Matt & Darcy | Catching Up
Jan. 18th, 2022 08:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsMatt gives Darcy the details of the plans he'd made to sneakily meet up with her during her absence from the mansion.
Knocking on Darcy's door, Matt readjusted his grip on the basket he carried. It was a combination Christmas, get well soon and welcome back present (because he'd gotten her the first then just kept adding to it until he'd given up and put it all in the basket). No guarantees that it was displayed well, but nothing was falling out and he hadn't dropped it, so that was a win.
Darcy gave him a wide-eyed grin as she opened the door, voice a little incredulous as she spoke. "Did you buy out every Lush in the state, Matt? Come in and put that down, you ridiculous man." She stepped out of the doorway to let him pass, shutting the door once he was clear. "Table's oh... 3 steps forward and to your right with clear space right in front of the chair."
"I got it," he assured her, setting the basket down securely. "And not every store. Just one," Matt grinned bending to give Darcy a kiss on her head, unsure if she was okay with more. "It was Christmas, then I bought more for a 'get well,' then it morphed into a 'welcome back.' I was going to get you a spa day but I wasn't sure you'd be up for that. So now you can spa at home anytime!" It smelled terrible to him, much too strong and jumbled, yet still better than rotting garbage in the summer. Braving the store multiple times had been a feat.
"Anxiety purchasing?" Darcy asked. She wrapped her arms around Matt in a firm hug, voice muffled as she talked into his chest. "You're ridiculous and a delight. Thank you for the gift." She leaned back slightly. "How do you feel about some quality cuddle time?"
"I am an expert cuddler, but I'm terrible at doing nails," Matt agreed, toeing his shoes off. "I'm glad you're doing better."
Darcy laced their fingers together as they moved to the couch and got settled. "I am too. I'm still missing small chunks of time and my memories from December are pretty jagged, but I at least have an idea of what was happening, and I know why I was having the headaches now. Still having them, but now it's more likely to be because I'm trying too hard to remember something. I am sorry that I worried people, though."
"No apologies," Matt stated firmly, reaching behind him for the throw blanket he knew was there and pulling it over Darcy, "I learned years ago, what one person needs to take care of themselves isn't what everyone needs. Or what someone else close to them needs. And them taking care of themselves is not selfish just because it's not what you want. When people talk about self-care, they forget that bit. My uncles learned, they might want to talk stuff out, but I usually needed to get the anger and energy out first, so they had to wait, even if they didn't like it. Or it was just worse for everyone," he paused considering. He was still like that sometimes, but he had better control of his temper now.
"A few apologies," Darcy retorted, snuggling into his warmth. "Not for taking the time to start putting my mind back together, but for not leaving a better note and making people worry." She tilted her head back so she could catch Matt's expression for the next bit. "You know, you wouldn't have had to leave New York to join me, if I'd let you. I was in Manhattan the whole time." A huff of laughter escaped. "Granted, not particularly close to the old or new work locations, but I walked past St. Patrick's a few times once I was able to get out and move around."
Enhanced senses and she still slipped under his radar. Granted, he hadn't actively been looking for her either. "Really? And here I was cooking up an elaborate scheme so I could go to you in secret. It was a good one, too, given that I'm not a secret spy."
"Kevin's very good at hiding things where you don't expect them. People, too. Helga's isn't too far from Grand Central." She gave him an affectionate pat on the arm. "None of the actual spies found me either, but they might have mostly stopped looking once they were told I was safe. Tell me all about your elaborate plans to meet up with me in secret, sneaky ninja."
"I was going to become my uncle and travel as him," Matt explained, "getting his credit card wouldn't be difficult and I don't think he's ever changed his pin. Ever. I can fake being sighted reasonably well," so long as no one noticed that his eyes didn't really track or respond to changes in light. Or thought it weird that he wore sunglasses indoors. "And he travels often, so it wouldn't look as weird as if I did it," because he didn't travel nearly as much unless it was with his uncles when he was younger. What could he say? Matt liked his city and rarely saw need to leave, even when on vacation. "So long as I didn't try to rent a car, it was fine."
"Not a terrible plan, especially if I was only a train or bus ride away. Although now I'm making plans to get you outside of the city sometime," Darcy teased gently. "Warm beach or something, introduce you to the joys of places that aren't home. Let the fish nibble on you instead of the goats. Fresh seafood. Me in a bikini. The fun stuff, obviously."
"You in a bikini is always a delight," Matt agreed easily, stepping his fingers down her hair, "I have traveled though! Family vacations and all that. Just...I dunno. I'm a New York boy," it was a damn good plan considering he couldn't get help from Clint! That would have opened a whole can of worms for everyone. "Not a fan of traveling alone, I guess. Or places that don't have good transit without someone who can drive." Nothing made him feel more blind than being unable to go somewhere on his own. Uber and Lyft made it easier, though they got expensive very quickly.
