He smiled a little when she apologized as she placed his hands on her face to feel her nodding. "It's all right. Everyone does that sometimes." Nodding in agreement or shaking their heads, or holding up papers and pictures, forgetting for a moment that he couldn't see them doing it. It didn't bother Matt when those minor faux pas moments happened, they weren't malicious. Nonverbal cues were a common part of most communication across the world, sometimes people just had to get a little more creative to make them work when someone was visually impaired.
He felt her face in his hands, felt the soft skin of her features against the rougher edges of his fingers. He committed the feeling the memory, letting his fingertips brush over her face briefly as a reminder of what she looked like before he let her go. "Foggy only let me do that once to him," Matt recalled quietly. "Said it was a little weird." Matt had respected that boundary, and with it, his memory of what Foggy's face looked like had long ago blurred from his mind. "I guess it can be a little weird. I'm sorry if it is." He wouldn't do it to Kate if she thought it was, but she hadn't seemed to mind the last time.
Lucky pulled at the leash, his nose angling towards one of the many vendors and shops that promised food. Matt gave a little smile again, nodding in the direction of the dog. "I think he's getting a little antsy for those noodles."
"I swear I try to remember," Kate protested softly, hating that even though she was so used to his presence and his needs, even now she could still forget about this sometimes. However, of course Matt didn't seem bothered.
Under her touch, Kate felt his hands shift. She let go, sure he was pulling away. But Kate was wrong. Matt's hands moved slowly, his fingertips tracing her cheekbones, her jaw, her nose, evading her parted lips. It was done before Kate realized it. She wanted to ask him to keep going.
"Oh, yeah. Yeah, good point." The people around them seemed to be growing impatient over the way they were also blocking the road. Holding onto Matt's arm again, she walked quietly by his side for a moment.
"I don't think that was weird." She suddenly offered, remembering what Matt said before. "Touching someone's face," she clarified. "Like, I get why it may have been for Foggy." Men aren't probably crazy about other men touching them maybe? It's like crying in front of other people. Not everyone is comfortable with that. "But I think it's cool. Like, I can't imagine myself actually remembering what makes faces feel different." But how do you try to learn that? Matt had good reasons to try, she didn't. "Like, I'd like to try it, but it would be extra weird if I asked someone."
"Hey, no, I know you try to remember. Don't be so hard on yourself. Nobody's perfect. Especially since I can do things other people in my position can't normally." Matt knew that his abilities muddied the water even further, since it wasn't always a clear line of what he could and couldn't sense. He couldn't read a paper that was held up for him but he knew when someone was holding up a middle finger in his face, for instance. "I'm sure I've sometimes spoken in a direction where Clint can't read my lips without thinking. I like to think he doesn't hold it against me."
He lightly felt over her face, recommitting the angles smooth edges to memory again. He gave a quiet smile that was satisfied when he was done and took her arm so they could keep walking.
"It might be a little weird to most people if you asked to feel their face, but you can feel mine. I'll understand." Kate wanted to know what his world was like, just as he was learning more about hers today. "It takes some getting used to, but eventually, you start to tell faces apart by touch. And Foggy did a lot for me in other ways, so yeah, I can understand and respect that boundary." It wasn't coming from an awful place, and Matt would rather Foggy be honest with him than not.
"Can Lucky come into the store with us? He's not technically a service dog, but I'd feel bad leaving him tied up outside."
Edited 2025-05-24 18:14 (UTC)
Aaaaaw, I love this one so much! The whole new batch is so pretty! <333
That was the thing about Matt, he always tried to be fair on people and to remind them of the good things. Of the lack of malice in them and sometimes, in the world too. Kate, always the overachiever, would beat herself up over the smallest and silliest of details, but Matt knew how to take the edge off the things she sometimes carried with guilt.
Good thing she is not a Catholic too.
"I'd like to try," she was quick to agree, knowing it was a safe space to try with Matt. "What things do you pick when you touch someone's faces? Like..." She was being selfish, maybe. Stepping again over that dangerous line. But Kate needed to know. "What did you notice about mine?"
It was purely educational. Asking to know what to look for with her own closed eyes later.
"Oh, yeah! Everyone knows him by now and love him. It should be fine." It was, at least most of the time. "And now you mention it, we can stop here." Making all of three them stop, Kate reached out to hold the door open for Matt as she greeted the owner of the store.
[OOC: Like, I started RPing without any icons so they aren't needed for me to enjoy playing, but icons are a fun extra that I like when they're around.]
"We can try it when we get back, then. Up to you whether I shave first or not," he teased her, because while he did feel scruffy at this point, he didn't have a razor at her place. He and Clint were not close enough to share a razor with the man. At least not on Matt's end. He couldn't speak for Clint, whom he knew had a different upbringing and therefore possibly different thoughts on where boundaries were drawn.
What did he notice when he touched Kate's face?
The mere question made his heart quicken, a subtle touch of heat coming to the surface.
What did he notice about hers?
"Everything."
The word came out quiet, like a caress. Not the harsh inspection of a cross-examination looking for a flaw, but rather, the gentle removal of a barrier to reveal sweet truth. He'd said too much, and at the same time, nothing at all. He cleared his throat and tried to explain. "Symmetry. Nice lines when you smile. Strong brows and soft cheeks. A head angled to take anything on. Hair that falls against your face like it won't be denied."
Right.
Dangerous, and he was glad they entered the store. He stood patiently by with a smile as Kate greeted a worker she clearly knew well. "It all smells good already. Shall we get some expert advice on which noodles to try?"
[ooc: Definitely! For me it's a choice to every month do this small investment with the paid account, but I do enjoy having the extra icons so much.]
