If the Lord ain't with them, at least don't let the Devil in [ for fightlikehell ]

[juststeverogers]

It's six am when Steve gets up--makes his bed and tidies up his mostly spotless apartment. Getting up early has never been a problem for Steve and even less of one when he's got things to look forward to. The tiny fake tree is still sitting up by the window, one present underneath that never got claimed.

He waits until it's a quarter till seven before he starts the coffee, and starts rummaging through his kitchen to get what he thinks they'll need.

Breakfast and faith sound like a good way to begin the day.

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[fightlikehell]

When you get to sleep like a decent person, not one who is pounding the pavement to patrol and protect the innocent or anything, you sleep enough to get up early. Matt exercises a little, showers and is out in the morning hoping that he's heading the way that he should to got to Steve. Two bibles under his arm and a thawed steak in a bag danging as he taps his cane over the sidewalk. He's starting to get a real sense of familiarity for the area. Mr. Roger's building must have a peeping tom. There's a very distinct feeling of being watched when he arrives.

Matt fishes out his phone to notify his friend. It's going to be a good day indeed.

[juststeverogers]

This Steve Rogers doesn't know what that's like. Not that he wouldn't be able to sympathize. He has a genuine Avenger for a friend, and his own father figure future self is Captain freaking America. And it is most definitely one of their faults that Steve has a huge fluffy green Hulk themed coat hanging in his closet now.

Steve meets him halfway on the stairwell, or maybe further up if Matt can hear Steve leaving his apartment and hurries. Still smells like that pine candle in there too. Not that Matt would know that from downstairs. That would just be weird. Steve stops abruptly when he catches sight of the lawyer, laughing weakly.

"I'd have met you at the door, sorry sorry. Coffee's ready though."

[fightlikehell]

One of these days Steve is going to get a restorative yoga lesson or a tai chi tape. They're gentle and still exercises. Something in the house out of the cold. Though he really should find more excuses to wear that jacket. The fabric makes a whisk noise when he moves his arms.

Weird smell perception is right up Matt's alley. Whoops. "It's fine. I was trying to remember how far up." The trick there is counting the steps. No other sense is required.

"How's it going? Good morning."

[juststeverogers]

"I'm on the top floor, so it's pretty easy." It's easy to hear Steve grinning as he turns back to head up the stairs. Matt may be surprised to learn what kinds of things Steve does with his free time nowadays. The jacket totally makes that noise when he moves his arms, and he has matching green fist gloves that are the cheap polyester knit when he touches Matt's arm.

"Can I help carry anything?"

[fightlikehell]

"The top can seem a lot farther up." And is there even roof access? Good question. Matt follows just behind the tread of his steps.

"Only if you want to. Here's the one you'll be using. The other, the thicker one. That's mine." The Murdock family bible is also more worn looking. "I got the steak. I promise."

[juststeverogers]

That is a good question Steve has no clue about the answer to. He has never tried to go up there yet. It's too cold for him to want to do much exploring.

Steve is gentle--so gentle--with the worn family bible. He takes a deep breath when he accepts it, as if knowing its value just by looking at it. There's a pang of homesickness that makes Steve squeeze his eyes shut and stutter in his steps for just a moment, before he leads them back to his apartment. Nice and warm inside as usual, and smelling of freshly brewed coffee. The slim man only has the faintest wheeze to his breathing from the shorter stairs trip, and doesn't seem bothered much by it as he sets the two bibles aside on his coffee table before heading back to the kitchen to start pulling out ingredients.

"Thanks for popping over. I figured it'd be easier if you showed me where to go. It's too cold out there for me to be up to very much adventuring these days." He's been going right to the market for groceries and right back home again, for the most part. "Need me to give you a run down of the kitchen?"

[fightlikehell]

A question Matt will answer for another time. He might not be scaling the rooftops all that much in Nexus but he has these thoughts for the just in case scenarios that won't leave.

The quiet moment and slow of the other man's steps are clear that he's having a moment. Matt keeps to himself until they get inside the apartment. The warmth and smell of coffee break the feeling. Steve's humble place is pleasant, welcoming.

"You're welcome. It's nothing. And it has been very cold. Your present is getting a lot of use." The fur is warm and that air does make one's throat feel icy. Matt follows Steve to the kitchen but not before depositing his coat over the back of the couch and his cane to a corner.

"Sure. I mean, I literally can only cook steak and toast."

[juststeverogers]

"I'm glad." Steve positively beams at the praise that his present has been able to help Matt out. He'll shuck his coat and gloves in the entryway and wait until Matt is situated before he reaches for the man's free hand and touches it gingerly to various things, explaining as he goes.

