"I did." Even Matt without powers could smell the seasoned umami of the broth once the packet was added. "I was fortunate to have good role models." Plus one role model who dipped out before he became a worse one, maybe. He reached out to feel along the counter until he reached her, then gave her arm a little bump. "It sounds like you did too, from what you've said about your dad. That he lived life to the fullest, wasn't afraid to take some risks, and that he loved his family more than anything." That, too, sounded a lot like Kate.
He held his hands up in surrender then as she insisted in hunting down articles on Jack. "For be it for me to think I could dissuade you," he teased her with affection. Dropping his hands he added, "And I thought about it, but I dunno... would it be weird to have just two head busts in a room? I know museums have them, but you don't really find them in apartments."
The way Matt turned the subject towards her shouldn't have surprised Kate. He often did that, turning around a question, wanting to learn more about others. Of course, he never shied away from giving a compliment.
In this case, one that truly reached Kate's heart. "Yeah, maybe." She was obviously touched, leaning against him and bumping him back. "Mom always said that Dad drove her insane sometimes. He would go away a few days for a business trip and come back a day later after a detour to go rock climbing or to try some incredible zip line or go swimming with sharks." She still remembered how excited her dad had been. He had brought her the biggest shark plushie and spent hours showing her videos and talking about the adventure. "Maybe I did inherit that from him. Driving mom nuts."
As Matt gave up, Kate snorted, but was clearly proud of herself. "Well, they don't need to be busts. For what I've seen they also do these reliefs, like a 3D painting?" Which, to most people might still be weird. "You don't have to keep them on display, you can always get them out of a box when you need to see them." She remembered how he kept his dad's boxing gloves and Stick's batons in some chest.
What had happened with all that? It was probably gone with Matt's apartment. Kate didn't dare to ask.
"Besides, fuck it, you have a devil costume at home. I have trick arrows. Some people have fetish stuff in their closet. Who cares? It's nobody else's business."
"It sounds like inherited both driving your mom insane and a love of adventure from him. I suspect a part of your mom does also admire it, even if she wishes you were safe. I can see the impromptu personal trips during a business one being annoying, though." Matt entirely understood people in a relationship needing time and activities on their own, but routinely extending business trips to zipline when there was a child at home to look after would probably make him grumble a little too unless it was already pre-arranged that was what he always did.
"A 3D painting might be a little less weird," Matt admitted with a small nod. "And no, I shouldn't care what people think, except..." he hesitated, then added, "Well, Foggy thought it was weird. When I touched his face that one time. He let me do it, but he wasn't comfortable with me doing it again. I don't know if this crosses a line, since it is his face but also not." Matt genuinely didn't know what the right thing to do in that instance was. "My dad never cared, but well. Do you think it's invasive to do it in Foggy's case?"
"Yeah, when I was a kid I heard them fight many times. I always thought mom was being mean to dad. You know, making a big deal about nothing. Stopping his fun." But that had been a world seen though the lenses of a child. "Now I get it. Dad was doing stupid and dangerous things." But, what was worse. "Business with dangeorus people." With Wilson Fisk of all people.
Derek Bishop was not the perfect father she idealized her whole life.
As Matt shared his fears, Kate carefully considered them. She understood that he had a point. "I don't know, it's -- I think it's different." Is it? "There's something intimate about touching another person's face." She couldn't help it, turning to look at him, remembering the moment they had shared earlier in the sofa. Matt didn't have to, but he had caressed her face too. Telling Kate he would protect her with his life.
Intimacy... Can be platonic too, right?
"But, I don't know. People have pictures and videos to remember him. You don't. And you're his best friend." It was unfair that all Matt had waws words in Braille and the sounds of Foggy's voice. "I think he'd understand."
Matt nodded in understanding. "My dad fell in with the mob," he admitted. "He started working for them, taking money to throw fights." It had been a very disillusioning moment when Matt had realized what his father was doing. He'd tried desperately to convince his dad to mend his ways, then carried the guilt afterwards of Jack taking him up on that and dying for it. "It's always hard when you realize your parents aren't perfect, and some are certainly less perfect than others." Still, he imagined it was a moment that most people had in their lives.
