itinere | [open] we're all just pieces in their games

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mcu: matt murdock (daredevil)

[open] we're all just pieces in their games

The appearance of the first monster in Itinere should have been expected. She shouldn't have been so surprised when she had been in the forest, tracking down a wild hog, when she saw it. A strange looking muttation unlike any she's ever seen before. Despite its small size, the second the creature noticed her, it charged. The arrow meant for the hog landed in the eye of the monster instead. Her hunt had been forgotten at that point. It had seemed more pertinent to get home to Prim, and to warn Matt, than anything else.

That had been days ago. In the time since, she and Prim have set up refuge in the Houndstooth. It's not an agreement that had come easy to Katniss; trusting others is still hard. But when Itinere had threatened to fall apart, they had been safer in a group. She hasn't forgotten that. Or how people had helped her protect Prim. Keeping her sister alive is her top priority right now. Even hating herself for growing comfortable in Itinere can wait. She let her guard down. That's always a mistake. But she can hate herself for that later. She needs to get Prim through this alive. Get Prim through it, help Matt, and maybe do her best to keep Itinere's other citizens alive, too. Face it. Matt's altruistic behavior has started to rub off on her - or at the very least, she's developed some determination to please him.

Either way, she starts every day in the Houndstooth with a brief message on the network:

Does anyone need any food or water?

Then, after promising Prim she'll be careful, she packs up her hunting gear, slings the bag over her shoulder alongside her quiver and bow, and heads out. Katniss isn't a hero. She tends to get people killed more than she actually succeeds in saving them. There are actual heroes here in Itinere. People who can make that difference. Her boyfriend (is he her boyfriend? is that a word he'd be okay with her using?) is one of them. But she still wants to help. She wants to help in part to make it up to all those who have helped her and Prim in the past. She wants to help because it's kind of nice to have a purpose. Have something to do that'll make a difference to someone else.

She can raid grocery stores. And, for places like the Houndstooth, she can also head to the outskirt of the woods to hunt and harvest. If any of the muttation-like creatures cross her path, she'll do her best to hide. Katniss has no delusions of grandeur. There's only so much she can do with a bow and arrow. But she can hunt. She can feed people. That's necessary, important. And definitely worth the risk of her life.

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Matt's suit had shown up a few days after the monsters and since then he's spent most of his time out trying to help people. He hasn't been entirely incommunicado. Every day he checks in on the few friends he has made here. He isn't sleeping much, but he's also used to that.

It's beyond late when he slips into the Houndstooth, making sure to secure the door behind him. Most people are asleep. He's wearing his Daredevil suit, but he tugs his helmet off once he's inside and stands quiet for a moment, listening to see if Katniss is asleep. He's certain that she's here because he knows Prim is staying here.

Katniss would be lying if she didn't say that she worries every time Matt goes out to fight in that suit. Then again, she knows full well how much of a contradiction that would be given her own decisions to hunt and provide food despite the danger. But Prim won't stop her from hunting. She won't stop Matt from being the Daredevil. It wouldn't be right.

So long as Matt keeps checking in on her, she'll keep her worry to herself. He's been good at doing that. Tonight is no different. Technically, she had been asleep. Or as close to it as she's been getting these days. The second the door opens though, she wakes, tense and alert. Katniss squints in the light, letting herself relax when she recognizes Matt's face in the dark. Quietly, as not to disturb Prim, she gets up from beside her sister to walk over to him. She's not high on anything this time but when she gets close enough, Katniss places a hand on his cheek and kisses him in greeting. It's a quick kiss because then she's hugging him tightly. She's happy he's still okay.

On one hand, he's glad that she worries because it means that she cares and he's very glad that she cares. On the other hand, he hates the idea of worrying her, but he knows that he can't stay inside where it's safe when he knows that he has the ability to help. Besides, if it makes her feel any better, he's usually got Cisco on the comm in his ear. He could send backup if Matt got hurt. That's far more than he's got back home. He has officially signed out for the moment though, letting Cisco know he was taking a break and shutting the comm down.

