and secure.
Matt Murdock moves away from the reporters after dismissing them, tapping his cane before him while a uniformed police officer and suited investigator follow. "I'll get down to the Precinct by 3:00 to record an official statement and file charges," he tells the investigator. "In the meanwhile, I'm… gonna need to make some phone calls. We can't leave the front of our office in such a condition."
"Sure thing, Mister Murdock," says the investigator. "Don't worry, we'll catch the son of a bitches who did this."
"Sure," he answers, not sounding entirely committed, before turning to face the building with a long sigh.
*
How Elektra got inside — because she is already inside, having so carefully ducked police and reporters — isn't entirely clear. But there she is. She's bandaged herself up well enough, cleaned up, showered, and is in 'working' clothes so she can get to helping clean his space. Of course, for the heiress, working clothes means designer skinny jeans, a skin tight cashmere wine dark sweater with a big scoop neck, and her hair pulled back in a messy chignon. Working, of course.
She's moving silently around the office, silent to any normal ears, carefully sweeping up the class and mess in front of the desks. She's also got a box of supplies to help clean and replace in the corner, but has yet to start setting them out.
*
Karen has not so skillfully ducked reporters, but she doesn't speak to them while a uniform helps ease her way inside. Strawberry blonde is up in a neat french twist, ruthlessly pinned tight. She's in a navy blue blouse tucked into black slacks, with a messenger bag stuffed full of things on her left hip. She will slow her step as she approaches the office door. She's not sure she wants to see.
*
"Karen?" Matt asks, and turns slightly when she steps up. "It's bad, isn't it?" he asks. He can tell that Elektra is inside, but given that his secret is still safe where Karen is concerned, he can't let on yet that he's aware.
*
Still cleaning, it's very odd for someone to be sweeping up glass in stiletto boots, but that is very much Elektra. She sweeps the last of it from the windows into the dust pan she found who knows where and then smoothly crouches, to get the last little shards of glass, finishing the tiny bits before she carefully stands and brings the debris back to one of the trash cans. She dumps it inside before looking across the room, surveying what the worst left is to do.
*
Karen will move to take Matt's arm. "I don't even want to face it, Matt. It's just.. violation, you know? All the time we spend here, the things we bring here, pieces of ourselves.. and someone came in and just ..kicked them all around, they didn't care.." She trails off at hearing the almost musical dumping of broken glass into a waste basket. She moves ahead of Matt, unthinking, pushing her way further into the office. "Oh… Elektra. I didn't know anyone was here." It's painfully polite, even as she turns to take MAtt's arm again.
*
At the touch, Matt tucks the cane in and brings his other hand up to hold Karen's arm, letting her guide him. "I suppose I should be grateful I can't see -" Yet his words stop at the sound of glass and with Karen departing. The cane comes down again; he doesn't need it normally when entering the office, but he isn't quite sure where the doorway is. Little does he know there is no door left, but rather a gaping hole in the wall itself, with brick scattered everywhere.
He nearly trips on a piece of brick before Karen is catching him again, and he can't help but smirk a little. "Figures, you'd be here, helping clean up," he remarks toward the woman in heels. "So," he repeats, head still forward. "How bad is it?"
*
"It was worse when I snuck in. I wouldn't recommend anyone have a shag on the floor but the worst of the glass and debris is up. I haven't touched the hallway yet, the police were sniffing around and I do find them to be such a bore…" Elektra states with an overly dramatic bit of a sigh, before she flashes a wine dark lipped smile at Karen, something actually genuine behind it as she sees the young and lovely woman helping Matt. "I figured I'd come over and help clean up, when I heard what happened. I know you're overwhelmed keeping the boys afloat… And it's not like Matthew would be of much use. I have two hands. I can put them to work. On occasion." Elektra's only half teasing, as she now goes to the boards she brought in. "I have boards for us to cover the windows until you can get them replaced. Though…I could pay someone to do it this afternoon, you know?"
*
Karen lifts her chin. "Well, I'm certainly not planning a shag in the office, let alone on the floor. After all, desks are so much more erotic, don't you think?" Yes, she said it. Yes, she blushing. But so be it. There's a soft sigh, as she looks around. "It's a mess, Matt. I should get working on cleaning it up. I can see how bad your office is, start there, if you don't want to leave just yet."
*
All this talk of shagging and desks has Matthew literally blushing. He draws a hand up to scratch at the back of his neck, but he says nothing of it. Wouldn't be polite, with the ladies around. "Where's Foggy?" he asks, concern in his voice. He probably knows the answer, and it's name rhymes with 'Finnegan's Pub'.
To Elektra, he shakes his head. "N, no. No. We… have a bit of money set aside in escrow, I can… tap into it, see if we can float. Mister Schrimm down at the bank might be able to float us a line of credit. God knows he's been asking about it ever since we set up shop."
The cane comes down again, and he taps around for a few moments until it strikes a very familiar plastic handle, affixed to shards of glass that once was the coffee pot. "Oh, no… not the coffee…"
*
"Oh, *you* might not be, but Matthew was quite the acrobat in his day…We had many nights on his dorm floor. And other places." Elektra states, not blushing at ALL herself, though her grin is devil may care and her dark eyes are teasing. Yes, she's still flirting with him. Yes, she's still dangerous. She then sweeps past them both with a brush of achingly expensive perfume and the click of her heels.
