Kate hated the thought of backing out. But wasn't that the right thing by their people if they were not prepared to take this job? Fisk would lavish on this, squeeze every last drop of these news and pretend he had them on checkmate. Bishop Security would lose prestige, too. Their customers would consider them unreliable, capable of backing out if things got gritty. Unprepared to deal with something as basic as a tour.
But was it fair to make her employees face a threat that was sure to come and that they were not even aware of? Her people trained to face criminals, not mythological creatures or covens of witches with a lust for a vampire's head.
The moment Greg endorsed the plan of staying by Lestat's side, Kate sighed with relief.
She hated backing out of a fight.
"You don't need to sign anything. If anything happens, the company has your back," Kate promised Greg. She hated to think of him getting hurt - worse was not even an option - but she would certainly look after him. "Look, I can't risk the rest of my employees. But Daredevil and Hawkeye will be there."
Kate's hold on Matt's hand became tighter, her attention turning towards Matt as she realized she should have checked with him first. "Right? Jess, maybe the others?"
This wasn't just about Lestat. How many people would come to that concert? Were they doing the right thing by them?
She held Lestat's gaze. His almost unnatural blue eyes.
Matt gave a small nod, slow and steady as if he was thinking. Plotting how this might fit into larger plans with regard to coverage. "We'll make it work." Matt didn't hear about potential danger and not plan on helping stop it, protecting innocents even if he had to figure a way to be in multiple places at once. It wasn't just helping keep Kate's company afloat, although that was part of it, and it wasn't just helping Lestat and Greg for their aid earlier, although that was part of it. It was because protecting the innocent was the right thing to do, no matter the personal cost. He wouldn't ask of others what he didn't demand first from himself.
Gregory sagged in relief as Kate agreed to let him stay, offering support rather than wiping her hands with a waver. He smiled at Lestat, relieved that he'd finish out the tour. Oh, he had no presumptions that this was a lifelong romance, but he did believe in what the tour stood for. He liked the man he was on tour with. It brought him back a little to his youthful punk days, while also somehow making him feel satisfied with middle age in a way that nobody else could understand. Or few might, at least. The experience of a lifetime, while giving Fisk and witch covens and shitty other vampires the middle finger. While inspiring a new generation. He was more idealistic than Lestat, he knew that, but Lestat wasn't heartless. He'd seen that, too.
Lestat smiled at Gregory and then studied Kate with equal measure. "Not do I, so this will make for interesting times."
He then leaned forward and helped himself to some of the beef while saying in French, 'A declaration of war and trust made over fucking fried cheese and pineapple. I blame you all for that if it fails.'
The atmosphere had certainly shifted. Kate, at the very least, was reminded that today that concert had been a victory. Yes, some people were injured. But nobody had died. They had sent a message. And both Lestat's enemies and their own had to face the fact that they were stronger than they suspected.
Kate ate, finding herself sharing conspiratory looks with Greg. She was happy for whatever the man had with her idol, in her heart already imagining something deeper and far more romantic. Whatever it was, it was clear that Greg was happy to fight for the other man. Just like Kate would always stand up again if that meant protecting Matt.
Her plate was soon empty and she found herself checking on her partner, leaning into him and quietly talking, finding a little intimacy. Loving gestures and words. Another reminder of what they fought for.
Kate stroked his hair back. "Should we call Claire? How are you feeling?"
Greg returned the look with Kate, sharing in the moment. He wasn't a founding member of the company like her family was, but it was his whole professional life. After his time in the military he'd gone to work for the security company in his mid-twenties, and they had treated him well. It was the story of so many military men and women, but few landed a job where the security firm saw the people there as anything but well-trained thugs. He'd seen Kate grow from a child into a leader, he'd seen Eleanor face ruin while also remembering how she'd helped him when he'd needed work. Family, duty, betrayal and loyalty. Risk and reward. All tied together. Gregory had no family of his own. His work was his life. It now blurred in new ways sharing a bed with Lestat, but he'd learned a long time ago with Bishop Securities that ties were often bound beyond one's genetics.
