Visiting the Bartons (for @streetlevel )

[hawk_shot]

Honestly, Kate figured that flying with a pony would have been way harder than it turned out to be. But between Matt's first class charm put to full power and everyone at the airport being captivated by Frodo? Despite of how their trip to Ohio had started at an ungodly early hour, it also seemed to be the beginning of one of the most pleasant of adventures.

It was a short flight, one in which Kate shamelessly claimed Matt's shoulder as her own personal pillow. Obviously, they were on first class, but domestic flight seats were definitely not as roomy as international were. But it was comfortable enough for Kate to still feel pretty refreshed once they made it back down to land. In Ohio, a car with a trailer to carry Frodo was already waiting, taking him for a drive that took at least another hours before they made it to Clint's farm. 

On their way, Kate described Matt everything that she saw. The crops, so tall they would probably be completely lost in them if they decided to make their way through them byt feet. A land full of greens on all kinds of shades. Horses grazing afar, sheep with  their growing lambs. The sun was bright and Kate could tell it would become even warmer as hours passed.

She was so excited to finally see Clint and his family again. 

The green land was interrupted by a path of dirth that lead to Clint's house, a three-stories home of that looked like something straight out of the fantasies of anyone who might have ever dreamed about living in the countryside. As they approeached, Kate leaned over Matt to see better through his window, spotting the tractor and Clint's van in the distance. The ducks near the pond.. You could tell this was a family home, as on their way to the house there was toys scattered all around. Bikes, footballs, dolls and a swing made with a tire.

Finally, by the house, Kate spotted Laura. She was filling some buckets of water with a hose, looking in their direction as she held a hand over her eyes, shielded the sun off her face. Squinting now, she held her hand well above her head to wave in their directon as the car and trailer finally reached the house.

With a heavy step that clearly said it all about how she had a start just as early as the one they had, Laura aproached the car as it came to a stop, Kate almost instantly hopping off. Running towards the older woman, they captured each other in a tight hug as they shared words about how glad they were to see each other again. 

While the driver got out and quietly greeted Laura, he headed back to take care of the trailer. Still holding Kate by the shoulders, Laura went straight to their other guest. "You must be Matt."  

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[hawk_shot]

It was Matt's silence that spoke louder than words could. There, between a wooden fence and the man that lingered to her thoughs late at night, but still worked early hours in her mind as she woke up. Kate's body felt a little stiff as she realized her shoulders were tense, her breath held as if her instinct told her she ought she to brace herself for something unknown.

Matt was silent, his brown eyes as gentle as always. Staring, as if he could see straight into the face of that which hid in broad daylight. Maybe he could. Matt had a way of understanding things, like he could sometimes spot those threads of that tapestry Father Lantom had spoken about. His hand came to her cheek, warm. Kate became aware of it. At that very moment, one of those threads was being sewn before her very eyes.

She could smell it in his palm, the same grass she felt under her feet as Kate curled her toes. One of Kate's hands came to his chest, as if they were getting ready to dance, Elton John singing to them in a loop. Reminding Kate of home, letting her see New York in the way only Matt could. He had quoted the words for a reason, his thoughts having wandered there.

I thank the lord there's people out there like you.

Was this actually happening? One of the donkeys nibbled the back of her head, which only encouraged her to let out a shy chuckle as she pushed, whoever that was, out of the way. Again, Kate could breath, but her heart was trotting like a free stallion.

It was those eyes. Matt was shielding the sun, which shone like a halo above his head. And his eyes, they were as gentle and as full as love as they always were.

"Matt..."

Even with a chorus of cicadas singing their own song and with the donkeys stomping their feet and braying, Kate couldn't think of anything that made her melt as much as that simple gesture did it. Matt, holding her chin, silently encouraged her to tilt her head up, her eyes shutting slowly as she closed her gapped lips. Kate welcomed the kiss, cocking her head as her brain tried its hardest to process what was happening.

This is happening,

It is really, actually happening.

Matt's chin, his cheek, it scratched her in a deluightful way with his stubble, the corners of Kate's lips pulling into a soft smile as she cupped Matt's cheek in response. She kissed him softly at first, little by little allowing herself to grow more enthusiastic as the hand on his chest moved down to his hip.

She kissed Matt, eager to let him know that his lips tasted of little, ordinary miracles.

[streetlevel]

The sound of his name on her lips felt like something he'd never heard before. Not in that way. A recognition as well as a claim. He liked hearing her say it. It sounded all the sweeter for the taste of her that followed. He could detect everything in her lipstick, all that she'd eaten that day. Her toothpaste. Beneath all of that, the natural flavor that was uniquely hers. The sensory data danced upon his tongue as he kissed her in return. It was slow at first, light and gentle, as though he was afraid anything too much would break this moment. As though he was giving her every chance to pull away, to think better of right now.

Only she didn't. Kate met him with her own hungry enthusiasm, His hands settled at her waist, head bent down to reach her. It wasn't too far of a lean. She felt like a perfect height for this moment. Everything about it, from the cellphone music in the background to the bugs and donkey braying, it was nothing like he'd imagined. Maybe that was the point. Maybe life was at its best in moments of improvisation. Or at least, he wanted to tell himself that. He wanted to think that this time his impulsivity wouldn't bite them both in the ass.

His nose bumped hers and he huffed out a small breath. A little laugh. In a husky voice he said, "Sorry," before kissing the tip of her nose. "I guess we still have some practicing to do." He could feel his heart hammering alongside hers. He moved one of her hands over his chest, so she could feel what he could hear. He licked his lips and added, "I won't pretend I haven't thought about doing that." All the fears of ruining their friendship, of being in different life stages, it hadn't suddenly evaporated. Yet how could he be the man without fear if he didn't face them head on?