"Why would I mind the beard?" Honestly, she was so used to seeing Matt this scruffy that having him shave would probably be a little odd at first. Not that she'd mind! Not that... Not that she should have the power to make that call, really.
Was it a big deal? Should it feel like a big deal that he offered? Why did that feel wrong? Like, once again, she was stepping into a territory where she shouldn't feel so welcomed.
It was almost as confusing as Matt's answer to her question. Kate smiled, ready to call him out on how cryptic Matt was being, but he interrupted the silence between them.
For a moment, Kate was left speechless, her heart once again doing all the talk that for once Matt was not able to listen. He had memorized things that felt familiar as she thought of the reflection she caught sight of every day, of the million selfies she'd taken and photos she shared with friends. Strong brows. Symmeetry. Nothing too telling. Except that Matt thought she had a nice smile. Or at least, nice lines around it.
Hair that fell like it won't be denied.
That was more than simple memory. More than a reflex. He was reading through his touch and putting almost poetry into his words. It was so much more than the description she had been expecting.
It was an odd, warm sensation she couldn't shake off, not even as they were greeted by Mrs. Sato. "Oh, she knows exactly what I like. Hey, Mrs. Sato!"
"Kate, sweetie. I haven't seen you in a while. Oh, and you come with my handsome boy." The middleaged woman wasted no time and walked out from behind the counter, offering Lucky some biscuits the dog wasted no time in devouring straight from her hand. "Oh, two of them. Where have you hiding this one?"
"Oh, no! No, no, no." Kate shook her free hand, shocked by how often now people mistook her and Matt for an item. "This is my friend Matt. He -- I wanted to introduce him to the wonders of instant noodles."
"There's neatly trimmed facial hair and then there's crazed hermit. If I don't shave today, it'll start to qualify as crazed hermit," Matt said teasingly in return. He normally was never clean-shaven, but there was a huge difference between having a small bit of manicured scruff and not shaving for a few days to just let the beard do its own thing. He wasn't someone who liked the latter, even if Kate didn't seem to mind or notice.
Matt was many things, several of them even nice and gracious things. However, he also had a decent ego on himself when it came to his looks and charm, so when Mrs. Sato initially cooed over seeing her handsome boy, there was a brief moment of confusion on Matt's face. He thought handsome, of course, was applied to him, yet he didn't know this woman. It took a moment for him to sheepishly realize she meant Lucky, then for the embarrassment to shift back into pleasure when the compliment circled back around to him again.
He held out his hand, waiting for the older woman to shake it, as he gave her a charming smile. "Matthew Murdock. I can already tell from your hospitality and the wonderful smells here that I should blame myself for not having visited your shop sooner. Please, I have Kate here to show me around, but if you've got anything new she wouldn't know, keep us in the loop." A bark, then Matt added, "See, Lucky agrees with me."
"I promise you're not anywhere close to crazy hermit," Kate said firmly. Honestly, there was something... mature about how Matt looked with his beard. Not like she needed any reminders of how much older the man was, but Kate couldn't deny that this look on Matt reminded her of something homely and soft.
Even though Kate was unaware of how Matt was briefly humbled down, she did notice how her friend suddenly pulled the big guns of charm. Asshole. There was no way he was not aware of the effect he had on people.
"Oh, Kate." Mrs. Sato wasted no time, taking Matt's hand and shaking it as she covered her mouth, seemingly trying to supress the need to giggle at his antics. "This one is a keeper. So much nicer than that punk you brought last time. Older this time, but good to keep."
"Mrs. Sato, it's nothing like that, Matt--"
But the older woman was shushing her already.
"I have an eye for these things. And you?" She directed her attention to Matt. ""Open up." Barely waiting for Matt to obey, she shoved some mochi in his mouth for him to bite. "Fresh."
"We're not here for fresh, but--"
But Mrs. Sato was interrupting Kate again. "I know, korean instant noodles. Spicy or extra spicy? Terrible sense of taste", the woman called Kate out even when she was talking about the products she was selling herself. "Noodles should be japanese and fresh. And men? Like him, not delinquents."
Was Matt playing up his charm a bit in response to having been humbled next to a dog? Maybe. Yes. It was harmless in his mind, and well, he couldn't blame Mrs. Sato. Lucky did have charms that even Matt couldn't reach. That didn't mean he wouldn't try his hardest though to win over someone who meant something to Kate. Who didn't want to be on good terms with their friend's shopkeepers? It was a totally normal inclination. He also tried to open his mouth to protest that they were actually dating when a delightful ball of bouncy freshness was shoved into it.
The expression on Matt's face showed pure pleasure and like perhaps Mrs. Sato was the real keeper. He raised his hand a little while Kate was insisting on the instant noodles and said with soft pleading, "A little freshness too for after? Where is that mochi and those fresh noodles kept? Perhaps some fruit and mushrooms, too. Do you have lychees?" What? Surely he'd get his senses back eventually and a delightful meal made with lovely ingredients would be a nice follow up to the sodium crash course they were now having.
He preened a little at Mrs. Sato's compliment, but loyally threw Kate a bone as he leaned his elbow out to bump her. "In Kate's defense, I did ask for her to show me spicy junk food today. To see what it was like. She's just being a good friend. I figured I should go to the expert on it. So I guess we have to go with the extra spicy. And some mochi to cool it down afterwards. How long have you had this shop, Mrs. Sato?"
Grateful as she was over Matt's support, Kate didn't miss the way the shopkeeper's face completely lit up at his genuine interest. "Twenty years and counting," she stared proudly as she went from left to right around her shop, not letting the pair choose for themselves as she packed a bag for Kate.