He was glad she trusted him. He wouldn't take it for granted or let her down. He'd tried to be honorable and fair, protecting the others while still putting himself on the line. Kate was doing the same, with Matt. Lestat was... more of a wildcard, but he cared about this show. About those putting it on with him. Even if it was mostly pride, he'd help. Maybe, selfishly, he thought a little of it was personal, too.
At Kate's question, Matt shook his head a little and replied back softly, "I don't need Claire. Nothing I can't shake off." A few broken ribs, a re-injured leg. A busted nose. Sore muscles and bruises, a throat that had been held at a vampire's temper. He was a Murdock. Pain was expected. You got up off the mat. Matt Murdock was a tank despite his build, a man who could take an extraordinary amount of beating and smile as he dealt it right back. Which he knew wasn't normal. "We can go see her if you want, though. If you get looked at, too." Giving Kate an out if she needed to visit Claire.
Gregory then looked at Lestat and asked haltingly, they had fucked but this was new ground, "Do you need to..."
"You can shoot a gun but not say drink blood?" Lestat said dryly. "I'm fine. For now." He was hungry and weak but not desperate. Towards Kate and Matt he added, "There's a spare room if you want. Or I can call the car to take you someplace. It is up to you. There's nobody near the hotel that is a risk as I can tell." He'd kept an ear out for it, not realizing Matt had, too.
By now Kate knew Matt well. She only had to ask, and Matt would follow her to Claire's place, back home, or stay if only she implied it. He was exhausted and beaten, bruises already showing on his face and, without a doubt, marking his body like a map of wounds. "I think I'm too tired for a lecture." And poor Claire and Luke didn't deserve this kind of late visit. "Maybe in the morning?"
Before work? It was a gamble, trusting Matt would follow. Unless Kate truly needed it.
At Lestat's offer, Kate's attention was divided between both men. But it was clear they were both expecting her decision. "You don't mind if we stay?" She pretty much asked the both of them. Honestly, the hotel was the definition of luxury, something that normally wouldn't phase Kate. But this? This was Lestat the vampire's executive-suite! Probably the presidential one.
"I'm gonna pass-out in the car if we head back home," she told Matt. Besides, the pets would be fine. They were used to early dinners and owners that spent whole nights away from home.
Lestat waved a pale, perfectly manicured hand in a dismissive gesture when asked if he minded. "Be my guest. There is more than one bedroom." He had the best room at the hotel of course, right at the top with a private elevator and multiple beds and baths. "As long as you don't snore, you may stay. It has been a long night and I should like to sleep." Lestat could stay awake when the sun was up, but it did make him drowsy. As vampires aged they needed less sleep, but he hadn't done away with the need yet, particularly after a trying night.
He rose to his feet, patting Gregory on the shoulder as he walked past them. "If I am not awake in the morning, Gregory can make certain you get home." He headed for the master suite, figuring after cleaning up that Gregory would join him.
"We can stay the night," Matt agreed with a small nod, wincingly getting to his feet to help clean up. "We can see how we feel in the morning." Whether they went to Claire's or not. He had to be at the office, but if Kate needed him to take her there, he'd figure out a way to push back his meetings. "Thank you," he added to Gregory who was also cleaning up with them.
"I'm sorry you all get caught up in this," was Gregory's answer. Not the Fisk part, that had already existed, but the rest of it. "There's a bedroom right there," he pointed to the right, "With a bathroom adjoining if you want."
As they all cleaned up, Gregory's quiet and apologetic approach was welcomed with reassurance. "Hey, don't mention it. We wouldn't leave you on your own." She glanced briefly at Matt. "It's what we do."
It was strange, it almost felt like reconnecting with Greg, since she remembered having long chats with the man back when she was a kid. Whenever he was in the office, waiting for her mom to be done at a meeting, Kate was delighted to caught him and catch up. Tonight? She was doing so under a very different light. With the both of them baring very personal sides of each other.
