DAREDEVIL

Apparently, when Peter was too frozen and caught by surprise to be able to form any of his own.

Every other city noise that reached him fell away until it was quiet, that or his heart was pounding too loud for him to actually be able to hear or think about anything else. Which meant Matt could probably hear it too. If he was already able to find where Peter had been sitting in the city by sound alone, his heart rate just a couple of feet away would be nothing. His thoughts scrambled along the ground of whatever void they hung out and over each other, making plenty of noise but none coming up with an answer. They passed around the words that Matt said and turned them over, shook them for anything else, and stared at them trying to argue. All of that, and Peter couldn't think of a reason to say--

"Okay." it left him before his thoughts could reorganize and before he could really hear himself say it. It felt like it was at the other end of a hallway and like Peter said it just because...he could. Because that box was rattling with more noise than everything else and he did look forward to talking to Matt, to get to share information and to joke around and enjoy the night in the little breaths of calm they both managed to find between everything else. For all the noise in his head and the gnawing, twisting in his chest...he couldn't think of a reason to say no that didn't feel flat and empty and like a lie. Like that box he was trying so hard to ignore and push away was maybe keeping the reasons he wanted to say yes safe from all the things that were twisting him around.

He just didn't feel stable enough in that moment to think about what that might really mean right now.

Okay. Okay. That sounded like a yes, and Matt doesn't think that the way Peter's heart started pounding was because he was lying. No, that sounds differently. It sounded more like he was afraid. Of what, Matt has no idea, but he knows he's not afraid of him. Which meant that the idea of dinner itself was somehow scary to him. However, Matt's not about to ask. The only reasons he can come up with in his mind don't exactly call for him to ask about it. At least not yet. It seemed like it would be a private matter and they don't know each other THAT well. They at the very least don't know each other well enough for Matt to start asking him about his fears and traumas.

All he can do, is be a good dinner partner and be supportive if something does come to the surface.

It is soothing, in a way that stretches back to childhood, to feel a gentle hand stroke over her hair. One of her earlier memories: her mother’s hand absentmindedly smoothing over a shorter blonde bob as they watched out the window. She was barely taller than the windowsill then, but standing on tiptoe she could prop herself up and see her father and farmhands carry buckets to tap the maple trees. Spring sunshine melted the icicles slowly. It was such a peaceful, vivid moment. When Penny died, Karen sought that feeling in bottles, parties and boyfriends. Losing her brother only made the search more futile. She lost hope in ever finding that shimmering light reflecting off winter’s last snow until there Matt was. The ice encasing her heart thawed and life finally renewed.

Karen exhales long and quiet, realizing she’d been holding her breath. His embrace holds her together. The repetitive motion of measured weight over her hair and warmth from Matt’s hand combines to calm the tempest brewing within. He pulls her out from drowning in the churning, freezing water of dark thought.

Naysayers whisper in the streets. Every Kingpin is selfish and villainous, but Karen knows better. Evil would let the storm swallow her whole. The tightness in her chest loosens feeling the kiss pressed to her hair and the hours-long lock of her joints give way.

She hugs his torso, latching her hands on her arms and tilts her face up to look at him. “They could have accepted the proposal that’s true.” It doesn’t absolve her entirely, but she doesn’t feel a monster’s teeth at her throat anymore. “I hope that little girl is alright.” They both know the distinct before and after such a loss creates.

When Karen offers to check on the little girl, a tiny smile stretches across his lips. "You're too good for this world, Kare. Way too good. When has it ever shown you that same kindness?"

If Matt were asked that, he'd know. It was when he met Karen. But that was also the only time he thinks it's been kind to him. Ever.

"I don't think she'll appreciate you checking on her anyway. Not after that. You'll probably scare her more than do any good. I'd let it be, but if you want to go check on her... well I'm not going to stop you from doing something you want to do." She was his treasure, true. His one and only reason to still be alive, even. But Matt doesn't own her. She can do whatever she pleases.

Matt moves his hand from stroking her hair to gently cupping her jaw and tilting her head back so she'll look at him. He can't exactly look her in the eyes, but this will have to do. "You're not a monster, Kare. The whole fact that you're worried about her proves that. But we also don't have the power to change the past or take away the pain we've caused. She will probably be affected by this, yes... We both know that. No point in denying it. But that already happened and it can't be undone. Whether or not you go to her now, she will still have those memories. And memories like this don't ever fade. So if you want my advice? Leave her be. Let her find her own peace in time. She's not going to find it with you."

Friendly Menace Vigilante of New York

-- Independant, Semi-Selective Roleplay blog for MCU and TASM Peter Parker, a.k.a Spider-Man. Canon and headcanon fueled, minor comic influence. Written by Stray.

"I'm good though. Adjusting." A lie. "I mean it's- it's taking a bit but y'know." No, they likely didn't. Was this a thing? Powers mutating almost a decade into having them? Captain America hadn't grown eagle wings, nor Black Panther cat ears. Dr. Banner had combined the Hulk and his own personalities but that'd been science. As far as he knew, he hadn't gotten bitten by another spider recently.

"No need to worry about me." Not that it felt like anyone ever did.

Daredevil tilts his head a little bit to the side as he listens to the other speaking. His heartbeat was even more elevated than usual, too. It always sounded faster and stronger to him, but more so now. However to him it seemed more like that came from nerves than the recent changes to his powers.

And then the other tells him he's good, and that is absolutely a lie, Matt can tell. It worries him a little. He's fond of Spidey. Not that they know each other all that well, but it's nice to not be alone in this. To know that there are others looking out for people the same way he has been. He'd like to help if he could.. he's just not sure that he can.

"Did you do something to trigger anything like that? Or did it just happen?"