Okay, fangirls. Here comes some Matt! More to come with the next chapter, of course, but you know, a little incentive (coughREVIEWS!cough) never hurt the process. (: Enjoy!
"Yes, everything… I know… yes, I'll have her soon." Audrey's eyes were fuzzy when she blinked them open, searching for the soft voice speaking seemingly to itself. A pleasant old man was sitting up straight in a wooden chair that was placed off to the side of the hospital bed she was heaped in. He clicked his cell phone shut and smiled at her. Audrey looked around herself, realizing she clearly was not at home. The hospital room was pure white, smelling of a mixture of bleach and antiseptic. The scent burned in her nose; Audrey was never a fan of hospitals. "Dear, dear Audrey." The kind man said gently. Audrey tried to sit herself up on her elbows, but with a sudden rush of blood to her head, she only fell back against the colorless pillows. The old man extended a tissue between two of his slender fingers. Audrey shot her hand up to cover her face out of habit, trying to smile graciously and take the tissue with her other hand in the same moment. Her smile came out shy and slightly awkward, despite her efforts. She wiped at her nose, crumpling the tissue in her hand. "Thank you… Watari." He beamed at her; Audrey laughed quietly. She ruffled her hair uncertainly, feeling the increasing need to get herself together as she continued to look at the prim, pressed old man. But he only smiled kindheartedly.
"So why are you here, Watari?" She asked curiously, hardly fathoming that he was there in front of her so suddenly and out of the blue. However, her memory had hardly caught up with her, and she hadn't the mind at the moment to wonder of who or why. Watari chuckled softly, digging in his jackets pocket for a moment. He pulled out a small package and slid it toward her over the covers. Audrey looked up with a smile. "You remember." Watari nodded only once, still smiling quietly, as Audrey reached forward to grab the graham crackers. She sat back once more, opening the package neatly, waiting expectantly for Watari to answer her question.
"I'm not sure if you're aware, Audrey, but your apartment has… been completely destroyed." Audrey's mouth went slightly slack on the cracker she was chewing.
The fire. She smacked herself on the forehead, worsening a headache she hadn't acknowledged before then. "It… saddens me to tell you that not much was recovered. Of course, you won't be able to return there, but that's not a completely terrible thing, as it stands." Memories came back in broken bits and pieces: Matt, cigarette, stupidity, heat… She looked up at Watari, slightly aghast. "Well…" She drawled slowly, "I was a few months behind on my rent anyways." Audrey laughed dryly. Watari nodded. "But all is well, dear Audrey. Arrangements have already been made. We may leave as soon as you feel up to it." Audrey knew jumping to her feet would likely cause her to faint due to the blood rush, so she merely nodded with a slight downward jerk of her chin and half- smiled.
"I've already gathered the things you had in that bag of yours there," Watari gestured towards the floor. Audrey followed his motions to find her purse lying against the legs of his wooden chair. "You'll be comfortable, once you get settled. Damages are being taken care of, so you needn't worry of that." Audrey sat up in the gurney, crossing her legs Indian-style and leaning her arms over knees. "But where exactly are we going to go?" she asked, biting her lip indecisively.
Watari laughed heartily. "Why, home, of course. Just as soon as you feel able." Audrey tossed the covers off of herself, throwing them aside. She slid out of the bed, purposely slowing herself, and stood in front of Watari. Audrey shrugged her petite shoulders with a slight air of victory. "I'm able." She smiled. Watari shook his head, laughing quietly. "You're wearing a hospital gown." Audrey gaped for a moment, opening and closing her mouth with words on her tongue, but nothing to say. Watari reached down, grabbing her bag and holding it out to her. "I believe what you're looking for may have made its way in here." She smiled at him genially, grateful that she would soon be able to cover her thin, pale legs. "I'll be right outside, once you are ready." Watari smiled at her kindly, seemingly taking in the sight of her, and turned to leave.
Digging in her bag, Audrey found only one pair of jeans swamped in with other various items of clothing. She pulled them on with a rather excited feeling beginning to grow throughout her. Smiling, she threw on her coat and ran her fingers through her disorderly auburn hair, almost running out the door to meet Watari, slinging her bag over her shoulder along the way.
Watari returned her eager smile as she appeared around the corner, and gestured for her to go first, out of the big glass doors. "I've already checked you out. Your test results indicated no sign of smoke damages, by the by." Audrey nodded her head, filling her lungs with the fresh, cold air as they stepped outside. Her eyes landed on a sleek black car, parked on the curb. "Geeze, Watari, do you always bring the Secret Service?" she commented with a laugh. "Never travel unprotected." he humored her. With a swoop of his hand, Watari opened the door and waved for her to climb in. Audrey curtseyed with a false sense of grace before slipping into the car. Watari followed, shutting the door behind himself. The car lurched away from the curb. The tinted windows made it impossible for Audrey to see outside. Watari smiled down at her; even with age, he was still a good foot taller than she. "You've grown up, dear Audrey." He said, with his kind, fatherly voice. Audrey looked down at her folded hands, smiling sheepishly. She shrugged her slender shoulders, looking over at him. "Yeah, I guess so." Watari laughed softly. "And not changed one bit." He said, still chuckling. "Near will be very pleased to see you again."
Audrey almost jumped out of her seat. "Near?!" she exclaimed. "We're going to see Near?" She clutched at Watari's arm excitedly. He nodded, smiling wider. "Near has extended a room of his suite to you for as long as you need it. Your company will be welcome, your latest debts taken care of. He's expecting you with great anticipation." Audrey sat back in her chair with a smile of giddy disbelief. She was going to see Near; her very best childhood friend. "God, what's he like now?" Audrey said aloud, more to herself than Watari. He answered anyway. "Oh, not much different than you probably remember him." Watari chuckled with a knowing smile.
The car pulled to a stop. Watari perked up, "Ahh, we've arrived!" Audrey pushed her ever-pesky hair from her face. She climbed out of the car after Watari, shielding her eyes from the sun to look up at the tall, glossy building. Definitely much newer than my apartment, she thought with a half a smile. "Welcome to your new home." Watari ushered her forward.
Audrey looked up at the building as they walked toward it. Near was somewhere inside, she knew. She was positively bubbling with anticipation when they entered the large double doors.
The first thing her eyes met was the last thing she expected: leaning his arms against the front desk was a lithe body dressed in an unmistakable attire – a tan, fuzzy vest, worn and faded blue jeans, a striped, long-sleeved undershirt… but the vibrant red hair topped with goggles was the clincher. Audrey felt her heart shudder, sink, and fly in the same instant. She tugged at Watari's sleeve. "Why is Matt here?" Watari stepped in front of Audrey. "A better question would be, 'How did he find his way?'"
From the sound of his voice, it was clear Matt was speaking forcibly calm through gritted teeth. "You have to let me speak to someone." Audrey could see his knuckles turn white from gripping the edge of the desk. The slim, blond woman sitting behind the desk scrutinized Matt with a gaze that would force Audrey to look away. Matt met her stare, returning it fiercely. The woman stood up swiftly, her bangs bobbing into her narrowed eyes. "No one here owes you anything. If you do not leave promptly, I will have someone remove you." The woman spoke with a harsh, cool tone. With a snarl, Matt turned away from her. His eyes widened when they landed on Watari, who was still standing half-way in front of Audrey protectively. She watched Matt's face as his eyes slid down to hers. His mouth went slightly slack at the sight of her.