His touching Foggy had certainly been platonic, but Matt understood why it was still a bit too close and personal for the man's taste. Especially back then men touching one another like that wasn't common, even with Matt and Foggy hugging and hanging around one another's shoulders was common. Would Foggy be more understanding now? Maybe. It wasn't really his friend's face, even if it was. "I guess... I don't know. We can have it made. After that I can decide if it's okay to keep or maybe give to his mom if it doesn't feel right. Just tell me how much I owe you for it."
Kate had heard many things about Jack Murdock, with Matt mentioning that he had some shortcomings even though he was a fabulous dad. But Kate had never ever imagined that he might have commited the same mistake her own father did. Both had lost their lives for different reasons, but Derek had gambled with his family's destiny.
Matt had a point, though. Most people probably had a hard time realizing their parents weren't great. "Yeah. Now I understand my mom a little better, at least. She had to make some really hard choices. Even if she fucked up massively."
She rested her head on his shoulder, finding a strange comfort in feeling like she and Matt almost shared something in this experience.
"Yeah, that doesn't sound too bad. And if you ever needed to touch his face again, you could visit his family and do it." Would it be weird for Foggy's parents? No, they would probably understand why something like that would be special to Matt. "Hey, if you could afford to get me a squishy dumpling, I can afford this for you."
She needed a photo of Matt's dad, though. Kate wanted him to remember what his dad's face was like.
Matt gave a little nod as Kate spoke about her mother. Their fathers had been alike in making the mistake of going into business with the wrong people, but as far as Matt knew, Kate's dad had never killed anyone and Jack Murdock certainly hadn't. Eleanor's fanaticism to protect her family felt more closely aligned in Matt's mind to Stick, who would do anything to uphold the values of the Chaste. Stick hadn't truly raised Matt though, so it wasn't as similar a dynamic as a mother would have been. "Your mother is certainly an... interesting woman. Have you spoken to her recently?" He wondered if she'd broached the subject of helping out to Kate.
A street vendor's toy and a printed painting Matt knew weren't equal in price by any means, but he also knew that Kat was in a position to not have to put a price tag on such things. Money meant something different to her, and if he was spending a day in her world, he should accept that. He lightly leaned his head against hers, instinctively inhaling to see if he could breath in her scent the way he normally would just smell her. "Okay, okay. I'll let it go. This time." A beat. "You're a very kind person, Kate." His hand found hers and gave it a little squeeze.
Interesting indeed. Since Mother's Day, Cherry had pulled some strings to help Eleanor find a safehouse. Although, Kate was not aware of the means Eleanor had used to afford it, neither did she know many details of where her mom was staying.
At Matt's question, Kate became a little silent, turning to stir the noddles as she stepped away from him briefly. "Just, mostly small talk. Checking on her. I've kinda... Ignored her last messages." Things had been busy, Kate had too much to worry about. Focusing on the city, on their task, that was much easier than working on unresolved feelings and unfinished conversations.
She returned to Matt's side, not able to ignore how he had called Eleanor 'interesting'. She knew that tone. "Did my mom say anything wrong to you when you talked in the kitchen?" Kate had not dared to bring it up before, but now she definitely needed to know.
As Matt leaned towards her and took her hand, Kate was only mildly surprised. Briefly. She smiled, leaning closer to his side and resting her cheek on his shoulder.
"It's nothing," she argued, even though her voice was soft like velvet. "It's easy to be kind to you."
There wasn't any judgement on Matt's face when Kate said she was ignoring her mother's messages. God knew he'd ducked calls from loved ones in the past when he felt overwhelmed and didn't know what to say. At Kate's question, Matt gave it careful consideration. He'd only be honest with Kate when it came to Eleanor, but he was weighing his own perspective against his own biases. "I don't know that I'd use the word wrong," Matt finally said slowly as he leaned against the counter. "She just... I don't know. It's like when I talk to Frank, or when I used to talk to Stick. There's one thing that matters the most to them in the world. Their driving mission. And for Eleanor, that's you. I don't know what that means. It can be a good thing." It could also be a worrisome thing. "I don't know her enough to know, especially considering all she's gone through. Maybe it won't mean what it once did." Murder. "Anyway. She wanted to help. With all of this. The fight against Fisk. I think she wants to help you. I told her that she'd have to talk to you about that, it wasn't up to me to give the okay for her to join our fight."
