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

[streetlevel]

"An existence dedicated to dreamers." Matt considered those words. "That's a big responsibility. It resonates a lot with what we do though in the waking world, don't you think?" Or perhaps Matt himself was merely a romantic, too. "Being symbols of hope for people to aspire to reaching. Even outside of the suit, in the courthouse I just wanted to prove that justice can prevail. That people can live their lives feeling safe and supported. That wrongs aren't left to win." That streets could be this clean, this quiet, this content. That people could pursue their goals without life beating them down at every turn. A lofty dream, but one that Matt aspired to achieving every day.

"What? Why?" Matt took a step to the side, still holding Kate's hand, and looked at her outfit. "I think you look perfect." She looked just as he imagined she did on those nights when they ate dinner before going patrolling. Him in his work suits with the tie pulled low, her in more casual gear that fit her personality. He just noticed that she seemed happy and relaxed, what she was wearing that let her feel that way was secondary.

It was hard not to smile at her excitement though at seeing Luke's gown for her. He opened the door to the shop. "Shall we, then? Let's hope we don't have to pay, not sure credit cards work here," he teased. Inside the shop there wasn't the outfit that Luke had created for Matt to match Kate. What was there though, what outfit did speak to Matt, revealing a part of who he was and his inner consciousness?

The black outfit he'd started his vigilante career in, and the very first Daredevil suit he'd worn.

That truly was who Matt was, the two sides of him where he felt the most comfortable. In his lawyer suit, as he wore now, and having his Daredevil attire reflecting back at him. "I don't think you ever saw the black outfit in person." He'd met Kate after he'd already put on the red.

[hawk_shot]

It wa strange how people often found it unsettling when Matt was unable to focus on meeting their eyes as he spoke. Kate had never found it odd, not until now. It almost amused her a little, the fact that she found it a little distracting, her own awareness that as Matt spoke he was actually able to meet her gaze. "And you're surprised that we ended in such a romantic dream?" Kate teased him. "A romantic guy like you gave Dream all the right tools to work with."

Matt had a very good point though. It was one of the many reasons why he made her stomach flutter at times. Why, even apart, she always thought about him and how she'd like to share her day with Matt.

The world they created with their hearts spoke exactly of that. Of the world they dreamed of, what they fought for.

Kate felt a little foolish at her awareness that her face felt a little warmer. Was she really blushing as he complimented her in her casual looks? She wasn't a blushy kinda girl. But then, she wasn't one that got excited over gowns either.

She followed Matt into the shop, joking about how she was confident that the Bishops had good credit even in an imaginary Paris. The shop, somehow as expected, was empty but lit, open. And almost waiting for them, were his suits on display.

"This was the black one?" Kate pointed both at Matt and the mannequin. Then, almost without thinking, she grabbed the mask and tried it on. Only to realize she couldn't see a thing.

Holding up her palms, she dropped them heavily as if realization just hit her. Right. A blind guy's mask. She peeled it off herself. "Guess this one won't work for you as good anymore." She grinned, before her attention came to a more familiar suit. Was she providing all the details to the red one?

She touched it, caressing the red fabric almost lovingly.

"It's the first time you see it," she stated in almost a sigh. Kate's attention then drifted to another corner of the room. There, in display, was her own purple suit.

Taking Matt's hand, she guided him only with her gaze. "And that would be me."

[streetlevel]

[OOC: Kate's last tag reminded me of this.]

Matt had to grin at the sight of Kate trying on his black mask. He reached out to help her take the mask off her head, brushing down her hair afterwards. It struck him that he'd never seen these before. Not the black suit that had earned him one title, nor the red outfit that had been dubbed Daredevil. His fingers ran over the black fabric, before he raised it up to his own eyes. Cast into darkness once more, he didn't see the world with his radar senses. He lowered it, then brought it back up to his eyes again. Nothing. It struck Matt then that, while he had some of his heightened senses, even in dreams he could not have it all.

With his sight, there was no world on fire.

Matt's smile softened, head nodding a little in understanding. In acceptance with the cosmos. "I get what you're saying," he said softly, to maybe nobody, to possibly a being who according to Kate was out of reach, anyway. Still. It felt right to say it. It was part of his story, and he was a man of words.

He put the mask back on the frame and studied the red suit that Melvin had built him. Reaching out he let his fingertips trail over the fabric he knew so well. "This first outfit was pretty uncomfortable," he breathed out in a laugh. "I'll never forget it, though." It meant a lot to him. He looked down at his suit, then back at the Suits. He knew that it was Kate's sight that was guiding him getting to experience these two looks, but was it how he viewed himself that was driving them, too? "For so much of the last few decades I've tried to find that balance. Between the mask and me. Sometimes it's been easier than others."

