Dream a Little Dream of Me (for streetlevel )

[hawk_shot]

Have a wonderful dream, Kate. May it be all your mind hopes it can be, and may it help in whatever you face next.


Kate hated goodbyes.

Sniffling, she stared at the ceiling of her apartment. Her old and own apartment, no longer a mixture of past and present in her dreams. That sunset no longer bathed the world with an orange light, her father was once again gone and her mother -- Kate tried not to think too much about Eleanor, even if her presence in her subconcious mind clearly spoke for itself.

Her apartment was dark as the rain tapped her windows, but even then she could tell that morning had come. Whatever it was that Matt was cooking downstairs? The aromas reached her and instantlty made her feel better. It was almost as good as the way that Lucky had come to check on her, hopping onto the bed and sniffing at her face before he licked the tears away.

Kate smiled and pushed his muzzle aside, keeping it away from her mouth before she kissed the top of his furry head in return.


You will receive two amulets. When worn, you will find one another in slumber that night. It will work only once, and both hearts must want it, or else it will not end well.


They were there. As promised by Dream, Kate woke up clutching the hexagon amulets in her hand. Was she surprised by this little magical display? A miracle, Matt might call it. No. By now Kate was used to trust her dreams, despite of anything her mind might argue in the waking hours. Her heart, thought? It had foolishly hoped she was mistaken and that, for once, that dream had been nothing but a meaningless.

She hated goodbyes. 

Putting the amulets inside of her nightstand's drawers, she grabbed one of Matt's t-shirts from the chair by the bed and slipped it on. Dragging her feet downstaits, she knew her silence it was not so uncharacteristic, as sleep often drained her from words early in the morning. Thas time however, she was still sniffling as she came to Matt from behind, her arms wrapping around his waist as he took care of the stove. 

Comments

[hawk_shot]

Matt's hands came to her first, caressing every inch of exposed skin, but Kate knew what this kinda touch meant. It was something grounding, meant to remind her that he was there for her and he would always be. Kate kissed the top of his head as Matt's lips found her neck, his thick and soft hair still mussed by sleep. She liked this look on him, how it wa something not everyone had the privilege to share. And at times when he said things like this? It did feel like a privilege. Not because Matt would deny anyone help. Oh, no, it was the contrary.

Kate let out a little amused huff as she wrapped her arms around his neck, holding Matt close. He knew her so well. And he was so ready to fight by her side, no matter the odds. "I know, Matt." That reminder only pulled at her heartstrings again. She could only hope that wherever Dream was fighting his fight, that he wouldn't feel alone doing it.

She kissed his temple, once again touched by how they were in the same page. Because even though they were both discovering how things in this relationships would work from now on, what had changed and what not, at least some things they were sure of. They could always rely on the other. And going to bed together felt so much better than doing it on their own. "Me too. Even if you push me out of bed sometimes," she teased quietly, reminding him of their inside-joke.

"I trust Morpheus a 100%," Kate told Matt as she pulled back again, enough to be able to see his face. "He -- I woke with two amulets in my hand. He told me that if we both wear it and, if we gave consent, we would be able to walk into each other's dreams." Of course, she understood why Matt might be nervous. After all, she was dropping something huge on his lap. "Morph said that even the people who can't walk in dreams can. That the elderly feel young again." Neither of those were Kate's experience, but she knew what it was like to suddenly be surrounded by things or places that only lived in your memory. Or imagination.

"I think so. You'd be walking into my mind, in a way. You'll be able to see the things I've seen and remember. My face, maybe pictures of yours. Of your old apartment and this one. The cats and Lucky."

Their friends. Maybe.... What about Foggy?

"Maybe we could make a list of things? Like, remember when people say that the more you think of something there's chances they'll show up in your dreams?" Shit, why hadn't she asked about this to the King of Dreams himself?

Kate trusted she would have some control, though. Whenever something related to Dream showed up, Kate always became aware thats he was not awake anymore. Wearing that necklace? Hopefully it would be enough to have some control.

[streetlevel]

A soft noise escaped Matt at the soft kisses Kate doted on him. It was sweet and intimate, even when he teasingly huffed, "I don't push. I lovingly nudge at best." Already an established in-joke between them. Funny how quickly that had become established, how easily things fell into place with one another so far. He'd already known some of her habits because they were close friends who had stayed at one another's apartments in the past, but it had only grown stronger since getting together. Now he also knew what it was like to be together in the bathroom when the shower was running, or to share a bed at night.

