#[ verse // kp ] mcu

[lastavenged]

[ inbox ] ⸻ @blindbastard ⸻ It might be my birthday, but you're the most important person in the room tonight. (for Karen <3)

There's an incredibly important duty of hers to be done today. Of such utmost importance that she had been in the office early. First to get some work done and while Matt may not benefit from the decor she puts up, everyone else who came by would absolutely have to know there's a birthday boy to be celebrated. Foggy teases her for that, the reminder that the man in question is blind, as if they both didn't have faxes they were ignoring to put up some tinsel and add cheer to the occasionally glummy office.

It'll be special this year and every year after, but it's the first birthday that this duty falls on her shoulders not only as his friend or something complicated in between, but as his girlfriend. It's a lot of responsibilty, and she's happy to lead the charge in organizing the celebration. Matt Murdock's not wiggling his way out of a celebration, at his friends and loved ones getting to spoil him and there were plans for a little get together, a few drop bys, over a dinner (nothing fancy; its all of matt's comforts) and a few drinks.

There was no surprising Matt, but he still in good nature smiles when Foggy blows the kazoo and Karen ambushes with a party hat to wear, at least for one picture (okay, she snuck two more pictures for herself) before they got about their day in the office. What work they could get done gets tucked back into their desks, and moved onto the fun part. Dinner, drinks, a few of Matt's other friends invited to drop by and a corner booth of a bar taken over the Nelson & Murock crew.

Her arm had linked around his arm, gently guiding him along and her focus on what Foggy's saying. A joke, big arm gestures, and she's laughing over his story about college Matt and Foggy hijinks and memories. Eventually they moised into the bar and claim their corner, it's there that the tinsel banner she had tucked in purse gets pulled out. With Foggy's help, they stick the banner to the wall which Karen gives the barkeep an apologetic smile but continues to hang up the HAPPY BIRTHDAY, if only because it'd make it easiest for those invited to wish Matt well would find them.

Keeping to her two glass limit, she's sipping on her second rose lemonade (choice of the night) while Jessica is razzing Matt. Her eyes scan over, noting the way that he seems to relax over the course of the conversation. It's nice to simply look at him without notice. After a few moments, lull hits in Matt's conversation and picks up among others and he finds his way over to her. The bar's not romantic, far from that. The music is not quite loud enough to really feel nor is the song really any kind of dance song.

However, a hand is offered out to her and she takes his, decides on the moment to get to her feet and sweep him away. Not far from the others, they only really had the space for this party in this corner booth. Conversations still well within Karen's earshot, but her focus is all on Matt now that she's got him to her again.

❝ Having a good time? ❞ She had asked, voice a little softer and looking up to his face, searching for the first signs that he's happy with all of this, with life and her, his birthday. ❝ I just wanted tonight to be something special, felt important to make sure it was, for your birthday. ❞

It might be my birthday, but you're the most important person in the room tonight.

Her heart skips an extra beat when he turns her words right around on her, her head shakes a small moment with her lips curling upward. Grip tightens, pulling him in and her head moving forward to connect with his shoulder. ❝ Hey ⸺ none of that. ❞

[lastavenged]

[ starter ] ⸻ lightly plotted indulgence for @notdeadyetpool <3 <3

Always had to stick your fingers in the pie, huh, Karen. Find out what's inside or find out if its still hot. She's following up on a tip the office had gotten. What had been so odd about the tip that it was coming to her office in Hell's Kitchen all the way from Brooklyn. This felt like it should have been a tip gone onto her devil friend. Columbia Waterfront District, but Matt's already got so much going on with the troubles present in Hell's Kitchen.

It started an innocent thought, the tip had been to ask for an interview from the offices of a meat packing company there. That's easy, simple, she goes in the daylight and presents her press pass. Follow up on this, could be something, could be nothing. Bring it to Matt or Daredevil if it's trouble.

There wasn't anything there, even after she called ahead. There was an eviction notice on the offices. She definitely had spoken on the phone with someone and then she noticed a few other things, walking around the district. Okay, this was something? What, she had no idea. Businesses failing, somee real estate troubles. Business was still happening here and she started asking about the meat packing and every answer is a different story.

It could be related or not, but she's grabbed from behind. A big hand reaching toward her face. She screams before it's muffled, and tries to bite down onto the hand. For a thickly gloved hand, it does nothing. She kicks, struggles as best as she might, all while thinking even if she yells or wished for help, would it matter? It's dusk, nothing but workers would be out on the shipping docks and Daredevil's over on the other side of east river, miles away. No one knew she was out here.

[lastavenged]

[ inbox ] ⸻ @notdeadyetpool ⸻ Are you just a discipline problem in the making, or do you have something useful to contribute? (for karen!)

Deep down, she knows that she shouldn't have so much an attitude, especially with how terrified she is right now. Was her life doomed to always end up somewhere at the wrong time? She sighs, shaking her head lightly and trying to subtle take the glance upon the merc's weapons. She doesn't go in everywhere, looking for trouble. There's someone here that she was looking to talk to, and she's had beeen fairly certain they were a good person. She's been here four times to visit, to talk and get stories, test how something'll will sound.

