Prose Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Illustrated by John Gilbert
A New Edition
London George Routledge and Sons 1869
The inscription which faces the posie is from Longfellow’s ‘THE CASTLE OF VAUTSBERG ON THE RHINE’
In life’s delight, in death’s dismay,
In storm and sunshine, night and day,
In health, in sickness, in decay,
Here and hereafter, I am thine!
warnings/info: hard to be fluffy w these two, a lil sexually charged but nothing happens, whiny loser dex, distant ashamed matt, implied dom top matt and sub bottom dex, anything you see that you'd like me to expand on/write a full fic about just ask!, i love these two sm that this ask got me to "write" for the first time in a little over 2 whole years so thank you anon it means a lot more than you could ever know :), and a big fat kiss to anyone reading this, lmk if i missed anything
A - Admiration. (What do they admire about their S/O?)
In regards to Dex, he idolizes Matt, so technically he admires everything about him, namely how "good" he thinks Matt is causing Dex to use him as a blueprint for how he believes he should act as well. Outside of Dex's issues, he finds Matt's powers and athleticism extremely impressive (and attractive), and appreciates having someone who is equally skilled as him for the first time.
Similarly for Matt he loves Dex's capabilities especially having someone who is able to keep him on his toes, and be a useful ally whenever he needs it. While Dex's aim is not something to brush over, he finds Dex's FBI and military experience underutilized as they also come in handy for tasks that don't involve direct violence. He also has a strong admiration for Dex's dedication for anything he desires (ideally said anything is something Matt agrees with).
B - Boldness. (How bold are they in regards to their S/O? Who confessed first?)
Dex and Matt tend to be both very bold when it comes to each other given their past for intense situations, like arguments or sex, though when it comes to super lovey-dovey stuff they both falter. Matt feels immense guilt over having relations with Dex and finds it easier to cope with if he acts like it isn't a close relationship, while Dex is inexperienced with emotions such as these and struggles with identifying which are normal and which are obsessive, so he shuts down.
Given how they met (and everything to come after that) them getting together was not brought on by a simple admission, instead a conglomerate of fighting, hook-ups, and tearful conversations. Matt definitely made the first move during a heated exchange, while Dex was the first to confess real care for the other (which he did sobbing and begging Matt to not abandon him after Matt told him they should stop seeing each other).
C - Comfort. (How do they comfort their S/O?)
Dex doesn't. Or at least not well. As shown by his time in the suicide hotline, he doesn't do a great job at comfort, though he does adore Matt so he wouldn't pull anything crazy, just a lot of "that sounds hard" and "I'm sorry". Dex however is great at advise as he is a very logical person and from having to observe others, he knows how to deal with people, which is helpful for issues Matt is having with his friends Karen or co-workers, and his field expertise is great for "work" issues.
Matt on the other hand isn't awful at comfort, nobody is giving him an award for it anytime soon, but he makes it work. With Dex the best thing he can do is getting Dex out of his own head by talking to him and making an action plan for how they'll get him out of whatever is going on. He does this because Dex finds comfort in familiarity and it resembles the therapy he used to have. If it is something unfixable, Matt finds physical touch works just as well for snapping Dex out of it, ironically because it is something completely unfamiliar to him and given Dex's obsession with the other he is more than willing to become familiar with it.
D - Dates. (Do they prefer going out of staying in? Do they prefer fancy or simple?)
Dex prefers to stay in so he doesn't need to preform for anyone (even if it's just the waiter), and he finds himself much less on edge when he's in his own home or Matt's. Matt is able to enjoy a night in, but tends to lean to going out as shown by his frequently in Josie's and the Indian restaurant, he however compromises by going out with friends and staying in with Dex.
Matt goes simple over fancy ten times over, while he can obviously enjoy fancy things, there is no deep desire for it and he himself would never go out of his way. Dex on the other hand grew to love designer clothing, fancy meals, top shelf drinks, and so on during his time in the FBI as he thought it helped him blend in by having "common interests," as well as being used as a dominance play over his co-workers by subtly flashing whatever expensive watch or cologne he was wearing that day. These things also put a distance between him and his childhood as he would have never been around anyone who had ownership over anything like that, much less him being able to have them. Finally, designer items tend to have a sleek clean feel to them which bodes well with Dex's OCD. Dex ultimately doesn't know if he actually likes them though or if he just thinks he should — either way they incorporate both.
E - Equal. (Are they more dominate or passive?)
