#b!matt

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Why is Matt laying on the floor spread Eagle staring at the ceiling muttering “shit shit shit” to himself? +The Spine+

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Guardian

((In the back of everyones head is a sense of paranoia regarding Ignatius returning to try and do the same to Matt what he did to them so all of them intend to carefully watch after and protect him when they start playing shows again))

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"Why are you wearing that flower crown?"

"Cause I like it"

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Matt spun in his chair to face the bedroom doorway (his door hadn't been installed just yet, he planned to change in the bathroom tonight) and was greeted by the site of a scale freckled toddler dragging a blanket that was much too plush for him to really handle properly down the hall.

He peeked out the doorway and watched him drag it a few more feet for a moment.

"Hey, uh, whatcha doin?"

"Naptime." The tot responds matter of factly as he huffs and grunts dragging the thing along.

"Ah" he stepped out of his bedroom and started to follow along at a slow mosey. "But isn't your bedroom by your dads? That way?" He hiked his thumb in the opposite direction of where Ian was headed, where Steve's room had been pointed out to him earlier.

"Uh huh!" The blanket caught on a doorstop and Ian struggled to yank it any farther, Matt nudged it back off with his shoe and Ian plopped back onto his tush only to get right back up again.

"So then where ya goin?"

"Goin tah nap, gonna go nap wif Dormy."

Now he was getting somewhere. "Who's Dormy?"

Ian finally gives Matt his full attention, as well as a look that says he'd just asked the silliest question ever. Who was Dormy indeed.

"He's on'y my bestest friend! He libes in dah other verse where Unca Rabbit's a cat an Unca Spines a catzerpillah an there's a 'Lilah 'Raffe an G'anpa's got a funny nose."

"So you're headin to see him for naptime?"

He's met with a very serious nod. "Yeah." 

"Did you ask first?"

The nod stops and he opens his eyes in realization.

"I fowgot."

Matt had to fight hard not to laugh but somehow succeeded in only letting out a tiny snicker as he knelt down to be at the toddlers level. 

"Maybe you should go ask daddy if it's okay for you to head over there. That sound like a good idea to you?"

"Yeah, dat sounds really good. 'ets go." Matt's surprised when Ian holds his little arms up to be carried like he'd lived here for years and wasn't some complete stranger.

He complied and settled the hatchling on his hip, grabbing the blanket in his other hand and hanging it over the first banister they came to. Ian seemed to have a good idea of where they needed to go and pointed the way.

it was a bit before he suddenly looked up at Matt and asked curiously "Who awe you? You'we a new pewson. Did you come outta a powtal?"

He chuckled and shook his head, he'd heard a lot about these portals that apparently just popped up and had minds of their own. He had a feeling they'd be quiet an adventure.

"No I didn't come through a portal. I'm Matt I'm gonna be playing the drums."

"Oh, cause Unca Tha Jon gots brokeded?"

wow this kid new his stuff. "Yeah I guess so, sorry."

Ian shrugged and wrapped his arms around Matt's neck in a hug.

"It's otay, I like you Mr. Unca Matt."

Uncle Matt, that was a new one. He returned the hug with a smile and an added bounce in his step as they continued in their search for Steve.

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"So how'd I do?" 

Matt plopped down in the first couch he came to, passing Michael the bowl of chips he'd gotten for himself. One of many things impressed upon him was if you have food and Michael's in the room, make him eat some.

The one man metal fused band wrinkled his nose but accepted, forcing a handful down before answering.

"That was great. You did really good, and Sam didn't do half bad either. Once he gets a bit more comfortable being front and center I think we'll be ready."

The bowl was passed back and he crunched away looking pleased, though a bashful look flits over his face.

"Gotta admit, didn't expect Rabbit to give his all."

Michael grabbed another handful and shook his head "Nah, all of them are way too proud of their performance to do anything but their best, even when a certain ones being a pouty baby bot. He'll warm up to ya."

"Steve doesn't seem to like me either."

"Eh, that's one of those 'we're totally still all in recovery' things. He's fine as long as it's just us, hell even if its folks popping in from the portals. But he gets really uncomfortable if its anyone else. Once or twice he's taken Ian to get groceries or the toy store, came back fighting off a panic attack."

"Oh dude that sucks!"

"Yeah, but he'll warm up to you soon too. You don't like freak out over how he looks or anything so that'll help a ton. And you haven't even met Ian yet, you get him liking you Steve won't be far behind. And Ian likes everyone."

Matt laughed, twirling his drum sticks in one hand as he chomped chips with the other and for a moment they sat in companionable silence.

"So you think they're gonna keep me around?" it came out as a worried mutter and Michael reached across to pat him on the head

"There there, poor sad puppy."

"dude shut up!"