Visiting the Bartons (for @streetlevel )

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Honestly, Kate figured that flying with a pony would have been way harder than it turned out to be. But between Matt's first class charm put to full power and everyone at the airport being captivated by Frodo? Despite of how their trip to Ohio had started at an ungodly early hour, it also seemed to be the beginning of one of the most pleasant of adventures.

It was a short flight, one in which Kate shamelessly claimed Matt's shoulder as her own personal pillow. Obviously, they were on first class, but domestic flight seats were definitely not as roomy as international were. But it was comfortable enough for Kate to still feel pretty refreshed once they made it back down to land. In Ohio, a car with a trailer to carry Frodo was already waiting, taking him for a drive that took at least another hours before they made it to Clint's farm. 

On their way, Kate described Matt everything that she saw. The crops, so tall they would probably be completely lost in them if they decided to make their way through them byt feet. A land full of greens on all kinds of shades. Horses grazing afar, sheep with  their growing lambs. The sun was bright and Kate could tell it would become even warmer as hours passed.

She was so excited to finally see Clint and his family again. 

The green land was interrupted by a path of dirth that lead to Clint's house, a three-stories home of that looked like something straight out of the fantasies of anyone who might have ever dreamed about living in the countryside. As they approeached, Kate leaned over Matt to see better through his window, spotting the tractor and Clint's van in the distance. The ducks near the pond.. You could tell this was a family home, as on their way to the house there was toys scattered all around. Bikes, footballs, dolls and a swing made with a tire.

Finally, by the house, Kate spotted Laura. She was filling some buckets of water with a hose, looking in their direction as she held a hand over her eyes, shielded the sun off her face. Squinting now, she held her hand well above her head to wave in their directon as the car and trailer finally reached the house.

With a heavy step that clearly said it all about how she had a start just as early as the one they had, Laura aproached the car as it came to a stop, Kate almost instantly hopping off. Running towards the older woman, they captured each other in a tight hug as they shared words about how glad they were to see each other again. 

While the driver got out and quietly greeted Laura, he headed back to take care of the trailer. Still holding Kate by the shoulders, Laura went straight to their other guest. "You must be Matt."  

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[streetlevel]

Noting Laura's eyebrow raise, Clint's own gaze narrowed a little as he observed Kate and Matt. No, it was just friendly. Right? Murdock wouldn't charm Kate like that. ... like he did practically every single woman he came across. Like he had done with Clint's last partner. Really, the man couldn't be at least a little original? Although Clint felt more protective of Kate than he did Nat in this instance, he couldn't help having some fatherly instincts towards the young woman. Sidling over to his wife, he kept it vague because he knew Matt could overhear them as he muttered, "Should I be worried?"

Matt meanwhile smiled and leaned against Kate, only moving when Nate raced over to them. "Sure buddy, you can help," Matt agreed. "You'll have to show Kate and I what they eat though, and Kate can lead us back to where they stay."

"I can do that!" Nate agreed, racing over to get the cat food. It wasn't the fancy organic raw diet that Matt was going to put them on, but it was a perfectly serviceable wet cat food. "C'mon, this way!" Nate took the cans and a spoon and led them to the office where the cats slept and ate. The little ginger once again tried to leap to follow the food, with Matt having to work quickly to keep him held. "Stop trying to jump to your death!"

Clint snorted, calling after their retreating backs the following old commercial quote, "You, all right? I learned it from watching you!" Anyone who understood that reference was likely his age, but he didn't care.

Matt just barely remembered there were children around, raising his hand and about to raise his middle finger towards Clint but instead quickly rubbing the back of his head instead.

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"What was that?" Kate asked, double-taking between looking at a smug Clint who retreated back to his wife's side and a Matt who was clearly good-naturedly biting his tongue. "I mean, I do get the general idea," she admitted, reaching over to scratch under the chin that little devil Matt carried in his arms.

"So, your dad cursed you with the knowledge that you'll have a little Murdock that will drive you nuts?" She asked before kissing the top of the head of the fuzzball she carried. At least, Matt was blessed with a chill one. "You think that's something every parent does? I mean, so did my mom."

Eleanor had made it very clear that one day, once she is well into adulthood and far from making a young and rash decision, if Kate chooses to give her grandchildren she will remember every crazy thing she's done as a child. Eleanor had teased her, saying she'll get to relax as a grandma, spoil her grandchildren while karma kicks Kate in the ass.

It was a bittersweet thought now. Not that she was in a rush to become a mother, she thought as she adjusted the little bundle in her arms.