He tries. He doesn't want her to worry despite how he knows it's inevitable. He doubts anyone is getting much sleep these days. It's too dangerous and scary out there. He hears her walking toward him and chooses to stay put so they don't disturb anyone else. The kiss and the hug are both appreciated. It makes him smile in spite of the fact that he hurts all over and he's exhausted. He hugs her back just as tightly, turning his head to press a kiss against her head. "Come on, let's go in the kitchen where we can talk," he whispers before he releases her, his hand straying to catch her hand in his and taking a backwards step toward the kitchen.

He could also use some coffee, or maybe tea if he truly intends to get any sleep tonight.

Of course she cares. She'd care if he were just a friend. The thing is, in the months since they first met, he's become a lot more than a fiend to her. Nothing's going to keep her from caring and with that will always come worrying for Katniss. She's lost too many people not to be have the two go hand in hand. All the precautions that he takes and tells her about won't change that. Even if she fought by his side, she'd worry. It's a given, nothing more and nothing less.

Given that she does slip outside the walls of the Houndstooth every day, she knows first hand how dangerous and scary it is out there. Katniss can only imagine how exhausted Matt must be. That he smiles at her gets her to smile as well. She lets him catch her hand and pulls it up to run his fingers over her smile.

"And get you dinner," she adds in as they start to walk towards the kitchen. "Have you eaten anything today?"

He's okay with that worry, mostly because he understands it. He worries about her when she goes out to hunt. No matter how safe she is, he worries.

Mostly, he's glad that she's here, that she's safe. His fingertips ghost over her smile and he wants to move in to kiss her again, but they really should go somewhere they're less likely to disturb everyone else in the restaurant turned shelter.

"I had coffee this morning and a stale bagel." Which he knows isn't real food, but he hadn't wanted to stop for anything else. His stomach rumbles as he realizes, he actually is hungry. "Food sounds good though." And he probably would have forgotten to eat if she hadn't mentioned it simply because he's got so much on his mind already.

She'd be extremely okay with Matt kissing her again. Lately though, whenever they seem to kiss, they have a tendency of getting a little carried away. There are people sleeping - or at least attempting to sleep. It wouldn't be right to disturb them with their talk or their kisses or whatever else they do.

And there's food in the kitchen. Although he did eat (and she has, since meeting Matt, learned what a bagel is and that it does count as food), in Katniss' opinion, he hasn't eaten enough. If he's going to go out there every day and every night to protect Itinere's citizens, he needs to be well fed. Maybe she should start swinging by his apartment every day to make sure he has something to eat when he does take a break. Would he give her a key if she asked?

She shakes her head, quietly scowling at him. "If you're going to fight, you need something more than that." She squeezes his hand. "I have leftover stew in the fridge. Do you have anything in yours?"

Really, there's nothing wrong with getting carried away, but she's right; they probably shouldn't get carried away right now, right here.

It probably isn't enough, but he forgets to eat. He's been busy out there. He would definitely give her a key, and not simply so she can make sure he's got food. Things between them are still so new, it hasn't occurred to him to give her a key to his place yet.

He can hear that scowl even if he can't see it and it makes him chuckle softly. He has to think about her question. "Some Chinese that's probably gone bad," he admits. "Stew sounds wonderful."

Food first. Making sure Matt is fed and has had something to drink. Then maybe checking over any possible wounds. Then finding a place in the Houndstooth to get carried away. Presuming, of course, Matt is healthy enough for that.

Things are still so new between them but as new as they are, the emotions have developed rapidly. She cares about Matt a lot. And she'll do anything she can do to help get him through this.

"It's rabbit," she warns him. If he's hungry enough, he'll eat it. No one at the Houndstooth has complained. Katniss leads him into the kitchen, not letting go of his hand until she reaches the fridge to find the leftovers to reheat. She falls silent for a few minutes, fighting back nerves. He's probably picked up on them, on the way her heartbeat has suddenly quickened in beath. "If... If you gave me a key to your apartment, I could make sure you have decent food when you're done with patrols."

She good to him, and he needs her in his life to make sure of things like this. Back home, he eats only when his body forces him to do so and sleeps with about the same regularity. He doesn't get carried away much back home. It's one of the things he looks forward to here.

They've spent months building an emotional relationship while their physical relationship is still very new. He tries to be aware of that. Right now, she's doing a fantastic job of helping him get through this simply by taking care of him, by reminding him that someone cares about him, not just the job he can do.