"It was a good plan! Falls apart once you're using transit where ID needs to be shown, but a bus or train could've had him buying the ticket for you, at least. And considering the time frame between getting out of medical and leaving, the idea that I was still in the states makes plenty of sense. There are places I could've ended up at that are just a long train ride away... including near home. Kinda surprised nobody ended up at my Aunt's place, honestly." The idea of some of her friends showing up and immediately getting put to work was definitely entertaining. "I let them know what was going on a few days after I texted you. They're fine with my status, so I told them mostly the truth, just in baseline words. That I'd been drugged by an ex for a few months, found out, and needed some quiet time to detox and work through it."
Matt's fingers in her hair were pretty soothing. "What'd you get up to while I was gone? I know we texted about some of it, but tell me the good stories."
"Well..." he shrugged, ID was always a bitch. Maybe he needed some alternate IDs. Just in case. But how do you explain that one? It wasn't like he was 18 and getting a fake ID. "I dunno. I guess everyone assumed your aunt's house was too obvious? I probably wouldn't go to my dads if I was looking to not be found. Good stories though?" he didn't comment on Laurie being her ex. He knew about it of course, but Laurie hadn't been one of his favourite people well before this, so best not to say anything. "The usual, I suppose. Big come and go style dinner at my dads, Kyle and Terry came, then we went to midnight mass. And volunteered at the shelter. It was a....delightfully dull Christmas in the best ways. Though, when I was maybe 13? This old queen named Yersinia Pestis came for Christmas Eve, it was open to everyone. And I was still new to everything and called her him because I didn't know. She had this deep gravelly voice, like she smoked 2 packs a day and probably did. But was up in full drag, but I didn't know much about drag or gender or anything and I was still working out my powers and stuff, so anyways. I called her him and she shrieked, turned to my uncle and tossed eggnog all over him at the insult!" he laughed, "It was grossly out of proportion to my slight and my uncle was having NONE of it. I wish I'd recorded that dressing down. It was lyrical."
"Oh no, poor baby Matt," Darcy laughed. "And your poor uncle too. I can just imagine the very pointed verbal backhand that queen was on the receiving end of." She stretched slightly, just enough to press a kiss to Matt's cheek. "Shame I missed this year's dinner though. They throw a good holiday party, and they're lovely to talk to. Did I tell you about the little restaurant on the ground floor of the building X-Force moved into right before everything happened? I'm going to have to bring you goodies from them."
"Who gets mad at being misgendered by a blind kid barely old enough to understand all that anyways?" Matt made a face. The entire thing was ridiculous levels of stupid. "Or....I could go to their new building. I do go into the city on occasion. And then it'll be fresh," he was very much not interested in whatever shady secret shenanigans X-Force was involved in. The less he knew about it the better, really. But he did enjoy good food. "Oh, did I ever tell you about my first time to the ocean?"
"You can just ask if I'd like to get breakfast together next time we're in the city at the same time," Darcy teased, giving Matt's stomach a gentle poke. "And no, you haven't. What was your first time at the ocean like? Did you make friends with the jellyfish?"
"I always want breakfast with you when our schedules allow," Matt pointed out. Breakfast was infinitely better both when he bothered to eat it and when shared with friends. Maybe that was why he tended to skip it on his own? "I was terrified of it. The noise was....not overbearing, but constant. I wasn't used to it at all. And then I was convinced that sharks would eat me, because I couldn't sense too much that I understood to tell what was a fish or not, it was a whole thing," it had taken his uncles nearly a day to get him to go in more than his knees. "I could swim, but I wasn't the best swimmer either, and had only ever been to Y pools. They had to sign me up for swimming after that."
"Did you enjoy it more after the first time? Admittedly more of a lake girl, but the few times we actually went to the ocean I enjoyed it. Don't usually go out past my waist though. I'm a passable swimmer, but not strong enough I'd want to fight an undertow or enjoy a sudden drop in depth." A yawn sneaked in on the end of the sentence, and Darcy blushed as she covered her mouth. "Sorry, I get to a specific level of comfy and warm lately and my body has decided that means it's time for naps. I like learning all of this fun stuff about baby Matt, though. Adult you, too."
"I like lakes more," he agreed, only because lakes weren't so... loud. They didn't have waves, at least not any he'd been to. Reaching awkwardly into a pocket, he pulled out his ear buds, "Go sleep then. I'll protect you."
