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“You hit it!” Karen squealed as the pool balls satisfyingly clinked together. Matt gave his celebratory half smile as he always did.
“Did I get it in?” He asked. Karen had been aligning his shot, teaching him how to play pool as they attended Josie’s bar. She shook her head softly.
“No, but I’m sure you’ll get it next time.”
She met his eyes before averting her gaze, still unsure of where to look. It had only been a few weeks since Karen had joined Nelson and Murdock, and she was still unaccustomed to hanging out with Matt.
Karen had to admit that she enjoyed spending time with him, but she had never met someone who was blind before. She wasn’t sure what she was allowed or supposed to do. Was she meant to ignore the harsh bruises Matt walked into the office with day after day? Was she supposed to pretend like her and Foggy didn’t exchange looks of worry every time Matt ruled it out as “slipping in the shower” or tripping on something he didn’t realize was in front of him? Karen wasn’t sure what she should be more concerned about, the possibility that he was getting this injured from being blind, or the possibility that the source was something else entirely.
“I think I got it,” Matt declares, feeling for a ball before finding the cue ball again and following the trajectory of his free arm to hit it. It was the wrong color, stripes instead of solid, but the plunk of the ball as it went into the basket was enough to make him smile, which was enough to make Karen smile too.
“You’re a natural,” she says playfully, bumping her shoulder against his. She tries to ignore the grimace he makes at the gesture, failing to hide a source of pain coming from his shoulder. “You’re hurt?”
“It’s nothing.”
“It’s not nothing, Matt,” she tries to peel off his jacket to get a better look but he pushes her away. “I’m just trying to help.”
“I don’t need help, really. I’m fine, just hit it a little hard is all. Sometimes walls aren’t as friendly as they seem, you know,” Matt tries to force a small laugh. Karen frowns.
“You shouldn’t be living by yourself, not when it comes as such a price.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“I’m just saying, it wouldn’t hurt if you stayed with Foggy.” Or me, she thought.
“Have you smelled Foggy?” He retorts jokingly. Karen didn’t like how well he was able to avoid the topic.
“I’m serious, Matt.”
“I am too. I’ve relied on Foggy long enough. I don’t want to keep leaning on him every time I get a little hurt.”
“That’s not fair. You know Foggy would accept you with open arms. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“That’s life, Karen,” Matt shot his hands out to make a point, quickly retracting as he realized his fingertips brushed her in midst of the display. For some reason, it seemed to really shake him, and Karen could almost see him shrink as he pointed his head at the ground, gripping his white cane until his knuckles turned white.
Karen sighed, carefully taking his cane and leaning it against the pool table so she could better hold his hands in hers.
“What if… you stayed with me?”
Matt tensed, but didn’t say anything.
“Would that be okay?” She asked, brushing a hair out of his face and curving it back in the right direction.
“You wouldn’t want to live with me,” he finally states, regaining his normal composure. Matt pulls his hands away, pushing up his glasses.
“Matt, I didn’t offer because I didn’t want to stay with you.”
“I snore,” he says, as if it’s the worst possible scenario to ever exist. Karen chuckles softly.
“I’m a deep sleeper.”
“My apartment is boring.”
“So we’ll stay in mine.”
“I won’t know my way around.”
“Then I’ll take the liberty to decorate yours.”
“I don’t have any food in my fridge.”
“I’ll go to the store.”
“I drink.”
“I’ll drink with you,” Karen smirks. Her eyes sparkled with a hope he couldn’t see but one she knew he could feel. For some reason, Karen’s heart was racing.
“And when I sleep?” Matt leaned in, his voice soft, inviting. Devilish.
“I’ll sleep with you.”
This seemed to satisfy the lawyer, and he straightened his posture with a growing confidence.
“It’s a date,” he said, grabbing his cane with one hand and holding out his arm with the other. Karen took it, pride filling her chest. Karen grabbed her umbrella as they left, holding it for the duo as she helped Matt lead the way.
As they walked up the steps of the building, Matt tripped, causing Karen to drop her umbrella as she moved to catch him. Their lips brushed as he froze in front of her, an embarrassed smile reaching his face.
“Sorry,” he whispered, staying close to her. She could feel his breath against hers, and wondered if that was how he saw her; haze of oatmeal and salad dressing. Karen suddenly started trying to retrace what she had eaten the past few days and prayed she had actually remembered to brush her teeth that morning.
“No apology necessary,” she breathed. There was a silence that fell between them, and suddenly Matt’s palms were against her cheeks. His thumbs moved slightly, curving around each wrinkle and blemish before finding the corner of her lips.
“Sorry,” he repeated before his lips pressed against hers.