3. Tremors

"So… how are you, guys?" Terri wondered, resting against the counter, a cup of cappuccino in her hand.

It was a typical picture of MDDC around eleven; a few customers in, slow pace, time to chill and talk. With some people, it might be boring – but working with Terri had its perks.

"How are we? What do you mean?"

"You and Matt. Duh. Who else?" Terri rolled her eyes, but her goofy smile gave her away. She was totally happy for them. "Have you already had a moment of hating your flatmate? Or you know, your flatmate hating the fact that you're his flatmate?"

Vera raised an eyebrow, sipping her tea. Was that a serious question? Vera would share if they had such a moment. Probably.

But all things considered, it actually wasn't such an invalid question. They had been living in one apartment for over two weeks and Vera hadn't comment on it yet.

Vera was losing the tiptoeing attitude very slowly; with Matt working mostly from home, he was spending a lot of time in and Vera had a feeling that every sound she made naturally had to disturb him, especially if they were in the same room. Matt hadn't complained about it yet, so Vera kept checking on him, usually finding him invested in what he was doing as if he didn't mind her presence. Didn't mind, but not ignored her. Sometimes when she passed him, his hand would brush hers, he would pulled her in for a kiss or a hug or asked her if she was okay on a day she was indeed feeling tired or sore from training.

She would wait for him some nights, some nights she would just ask if he was okay when lying down beside her. Goodnight kisses, good morning kisses or lazy mornings, good day kisses, talk or comfortable silence. They were fine.

"We're fine," Vera summed it up, earning an unimpressed look from her best friend.

"Really, Machackova? 'We're fine'? That all you got? Details!"

Vera laughed. "What do you want me to say, Ter? You want to hear about the distribution of toiletries in the bathroom? Who's doing the shopping? How did we not kill each other with all the legal papers in our living room and his…" Vera gestured around her head vaguely. "…senses all over the place? We're okay. Somehow."

"Uh-huh. Now we're getting somewhere."

"It's… I was really worried, you know? About me annoying him with my… breathing and stuff. But he seems… he seems okay. I don't think he would say anything, but if I'm being honest, I'm pretty sure I know him at this point, I know when he's annoyed or irritated. And it's not how I would describe him."

"He's too smitten, isn't he?" Terri said, more of a statement than a question.

Vera shrugged, smiling. "Well, he's not the only one."

"Oh jeez, you two so deserve each other."

"Ha! You're the one to talk. Victor is still not moving in?" Vera pried, gladly taking focus off her.

Terri sighed. Vera knew Terri's apartment wasn't exactly big, but Victor spent lots of nights – days? – at her place, because apparently, Vic's brother Patrick had broken up with his girlfriend after a year and decided to go down the road of random hook-ups and Vic was slowly losing patience when meeting girls and guys in their underwear wandering through their flat. The thing was, being forced to move in with his girlfriend by something like this was not the best way to do it.

"Don't even go there. I'm not sure if I want him to move in under the circumstances. Let's go back to you. It's over three weeks from your engagement; when is the wedding? Just so I can clean my schedule…"

Vera gaped. Yeah, about that. "Uhm…"

"Vera. Am I not invited to your wedding? Because I'm gonna be really wounded. You are not running off to Vegas, are you?"

Vera chuckled, internally panicking. "We… haven't talked about it yet."

"Excuse me?"

"We didn't have time for it and… we have time."

Terri threw her hands in the air. "Okay. But you have some idea, right? Spring? Summer? Autumn? Wint— oh. You should do it before September. You know, be practical."

Vera tried her best to keep her poker face. The wedding thing was a little complicated.

Firstly, Vera had never thought she would be getting married in a church and frankly, she didn't even know if she could, since she wasn't christened. She was confident Matt definitely would want a wedding in a church. Then, of course, there was another issue with the location; Czechia versus the US. She couldn't find herself to check if they could get married in Czechia if she wanted to obtain American citizenship, because she was afraid what she would learn. And she knew her family (and frankly, her friends too) would never forgive her if they weren't at her wedding and arranging their transport to US would be… complicated at best; it would be easier to get Terri and the others to Czechia. Another good question was who the 'others' were.

