Log: Matt and Rachel

[x-daredevil.livejournal.com]

New Years Eve brings changes to Matt and Rachel's relationship.

(completely PG-13 but there are adult themes)



"You ever think about going to Times Square for New Years?" Matt asked, sitting upside down on the couch with Rachel as some talking head yammered about the musical acts and weather and whatnot. They were only an hour from Manhattan. "Maybe next year?"

"Don't do well in crowds," Rachel replied with a wrinkle of her nose as she took her eyes off of the TV screen to peer down at his upside down face. He knew enough about her PTSD, even if she was supposed to be getting better. "Wouldn't say no if you're going, but you know, this is kinda better for now."

"Yeah, me either," Matt agreed, he'd grown up in Manhattan and New Years was a time for locking doors and closing windows in his experience, "I mean, the theory is good with all the bands and stuff, but really? No. Also, you gotta get there crazy early and almost do this urban camping thing in the cold to get any sort of a decent spot and just....no. I like being antisocial with people that get it."

"Uh huh." The redhead sounded amused. "Then why ask?"

"'Cause," Matt replied, flipping off the couch to be right-side up and getting a drink. Drinking upside down tended to get messy, "You can want to go and not be able. I was curious," and curiosity killed the cat and satisfaction brought him back. He paused for a moment and then handed Rachel her drink, "C'mon, it's almost New Years. They're gonna drop the ball."

Point. Rachel accepted the drink with thanks and rose to join him in front of the coffee table as she flipped through the channels again to find the channel dedicated to watching the silver ball drop at Times Square before tossing the remote back onto the couch.

The TV host was still nattering on about something or another so she took a sip of her drink. From the vague direction of the kitchen came a loud whoop and the redhead chuckled. "I never quite understood the appeal of watching a big silver ball drop."

Though, to be fair, the last time she was rather drunk and therefore found it quite entertaining.

"Tradition!" Matt intoned doing a terrible imitation from Fiddler on the Roof. "And...I dunno. Shiny?" Not like he could see it, "10! 9! 8! 7!" he counted down with everyone else, "4! 3! 2! 1! Happy New Year!" he cheered, hugging Rachel and taking a sip of his (very non-alcoholic) lemonade.

"Happy New Year!" she replied, laughing as she returned Matt's enthusiastic hug, holding her glass aloft to prevent spilling its contents down the back of his shirt.

But before he could completely disengage and pull away from her, Rachel curled her fingers into his collar and gently tugged him back towards her again with a lightly mischievous smile. "Let's see if I can get this right this year," she said quietly, almost drowned out by the cheers from the TV and the hallway outside, before she tilted her head and carefully slanted her lips across his.

The kiss surprised Matt, but he bent down slightly to better accommodate her, tilting his head to fit with hers. Like he would ever say no to a kiss like this?! Ha! "You taste good," he murmured, not quite disengaging. He appreciated that she didn't taste like alcohol.

She hummed lightly against his lips, her own curving into a grin as she nipped his bottom lip and pulled back slightly to look at him. "Good enough to make up for last year?"

"Mmhmm," Matt agreed, more than a little distracted as his tongue gently probed her lips to try to gain entry. He knew if Rachel didn't want something then it wouldn't happen, but so far, this more than made up for last year!

Laughing, Rachel leaned away and snagged both their glasses, placing them on the coffee table safely out of harm's way before returning to pull Matt closer, both hands now free to wind themselves around his neck as she darted her own tongue out to meet his. They tangled together carefully, slowly tasting each other.

They had been dancing around each other for the longest time, flirting and teasing but never going beyond the unspoken boundaries of friendship. Rachel because she had unresolved issues and Matt ostensibly because he was a gentleman. But today, the redhead found something inside of her loosening as she curled into Matt and buried herself against him as much as possible.

It was a new year and new beginnings, right? And damn but they were both fiery gingers. "Down," Matt suggested, walking them both to the couch so they could be much more comfortable with this, his hands cupping her bottom and giving it a good squeeze. Damn she was hot.

His knees hit the back of the couch and they both went down, a soft whine from Rachel surprising even herself as she straddled his lap and comfortably let him take all of her weight. "You do realize that there are like a dozen people outside right? Two dozen," she amended after a pause, cocking her head to the side.

"My room's soundproofed," Matt responded, liking how she felt against him and trying not to get too handsy. He wanted to touch her, he wanted to see her his way, but it could be a little much at first. Then again, Rachel knew him pretty well. "You've got the softest skin."

"And you've got the sweetest tongue when you want something," she teased, one hand now buried in his hair, idly stroking his abs with the other. Rachel bit her lip and took a moment to think about it, her previous hesitations and her current unwillingness to let go of him. Two years was a long enough time to get over herself and she wasn't a stumbling drunk this time around.

Tilting his chin up, she stole another kiss before slipping off his lap and wiggled her fingers at him. "C'mon, handsome. To the batcave!"

Standing up and picking Rachel up at the same time, Matt grinned, "You mean the Matt-cave," he corrected, giving her another kiss.

*****

The Matt cave was a blissfully silent place and as Rachel lay panting in a boneless heap, head pillowed on Matt's chest, she was grateful - very grateful - for the fact that no one could hear them from the other side of the walls either.

She turned with some effort, half plastered on top of him and nudged his chest with her chin with a sleepy grin.

"First time my ass."

Stroking her collarbone randomly, Matt couldn't stop grinning like the Cheshire cat. "Hey, I got natural rhythm. And when you aren't, you...practice," true enough, though video porn did nothing for him. There were other ways. "And you're kinda awesome at this, too. I feel like we need a cigarette now....'cept smoking is gross."

"Yeah, no," she said, wrinkling her nose and closing her teeth around his chin. "What we need right now is to wash up and get in some cuddle and nap time before you kick me out."

Reaching over, Matt pushed the button on his bedside clock, the mechanical voice telling him just how late - or early - it was. "Shower and then stay the night?" Matt suggested. It wasn't like there was a walk of shame or commute.

She hummed, sounding pleased as she shifted to straddle his stomach and lean up over him. "No take backs, Murdock."

Sitting up slightly, he gave her a kiss, "Not gonna. But you have to get off me if you want me to start the shower." Matt had no idea if they were dating or if this was a one-off and right now he did not care.

"In a minute. Give a girl some time to catch her breath," she groused before planting another kiss on his in an attempt to rob him of all of his.