"…Look, my hotel is far less expensive than I planned. Let me pay for the windows, at least. It's too cold to have boards up long. If I can use your phone… And then I will go out and get us all coffee. Though… there is a new pot in that box over there. I figured it was one of the essentials and probably lost. Karen, dear, if you wish to set it up, it's cleaned and everything…" Elektra actually seems to care. SHe has been genuinely thoughtful about this whole situation.
*
There is an expression on Karen's face, that doesn't quite seem to belong there. Bright blue eyes are cold, almost even venomous as Elektra regales them with takes from the past. "I get it. You like to shag on the floor and various other places." Matt will hear it, even though it is said under her breath as she makes her way to Matt's office. There's a stiffness to her spine as she moves into Matt's office, moving things and clearing a path. Matt will be able to hear her heartbeat change… is it anger? Irritation? Just a bad mood?
*
"Elektra," Matt starts, the chiding clear in his tone of voice, but he stops when Karen's voice is at least registered by his enhanced auditory capacity. He turns his head to follow the voice, and his head angles itself just so. Is that… jealousy?
Well, Matt might be good in a courtroom or a back alley interrogation, but Elektra would know well enough, he sometimes lacks finesse with women.
"Um, yeah. Well, sure, okay. The phone's over there." He turns and makes to point at something, but his hip bashes right into an overturned file cabinet when he does. The door comes crashing open, and files spill out all over the place. "Ow!" His cane falls, and he follows it with a loud curse. "DAMN it!"
*
"Oh, darling, do not sound so jealous. We *liked* to shag all over. That was years ago now. I promise you, he has lots of shagging left in him for you. How, be a dear and make us some coffee." Elektra nods towards the box of supplies she brought, flashing that careless, warm smile. Then she's wincing as Matt runs straight into the cabinet, not rushing to go help him with the thing, or the floor. She just stares a few moments, skepticism on her expression. Her lips purse, but she lets the blonde handle it as she moves for the phone and picks it up. "Directory? Yes… give me glass and window repair… Hell's kitchen. The closest. Thank you…"
*
Karen …stops. She just stops cold. Her hands curls into fists so tight tendons might creak before she turns. "I am sure you loved shagging, and bravo for the both of you. It's not really appropriate talk for the office. A little humor, to offest the horror? Sure. But beyond that, it starts to get tasteless. I have very little reason to care if Matt is in perfect shagging form, as you imply. I am not shagging Matthew, he is my /boss/. Thank you for the kindness you're exhibiting, but I will get to the coffee in all due time, and not before then." She'll move to get Matt his cane, unaware that the whole not caring about his form was the only lie in that retort. She'll move to lead him through debris along the cleared path she had created. Her teeth may be grinding.
*
"For Christ's sake, Elektra," Matt chides, his response not entirely dissimilar from Karen's. Of course, his will require another moment in confessional, dammit. Okay, two moments. And after this evening? After he puts on a different set of clothing and goes after the men responsible for this? He'll need a whole night.
Turning to follow Karen, he sighs again and wraps a hand around her wrist, letting her guide him. "She's trying," he tells her quietly. "But, deep down, I think she… I know she enjoys stirring up trouble. Don't let it get under your skin, Karen, please."
*
"Christ has nothing to do with this, Matthew. I appreciate you not bringing him into… Business." The business comment is levelled in Karen's direction, Elektra showing just a BIT too demonstratively that yes, she understands what the woman is saying and she will attempt and be more professional. Though her lips are still partially grinning and her eyes light with amusement. Then there is sound on the other side of the phone. She sighs, focusing back on the phone for a moment. "Yes, hullo. There was a small… bombing in Hell's Kitchen. No…insurance won't be paying for it… Cash. Today… six… Make that eight windows. If your technician is on sight for measurements in the hour, there is another fifty dollars in it…" And she smoothly gives the address of the place.
*
"Well then, she needs to try harder." Karen will murmur close to Matt's ear so that what is said quietly remains between them. "Or I will be trying to break her perfect little nose." Karen? Angry? Naw… it couldn't be. She'll help Matt into that chair, lead his hand to the righted, cleared off desk. "I'll go pick up those files, then start on the coffee. Can I get you anything?" Elektra is ignored, for a moment. Karen will take a deep breath to try and restore equilibrium.
*
At all of this, Matt can't help but smirk. Yes, he thinks that in the end? They're all going to get along nicely. So long as nobody breaks anybody's nose. "No, Karen… I will be fine. I just… need to put some things together so that I can make it to the Precinct on time. Just…" He glances toward the other room, where Elektra is haggling with someone on the other end of the line. "Don't break any noses today, alright?"
*
As the wmoan is finished giving the address, she puts the phone down. "Windows will be replaced soon. I'm going downstairs to get that coffee and wait for the technicians. You love birds be good." Elektra gives them a too-teasing wink, and then she's turning on the ball of her high heel and sauntering out of the room. Unphased by any of Karen's anger. Hell, she might be enjoying it.
*
Karen glares at Matt, though he can't see it. He sure can hear her heart rate rising with anger, though. "I know she's.. whatever to you. But I really don't like her, sometimes. I will /try/ not to punch her in her pretty face. Because you asked." She'll turn and move to start picking up spilled files, and cleaning up the office.
*