Was that what Eleanor was leaving messages about? Maybe.
"And it's not nothing. Not to me." Gestures from Kate never meant nothing to him. They were always held close to his heart. He leaned his head back against hers. "I'm gonna remind you that it's easier to be kind to me the next time you're grumpy too early in the morning."
It startles Kate a little. Because even though she was expecting Matt to be as objective as possible when talking about her mom, she never though his words would ever confuse her. But it really catches her completely by susprise. Did he actually compare Eleanor Bishop to Frank Castle and his old mentor?
Aren't those men completely ruthless? Murderers...
It makes her heart sink, as little by little she starts understanding what Matt means.
Almost. "How could she possibly help?" Kate shakes her head instantly. "That would be stupid. I mean, she's on the run right now." She waved her hand around, almost as if she was physically searching or answers. "We're being freaking careful about everything we spend money on and what's she gonna do? Use our money to let the cops know where she is and Fisk realize we suddenly have a brand new flame thrower?" Kate ranted, suddenly the frustration she used to feel about her mom simmering inside of her again.
"It's stupid," she sighed.
God, she can't keep avoiding her mom. But right now it feels like the best thing she could possibly do.
Taking a deep breath, she hid her face against Matt's shoulder, squeezing his hand a little harder as he held hers.
As he joked, she finally snorted, almost against her will. "Maybe be kind after I get some 5 extra minutes of sleep."
Matt simply listened, not offering commentary as Kate felt her way through her thoughts on the subject. "She didn't go into a lot of detail on how she thought she might help, because I told her right off the bat that it was up to you whether it would even be possible," he shared honestly. "I know that she wasn't planning on donning a costume and going out to do fisticuffs, so it would be financial. The finer points of what that means..." he gave a small shrug. "I said the one thing we could agree on is how much you matter, and that for me, that meant this being your choice. That quieted her because I wasn't willing to go further without your input at the table. So you can hear her out, or not. You can see her, or never answer the phone again. It's up to you."
He gave her hand a squeeze. There wasn't any right or wrong now in his book. Kate didn't owe her mother a relationship. If what she needed was time and space, he'd support that. If she wanted to hear her out, he'd support that, too. Hell, his own relationship with his mother wasn't one where he called her Mom, and that was after years of being reacquainted. Families were individual roadmaps and he just cared that Kate got what she needed and wasn't hurt in the process.
"Extra sleep? Lame," he teased her. "I guess this is the wrong time to say that I start talking before I've even had coffee. I don't know if that makes me a morning person but it does make me someone who doesn't understand the value of brain fog and staring in the distance for half an hour." He couldn't stare, anyway.
Quiet, Kate tried to picture both Matt and her mother in Claire's kitchen. The one place that had worked as some sort of an oasis in a very scary morning. Matt had pulled Kate aside, giving her a hug as they both finally seemed to be able to take a breath from everything that they went through. Not so unlike this last night.
Matt was like a lifeline sometimes. He was proof of the real value of having a good partner. They could get through anything together, she firmly believe in that now.
"... You think she was trying to manipulate you?" It was hard to know. Maybe Eleanor wanted Matt to be on her good side. Buy him. Because that was how Eleanor Bishop solved things: with money. Get others to do the dirty work. Kill a man or buy the one that might sweeten the deal to her daughter. "You know. Convince you with giving you enough money to solve our worries or whatever. Getting you on her side."
That's what this turned into? Sides? Teams? Kate realized, she still didn't trust her mom. As happy as she'd been when she got to see her again,
The noddles were clearly boiling now and judging the smell filling the kitchen now, they were getting overcooked. "Shit!" Startled, Kate remembered them and disentangled herself from Matt, going to check on them.
