Karen was very familiar with nightmares. She had a few here and there when she was a kid, when she was growing up, but they were never anything constant.
They became a constant only recently.
The nightmares started shortly after she met Matt and Foggy. She's learned how to deal with them. She would wake up in a cold sweat, sometimes screaming, and she would sit and just breathe for a bit before getting up to get a glass of water. She never went back to sleep. She would always get ready for the day. She knew any other attempt at sleeping would fail and she knew nothing more but nightmares awaited her.
Both Matt and Foggy noticed.
Foggy asked her if she was sleeping well, noticing the dark circles under her eyes that got more prominent over time. She told him she was fine, just had trouble falling asleep is all.
Matt asked her if she was okay. He noticed her tone wasn't as lively as it usually would be. He noticed something in her tone of voice and he asked her about it. She told him she was fine. Told him it was just some anxiety.
Karen wanted to tell them- but they all had a lot on their plates already at that time. Fisk was a much bigger issue and their relationship was already rocky enough as it was. She didn’t know what happened between Matt and Foggy but she wasn't gonna bother them with anything that didn’t matter at the moment.
She didn’t have the energy for that.
-
Wilson Fisk was put away and Matt and Foggy were talking again. She could tell that their relationship has changed, that it wasn't exactly the same, but it was at least somewhat back to what it was before all this- whatever this was.
She didn’t have it in her to ask either of them for help, even if she desperately wanted to.
-
Matt kissed her and asked her out. She didn’t know how she felt about him. She didn’t know how she felt about Foggy either. She and Foggy had tried dating- but after their disastrous first date, it never went anywhere. Despite that, they never actually talked about what their relationship was- and it never changed. Karen liked that.
Now that her and Matt were seemingly a thing- Karen felt the same. She didn’t feel any different about Matt than she did about Foggy. She knew that she loved them both. She loved them more than anything.
And even if she wasn’t sure if her love was romantic, she was looking forward to their date.
She just wished Matt would stop lying to her.
-
Karen can’t believe she’s kissed and went on a date with Daredevil.
-
Karen woke up, crying and shaking, again.
She couldn’t breathe. There was something around her neck and she couldn’t breathe. Karen struggled to breathe in, her hands going to her neck. She was shaking. She didn’t know what was going on. She couldn’t get a breath in and her neck hurt.
Someone was talking to her. Someone was in front of her, talking to her. She couldn’t see them. It was dark.
“-en, Karen, breathe. Focus on my voice, okay? Just focus on my voice. Try to breathe with me, okay?” Breathe, okay. She could do that. She could try to breathe. Not like it was the one thing she felt like she couldn’t do at the moment.
“Breathe in-” the voice said and Karen tried to follow its instructions. It sounded familiar. She couldn’t place it.
“and breathe out. Great, you’re doing great. Again, okay? Breathe in-” Karen did her best to follow. She breathed in and out, just like the man instructed.
Finally, she felt like she could breathe properly again.
“You’re okay, Karen. You’re home, you’re in your bed. You had a nightmare.” Matt. It was Matt. Why was he here? Didn’t matter. He was here which meant she was safe.
“Matt.” She breathed a sigh of relief and slumped forward, her head resting in her hands as she covered her face.
Matt gently laid a hand on her shoulder and Karen relaxed even more. Matt was daredevil. She was okay. He could protect her. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her. She was okay. She leaned closer into him and Matt let her lean her weight into him.
“You’re okay.” He repeated again, voice soft and gentle.
“Thank you.” She whispered and let Matt envelop her in a hug.
When Karen finally pulled away, she reached for her bedside lamp to turn it on and she finally noticed Matt was in his Daredevil suit.
“Matt? Why are you here?”
“I heard you having a nightmare. You woke up with a panic attack. I was in the area. You should close your windows at night, by the way.” He added the last part with a slight smile.
Karen scoffed and smiled as well.
“Thank you, again.” She said.
"Do you want me to keep you company?" He asked.
Company sounded nice.
"Yeah. I'd like that." Karen admitted and they both walked into the kitchen.
Matt pulled off his mask and set it down on the table and Karen couldn’t help but laugh. Matt frowned, a light smile on his lips as he cocked his head to the side.
"What's so funny?"
"Your hair. It's all over the place." She laughed again as Matt’s frown deepened.
"Ah." He said, trying to somewhat fix it by running his hand through the hair.
"Better?" He asked.
"No." Karen laughed at his defeated look.
"I think it looks cute, don’t worry." She said and Matt laughed a bit at that as well.
This felt nice. It felt comfortable. Karen poured two glasses of water and put one in front of Matt. She sat down across the table from him.
"You want to talk about it?" Matt asked after a short minute of silence. Karen thought about it. Talking about it would probably make her feel better.
"I- I don't know. Maybe." Matt stayed silent, waiting to see if she would continue or if she would change the subject. Karen watched him as he took a sip of his water, his eyes not focused on anything. They were beautiful. She finally took a deep breath.
“It’s always something different. It’s usually stuff that’s already happened- just. Just awful memories. Sometimes it’s about you or Foggy getting hurt.” She stopped to take a sip. Matt’s head was cocked to the side as he listened to her. She was sure he had his fair share of nightmares.
"I- Sometimes I dream about that night. The night when I almost got strangled in custody. It's always the same. I can't breathe and I can't defend myself and when I finally run out of air I wake up. That’s the one I had tonight." Karen said.
It was silent for a moment before Matt realized Karen wasn’t going to continue and he spoke again. “You’re alright now, Karen. You know I’ll keep you safe.”