Matt is the dominant one in the relationship obviously, not even just discussing sex, Dex wants someone to boss him around, his North Star if you will, and Matt doesn't trust Dex to take control over anything important.
F - Family. (Do they want to start a family?)
Matt deep within loves the idea of settling down and raising a family, but would never voice this as he believes this isn't something meant for him if he continues to be Daredevil and especially not with fucking Bullseye. Dex has absolutely no want for children or even an animal; he just doesn't understand the appeal of being wholly responsible for another living creature that he isn't going to actually care about.
G - Goofy. (How serious are they when it comes to a relationship?)
Once Matt's walls lower around Dex he would be very unserious, specifically playfully sarcastic whenever he was allowed to be as he likes to tackle conversations with humor over anything else. He is also shown using sarcasm cruelly which he would do (has done) before his walls lower. Dex doesn't really joke around, but he adores when Matt jokes with him and he will go along with it, it makes their relationship feel real and solid which he can doubt sometimes.
H - Hugs. (How do they hug? Do they like hugs?)
Matt is incredibly neutral when it comes to hugs, he doesn't love them, but is no where near repulsed by them. Matt typically offers hugs when people are sad, or as a form of greeting/goodbye. His casual hugs are rather loose and very quick, one arm if he can manage, while his comfort hugs are stereotypical tight full body hugs. For those he likes to put his chin atop of the other's head, and he tends to run hot, leaving a cloak of warmth on the other.
Dex loves hugging Matt (he only hugs Matt), he just adores the physical closeness as it is almost proof of ownership — that he really is Matt's, because if he wasn't he wouldn't be allowed to be this close. Dex likes to greet Matt by hugging him from behind and nuzzling his face into Matt's neck while inhaling his scent, though he'll take whatever Matt is willing to give him. Additionally he is never the one to break the hug.
I - Interests. (What interests do they want to share with their S/O?)
It took Dex a long time to get into baseball after the incident, while he no longer plays, he still has a love for the sport and often finds himself narrating the action on the TV for Matt with the actual commentators muted as "they just don't understand it like I do". He doesn't really have any other hobbies as he never felt connected to anything like he did baseball.
Matt will talk to Dex about whatever case he's working on or any big political/landmark cases that may be happening (while Dex doesn't know the lawyer's side, he is able to keep up due to his FBI experience). Matt would also do everything he could to get Dex into boxing. Matt doesn't really keep up with current boxers or anything like that, as his love is all practical, so it would be a lot of forcing Dex to spar with him, not that Dex would need forced.
J - Jealousy. (Do they get jealous? How do they deal with jealousy?)
Matt doesn't really get jealous, he is very confident and comfortable with himself so there really isn't a reason to. The fact that Dex is utterly obsessed with him doesn't hurt either. Dex on the other hand is very prone to jealousy; this is rooted in his own insecurities especially with the idea that Matt will eventually be overtaken by his past hate for Dex and decide to leave him. These feelings manifest primarily against Karen due to the fact they've dated and have had breaks before, so why would this break-up be any different? Dex tends to get a little…weird when he's jealous. His jealousy act changes a bit depending on whether or not he's alone with Matt or if the person he's jealous of is there. If they are he gets mean to everyone around him and possessive of Matt, trying to convince him that they should go home (this is done primarily by attempted seduction). If they aren't he gets pathetic and angry, there is lots of crying, lots of begging, and lots of accusations against Matt and then lots of apologies before starting again with the crying.
K - Kiss. (How do they kiss/favorite place to be kissed? Favorite place to kiss their S/O?)
Matt loves to kiss Dex's jaw, specifically right under where it meets the neck on the pulse, he likes it as it feels messy and possessive especially when he is able to build up to it, and it doesn't hurt that it's right next to Dex's mouth allowing him to listen to any sounds Dex may make. Matt likes Dex to kiss his scars, especially the ones Dex left, whether as an apology to shamefully admiring his work, who's to say.
Dex loves for Matt to kiss his cheek in a nonsexual manner, just something short and sweet, typically as a greeting or goodbye. He enjoys this above anything sexual because he believes he is unlovable, and that during sex he can convince himself that Matt doesn't truly care for him because Matt is getting pleasure from anything he does to Dex — but with a cheek kiss Matt doesn't necessarily get anything physical out of it allowing Dex to have less room to trick himself into further self loathing. Dex likes to kiss Matt's thighs while looking up at him and seeing the effect he has on the other.
L - Love language.