Yet clearly, they were both intrinsic parts of him.

He took Kate's hand, kissed her knuckles, as he turned to study the outfits in her corner. "This is how you see yourself, huh?" He hip bumped her affectionately and smiled as he approached both the ball gown and the Hawkeye suit. "So tell me about these two sides of you, angel. I want to hear from you." Reaching out on habit, he was so used to using his hands to explore the world, he touched her Hawkeye suit.

[hawk_shot]

She can tell that she's lost him for a moment in a world of his own. But can she blame Matt? She's not completely sure the black suit or the red one are completely accurate, as she's seen both mostly in pictures and heard descriptions, but clearly they feel familiar to Matt's touch. Maybe, between them, they have created something completely new.

And yet, it feels exactly right.

"But these are two sides of the same coin," Kate offered as Matt spoke about Matt Murdock and Daredevil. "That's the balance. You can't live without the other." She'd seen him try recently. How he had given up on a normal life as soon as New York needed him.

Matt was willing to give up his happiness, his life with someone he loved, even his own safety to do the right thing. As they moved onto her own suit, she wondered if she was following the same footsteps. It didn't feel as much of a challenge when the person you care the most about walks the same path as you, though.

As Matt called her by the petname and kissed her hand, she was reminded that this was the absolute charmer that had made so many women weak on the knees, Kate herself included. Hell, even now she could feel it. She licked her lips, very aware that the blush was still there and that Matt wasn't helping.

"That is totally not how I see myself," she corrected as she pointed out at the gown, sounding a little self-conscious herself. "In fact, it might be your own doing, because that looks even prettier than in real life." A little magical. Like the fabric wasn't even real, while the stars actually sparkled.

And yet, beautiful as that was, nothing compared to what her Hawkeye uniform made her feel. Kate's heart swelled as she watched him explore it with his hands as he usually did with her face. Matt had touched her suit before, but she'd never seen him meet it this way. With curiosity, learning the details about it.

Her hand joined his.

"Before I met Clint, I've fantasized what it would be like to have a suit of my own, to go out there and help people. I always thought suits were important, because that's how people recognise heroes. They become a symbol. But, to be honest, I just wanted to look cool." Her hand run down the sleeve, until she took the gloved hand of the mannequin, holding it. "This suit became so much more, you know? It gives me confidence. It reminds me of that first mission with Clint."

After she and her mother broke each other's hearts.

"After it was all done, Clint and I were sitting at the back of an ambulance. He told me he was proud of me." And even though Eleanor had said it before too, those words really lingered after they came from Clint. "He said that every once in a while you meet someone that makes you a better person." Despite of the bad things about that Christmas, Clint had given her the best possible gift, simply by talking to her. That night, at the back of an ambulance.

"I've helped people wearing this thing. I've seen it being recognised by some of them. But I also met you while wearing it." She looked up, her eyes a little glassy as she met Matt's. For once, he was looking back at her. "You walked into my life and helped me become a better person too, Matt."

[streetlevel]

That small moment of clarity with having the world go dark when Matt covered his eyes was a gift in and of itself. That small, private moment let Matt feel peace with knowing this gift would end, but that he was gaining back something that mattered more to him. His blindness was a part of who he was now, his ability to see the world in a way that few else could made him in part the man he was. Tonight was beautiful, a blessing, something he could enjoy and indulge in, then say goodbye to with a heart full of his real purpose. The Devil of Hell's Kitchen walked through a world of fire, and Matt wouldn't have it any other way.

He now, for awhile at least, had some sensory memories that he'd tuck away and hold onto for as long as he could. Perhaps it was the wisdom of knowing he could embrace the moment and let it go when it was done showed what time and experience could do. Younger Matt might have railed against the dying of the light, but this Matt knew there were other ways to guide himself.

One of those ways, one of those rays of light, literal now but always figurative, was at his side.

"I didn't mean anything bad by it," he murmured apologetically, at thinking the gown was also a part of Kate's subconscious. Kate embodying a goddess hunter didn't sound like a terrible dream to Matt, and he genuinely appreciated how Luke had spoken to Kate through his work. That it resonated with her. Still, he was willing to set that aside and focus on her Hawkeye look.

Hearing about her memory with Clint and what it meant to her made him draw her close. He slid an arm around her waist and held her at his side, kissing her head. Their combined hands otherwise felt over her uniform. Matt had a lot more years with his suits, and it was honestly very lovely to witness someone who was still growing into hers. Kate was making a name for herself, and he was proud of her. There simply was a demographic that could see themselves in Kate that Matt loved to witness.