He was still nervous, still unsure about this entire endeavor, but he trusted Kate. She wouldn't do anything to harm him. Letting his fingers thread through her hair, he licked his lips and asked, "So when do we want to do this? I'm guessing it should be a night where we're probably in pretty good shape." The last thing he wanted would be to ruin the magic of it all by either of them being too injured or distraught in real life to enjoy being together in dreams. He didn't want to put too much pressure on seeing anyone else but her - all the better to be pleasantly surprised than disappointed, right? "It would be nice to see you, Lucky, the cats. Our friends. Really though, even just seeing you feels like more than enough. It's certainly more than I ever thought possible."

A beat, then he teasingly asked, "What if you dream you have blue hair that night?"

[hawk_shot]

"You totally push. That's why you love being the big spoon." A position that often lead him to tease her about holding her in place, keeping her legs safely aiming at anything but kicking him in his sleep. "It's always the same. You get to feel up all the fun parts and once you pass out? You shove me right out of bed." Kate pointed out with fake disapproval. Not once had Kate fallen out of bed in her sleep. Quite the oppposite. She either woke cuddling Matt or sprawled out as if she was aiming to cover as much of the bed as possible. And Matt? He always woke her up with a kiss. On her lips. On top of her head. Letting her know breakfast was ready.

Matt always doted on her.

"Well, a day-off would probably work nicely?" Funny, a day-off like the one they were sharing today, even if Matt would probably spend some hours doing home office. "Dreams are sure way better after a nice day, when you go to bed feeling real relaxed."

Gathering the hem of his t-shirt, Kate slipped her hands underneath to explore his chest with her palms. His waist and lower back. It still felt a little surreal, knowing she could take these liberties. How kissing him had become part of her new normality.

"I can always dye my hair blue in the morning."

[streetlevel]

"I'm the big spoon so I can't get kicked out of bed," Matt protested in response, turning the joke back around on her. "You can't wind up to a sharp foot to the shin - or worse - if I'm behind you." He lightly rapped on his head. "It's just good thinking on my part. Some of that self-preservation you're always complaining I lack. Here I am, just trying to listen to you and being berated for it." He tisked and gave a mock sigh, pretending to be ever so disappointed.

His stomach shivered as Kate's hands slid beneath his shirt. Instinctively his body leaned into it, back arching into her touch not unlike the cats did when she pet them. He gave a small moan, his head buried in her neck. Lightly he pressed a small kiss to her pulse point there. "I see what you're doing," he mumbled in a low voice, enjoying the impromptu massage by her. "You're feeling me up to distract me into not overworking today." She wasn't wrong though that if they wanted to give this their best shot, they probably shouldn't try and take on Fisk face to face. As much as Matt hated to slow down and take any time off, this was a once in a life time gift that Kate was offering. Something that she seemed to want, too.

"... it might be working. Oh, right there." A sore muscle was reached in his back and he leaned into her rubbing it out.

[hawk_shot]

As Matt played along on this made-up argument of his, Kate threw her head back and let out a playful groan that could barely hide her amusement. "Of course now you listen to me!" Still holding onto him, she leaned back and lifted her feet up, planting her feet by his hips as there wasn't enough room to wrap her legs around his waist.

Besides, she was far more interested in exploring that territory with her hands, for now. "Me? Distracting you?" Kate snorted. "Matt, how can you even think that? If I wanted to distract you I would probably start by..." Grabbing at his shirt, she started pulling on it until Matt held his arms up and allowed her to take it off him. Tossing it to the side, Kate didn't notice how it landed on top of Lucky's head. Sam thought it was the most exciting of new toys. "Something like this."

Scooting even closer to him, she followed his directions and stroked his back the best as she could in that position.

"We don't have to do it tonight if you don't feel it's the right time," she reminded him, Kate's voice quieter now, letting him now she was speaking in all seriousness now.