"I know -- I mean, it goes without saying. But please don't tell anyone about Matt and me? It's always such a mindfuck when people know." It demanded trusting people with Matt's most precious secret. If Fisk could get his proof of Matt being Daredevil, he would probably hit with every asshole attorney out there to get them behind bars. Or even have an excuse for the Task Force to take them down.
Thanking Greg again, Kate wrapped an arm around Matt's waist as they made their way to their room. The place was spacious like a regular, expensive hotel room. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Kate leaned in and pressed her lips softly against his. "Let me," she whispered softly.
Taking her time, Kate helped him strip. The red and black armor came off little by little, with Kate stopping to both assess the damage, and pepper kisses over his body as she did.
Hearing Gregory promise to keep their secrets, Matt could tell from his heartbeat that the man meant it. He gave a small nod of his head, followed by a murmured goodnight. There was never a guarantee of course when it came to knowing their secret. It was always a risk, both to them and the people knowing it. Matt couldn't say that he was happy about it, but he understood the circumstances. It had either been reveal their secret or let a lot of people perish. Of course he'd chosen this one. Gregory was a good man. Hopefully it wouldn't bite them in the ass.
He let out a quiet sigh as Kate helped him undress, feeling her lips gently trail over his various injuries. He returned the favor when she was done, letting hands and lips caress her and see where she was hurt. Finally they were both in just their underwear. Matt could hear Gregory entering the room that Lestat was in but he politely directed his focus elsewhere to where it all became background noise. It was easy enough when he had Kate in front of him to focus on, and he guided them to the bed. Sliding beneath the sheets, he curled up with her, kissing her shoulder. In a low voice to make her laugh he said, "So, having sex in your idol's penthouse hotel room... bad taste or a memory you want to make?" Or both.
Finally under the sheets and curled next to Matt, she almost felt like they were sharing something secretive. Like sharing sneaky kisses while hanging with the Bartons. Having a boyfriend over while you were staying with family. As Matt brought it up, all his secretiveness went out of the window as he stole a wholehearted laugh out of her.
It was almost as if Kate could read his mind. "Both, probably." And yet, she was turning towards him, noses bumping together before she claimed his lips. She was mindful about his wounds and bruises, but also shushed both herself and Matt when passion was interrupted by laughs. A sign of the mere joy of knowing they were still alive. They had protected each other to see a new day.
Thoughts about what Matt said kept coming to Kate's mind - Could Lestat hear them even if they kept it quiet? The vampire probably was busy enough to care, she told herself as she pushed those thoughts away.
Their underwear got lost in the tangles that their sheets became, Kate's hair falling like curtains that framed her face and neck. It caressed Matt's chest and shoulders as their bodies rocked like one, sweat dripping down her curves, making his skin taste salty when her lips met his flesh.
It was a fight for control, not letting themselves lost in the desperation of chasing after that peak, not when their bodies were still sore and felt so fragile. And so they rolled over, whispering words of love, caressing each other, finding ways of reaching that edge together while looking after each other.
Kate passed out in Matt's arms with thoughts of how she'd be happy to spend the rest of her life with him.
I feel like this is a good place to wrap up the scene, but thank you for indulging me in wanting to write Lestat, LOL. That ending was also so sweet and beautifully written from Kate's POV, I love her relationship with Matt. <3
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2026-03-11 10:27 pm (UTC)But was it fair to make her employees face a threat that was sure to come and that they were not even aware of? Her people trained to face criminals, not mythological creatures or covens of witches with a lust for a vampire's head.
The moment Greg endorsed the plan of staying by Lestat's side, Kate sighed with relief.
She hated backing out of a fight.
"You don't need to sign anything. If anything happens, the company has your back," Kate promised Greg. She hated to think of him getting hurt - worse was not even an option - but she would certainly look after him. "Look, I can't risk the rest of my employees. But Daredevil and Hawkeye will be there."