Aside from the freshness of the produce, it was one of the reasons why Kate always returned to Mrs. Sato's place. The woman was all hard love at times, but genuinelly knew what she was talking about with her recommendations and Kate would take them in blindly.
"Lychees, shiitake and also strawberries. There's no strawberries like japanese starwberries. Nihon no ichigo wa mottomo oishΔ«."
Stopping by the counter again, the woman grabbed a couple more biscuits which Lucky gladly wolfed down.
"Huh, yeah, I'm taking some more miso and also I don't have any soy sauce at mom's place." Mrs. Sato swiftly went from one corner of the shop to the next one, filling Kate's bag. "Oh, do you have those those--?"
"Frozen gyozas that you love?" With a sound of disapproval, the woman headed to grab a packet for Kate. "One of these day I'll teach you to cook them yourself. Prety girl like you needs to eat healthier to attract men like this one."
"Oh, shitakes and strawberries would be amazing, thank you. Perhaps fresh ginger and some mizuna?" Matt coaxed and questioned until he'd gotten what Mrs. Sato was willing to share of her recipe for soba noodles with mushroom dashi and greens, and he looked extremely pleased and productive with himself. He sincerely held his hand out, clasping hers when she offered it again and told her, "It's a pleasure to have someone who cares so much about what they do help us. Seriously. We'll have to let you know how these noodles turn out." Once he felt better he was making them for Kate.
His face showed that he wanted to be in on the dumpling lesson if it ever happened. Oh, Matt had taught himself how to make dumplings, but getting tips and tricks from someone who grew up making them? That sounded delightful to him. "If she doesn't take you up on that, Mrs. Sato, I will. I love cooking, and Kate is great company, so it's a good match. For eating." He was swift to add that, but Mrs. Sato gave such a smirk at his faux pas. "We make good dinner companions. Plus she will eat healthy if someone else makes it for her."
Even though Kate felt ready to call out the pair and remind them that they were talking as if she wasn't there in the room with them, there was something truly sweet about what was happening here. She'd noticed it before, after the first time when Matt had stepped into the penthouse. This morning over her so called breakfast. Every time he stopped to catch up with Walter down at the door.
It was almost as if he had already claimed a little slice of Kate's life now, making it his very own. He was getting to know what it was like, inserting himself into that reality. And he fitted well.
Mrs. Sato looked more than pleased with herself even before Kate handed her over her card. "You come over next Saturday, when I close shop. I'll teach you two how to make the perfect dumplings." She stated as if there was no room for arguing that this was happening. "Now that I know there's someone feeding my special girl properly."
Kate rarely looked this sheepish, but she indeed did now as she thanked the woman, taking both her card back and a bag that was much fuller than she had originally intended.
"I'll see you next Saturday then, Mrs. Sato," Kate thanked her as Lucky got his last ration of treats.
Would Matt really come with her? There was a million other things, other responsibilities that might keep him from that. She needed to remind herself that she wasn't really a priority in his life. Not at the very top, at least.
"Next Saturday, got it." He could do Saturday, barring an emergency. They were easier than Sundays, when he sometimes had church activities keeping him busy even aside from mass. It truly meant a lot to Matt to get to know people in general, but especially those who shared his appreciation of Kate. His smile softened as Mrs. Sato kept adding honorifics when speaking about Kate. Her special girl. Clearly there was history there.
He reached out to carry some of the bags in one of his hands, the one that also held Lucky's leash. He listened to the dog excitedly and noisily chewing on the treats that he was given, licking Mrs. Sato's hand afterwards in thanks.
"I do my best, Mrs. Sato," he promised with pretend long suffering at ensuring Kate at well, a teasing smile on his face. "Thank you again. Before we go though, it sounds like there's a story here on how you two met. I'd love to hear it. Today, or next Saturday at that lesson."
"Next Saturday! You two be here by closing time for that lesson and story!" Mrs. Sato waved a finger at the pair as they walked away. Kate looked back over her shoulder as she looped her arm around Matt's again, unaware of how close she was holding onto him as she waved at the shopkeeper. "We'll be here, Mrs. Sato. Have a good day and more mochi ready to shut up Matt once he starts showing off about his cooking."
The older lady called her out playfully on not being disrespectful towards Matt, who Kate could already tell was ready to take under her wing. After all, the woman had been just as loving and protective when she first met Kate.
"Can't say I'm shocked you're making such a good impression on people," Kate pointed out as they made their way through the crowds again. From those who knew Kate to strangers alike, Matt always made an effort to treat people like potential friends. But it wasn't all talk. He had such a genuine interest on getting to know everyone and their stories. On appreciating the little things about every day life. A long marriage. Fresh produce. The story of how Kate and an old japanese shopkeeper had once met.
"Oh, wait!" Stopping him by a souvenir shop, Kate couldn't help herself. "Since you don't have yours..." They were red, too. Heart-shaped glasses she carefully tried on Matt. "There! You should totally consider this new style."
"She just wants to shut me up from sharing more stories about her," Matt protested playfully, although honestly, mochi was an excellent way to get him to be quiet for periods of time. The texture was one of his favorites, and it came in multiple flavors from savory to sweet. He was excited about the assortment that Mrs. Sato had rung up for them. "Goodbye, Mrs. Sato. Until next Saturday."
As they left the store Matt was busy musing on how mochi was one thing he'd yet to try and make. It felt a little intimidating for some reason, but he really should make the effort since he loved it so much. Maybe he could ask Mrs. Sato for tips? Or make a trial batch and bring them so she could tell him what he'd done wrong or how he could improve them? Matt was lost in thought he nearly kept going until Kate's gentle tug on his arm stopped him.
