kate bishop 🏹 the best hawkeye (kateaccompli) wrote in madisonvalley, @ 2019-10-13 00:08:00 |
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Who: Katherine Bishop, Matthew Murdock, Clint Barton, and Peter Quill
When: Saturday Evening, Oct 12 [Backdated]
Where: A terribly fancy restaurant
What: Knock down, drop out fight!...maybe not that bad, but fists are flying!
Warnings: Language, Violence...etc
Status: Closed/In-Progress [TBC in comments]
Kate didn’t want to admit the reality of it all. For so long she had loved Matthew. Knew that he was the right choice to have a good life. He was the lawyer. The one who had a good and steady head on his shoulders. Matthew was the man she should have been over the moon to marry. There had to be a time when she had been, right?
A time before Peter had to exist. Kate was simply having a difficult time remembering it. He was nothing like Matthew. Exciting and dangerous. He made her laugh and not worry about what she should be doing. Kate could just be who she was and what she wanted to be with him.
Glancing down at the flashy engagement ring on her hand, she let out a heavy sigh before taking a sip from her wine. Seated at the “usual” table that was set aside for Matthew and the future Mrs. Murdock, there was a moment in which Kate hoped that he wouldn’t show. Clint was supposed to be meeting them there as well to try and talk some sense into her. He was wrong, though.
Kate knew exactly what she was doing regardless of the consequences.
***
Matt loved Kate. Of course he did, he wouldn't have proposed to a trophy wife. The whole good looking, good reputation, good amount of money thing was simply a bonus, that was all. She was just so...frustrating.
It wasn't like he didn't know she had secrets. Hell, he had plenty of his own. Things she really didn't need to know. She was just so vapid about it sometimes. Actually, Katherine was vapid about a lot of things. It wasn't her most redeeming quality. But, well, he wasn't marrying her for her brain.
He returned to the table after planting a few words in a few ears, words of blackmail and possibly buying off a judge or two. "Penny for your thoughts?" he asked, taking the seat beside his fiancee. Grabbing his own glass, he sipped at the bourbon inside. Cheaper than he preferred, but it would have to do.
***
Clint was very aware that his little sister was totally going to blow up her life and he was doing everything he could to not let that happen. He knew first hand what it meant to blow up the status quo. Katie didn't need that mess in her life, but he was running out of options to interfere without making it obvious that maybe he cared more than just a really good friend. She didn't know that he was her brother though, and that was honestly the way he wanted to keep it. It just seemed like that wasn't really going to be an option for very much longer. Not if he really wanted to make sure she kept her life on course and stuck with Matt.
He'd been running a few minutes late, in part because he hadn't been able to find a tie and this place was definitely the kind that needed a tie. Clint didn't really do 'put together', but in an attempt to talk Kate out of leaving Matt? He'd do just about anything. Up to telling her the truth, possibly. Maybe.
As he walked up to the table where they sat, he ran his hand through his hair to try smoothing it down a bit. "Hey guys," Clint greeted. "Sorry I'm late. Did I miss anything important?" Namely, had Kate ruined her life yet, but a quick glance at her hand told him that she was still engaged. That was a good sign.
***
Well Peter knew that if he wanted things to blow up, and by that he meant blow up so that he and Katie could be together not so that he ended up without the woman he loved, he had to show up at their stupid fancy lunch and make sure that everyone knew about him.
And that was why he walked into the restaurant, right past the hostess with a quick grin and telling her he was meeting someone, and Peter ended up clapping a hand on Clint’s shoulder as he came up beside him at the table.
“Nah, I think you’re right on time. Hiya Katie. Did you order already?”
***
It would have been fine. Kate would have talked her way around both Matthew and Clint if needed. At least she would have tried. Clint was one thing. Matthew? He was the lawyer for a reason. He had a way with words and not just of the sentimental sort that had won Kate over almost too easily.
The conversation wasn’t going to be easy, but when was any conversation easy anymore? She deserved to be happy, but so did Matthew. Kate didn’t want to completely crush him as other socialites would.
There was never the ambition of being one of those terrible trainwrecks throwing expensive alcohol or screaming at waiters.
Then again, sometimes that just happened.
Kate shifted when Matthew joined her and even managed a small grin at his remark. Laying her hand over his, she sat up a bit straighter in her chair. “Matthew, I think we--” She didn’t finish, though. She didn’t get to. Not with Clint joining them.
“Clint, maybe you could--”
Slack-jawed and most assuredly not attractive, Kate was at a loss for words when Peter joined them. Had she mentioned tonight? Had Clint?
“Just drinks,” Kate said, looking from Peter to Clint and finally to Matthew. “Not nearly enough drinks, though. Why don’t I get us some more?”
***
He hadn't planned on Clint joining them. He wasn't mad - he certainly wasn't jealous - but it definitely hadn't been on the agenda for the evening. Still, he could tolerate him. Matt wasn't going to play the role of jealous overprotective man who couldn't let his girl be around other men.
Except...that other man. Who the fuck was this guy?
"Katie? Who the hell calls her Katie?" It was Kate. Or Katherine, he admittedly preferred, but fine, whatever. But Katie?
"Katherine? Who is this? Since when did the homeless get invited to places like this?"
The man didn't actually look homeless. Just...poor. Unkempt. Like he had never seen an actual glass of champagne in his life. Like he didn't belong anywhere near Katherine and her designer wardrobe. And yet, here he was. Acting far too familiar.
