I got you something (Mat, of course) - Mat & Ren's Haven

"I...frighten you?" Mat wasn't afraid of anything...ever.

He nodded. "Mix me up. I don't know what to do around you. I trip over my words and my feelings and..." he rubbed his chin again, a sure sign he was nervous. "You make me feel like a pup." he got a glare from Roux at that one, and Roux got a kick in return.

"You have taught me much, helped in ways you probably don't realize - ways I can't even vocalize, not even like this. So I'm frightened. Frightened that I could scare you away."

She reached up, her fingers gently touching his cheek. "You won't scare me away."

He looked at her, smiling faintly. "I almost did. That night, when I finally told you everything. You were distant after that." he had forgotten about the flowers, but the look on her face, the amount he said... what he said in his Haven... that was burned into his memory.

"Almost ain't the same as did." She brushed a lock of hair out of his face.

He opened his mouth, closed it. Thought about that. Looked down for a moment, then looked back at her. Reach up to gently pull her face down by the chin, and kiss her. Not something hungry, or feral, or violent, or out of control. But just... a kiss. Simple and solid.

She returned the kiss, letting it linger for a while

"See, still here."

He chuckled roughly, lips half curled in a smile. His tongue reached out, to taste the marks on his lips. "... I think that might be the first time I have kissed you."

"I know it is." She'd kissed him a few times before, it had always been awkward.

He seemed, well, in awe of it. Curious and in awe. A thumb stroked her cheek as he mulled over the moment, nodding to himself. "Hmm. Well... somethings make more sense now."

Her eyes fluttered shut. A sure sign that she trusted him. "Like?"

"Why people do this. Why people touch, waste blood."

A soft smile found its way on to her lips. "You've changed so much." She sounded happy.

He smiled, looking down. "... I no longer itch. I no longer feel... like I am wearing a skin that is not my own, Duckie. Dying... being freed. Knowing what I should be. I know, finally. Or at least I am finally on the correct path. It's why I said I want to get to know you again. Truly know you, not just the outside. You have gifted me with so many of your secrets. I wish I had some to give back, but you know me. What little there is to know."

"I have enough of my own secrets. I like that you have so few."

"You've given me more than I can ever thank you for."

An amused smile, as he just held her chin between his left thumb and first finger for a moment. "We say the same thing too often. How about we simply agree to be thankful. I will be here, when you need me. You remind me why I should be human. Ish. Seems like a fair deal." the grin went wider.

"Not to everyone. Just the few that matter." a quiet partial smile, a slight curve of the right corner of his mouth. "I still have my claws, after all."

He harrumphed at her, as he often did, free hands finger spread and slightly bent, as if he was wielding his claws. Poked her once with a fingertip - not a claw. Rahr.

And because Ren could be a total dork, she faked her death. Falling over dramatically.

He had to smirk, and kneeled down next to her, giving false CRP, to hopefully revive her.

One leg twitched, and then was still.

He looked at the leg, tried again (and not pushing too hard on her ribs).

It fluttered again, this time a little longer.