Oh no, Vera did not mind they hadn't talked about the wedding yet, not at all. Maybe escaping to Vegas was the easiest solution. Except that would make everyone angry, Matt would never agree to that and honestly, Vera didn't want that either.

"Like I said. Haven't talked about it yet. And it has to be a mutual decision."

Terri dramatically placed her cup on the counter. "Right. You better start obtaining your visa already, because there is no way you're married by September."

Vera just opened and closed her mouth soundlessly several times, watching her friend serving a customer. She finished her tea, dumbstruck. Yeah, okay. Whatever.

The pocket of her apron vibrated with a text. Speak of the Devil.

So, Foggy is offended no one invited him along for the yesterday lunch. Do you want to join us? He hasn't specified. We can arrange the lunch late enough for you to come.

Vera chuckled, immediately typing a reply.

Nah, go have some bros time. You deserve it, mister 11 Million Dollars Lawsuit. Love you.

Her smile turned goofy when another text arrived.

As you wish. Love you too.

"Machackova, stop sexting during your work hours," Terri hummed as she was passing by her with the order.

Vera rolled her eyes, shoving her phone back. The goofy smile stayed.

Meh, they would be fine. Every problem had some kind of a solution. A compromise. They weren't too bad at those.

Apart from many other things Vera had brought to Matt's – their – apartment, she had brought one extra box with Christmas sweets. The moment they had made arrangements with Nina, who had generously let her move out at 10th November already, which had been the very same moment she had paid her last rent, Vera had known she had needed to handle one more thing before moving in with Matt; baking. Vera had been pretty happy about the whole moving-in thing, but she was a realist. She had been afraid the smell, no matter how pleasant she found it, would be intrusive to his senses.

So she had moved in with all types of pastry already baked, only waiting to be decorated and finished. Matt hadn't questioned it.

Vera decided it was about time she started with the decorating, nestling at the kitchen table with gingerbreads and icing, Christmas songs and carols lowly playing from her laptop. Which was how Matt found her; she had been humming and too focused on her work to hear him arrive.

She only noticed him when the icing got too stiff in her hand and she set it on the table, cracking her sore neck. Her heart skipped a beat when she found him leaning onto the wall dividing the hall and the kitchen, content smile on his lips.

She turned off the music.

"Sorry. How long you've been standing here?"

Matt tossed some files on the coffee table. His smile widened as he made his way to her. "For a while. You didn't have to turn it off."

"How was your lunch with Foggy?" she asked, ignoring his note and the rush of blood to her cheeks when she realized he must have heard her humming; totally off key, probably.

"Good. It was nice. He's counting on us to come for Christmas again. He'll be happy to hear that you're already working on the candy," Matt stated with a grin, pecking her lips.

"I'm trying. I'll clean it up in a minute, it just needs a little while to… you know."

She gestured over the table, hoping he would understand what she was trying to say. He tilted his head in a silent wonder. Then he took her hand, pulling her up, leading her to the couch. Her heart fluttered nervously as he sat down next to her, a serious but soft expression.

"You know you don't have to do this, right?"

Vera blinked in surprise, not following. "Bake candy?"

He chuckled. "No, that's obligatory. Foggy said you shouldn't even show up without it. He's gonna be disappointed there are no vanilla-almond rolls."

"Oh, they are, don't worry."

"Where?!" Matt demanded, his face a pure shock for a second.

It was true Vera had brought a box of sweets with her, so it was easy to assume she had brought all of it. Except she hadn't.

"Nope, I'm not telling you. I keep it a secret, because someone is a 'candy-eating monster'." She had left them at Nina's place, asking her to keep them safe.

