hawk_shot | Dream a Little Dream of Me (for streetlevel )

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Dream a Little Dream of Me (for streetlevel )

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.

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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."

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."

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."

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?"

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?

Kate could do little but beam as she watched the pair interact. While the kittens had passed out on one of the chairs, clearly recharging for nocturnal zoomies, Matt and Lucky were all over each other. It was obvious that this was not a case of Matt having adopted the mutt, but rather things being the other way around. Lucky doted on the man, showing him as much affection as he dedicated his owner.

"What? You don't believe that I'd give up forever to touch you?" With a groan, Kate sat up and stretched, her body aching slightly after that long session of training. "Hey, I just thought that if I played it a few times then maybe the message would come across." Or that Matt would finally close his laptop. Which he did.

"Oh, look at that baby!" Scrunching her nose in amusement, she watched as Matt brought Lucky over, not at all shocked to suddenly feel dog tongue on her face. Getting her mouth away and offering her cheek instead, she ruffled Lucky's fur before Matt stood upright again.

"Huh, maybe we should order dinner instead. I mean, unless you feel like cooking again?" If Matt was going to take Lucky for a walk, pizza would be sure waiting by the time they made it back to the apartment. The guy's at Herman's were always super quick.

"I think we have better ways than bleeding just to know we're alive," Matt replied back with a smile, but he did have fond memories of the song. It had been a big hit when he was growing up. "It's a good song, though." He was biased by nostalgia perhaps, but he still liked it. "One day if you really want a throwback I'll put together a playlist of what Foggy and I used to listen to in our dorm room." The mid-2000's had been an interesting musical time. "With the caveat you can't give me too much shit about it."

"He is the sweetest baby," Matt agreed, letting Lucky dote on Kate with many licks before he gently lowered the dog to the ground. "Pizza sounds good. If you wanna order it, we can pick it up on our way back inside." He went to put on his shoes and Lucky's leash, finding his glasses as well. "The real test of any relationship, can she remember what I like on my pizza," he teased her mischievously. The truth was that he sometimes switched it up anyway, with the main staple being he liked lots of vegetables.

"Do we, Matt? Do we?" Kate teased him as she reached for the phone and lowered the volume on her workout playlist, the one she had switched back onto after she got Matt's attention with this oldie. "Me? Matt, why would I ever give you shit about anything?" She asked after one exaggerated gasp.

The second Lucky was down on the ground, he headed to the kitchen to get a drink from his water bowl. Of course, the second he noticed Matt was by the door and touched his leash, he was barking and circling Matt in clear excitement. "Oh, I know. Meat party with extra bacon, jalapeños and coconut," Kate stated, groaning as she got back up on her feet.

Was any of their conversations truly a serios one?

Luckilly for Matt, Kate was well aware of how to nail this test. And even if she wasn't? The guys downstairs at Herman's already knew what their favorite toppings were. By the time her partner and Lucky made their way back to the apartment, he'll sure notice that one half of that pizza would be covered in veggies and extra cheese, while the other half would indeed have pepperoni, bacon, and more meaty options.

Of course, even though Matt was expecting a quick walk around Kate's block, the fact that he was already starting to know the people from the neighborhood meant that a few of them stopped him to say hi. And the ones that were not there greeting him, were stopping him to greet Lucky instead. Honestly, that dog was as friendly as Matt himself.

By the time he made it back, not only the pizza would be waiting, but also a box of cinammon sticks and a few nosy italians who were eager to catch up with what was going on in Matt's lfe.

The people in near Kate's apartment are warm and welcoming. He still thought of it all as hers, as Kate's place and Kate's people, but he was warm and gracious in response. He knew he had to get a move on looking for his own place, that even if she said nothing he was overstaying a welcome that wasn't his to accept. Tomorrow, maybe. He'd find the time. He'd make the time. She'd already done more than enough for him. What she was gifting him with tonight? No, he couldn't keep taking without the guilt growing.

Tomorrow, he'd find an apartment. Or perhaps a motel with a long term lease. Tonight though, he smiled and laughed and charmed the people who came up to him and Lucky. He did genuinely like them and think they were good people. Her Italian neighbors he traded some vague stories with about what was going on with his work, reassured them that Kate was fine, and turned a pretend blind eye as they sneaked Lucky treats.

Climbing up the stairs, he opened the apartment door. Lucky raced into the room to greet Kate, tail wagging, as soon as Matt unclipped his leash. Matt took a few minutes longer, slipping out of his shoes. He stepped into the kitchen, getting a soda for Kate and a bottle of wine for himself, along with some glasses. Smiling, he set the drinks down next to the food and took Kate in his arms. He gave her a little kiss and said, "I could have gotten the pizza. You didn't have to."

