[For a moment, Kate says nothing, the shoe dropping as she realizes that this is really happening. That the thing that's been bothering her for months is finally being taken care of. As much as she worried about talking to someone about it, it had been worth it after all.]
Yeah, sorry! [Carefully, she nudges Lucky to get off her lap.] I'll go get your clothes.
[But before she gets up, she finds herself hesitating. Finally, she takes his hand, giving it a light squeeze.] Thank you.
[He does. He knows where the washing machine is, he's heard it.]
... Yeah. Yeah, okay.
[The second Matt is off, Lucky takes the chance to claim his spot on the couch, curling next to Kate and resting his head on her lap. Kate smiles down at him as she pets him, whispering as she speaks, almost barely mouthing her words.]
That's good, isn't it? [Suddenly, hope reaches her heart again.]
[Matt manages to find the washing machine, the sound and the heat signature guiding him. He risks it by changing right then and there in the laundry room rather than going back to the bathroom. The clothing is dry and warm, smelling a whole lot better. He rests her bathrobe on top of the washer and heads back to the living area after.]
I left your bathrobe in the washroom in case you wanted to clean it. And it seems like someone took my place. [He smiles a little, sensing the dog.] You snooze you lose, huh?
[Kate trusts her washing machine. Many times it has saved some of her clothes despite of how her knowledge is reduced to YouTube tutorials when it comes to getting rid of certain stains. It's still a relief to see Matt return with no signs of human waste on his outfit.
He surprises her, as he doesn't show any signs of wanting to leave straight away, her heart beating with delight.]
He is shameless like that. [And yet, Lucky wags his tail lazily as Kate scoots them both to make room for Matt.] How's that feel? Not freezing your butt anymore?
My regular socks don't feel like sandpaper. But I buy nice socks these days. They're just usually not warm.
It's not like having crumbs in the bed.
[He's not gonna let her live that down in turn.]
The suit isn't that bad. It's tight but flexible, so I can move pretty well in it. The worst part about it is that it can get really hot in the summer.
Okay, you can't really judge the crumbs in bed because it's freaky how sensitive you can be! [There was a barely contained laugh in her voice as she playfully shoved Matt.]
Two questions: does the back ever get between your asscheeks and, if it does, do you feel like you lose coolness points by adjusting it?
I can judge the crumbs if ants and bedbugs suddenly find a new buffet feast while you're sleeping.
[He playfully banters back, nudging her shoulder in return.]
Is this a problem you encounter and are looking for advice on how to handle? Because I don't know if there is a cool way to make that adjustment in public.
You say that as if I had wrappers of food and plates all over the mattres. [She huffs.] Wait, can you hear that kinda thing? As in, can you listen if there's bedbugs?
[That would be so disgusting.]
Damn. Guess I'll have to keep pretending I'm adjusting my quiver.
[Matt pauses, head tilted, his brow furrowed in the usual expression he gets when he's listening very intently to something. Finally he gives a little nod.]
Got a nice little colony growing in your bed. They're saying the space is nice but they want more crumb variety than pizza.
[Matt is a good actor. He has to be, considering he leads a double-life and has managed to fool most people in it. And the news he shares? The first part hit Kate with a wave of disgust. That is, until he gives more details.
Grabbing the pillow she brought in case he wanted to get some shut eye, she doesn't think twice before she smacks him on the chest with it.]
[Matt's expression twinkles with amusement and smugness, taking the pillow slap as fair retaliation and still deciding it was worth his while. Kate is always teasing and trolling him, it's nice to be able to turn it around on her sometimes.]
What? You could be their leader. They seem to share your bed eating philosophies.
[Pretending she is far more annoyed than she really is, Kate lets out a loud huff and grabs her coffee to regain some fuel.]
If I become their leader I know where I'm sending my army. You, sir? [She pokes at the side of his waist, making her way up in the hopes of reaching his armpits.] Will wake up to a bed infested with those bugs!
[Matt swiftly shifts away, because another aspect of his powers is that with his heightened sense of touch, he's extremely ticklish. He moves so that Lucky is positioned in front of him like a puppy barrier.]
My bed isn't where all the good leftovers are. They know they have a good thing going in yours.
[The licking makes him laugh and he nuzzles the dog's head with his. Sure, dogs always had a faintly unpleasant scent to them to Matt's nose, but they were endearing and loveable so it was worth it for a cuddle.]
Now I have to get a duck to protect me. From you. Friends shouldn't instill fear in other friends, you know.
[There's a grimace on his face at her words, they hit the truth mark deeper than he wants. He knows that it's not just Fisk who have misappropriated what vigilantes are and do. He knows that sometimes, some of his violent actions may have even earned that murky grayness. For every adorable child dressing up like Spider-Man, there are maniacs who think a mask means they can skirt the law and feel a sense of justice over it.
He sets the empty cup down and sighs. He gives Frank a hard time about it, especially right now, but it's not just the Punisher.]
I can't say I don't feel like we don't send out mixed messages sometimes. Not excusing anyone going on a rampage, but it's not always clear how we do things and why.
... I'm sorry. It's late. Too late for this talk, probably.
[The world might be an open book to Matt Murdock and he is probably one of the most secretive guys that there is. But, once you are past that barrier, every once in a while, he becomes quite the open book himself. Kate sees the way the mood shifts and it worries her, before the penny drops and she understands the scar he carries. The one that stings right now.]
Matt, that is not-- [He interrumpts her briefly and Kate hesitates. She hates to drop an issue, but she knows he's exhausted.]
Pretty sure that this is a bigger problem. Bigger than vigilantes.