Dex's preferred love language to receive to words of affirmation, he feels like he needs a real/solid way of being let know he's doing well. To give, Dex is a huge acts of service guy as seen in the show (you're welcome knife for example) because he loves the feeling of being useful, almost like he's earning his place in Matt's life, which is also shown in the original Daredevil show when he kills for the painting as a gift to the Fisks as a way to earn his keep.
Matt likes to receive acts of service as within his schedule he doesn't have time to really take care of everything he wants to take care of, so someone doing some chores or running some errands for him really makes a big difference. For Matt he loves to give quality time, though that may not come to fruition to very often, getting dinner or going to a bar is something close to his heart and he loves to do that with the people he loves.
M - Meals. (What are their kitchen dynamics with their S/O?)
They are pretty 50/50 when it comes to the kitchen, as they both capable cooks. Though due to Matt's senses he is very much better at cooking as he is able to have a stronger feel for the food compared to Dex, but he'll still allow Dex to have turns as he isn't too bad himself. They'll both clean up for the other if the other did the cooking. Unsurprisingly, after Matt cleans up on Dex's night, Dex will go through and clean after Matt did. It's not that Matt misses things, more so the two have differing opinions on the kitchen organization and Dex is more willing to fight than Matt is.
N - Nicknames. ( What do they call their S/O?)
Matt doesn't have any seriously used pet names; to be mean Matt will use names such as sweetheart, angel, and honey (if he's feeling crazy Benny), but he'd never call Dex anything like that with heartfelt intent. The only nicknames used aloud between the two are just their usual nicknames — Dex and Matt. In his mind however, Dex likes to think of Matt as Matty, because of how vulnerable the name is to Matt, it makes Dex feel like he is the closest person Matt has now.
O - Openness. (How open are they with their S/O about their past/emotions?)
In order for the relationship to work they specifically need to be very open, and as seen throughout the show, neither of them struggle with telling the other how they really feel about the other's actions/past.
That being said, Matt does struggle to tell Dex what he's up to as Daredevil, only asking for help if it is absolutely necessary. Not because he doesn't trust Dex, more so a pride and protective thing, as shown by his failure utilize Foggy and Karen early onto a problem. Dex on the other hand will tell Matt everything about his work/that side of his life finding it offensive that Matt doesn't repay the favor, and will usually follow him from afar if he senses something wrong.
P - PDA. (How comfortable with PDA are they?)
Matt usually is fine with it, but with Dex he does everything he can to avoid it, not because he's ashamed of Dex or their relationship…actually yes it is because he's ashamed of Dex and his relationship to him. Dex surprisingly doesn't like it that much either as he doesn't like the attention it brings and he isn't really all touchy feely like that. He really only uses PDA to make a point when he's jealous/upset.
Essentially their version of PDA is sitting with their shoulders touching, maybe, but from an outside perspective no one would be able to tell what kinda things the two get into at night.
Q - Quarrel. (How they apologize/how long it takes them to forgive their S/O?)
This is obviously not a standard relationship, based on the foundation in which it was built up, they don't have normal or healthy ways of going about things; meaning they fight a lot and fuck to forget even more. So really there isn't a unforgiven to forgiven timeline as they have never truly forgiven the other for anything. As far as giving "heartfelt" apologies it is very one sided with Dex apologizing for anything immediately after doing it, not because he feels bad, but because he thinks that is what Matt wants from him.
R - Rules. (Boundaries they have.)
No bringing up Foggy. They have learned that neither of them are going to be able to move past it, and as unhealthy as they are they just don't talk about him.
The relationship is also very secretive, they just aren't in a settling down type of deal, and due to their past Matt hates the idea of them being a "thing" so he thinks it should remain just between them and Karen anyone who walked in.
S - Security. (How protective are they of their S/O?)
Matt is protective of Dex in an emotional way, he tries his best to keep Dex away from anything triggering for him so to keep Dex from falling off the deep end. Matt isn't over the top about his protectiveness of Dex, he feels that with everything always going on with him, Dex can't be his priority.
Dex understands that Matt is fully capable of taking care of himself in a fight, but he can't help but feel protective every time he sees Matt in the Daredevil suit, like he could stop Matt from putting himself in danger by doing whatever for him; after all putting himself in harm's way for other's goals is what he's best at. Of course Matt doesn't let him help the majority of the time, so he just has to be content watching from afar as Matt works, waiting for any use he may have to the devil.
T - Time. (How long does it take them to fall for their S/O/get with their S/O?)