"Back at you. You make me a better person, too. I'm not always great at working with other people. I'm not always a team player." He simply wasn't. Matt was a great cheerleader but when it came to holding himself accountable and answering to someone else? He was someone who acted first and then asked for forgiveness. He was becoming better at it, he had to now with leading an army. Kate though naturally worked collaboratively. She barreled into him to have partners. She'd started out with one so perhaps it felt natural to her? Either way, she helped him be a better teammate, on and off the field.

"I'm glad you're here with me.

... I also really want some French pastries."

Okay, it wouldn't be them without someone teasing.

[hawk_shot]

God, of course Matt worried about saying the wrong thing. She simply caressed his face, letting him know it was all good.

Perhaps she denied it a little. Perhaps she wasn't comfortable assuming the roles Eleanor Bishop had intended for her. As CEO of the company, as a woman in expensive and classy dresses. Maybe, like Matt did with Daredevil, she needed to find a balance of her own.

None of that mattered though, as Matt returned what was more than a compliment. It was a confession of what they meant to each other. That is, until he reminded her of one of the things they both were looking forward when they discussed going to Paris together.

Wrapping her hands behind his neck, Kate took the impulse to jump, knowing Matt would catch her in his arms just as she wrapped her legs around his waist. She kissed him then, chuckling against his lips as she attacked them with a series of playful pecks.

They were interrupted by a series of barks then and, almost as if they were at home instead of some random french boutique, Lucky came out from one of the changing rooms.

[streetlevel]

They were both tactile individuals. Even with his sight, Matt still felt most comfortable through touch in navigating his way. Kate's caress let him know it was fine with what he said, and he grinned as he caught her in his arms. He easily held her, all those years of ninja and boxer training coming in handy. They shared some playful and intimate kisses before they broke apart at the sound of barking. Matt's gaze shifted over to where the dressing rooms were located, his brown eyes brightening at the sight he saw.

Very gently he set Kate back down on her feet, kneeling down to greet the four legged friend. Lucky was the very perfect picture of a golden retriever in Matt's mind. He was missing one eye, but otherwise, the fuzzy mental image of what the dog looked like took vibrant and crisp shape. Matt got a little choked up again as he hugged the furry friend. Lucky was just as excited, dancing in front of him and licking all over his face. "Hey, buddy, hey pal," Matt murmured. "Look at you. What a good boy you are. Can't leave your mom alone for too long, can you? No, you can't." He hugged and kissed the dog, who responded in kind. Lucky's tail wagged and he woofed at Kate to also share in the love fest.

Waddling out on little legs afterwards were of course the kittens. Ella came right to them to be carried and pampered. Sam?

"Sam, don't climb on the..." Matt sighed as his cat scampered up the Daredevil uniform like it was his life's purpose.

[hawk_shot]

Kate's own vision became blurry with tears as she watched this reunion between Matt and Lucky. It was almost as if they had been apart for months, her dog feeling so enthusiastic he seemed ready tu jump right on top of Matt's shoulders like Ella demanded to be carried there.

"Is he like you imagined?" Kate asked as she came to join the pair, scratching the side of Lucky's head and behind his ear, ruffling his fur as the dog kept pawing at Matt. Clearly, in their unconscious minds, Lucky understood the importance of this meeting.

It figured that the kittens would appear next. Ella came to Matt and Lucky followed Kate as she came to get Sammie off the Daredevil suit. There was a faint ripping sound as those needle-like claws dug into the fabric as Kate peeled the ginger kitten off the suit.

Meanwhile, Ella placed a careful paw on Matt's knee, stretching to reach his face and sniff it. She was already purring loudly.

[streetlevel]

"He's better than I imagined." Matt's tone was soft and loving regarding Lucky. He'd always wanted a dog growing up, but time and space had never permitted it when his dad was alive. No pets were allowed at the orphanage, and then life had simply never given him the resources to keep one. A dog required a lot more commitment with the need for walks and attention. Yet Kate sharing Lucky with him had been a gift. He could enjoy all the adoration of a canine, could dote on Lucky when possible, without having to worry about Lucky not having someone there to walk him and entertain him when Matt worked long hours. Kate's schedule seemed to have a lot more flexibility than his did when it came to caring for the dog.

