Chapter Text
Time had its own plans at the Nelson & Murdock & Page office.
Between court hearings, endless paperwork, and meetings, the moment you and Matt had shared in that hotel only weeks before seemed to slowly become a forgotten memory.
The tension was present, yet evidently led nowhere. The lingering glances towards his direction, the way his hand would hover for too long as he’d shimmy past you in the office, and how he’d always manage to find his way into the seat next to you.
You were too sheepish and shy to ask, and he seemed all too busy in his work to answer.
And that’s how you ended up at Josie’s bar with the office, drowning your secret sorrows away in cheap liquor as you yearned for the man across the pool table from you.
Tinkering fairy lights and flickering neon signs, the scent of cigarette smoke and beer hung in the air. Voices and music crammed your ears and skull, Hell’s Kitchen bustling with its night life. Every table top was sticky and drinks were flowing.
Despite this, it was like you were in that hotel room again, in that bed, the warmth of his skin radiating towards you with the scent of skin and soap. The searing sensation of his mouth on yours, the flashing image of his bare body only draped in a towel at his waist.
“Hey, you there?” A voice asked, breaking you out of thought with red pooled cheeks. It was Foggy.
“Yeah — sorry. What were you saying?” You stuttered.
“Well, I was asking if everyone wanted another round…but from the looks of things I think I might be cutting you off.” He teases, placing his empty beer bottle on the corner of the velvet green table.
“I was just…lost in thought — and it’s been a long day, give me a break.” You protest, your empty glass joining his.
“We’ve all been working hard, and it’s been paying off.” Matt chimes in, causing your eyes to meet him once more.
He stood there in all his glory — as he always did. Relaxed cotton button-up missing its tie and rolled at the sleeves to expose his forearms. Red shades perched low on his nose, skin glistening with a warm sheen. Even his hair was little tousled, a sign he had been toying with it.
“Yeah, exactly.” You manage out as best as you can, barely able to hide the sense of indifference in your voice.
“Whatever makes you sleep better at night, me and Karen will grab the next round.” Foggy teases as he trails off, a stumbling and giggling Karen at his side.
After a passing moment, you became hyper aware of the suddenly small distance between you and Matt, secluded in the corner of the bar with only a pool table to separate the both of you.
“Somehow it always ends up with the two of us alone.” Matt comments, a hint of an evil grin on his lips.
You shift your weight from foot to foot. “I have no idea what you mean, Murdock.”
The softest scoff leaves his chest, a hand now resting on his hips. “I’ve never been a fan of hotels but—“
You quickly cut him off. Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was just the sudden rushing into of a topic the two of you had tip toed around for weeks now but whatever his aim was — this wasn't the place.
“May I remind you this is technically a staff event…” you chime, although your body was saying otherwise.
Hammering heart, a twisting stomach, and a familiar warmth between your legs you tried to ignore. Matt had his ways of doing this to you.
“I’d say drinks at Josie’s of all places is hardly a staff event…although travelling for work certainly is.”
A hard breath exhales from your nose. In attempt to change the subject, you grab one of the cue sticks, your other hand swiftly rearranging the pool balls.
“Have you had too much to drink, Matt?” You tease, merely flickering a glance up at him as you lean over the table.
With a quick motion, you knock the cue stick into one of the pool balls, watching it barrel towards a pocket, it sinking it with a loud thud — which was perfectly positioned in front of his crotch where he stood.
Like a saving grace, Foggy and Karen return with a round of drinks before Matt could speak.
“This is definitely my last — if nobody cuts me off, you will not see me at work tomorrow.” Karen hiccups, already sipping vigorously at her mixed drink.
Everyone laughs and you can’t help but feel the tension that lingers after. Passing the cue stick to Foggy, you retrieve your new drink from the nearby table and quickly trail off to the bar.
Squeezing your way along the bar top, you patiently wait to pay the tab for the group, sipping the alcohol and letting it course through your blood warm and steady. Somehow the cramped bar top was less suffocating than the singular presence of Matt.
Just as you began to release the tightness in your shoulders, you feel a familiar warmth hover behind you closely — so close you could feel a wide span of chest brushing against your back.
“Now you’re just doing this on purpose.” You comment, turning to peer your nose over your shoulder.
Matt pointed his head down towards you, lids heavy with his fluttering dark lashes. He slips a heavy hand onto your waist, causing you to melt instead of freeze like you wished for.
“I have no idea what you mean,” he mimics devilishly, “I’m just here to pay the tab.”
“Looks like I beat you to it.” You reply, attempting to not engage in his games.
“I don’t think so.” He husks, leaning in closer to your shoulder. His voice sends a shiver down your back.
Unlike the sheepish playfulness the two of you shared in the hotel, this was darker and more tensioned, unspoken feelings straining each passing moment. It had become a cat and mouse game.
You finish the last sip of your drink, placing the glass on the bar top before swiftly turning to face him, your face only inches away from his. You were thankful the bar was packed and loud, the two of you blurring into the chaos.
“What are you getting at, Matt? Is there something you need to get off your chest?” You press.
“I could ask you the same,” he pushes back, “I may be blind but I can still feel when you’re starring at me all the time.”
Swallowing hard, your eyes trail from his face to his neck, and then to the top of his chest barely peeking through his popped collar. Your gaze only drops from there, the image of him in his towel burning in the forefront of your mind once more.
“Like you said, travelling for work is just a staff event.” You finally manage out, unease wavering in your tone.
“You know that’s not what I meant,” he quickly replies, voice low in his chest. “I already told you how I felt.”
“Which appears to mean nothing as you’ve practically ignored me for three weeks.”
“Ignored you? You were the one ignoring me.” He shoots back, tightening his grip your waist, pulling you almost flush against him.
The sudden silence that fell between the two of you was deafening. Life continued to whirl through the bar, yet your heart was still in your chest.
He hadn’t forgotten about you, and you hadn’t forgotten about him — the both of you were just afraid, unsure of this feeling.
“I wasn’t…I didn’t mean to make you feel that way.” You finally mutter out, face hot with shame and embarrassment. You could barely look him in the eye.
“Give me a chance. Let me show you how I feel.” He practically pleads, although you both know he doesn’t need to beg.
You nod in agreement, and before you knew it, he was paying the tab and almost dragging you out of the bar with his other hand occupied with his cane.
The only destination was his apartment.