2196/The Kitten of Hell's Kitchen

The Kitten of Hell's Kitchen
Date of Scene:	23 June 2020
Location:	6C - Matt Murdock
Synopsis:	Matt and Daisy get a cat and talk about the path their lives have taken.
Cast of Characters:	Matthew Murdock, Daisy Johnson

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Matthew Murdock has posed:
For all the years Foggy has been bugging Matt to get a dog, it's fitting that when Matt does decide to get a pet, the stubborn lawyer gets a cat. Well, he wasn't alone in this decision to be honest, it was one he and Daisy had made together. Something to add a little life and warmth to the admittedly stark loft they share.

In truth, Matt hadn't been sure about it, wasn't a pet a prelude to kids? And their lives weren't the sort to make that possible. Hard to be a reliable parent if you're rushing off to battle Hydra or ninja at 3am. He was overthinking of course, a pet was just a pet, but Matt'd be lying if he said the thoughts hadn't been there, until the little blue-grey ball of fur they now had in a pet carrier, nudged his hand with a warm and soft head, and purred so contentedly. Five minutes later, Matt was sold on it, and said ball of fur was packed up and going home with them, along with a feeder, a water fountain, litter box and accompanying litter.

The cat mews plaintively as the elevator reaches Matt's floor at last and he leads the way out into the hall, doing away with his cane for a minute given his arms are full of cat stuff. "Can you get the door and get him inside?" he asks Daisy from behind the pile. Why him? Because they've yet to settle on a name of course.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
They had followed Doctor Winslow's advice, or Calvin Zarbo in another life, the father Daisy had been looking for all these years and had now been made to forget her in order to have a new life.. And that was to go to one of the animal shelters in the area to adopt. They had done just that, looking about, but when the blue menace had approached up to Matt and done it's 'ritual' it was when Daisy had grinned. Yes, that was the one they were going to take home.

Of course that now Daisy was having her own doubts, because being the rebel that she was, and having never owned a pet (just the occasional stray dog that lived out in the streets same as her in the past), she wondered if this responsibility was something she could take up to. "Sooo..., is it too late to share I have never had a pet?" though she did have youtube to at least figure out how to take care of one!

Getting out onto the elevator she grins, reaching up to pick up the carrier and peek at the cat. "Hello there.." she says, then wandering to the door to unlock it. Home sweet home!

The door is left open for Matt to come in, she walking to the living room and placing the carrier on their couch. As for helping Matt with all the cat stuff? Nope! Matt he is a big boy afterall, he can handle it.

Matthew Murdock has posed:
Matt's laugh is warm as he says, "Might be yeah. Though between you and me, neither. Dad thought a dog would distract me from school growing up and then close as I got was the class gerbil at St. Agnes," he smiles a bit about that. "So, we're both jumping into the deep end here."

Matt takes a moment and lets his senses rest on Daisy taking her in, gauging the depths of her worry. "I'm nervous about it too, it's very, real isn't it. Like we're close to having what passes for a 'normal' life."

When Daisy looks inside the carrier, the cat looks back with lantern eyes, the grey blue of his fur broken by the opening of his mouth as he offers up a little 'mew' in return. Matt could feel its little heart hammering, all of this was very new for the young cat, just as it was for him and Daisy.
"Think he's a little nervous too," he offers with a smile finding some comfort in that thought.

Once inside Matt puts all the cat things down on the kitchen bar, and stretching he pads over to the couch, where now that the carrie was settled the cat is stalking cautiously towards the door and peering about.

"So, shall we let him get to know his new home?" Matt asks. "I think we got the place as cat proof as we can make it." There'd been a video on that of course.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
The gerbil. That makes Daisy wince. But she had never been around long enough to be given the responsibility... Or hol' up, now that she thinks on it, WHY had she never been given the responsibility. She grumps a little at that. No faith in her those nuns! "Well, at least you were trusted enough for -that-." she says, sharing a brief chuckle while getting settled in on the couch next to the lil fighter.

"I am not sure we have anything that resembles a normal life, Matt." She considers, her eyes turning down to watch the small cat while it moves about, a faint smile settling on her expression. "But it does feel good, if this is what a more normal life thing means, and the balance we need." her eyes look up as Matt approaches and joins up on the couch.

"And yes, he looks the type that likes exploring." She grins. "Nothing shall be left unturned. Say goodbye to your nice couch though!" she 'threatens' in a good natured manner. Because yes, there had been videos on how to make the house cat proof (hopefully good videos!).

Reaching down she starts to open up the carrier to let him out. "So, have you thought on a name?" as she reaches down to the door the cat gives little paw touches on it, perhaps eager to be let out.