Kate's hold on Matt's hand became tighter, her attention turning towards Matt as she realized she should have checked with him first. "Right? Jess, maybe the others?"
This wasn't just about Lestat. How many people would come to that concert? Were they doing the right thing by them?
She held Lestat's gaze. His almost unnatural blue eyes.
"Bishop Security doesn't back out."
no subject
Date: 2026-03-11 11:04 pm (UTC)Gregory sagged in relief as Kate agreed to let him stay, offering support rather than wiping her hands with a waver. He smiled at Lestat, relieved that he'd finish out the tour. Oh, he had no presumptions that this was a lifelong romance, but he did believe in what the tour stood for. He liked the man he was on tour with. It brought him back a little to his youthful punk days, while also somehow making him feel satisfied with middle age in a way that nobody else could understand. Or few might, at least. The experience of a lifetime, while giving Fisk and witch covens and shitty other vampires the middle finger. While inspiring a new generation. He was more idealistic than Lestat, he knew that, but Lestat wasn't heartless. He'd seen that, too.
Lestat smiled at Gregory and then studied Kate with equal measure. "Not do I, so this will make for interesting times."
He then leaned forward and helped himself to some of the beef while saying in French, 'A declaration of war and trust made over fucking fried cheese and pineapple. I blame you all for that if it fails.'
no subject
Date: 2026-03-11 11:34 pm (UTC)Kate ate, finding herself sharing conspiratory looks with Greg. She was happy for whatever the man had with her idol, in her heart already imagining something deeper and far more romantic. Whatever it was, it was clear that Greg was happy to fight for the other man. Just like Kate would always stand up again if that meant protecting Matt.
Her plate was soon empty and she found herself checking on her partner, leaning into him and quietly talking, finding a little intimacy. Loving gestures and words. Another reminder of what they fought for.
Kate stroked his hair back. "Should we call Claire? How are you feeling?"
no subject
Date: 2026-03-12 12:22 am (UTC)He was glad she trusted him. He wouldn't take it for granted or let her down. He'd tried to be honorable and fair, protecting the others while still putting himself on the line. Kate was doing the same, with Matt. Lestat was... more of a wildcard, but he cared about this show. About those putting it on with him. Even if it was mostly pride, he'd help. Maybe, selfishly, he thought a little of it was personal, too.
At Kate's question, Matt shook his head a little and replied back softly, "I don't need Claire. Nothing I can't shake off." A few broken ribs, a re-injured leg. A busted nose. Sore muscles and bruises, a throat that had been held at a vampire's temper. He was a Murdock. Pain was expected. You got up off the mat. Matt Murdock was a tank despite his build, a man who could take an extraordinary amount of beating and smile as he dealt it right back. Which he knew wasn't normal. "We can go see her if you want, though. If you get looked at, too." Giving Kate an out if she needed to visit Claire.
Gregory then looked at Lestat and asked haltingly, they had fucked but this was new ground, "Do you need to..."
"You can shoot a gun but not say drink blood?" Lestat said dryly. "I'm fine. For now." He was hungry and weak but not desperate. Towards Kate and Matt he added, "There's a spare room if you want. Or I can call the car to take you someplace. It is up to you. There's nobody near the hotel that is a risk as I can tell." He'd kept an ear out for it, not realizing Matt had, too.
no subject
Date: 2026-03-12 10:32 am (UTC)Before work? It was a gamble, trusting Matt would follow. Unless Kate truly needed it.
At Lestat's offer, Kate's attention was divided between both men. But it was clear they were both expecting her decision. "You don't mind if we stay?" She pretty much asked the both of them. Honestly, the hotel was the definition of luxury, something that normally wouldn't phase Kate. But this? This was Lestat the vampire's executive-suite! Probably the presidential one.