Dex became immediately obsessed with Matt after being visited in prison. Technically, if he thinks about it in depth a little more he could see that he was in love with the idea of Matt prior to requesting him, but feeling Matt's hands wrap around him, calling him sweetheart in that oh so hateful tone, all went straight to his heart? Dick? Soul? Whatever the answer is, Dex fell for him quickly and hard, each time he lays eyes of Matt is just gets more intense. Some times, if he thinks too long, he can almost convince himself that Matt purposely knocked his tooth loose to help Dex escape, that maybe Matt was always on his side.
Matt falls for Dex slowly. To be honest Matt will never admit that he has fallen for Dex other than in confession (maybe), but subconsciously it began to happen when Dex saved Matt during The Northern Star, and progressed from there. It really hit him when he realized Dex went out of his way to protect him at the courthouse, after already been told by Matt himself that by non-lethally protecting the governor he'd be even.
U - Upset. (what things upset them in a relationship?)
The two's main arguments always revolve around how to handle "bad guys" and how Dex can be truly good, because Dex wants to use Matt as a guide for his morality, but unfortunately it's not a switch that can just be flipped, resulting in physical fights between them typically begun by Matt. This upsets both of them for different reasons; Matt because he feels Dex is wasting himself away by doing unjust things, while also harming innocents, and disregarding the system Matt has fought so hard to keep clean. As for Dex, he, as someone who has participated in the corrupt system, has a hard time believing it will all be okay in the end, and thinks Matt is naive for thinking it will be (as for the latter, he holds more pity for Matt than anger).
Dex also despises how Matt still hates him and shows obvious shame/disgust at himself for what they do together. Dex will never bring this up to Matt though, for fear of being abandoned by him.
V - Vacation. (What kind of traveler are they? Where would they go with their S/O?)
They don't really have a vacation type of relationship, as they aren't romantically involved enough to go away together for pleasure, nor is it clear that either have ever traveled for fun (it is unlikely, due to Matt's finances/responsibilities, and Dex probably has little desire to see most things). That being said they could both do with a relaxing, all-inclusive spa on an island.
As for them individually: Matt would be a pretty loosely planned traveler, liking for it to be exciting and relaxed. He isn't completely a spur of the moment kinda guy, more so he has a bullet point list of the things he needs to do that day and roughly around what time, but he won't stress over lateness. As for Dex, this man plans to the minute with a detailed itinerary, including backup plans, multiple meal choices in a ranked order, every route to get from place to place, and so on. He plans so much for this own nerves, but he really only has to use plan A, and he won't tell anyone with him about all he has planned until they absolutely need it (he doesn't want them to think plan B might be better in the moment. If plan A can happen, why wouldn't you do plan A?).
W - Words. (Promises they make to their S/O.)
They try not to make promises to each other for the most part, but Dex promises to try and be good better and Matt promises to try and help him achieve that.
X - Xenial. (How they make their S/O feel welcome/what makes them feel welcome?)
Dex makes Matt welcome in the relationship by trying to prove that he's worth Matt's time; if he's good for Matt, then Matt will stay around. Dex feels welcomed by Matt most when Matt lets him into his space in a domestic sense, such as having a toothbrush at his house or being cooked breakfast at Matt's house rather than an immediate shove out the door.
Matt makes Dex feels welcome by giving him a quick soft kiss. He knows how much Dex feels loved when he does that, so if Dex had indeed been good he then has earned one as a reward. Matt feels welcomed by Dex when Dex talks to him. As simple as it is Matt thoroughly enjoys having trivial conversations with Dex, he feels it humanizes the both of them in this otherwise intense, dysregulating, and toxic relationship.
Y - Yearning. (Do they miss their S/O easily? What do they do about it? Additionally, who feel first/who fell harder?)
Matt lives within his own little world and doesn't miss people like a normal person would, he doesn't sit around thinking about talking to people because he doesn't have time for that. He'll get to Dex when he gets to him. Dex obviously doesn't have the same control, maybe for other people, but not Matt. Dex misses Matt once he's out of sight, and what does he do about it? He finds Matt duh. If Matt is too busy for Dex then that's okay, he's fine waiting.
Similarly said in T, Dex fell first and Dex fell harder (poor guy).
Z - Zzz. (What are their sleeping habits/how do they cuddle?)
Dex isn't too used to have someone near him in sleep so he doesn't know how to go about it, but Matt ever the cuddler, will unconsciously steal Dex away into the little spoon. Dex loves it more than anything. They both were trained to be light sleepers, Dex in the military, while Matt by Stick and his powers/after dark activities. Neither of them really snore, Matt however has a distinct breathing change which could be seen as light snoring, but that remains a debate.
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