It had been what worried Matt with the cats, but the two kittens seemed more independent so far. With their litter boxes, toys, and dishes full, they seemed okay to entertain themselves and one another while Matt was gone. He'd have found them another home, otherwise. A selfish part of him though was glad that they seemed happy with him. Kneeling down, he felt Ella put a paw on his knee and reach for him. He bent down to kiss her head, scooping her up into his arms. He set her on his shoulder and scratched her. He noticed her colorful pattern, and the bright ginger of Sam's coat. "And there's my little menace," he said affectionately, petting Sam who was now in Kate's arms. "Your everything my dad warned me would happen, aren't you?" Matt said it with loving affection.

"Did you want to wear the gown, or something else? There's changing rooms if you wanted to before we go."

[hawk_shot]

It was one of the things she cherished the most about the memories they built together. She'd watched him loosen up. First, glad to accept Lucky's attention and enthusiasm, glad to be the friend that comes home and enjoys the perks of having a friend with a dog. But Kate had noticed how he longed for an experience of his own with an animal companion. From Marshall, the duck he'd saved after the bird vouched for him. To the kittens he had told himself he'd just foster.

Now, Kate carried one of those kittens. Little Sam, whose eyes were still blue like his sister's and Kate's, the color probably changing into a green or yellow as months passed by.

The little Samwise from their dreams seemed to calm as well as Kate held him close enough for Matt to pet him.

"I should probably wear something more fitting if we're gonna have macarons at the Eiffel Tower," Kate pointed out. She scrunched up her nose, thoughtful as she looked at their surroundings, her attention falling back on the gown. "It's probaly too much." She turned to Matt then. "Is it too much?"

[streetlevel]

"Kate, we're in a dream version of Paris. I can see you with my own two eyes. I don't think 'too much' is really the measuring stick here," Matt teased her as he alternated petting Lucky and Sam. Ella was content to be curled up on his shoulder. "I think you should wear whatever you want to wear right now. What do you want to remember having on, what will make you feel comfortable? I get to see you no matter what, so it's all the same to me." Matt wasn't an extravagant, fancy guy. He liked his smart suits and his Daredevil attire, that was what made him feel comfortable and confident. He wanted that for Kate, too. If she felt at home in this moment in jeans, in Luke's dress, in her Hawkeye gear, or something else entirely? Matt would support that for her. "Either way I get your company and I get a croissant, so I'm going to be happy."

[hawk_shot]

Kate chewed on the inside of her lip, glancing at some of the other dresses and suits on display around them. They had almost blended with the rest of the shop, as if they were part of a background Kate was only now starting to notice.

"I think..."

There had to be a reason why the gown was there. Perhaps, as much as Kate denied it, there was a part of her that enjoyed that too. That was glad that Matt had seen her for the first time wearing that in which she felt the most comfortable, had seen her how she truly is.

Perhaps now she wanted to really accept this fantasy for what it truly was.

"Well, they say go big or go home, right?" And Matt already knew she always went for big.

Stepping towards the gown, Kate pulled it off the display, marvelling by the fact that it was similar to the real life one, but not quite the same.

She headed towards one of the changing rooms but then stopped, turning towards Matt.

"Help me out?"

[streetlevel]

Matt gave an agreeable nod. He took Sam from her arms, setting the cat on his other shoulder. "The angel and the Tasmanian devil on my shoulders now," he joked. He followed Kate into the changing room. It wasn't long before Sam wanted down, and Matt accommodated him. The cat went to play with Lucky, while Ella stayed on Matt's shoulder. "I warned you she's a little voyeur." Ella did like to be with her humans at all times, including when they showered and changed. He waited for Kate to pull on the gown, then he helped zip her up in it. He offered a smile when they were done, giving a kiss to the nape of her neck. "You're beautiful. Like always."

Stepping back out of the changing area, he offered Kate his hand and led them back out onto the Paris streets. He was looking forward to what else the night had in store. Lucky and Sam trotted along at their side. As anticipated, or perhaps following his nose, it wasn't long before they arrived at a lovely, quaint French bakery. Matt could smell the bread even before seeing the beautiful window display. "Let me guess, you're gonna get something chocolate," he teased Kate. "I think I gotta go with the classic croissant."

[hawk_shot]

"She's lucky she's the sweetest kitten ever," Kate pointed out. "It's impossible to be mad at you, Ella." Even if the cat was clearly struggling with the meaning of the word 'no' at times.

As they stepped into the changing room, Kate guided Matt in and, as expected, found a mirror there waiting, one that reached the ceiling. There, she guided him to lean against her as he saw himself for the very first time.

She took her time stripping down, holding his gaze as she bared herself for him for what felt like a completely new experience again, even though Matt knew her naked body well by now. Then, carefully, she stepped into the gown and thanked him as he helped her zip the dress up.