Could she even judge who was good or just wearing a mask? Look at her life, her choices and God knows her own mask. Can't she waltz into anywhere and be able to walk out somewhere with a reminder that the world is bleak and cruel? Karen recognize who exactly is in front of her. Deadpool, thaat's a lot of violence tailing behind and sure she knows he takes out othere mercs, troublemakers, but all for hire. Whose he here for? Carlotta did mention something about the Scottish fellow that only moved in a few months ago.

❝ Look you haven't been here before, but I have and that's... ❞ Her eyes glance to the weapons again, ❝ ⸻ going to wake a lot of people and... ❞ He was a bomb expert that's why Carlotta was weary of him; quiet odd fellow always messing with devices in the building's basement. ❝ Can't you take this somewhere else? ❞

[lastavenged]

Her grip loosens from holding onto his biceps to have tugged him closer to her body, having pulled them to their own world despite the invited guests to join them and the usual crowd at Josie's. Her arms move around his shoulders, lets them be seen and affection be on full display.

Things had already begun to die down, but it had been a good night. It had been what she had hoped, had wanted for Matthew's birthday. Not just want, but needed to show him and let Matt see what they had now. What he had now in life after everything that had happened to him, and not just him but to her too.

Not only with Fisk, Midland Circle, and all of the Daredevil business. Karen hadn't come to New York free of struggles; she had come to New York, had met Matt and Foggy after her own wreckage of her life. New York had been her hope of cleaning the slate. There were mistakes, regrets, and demons of her past that tailed after her. That she had done to herself and had needed someone to be there, to help her, save her. That had been Matt for her.

Gathering their friends had been an effort to show the joy, the light that they had in their life, lighting up the dark parts. Matt had people, he had Foggy and their offices, he did have friends and people he's helped as Matt Murdock, and he did have her.

That's what tonight was for, she hopes he sees that, instead of simply stealing him away for herself. He should see all that they had, a glimpse into what their life could be surrounded by going forward. She smiles, a hand going to stroke lightly at the hairs on the back of his neck.

None of that, all of that ⸻ she rolls her eyes and knows he must feel the flush to her cheeks, ❝ Well, Foggy helped a little. Can't have him hearing me take all the credit, but ⸻ I love you so... ❞ These are the things that she'd do for him. She sways with him, burying her face into his shoulder again.

Her laugh, light and airy, into his ear as she whispers into it, ❝ I promised to pay Jessica's tab out, was that a bad idea? ❞ Almost as if that had been the agreemeent to showing this little thing. It's additionally a comment that they should watch out for good byes and say some thank yous for coming soon. ❝ And, of course, yours. Everyone else is on their own; this is not on company time or tab. ❞ Nelson, Murdock, and Page were not fiancially stable yet.

He doesn't deserve this.

He doesn't deserve any of this. He doesn't deserve Foggy. He doesn't deserve his friends. He doesn't deserve their loyalty nor their company and most of all... he really doesn't deserve Karen. Not after everything that happened. Or before anything that's going to happen.

Matt used to hope that one day he'd be able to straighten out the wrinkles in his life and make sure that from this moment on? His and Karen's relationship wouldn't have any bumps in the road. But after Midland Circle happened.. and the mess after that.. Matt kind of gave up on that hope. Nothing's ever going to be easy as long as he keeps walking this road. But that doesn't mean he plans to take a different one. This is the only option for him - and he's made peace with that.

Karen's really just an angel. Stuck with him through all of it. She knows what it is he does - she knows that every time they say goodbye it could be the last. Or she could end up finding him half dead in the bedroom. But... really can you ever be sure that someone will return? Especially with cops and firefighters, too. Of course there's a risk but - any day is a risk for anyone. He just likes to up the odds a little...

And now she's going to such lengths to make this day special for him, when really all he can think about it how much brighter she makes any day for him. How much better she's made his life - just by sticking by his side. The universe is never this kind to him, however, and so Matt's never too sure if this happiness will last. But he really hopes that it does.

Everyone before left him... His mother, his father, Stick, Elektra... but Karen's still here - and he prays every single night that maybe this time will be different. Maybe she'll stay. And maybe Foggy will stay, too. Ideally.

So now - when they're dancing - swaying together to the music in the ( honestly kind of disgusting ) bar that Josie's is - all Matt can think about is her. How pretty she probably looks in that dress she's wearing. How she has to be looking at him right now and how - despite Karen's best efforts - he actually kind of wishes they were alone right now.

When Karen responds to his words, both corners of his mouth tug up into a smile. "All of that, my love." Lips press to her cheekbone. "You've really outdone yourself today. Thank you." So maybe Matt didn't actually need his birthday to be a big deal at all. He would've been just as happy going out for dinner with Karen and spending the rest of the night in each other's arms. But she did all that effort so he's going to make sure she knows he's enjoying himself.