"I've never had rabbit, but I'm excited about trying it," he tells her with an amused lilt to his voice. He really is looking forward to trying the stew in part because she cooked it but also because he's hungry. He wishes he'd left some clothes here because while the suit of armor he's wearing is practical, it's not comfortable. He also doesn't wear much under it so stripping down isn't an option, at least not right now. His brow furrows a bit when he hears her heartbeat quicken. "Katniss," he tells her, moving to her side to place his fingers under her chin and tilt her face up a little. "I'd be happy to give you a key to my apartment and you don't have to bring food. Just bring yourself."

He's good for her, too. Katniss has been taking care of people for most of her life. It's something that comes naturally to her by now. She has Prim of course but Prim's older now and doesn't need Katniss as much anymore. Matt, apparently, does. She's happy to make sure that he actually eats and gets some rest, and she's definitely more than happy to be intimate with him.

That physical relationship might be new but Katniss would like to think that she's taken to it. At the very least, she's open to anything Matt has to teach her. There are a number of ways to show someone how much you care. Given the disaster that's going on now, she's happy they finally took that step. It's another way she can show him how much he means to her.

Katniss barely has time to set the pot on the counter before Matt's lifting her head so she has to look at him. In his Daredevil suit, he's not wearing the glasses that he usually has on. His eyes don't focus on her but she finds herself watching them anyway as they talk. Her nerves threaten to get the better of her and she thinks she might have said the wrong thing. She's always wrong when it comes to these things, isn't she? All the nerves evaporate instantly and a huge, sappy smile crosses her face. "Really?"

Matt forgets to take care of himself so yes, he does need someone to take care of him and if Katniss wants to take care of him, it's nice. He'll be happy to let her take care of him in every way.

She's definitely taken to it and he doesn't have a single complaint. Intimacy is another way to show someone you care, and it's easier than words sometimes. Maybe it shouldn't be and maybe he should be using his words more, but intimacy is easier and so is taking care of someone. That she wants to take care of him sends a rush of emotion through him. Yeah, whether he wants to admit it or not, he's definitely falling in love with her.

She's definitely not wrong right now. He nods a little. "Really. In fact," he bends over, fingers digging in his boot until he comes up with the key card that he uses to get in his place. He presents it to her. "I'll grab another one when I go back to the apartment." He's certain he can get one from the kiosk without any problem. "That one is yours now."

If Katniss has any lingering doubts that she hasn't learned to acknowledge the more sexual side of her nature, they vanish when Matt bends over to dig into his boot. She's seen him in his Daredevil suit before and she knows how tight it is. It seems even tighter around the posterior when he bends over. She can't help but stare and lick her lips a little. As soon as she realizes what she's doing, she blushes. Her blush deepens when she remembers that Matt's probably figured out how she's ogling him.

Then again, she's ogled him a lot lately. And touched him and kissed him and done a number of things she's never thought of doing to a man. It's natural. All of this is natural. Not being so good at words herself, Katniss likes having another way to show Matt how she feels. She's always been better with actions anyway. She doesn't know how to say the words aloud (I'm falling in love with you, Matt Murdock), but she can easily think of a number of ways to show him.

Apparently Matt has his own ways, too. At least that's how Katniss feels when he hands her the key card. She holds it tightly in her hand until she decides that she'd rather be holding his hand instead of the card. "Thank you," she answers as she stuffs the card in her pocket. The two words don't seem like enough and she reaches for his hand to pull him into her. Katniss kisses him deeply, communicating how much the gesture means to her in that kiss.

Honestly, he doesn't think about her ogling him when he bends over. Being ogled in that sort of way by someone he's involved with is still new to him. He hears the way her heartbeat quickens and smells the lust that sweeps over her. It gives him a good idea of what she's affected by. He also realizes when she blushes. Give all of that, he's smirking, thoroughly pleased with himself, when he straightens.

He likes being ogled, but it doesn't compare to being touched and kissed. As for the other things, he's incredibly appreciative of those things. He also likes being able to return those favors, to show her how he feels, particularly given that neither of them are quite prepared to enunciate his feelings for her. She doesn't need to say the words aloud, just as he hopes he doesn't have to say the words. Her actions, her expressions, her desires have been enough to make him suspect.