He turned his head curiously in the direction of her voice. Once he realized what shew as doing, and the design of the glasses she'd put on his face, his expression was one of amused exasperation behind the heart shaped glasses. "Really, you think so? Nothing silly looking about this at all?"
"You'll have to define silly," Kate shrugged off as she peeked on the many colorful trinkets displayed at the front of the shop. There was several boxes with pieces of cheap but cute jewelry and all kinds of plastic and rubber toys, soft plush ones. Fans with different motifs painted on them and traditional hats.
"Oh, I kinda love this." Taking Matt's hand, Kate guided him to touch a small plastic bamboo steamer. Lifting the lid, a dumpling squishy stress toy waited inside. "Isn't it cool? I think we need like a million of these." If they were truly able to release stress, anyway.
"Glasses in novelty shapes would be on the silly list," Matt replied in a knowing tone, reaching up to feel them. He could tell they weren't in a normal glasses shape, though it made Kate happy, so he left them on his face. While he wouldn't have gone out of his way to look ridiculous, he didn't care about it every once in awhile. Like dressing up in ridiculous outfits to watch a show. It wasn't something he'd ever think to do, but it made her happy. Like going to listen to intimate jazz shows or to wine tastings made him happy. "I suppose it could be worse. You could have found some that had palm trees on the ends."
He let her move his hand to touch the stress balls inside, giving them a small squeeze. He didn't dare try and feel things on the table without her guidance, because without his powers, he'd easily just end up knocking items over. It was a little humbling to genuinely have to rely on someone else rather than pretending, but he felt that maybe it was good to be humbled every so often. To know this was life for some people every day, and that they had to find their own ways to feel empowered and independent.
"Do they have any dog toys? Or toys that could be used as them?" Matt asked, reaching for his wallet. He wanted to buy Lucky a toy, of course. "I'll buy one for you too if you want," he teased to Kate. "So you and your dog can match. Unless you want the steamer with the stress balls?" He could afford some trinket toys, and Kate had bought the food. He wanted to treat her and Lucky to something, too.
And he guessed that also went for the silly glasses.
"You'll have to define novelty shapes," Kate kept pushing, even though she was well aware that Matt was far from being truly annoyed. He surprised her, however, as he kept the glasses on, once again proving her could be a total sport and play along. "There's flame-shaped ones if you think those go more with your style," she offered. This was better than the horned-hearts, though. Too on the nose to her taste.
As she was ready to say something about the Chinese zodiac figurines on display, Lucky seemed to anticipate Matt's question as he tried to reach one of the soft toys.
"There's some capybara plushies that really - Lucky, no. Hey, don't grab that." With a laugh, Kate placed her hand on her dog's muzzle to push him back before he could drool over the toys. But Matt was already taking his wallet out. "What? You sure? Matt, you don't have to."
And yet, Kate's voice said it all. It shouldn't be so surprising coming from him and how generous her friend was, but it was such a sweet gesture.
Matt patted Lucky's head, stage whispering in the dog's direction just as sassily as Kate was talking, "This is what the United States' educational system produces these days, Lucky. Someone who can't even think critically about what the words novelty and shapes means and how they interact. It's a sad day for our country's future, isn't it?" If she was going to play dumb, he was more than willing to tease her about it. "Still, at least she's got a good heart to make up for it."
He huffed a small laugh as he pointed out, "I don't think any of these are my style, Kate." He was just humoring her at this moment, it wasn't like he'd ever wear any of these glasses again. "These are fine." The ones that he was wearing. They were the impulse ones that Kate had picked, so she probably was the most amused by him wearing them over the flame ones. It wasn't like he could see any of them either way, so it was all the same to him. He was just playing off her enjoyment, like he delighted in buying items that she and Lucky might enjoy themselves.
"Of course I don't have to, but I want to. Let Lucky live, Kate." Of course he was free to indulge the dog, since he didn't have to be the one to stop him from slobbering on everything. "Go ahead and pick out something you both would like. I promise, I can afford it." Their law firm might not be doing great in terms of finances, but he was still plenty comfortable to purchase a trinket or two.
At Matt's antics Kate shamelessly blew a raspberry and bumped him lightly with her shoulder. "Don't listen to him, Lucky. He might blame my generation but then he's not questioning why Columbia had been pretty much lets anyone in." And yet, as the playfully jabbed at each other, Matt still managed to sneak in a compliment.
She could definitely say the same thing. That he had a huge heart. And shameless ammounts of charm he knew how to play up when it came to asian women with inspiring talent in the kitchen. Or with anyone, really. "Good thing he has a great sense of humor," she pretended to whisper herself.
A great sense of humor indeed, Kate was reminded of as Matt settled playfully for the glasses she had put on him, not even suspecting that he was considering keeping the pair. As he insisted on getting her and Lucky a souvenir, she almost shily picked the plastic steamer with the stress ball in it. "I think Lucky likes the capybara," she told him, picking up the plushie for the dog.
It was silly, not something she worried he couldn't afford. But she was touched over the fact that Matt wanted to get her and her dog some gifts.
Lucky might love Matt, but Kate was forever number one in his heart so of course when she started speaking to him his head turned to lick her fingers lovingly. He had no idea what either of them were saying but he'd take all the attention even if, in the end, he'd always play favorites. Matt couldn't help but let a soft laugh as he heard Lucky adore Kate. Lucky paused every so often to turn and lick at Matt to show that he was loved too, which Matt appreciated. "Columbia is still a great school! For the United States. We've always been shit compared to most of the rest of the world. Less academics for way more money, welcome to America. It's a business more than a learning institution." Matt barely stopped himself from launching into one of his socio-economic rants given they were out in public. It was utterly obscene though how students in their early twenties were already in enormous debt, yet grade-school teachers barely made a living. Corrupt, gross, unjust and...