"Refrigerator. Cream for your coffee is on the top shelf at the right. Can't miss it. Coffee machine, careful, it's hot further down. It's a drip style, so here's the handle for the pot. Always facing right. Counter work space, sink --Garbage is in the cabinet underneath the sink on the right. Stove. Controls are on the front and pan is in the drawer underneath. Cupboards with plates, bowls and cups." He lets go of Matts' hand with the tour over.

"I'd be happy to get or do anything for you, but I...I sorta figured you would rather make do on your own." Matt can take care of himself. And Steve wants to believe he can do just about anything as good or better than anyone else. "I'm going to be just here, dicing some potatoes up."

[fightlikehell]

It's a trusting touch and Matt stays attentive as he is guided along. The refrigerator hums just so. The coffee has a very lovely, heavy odor that comes at Matt immediately. The cool of the counter top is next. The stove isn't so different from one he has at home, thankfully. Pretty straightforward.

"Thanks, pal." There's a pan ready for him and he clicks the stove to life. It comes on pretty fast. "When did you decide to pick up the culinary arts?"

[juststeverogers]

"I was told under no uncertain terms that my eating habits weren't acceptable here, so I decided to learn." You'd think he'd admitted to supporting dog fights the way Verity and Samus had reacted. He'd like to see them live through the Depression with sophisticated palettes and balanced meals. You ate what was cheapest and you boiled everything to make sure it wouldn't make you sick.

"Stuff does taste better this way, but...I guess I was kinda upset at the time that I was being treated like I couldn't take care of myself." He had gotten pretty sick after the Halloween ball, but that wasn't his fault. Folks mean well, and he knows that. He really does. "Oh, I'm learning some of that yoga stuff from Samus. Verity's personal trainer. I'm not allowed to do it on my own yet. But..I remembered you saying you liked it."

Steve makes short work of the leftover potatoes he'd baked the night before, cutting them up small before tossing them in a oiled pan to crisp up nicely.

"Plus, It keeps me from living in the past too much. Cooking. I mean. Having a hobby that isn't my art."

[fightlikehell]

"Unacceptable? Mighty harsh... what did you eat?" Clearly not all that much but the what really is what gets Matt's attention. Steve's a small guy. But did he eat TV dinners all the time? That's His own pitfall. TV dinners and take out mixed with smoothies and protein bars make up the meals that aren't made by a restaurant. Growing up with just a father who was none too skilled also took the fun out of sandwiches for the rest of Matt's life.

"Sometimes we just kinda need a kick in the head to rouse us. It's never easy to take. I mean, I say that as a terrifically flawed person. Are you seeing a difference aside from taste?" Health improvement hopefully. Whatever Steve's got it keeps going.

The steaks are already defrosted and have been seasoned in the bag. Now it's a matter of cooking it. And that's all based on Matt's nose. Hope you like it done well, Steve. They sizzle as they're carefully laid in the pan. Coffee can wait just a moment longer at least until it's set in.

"Oh yeah? How do you like the yoga? It's not for everybody." That's usually the disclaimer. Matt on the other hand loves moving. And it's something he can do that isn't always so violent.

The smell and sound of the potatoes with the steak only beginning to warm remind Matt of how hungry he is. "Keeping busy sure does bring the present into your face more."

[juststeverogers]

"Canned spaghetti, vegetables. Oatmeal. Stuff that was familiar." Things that are cheap. Processed foods isn't a thing Steve knows is a problem, and buying anything but the absolute cheapest food was a hard habit to break. "I make enough off my commissions to get pretty much whatever but..." He shrugs weakly.

It takes him a moment to realize Matt doesn't see the gestures.

"Growing up when I did, it's been hard, learning that I can spend a little bit extra to get good stuff rather than just getting by." He's getting used to it slowly. "The yoga? It's not easy, but I like it. Some of the stuff is hard to do, with my scoliosis and the like, but I'm managing."

With the steak and potatoes cooking away on the stovetop, Steve takes a moment to wash his hands and pour himself a mug of coffee before digging into the fridge for the carton of eggs.

"Scrambled eggs okay?"

[fightlikehell]

"Oh," his face can't stay neutral. He lost Matt at the idea of canned pasta. "I grew up on plenty of uh interesting meal choices. I can attest to how hard it is to break habits." And let's focus on the positive. "You got help. That's the best part."

Growing up when... jeez he is at least fifty to sixty years from Matt's present time. Talk about adapting skills. "Maybe we could practice together sometime. It's not about how flexible you are, just how it feels for you." Steve deserves good feelings physically or the inescapable good vibes of some yoga flow.

Matt pokes the steak and determines that it's not ready to flip. His method is chiefly reliant on smell and sound. Sometimes taste for better or worse.

"Scrambled is my favorite. It kinda ends up that way when I give it a try."

[juststeverogers]

"You wouldn't mind?" Steve doesn't want to hold Matt back with his practices or training. But all Samus said was that he couldn't do it alone. She didn't say he couldn't do it with someone else now and again. "I'd appreciate it, then."