"I think she genuinely wanted to thank me for being there for you. And to find out about the people who were spending so much time with her daughter. Beyond that... I don't know, Kate. I don't know her well enough to know if there were ulterior motives. It's possible that she does just want to help, because you matter to her. What that might look like again is up to you. If she does end up lying in front of me I'll know. She wasn't lying that day." If anything, Eleanor had been very up front about where her priorities laid. She was there for Kate.
His brow furrowed until he heard her at the stove. He knew better than to move towards a hot stove that he wasn't overly familiar with, so he stayed by the counter. "Are the noodles okay? Did we ruin them? How are the pizza rolls doing?"
Hearing the magic word, remembering how much love Matt had showered him with the last time he did this trick, Lucky barked at the word pizza. Matt had to chuckle and reached out a hand. Lucky came over with his toy to receive pets as Matt did reassure him, "Yes, you're a very clever boy. The rolls aren't good for dogs, though. We'll have to leave it up to your mom if you get one or a more proper dog treat."
It was a shadow that had taken over her heart, that bitterness that sometimes replaced the pain and bled even more profusely. That is the thing about trust when you're deeply wounded. Kate's love for her mother screamed for second chances, but in her mind Kate couldn't help but question every word, every action, from the small to the big gestures.
She looked up at Matt, the worried creases on her face vanishing as he mentioned he didn't sense her mother had been lying. It took a moment of processing his words, how he believed Eleanor truly wanted nothing but to do things right by her daughter. Could her mom actually help somehow? What if she ends up locked up and in danger again? "... Sorry you got caught up in the middle of this." A messenger of sorts.
In a hurry to pour the noddles into bolws, Kate almost forgot about the pizza rolls. "Shit,"she hissed, splashing a little broth around before she rushed to check the rolls and get them out of the oven. "Huh... They're kind of on the crispy side." She confessed with clear disappointment.
Great. She wanted to give Matt a fun junk-food meal. Instead, she was giving him overcooked noodles and toasted pizza rolls.
At least Lucky seemed excited. "Sorry, bud. You heard the vet. Dog treats for you." Sighing as she was definitely disappointed with herself, Kate found the bag of treats and came to Matt, taking his hand and handing them to him. She reached in a cabinet and took out some dishes, ready to plate the rolls.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2025-05-29 09:11 pm (UTC)He held his hands up in surrender then as she insisted in hunting down articles on Jack. "For be it for me to think I could dissuade you," he teased her with affection. Dropping his hands he added, "And I thought about it, but I dunno... would it be weird to have just two head busts in a room? I know museums have them, but you don't really find them in apartments."
no subject
Date: 2025-05-29 09:42 pm (UTC)In this case, one that truly reached Kate's heart. "Yeah, maybe." She was obviously touched, leaning against him and bumping him back. "Mom always said that Dad drove her insane sometimes. He would go away a few days for a business trip and come back a day later after a detour to go rock climbing or to try some incredible zip line or go swimming with sharks." She still remembered how excited her dad had been. He had brought her the biggest shark plushie and spent hours showing her videos and talking about the adventure. "Maybe I did inherit that from him. Driving mom nuts."
As Matt gave up, Kate snorted, but was clearly proud of herself. "Well, they don't need to be busts. For what I've seen they also do these reliefs, like a 3D painting?" Which, to most people might still be weird. "You don't have to keep them on display, you can always get them out of a box when you need to see them." She remembered how he kept his dad's boxing gloves and Stick's batons in some chest.
What had happened with all that? It was probably gone with Matt's apartment. Kate didn't dare to ask.
"Besides, fuck it, you have a devil costume at home. I have trick arrows. Some people have fetish stuff in their closet. Who cares? It's nobody else's business."
no subject
Date: 2025-05-29 10:03 pm (UTC)"A 3D painting might be a little less weird," Matt admitted with a small nod. "And no, I shouldn't care what people think, except..." he hesitated, then added, "Well, Foggy thought it was weird. When I touched his face that one time. He let me do it, but he wasn't comfortable with me doing it again. I don't know if this crosses a line, since it is his face but also not." Matt genuinely didn't know what the right thing to do in that instance was. "My dad never cared, but well. Do you think it's invasive to do it in Foggy's case?"
no subject
Date: 2025-05-29 10:17 pm (UTC)Derek Bishop was not the perfect father she idealized her whole life.
