Mat's been away for longer than he would've thought possible a few months ago. Almost two months now since the Plagues, almost two months since
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Buffy opens the door after a minute, just a little baffled. Tay doesn't knock, she just opens the door, and Willow and Xander tend to at least shout for her while knocking. After opening the door, she realizes she has to look up quite a bit further than she expected. And then she realizes that it's Mat standing there, and she grins up at him in surprise and relief.
"Mat! You're back!"
She would hug him if he weren't holding hot beverages that should probably not spill.
It has to be said that Mat was not expecting the surge of relief and comfort that floods him when Buffy smiles at him. It's not the same as having everything be okay, because it's not, and it's not the same as knowing that, say, Nate's alive, because he's not. But... it's almost like coming home.
He hadn't realised that being here with these people meant so much to him. Or maybe it's just that it means so much more now that they're all he's got.
Either way he has to swallow down a bit of a lump in his throat before he manages a half-hearted smile and gestures carefully with the mug. "Um... I m-made you cookies and hot ch-chocolate," he mumbles, ducking his head a bit.
Yes, Buffy, he's apologising for having a breakdown after his brother was killed right in front of him. We don't question Mat and his weird guilt. Usually.
Buffy just stares at him for a moment, like she's trying to decide if he's serious. And then, with a little exasperated roll of her eyes, she takes the plate and the mug out of his hands, sets them down on the card table by the door, and lunges at him to hug him hard. You can deal with not breathing for a minute or two, Mat.
"I was worried about you, you freak of nature," she says - all in love, of course. "Not that I'm objecting to cookies, but..."
Oh. Well, he's an angel. He can hold his breath. He hesitantly hugs her back - well, it starts out hesitant, and quickly turns into a hug that's only less smothering than a Slayer's because he's always made an effort to, y'know, NOT crush people.
Hugs are good. Hugs at all have been good, Jack's been great, and Grace, but... something about coming back here to this welcome, being hugged so tightly...
"Sorry," he mumbles breathlessly, bending over a little to rest his forehead against the top of her head.
Damn, she's tiny.
"I was... trying to deal with shit. And then Alfred Pennyworth taught me how to make hot chocolate."
Comments 11
"Mat! You're back!"
She would hug him if he weren't holding hot beverages that should probably not spill.
Reply
He hadn't realised that being here with these people meant so much to him. Or maybe it's just that it means so much more now that they're all he's got.
Either way he has to swallow down a bit of a lump in his throat before he manages a half-hearted smile and gestures carefully with the mug. "Um... I m-made you cookies and hot ch-chocolate," he mumbles, ducking his head a bit.
Yes, Buffy, he's apologising for having a breakdown after his brother was killed right in front of him. We don't question Mat and his weird guilt. Usually.
Reply
"I was worried about you, you freak of nature," she says - all in love, of course. "Not that I'm objecting to cookies, but..."
But they really weren't necessary.
Reply
Hugs are good. Hugs at all have been good, Jack's been great, and Grace, but... something about coming back here to this welcome, being hugged so tightly...
"Sorry," he mumbles breathlessly, bending over a little to rest his forehead against the top of her head.
Damn, she's tiny.
"I was... trying to deal with shit. And then Alfred Pennyworth taught me how to make hot chocolate."
...yeah, it totally makes sense. Really.
Reply
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