He realized he was still muttering until Lucky placed his paws on Matt's chest to give him a hug. Matt hugged the dog back and smiled apologetically, stopping for real this time.
"I do have a great sense of humor," he agreed, getting back on topic. "You need humor with the world we're living in."
Matt nodded, requesting the two items that Kate said and gesturing to his glasses as the third item. He felt the bills in his wallet - each was folded up a different way so that he knew exactly which bills he'd be using as the man told him how much it all was. Matt was using cash more often these days when he could to keep less of a track on himself lest Fisk be watching his money flow. Not that a silly token stand meant anything, but then again, who knew if it might. "You know what, yeah I can see Lucky being a capybara man. Makes sense." He thanked the vender with a smile, letting him keep the change.
He was starting to feel tired again. Not ill or bad, just worn out as his body was still recovering. He'd be glad to get home and sit for awhile.
Kate listened to Matt's little rant about the educational system and, despite of the touchy subject, couldn't help but smile at how strong his sense of social justice was regardless of which uniform he was wearing. It wasn't the devil suit, not even the lawyer. Even while wearing her dad's clothes, Matt was Matt. The same guy full of passion when it came to face and denounce everything that was wrong with the world. Everything they still had time to demand a change for.
She considered bringing up student debt herself, aware that even some of her close friends would struggle with it for years. But did she have a right to do so? In Kate's economic position, those numbers meant nothing. She wasn't in a position to painfully regret not having graduated from college yet, having wasted time or money.
But it's not like she can go back, be part of that screwed up system just to finish her degree. Forget about the city and her partner. About what was truly important.
"Yeah, a strong one," she quietly agreed.
Matt proved his point, suprising her as he kept the heart-shaped red sunglasses. Her smile grew wider and so much more light-hearted as she thanked him for the gifts. But her attention was focused on him. "I can't believe you kept those," she admitted as her laughter reached her voice.
Kate Bishop was rarely quiet, so when her response was just that, it made Matt notice. Something he'd said had sparked it, but he couldn't discern exactly what it was. He knew she'd gone to college and hadn't finished, but how she felt about it exactly wasn't something they'd talked about. Perhaps it was a topic to broach in the future, now that his curiosity had arisen. Or maybe she was just musing on the same injustice that he was, only her response to it was quiet introspection rather than his rather loud speeches.
Either way he reached out to lightly find her arm and gave it a squeeze, glad to then hear her laugh as the topic went to a lighter one. He didn't forget though, tucking it away for later.
"Why wouldn't I keep them?" he asked in a faux-innocent voice, straightening his new glasses as they started to talk back. "My partner whom I trust in all things told me that I should wear them. She'd never steer me wrong, would she? I must look great."
With Matt reaching for her arm, Kate wasn't shy of leaning against him, even resting her head on his shoulder briefly as they walked together. She appreciated the gesture, felt almost pampered by how the day had turned out to be.
Because, as terrifying as the night was, as much as she feared what would happen with his powers, Matt had made her day an incredible one. Only now did Kate realize she had not had this kind of fun in a long time.
"You do look great!" Kate was quick to agree. "Sure, I mean... Being classy is probably in the eye of the beholder." He probably shouldn't consider taking the joke and his guilt-tripping to the extreme of showing up at work with them, but then Kate figured that wasn't really a concern. "But you make everything look great, so..." Her shoulder bounced in a shrug.
He gave her a slightly bemused smile as she said that he made everything look great. There was nothing to it, surely. Just a nice remark, a compliment. He wouldn't overthink it. "For once I'm not gonna take that as a challenge and wear ridiculous things to see if that holds true," he teased back.
As they walked he was clearly getting a little weary, but he did make them stop so that he could get that Vietnamese iced coffee for Walter. He also got some for himself and for Kate if she wanted. The caffeine and sugar helped perk him up a little on the trek back, and Walter seemed pleased by it which made Matt happy. They chatted for a few minutes with him before heading up the stairs.
"Woah, buddy." Lucky was clearly not tired yet as he was ready to bound down the hall. "I know air conditioning is exciting right now, we'll get there soon, I promise."
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streetlevel) wrote2024-12-23 08:39 pm
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He felt her face in his hands, felt the soft skin of her features against the rougher edges of his fingers. He committed the feeling the memory, letting his fingertips brush over her face briefly as a reminder of what she looked like before he let her go. "Foggy only let me do that once to him," Matt recalled quietly. "Said it was a little weird." Matt had respected that boundary, and with it, his memory of what Foggy's face looked like had long ago blurred from his mind. "I guess it can be a little weird. I'm sorry if it is." He wouldn't do it to Kate if she thought it was, but she hadn't seemed to mind the last time.
Lucky pulled at the leash, his nose angling towards one of the many vendors and shops that promised food. Matt gave a little smile again, nodding in the direction of the dog. "I think he's getting a little antsy for those noodles."
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Under her touch, Kate felt his hands shift. She let go, sure he was pulling away. But Kate was wrong. Matt's hands moved slowly, his fingertips tracing her cheekbones, her jaw, her nose, evading her parted lips. It was done before Kate realized it. She wanted to ask him to keep going.
"Oh, yeah. Yeah, good point." The people around them seemed to be growing impatient over the way they were also blocking the road. Holding onto Matt's arm again, she walked quietly by his side for a moment.
"I don't think that was weird." She suddenly offered, remembering what Matt said before. "Touching someone's face," she clarified. "Like, I get why it may have been for Foggy." Men aren't probably crazy about other men touching them maybe? It's like crying in front of other people. Not everyone is comfortable with that. "But I think it's cool. Like, I can't imagine myself actually remembering what makes faces feel different." But how do you try to learn that? Matt had good reasons to try, she didn't. "Like, I'd like to try it, but it would be extra weird if I asked someone."