"My ninja in black pajamas." She shifted to get comfortable, cheek pressed against his chest as her eyes drooped. "Just move me around however you need to stay comfortable, I won't mind."
Knocking on Darcy's door, Matt readjusted his grip on the basket he carried. It was a combination Christmas, get well soon and welcome back present (because he'd gotten her the first then just kept adding to it until he'd given up and put it all in the basket). No guarantees that it was displayed well, but nothing was falling out and he hadn't dropped it, so that was a win.
Darcy gave him a wide-eyed grin as she opened the door, voice a little incredulous as she spoke. "Did you buy out every Lush in the state, Matt? Come in and put that down, you ridiculous man." She stepped out of the doorway to let him pass, shutting the door once he was clear. "Table's oh... 3 steps forward and to your right with clear space right in front of the chair."
"I got it," he assured her, setting the basket down securely. "And not every store. Just one," Matt grinned bending to give Darcy a kiss on her head, unsure if she was okay with more. "It was Christmas, then I bought more for a 'get well,' then it morphed into a 'welcome back.' I was going to get you a spa day but I wasn't sure you'd be up for that. So now you can spa at home anytime!" It smelled terrible to him, much too strong and jumbled, yet still better than rotting garbage in the summer. Braving the store multiple times had been a feat.
"Anxiety purchasing?" Darcy asked. She wrapped her arms around Matt in a firm hug, voice muffled as she talked into his chest. "You're ridiculous and a delight. Thank you for the gift." She leaned back slightly. "How do you feel about some quality cuddle time?"
"I am an expert cuddler, but I'm terrible at doing nails," Matt agreed, toeing his shoes off. "I'm glad you're doing better."
Darcy laced their fingers together as they moved to the couch and got settled. "I am too. I'm still missing small chunks of time and my memories from December are pretty jagged, but I at least have an idea of what was happening, and I know why I was having the headaches now. Still having them, but now it's more likely to be because I'm trying too hard to remember something. I am sorry that I worried people, though."
"No apologies," Matt stated firmly, reaching behind him for the throw blanket he knew was there and pulling it over Darcy, "I learned years ago, what one person needs to take care of themselves isn't what everyone needs. Or what someone else close to them needs. And them taking care of themselves is not selfish just because it's not what you want. When people talk about self-care, they forget that bit. My uncles learned, they might want to talk stuff out, but I usually needed to get the anger and energy out first, so they had to wait, even if they didn't like it. Or it was just worse for everyone," he paused considering. He was still like that sometimes, but he had better control of his temper now.
"A few apologies," Darcy retorted, snuggling into his warmth. "Not for taking the time to start putting my mind back together, but for not leaving a better note and making people worry." She tilted her head back so she could catch Matt's expression for the next bit. "You know, you wouldn't have had to leave New York to join me, if I'd let you. I was in Manhattan the whole time." A huff of laughter escaped. "Granted, not particularly close to the old or new work locations, but I walked past St. Patrick's a few times once I was able to get out and move around."
Enhanced senses and she still slipped under his radar. Granted, he hadn't actively been looking for her either. "Really? And here I was cooking up an elaborate scheme so I could go to you in secret. It was a good one, too, given that I'm not a secret spy."
"Kevin's very good at hiding things where you don't expect them. People, too. Helga's isn't too far from Grand Central." She gave him an affectionate pat on the arm. "None of the actual spies found me either, but they might have mostly stopped looking once they were told I was safe. Tell me all about your elaborate plans to meet up with me in secret, sneaky ninja."
"I was going to become my uncle and travel as him," Matt explained, "getting his credit card wouldn't be difficult and I don't think he's ever changed his pin. Ever. I can fake being sighted reasonably well," so long as no one noticed that his eyes didn't really track or respond to changes in light. Or thought it weird that he wore sunglasses indoors. "And he travels often, so it wouldn't look as weird as if I did it," because he didn't travel nearly as much unless it was with his uncles when he was younger. What could he say? Matt liked his city and rarely saw need to leave, even when on vacation. "So long as I didn't try to rent a car, it was fine."
"Not a terrible plan, especially if I was only a train or bus ride away. Although now I'm making plans to get you outside of the city sometime," Darcy teased gently. "Warm beach or something, introduce you to the joys of places that aren't home. Let the fish nibble on you instead of the goats. Fresh seafood. Me in a bikini. The fun stuff, obviously."
"You in a bikini is always a delight," Matt agreed easily, stepping his fingers down her hair, "I have traveled though! Family vacations and all that. Just...I dunno. I'm a New York boy," it was a damn good plan considering he couldn't get help from Clint! That would have opened a whole can of worms for everyone. "Not a fan of traveling alone, I guess. Or places that don't have good transit without someone who can drive." Nothing made him feel more blind than being unable to go somewhere on his own. Uber and Lyft made it easier, though they got expensive very quickly.