Kate glanced at Matt and thought about everything he'd done, how their friends had helped protect Eleanor. Would her mom still be in her life if she ever formed a family of her own.

"What does every parent do?" Asked Nate as momma cat met them halfway towards the office were their empty bowls waited for each feline. The white cat with orange markings meowed loudly as she headbutted Nate on his legs, calm but affectionate, patient with the awareness that soon she would be fed.

"Uh, they love you very much and make sure you have a pony of your own," Kate was quick to point out.

[streetlevel]

"It was just Clint being stupid," Matt assured Kate regarding the quoting of the old commercial. "You know how he is." His tone was good-natured though to show he wasn't really annoyed by it. "And yeah, my dad always said that if there was any justice in the world then I'd get a miniature me to raise someday." He supposed it was possible that every parent shared that sentiment, because wasn't every kid at least a little impossible to handle at times? Matt liked to think that he'd been a good kid for his dad, but even then, he'd had his moments of making Jack worry because of something reckless he'd done, or annoyed his father because of being stubborn. He knew that even prior to prison Eleanor and Kate had butted heads, so he wasn't surprised that she'd experienced the same growing up.

He laughed a little as Nate nodded, accepting Kate's answer. He leaned down to pet the mother cat, explaining, "We just call her Mama." After a few strokes of her head Nate led them into the office, with Matt closing the door behind them. He barely managed to hold the ginger cat while Nate scooped out the food into the bowls, figuring it'd be easier for the child if the little kitten wasn't all up in his business. Mama patiently waited, purring her approval. Once all the food was in the bowls, Matt gently set the cat down and watched him scamper directly to eat. Standing back up, he gave his lower back a small knead with one hand while holding his other to hi-five Nate. "Good job, buddy."

"Tell Spider-Man I'm a great cat sitter if he ever needs one," Nate said solemnly as he shook Matt's hand, then ran out of the room to get his juice.

"He's a cute kid," Matt said affectionately to Kate. The whole family was adorable, he could understand how they'd so easily wormed their way into her heart. "Shall we let the cats eat while you show me around?"

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For a brief moment Kate caught herself wondering if it would be much of a torture to raise a little boy, blind or not, with a strong sense of social justice and a love for helping people. A kid who'd stay up late to try and look after his dad and cheer on him. A kid with a love for midnight meals and an ambition to be his very best.

Jack Murdock might have teased his son, but Kate was sure that deep in his heart he couldn't be more thankful for the cards he'd been dealt with.

"Hey, Mama." Crouching down, Kate petted the gentle cat, watching her raise her rump as her purring grew louder. She was a sweet lady, no question about it, one that would fit in the Barton household easily. Almost as easy as Matt seemed to be getting along with everyone. Kate couldn't help but smile knowingly, watching her friend high-five the youngest of Clint's kids. Matt was a natural around them, it seemed.

On their own again, Kate patted the imaginary dust off her jeans before she got up on her feet, not thinking it twice before she wrapped her arm around Matt's as she guided him out of the room. Or was he guiding her? It didn't matter, really.

Passing by the kitchen, Laura let both know that they would be eating in an hour, before sharing another conspiratory look with her husband. Kate did not notice that, not when Lila looked like someone had just told her that Santa wasn't real. Assuring everyone they would soon be back, she guided Matt outside.

"So, I'm sure you know where we are heading first." It was easy to guess, considering she had brought up the donkeys about four times during their flight. "But, we're taking the longest route." Practically circling the house, Kate took Matt to the area where, not only did Laura and Clint growed their flowers, but some of their vegetables too.

The vegetables were closer, with colorful flowerbeds a little ahead of them. It was an enclosed area where the animals wouldn't walk in. Kate was sure Matt would enjoy the scents.

"How is it?"

[streetlevel]

"I have a vague idea," Matt smiled when Kate said he should know where they're headed. He's heard on and off about the donkeys for weeks now, with the topic ramping up on the flight over. Matt in general liked animals even if not so much their smells, so he was looking forward to see them. It was also a chance to experience something that Kate loved, too.

They stopped first in the garden. His feet planted, Matt's head tilted to one side as his brow furrowed. It was his usual look of concentration as he soaked in the sensory data around him, fitting it into a sort of radar picture of his surroundings. Freshly turned earth with fertilizer but no pesticides. Some root and vine vegetables and herbs, with the sweet smell of flowers just a little further on. Having a space like this made even Matt admit it was a perk. He still didn't want to move out to the country, but having a garden? It was lovely.