Once Matt made it in he'd find Kate still setting up dinner for them, going back and forth while Ella rided on her shoulder. There was no question about it, she was daddy's little girl. But she would gladly take a ride from anyone who offered her the attention she deserved.

Almost sensing that Matt was gone, both the kittens had woken up when Matt took Lucky for a walk. And so, while her dog came to greet her, Sam heading straight towards Matt as he let ouf a string of loud meows dedicated fully at him.

"I know you could." Kate explained herself as Matt held her. "But I had nothing better to do and thought I might as well set things up for dinner." She shrugged. "How did the walk go?"

Ella, watching those exchanges of affection, reached out with her little paw to touch Matt's face.

"Oh, come here, Samnado," Matt said affectionately as the tiny ginger tornado tore towards him, tumbling over his feet and nipping at his toes through his socks. Matt reached down and picked up the kitten, who both wanted to be held and squirmed at being confined. Matt eventually just let him balance on one of his arms while he used the other to hug Kate in greeting. He gave Kate a small kiss in greeting, then smiled as Ella pressed a paw to his cheek. He of course gave his little tabby angel a peck on the head, too.

"The walk went well. We said hi to the whole neighborhood, I think. Lucky absolutely did not spoil his dinner with treats." Speaking of dinner, Matt reluctantly let Kate go and went to the kitchen to settle the bowls for the pets on the counter. He proceeded to start prepping dinner for them too, in part so they'd be too busy to beg for pizza while he and Kate ate. For Lucky he got some leftover homemade grain, a raw egg, cooked sweet potato and some raw chicken. The kittens, being so young, got a purely meat meal of chopped up beef muscle meat and liver, with ground chicken bone. An entire section of the freezer had been taken over for the pet meal prep, with part of the fridge used then to thaw the day's meal. A few blueberries were added at last for dessert.

Sam was entirely in the way the entire time and, once the bowls were set on the ground, fell into Lucky's bowl. Matt sighed, picked him up, and carried him to his bowl. "The cat hasn't even had any wine, he's got no excuse."

"See what I told you about? Dogs are totally not for introverts. Specially not cute dogs like Lucky." Kate pointed out, following Matt to the kitchen and doing her best to try and contain little Sam as she saw him getting ready to claw his way up Matt's back. By now she'd learn to anticipate some of his moves. "Lucky is the ultimate pussy magnet. I mean, look at us! I can barely contain myself when I watch you walk him."

It was even better to watch Matt so carefully put together a meal for Lucky. He didn't have to, Lucky has happy to eat his dry food. And yet, with patience, Matt had come up with a far more nutritious menu for him and was happy to prepare it whenever they were together.

There was something so grounding about this, about how domestic things felt now. Almost as if they were finally getting a breather after so many hardships.

Getting down on the floow with the animals, Kate told Sam all about how he was a little nightmare. She tickled the cat around his ribs, doing the exact opposite of what she had been adviced to do with the kitten as that turned into a bit of a rough game.

Of course that didn't last long. As Sam recognised the sounds of his bowl and Ella's, he squirmed in Kate's hands and even nipped at her to be released. "Hey, little fuck!" It wasn't a shocked to see him reach the counter. Or drop into Lucky's bowl. "Go home, Sammie! You're mentally drunk!"

As soon as the kitten was taken away, Lucky dug into his bowl, eating fast and almost taking his bowl for a spin arond the kitchen as he tried to clean every inch of it.

The kittens didn't waste ant time at making their own meals disappeared. Ella, sweet and soft as she was most of the time, growled at her brother as Sam got too close, even if her brother was frantically making his bowl go clean.

"God, it's like we never feed them," Kate pointed out as she patted ther legs clean, getting back up. "Well, like you never feed them, anyway." His meals were far more compelling than anything she could give them.

Grabbing the roll of kitchen towels to used as napkins, she groped Matt's ass before heading to sit down and have dinner.

"So I owe us getting together to Lucky? Man, now I really owe him extra peanut butter," Matt teased in response to her comments. They had this routine down fairly well by now. Matt set the bowls down in different parts of the room and Kate distracted the animals until their bowls were ready for them to inhale. He heard Kate yelp behind him, cursing Sam, and he could guess what happened. "Sorry, he can be a little demon sometimes. Maybe we should call him Sauron when it's near feeding time. The food bowl is the one ring for him."