“I know, yeah. Still doesn’t make the memories easier.”
Matt nodded and his lips pulled into a thin line.
"Do you want to try and sleep again?" He asked and Karen frowned a bit.
"I don’t know. I can never fall back asleep after a nightmare. And- and if I do fall asleep I just. Wake up again."
Matt nodded again, muttering a quiet "ah. Another nightmare I presume?"
"Yeah." Karen brought her glass to her lips and finished her water.
"Would- would it, ah, help, if someone was with you?" Matt asked carefully. Karen was taken aback by the question. Was Matt offering to stay with her? Was he offering to sleep in her bed? Or just watch over her while she slept? That last thought made her snort a bit- she would have her own guardian Devil.
"I- I don't know."
"Just a thought." Matt’s light smile put Karen on ease. She liked the idea of having someone there with her.
"I mean- it's worth a try? Don’t you need to go back out again though?" She inquired. Surely he had some robbery or murder to stop. Hell’s kitchen wasn’t exactly the most peaceful place. Matt shrugged.
"It's quiet tonight. Nothing for me to do. And I could use some rest." Matt admitted. Karen bit her lip before nodding to herself.
"Okay. Okay, we can try." She stood up and took both their glasses to put them in the sink.
She turned around and bit her lip. "Do you have some clothes to change into? I don't imagine the armor is comfortable." She asked him, looking at the Daredevil outfit he still had on.
"Oh, uh. No. I don’t have a change of clothes."
"I'll give you something of mine. Wait here." She left to grab her most comfortable hoodie she had and some soft sweatpants that were a bit too loose for her. Hopefully they'd fit Matt.
"Here. These are the softest things I own so hopefully they'll be acceptable." She handed him the clothes. She didn't miss the way the corners of his lips turned upwards in a smile. She remembered him talking about his sensory issues. Matt thanked her and Karen went to lie down in her bed to give him some privacy as she waited for him to change.
A short while later, Matt walked over to the bed and climbed in next to her. Karen turned to look at him as he made himself comfortable and as he turned to his side to face her as well, his unseeing eyes focused somewhere over her ear.
They were silent for a bit before Karen whispered a "thank you."
Matt just smiled.
"Good night, Karen."
"Night, Matt." She closed her eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep.
-
Karen woke up to the sun shining in her eyes. She stirred, blinking rapidly, trying to get accustomed to the light. There was a weight across her midsection and there was warmth radiating from behind her.
Matt was cuddling her.
He was holding her from behind and Karen couldn't help the surprised noise that escaped her at the realization. She knew Matt wasn't a touchy person. Foggy was the one for physical contact and he was the most affectionate person of the three of them. He was there to give them a hug when they needed one. Matt seemed to shy away from physical contact. He was always stiff and even seemed uncomfortable when hugged at times. There were rare occasions when Matt would sink into the arms of whoever was holding him, but those were rare occurrences. Neither Karen nor Foggy initiated physical contact with him unless he seemed like he needed a hug or a pat on the back. If he didn’t want to be touched, he’d simply pull away.
So Karen was surprised to wake up to Matt literally cuddling her. His face was pressed into her back. Despite how strange this felt, Karen couldn't help but smile. Matt stirred a bit and Karen realized she felt well rested. She actually slept through the rest of the night without any nightmares. She tried to move but Matt's hold on her just tightened. She wiggled a bit and turned around to face him. He was still asleep and still holding her close. He looked adorable. And he looked relaxed. Matt was always so stiff and it felt strange seeing him so relaxed. She couldn't help but watch as he slept. It was the perfect moment- until Karen got startled by her phone ringing.
That seemed to finally wake Matt up, but instead of pulling away like Karen expected him to- he just squeezed her harder and refused to let go. Karen laughed.
"Matt- Matt I need to get the phone." Matt just grumbled in response but his grip loosened and Karen managed to reach over to her bedside table to take the call.
Foggy.
Shit. They had work today. And they were both late.
"Hey, Foggy." Karen accepted the call and greeted the man.
"Karen! Where are you? You're late! And Matt is nowhere to be seen and he's not picking up my calls and-"
"Shit I forgot I had my phone at home" Matt grunted as he finally started pulling away from Karen.
"...Matt?" Foggy asked over the phone.
"Karen, did I just hear Matt? Was that Matt? Where are you guys! Is he okay? Please tell me he's not hurt again-" Karen said, amusement clear in her voice.
"Foggy, Foggy, relax. Matt's fine. Just grumpy that you woke him up. He stayed over at my place for the night."
"....I'm not even gonna ask I don't wanna know-"
"It wasn't like that, Foggy. It was- it’s nothing." Karen laughed at Foggy's implications.
"We're talking about this later! Now get up and get in here, the both of you, I can't run Nelson, Murdock and Page with just Nelson!"
“Page, Murdock and Nelson you mean?” Matt asked, leaning close to Karen to talk into her phone. Karen laughed at Foggy's protests.
"We'll be right there Foggy." Karen promised before she hung up.
Karen sighed and got up from the bed to get ready. She was about to go into the bathroom when Matt spoke up.
“Karen?” Matt was now sitting on the bed, but he made no move to get up.
“Yeah?”
“I don’t have my work clothes with me.” He was sitting on the bed still dressed in her clothes and the Daredevil suit laying on a nearby chair.
“You are absolutely not coming into the office in your fetish gear.”
“It’s not fetish gear-” Matt started to protest and Karen couldn’t help but imagine Matt in his Daredevil getup in court. She couldn't help but laugh at that mental image.
-