He's so glad that she sees the key for what it is rather than simply a meal ticket. He nods once at her thanks. You're very welcome." When she reaches for his hand, his twines his fingers with hers, bending slightly into the kiss. He closes his eyes, breathing her in. His free hand reaches up to play in her hair.

Being the one doing the ogling is new to her, too. She's never found the reason to eye up any of the men in her life like they're her next meal. Then again, she's never been in a sexual relationship before. Slowly, it's started to make her a little bolder. Though they haven't discussed it, she's starting to think that Matt is her boyfriend. He's hers. That gives her the right to check him out, doesn't it? And to react to what she sees.

The smirk on his face answers any questions about whether or not he's noticed her reaction. He can probably feel it too. Her kisses don't hold anything back. Not her love or her lust, or the gratitude she feels at being made an official part of his life. She's completely aware that the key isn't only Matt's way of having decent meals in his life. It's his way of having her in it, too.

It's tempting to keep the kiss going. To see where it could lead while the rest of the Houndstooth sleeps. She almost gives in when his hand goes to her hair. She loves the way that tends to feel. But they're in the kitchen for a reason. If Matt isn't going to take care of himself, she needs to do it for him. With a groan, she breaks the kiss. Her breath comes out in heavy, quick pants. "You need to eat first," she whispers. "Real food. Not me."

In that case, he's more than happy to be ogled. He wants her to have all sorts of normal experiences like this. Bolder is good. He would definitely say that she's his girlfriend if asked. He considers them dating and he certainly hopes that Katniss does as well. That does give her the right to check him out. Ogle away.

When she kisses him that way, he can definitely feel it. He he reacts, groaning softly at the way she kisses him, pulling her a little closer. This isn't the most comfortable suit to have this reaction in.

Tempting yes. He really should have brought a change of clothes. Right. A reason. She breaks the kiss and he sighs a little. Her words draw another smirk out of him then he groans, head tilting up to the ceiling. "If you're going to say those things and do those things, I really need to be wearing different clothes."

She might have meant it innocently, but that's not how he took it.

She's aware of the armor built into the suit. It's not at all like the pants that Matt usually wears. Now that she has his key, maybe she should slip in to his apartment one of these days while he's out fighting and pick up a pair of his sweatpants to keep at the Houndstooth. Just in case he plans on more of these late night visits. Pulled close against him during their kiss, Katniss knows he's grown aroused as well. No, this can't be comfortable for him at all.

Normally Katniss enjoys those smirks and groans she elicits from him. And she does enjoy them now. But she also can't help but feel chagrined. The embarrassment stems from btoh his reaction and the turn her thoughts take when he speaks. Katniss hadn't exactly meant anything by her words, but now that Matt mentions it...

Oh.

"Maybe," she begins, a little apprehensive that she might say something else that'll come out wrong. "Maybe I should let you eat and go find you something, um, more comfortable."

There has to be something around here, what with people coming and going lately. And if she steps away, even if it's only for a couple of minutes, it might give Matt a chance to control his body's reaction to her.

If she can go without putting herself in danger, he's totally okay with that, especially if it implies that they'll have more moments like this.

His thoughts exactly.

Her apprehension isn't what he's going for. He likes that she's comfortable enough to say what's on her mind with him. He sobers a little. "You don't have to go, Katniss." He really didn't mean to make her uncomfortable.

However, if she wants to go find him something to change into, he won't argue. He might stay here tonight instead of going back to his apartment later.

It's not so much Matt that made Katniss uncomfortable as Katniss making herself uncomfortable. She likes the direction their relationship has taken. She likes it a lot. But she's still getting used to certain aspects of it. Like how easy it seems to be to become someone so sexually inclined around him. That's what embarrasses her more than anything Matt can say or do.

"I should still find you something to wear," she points out, though she makes no effort to walk away. She blushes a little as she continues. "In case you wind up staying. I don't mind it when you sleep naked but..."

But yeah. She's just going to shut up now before making a bigger fool of herself. Because Katniss is certain that that's exactly what she's doing right now. Katniss places a hand on the chest of his suit. "This can't be comfortable to sleep in either."

Okay then Matt can live with that. She'll eventually get used to this feeling and it won't seem so awkward and uncomfortable to her. He likes who she is around him; of course, he also likes who she is without him. He'd fallen in love with that person.