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He lightly felt over her face, recommitting the angles smooth edges to memory again. He gave a quiet smile that was satisfied when he was done and took her arm so they could keep walking.
"It might be a little weird to most people if you asked to feel their face, but you can feel mine. I'll understand." Kate wanted to know what his world was like, just as he was learning more about hers today. "It takes some getting used to, but eventually, you start to tell faces apart by touch. And Foggy did a lot for me in other ways, so yeah, I can understand and respect that boundary." It wasn't coming from an awful place, and Matt would rather Foggy be honest with him than not.
"Can Lucky come into the store with us? He's not technically a service dog, but I'd feel bad leaving him tied up outside."
Aaaaaw, I love this one so much! The whole new batch is so pretty! <333
Good thing she is not a Catholic too.
"I'd like to try," she was quick to agree, knowing it was a safe space to try with Matt. "What things do you pick when you touch someone's faces? Like..." She was being selfish, maybe. Stepping again over that dangerous line. But Kate needed to know. "What did you notice about mine?"
It was purely educational. Asking to know what to look for with her own closed eyes later.
"Oh, yeah! Everyone knows him by now and love him. It should be fine." It was, at least most of the time. "And now you mention it, we can stop here." Making all of three them stop, Kate reached out to hold the door open for Matt as she greeted the owner of the store.
It really is! New icons make me happy.
"We can try it when we get back, then. Up to you whether I shave first or not," he teased her, because while he did feel scruffy at this point, he didn't have a razor at her place. He and Clint were not close enough to share a razor with the man. At least not on Matt's end. He couldn't speak for Clint, whom he knew had a different upbringing and therefore possibly different thoughts on where boundaries were drawn.
What did he notice when he touched Kate's face?
The mere question made his heart quicken, a subtle touch of heat coming to the surface.
What did he notice about hers?
"Everything."
The word came out quiet, like a caress. Not the harsh inspection of a cross-examination looking for a flaw, but rather, the gentle removal of a barrier to reveal sweet truth. He'd said too much, and at the same time, nothing at all. He cleared his throat and tried to explain. "Symmetry. Nice lines when you smile. Strong brows and soft cheeks. A head angled to take anything on. Hair that falls against your face like it won't be denied."
Right.
Dangerous, and he was glad they entered the store. He stood patiently by with a smile as Kate greeted a worker she clearly knew well. "It all smells good already. Shall we get some expert advice on which noodles to try?"
πππ
"Why would I mind the beard?" Honestly, she was so used to seeing Matt this scruffy that having him shave would probably be a little odd at first. Not that she'd mind! Not that... Not that she should have the power to make that call, really.
Was it a big deal? Should it feel like a big deal that he offered? Why did that feel wrong? Like, once again, she was stepping into a territory where she shouldn't feel so welcomed.
It was almost as confusing as Matt's answer to her question. Kate smiled, ready to call him out on how cryptic Matt was being, but he interrupted the silence between them.
For a moment, Kate was left speechless, her heart once again doing all the talk that for once Matt was not able to listen. He had memorized things that felt familiar as she thought of the reflection she caught sight of every day, of the million selfies she'd taken and photos she shared with friends. Strong brows. Symmeetry. Nothing too telling. Except that Matt thought she had a nice smile. Or at least, nice lines around it.
Hair that fell like it won't be denied.
That was more than simple memory. More than a reflex. He was reading through his touch and putting almost poetry into his words. It was so much more than the description she had been expecting.
It was an odd, warm sensation she couldn't shake off, not even as they were greeted by Mrs. Sato. "Oh, she knows exactly what I like. Hey, Mrs. Sato!"
"Kate, sweetie. I haven't seen you in a while. Oh, and you come with my handsome boy." The middleaged woman wasted no time and walked out from behind the counter, offering Lucky some biscuits the dog wasted no time in devouring straight from her hand. "Oh, two of them. Where have you hiding this one?"
"Oh, no! No, no, no." Kate shook her free hand, shocked by how often now people mistook her and Matt for an item. "This is my friend Matt. He -- I wanted to introduce him to the wonders of instant noodles."
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Matt was many things, several of them even nice and gracious things. However, he also had a decent ego on himself when it came to his looks and charm, so when Mrs. Sato initially cooed over seeing her handsome boy, there was a brief moment of confusion on Matt's face. He thought handsome, of course, was applied to him, yet he didn't know this woman. It took a moment for him to sheepishly realize she meant Lucky, then for the embarrassment to shift back into pleasure when the compliment circled back around to him again.
He held out his hand, waiting for the older woman to shake it, as he gave her a charming smile. "Matthew Murdock. I can already tell from your hospitality and the wonderful smells here that I should blame myself for not having visited your shop sooner. Please, I have Kate here to show me around, but if you've got anything new she wouldn't know, keep us in the loop." A bark, then Matt added, "See, Lucky agrees with me."
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Even though Kate was unaware of how Matt was briefly humbled down, she did notice how her friend suddenly pulled the big guns of charm. Asshole. There was no way he was not aware of the effect he had on people.
"Oh, Kate." Mrs. Sato wasted no time, taking Matt's hand and shaking it as she covered her mouth, seemingly trying to supress the need to giggle at his antics. "This one is a keeper. So much nicer than that punk you brought last time. Older this time, but good to keep."
"Mrs. Sato, it's nothing like that, Matt--"
But the older woman was shushing her already.