Matt's free hand gets a tap after a moment or two, and Steve nudges a mug of coffee prepared the way he likes it against said hand so he knows where it is.

"Coffee's up." Steve isn't terribly worried about how breakfast will taste. He has pretty low expectations, if we're being honest. Most anything tastes better than the stuff he grew up eating.

"Yeah I....haven't managed eggs that weren't scrambled, if we're being honest." Steve laughs at himself. "Glad you approve."

[fightlikehell]

"Not a bit. I mean, maybe you could lead it so I know what you're most comfortable with if you're familiar with a routine or something. It won't have to be too long."

He pauses at the tap, the smell and feel of the cool porcelain mug reminds him how much he needs the stuff. "Ohh. How could I even forget?" Matt takes a sip. Already he's perking up a little more. He now flips the steak. "This reminds me I need to get a coffee machine or something." Based on smell this should go well. And when all else fails, there's salt, pepper and ketchup.

"I appreciate you asking." He laughs and shakes his head. "Scrambled just...brings out a good taste. Sometimes if I'm feeling ambitious I'll try and hard boil them."

[juststeverogers]

"Miss Siri knows how to make really really good hard boiled eggs. I make those to put in salads. Makes eating a bowl of yard trimmings a bit more palatable." He's chuckling, but Steve doesn't sound like he really minds eating his vegetables.

The potatoes get a stir and then Steve's got a fork and is beating the ever loving bajeesus out of the eggs he has in a bowl. Once they are thoroughly beaten he adds a bit of half and half and gets back to work. Salt, pepper beat beat beat. Whew.

"Eggs won't take long. I'll start on them as soon as the potatoes are done." Steve sips at his own cup of coffee and smiles, watching Matt cook. Having someone else in the apartment with him is nice. It's hard to realize just how much he missed having someone to talk to over breakfast until there's company again. Steve's gaze slips back toward the tree, and the present left underneath yet.

He's so weak. Steve would be on his own anyway, with Bucky in the service. It shouldn't be an excuse. Why can't he be stronger? Something smells like it's getting a little too golden crispy, so Steve hurries back to the stove and stirs the potatoes again. Crispy outsides, fluffy insides--good to go. Onto a plate they go and Steve drops a pat of butter into the now-empty pan and swirls it before dumping the eggs in and starting on those.

"Admittedly breakfast is a good place to start learning to cook. Most stuff is pretty easy."

[fightlikehell]

"She--" holy cow is he really talking like this? Matt smiles and shrugs but keeps going, "she really knows almost everything." Sometime he'll just have to come out and explain it. Until then there really is no need. "You could devil em too. I forgot. I can do that too. Not that impressive but tasty." Daredevil eggs.... that's his own personal joke right there.

The steak is coming along satisfactory. He asks for the salt rather than reaching for it. Some things just... don't quit. Steve is on Matt's list for people to properly explain his condition. It's not fair to keep the guy in the dark.

It takes a moment to realize that his company has fallen silent. Fixed still and half faced away, Matt can't exactly tell what it is that's got him in such a reverie. "Steve?" It's just a moment, only a handful of heartbeats and it's gone.

"So they tell me. I just... have been putting off learning. Weird how food is so accessible and at the same time whatever you make at home ends up to be more real? I prefer organic but my lifestyle has been grab and go."

[juststeverogers]

Admittedly, Steve doesn't try to think about it too hard. It's nice fooling himself into thinking he's got company sometimes. "I've never really tried that. They're awfully good though. You'll have to show me." Nope, Steve is blissfully unaware of that joke, sorry Matt.

"I'm here." Steve assured Matt, voice quiet like it was when he called on the phone. "It feels like I'm back home, is all. With someone else helpin' out." He has to be stronger. Deep breath, Rogers. "People make a fuss over organic and non, but real honest most anything grown today is done better than how we had it, so I think folks worry too much." DDT was still a thing in his time, after all.

"You're welcome over here any time. I can pass off what I learn from Verity to you maybe? It'll help me learn better to try an' teach someone else."

[fightlikehell]

Well, truth be told where he's at not many people know blind Matt Murdock is the Devil of Hell's Kitchen. Or newly christened Daredevil. "Gladly. Eggs are a go-to because they cook fast."

Physically here. Like Verity he can't imagine the path behind him closing completely. It's so unfair. And it seems that Steve has far more unfinished business. "You're helping me out, pal." Matt grins and gladly lets his blindness be the excuse to spare Steve some feelings.

"Well, sometimes worry too much. They're getting pretty good at manipulating chemicals. Sometimes you just can't get it out of taste..." for those sensitive to it. Ahem.

An open invitation? It feels like college again. Nelson and Murdock before they were self employed lawyers. "Sure... just be patient with me. I'm going to be a mess."