Instead of heels, she was happy to find her beloved Dr. Martens, a choice that clashed with the dress but that indeed made her feel so much more like herself in it. Only then did she follow him out, holding his hand as they walked into the parisian night again.

Once in the bakery, Kate took her time having a look over every pastry, even though deep down she already knew what option she was going to go for first. Exactly what Matt had figured. She responded by sticking her tongue out at him.

"The pain au chocolat for me." She pointed at one batch. "Is that pepper? Are these spicy?" Kate simply loved chocolate with sea salt or pepper in it.

[streetlevel]

Somehow, in all the new sights and wonders he was experiencing, Matt hadn't calculated for this. Once he'd stepped inside of the changing room he noticed there was a mirror. For the first time in his life, he caught sight of what he looked like as an adult. Or at least, what Kate saw him looking like. Truth layered under the shadow of her perception, but wasn't that often the case? He paused and stepped closer to the mirror, studying the figure that reflected back at him.

Tall. Taller than his dad had been? It was impossible to say, back then Jack had seemed like the biggest man Matt knew. A lightweight boxer's build, one that had for years mixed martial arts in with hitting the bags. Matt had always focused more on precision, speed, and flexibility than sheer strength. Neatly trimmed scruff that was suitable for a courtroom. Some bags under his eyes, and laugh lines at the corners of his eyes and mouth. Dark brown eyes and neat brown hair. Lighter than Kate's hair, but still dark. Pale skin that burned rather than tanned. He undid the buttons of his shirt and lifted up his undershirt to reveal a torso crisscrossed in scars. He let his fingers trail over them for a few moments before he buttoned his shirt up again once more. Middle-aged or nearing it, more adult than he ever thought he'd get to live to look like. "I couldn't even imagine what I'd look like," he admitted. Not after he'd forgotten his father's face.

He felt his knuckles with had fighting callouses on them, then stretched his hands out to see them in the mirror. He held them up, clasping his hands into fists, viewing himself in a boxer's stance. Perhaps it looked ridiculous in his suit, but he didn't care. His red glasses were the final touch. How people really saw him for the most part. He smiled a little as he took some swings in the mirror.

Taking the glasses back off, he turned to look at Kate. He was getting a little emotional and overwhelmed again, so he covered it up with a quip. "Well, I can certainly see why you fell for me. I'm a very handsome devil." It was easier than to say how much this meant to him.

The moment wasn't over though as he got to see Kate step out of her clothing and into her new dress. To view her body in such a revealing way made him suck in his breath. He let his fingers trail over some of the exposed flesh, knowing what it felt like but for the first time getting to view it in this manner. His fingers grazed along her sides as he kissed her breasts, her chest, her neck, and her lips before finally, reluctantly, zipping her up.

He was a little quiet afterwards for a bit, still soaking everything in, but the pastry shop made him come out of his shell once more. He smirked as he knew Kate so well, giving a nod. "Looks like there's some salt and chili on it. Me, I want to try the original first." Just a perfectly done plain croissant. "Though I may take the almond one to try later." Not that there was a very much later, but he didn't want to admit it yet.

Of course they got some pastries for the dogs, too. The dogs could eat them in dreams, right?

"So, the Eiffel Tower is where we were heading?"

[hawk_shot]

"Of course we're heading to the Eiffel Tower. You can't dream about having a romantic date in Paris and miss out on kissing by the Eiffel Tower, at the very least." Kate's gown seemed to flow around her asthey walked, almost like fabric under water. "But we still need to see the Triumphal Arch, the Louvre, Sacré-Coeur and Notre Dame," Kate pointed with a perfect accent. "Which, coincidentally, happen to be all down the road when you're walking through your dreams Champs-Élysée."

Leaning against the counter, she pointed at the baguettes and thanked the woman behind the counter. Kate figured it was a woman, even if the details about the people around them were blurry. She held the large baguette to her chest almost protectively and pulled a piece from the tip of the bread, offering it to Matt before trying another piece herself.

"Maybe we can even make it in time to have sex in Versailles." She pointed out casually. "Heard is just around the corner." All the things that would take them days in a real vacation, Kate hoped they could at least see, passing by. She couldn't recall all the paintings and esculptures in the Louvre, but she did remember the crystal pyramid or the uphill path to Sacré-Coure. It would be a totally romantic walk for sure.

Soon, their paper bag of pastries was getting quite crowded. "Oh, don't forget the macarons." She adviced, coming to Matt and wrapping and arm around his waist. Grinning, she looked up at him, her chin resting on his arm. "Handsome devil," she whispered, shamelessly quoting him.