"I'm gonna pass-out in the car if we head back home," she told Matt. Besides, the pets would be fine. They were used to early dinners and owners that spent whole nights away from home.
no subject
Date: 2026-03-12 12:50 pm (UTC)He rose to his feet, patting Gregory on the shoulder as he walked past them. "If I am not awake in the morning, Gregory can make certain you get home." He headed for the master suite, figuring after cleaning up that Gregory would join him.
"We can stay the night," Matt agreed with a small nod, wincingly getting to his feet to help clean up. "We can see how we feel in the morning." Whether they went to Claire's or not. He had to be at the office, but if Kate needed him to take her there, he'd figure out a way to push back his meetings. "Thank you," he added to Gregory who was also cleaning up with them.
"I'm sorry you all get caught up in this," was Gregory's answer. Not the Fisk part, that had already existed, but the rest of it. "There's a bedroom right there," he pointed to the right, "With a bathroom adjoining if you want."
no subject
Date: 2026-03-12 07:49 pm (UTC)It was strange, it almost felt like reconnecting with Greg, since she remembered having long chats with the man back when she was a kid. Whenever he was in the office, waiting for her mom to be done at a meeting, Kate was delighted to caught him and catch up. Tonight? She was doing so under a very different light. With the both of them baring very personal sides of each other.
"I know -- I mean, it goes without saying. But please don't tell anyone about Matt and me? It's always such a mindfuck when people know." It demanded trusting people with Matt's most precious secret. If Fisk could get his proof of Matt being Daredevil, he would probably hit with every asshole attorney out there to get them behind bars. Or even have an excuse for the Task Force to take them down.
Thanking Greg again, Kate wrapped an arm around Matt's waist as they made their way to their room. The place was spacious like a regular, expensive hotel room. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Kate leaned in and pressed her lips softly against his. "Let me," she whispered softly.
Taking her time, Kate helped him strip. The red and black armor came off little by little, with Kate stopping to both assess the damage, and pepper kisses over his body as she did.
no subject
Date: 2026-03-12 08:20 pm (UTC)He let out a quiet sigh as Kate helped him undress, feeling her lips gently trail over his various injuries. He returned the favor when she was done, letting hands and lips caress her and see where she was hurt. Finally they were both in just their underwear. Matt could hear Gregory entering the room that Lestat was in but he politely directed his focus elsewhere to where it all became background noise. It was easy enough when he had Kate in front of him to focus on, and he guided them to the bed. Sliding beneath the sheets, he curled up with her, kissing her shoulder. In a low voice to make her laugh he said, "So, having sex in your idol's penthouse hotel room... bad taste or a memory you want to make?" Or both.
no subject
Date: 2026-03-12 08:50 pm (UTC)It was almost as if Kate could read his mind. "Both, probably." And yet, she was turning towards him, noses bumping together before she claimed his lips. She was mindful about his wounds and bruises, but also shushed both herself and Matt when passion was interrupted by laughs. A sign of the mere joy of knowing they were still alive. They had protected each other to see a new day.
Thoughts about what Matt said kept coming to Kate's mind - Could Lestat hear them even if they kept it quiet? The vampire probably was busy enough to care, she told herself as she pushed those thoughts away.
Their underwear got lost in the tangles that their sheets became, Kate's hair falling like curtains that framed her face and neck. It caressed Matt's chest and shoulders as their bodies rocked like one, sweat dripping down her curves, making his skin taste salty when her lips met his flesh.
It was a fight for control, not letting themselves lost in the desperation of chasing after that peak, not when their bodies were still sore and felt so fragile. And so they rolled over, whispering words of love, caressing each other, finding ways of reaching that edge together while looking after each other.
Kate passed out in Matt's arms with thoughts of how she'd be happy to spend the rest of her life with him.
"I love you," she whispered.
Or even an eternity by his side.
OOC
Date: 2026-03-12 08:58 pm (UTC)OOC
Date: 2026-03-12 09:12 pm (UTC)And thank you for always letting me enjoy your talent when you capture your characters so perfectly!
These two have come such a long way and give me joy with every step they take, I love them so much. <333