"I have an eye for these things. And you?" She directed her attention to Matt. ""Open up." Barely waiting for Matt to obey, she shoved some mochi in his mouth for him to bite. "Fresh."
"We're not here for fresh, but--"
But Mrs. Sato was interrupting Kate again. "I know, korean instant noodles. Spicy or extra spicy? Terrible sense of taste", the woman called Kate out even when she was talking about the products she was selling herself. "Noodles should be japanese and fresh. And men? Like him, not delinquents."
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The expression on Matt's face showed pure pleasure and like perhaps Mrs. Sato was the real keeper. He raised his hand a little while Kate was insisting on the instant noodles and said with soft pleading, "A little freshness too for after? Where is that mochi and those fresh noodles kept? Perhaps some fruit and mushrooms, too. Do you have lychees?" What? Surely he'd get his senses back eventually and a delightful meal made with lovely ingredients would be a nice follow up to the sodium crash course they were now having.
He preened a little at Mrs. Sato's compliment, but loyally threw Kate a bone as he leaned his elbow out to bump her. "In Kate's defense, I did ask for her to show me spicy junk food today. To see what it was like. She's just being a good friend. I figured I should go to the expert on it. So I guess we have to go with the extra spicy. And some mochi to cool it down afterwards. How long have you had this shop, Mrs. Sato?"
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Aside from the freshness of the produce, it was one of the reasons why Kate always returned to Mrs. Sato's place. The woman was all hard love at times, but genuinelly knew what she was talking about with her recommendations and Kate would take them in blindly.
"Lychees, shiitake and also strawberries. There's no strawberries like japanese starwberries. Nihon no ichigo wa mottomo oishΔ«."
Stopping by the counter again, the woman grabbed a couple more biscuits which Lucky gladly wolfed down.
"Huh, yeah, I'm taking some more miso and also I don't have any soy sauce at mom's place." Mrs. Sato swiftly went from one corner of the shop to the next one, filling Kate's bag. "Oh, do you have those those--?"
"Frozen gyozas that you love?" With a sound of disapproval, the woman headed to grab a packet for Kate. "One of these day I'll teach you to cook them yourself. Prety girl like you needs to eat healthier to attract men like this one."
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His face showed that he wanted to be in on the dumpling lesson if it ever happened. Oh, Matt had taught himself how to make dumplings, but getting tips and tricks from someone who grew up making them? That sounded delightful to him. "If she doesn't take you up on that, Mrs. Sato, I will. I love cooking, and Kate is great company, so it's a good match. For eating." He was swift to add that, but Mrs. Sato gave such a smirk at his faux pas. "We make good dinner companions. Plus she will eat healthy if someone else makes it for her."
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It was almost as if he had already claimed a little slice of Kate's life now, making it his very own. He was getting to know what it was like, inserting himself into that reality. And he fitted well.
Mrs. Sato looked more than pleased with herself even before Kate handed her over her card. "You come over next Saturday, when I close shop. I'll teach you two how to make the perfect dumplings." She stated as if there was no room for arguing that this was happening. "Now that I know there's someone feeding my special girl properly."
Kate rarely looked this sheepish, but she indeed did now as she thanked the woman, taking both her card back and a bag that was much fuller than she had originally intended.
"I'll see you next Saturday then, Mrs. Sato," Kate thanked her as Lucky got his last ration of treats.
Would Matt really come with her? There was a million other things, other responsibilities that might keep him from that. She needed to remind herself that she wasn't really a priority in his life. Not at the very top, at least.
But it was sweet to imagine that it might happen.
Learning to cook gyozas together, of course.
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He reached out to carry some of the bags in one of his hands, the one that also held Lucky's leash. He listened to the dog excitedly and noisily chewing on the treats that he was given, licking Mrs. Sato's hand afterwards in thanks.
"I do my best, Mrs. Sato," he promised with pretend long suffering at ensuring Kate at well, a teasing smile on his face. "Thank you again. Before we go though, it sounds like there's a story here on how you two met. I'd love to hear it. Today, or next Saturday at that lesson."
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The older lady called her out playfully on not being disrespectful towards Matt, who Kate could already tell was ready to take under her wing. After all, the woman had been just as loving and protective when she first met Kate.
"Can't say I'm shocked you're making such a good impression on people," Kate pointed out as they made their way through the crowds again. From those who knew Kate to strangers alike, Matt always made an effort to treat people like potential friends. But it wasn't all talk. He had such a genuine interest on getting to know everyone and their stories. On appreciating the little things about every day life. A long marriage. Fresh produce. The story of how Kate and an old japanese shopkeeper had once met.
"Oh, wait!" Stopping him by a souvenir shop, Kate couldn't help herself. "Since you don't have yours..." They were red, too. Heart-shaped glasses she carefully tried on Matt. "There! You should totally consider this new style."
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As they left the store Matt was busy musing on how mochi was one thing he'd yet to try and make. It felt a little intimidating for some reason, but he really should make the effort since he loved it so much. Maybe he could ask Mrs. Sato for tips? Or make a trial batch and bring them so she could tell him what he'd done wrong or how he could improve them? Matt was lost in thought he nearly kept going until Kate's gentle tug on his arm stopped him.
He turned his head curiously in the direction of her voice. Once he realized what shew as doing, and the design of the glasses she'd put on his face, his expression was one of amused exasperation behind the heart shaped glasses. "Really, you think so? Nothing silly looking about this at all?"
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"Oh, I kinda love this." Taking Matt's hand, Kate guided him to touch a small plastic bamboo steamer. Lifting the lid, a dumpling squishy stress toy waited inside. "Isn't it cool? I think we need like a million of these." If they were truly able to release stress, anyway.