Matthew Murdock has posed:
Matt laughs. "I was trusted with him once," he counters good naturedly making sure the cat stuff wasn't going to fall over. "After I put it in Sister Maggie's habit that one time, they figured I wasn't 'responsible' enough." A grin then. "Though all they had was circumstantial evidence that it was me." Not that Maggie needed more to, rightly, sentence him to kitchen duty for a week for the crime.

He laughs again making his way over the couch, he leans over to kiss Daisy's cheek before he rounds the couch and sits, "Yeah, this normal thing isn't bad," a smile is given Daisy's way. "Though I am sure that's mostly the company."

There's a slight groan from Matt before he says, "Well, I knew there'd be some sacrifices to be made for this, if the couch is one of them so be it."

The cat does seem eager to be let out and when Daisy opens the door he tumbles forward eagerly before he comes up short to peer around his unfamiliar surroundings and the two big people he met at the shelter. Matt smiles and holds out his hand, and the cat watches him a moment before he headbutts him, trying to urge some scritches which are given over immediately. "Still pondering about the names. I thought about Devil but that's a bit on the nose," he says, and not to mention dangerous to keeping his secret identity secret. "Maybe Jack? After my dad?" he asks, though by his face that's not quite a match either. "Any ideas? Director Furry maybe?" he teases.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
"And for some reason I can imagine you trying just that, stating all they had was ..., circumstantial evidence." Daisy laughs as well, perhaps imagining the scene then letting out a disapproving tsk. "A shark from the start. Such a shame. But sister Maggie always had a soft spot for you." not for her though! Before the devil of hell's kitchen Daisy had been introduced to devil Sister Maggie. Maybe it runs in the family... "With all we talk about St. Agnes we will have to visit it again soon." she suggests.

But then her focus turns down to the little rascal they have between them. "Might be the company because, yea.., I don't see us to be the types getting normal jobs, with a normal life. It's just not us." Though then again they are young!

With the door opening up she also reaches over, giving the russian blue a little tease on the side which brings a small mew out of him but then she contents herself in watching Matt play with him.

"He instantly took a liking to you. Must be a personality thing." As the names are shared she appears to mostly agree, biting on her lower lip in thought yet that last one makes her stiffle up laugh but then she begins to actually giggle. "Director Furry. Really?" Oh, she can imagine it by now. But no, no need to bring Fury's wrath upon her just yet. She will wait until he is introduced to Fury's Furies.

"Jack seems good, mmm, maybe something close to it like Boxer?" then she leaning over to say in a quiet whisper. "Boxer by day, Director Furry by night." because everyone that lives in their house needs an alter ego!

Matthew Murdock has posed:
Matt shoulders shake with a chuckle, "I'm not denying any of that," he says about being a shark from the start. After all his first question at having been accused of the pank was, 'Did anyone say they saw who did it?'. Yep. A born shark. "Yeah, not that it did me any favours with the other kids though, you included, getting spared the wrath of Sister Maggie." He smiles still about that before giving Daisy a nod. "And yeah, we should, they're doing a charity food drive thing next weekend maybe we can stop in and help out."

The cat turns when his side is tickle and makes a mighty pounce for that hand! It might be mighty but it isn't far, no more than a couple of inches, but he still gives chase to the hand while it's pulled out of reach.

Matt smiles as he tracks the Kitten's progress. Feeling it grow more at ease as it's allowed to follow its deeply bred instincts, to hunt and chase. If the hand is caught he will vallianly wrestle with it.

"Seems fond of you too," he grins as he senses the chase of Daisy's hand. "Heck of a little fighter," he adds.

He chuckles about Fury before considering the name Daisy suggests. "Boxer," he says. "That could work," he says, reaching down to pick up the cat as he shifts over so he's leaned against Daisy He holds the cat up in front of both of them. "What do you think? Is Boxer a good name for you?" he asks the cat with a laugh as the cat flails his paws and mews.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
"A charity food drive? Mmmm..." That leaves Daisy thinking. Could be an idea. "Sounds like a plan." with hopefully no SHIELD emergency cropping up and calling her attention!

The attack on her hand makes her laugh though and while she teases that she is bringing the hand away she then reaches back in, letting it be pounced by the small fighter and she entering a 'deadly' struggle with the kitten, wrestling about before leading him in a chase about the couch. "Of course he is fond of me." her tone teasing, looking up at Matt, "Simply means he is following up on your footsteps." and yes, Daisy is waggling her eyebrows now.