Once the pets were taken care of, and a few minutes of free time was bought with the food, Matt headed for the sofa. He poured himself a glass of wine and let Kate help herself to some pizza slices first before he took two for himself. Lifting up one slice, he teasingly tilted it in her direction and said, "Cheers." Taking a large bite afterwards he let out a moan that was almost indecent. "That's so good. We don't tip them enough, whatever the tip is."

After making a whole and detailed argument on how Cupid had no chance next to Hawkeye's dog, Kate settled by Matt's side and picked her slices, chasing after the cheese strings with her lips and cutting off with her teeth this lactose umbilical chord of sorts.

"Cheers." Touching Matt's slice with her own, she snorted at the obscene sounds Matt made while tasting his pizza. "Hey, save those orgasms for later," she teased before she took a bite. Of course, it wasn't long before her own moans followed.

There was only a couple of slices left to reheat in their next lunch, but Kate was stuffed. She licked her fingers clean as she battled Sam, who was now eager to make his way up the table to have a taste of what they were having.

"You sure you want kids after this?" She teased Matt.

"Not on my stomach, angel," Matt groaned a little as Ella tried to climb onto his belly to curl up. He gently moved her up to his chest so she wasn't adding even her slight weight to his stuffed stomach. Leaning back against the sofa cushions as he was, he tried to use his foot to help steer Sam away from the leftovers. The kitten mewled angrily at being thwarted, then suddenly saw it as a game of keep away he was now playing with Kate and Matt. "I'm trying to think of it this way... after Sam, then even a human kid has to be easier, right? Lucky was the easy firstborn that fools you into thinking it'll be fine to have another, and then a Sam comes along."

He was teasing, he knew that a real human child would be even more of a handful, but Sam did give them a run for their money sometime.

"Give me just a minute and I'll clean up. Then we can go to bed." A faint nervous shiver ran through him as he remembered what going to bed that night might mean. Not that he'd forgotten it. It had been in the back of his mind all day. His hand found Kate's and he gave a little squeeze. "You still good with it? Doing the dream thing tonight."

Edited 2025-07-09 22:27 (UTC)

Even though Matt's foot was doing the heavy lifting of keeping Sam distracted. Things became more strategic as Kate's own foot stealthily showed up, poking the kitten and making him forget his plan of attack.

Lucky, clearly the big brother who was happy to have a break from his younger siblings, laid down and on his back, looking as sprawled as his humans were.

"Just hope that this isn't one of those situations in which you say 'Oh, it can't get any worse than this and suddenly? Boom, your human firstborn is the Antichrist!" The back of her hand fell down on her palm with a loud slap, making Sam jump as his hackles went up.

At the mention of going to bed, Kate craned her neck and kissed Matt on the cheek. Yes, they were thinking of the same thing. But, while Matt was a little nervous, Kate was nothing but excited, eager to do this.

She squeezed his hand back. "Of course." Her smile, confident as it had been, faltered a little as she sat more upright. "You're not? I mean, Matt, if you're not sure it's really no pressure at all."

She suddenly reached for his stomach, a little bloaty after that meal. "I mean, if you're afraid you'll fart in bed and that that's gonna become a dream earthquake then I totally understand."

Give it to Kate to try and ease worries off with a little humor.

"I really hope that being called the Devil isn't asking for the Antichrist," Matt joked back in return. "I'll love my kid no matter what but I'd really hope they aren't meant to bring about the apocalypse and Hell on earth." It was one thing for that to make the premise of a great Pratchett story, but not something he really wanted to entertain in his real life.

Ella was purring on his chest and Matt gave her a loving little pet. At Sam's hackles raising up, Matt patted the cushion next to him. Sam bounced up and over both of them, taking the most difficult route possible, to land at Matt's side and play with his hand. Matt knew it was setting up terrible habits, but at least the pizza wasn't being attacked.

He snorted at her teasing, then shook his head. It took some effort but he sat up a little straighter as he promised, "No, I want to do it. I do. I don't want to put it off. It's just a lot, you know? To think about. I haven't seen anything since I was nine years old, Kate. The thought of getting to even in dreams? It's hard to wrap my head around. But I'm looking forward to it." It just made him nervous, and excited, and scared, and curious, and so many emotions. He folded his fingers in hers as they rested on his stomach. "I'm glad we're doing it together."

"It would be pretty shitty, but I bet your dad would have found it even funnier than a wild mini Matty." She remembered well what Matt said about his father warning him that his firstborn would be as much of a hadnful as Matt had been as a kid, it was the same threat Eleanor Bishop had dropped on her daughter.

