for Matt

[tohearthesound]

Rache has been doing quite a bit of thinking since the last time he saw Matt; it was more productive than he expected. On the other hand, it left him unable to go any further without first talking to Matt again.

Which brings him to his seat at the bar tonight. No drink, no food; he's a little busy watching the room at the moment, but maybe later.

Comments

[semicharmed]

Matt can feel it, though.

"I said I'm in love with you," he repeats, as gently as he can.

Oh, God help him.

"I think-- I wasn't going to say anything, but I thought, before we ...

I just thought you should know that."

[tohearthesound]

(Love is an abstract, Rache thinks.

Love is in poems and novels and plays.

Love is for other people

Love is for people.


Or, it was.)

"Oh."

He laughs, high and startled and perhaps a little choked with the threat of tears.

"That's...that's good, it is, you can't know...

Because I think I am, I have been, um....in love with you too, so...

Yes."

[semicharmed]

"Oh," Matt exhales.

His arms tighten around him, lips pressing against his hair.

"Oh, Rache. I didn't know."

He thought he had to time it right, to avoid stressing him out. Somehow what Rache felt about him-- how could he have not thought about it?

[tohearthesound]

He smiles shakily.

"If it helps, I'm not sure that I knew, for a while?"

But he thinks he knows when he did.

(Take me instead.)

[semicharmed]

Matt kisses his head, squeezing him tighter for a moment before his arms relax.

"That ... makes a lot of sense," he notes, rueful.

"I've been a mess lately. In case you hadn't noticed."

[tohearthesound]

"Well, you've been in good company," he replies.

[semicharmed]

He pauses, putting his mind to relaxing against him.




"For the record," he admits.

"I'm kind of terrified."

[tohearthesound]

"You aren't alone in that, either."

He lifts his head until his mouth brushes Matt's cheek.

"But we'll manage."

[semicharmed]

At that, he does start to relax.


"Speaking of that."

His voice already sounds a little more contented-- curious, not anxious.


"How ... are you feeling?"

[tohearthesound]

"Quite well," he begins.

"And surprised, and nervous, and so grateful--"

He breaks off to kiss Matt, because that expresses anything else he could say just fine.

[semicharmed]

Matt finds himself melting into that kiss, and some of the hard knots of anxiety in his gut starting to unravel.

It all seems so simple when they're kissing.

[tohearthesound]

It is simple, when they're kissing.

His fingers stroke the curve of Matt's spine, when he slowly lets their lips part.

"I...I realize it's probably early to be talking about this, but would you stay?

Stay the night?"

[semicharmed]

"Of course," he replies, smiling faintly.

It's so entirely what he wants.

"Did you want to ... try anything more? Because I'm happy to do that, but I'm equally happy just ..."

He gives him another light squeeze.

"Being here."

[tohearthesound]

"Ah...I'm still thinking?" he replies, unable to keep it from sounding at least a little like a question.

[semicharmed]

"That's fine."

Matt presses a careful kiss to his temple.

"Think all you want."