[streetlevel]

Matt obliged in raising his arms so that Kate could tug off his shirt. Beneath it still lay the silver chain around his neck bearing the small cross. He didn't wear it all the time, but he did wear it often. At night he was normally too tired to bother taking it off. Kate was better at reminding him since he forgot, and sometimes he listened to her and removed it to rest on the bedside table. Other times his head was already hitting the pillow and he sleepily promised he wouldn't strangle himself to death in the night. Last night had been one of those nights when he'd been too tired to remove it.

"Go on, I'm listening," he teased as he arched his back into her touch. He kissed his way up from her pulse point at her neck to her lips. Then, since the talk turned a bit serious, he reluctantly pulled away for a moment. Head tilted towards her he said softly, "No. Tonight works." It didn't feel like something to be put off. What if there was a break in? Or something else happened? It felt like too large a chance to not seize. "I won't pretend I'm not nervous, but... well, nerves never stopped me from anything before." He gave her a little smile. "I just feel a little bad that you're spending this gift on me. Grateful, of course. And I know that this is special for you, too. I just know that you thought of me, and... I'm a very lucky man. To be with someone so thoughtful."

[hawk_shot]

As Kate noticed the cross hanging from his neck, her fingers came to it, tracing it with her tips. Her touch strayed then towards a couple fo faint bruises on Matt's chest. They were surrounded by all types of scares that, like white stripes, crossed his torso. It was a nice collection, impressive at the very least. Some old ones, some much fresher. Kate herself was starting to gather some. Maybe her days wearing bikinis will end soon? Maybe she won't care. If anything, her career as an athlete was as good as a cover as a one piece swimsuit could be, all things considered.

As Matt kissed her neck, Kate tilted her head, giving him better access and humming with satisfaction once their lips met. Her gaze softened, noticing how his own eyes seemed to be focused somewhere bellow her own.

"Hey," she called out of him softly, grabbing his hand and guiding his palm up until she was able to kiss it. "Matt, I swear to you. I can't think of a single thing that would be better than this." She guides his palm to her face, knowing that even if Dream had not giver her this gift, she would be happy to be seen through his touch. And yet --

"It's exciting for me, too." She insisted. "Like, I don't need it to live. I'm super happy with what we have. But, you know, I'm curious. Of what your reactions will be like. I honestly can't think of a better idea than this." Because she was lucky too. So very lucky to have him. And she wanted to share all the magic in this world with him. That which was supernatural, but mostly what surrounded them in their every day. "Maybe tonight I can show you Paris."

[streetlevel]

At her kissing his palm, Matt gently let his fingers cradle the side of her face. Then, after a moment, he let his fingers slowly explore it. He'd already committed it to memory, but he found solace in doing it. For him it was like the grounding nature of gazing upon a loved one. His fingertips touched every contour and crevice, the tip of her nose and the hair of her brows. The edges of her smile and the light flutter of her lashes. Her lips at the end. His touch was so sensitive that it picked up every part of her skin and the heat of what lay beneath. He already saw her in a way that nobody else could. Perhaps it was selfish to want more, but he could lay an image over how she felt to him.

"Paris would be pretty amazing," he agreed quietly. "A literal dream date with you in Paris, seeing you for the first time." There likely wouldn't get anything more romantic than that. Leaning in he lightly kissed her. "Honestly though, I would take seeing you anywhere. So we can plan on Paris, but even if it's just something like us relaxing at the apartment, or getting pizza? If it's one of the many times we've fallen in the harbor or trash cans? It would still be something I'd never want to forget. All I need is you. The rest is..." His brow frowned, and he said absently... "Stage dressing."

'I merely set the stage, Kate. It is the dreamers who then direct and act upon it.' An echoed memory of something Morpheus had said to Kate not long ago.

Matt shook his head and shrugged. "I don't know why I said that. There's probably a better way to put it. What I meant was, I just need you there and it's perfect."

[hawk_shot]

These days, Matt's touch didn't shy like it used to. Because even though the beating of Kate's heart had always rushed when Matt had dared to explore her face, he used to avoid her supple lips. Now, Kate puckered them to welcome his touch. A touch that had earned much more freedome, enough that it had already explored every inch of her body.

Her heart fluttered once more as Matt shared what Kate had already figured. Maybe they wouldn't have much control of it and this wouldn't be a dream date. But simply watching Matt as her consciousness allowed him to see everything she saw every day... Every picture in her memory. Would she be able to control that too? Would she -- ?