As her thumb stroked Matt's knuckles, Kate made herself comfortable. She wrapped her arm around the top of Matt's head and encouraged him to rest against her shoulder. She kissed his forehead, listening as he reminded her just how long it had been since he last saw a blue sky or the faces of those he had cared about as a child.

"I'm glad too." Her heartbeat sure testified about how big this was for her too. To be able to watch him, as he saw the world as their unconsciou minds merged into one. "I know that it's like, a super intimate thing. A big deal for you. I feel like, almost priviliged to think I'll be there."

She didn't want to idealize what could happen, Matt himself had told her that even if they simply replayed the way they spent their Saturday, but in a dream? That would be enough.

Having dinner together, walking around the neighborhood, playing with Lucky and the cats.

After a moment, she couldn't help herself.

"Does this mean this is the first time you'll see a woman naked?"

Matt rested his head on Kate's shoulder at her encouragement, letting out a soft sigh at the doting kisses. At her question about whether he'd seen a woman naked, he huffed out a little laugh. "You would think to ask that." He said it in an endeared, amused tone. "Yes, if we end up naked tonight, it would be the first time I saw a woman naked." Even if they didn't end up disrobed though it would be special for him. Just seeing her face felt like a gift he couldn't imagine ever getting.

Turning his head, he let his lips leave a small kiss on her shoulder. "I can't think of anyone better to do it with." He and Kate had been through a lot together by now. Matt had other close friends too like Karen, but it felt right that if someone was going to be sharing this moment with him right now, it would be her. He wasn't going to hope that he might see departed loved ones, or figure for certain he'd get croissants in Paris or see her naked. He'd just enjoy knowing that no matter what he'd share a literal once in a lifetime experience with someone who mattered this much to him. Someone he... the word love danced in his mind, a new flavor to tease and taste.

"... okay. I'm getting up to clean this mess. Any minute now." Another minute went by, then he got up for real. He transferred Ella to his shoulder before starting to clean up their dishes and get the pizza in the fridge for tomorrow.

"Well, I'm sorry but it's a very valid question!" Kate defended herself as Matt playfully called her out. She ran her fingers through his hair as he explained his feelings on what might happen that night, Kate's nails gently scratching his scalp as he spoke.

Squeezing him lightly, she held onto him as she also allowed herself to relax for a moment. "Funny, because neither can I." Matt had asked why she didn't pick anything else as a gift from Dream. And honestly? Not even now, not after a whole day of the question sometimes poking her mind, could she think of a better idea. Of anything else she might want.

Watching Matt experience something so unique would be enough of a gift.

Eventually, they both found the strenght to get off their asses, Kate picking their empty glasses and helping Matt take things to the kitchen before she headed upstairs. Of course, even though Lucky had lingered for a moment in the hope some leftovers could turn into a treat, the dog quickly followed her up, jumping on the bed as he waited for Kate to come out of the bathroom.

By the time Matt joined them upstairs he would find her sitting against her headboard, inspecting those amulets closely as she held them on her hands. She pinched the chain, holding them up against the light, watching the sand rock from side to side and up and down, at times seeming to float like flakes inside of a snowglobe. Like fragments of something that was not affected by the physics that ruled the waking world.

"We need -" She liked her lips. "We both need to wear this," she explained as she held one out for Matt to take. "These are Dream's gift."

Ella remained on Matt's shoulder as he finished helping clean up, then going into the bathroom after Kate to get ready for the night. Sam sprinted about at their feet, gave pleading sounds at Kate to help lift him onto the bed, and then immediately cuddled up next to Lucky. Their coats were similar enough in coloring that it was hard to discern where the dog's tail ended and the kitten began. Matt gently set Ella onto the bed before he changed into boxer shorts and a t-shirt. Settling on the edge of the bed, he reached out a hand to accept the amulet and chain that Kate offered to him. He let his fingers run over it, noting the general shape and, when tilted, hearing the grains of sand pour from one side to another. "Sand? Really? That's a little on the nose, isn't it?" he teased with a smile, the joking helping to settle some of his nerves.

He slid the amulet around his neck. It felt surprisingly light, given the metalwork. Otherwise, it didn't feel like anything special at all. "I keep expecting it to heat up or burst into flames or something," he admitted as he ran a finger along it. Nothing, though. Perhaps it only activated once they were dreaming? For something so powerful there had to be safeguards in place.

Sliding downward, Matt settled himself back against the pillows. He opened his arms, a silent invitation for Kate to join him. They slept in various positions, often ending up spooning, but right now he welcomed the cuddling. "If I do see myself and I have something weird on my face, I'm gonna blame you for not telling me," he teased softly as he kissed her forehead.