"Vera."

"No. You would eat them all and I would have to bake another batch."

Something in his face shifted, returning to his previous expression. "And why would that mind so much? You seem to enjoy it."

Because the whole apartment would smell like it. Vera opened her mouth just to close it again.

"I'm gonna make an assumption, alright?" he offered lowly, cupping her cheek. Uh-huh. "You don't want to do it here."

"That's not-"

"Because you keep thinking about this place as my apartment," he continued and Vera protested weakly again.

"That's not true. I literally call it 'ours' in my head. And out loud too."

Matt smiled. "That's a good start."

Vera was not quite following. Though…. Okay, maybe she had some issues with it, maybe it was the real reason why she was so careful about every sound; this was Matt's space and she didn't want to invade it. Or was it Matt she didn't want to bother and the space didn't matter? She wasn't sure anymore.

"I don't… I'm not sure I understand."

"I thought it would pass, but you did it again just few moments ago. I walked in and you turned the music off, assured me you would clean up as soon as possible. You don't want to bake another batch – you baked ridiculously early, just so you could do it in your old apartment – because you're afraid I would mind. Your heart speeds up every time you make a sound you consider too loud."

Oh her heart was gradually speeding up with his words right now, okay. How the hell did he notice all this? How did he know?

She was speechless. His amiable eyes were not helping. His thumb traced her lips.

"Am I wrong?"

Vera gulped, unable to speak, unable to bear his intense gaze. Goddammit. "I— I'm… uhm-"

She was glad he leaned in, meeting her lips, because she was not sure how to continue that statement. The kiss was incredibly sweet – and it had nothing to do with the fact she might have sampled the icing few times. She kept her eyes closed when he withdrew an inch.

"I love you. I appreciate you are considerate of me, but you can't do this. How long until you get fed up with controlling yourself like that? I don't want that. I want you to feel good here, relaxed. I want you to stay."

She snapped her eyes open. The last sentence was barely a whisper, the vulnerable tone he sometimes pulled out; it meant he was being self-conscious, afraid. He was afraid she would leave.

Vera drew in a sharp breath, her feelings changing from touched and calmed to incredulous.

"Oh, for god's sake."

She framed his face with her palms, kissing him fiercely and he immediately caught up, responding the same way, his hand soon moving to the back of her neck to make sure she followed him when he slowly lied on the couch, dragging her body on top of his.

She supported herself on her elbows next to his head, retreating to catch her breath.

"I want to stay. I don't want you to kick me out for being ignorant."

The corner of his mouth quirked. "Let's find a reasonable middle between trying too hard and being ignorant, shall we?"

His lips brushed hers, teasing before sucking her upper lip. He freed her hair from the messy bun, burying his fingers in it adoringly, his other hand wandering down to her waist.

"We happened to find an area where it works pretty well, we should inspire there," he breathed to her mouth, pulling her closer, wedging his thigh between hers.

"Shameless," she noted, letting her fingers wander too, careful not to rest all of her weight on him.

She was okay with shameless. More than just okay. She would have been more than okay with it yesterday as well, but she had been exhausted and he must have sensed it.

Matt just hummed, the sound vibrating against her mouth, and the hand on her waist slipped under her tee as if he wanted to confirm her exclaim about him having no shame.

Vera was aware it was a little crazy; jumping each other's bones that often probably wasn't normal, but she didn't care at all. They were everything but a normal couple.

She was okay with that too.

Vera had no idea how was Matt able to breathe when she was practically sprawled on top of him, but she had given up on solving that mystery a long time ago; mainly because he never seemed to mind. And he was a nicely warm pillow if a little hard on some places… like his hip bones, obviously.

"Are you going to tell me where the vanilla rolls are, now?" he pried, his fingers playing with her hair (growing to his delight). Vera gasped.

"No. Just because you're— and- no."

His chest shook with laugher. "That was very descriptive."