As the familiar words slipped off his tongue, Kate's attention shifted from Matt to the room up the metallic stairs. Up there in the drawer, the jewels with Morpheus sand in them waited.

Was his magic somehow already reaching them?

Her attention fell on Matt again.

For a moment she said nothing, almost waiting. Watching him to see if anything had changed, wondering if she was even awake now. Yes. Yes, Matt felt real. "It'll be perfect. I'm sure we can... Being in contact with anything that belongs to Dream gives you a little awareness of how you're standing in his realm." Kate explained. "I'm sure we'll be able to direct our dreams how we want them to go."

Because honestly, the last thing she wanted was for Matt to see Fisk's ugly face ruining the mood.

"Let's have an awesome day while we're awake. A perfect date tonight." She cupped his cheeks and leaned in for a deep, lingering kiss. "And meet in our dreams."

[streetlevel]

It was a perplexing few hours that passed. Time that didn't stall but also didn't feel entirely real, because of the anticipation for what was to come. Matt and Kate spent the first part of the morning cuddling and kissing, until the coffee pot emptied and the torta in the oven was eaten. The pets also get to share in the food, as much as Matt limited them due to the sodium in the seasoning.

The afternoon slid by with them each focused on their respective priorities. Matt did some legal work, and they both had angles into various charities. He also checked in with various people in the growing anti-Fisk force, though he didn't plan on going out that evening. They had point people to take that place. Plans that were drawn and gone over obsessively. Matt very seriously took heading up an army, even if he often felt like he had no idea what he was doing. A battle forged on both sides. All sides.

He wasn't alone, yet he felt the burden of keeping everyone alive.

It was in the late evening when they both came together again. Matt flopped on the sofa, feeling Lucky nose at his hand. He gently rubbed it. Kate and the kittens were working out in front of him, adding extra weight to her back. He gave a small, tired smile. "I'll walk Lucky. In a minute."

[hawk_shot]

Normally, Kate didn't do all too well when it came to having patience. Surely Matt had noticed, how giddy Kate had been despite of how rough the start of the day had been for her. They relaxed and played with the cats, cuddled and reminded each other that thet could barely keep their hands off each other.

As Matt took the afternoon to catch up with work, Kate claimed one of their tables to follow both Clint's and Peter's notes to try and build her own trick arrows. She constantly needed to restock them, so she often worked on perfecting her skills at building her own. Eventually, her brain needed a rest and she took the opportunity to take Lucky out for a walk as they bought some groceries. Matt had run out of oat milk and that could be a tragedy on the next morning.

As times passed and se realized that Matt was still a little too focused on work, she focused on her workout, giving the new boxing bag a beating. For a while, she played her music on her headphones but, wanting to get his attention she started playing it outloud. Soon, she had and old hit she knew he'd recognised, singing to it on a loop, going more and more over the top with each version.

Of course, eventually, he did. By then Kate had moved onto doing push-ups with the help of the kittens, but she gladly laid down on the floor once he spoke up.

"Doesn't sound like you can move too much right now."

God, were they really this tired? It was obvious they had been pretty sleep-deprived all week. Nevermind how demanding was their nocturnal job.

"I can take him down for a quick pee. Maybe... You can have some tea, maybe relax a little?"

[streetlevel]

Playfully, Matt opened his arms. Lucky happily crawled into them, curling up on Matt's lap like he was a puppy. Matt hugged him, gently stroking the thick golden fur. "I can move. I just need a minute. Quick cuddle, then a quick pee and getting some dinner." Really, he should do a little movement after so many hours of working over a desk. Lucky gave his face a quick lick, which Matt took as confirmation.

Struggling to sit upright, he noted the song that was playing. "Wow. This takes me back." The Goo Goo Dolls were a band that dated back to his teenage days. "Or as that for my benefit?" He knew he got distracted sometimes with work, and Kate wasn't immune to using colorful methods to pulling him out of it. With a small groan he finally got himself upright, carrying Lucky in his arms like a baby. "All right. We'll go out. You want anything?"

He tried to bend over artfully to kiss her but it ended up with Matt awkwardly leaning and Lucky in prime position to kiss his favorite human on the face. It was the thought that counted?