When the cat is picked up and they stand next to one another she allows her head to rest against Matt's shoulder, relaxedly, one of his hands resting on the man's thigh while the other goes up, a fingertip brushing over a paw. "Noone will chastise you if you prefer Director Furry too." she adds with a grin. "Though seems he is more of a fighter than a director, mmm? A lil boxer."

Matthew Murdock has posed:
Same went for Matt and sudden ninja attacks, but then like they said their life was hardly normal. "We'll try to make it then."

He laughs, sensing the 'life or death' struggle going on beside him. "Well he does have good taste then," he smiles before he shifts over and holds up the cat for them.

The cat mews, and continues to struggle, paws waving in the air. "Seems like a boxer to me," Matt says with a grin setting Boxer down between them again.

"And yeah, Director Furry can be his codename, so he can fit in with the rest of us."

Daisy Johnson has posed:
The agreement comes from Daisy in the ways of a nod. A boxer indeed with it's paws reaching out to take on any challengers. "We will have to teach him some moves.." she jests, giving the devil a little bump on his shoulder with her forehead, much like a cat, teasing him before her attention goes back up to Boxer. "And he seems to like it too." she again reaches up with her hand, letting it be taken by it's paws and then nibbled on. A brief 'poke' to it's nose and then her hand comes back out again.

"Ready to join the big leagues? Be a part of the Defenders?" She tells him, brushing her hand over his fur when he's put back down. Yes, it does seem like there's a new Director in town.

Turning her head up she then leans over to Matt, placing a soft kiss on the side of his mouth. "It is getting very real, isn't it?"

Matthew Murdock has posed:
Attention on the kitten Matt smiles, "Looks like he has some moves of his own," he says as the cat tries to leap at Daisy's hand only to fall over in a pile of soft and furry limbs and get back up again. "Or at least he knows it's not how often you fall down, it's that you get back up again." Wisdom his dad had taught him.

"I think he'd fit right in," Matt says of the Defenders. "But maybe he should wait until he's punched an iguana and stolen its chi."

A smirk there for the inevitable Danny joke.

Then, much more seriously, he nods, "It is. You okay with it? Things getting real?"

Daisy Johnson has posed:
"That's some good, solid wisdom right there." Daisy comments about that piece from Matt's dad. And in a way she does suspect that was right where he learned that. She grins at him, placing another kiss on the man's cheek. "I think it's a thing with us, always getting back up no matter what may try to get us down." she murmurs, picking the cat up gently on her hands and then setting him on her lap. All the excitement is taking a toll already afterall, a small cat yawn visible, but he seems to still have some more spirit left.

"Here I was thinking you still didn't believe that, placing it all in the land of magic karate stuff. Or that's only JJ?" She chuckling and relaxing back on the couch now.

The last question, and the seriousness of it, makes her attention return to Matt. "Yes, I am." she says without hesitation on her voice. "I think we deserve a chance, don't we? After everything.."

Matthew Murdock has posed:
"I've always thought so," Matt says. "It's one of the things my dad taught me," he says confirming Daisy's guess without it being verbalized. The kiss brings a smile to Matt's lips as does the kitty yawn. "Looks like he has to work his way up to going the distance." Boxer was already trying to find a place to nap in Daisy's lap.

"Honestly, I'm not sure, we've all experienced some weird stuff lately, so who knows," he says before grinning. "Maybe magic karate is a thing."

"We definitely deserve it," he says. "And while I was scared about all of this at first, now, after these last few weeks, I can't really imagine living any other way."

Daisy Johnson has posed:
"He will also need to learn to tolerate your jokes." Daisy says as the small cat has finished nestling up, closing it's eyes. She grins and adds in a teasing manner. "Because look, you are already making him sleep with those." a thumb brushing over one of Boxer's ears but then she leaves him be for the moment.

"And yea? Any kind of weirdness I should be aware of?" Her brows furrowing together, "It reminds me we still got to take care of that suit. Eventually. Not everyone can just wear a shirt around the head, you know?" perhaps in allusion to a certain previous encounter!

Though she also seems to relax, letting out a breath, "Well, there -is- another way I could see us being together." a small pause for suspense. ".. Out in my van."

Matthew Murdock has posed:
"/My/ jokes?" Matt asks brows raising with so much skepticism. "You've made your share of groaners too," he says, grinning.

Sliding an arm around Daisy's shoulder he holds her close, senses feeling Boxer's heartbeat and breathing slow as the little cat drops off to sleep. "That's new," he says of his jokes making him sleep. "Mostly they just make people leave," he jokes.

