And you're right there, but I can't see you

[guardiandevil]

WHO: Matt and anyone who is visiting him in the hospital
WHERE: A hospital...
WHEN: Backdated to Sunday night through Thursday afternoon. Please specify the time and date in your post! :)
WARNINGS: ???
SUMMARY: Matt is in the hospital and people visit him
FORMAT: Whatever you like.

Matt was pretty lousy at this sort of thing. The idea of lying still and letting people poke him and prod him and study his body never sat well with him. He didn't like having to explain away gunshot and stab wounds, or deal with the inevitable vision tests that doctors always seemed to want to perform on him. He especially didn't like that these doctors were strangers to him, people who didn't know him or know his history. He couldn't really trust these people to figure out what was wrong with him, why he'd lost his memories, or why his powers were gone.

But without his radar, he was useless. He felt so paralyzed without it, like he was broken and had no chance in the world of ever being fixed again. Now instead of being Hell's Kitchen's most feared defender he was some pitiful, strung out blind guy. It was quite a way to fall. Sure, he'd experienced a loss of his powers before, but this seemed so much more profound and terrifying. Maybe it was the not knowing how it had happened or who was responsible.

Someone had to be responsible, right? He didn't roofie himself. He didn't rough himself up. But he could remember anything since Tuesday. Whoever had done this had picked the perfect target: without his powers, he wouldn't be able to identify them anyway, with or without the drugs.

As it was now, he couldn't identify the visitors in his room, not without hearing their voices or being told they were there. He couldn't smell people, he couldn't hear their heartbeats. He could do nothing but lie in that bed and wait for some strange doctor to give approval for him to leave.

Matt was pretty sure he was going to go insane.

Comments

Sunday night

[psychomancy]

[Gemma rushed to the hospital as quickly as her body would allow. She couldn't believe this was happening. Matt couldn't be hurt. But stepping into his room made everything surreal. It was hard seeing him like this. He was always so alive and vibrant, so sure of himself. Gemma took a deep breath before speaking:]

Matt.

[guardiandevil]

[He turned his head toward her, a lazy motion thanks to the sedatives in his system. But he recognized her voice, and he reached for her. Or for where it sounded like she might be, anyway. It was tough getting used to not knowing precisely where things were.]

Gemma. You didn't have to hurry.

[psychomancy]

[She doesn't hesitate before going to him, taking his outstretched hand in hers. He'd been a little off in the direction; it took her a moment to process that. He always knew where she was, always. It was a bit unnerving. But she stands there and gives his hand a little squeeze.]

I did. I--we were so worried about you.

[guardiandevil]

I'm sorry.

[And he looked genuinely sorry. He looked miserable, actually. Which was convenient, since he felt miserable. He felt like he'd disappointed Gemma, let her down completely. And he hated the thought of worrying her.]

I'll be just fine, I swear.

[psychomancy]

[She sees that look on his face, and it hurts her to see it. She pulls up a chair and sits, grasping his hand with both of hers now.]

You've nothing to apologize for. And you are going to be alright. You're the strongest person I know, Matt.

[guardiandevil]

[He wants to take her hands and bring them to his face, but he resists the urge. He doesn't really have the energy for that anyway.]

I didn't stand you up.

[psychomancy]

[She gives a little smile, but is glad he can't see it. She doesn't want him to feel worse than he does.]

I know you didn't.

[guardiandevil]

[He nods, grabbing randomly at one of her wrists.]

I hope I didn't cause you too much trouble.

[psychomancy]

[She doesn't mind when he pulls at her, and leans closer so he can better sense where she is.]

Not at all.

[guardiandevil]

Good.

[He isn't sure he believes her, but it's not like he can just listen to her heartbeat to know if she's lying.]

... I'm glad you came.

[psychomancy]

[She smiles at him.]

Of course I did. And I would have, even if you had stood me up. [smirk, smirk]

[guardiandevil]

You're too good to me.

[He almost said 'for me', but he caught himself at the last moment.]

[psychomancy]

[Shakes her head.]

Not at all. I'm just as good as you deserve.

[guardiandevil]

I'm sorry you have to see me like this.

[psychomancy]

[She squeezes his hand again.]

Don't apologize. I don't... think less of you, or anything silly like that.

[guardiandevil]

[Quietly:]

I would.

[psychomancy]

[Brow furrows.]

Why?

[guardiandevil]

I'm useless. Look at me.

[psychomancy]

I look at you and I see Matthew Murdock. And you aren't useless at all.

[guardiandevil]

I lost my powers, Gemma. I'm on drugs. I can't even get out of bed.

[psychomancy]

I feel as if rest is the answer to that--the drugs, I mean. You'll be able to get up and about soon enough, too.

[guardiandevil]

[SO SERIOUSLY:]

I can't survive without my powers, Gemma.

[psychomancy]

[STERN:]

You can, and you will.

[guardiandevil]

I have to relearn everything. How to stand. How to walk. How to move. I've lost everything.

[psychomancy]

[Still confident:]

They'll come back--your powers. Mine did, after all. I'll help you learn what you need to until then, alright?