Matt wasn’t expect any sort of longer kiss in return for his pecks and mere company. He wasn’t well aware of how to properly love on her let alone return her affections yet he certainly did try. Moving his lips up against hers hesitantly in attempt to kiss her back, to express to her his own affection.
After moments of locked lips he parts, afraid to ruin the moment with awkward kissing and heavy breaths. Not wanting things to get too heated after all.
“ It’s still hard for me to get past the initial shock that you feel such emotions towards me… It’s- nothing I would’ve ever suspected out of you.. Perhaps it was just Killbane getting to my head or-… It’s not important. What is important is here and now. ”
Deep blue orbs gaze back at her with an apprehensive smile; mustering up what little courage he could to offer her that gesture.
She wasn't going to push anything, simply pressing one last peck of a kiss to his lips with a smile as they part, she's all too happy just to be in his presence. And knowing now that he held some sort of feelings towards her, it just made it so much better.
Affection was not something she was accustomed to, so even this awkward, strange.. whatever it was; was more than enough for her. Her smile was genuine; probably something that looked odd given who she was and how stoic she normally had been.
' I-- Matt, I'm not going to lie. I wouldn't have thought twice about you in a romantic sense before Kiki died, but I've always.. I've always liked you on some level. She was just always there to remind me that we worked together, or that you were much too young and unaccomplished for me.. '
Trailing off, she shrugged her shoulders and moved her hand up to gently touch his cheek.
' But spending time with you.. Getting to know you, all your quirks and differences and knowing everything that makes you who you are. It makes me see you, so differently now. You've accomplished so much, and you're only a few years younger than I am; and I'm proud to know you.. Even more so to call you a friend, no.. Not a friend - you're more than that.. If you want to be, that is. '
She was aware that she was rambling now, trying only to make him realize his importance to her. Because in the end, it didn't matter what they had suffered up to this point, all that mattered was them; and what they made of their lives after this.. Together.