"It's wonderful," was his answer. He stepped up to the tomato plant, gently reaching out to let his fingers traipse over the leaves and fruit. "Even fresher than the farmer's market in the city." There ingredients were still amazingly fresh, but not literally still on the vine fresh.

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"I thought you'd appreciate this." Even though Matt sometimes made comments in the passing, it wasn't until they visited the Nelsons and their house in the outskirts that Kate noticed just how much Matt appreciated the scents nature gifted them with. She could tell in the tenderness in which he touched every leaf, the fruit. Even back at the market, there was something about the textures and the smells that truly got to him.

"I'm sure you'll take something home, Laura always insists." Herbs, fruits and vegetables that Kate would try her best to add to her meals, but that she was well aware that her ways would pale in comparison to the things Matt achieved in the kitchen.

Kate would make sure of sending Laura and Clint photos and updates on Matt's meals. Laura always found that delightful, knowing their hard work was put to good use.

"There's flowers nearby. You've noticed them, right?"

[streetlevel]

"I do appreciate it. I mean, I like the sights and sounds of the city, even the smells I'm used to by now. This is nice too, though. A little break from it. Something different." He'd miss the bustle, but there was something relaxing about taking a breath of literal clean air. "And if Laura is gonna insist we take something home, I'm all the more glad we brought something, then." He always felt bad with one-sided gifts, even when the other person didn't care. "In fact, while we have some grass here..." Matt gave Kate a mischievous smile and leaned over, proceeding to take off his shoes and socks. He picked them up and held them with one hand, enjoying the sensation of grass beneath his feet. There was something grounding and warm about it. Plus he thankfully could sense any animal waste piles to avoid stepping in those.

"I noticed the flowers, yeah. The ones in bloom, the ones about to bloom. The plants that are ripe and ready to pick and those still budding. The bugs that are moving around and the birds nearby. It's nice to know places like this exist." He took another few moments to enjoy it, then gave Kate a playful nudge. "All right. Time for the main event. You can let me know how your catching up with Clint went on the way."

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She knew that Matt was a man in love with his city. One that found peace in falling asleep with the sounds of a metropolis that was loud and full of life. And yet? She knew he'd appreciate this stop, a pause in which they could recconect with nature.

And Matt did just that, taking off his shoes and socks. "You're literally touching grass, huh?" She joked, even though she followed his lead as she undid her own laces.

"How can you tell apart all those details?" It was a rethorical question by now, but Kate would never hide how in awe she was over Matt's talents. Once again walking side by side, she took his arm again, even if her attention was now on those flowers and the secret world that hid underneath and around them. The things only Matt noticed, even from this distance.

"Well, we didn't talk about that many things. I know you were totally distracted by Laura and time probably stopped as you geeked out," she teased him. It was so sweet though, watching them bond like that. "You know, I mostly asked how his Father's Day was. He asked about mine..."

[streetlevel]

"Hey, Kirsten's told me to touch grass in the past when I start arguing. Now I can tell her that I did, and see whether it lives up to the hype," Matt joked in return. He nudged Kate, then happily let her take his arm as they strolled through the garden and fields over to the donkeys. With his other hand he let it brush against some branches and leaves, enjoying the feeling of the greenery beneath his fingertips. To answer her question he simply said, "Training, mostly. Stick taught me how to use my senses. To hone them to pick apart the world around me, and see how it all blended together." If Lantom had given words to what tapestry in which the world was woven, Stick had given Matt the tools to understand those threads in a way that few could. "Only, Stick never would have cared about something like this."

For him, it had always come back to the mission.

Listening to Kate tell about what she and Clint had caught up about, he gave a little nod. "Yeah, I wasn't paying attention to what you all were saying." He was able to focus on single conversations, and his attention had been on Laura. He'd wanted to give Kate some privacy. He rubbed her arm a little as she mentioned father's day. "I hope he had a good one." A beat. "I know the day was tough for you. I'm sorry."

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"The real hype will be Kirtsen listening about this," Kate joked as they walked together, with their arms locked. Kate kept her eyes down on the grass quite often, far more worried about missing something she doesn't want to step on, even though she is aware Matt would warn her. "You know, messed up as Stick was, I gotta admit that everything he taught you was pretty incredible." And it made Matt the man she had...

It made her best friend as she knows him.

"I'm not surprised, considering the stuff you and Laura were talking about." She was well aware that this was not something Matt could always switch off. But when his attention was divided as it was today, that wasn't so surprising. "And hey, don't worry about it. You and Peter? The fact that you even realized I was having a rough day was enough to make it better." Kate rested her head against his shoulder. "You took real good care of me. Even Clint was glad to hear about it."