[juststeverogers]

"Right? A healthy convenience food." Steve is in complete agreement of this. "Speaking of eggs, these are gonna be done pretty quick here. I'll grab plates and stuff so we can eat in the living room once we're done in here." Steve has a dining room table technically, but it's sort of a second art table at the moment.

Pal. Heh. That's right. He'd be getting so much shit if Bucky could see him right now.

"Hardly. You're the one who brought meat. Don't put yourself down." The spatula is still swishing around in the egg pan, but the glorious smell of the Maiyard Reaction is beginning to waft up from the egg pan. "Yeah taste can be tricky." Steve wrinkles his nose. "They ruined bananas. I couldn't even finish the small bunch I bought."

"Then you'll learn how to clean a kitchen as well as use it, Murdock." The pan gets pulled off the stove and the burner clicked off. "Eggs and potatoes are done. I'll start setting us up with dishes."

[fightlikehell]

"Now if only there were more than trail mix or shakes." Ugh. Matt makes a face. His stomach is very much invested in eating everything that's cooking right now. He flips the stake. It is very close to being done. "Same with this. It shouldn't be all that pink. You okay with that?"

God only knows that Steve doesn't need some kind of foodborne something out of this.

"Bananas?" Now that's one thing he's never heard of. "What's wrong with bananas?"

Cleaning? Phfff. Matt scoffs before he chuckles. "I can do dishes." As though he can't do anything else. He can. "I'll be right behind you." With confidence he turns off his own burner.

[juststeverogers]

"That's fine. We cooked everything all the way through when i was growing up." He doesn't have to worry about foodborne illnesses as much as he once did thanks to Samus, but it never hurts to be careful.

"That's because it happened in the 50s." Steve starts divvying up the eggs and potatoes. More for Matt than for himself. "I asked Miss Siri what they did to bananas. The kind I grew up on died off. Nowadays the only thing I can hope for is banana flavored things and candies. That's the only thing that still tastes right." And suddenly, the reason banana candy and flavored puddings tastes so different is explained perfectly.

"You'll learn." Steve isn't buying it, Matt. You showed up and cooked a steak, you can learn how to wipe down a counter. Sweeping, Steve can see might be a thing he needs to do on his own. He gathers up their plates and silverware before heading off to the couch. Then comes back for his coffee, and to get some napkins.

[fightlikehell]

"Okay. Good. My friend back home, he is very particular. We had a cook out and I was banned from the grill." Not for burning himself. Though Foggy said he had 9-1 already in the phone just in case.

Bananas Matt has tasted and known all his life... do not taste like bananas. It's mind blowing. Also exceedingly upsetting that that's one more thing forever changed for his friend. "Oh... that's terrible. I had no idea."

Finally someone else that won't allow him to act like he's incapable of things. Kudos to you, Steve rogers. Matt finds a plate for the steak. Two big, delicious cuts. "Coming in hot." And carefully to where he remembers the table is.

[juststeverogers]

"Picky friend? I know how that goes." Though Bucky was never as much picky as he was insistent that Steve should have nicer things for himself. A nice pipe dream, but they were barely paying rent. "If he's a good friend, wouldn't he know you're capable of grilling?" Chuckle. "Though I could see how it might have made some of the neighbors nervous."

Following Steve's voice to the couch shouldn't be much of a problem. Steve keeps his floors clear of clutter.
"It was a surprise." He admits, but shrugs. "But what can you do? I like plenty of other stuff." Just, not bananas. Traitor fruits.

"Sorry. I'd invite you to the dining room table but I've kind of got some stuff there right now." Does Steve sound nervous about that? Why would he. That doesn't make any sense. "This smells great, by the way. I'm glad you let me talk you into food."

[fightlikehell]

"Only a little picky." Matt scrunches his nose at his own exaggeration. "I mean, he was almost a butcher so I'll give him that. He never liked to tell me I couldn't do things. Sometimes I think that he liked to see what I could do." Shrug. Foggy Nelson, everybody.

Careful steps because the plate is full and he doesn't want to mar any of Steve's things. On top of that, the full blind act doesn't need casualties. "So wait. They tasted better than what they tasted like now? That's what you mean?" Now he'll be left to wonder for the rest of his days about what true bananas tasted like.

"It's cool. I'll be careful." The nerves could be anything. Matt decides it might be the prospect of some real food in the living room. That makes plenty of sense. "I don't need much persuasion when it comes to food." All the training means he's got to pack it away. And living for the early years with a boxer he knows the importance of maintaining weight for muscle. All this is clearly not important in this context. Meal with a friend. And Matt is sure as hell not going to go out of his way to rub in any physical prowess where Steve is concerned the same way Steve would never flaunt his vision. Just how it should work in the world.