(Almost) Murder in the dance floor (for streetlevel )

[hawk_shot]

With her thumb, Kate tried to get it out. She dug, finger by finger, under the rim of each one of her nails as she tried to dig out those mucky red lines that had once been Matt's blood. Her hands were still shaking.

Looking back, she should have known. Deep down she knew, Matt and Kate had spent the day warning each other not to do anything stupid at the Black and White Ball the Fisks had hosted, inviting anyone influential at the city of New York. And not so very smoothly, Matt as his girlfriend's plus one. It was a recipe for disaster and they both pretended to have it all under control.

Things started well, even if by this point the water was starting to boil. Kate's gown flowed as she made her way through the crowd, always clocking Matt, Fisk and the task force around them. She had eventually spotted Jack too who, still warmed her heart with how graciously she treated her despite of how her mother had framed him for her crimes. It's shocking how you can misjudge a person sometimes.

But, before Jack could warn her about his conversation with Fisk, the Mayor had sent one of his people asking Kate to join him in a private room for a chat. Kate could feel Matt's presence on her back as the door closed behind her. She knew his ears were in the room with them too as Fisk, as charming as a murderer can be, reminded her of their first encounter. The fight during Christmas Eve. He made it clear that he knew about Kate's gig now as a vigilante. The demand for a monetary contribution from Bishop Security's behalf had not been all that subtle. A tax to keep his rabid guard dogs off her neck.

By the time Kate walked out of the room, her hands shook with frustration. She should have heard the water boiling by then.

It had all happened too quickly then. The dance, the gunshot, Fisk pushing Matt off himself as if he was trash. Her friend being down on the floor, red blossoming on his white shirt like a deadly rose. While Heather called for help Kate had placed both her hands on the wound while the ambulance came over, blood staining the silks of her dress. His blood giving her red gloves, blood still clinging to the rim of her nails no matter how many times she washed her hands at the hospital.

It was strange and tense and horrible, waiting. Matt might be stable now, but Kate and Heather barely broke the silence in the room until Kirsten showed up.

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[streetlevel]

Matt had held every intention of just walking out the door. He thought his body would survive no matter the trauma he put it through, no matter the punishment he thought he deserved. He didn't want to be a few seconds late again. Matt barreled ahead through a lot of things, but when Karen put herself in his path, it made him stop. Much like with Frank, Karen knew Matt in ways that nobody else alive now did. She knew how to handle each man, and if their roles had been reversed, wouldn't he have made sure she got treated?

So Matt found himself in a seat, helping to inch off the top of his Daredevil suit. His body was clear of any tattoos, but there were a series of various scars he'd accumulated over the years. The left side of his body where his ribs had been injured was bruised, and the chest wound was bleeding badly. Around Matt's neck was also a chain, with a cross at the end. He'd never taken it off earlier when he'd changed. Matt Murdock wore that under his suit shirts daily.

His eyes closed for a minute as Karen worked. He felt the familiarity of her touch. His lips turned upwards in a small smile at her teasing. "Maybe I could get one of those Popeye shirts to wear, really lean into a sailor motif at the beach." He'd never taken Karen to the beach when they'd been together. Why hadn't he? Nearing the end of her work, Matt reached up gently to take her hands in his. Slowly he brought her hands up to his face. Then he slowly reached out to touch hers, briefly. With permission. He felt the side of her face, felt her cheek and gave it a light stroke. "It's good to see you, Karen."

Clearing his throat, he dropped his hand and nodded. "Yeah. We should get going. Stay safe. I'll join you all shortly."

Meanwhile in the kitchen, Frank gruffly rubbed Lucky's head, letting his fingers fluff the dog's fur.

"Yeah well, I ain't putting shit on the market so the place looks fine," Frank growled as he shook Kate's hand, but there was a small smile on his face, too.

He did miss having a dog, dammit. Seeing that Matt and Karen were still busy, he sneaked Lucky a bit of jerky, warning Kate, "You didn't see shit." A beat. "Watch out for yourself, kid. This task force, they don't operate like a street gang. Most of them are ex-service, I'm sure. They're gonna move as units. They're gonna follow standard tactics, just without any leash. Which means wave attacks, snipers in position, clearing rooms out with gas and bombs. That sorta shit. You hear them coming from one side, figure they've got a set up on the other. Break windows first, open your space. Stay on the ground when you can and go for shots in places only their mamas have seen. You got me?"

Matt came up then, touching Kate's shoulder. "Hey. I'm heading out. I'll meet you at the storage unit. Stay safe. You too, Frank."

"See you on the other side, Red. Just like we always do."

[hawk_shot]

Kate nodded to each one of Frank's suggestions, pleasantly surprised by his generosity, by how he had not once looked down on her despite of her age or gender. Ex soldier and big macho as he was, the guy showed nothing like respect. It was so different from Kate's past experiences with athletes, were people were cutthroat but at the same time wouldn't take a woman seriously. "I'll always try and keep in mind an extra exit. Breaking windows, shooting as many balls as possible." She nodded sharply. "Got it, Frank."

The weight of Matt's hand on her shoulder distracted her, making Kate turn to face him. Despite of the shades of his suit, she could still notice the dry darker stains coming from the spot Karen had thankfully patched up for him. "Promise you won't do anything stupid, Matt." There was a weakness in her voice, a cadence that showed she was worried he wouldn't be able to keep up with that request. He had already failed at that tonight. "And don't lie to me just because I can't do your crazy heartbeat reading thing."

She let him go, grabbing her phone and equipment and attaching Lucky's leash to his collar. Both women watched him go, Karen still rubbing her thumb to her fingertips. It was strange, the things you learned when you met someone who didn't rely on his eyes to see. Someone who opened you own eyes to your other senses.

The memories touch could awaken.

"Come on, we gotta get to work." Just done putting her jacket back on, Karen placed an arm around Kate's shoulder's as they headed to the door, only stopping at the door as Kate guided her dog out. It was enough time for a last lingering look at Frank.

"Thank you, Frank. For everything."

For again proving that he cares.

So many of the people in her life just left. People that shared her every day, suddenly gone, suddenly lost. Karen had to step out of the wreckage on her own so many times before, used to picking up the pieces by herself. Even Matt, who she would have trusted with her life, had left her on her own after Foggy was murdered. She knew it was a self-preservating thing, but at the end of the day, she couldn't always rely on him.

Frank might not step under the sun like other people in her life did. But he was a steady presence. Someone who would always step forward and out of the shadows if needed.

"Be careful."

[streetlevel]

"I'll be just as smart as you are," Matt promised, a knowing tone in his voice, a light teasing to carry them into the dark. He embraced Kate a final time, hoping that she and Karen would keep one another safe. Hoping that Frank would keep himself safe.

Hope. It could save the world. It could be lost in an instant.

Matt left, hearing Karen's and Kate's heartbeats on his way out. Hearing Frank's, when Karen spoke. Ignoring his own, which reacted to each and every one.

Frank picked up the bag and slung it over his shoulder. He hadn't missed the movements of Karen after Matt left. He didn't know what each meant, but added together, he got the gist. Who wouldn't want the good guy? The hero. Even if those heroics would get him dead one day.

Looking at Karen, it was hard not to think about all he'd lost. It was also hard to deny he still had something worth fighting for, even if it was just a shared cup of coffee and fighting assholes. Karen was something in his life that didn't hurt. Something that made the world a little less shitty, even if they were often dealing with shit. Even if this was all it was with them, he couldn't say it was nothing.

"Yeah. Don't mention it.

You know me. I always survive. Be seeing you, Ace. Count on it."