"It was a good plan! Falls apart once you're using transit where ID needs to be shown, but a bus or train could've had him buying the ticket for you, at least. And considering the time frame between getting out of medical and leaving, the idea that I was still in the states makes plenty of sense. There are places I could've ended up at that are just a long train ride away... including near home. Kinda surprised nobody ended up at my Aunt's place, honestly." The idea of some of her friends showing up and immediately getting put to work was definitely entertaining. "I let them know what was going on a few days after I texted you. They're fine with my status, so I told them mostly the truth, just in baseline words. That I'd been drugged by an ex for a few months, found out, and needed some quiet time to detox and work through it."
Matt's fingers in her hair were pretty soothing. "What'd you get up to while I was gone? I know we texted about some of it, but tell me the good stories."
"Well..." he shrugged, ID was always a bitch. Maybe he needed some alternate IDs. Just in case. But how do you explain that one? It wasn't like he was 18 and getting a fake ID. "I dunno. I guess everyone assumed your aunt's house was too obvious? I probably wouldn't go to my dads if I was looking to not be found. Good stories though?" he didn't comment on Laurie being her ex. He knew about it of course, but Laurie hadn't been one of his favourite people well before this, so best not to say anything. "The usual, I suppose. Big come and go style dinner at my dads, Kyle and Terry came, then we went to midnight mass. And volunteered at the shelter. It was a....delightfully dull Christmas in the best ways. Though, when I was maybe 13? This old queen named Yersinia Pestis came for Christmas Eve, it was open to everyone. And I was still new to everything and called her him because I didn't know. She had this deep gravelly voice, like she smoked 2 packs a day and probably did. But was up in full drag, but I didn't know much about drag or gender or anything and I was still working out my powers and stuff, so anyways. I called her him and she shrieked, turned to my uncle and tossed eggnog all over him at the insult!" he laughed, "It was grossly out of proportion to my slight and my uncle was having NONE of it. I wish I'd recorded that dressing down. It was lyrical."
"Oh no, poor baby Matt," Darcy laughed. "And your poor uncle too. I can just imagine the very pointed verbal backhand that queen was on the receiving end of." She stretched slightly, just enough to press a kiss to Matt's cheek. "Shame I missed this year's dinner though. They throw a good holiday party, and they're lovely to talk to. Did I tell you about the little restaurant on the ground floor of the building X-Force moved into right before everything happened? I'm going to have to bring you goodies from them."
"Who gets mad at being misgendered by a blind kid barely old enough to understand all that anyways?" Matt made a face. The entire thing was ridiculous levels of stupid. "Or....I could go to their new building. I do go into the city on occasion. And then it'll be fresh," he was very much not interested in whatever shady secret shenanigans X-Force was involved in. The less he knew about it the better, really. But he did enjoy good food. "Oh, did I ever tell you about my first time to the ocean?"
"You can just ask if I'd like to get breakfast together next time we're in the city at the same time," Darcy teased, giving Matt's stomach a gentle poke. "And no, you haven't. What was your first time at the ocean like? Did you make friends with the jellyfish?"
"I always want breakfast with you when our schedules allow," Matt pointed out. Breakfast was infinitely better both when he bothered to eat it and when shared with friends. Maybe that was why he tended to skip it on his own? "I was terrified of it. The noise was....not overbearing, but constant. I wasn't used to it at all. And then I was convinced that sharks would eat me, because I couldn't sense too much that I understood to tell what was a fish or not, it was a whole thing," it had taken his uncles nearly a day to get him to go in more than his knees. "I could swim, but I wasn't the best swimmer either, and had only ever been to Y pools. They had to sign me up for swimming after that."
"Did you enjoy it more after the first time? Admittedly more of a lake girl, but the few times we actually went to the ocean I enjoyed it. Don't usually go out past my waist though. I'm a passable swimmer, but not strong enough I'd want to fight an undertow or enjoy a sudden drop in depth." A yawn sneaked in on the end of the sentence, and Darcy blushed as she covered her mouth. "Sorry, I get to a specific level of comfy and warm lately and my body has decided that means it's time for naps. I like learning all of this fun stuff about baby Matt, though. Adult you, too."
"I like lakes more," he agreed, only because lakes weren't so... loud. They didn't have waves, at least not any he'd been to. Reaching awkwardly into a pocket, he pulled out his ear buds, "Go sleep then. I'll protect you."
"My ninja in black pajamas." She shifted to get comfortable, cheek pressed against his chest as her eyes drooped. "Just move me around however you need to stay comfortable, I won't mind."