"I can't be descriptive. It would blow your ego."

"Hm… okay then. Let me guess – you baked them at your old apartment, so the easiest place to leave them at is at Nina's."

"Nope," she lied shamelessly, but her heartbeat probably betrayed her. His lips spread in a victorious smile. "Do not break into Nina's apartment just to get them! I'll rather bring them here…"

"Good plan. But she knows me, Vera, I wouldn't break in, I would simply knock on the door." He pecked her temple. "Did it ever occur to you that I would actually be glad if you baked here?"

"….no?"

His other arm, wrapped around her waist, squeezed her tighter.

"I can smell it anyway, faintly. And it's nice. I need you to understand one thing. Listening carefully?" he checked, not elaborating until she nodded. "Good. Yes, you're kinda intruding my space."

Vera frowned, her whole body tensing. His hand drew a comforting circle on her bare back.

"But when you look around this apartment and… I don't know, smell it and everything. What do you see? What is the apartment like?"

Vera blinked, looking up from his face, obediently checking on the apartment. She had no idea what he meant.

"It's… big?" she offered unsurely, making his lips twitch before he fell into seriousness.

"Okay. And?"

"Designers? Spacious? Airy? In a good mood lighting from the billboard?"

They hadn't hit the lights and the billboard was indeed offering an interesting game of colours in the space, drowning their bodies in paint, drawing patterns on their skin.

"Hollow, Vera. It's hollow, quiet, lonely and dark," he listed, emphasis on each word. Vera didn't call him out of the fact that his apartment would always be dark for him. She gulped, her heartbeat speeding up in anticipation. "It's mine and that's nice and all, but guess what. I like when you're invading it. You're lighting it up. Little noises or louder, smells, warm, your presence – this place is full of it. It's not hollow anymore. You're brining life in here. You change the apartment into a home."

Vera observed his sincere eyes, his inconspicuous smile, and wondered in just how many ways he could express love. There was a feeling in her chest, light and weighting a tone, making her own breathing significantly difficult.

"Just for you to know, I was going to say you're really freaking amazing at making me speechless and unable to think, with both your words and… actions. So, uhm, Yeah. That. Okay. Ježišmarja." I'm not gonna cry.

His eyebrows shot up. "Oh, really?"

"See! See, that smug smile, that's the thing I wanted to avoid."

Matt pecked her lips. "You do the exact opposite, you know. You make me want to talk. And by talking, I mean even talking about feelings. Foggy was horrified and amazed at the same time. He thought I was emotionally stunned before I met you."

Vera grinned. That was actually pretty amazing. She eyed the coffee table with the files.

"Speaking of Foggy… what are those? I thought it was supposed to be a friendly meeting," she complained.

"It was, mostly. But he came across some clients. They can't afford fancy lawyers, but Foggy heard them out and passed on the cases to me."

Vera huffed.

"More pro bono work for you. Yay!" she cheered sarcastically and Matt frowned.

"They need help. And if they can't afford-"

Vera rolled her eyes, placing her index finger on his lips to shut him up.

"I know they need help. And you're the saviour, the lover of all humanity. I was kidding, Matt. I love this about you. I really do value that you prefer helping people to feathering your own nest. I just wish you found time for you to be happy between all of that, rest, allow yourself to breathe."

He kissed her finger, smiling, tilting his head.

"Well, it's not just my nest anymore. It's ours. And as long there's time for you-" He connected their lips quickly, just a passing touch. "-I am happy."

A shiver ran down her spine, definitely a pleasant one. Jesus, seriously, how could he be so good with his words? His hand, as if it sensed the path of the shiver, stroked her back gently.

"You're cold. I love this, but we should get dressed. I'm not much of a heater."

"You're the best heater," Vera protested, carefully climbing up. "Just not all around me."

Vera checked the time after she dressed up again, slightly horrified it was almost seven already. The gingerbreads were definitely ready to be put away now. She started on it, while Matt, only in his boxers, walked to the window, listening, probably checking if he was already needed outside.

