"This year, the NYPD Charity Ball's hottest couple did not feature a model, actor, or singer, but instead one of Hell's Kitchen's own most eligible bachelors who now appears to be off the market." She paused there for dramatic effect. Like she was saying something important, which she could have, there was a lot that went on at the charity ball. But she was just talking about someone's romance.
"Matt Murdock, partner at Nelson and Murdock, recently profiled in New York Magazine, arrived with Laurel Lance, who had been rumored to be dating, a daring ADA from Starling City and he couldn't keep his hands off her." He was sure she had no shame.
"Sorry, Ladies, it seems that Murlance is official. Sightings of the couple have been tweeted many times using hashtag murlance" Cantara Skeetz said. "We'll keep you updated with the very latest gossip on twitter at nyrwgossip and cskeetz. Till next time, stay entertained." She signed off. The horror was over.
Matt chuckled, "They're calling us Murlance now? You'd think we were celebrities." He said as he shook his head and headed toward the coffee machine. They were waiting for a client who had yet to show up.
"We?" Foggy asked. "So are you making it official?" He asked.
Karen came in and closed the door behind her. "Making what official?" She asked, hearing the tail end of the conversation.
"His apparently epic romance with Lance. Cantera is calling it Murlance." Foggy said, smiling like an idiot.
Karen opened her mouth, in complete awe. "That's too cute," She squealed "I totally knew something was up. You owe me money, Foggy. Fork it over." She giggled as she put her hand out.
Foggy shook his head. "I don't technically owe you money till Matt, here, gives it up. And Matt here hasn't. So, chill, okay?" He asked her. "But seriously is this official?"
Matt poured his coffee and went to his office. "This conversation is over." He said. "We have work to do,"
Foggy was too smart for that. "We already know everything there is to know till the client comes in. So come on, give, you and Lance? Official or not? The world is dying to know." He asked.
"The world has bigger problems than knowing if Murlance is official," He said as he went to his office.
The door opened and Matt thanked God for small diversions.
Only, it wasn't so good for him. As Foggy smiled, "Speak of the devil," He said and Matt knew who it was. Laurel. Fuck.
She shook her head. "Not the devil. That's our friend over there," She whispered with a chuckle as she pointed to Matt.
"So are you two dating?" Foggy asked. Always so very blunt about things, something that Laurel sort of admired about Foggy. He didn't seem to knew where the off button wasd.
Laurel looked over to Matt who shook his head. There was no getting out of this.
She nodded. "Yeah, Foggy, we're dating. But don't worry, we still love you too." She said as she went over and ran her fingers through Matt's hair.
Foggy went over to Karen, ecstatic. "Laurel confirmed it. Murlance is official. You totally owe me money," He said, triumphant in his victory in this game of cat and mouse.
Karen rolled her eyes. She should have bet on Laurel, but she thought that Laurel could keep it under wraps better than Matt. She pulled her wallet out of her purse and dug out a twenty and handed it over to Foggy.
Laurel shook her head as she witnessed the exchange, "They were betting on us? And they're calling us Murlance?" She asked him.
"Apparently." Matt said as ran his fingers down her sides, the fabric of her dress was nice and soft, not like one of her lawyer suits, which he also liked on her, but wasn't as nearly soft as this almost cotton but shiny fabric she was currently in.
She actually sort of liked the fact that his colleagues were betting on whether they were a couple. It was normal. Her life wasn't normal, but this was normal. She held his hand and smiled, but was completely silent.
He held her at the waist and brushed her hair away from her face. "Aren't you supposed to be somewhere else today? I thought you were going to see Barbara today, see if she needed any help with things."
"She's out to lunch with Dick, so she doesn't need me there," Laurel said as she sat on his lap. "Thought I'd come hang out with you guys." She said.
Foggy rolled his eyes. "Okay, you two need to get a room, that's preferably not in this office," He said, but he smiled. He loved seeing Matt happy. That was so rare. It seemed like all he did was brood, very catholic of him, but when Laurel was in the room, he just lit up like a sparkler, bright and full of life.
"Go away, Foggy," Laurel said.
He shook his head. "My office, babe."
The client didn't show, all day. It was a waste of keeping the lights on, but Karen had set up a couple of appointments a day for the rest of the week, apparently a lot of women were interested in being represented by the firm with one of Hell's Kitchen's most eligible bachelors.
"I don't get it," He said as they walked home.
Laurel laughed. He loved hearing her laugh, couldn't get enough of it. "You shouldn't have done that photoshoot in New York Magazine. Everyone reads that. But no, you were convinced by Foggy and Karen who saw it as a great opportunity for the firm." She said with a great smile.
"It was a great opportunity for the firm," He chuckled.
She nodded and pushed back her hair. "Then you have to stop worrying about all of the female clientele." She said, with a cheery disposition.
"You're saying none of that even remotely bothers you? Not even the model that Karen booked who has something against her boyfriend?" He asked, eyebrow raised.
She shook her head. "Doesn't matter to me. They could never relate to you like I do." She said as she put her forehead on his.
He kissed her cheek and pushed her forward, "Come on you, we have some crimefighting to do. And then some not crimefighting to do," He whispered in her ear.
"Murlance, the vigilante lawyers." She whispered in a super serious voice which cracked them both up.
He kissed her again and walked toward the direction of his apartment, "I could get used to Vigilante Lawyers," He said.
"Too bad the world doesn't know our secret."