***
Clint's whole body stiffened at the clap of a hand on his shoulder. He didn't do well with people sneaking up behind him, that was for damn sure, but he was equally dismayed by the fact that Peter had shown up, too. Damage control was exactly what he'd planned on doing though, so he hastily stood. "He's just lost. Confused. I bet someone paid him a couple bucks just to interrupt. Ha ha, very funny."
It was a sad attempt, but an attempt all the same as he tried to nudge Peter away from the table. "Come on, I'll buy you that drink and we'll leave this nice couple alone, okay?" Clint sent Kate a look that very specifically said 'don't do anything stupid' but really he should've been paying more attention to Peter. Who was literally the worst and was going to ruin Kate's life. That was, if she didn't do it herself first.
***
“Uh I call her Katie. Duh.” Peter was definitely someone you needed to keep your eyes on. He’d had champagne if you counted the $3 a bottle cheap stuff that they bought to do toasts at normal people weddings. Mostly he preferred a good beer and tailgating.
Clint just made him roll his eyes then plaster on a huge and totally fake smile. “Oh you, you’re such a kidder. I bet you were voted class clown weren’t you? Hey do you mind if I take this?” Peter took a step to a neighboring table, stole a chair without waiting for an answer and slid it up to the table to take a seat with Kate and Matt.
“I mean a fancy place like this they don’t come to your table to take your drink order?” He was tempted to wink at Kate but he figured that she might stab him with her fork if he did.
“What?” he looked at all three of them and did his best Ducky Dale impression. “Do I offend? I mean I showered today.”
***
Shooting Clint a look, Kate frowned. She had wanted to be the one to make the grand escape. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem like either of them would get to. Not with Peter pulling up a chair so casually and getting comfortable at their table.
“Matthew, this is...Peter. I know him from work.” Which work? Which office? He was sure to ask and Kate needed to make sure her response was ready. It was likely that she’d already dug herself into a hole with Peter just showing his face like this.
No. It wasn’t Peter’s fault. Kate had done this all on her own. Although his comment made Kate chuckle, covering her mouth with her hand before clearing her throat.
“Are you sure you didn’t invite him, Clint? I’m sure you would have told me beforehand, though.” Clint was lucky she couldn’t reach him from her seat or he would have gotten a swift kick from a pointed-toe heel. Everything was Clint’s fault after all.
“This isn’t a good time, though, Peter. Matthew and I were just about to...discuss a few things. Right, dear? Invitation layouts and guest lists or something.” It was weak and terrible, Kate knew. It was a terrible attempt at keeping things calm.
***
Matt had graduated at the top of Columbia Law, for God's sake. He was hardly an idiot. And while he'd suspected Kate wasn't happy, he had a horrible feeling this was about to get a whole lot worse. That deep in the pit of his stomach reminder that things could fall apart.
"Katherine," he hissed through his teeth. "Clinton. Perhaps you two could visit with your friend some other time?" Some time when they weren't surrounded. Some time when he could discuss the meaning of the word discretion with Kate.
If she was going to have an affair, she could at least have the sense to wait until after the wedding.
"Peter. Funny, she's never mentioned you." For some that would mean he wasn't worth mentioning. But Matt knew better.
***
Clint shot a look right back at Kate because this was her fault, not his. He was trying to salvage what he could and Peter was making it way too difficult. He looked slightly apologetic at Matt, even though the blind lawyer wouldn't be able to actually tell that. Still, he couldn't exactly say that Kate had invited Peter, because that would make the whole thing that much more obvious. Not like it wasn't already.
"He's not really worth mentioning. More of a footnote, really," Clint hastily cut in before Peter could say anything more damaging. He was close enough that he could stomp hard on said man's foot to at least distract him from being any more obnoxious than he already was being. "Honestly, totally my bad, Matthew. I'm really sorry about this." He shot a pointed look at Kate even though he was apologizing to Matt because she was in so much damn trouble. Honestly.
He stood and put his hand on Peter's shoulder, his grip firm and slightly threatening. For an ex-carney, Clint definitely was a lot stronger than he looked and he wasn't at all afraid to forcibly drag Peter away from the table. "Let's leave the happy couple to plan their wedding, alright pal?" If looks could kill, Peter would have been dead on the spot. Hopefully, he'd get the not so subtle hints.
***
“Ow! Fucker.” The jerk had stomped on his foot when he opened his mouth to say something and the surprise of it made Peter swear at the top of his lungs which pretty much made sure that everyone in the restaurant turned to look at them. He really didn’t care but since he’d already made a scene then he didn’t feel that bad about what he was going to do next.
“Sure. Pal.” Peter stood up but instead of letting himself be dragged away he turned and slammed a fist into Clint’s face. “I mean anything for a friend right? Jackass.”
***
"Peter, stop!" This wasn't at all what Kate had expected to happen. Loud voices and yelling? That was bound to happen eventually. Throwing punches and causing this sort of scene?
Scurrying from her chair, Kate had moved to pull Peter away but held up her hands to Clint. Even with his bleeding nose, he was readying himself to return the punch. "Stop! Do not hit him. Please." Even if he did deserve it, Kate wanted to punch him right now, she didn't need all of them throwing tables and chairs.
"Matt--Matthew, I'm sorry for this. I didn't--This wasn't--" It wasn't how she wanted him to find out? She didn't want it to be like this?
"What?" Kate snapped at another table clearly judging the four of them from where they sat.