As Matt explored the jewel with his hands, Kate slid the chain around her own lean neck. "That's Dream for you. The guy likes to look after his brand, I'll give him that." Besides, she had to give it to him, it was a pretty amulet.

As Matt settled down and invited her to join him, Kate wasted no time and lean into his embrace, cuddling him and feeling her body relax against his as she exhaled a deep breath. "Are you kidding me?" She smiled to herself as she felt Matt's lips on her forehead. "The only weird thing about your face is that it's stupidly good-looking." Utterly and unmistakingly hot.

Even though the night was warm, Kate kicked down the covers and sheets, always prefering to go to sleep with something, even if it was a thin sheet, covering her. It was no surprise how sometimes, even in the middle of her sleep, she'd strip and toss her t-shirts or shorts away. Or how she'd often kick those very sheets off, too."

"This is so weird," she confessed. "Like, in a way, it doesn't feel like we're getting ready for something real big to happen." Even though this could be the most magical of experiences. "Besides, what if you fall asleep first but then I can't sleep because I'm too excited." It wouldn't be the first time something like that happened to Kate.

Ella of course found her way to the top of the pillows, lying where she was within easy reach of Matt and Kate's hair. Any who said it was a sign of dominance that she always wanted to be on their heads, Matt would have responded with claiming she was a queen and deserved it. He smiled a little as Kate complimented his appearance, letting his hand lightly brush against her hair and her cheek. "Foggy would always say I knew how to find the really hot women. I don't need to see you to know he was right." A beat. "But it does feel like a gift that I'll get to, anyway."

She had a point that it was hard to sleep with this much anticipation. "I've gotten good at managing to sleep before a big case. Lots of breathing exercises, playing songs in my head. This is different, though." A beat. "I guess we should have asked for a list of directions, but neither of us are good at following those, anyway." May they never build furniture together. "It probably won't work if only one of us falls asleep, right? We'd just dream normally, until both of us were asleep at the same time?" He could be pulling that out of his ass, but it made some sense to him. He hoped. "We could both drink some wine or take a Benadryl," he joked about getting them sleepy.

Tipping her chin up, Kate smiled as Ella moved to join them. Normally, during the summer Kate was used to pushing her head up and across the pillow, leaving her neck as bare as possible as she slept. A few times now she'd woken up to the kitten nesting on her raven locks, letting herself now as Kate attempted to move but she felt that small weight on her hair.

After making some kissy noises that gathered Ella's attention enough to encourage her purring, Kate felt's Matt hand on her cheek and closed her eyes, leaning into his touch. "See? I knew this was a good idea. A great idea, even." Kate pointed out a little playfully. "This is all about proving that Foggy knew you had a superpower of your own."

Keeping her eyes closed, Kate reached out and caressed Matt's cheek with the back of her fingers. She traced his jaw down, aware that he would already recognise what kind of touch that was. "Nah, I think this is probably a kind of intuitive deal, you know? Like you said, only working once we can actually walk into each other's dreams." But then, that meant they both needed to synchronize their sleep, if you will. "I just hope I don't pass out like, two hours after you do and that I shorten our dream."

Even if time never seemed to work like it did in the real world.

"Fuck it, I'll try anything," she laughed. "I'll just try not to drive in my dreams."

And yet, if she was expecting Matt to actually get up and get them that bottle of wine, she didn't show it. Instead, Kate propped herself up, drapping herself on half of Matt's chest as she cupped his face, leaning down for a deep, encouraging kiss.

"Maybe instead of focusing on how one might fall asleep later and shorten the dream, we can just focus on having any time at all to share it? I know it's not a miracle but it feels pretty miraculous to me. Even a minute would be more than anyone could ever expect." Yes, he was something of an optimist sometimes. He'd rather focus on the positives of the moment than already count all the ways in which it might be done better. He reached one hand over his head to give Ella some pets. With his foot he gently gave a loving nudge to Lucky and Sam. Holding onto Kate with his other arm, he blew out a breath. Eventually, sleep took him.

Sometimes in his dreams, Matt thought he saw. Hazy mental images that weren't precise due to how long it had been since he'd last actually seen anything. He heard voices, those tended to be more clear, but normally he either dreamed in a world on fire, or there was just very blurry images that represented what he remembered of objects and people.

This time though, as the amulet glowed, when Matt opened his eyes, he saw himself looking at a vibrant, utterly beautiful, city street in Paris.

Dream a Little Dream of Me (for streetlevel )

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