"Ninja," answers about the weirdness. "This group I was telling you about called the Hand, they set an ambush for us in Chinatown, that thing with the warehouse that burned down. Apparently they let us know about the artifacts they were supposedly smuggling there to lure us in. We got some intel though, going to get another chance to stop this weapon of theirs."

Taking a moment to consider his words Matt smiles wryly. "Intel and weapons and I'm the one of us who /isn't/ a superspy," he remarks offhand before continuing.

"And yeah my guy, Melvin, he's ready to see you about a new suit. I need one too, something to wear under my clothing, the thing at the airport showed me I'm not always going to be able to grab a t-shirt when the shit hits the fan."

There's a laugh for the idea of the two of them living in the van together. "/That/ would be interesting, though our little taste of that life a few months back wasn't, /horrible/," he teases giving her shoulders a quick squeeze.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
"Nothing wrong with my jokes. Everyone approves of them, even Boxer." Daisy replies, noting those raised brows and grinning. The arm around her seems welcome, her own head resting on Matt's shoulder relaxedly. "And even if they aren't good to begin with I always make a comeback on a later round." there. Corny.

With Boxer now taking a break from all the excitement she turns her head a bit up at Matt, listening. "The Hand, right. Hopefully there isn't a Foot running around too." oh if only she knew! But the joke is briefly replaced by a more intent look, taking note about the ambush. "So they are on to what you are up to. Maybe it's time to turn the tables on them. Hit them where it hurts." she says, though the mention of being a superspy makes her grin, "Just a spy, my superspy certificate hasn't arrived yet. But working on it. I could tell you all about the exams, but then I'd have you ..." she trailing off and squeezing Matt on the side with one of her hands. And yes, she knows he can be tickly. Lips them press together when Matt speaks of a second outfit. "Probably not a lot of protection with one of those though." but then again she has yet to know magical Melvin and his suits! "You do tell me he is real good so we will see."

But then she is laughing along at the van comment. She shakes her head and sticks her tongue out. "Now imagine doing that every day, mmm?"

Matthew Murdock has posed:
"You were doing well there until you proved my case for me," Matt observes his smile turned wry.

The talk of the Hand has expression growing more serious, even as he points out, "Actually, I've heard rumours?" though he doesn't go further into that, one body part ninja group at a time thank you very much!
5rAs for hitting them where they hurt? "We're going to hit them again after laying low for a bit, use the intel that they don't know we have to hit their Gotham and Starling locations, dig up local help if we can find it, Beyond that, we know much about their organization. One of their leaders, Nobu, died in that airport thing, and another one was at the warehouse, a man named Bakudo." He doesn't outwardly ask Daisy to look into the name, but the question is implied, to pick up or not as she chose.

The superspy stuff brings him back to some degree of levity, and he smiles, "Noted," he says of what she'd have to do if she told him, before adding, with a mock serious expression. "Though might be a relief compared to dealing with these jokes."

"Yeah, that's the trade off, protection for subtlety. Not planning to wear it out nights, just have it under my work clothes in case Daredevil is needed somewhere I didn't anticipate."

Matt laughs though as Daisy retorts about living in the van. "Hmm, yes I aim imaging that right now?" he grins. "I may need a few moments more to keep imagining."

Daisy Johnson has posed:
The names mentioned by Matt are joted down mentally. Something to look into most certainly, "I don't expect those to be real names but ...." the way she finishes that does seem to imply she will indeed be looking into the matter. Nothing like using SHIELD resources to hunt ninjas!

"You can't run from my jokes, Mr. Murdock." The squeeze turning into a bit of a tickling on his side, "Nowhere is safe. It reminds me I may have to start sending you some voice mail with a few." she murmurs teasingly. Yet as Matt speaks about imagining about things she lets out a brief laugh.

"Only a few moments more..?" she asks, reaching to place a kiss on the man's cheek. "Could be something for you to imagine the whole night." is there no end to this woman's teasing?!

Matthew Murdock has posed:
Well what's the fun in having a girlfriend working for the world's premier intelligence agency if you don't abuse the perks from time to time? Not that Matt isn't guilty. "Guess I should know better than to expect a hacker not to look into a mystery. Didn't mean to throw a baited hook out there for you like that, but guess I did," he puts his hand on hers. "Thanks, Daisy. Anything you find would be a help."

Matt squirms from the tickling turning sideways to avoid the uncalled for assault! "Clealry no escape," he agrees, looming above her his face turned down towards her.

"Well if you're offering to help me imagine, I think Boxer might appreciate the chance for a nap," Matt grins, senses flicking over the cat who had tucked himself into a tiny ball of fur and heat.