Edited (Tweaked it a bit and the N on my keyboard doesn't work well, so it keeps sabotaging me) Date: 2025-04-09 05:26 pm (UTC)
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2025-04-07 12:10 pm (UTC)Yeah, sorry! [Carefully, she nudges Lucky to get off her lap.] I'll go get your clothes.
[But before she gets up, she finds herself hesitating. Finally, she takes his hand, giving it a light squeeze.] Thank you.
no subject
Date: 2025-04-07 12:21 pm (UTC)You're welcome. And don't get up, you and Lucky seem comfortable. I got it.
[He wriggles out from under part of the dog and stands up, slowly heading for where the washing machine had been.]
no subject
Date: 2025-04-07 12:48 pm (UTC)[He does. He knows where the washing machine is, he's heard it.]
... Yeah. Yeah, okay.
[The second Matt is off, Lucky takes the chance to claim his spot on the couch, curling next to Kate and resting his head on her lap. Kate smiles down at him as she pets him, whispering as she speaks, almost barely mouthing her words.]
That's good, isn't it? [Suddenly, hope reaches her heart again.]
no subject
Date: 2025-04-07 08:24 pm (UTC)I left your bathrobe in the washroom in case you wanted to clean it. And it seems like someone took my place. [He smiles a little, sensing the dog.] You snooze you lose, huh?
no subject
Date: 2025-04-07 08:51 pm (UTC)He surprises her, as he doesn't show any signs of wanting to leave straight away, her heart beating with delight.]
He is shameless like that. [And yet, Lucky wags his tail lazily as Kate scoots them both to make room for Matt.] How's that feel? Not freezing your butt anymore?
no subject
Date: 2025-04-07 09:09 pm (UTC)[He sits down once room is made, lightly patting Lucky's rump as that's the end that's near him now.]
I know. These clothes were too clean. Gotta get some dog hair on them.
no subject
Date: 2025-04-07 09:23 pm (UTC)[He's mentioned how sensitive his body can be at times. Of course, she's always going to tease him about it.
Though, she's gotta agree. Socks out of the dryer are the best.]
How do you deal with your suit? Because I gotta say, that doesn't look super comfortable.
no subject
Date: 2025-04-07 09:51 pm (UTC)It's not like having crumbs in the bed.
[He's not gonna let her live that down in turn.]
The suit isn't that bad. It's tight but flexible, so I can move pretty well in it. The worst part about it is that it can get really hot in the summer.
no subject
Date: 2025-04-07 10:11 pm (UTC)Two questions: does the back ever get between your asscheeks and, if it does, do you feel like you lose coolness points by adjusting it?
no subject
Date: 2025-04-07 10:49 pm (UTC)[He playfully banters back, nudging her shoulder in return.]
Is this a problem you encounter and are looking for advice on how to handle? Because I don't know if there is a cool way to make that adjustment in public.
no subject
Date: 2025-04-07 11:04 pm (UTC)[That would be so disgusting.]
Damn. Guess I'll have to keep pretending I'm adjusting my quiver.
no subject
Date: 2025-04-07 11:33 pm (UTC)Got a nice little colony growing in your bed. They're saying the space is nice but they want more crumb variety than pizza.
no subject
Date: 2025-04-07 11:46 pm (UTC)Grabbing the pillow she brought in case he wanted to get some shut eye, she doesn't think twice before she smacks him on the chest with it.]
Asshole! I was ready to puke in my mouth!
no subject
Date: 2025-04-08 10:57 am (UTC)What? You could be their leader. They seem to share your bed eating philosophies.
no subject
Date: 2025-04-08 11:09 am (UTC)If I become their leader I know where I'm sending my army. You, sir? [She pokes at the side of his waist, making her way up in the hopes of reaching his armpits.] Will wake up to a bed infested with those bugs!
no subject
Date: 2025-04-08 11:19 am (UTC)My bed isn't where all the good leftovers are. They know they have a good thing going in yours.
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Date: 2025-04-08 11:37 am (UTC)Matt Murdock, you are ticklish! [And she sounds so triumphant as she puts her mug down.]
no subject
Date: 2025-04-08 11:51 am (UTC)I have a healthy aversion to mischievous fingers.
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Date: 2025-04-08 11:55 am (UTC)I knew it! [Kate punches the air in celebration.] Oh, when you least expect it, Matt. You're so screwed.
no subject
Date: 2025-04-08 12:46 pm (UTC)Now I have to get a duck to protect me. From you. Friends shouldn't instill fear in other friends, you know.
no subject
Date: 2025-04-08 12:50 pm (UTC)[Launching herself over the pair, she sandwiches Lucky as she reaches around him in an attempt to tickle Matt's side.]
no subject
Date: 2025-04-08 09:34 pm (UTC)[He darts off the sofa like a bat out of hell, or a devil out of hell. He steals her coffee while he's up and finishes it in retaliation.]
Nope. Don't want to play that game.
no subject
Date: 2025-04-09 11:29 am (UTC)[And then there's Frank's fanboys, obviously.
Kate calls out a hurt 'hey' when Matt grabs and downs her coffee, but surely he'll notice how much her mood has improved.]
Whatever. Now I know what's your kryptonite.
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Date: 2025-04-09 11:38 am (UTC)He sets the empty cup down and sighs. He gives Frank a hard time about it, especially right now, but it's not just the Punisher.]
I can't say I don't feel like we don't send out mixed messages sometimes. Not excusing anyone going on a rampage, but it's not always clear how we do things and why.
... I'm sorry. It's late. Too late for this talk, probably.
no subject
Date: 2025-04-09 12:12 pm (UTC)Matt, that is not-- [He interrumpts her briefly and Kate hesitates. She hates to drop an issue, but she knows he's exhausted.]
Pretty sure that this is a bigger problem. Bigger than vigilantes.