As Matt shared his fears, Kate carefully considered them. She understood that he had a point. "I don't know, it's -- I think it's different." Is it? "There's something intimate about touching another person's face." She couldn't help it, turning to look at him, remembering the moment they had shared earlier in the sofa. Matt didn't have to, but he had caressed her face too. Telling Kate he would protect her with his life.
Intimacy... Can be platonic too, right?
"But, I don't know. People have pictures and videos to remember him. You don't. And you're his best friend." It was unfair that all Matt had waws words in Braille and the sounds of Foggy's voice. "I think he'd understand."
no subject
Date: 2025-05-29 10:34 pm (UTC)His touching Foggy had certainly been platonic, but Matt understood why it was still a bit too close and personal for the man's taste. Especially back then men touching one another like that wasn't common, even with Matt and Foggy hugging and hanging around one another's shoulders was common. Would Foggy be more understanding now? Maybe. It wasn't really his friend's face, even if it was. "I guess... I don't know. We can have it made. After that I can decide if it's okay to keep or maybe give to his mom if it doesn't feel right. Just tell me how much I owe you for it."
no subject
Date: 2025-05-29 11:26 pm (UTC)Matt had a point, though. Most people probably had a hard time realizing their parents weren't great. "Yeah. Now I understand my mom a little better, at least. She had to make some really hard choices. Even if she fucked up massively."
She rested her head on his shoulder, finding a strange comfort in feeling like she and Matt almost shared something in this experience.
"Yeah, that doesn't sound too bad. And if you ever needed to touch his face again, you could visit his family and do it." Would it be weird for Foggy's parents? No, they would probably understand why something like that would be special to Matt. "Hey, if you could afford to get me a squishy dumpling, I can afford this for you."
She needed a photo of Matt's dad, though. Kate wanted him to remember what his dad's face was like.
no subject
Date: 2025-05-30 11:27 am (UTC)A street vendor's toy and a printed painting Matt knew weren't equal in price by any means, but he also knew that Kat was in a position to not have to put a price tag on such things. Money meant something different to her, and if he was spending a day in her world, he should accept that. He lightly leaned his head against hers, instinctively inhaling to see if he could breath in her scent the way he normally would just smell her. "Okay, okay. I'll let it go. This time." A beat. "You're a very kind person, Kate." His hand found hers and gave it a little squeeze.
no subject
Date: 2025-05-30 12:04 pm (UTC)At Matt's question, Kate became a little silent, turning to stir the noddles as she stepped away from him briefly. "Just, mostly small talk. Checking on her. I've kinda... Ignored her last messages." Things had been busy, Kate had too much to worry about. Focusing on the city, on their task, that was much easier than working on unresolved feelings and unfinished conversations.
She returned to Matt's side, not able to ignore how he had called Eleanor 'interesting'. She knew that tone. "Did my mom say anything wrong to you when you talked in the kitchen?" Kate had not dared to bring it up before, but now she definitely needed to know.
As Matt leaned towards her and took her hand, Kate was only mildly surprised. Briefly. She smiled, leaning closer to his side and resting her cheek on his shoulder.
"It's nothing," she argued, even though her voice was soft like velvet. "It's easy to be kind to you."
Kate would give him anything, if only Matt asked.
no subject
Date: 2025-05-30 10:00 pm (UTC)Was that what Eleanor was leaving messages about? Maybe.
"And it's not nothing. Not to me." Gestures from Kate never meant nothing to him. They were always held close to his heart. He leaned his head back against hers. "I'm gonna remind you that it's easier to be kind to me the next time you're grumpy too early in the morning."
no subject
Date: 2025-05-31 11:10 pm (UTC)Aren't those men completely ruthless? Murderers...
It makes her heart sink, as little by little she starts understanding what Matt means.