Apparently, he was, because he headed to the ancient trunk, pulling out the suit. Vera closed the box with the sweets, spending precious moments watching him getting ready. The suit didn't look less kinky than the first time she had seen it, but it did grow on her – she understood what symbol it presented (which didn't change the fact that the helmet was a little dorky, good thing he didn't have it on yet) and that it was an armour. She mentally thanked the guy who had made it, every night.

Matt turned to her, breathing in – probably to make some smug comment about her watching him – when he tensed, his attention caught by something her ears couldn't pick up.

And then she felt it; a slight tremor, the firm ground under her feet shaking, swaying. Her stomach made the same unpleasant flip it always did when an elevator going down stopped and her insides weren't counting on the movement. She managed to shoot Matt a panicked look before it happened again, messing with her balance. She had to grab the table so she wouldn't fall.

Matt was at her side with two long rapid steps, pulling her to his arms, drawing her in between the couch and the storage room where he kept the trunk. Her feet tangled as he pulled her, the floor still shaking; he let her fall, but not freely. She ended up lying on the ground in the most open space of the apartment where no falling objects could hurt her, not even a fucking pendant lamp she guessed; Matt hovered over her anyway, arms shielding her head, his body covering hers.

She heard mugs and plates shattering, loud enough to break through the rapid hammering of her pulse in her ears. She squeezed her eyes shut cowardly and prayed for it to end; so far, it felt like the quakes were only getting stronger, the noise growing louder. The rattling of furniture, the breaking glass and ceramics, her own heart, Matt's breathing.

And then it was over. The ground swayed for the last time, lightly as an echo, and then there was nothing. The only thing that was shaking now was her.

Matt caressed her hair lightly, his lips on her temple. "Hey, it's okay. It's over. You're okay…"

Vera forced herself to exhale, realizing she had been holding her breath the whole time. She shakily breathed in, Matt's low voice in her ears. She blinked her eyes open; there were tears in them. Shit.

"You okay?" he asked this time, worried eyes and poorly hidden freak out of his own. God, he was so caring and focused on her that it was almost scary. And she kinda loved him for that.

"Yeah," she rasped as he kissed her temple again, releasing her, standing up, helping her up as well. He winced as the first siren cut the air.

"Are you going to be okay?"

Vera nodded furiously, slowly realizing her fright was nothing compared to what could have happened to everybody else.

"Alright-"

"Is anyone in the building hurt?" she blurted out, voice still miles away from sounding normal.

His eyebrows furrowed in concentration, shoulders twitching. He shook his head, watching her face with a tiny smile. "No. You can only worry about yourself. I'm gonna go. Be careful what you're stepping on."

Vera caught his hand as he reached for his helmet, gloves and billy clubs. He snapped his head back to her immediately.

"Be careful what you're stepping into," she pleaded. You know, for example stepping right into a trajectory of a bullet or a bus that sounds like you. "It's gotta be a complete chaos out there."

"It certainly sounds like it."

"Matt!" Not helping!

He let the gear lie on its place in favour to take her face into his palms, gently kissing her forehead. "I'm gonna be careful, okay? Promise."

Vera closed her eyes, mentally counting to million. Right. Careful Matt; that joke wasn't even funny.

"I'm not that naïve. Just come back and shake me awake if necessary. Not that I'm planning on going to bed any time soon."

Matt gave her a tight smile. "Deal."

He took all the stuff he needed and jogged up the stairs, the door clicking behind him as if he was sealing his fate.

Vera breathed in deeply, putting on her shoes so she wouldn't have to deal with shards in her soles on top of everything. She wondered if Matt was already out of earshot. She kinda hoped he was. She leaned onto the wall of the hall and let her knees slowly give up, curling her arms around them, placing her head on them.

If Matt was out of earshot, she was allowed to freak out. A little.