He chuckles a little. "The rest of the people in the other room probably would," he says.

She places a hand on the chest plate of his suit and he dips his head to brush a light kiss against her lips. "I'll stay in here, find something to eat and you can find something I can wear."

It is a feeling she'll get used to and awkward and uncomfortable will eventually give way to occasionally flustered. What's easy to embrace whenever she and Matt get carried away will become easy to embrace every day. Because she's falling in love and honestly can't imagine it being any other way. Matt's done something she never thought could happen; slowly, she's starting to like herself again.

"They don't know what they're missing," she mumbles, blushing a bit at the words. Katniss kisses him back, careful not to let herself get too carried away. Matt needs to eat. If she accomplishes nothing else tonight, she'll at least manage to do that. "Try the rabbit stew. I'll be right back, okay?"

Liking herself is really the biggest thing that Matt wants for Katniss. He's also all in for the falling in love bit. He's falling in love with Katniss as well, and he wouldn't have this any other way.

He grins at her comment, smelling and feeling the blush on Katniss' s cheeks. "I'd rather keep it that way. I don't get naked for just anyone." That grin persists through the kiss. He nods a little as she pulls away. "Okay. I'll be waiting."

When she leaves the room, he does find the rabbit stew and manages to get a bowl of it in the microwave. When she comes back, he'll be sitting on the edge of the counter, eating his bowl of rabbit stew.

It's a slow process but it's happening nonetheless. Liking herself is still difficult at times but she has come to accept who she is. If the girl she is is good enough for someone like Matt to care about, why should Katniss hate her so much? She wants Matt to fall in love with her. That's a path that she doesn't want to stray down alone.

"I'm glad," she murmurs, the blush lingering. "Because I don't, either."

Which he already knows. But it had seemed right to say in the moment.

Katniss steels one last look in his direction before she leaves the kitchen. There's a small pile of clothing in the front of the restaurant, put together in case anyone wanders in, in need of shelter. She quickly goes through it until she pulls out a pair of sweatpants that look as if they'll fit Matt. Just in case he's feeling more modest, Katniss finds a t-shirt as well. Clothing obtained, she quickly makes her way back to the kitchen.

"How is it?" she asks from the doorway, smiling warmly as she realizes that Matt has taken her advice about the stew.

Falling in love is something that should never be done alone.

He smells the blood rising in her cheeks, feels the heat and he reaches up to brush the pad of his thumb over her cheek. He dips his head to brush a kiss there on the heated skin. "I know," he tells her in a whisper.

He hopes she knows that he realizes what it means that she's given herself to him that way. It's not something he would have done lightly because of that. Matt isn't opposed to one night stands, but not with someone like Katniss.

He looks up as she steps back into the kitchen, smiling at her. "It's good. Really good. I haven't tasted anything quite like it back home, but I like it all the same. Where did you learn to make it?"

That’s something that Katniss can easily agree with. Falling in love should never be done alone.

A one night stand is not something Katniss thinks she’d ever be capable of doing. The very idea of it seems foreign and wrong. But this thing with Matt is much more than a one night stand. She knows it and he knows it. And she gave herself to Matt knowing he would value the action. He values so much (everything?) about her and Katniss has never felt the odds more in her favor.

When he looks up at her smiling, she can’t help but automatically smile back. “My mother taught me. Before my father died, back when she used to do the cooking.” This is information that she normally wouldn’t share with anyone. Her father’s death, her mother’s breakdown. She had scorned her mother for so long because of that but after losing Prim, Katniss thinks she understands better now. “Rabbits are usually plentiful. I can also make a good pie.”

He doesn't want it to be a one night stand. He wants this thing with Katniss to be more because she makes him happy. She makes him want so much more out of life than he ever thought he'd get. He'd known what it'd meant when they'd had sex for the first time and it had meant so much to him. They'd waited until they were both in love, for a lot of reasons, but mostly for her. He does value her; he loves her.

He's getting more and more attached to that smile. Losing someone you love is never easy and while he can't ever be okay with the way her mother abandoned her emotionally and mentally, he understands the way that someone could check out from grief and loss. "I'd like to taste the pie sometime too. I don't have many cooking skills to woo you with. My dad taught me a wicked jab though."

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[open] we're all just pieces in their games

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