"I do owe him. For what he taught me." He'd never forget the day a simple ice cream cone, a favorite dessert, had suddenly become a gateway into a vast world. "Even if it was all for the wrong reasons." Stick had wanted a warrior. Not a child looking for a father-figure. Although even to this day Matt couldn't quite reconcile finding that old bracelet years later. He let out a faint snort, one that didn't hold much humor in it. "All he ever wanted was for me to lead an army." For him to take his place among the leaders of The Chaste. Well, Matt hadn't done that, but he was finally stepping into the leadership role that Stick had always sworn he was meant to do. Which... didn't precisely encourage Matt into thinking he was doing the right thing by it being Stick-approved.

With his arm that wasn't holding his shoes, Matt slid his free one around Kate's shoulders and gave her a little sideways hug. "I'm glad. If we made the day better for you." It hadn't been an easy day for any of them, really. Matt hadn't said as much, and he didn't know if Peter had, but they'd all lost fathers and father-figures. Helping make Kate's day go more smoothly had kept Matt's mind off his own losses. Privately later, by himself, he'd poured one out for those he'd lost. Somehow whiskey down the gullet suited all three of his father-figures.

He smiled then, nodding ahead. "I think I hear your friends."