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He let her move his hand to touch the stress balls inside, giving them a small squeeze. He didn't dare try and feel things on the table without her guidance, because without his powers, he'd easily just end up knocking items over. It was a little humbling to genuinely have to rely on someone else rather than pretending, but he felt that maybe it was good to be humbled every so often. To know this was life for some people every day, and that they had to find their own ways to feel empowered and independent.
"Do they have any dog toys? Or toys that could be used as them?" Matt asked, reaching for his wallet. He wanted to buy Lucky a toy, of course. "I'll buy one for you too if you want," he teased to Kate. "So you and your dog can match. Unless you want the steamer with the stress balls?" He could afford some trinket toys, and Kate had bought the food. He wanted to treat her and Lucky to something, too.
And he guessed that also went for the silly glasses.
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As she was ready to say something about the Chinese zodiac figurines on display, Lucky seemed to anticipate Matt's question as he tried to reach one of the soft toys.
"There's some capybara plushies that really - Lucky, no. Hey, don't grab that." With a laugh, Kate placed her hand on her dog's muzzle to push him back before he could drool over the toys. But Matt was already taking his wallet out. "What? You sure? Matt, you don't have to."
And yet, Kate's voice said it all. It shouldn't be so surprising coming from him and how generous her friend was, but it was such a sweet gesture.
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He huffed a small laugh as he pointed out, "I don't think any of these are my style, Kate." He was just humoring her at this moment, it wasn't like he'd ever wear any of these glasses again. "These are fine." The ones that he was wearing. They were the impulse ones that Kate had picked, so she probably was the most amused by him wearing them over the flame ones. It wasn't like he could see any of them either way, so it was all the same to him. He was just playing off her enjoyment, like he delighted in buying items that she and Lucky might enjoy themselves.
"Of course I don't have to, but I want to. Let Lucky live, Kate." Of course he was free to indulge the dog, since he didn't have to be the one to stop him from slobbering on everything. "Go ahead and pick out something you both would like. I promise, I can afford it." Their law firm might not be doing great in terms of finances, but he was still plenty comfortable to purchase a trinket or two.
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She could definitely say the same thing. That he had a huge heart. And shameless ammounts of charm he knew how to play up when it came to asian women with inspiring talent in the kitchen. Or with anyone, really. "Good thing he has a great sense of humor," she pretended to whisper herself.
A great sense of humor indeed, Kate was reminded of as Matt settled playfully for the glasses she had put on him, not even suspecting that he was considering keeping the pair. As he insisted on getting her and Lucky a souvenir, she almost shily picked the plastic steamer with the stress ball in it. "I think Lucky likes the capybara," she told him, picking up the plushie for the dog.
It was silly, not something she worried he couldn't afford. But she was touched over the fact that Matt wanted to get her and her dog some gifts.
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He realized he was still muttering until Lucky placed his paws on Matt's chest to give him a hug. Matt hugged the dog back and smiled apologetically, stopping for real this time.
"I do have a great sense of humor," he agreed, getting back on topic. "You need humor with the world we're living in."
Matt nodded, requesting the two items that Kate said and gesturing to his glasses as the third item. He felt the bills in his wallet - each was folded up a different way so that he knew exactly which bills he'd be using as the man told him how much it all was. Matt was using cash more often these days when he could to keep less of a track on himself lest Fisk be watching his money flow. Not that a silly token stand meant anything, but then again, who knew if it might. "You know what, yeah I can see Lucky being a capybara man. Makes sense." He thanked the vender with a smile, letting him keep the change.
He was starting to feel tired again. Not ill or bad, just worn out as his body was still recovering. He'd be glad to get home and sit for awhile.
Get back to Kate's, that is.
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She considered bringing up student debt herself, aware that even some of her close friends would struggle with it for years. But did she have a right to do so? In Kate's economic position, those numbers meant nothing. She wasn't in a position to painfully regret not having graduated from college yet, having wasted time or money.
But it's not like she can go back, be part of that screwed up system just to finish her degree. Forget about the city and her partner. About what was truly important.
"Yeah, a strong one," she quietly agreed.
Matt proved his point, suprising her as he kept the heart-shaped red sunglasses. Her smile grew wider and so much more light-hearted as she thanked him for the gifts. But her attention was focused on him. "I can't believe you kept those," she admitted as her laughter reached her voice.
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Either way he reached out to lightly find her arm and gave it a squeeze, glad to then hear her laugh as the topic went to a lighter one. He didn't forget though, tucking it away for later.
"Why wouldn't I keep them?" he asked in a faux-innocent voice, straightening his new glasses as they started to talk back. "My partner whom I trust in all things told me that I should wear them. She'd never steer me wrong, would she? I must look great."
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Because, as terrifying as the night was, as much as she feared what would happen with his powers, Matt had made her day an incredible one. Only now did Kate realize she had not had this kind of fun in a long time.
"You do look great!" Kate was quick to agree. "Sure, I mean... Being classy is probably in the eye of the beholder." He probably shouldn't consider taking the joke and his guilt-tripping to the extreme of showing up at work with them, but then Kate figured that wasn't really a concern. "But you make everything look great, so..." Her shoulder bounced in a shrug.
God, had that sounded wrong?
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As they walked he was clearly getting a little weary, but he did make them stop so that he could get that Vietnamese iced coffee for Walter. He also got some for himself and for Kate if she wanted. The caffeine and sugar helped perk him up a little on the trek back, and Walter seemed pleased by it which made Matt happy. They chatted for a few minutes with him before heading up the stairs.
"Woah, buddy." Lucky was clearly not tired yet as he was ready to bound down the hall. "I know air conditioning is exciting right now, we'll get there soon, I promise."
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