Almost. "How could she possibly help?" Kate shakes her head instantly. "That would be stupid. I mean, she's on the run right now." She waved her hand around, almost as if she was physically searching or answers. "We're being freaking careful about everything we spend money on and what's she gonna do? Use our money to let the cops know where she is and Fisk realize we suddenly have a brand new flame thrower?" Kate ranted, suddenly the frustration she used to feel about her mom simmering inside of her again.
"It's stupid," she sighed.
God, she can't keep avoiding her mom. But right now it feels like the best thing she could possibly do.
Taking a deep breath, she hid her face against Matt's shoulder, squeezing his hand a little harder as he held hers.
As he joked, she finally snorted, almost against her will. "Maybe be kind after I get some 5 extra minutes of sleep."
no subject
Date: 2025-06-01 12:11 am (UTC)He gave her hand a squeeze. There wasn't any right or wrong now in his book. Kate didn't owe her mother a relationship. If what she needed was time and space, he'd support that. If she wanted to hear her out, he'd support that, too. Hell, his own relationship with his mother wasn't one where he called her Mom, and that was after years of being reacquainted. Families were individual roadmaps and he just cared that Kate got what she needed and wasn't hurt in the process.
"Extra sleep? Lame," he teased her. "I guess this is the wrong time to say that I start talking before I've even had coffee. I don't know if that makes me a morning person but it does make me someone who doesn't understand the value of brain fog and staring in the distance for half an hour." He couldn't stare, anyway.
no subject
Date: 2025-06-01 07:59 am (UTC)Matt was like a lifeline sometimes. He was proof of the real value of having a good partner. They could get through anything together, she firmly believe in that now.
"... You think she was trying to manipulate you?" It was hard to know. Maybe Eleanor wanted Matt to be on her good side. Buy him. Because that was how Eleanor Bishop solved things: with money. Get others to do the dirty work. Kill a man or buy the one that might sweeten the deal to her daughter. "You know. Convince you with giving you enough money to solve our worries or whatever. Getting you on her side."
That's what this turned into? Sides? Teams? Kate realized, she still didn't trust her mom. As happy as she'd been when she got to see her again,
The noddles were clearly boiling now and judging the smell filling the kitchen now, they were getting overcooked. "Shit!" Startled, Kate remembered them and disentangled herself from Matt, going to check on them.
no subject
Date: 2025-06-01 12:12 pm (UTC)His brow furrowed until he heard her at the stove. He knew better than to move towards a hot stove that he wasn't overly familiar with, so he stayed by the counter. "Are the noodles okay? Did we ruin them? How are the pizza rolls doing?"
Hearing the magic word, remembering how much love Matt had showered him with the last time he did this trick, Lucky barked at the word pizza. Matt had to chuckle and reached out a hand. Lucky came over with his toy to receive pets as Matt did reassure him, "Yes, you're a very clever boy. The rolls aren't good for dogs, though. We'll have to leave it up to your mom if you get one or a more proper dog treat."
no subject
Date: 2025-06-02 04:06 pm (UTC)She looked up at Matt, the worried creases on her face vanishing as he mentioned he didn't sense her mother had been lying. It took a moment of processing his words, how he believed Eleanor truly wanted nothing but to do things right by her daughter. Could her mom actually help somehow? What if she ends up locked up and in danger again? "... Sorry you got caught up in the middle of this." A messenger of sorts.
In a hurry to pour the noddles into bolws, Kate almost forgot about the pizza rolls. "Shit,"she hissed, splashing a little broth around before she rushed to check the rolls and get them out of the oven. "Huh... They're kind of on the crispy side." She confessed with clear disappointment.
Great. She wanted to give Matt a fun junk-food meal. Instead, she was giving him overcooked noodles and toasted pizza rolls.
At least Lucky seemed excited. "Sorry, bud. You heard the vet. Dog treats for you." Sighing as she was definitely disappointed with herself, Kate found the bag of treats and came to Matt, taking his hand and handing them to him. She reached in a cabinet and took out some dishes, ready to plate the rolls.