2019-11-18 - Welcome Home

Finch has been puttering around and pulling together some things that her father might eventually want to see. She's set them up on the dining table that she and Dove almost never use. Photo albums, baby shoes, a few old meaningful toys, a lock of hair. There are report cards and trophies and scholarships, award notices and her Bachelor's Degree. It's a small collection for a life that has been anything but small. Miss Mags is rooting around the items, in an adorable knit sweater to keep her warm. The house is feeling drafty this time of year, and Finch is curled up in sweats, a tee, and Iggy's Mets hoodie, with fuzzy socks on her feet.

Her hair is dark brown, her natural color, and it is slowly starting to grow out of the shaggy asymmetric bob she had going on as well. She has a cup of cocoa, courtesy of her Gran, beside her as she flips through an old photo album of holidays and special occasions during her childhood, before Wren tried to kill her.

There's a knock of two knuckles rapping on her door. Ignacio shifts his weight leaning heavy into his good leg waiting outside. He didn't text that he landed early. Why was he nervous knocking on his own girlfriend's house? Why was he knocking? Oh yeah it's a surprise. Derp. He fidgets with something held in his hand and tucks it behind his back for the life of him trying to sort out why he seriously feels like he's shaking and nervous. Oh yeah, the fucking meds. Well... hit. Whatever. He knocks again and holds his breath standing up and scooting just out of view of the eyehole.

Finch slides off the dining chair and she trudges to the door. She's been pretty listless without Ignacio there the last few days. She didn't realize just how much of a constant presence he's been in her life, until he was on the other side of the country. Even the rat missed him. She checks through the peephole but doesn't see anyone, and swings the door open. If it's a burglar or whatever, she'll just break their kneecaps and set them on fire. No fear in this one. "Hello?" she calls from the doorway.

Well someone is definitely there and someone might get popped in the nose, but with one deft move steps 180* into view with more a pivot than a ah HA!. Warm, eyes dark as maple syrup and with as much sweetness for her light up with that half smile all for her. He takes a deep breath and says, "Pajarito..." And with a wince unshoulders his bag, gets down on his good knee and pulls something from behind his back. It's a- wait that's not a box with a ring. That's a baby pumpkin with a marigold arrangement in it. "Will you have dinner with me?" He watches, amused, and in all adoration, asking her something she can agree to that Celano and all the crabby people in the world can't take from her and ruin...without a fuck ton of effort.

Things happen so fast, there is the cocking back of her fist, but it's held, as Finch recognizes in a split second that it's Ignacio, then he's on his knee and...OH CHRIST!...wait that's...a pumpkin and flowers. Crisis averted! Awoooooga! Reset to Defcon 1. She barks out a laugh. "I will have dinner with you. Come here, I've missed the hell out of you!" She pulls him up so she can wrap her arms around him and give him a toe curling kiss.

When she releases him she smiles warmly. "You're home early!" Home. This is home now, right?

Miss Mags squeaks and bounces on Finch's shoulder at the smell and sight of Ignacio. She missed him too!

Ignacio takes a moment to pull himself up. he lets her take the pumpkin that is maybe slightly bigger than a softball really. Moving is difficult, but then again he's been without the pocket healer for like a week. His bag is left on the porch and his arm slides around her lifting her up to her toes. Lucky for her he's a better lover than a fighter and given he can't fight for shit that energy goes entirely elsewhere. Right now it's a kiss to make up for lost time taking refuge in the one place the world makes absolute sense. "Well..." And he steals the second kiss, "When we got close... enough..." And a third and forth. "I might have made people...get out of...the damn... way." Each one in absolutely zero hurry fighting to commit this, her smile, and the taste of her lips to memory for all posterity. he does pause to smooch Miss MAgs on the head when she shoves her noggin at his face. "Yeah I missed you too, chica."

She tastes like hot cocoa and marshmallows. Real ones, at least Gran is good about that. "Come in before you freeze," Finch insists, letting him gather his things while she brings the cute pumpkin arrangement into the kitchen to set it on the table. "Gran! Iggy is home!" she calls.

Dove smiles and moves to kiss the young man on the cheek. "Ignacio, glad you're home safe. Would you like some cocoa?" because that is how she rolls. Always ready with a complimentary hot beverage.

Ignacio warms a grin to Gran and gives her a hug and a cheek smoochy on the other side. "Ah, Abulita, te extrane. God, that sounds amazing. Actually it smells amazing." A hand is held out to take Miss Mags, when gran turns and floats her over looking relieved and pleased with himself. He murmurs, standing in the living room of that haunted ass house now so familiar even if it still has all its secrets, "It feels good to be home, Mags. Yeah I know you missed me. No I've not seen that Ratone recently I was in New York... beeeecause that's not where he is." He pauses. Is he conversing with her. "Well when I go by the paper tomorrow I'll inquire, alright. yeah love you too." Looking to Finch he mouths in a whisper There's a potential suitor. For all of the humor the relief to be back in this room with her (Finch not Mags) he wouldn't have imagines 7 months ago.

Finch just watches the interactions with her Grandmother and her pet rat with warmth welling in her heart. He's brought this to their lives, this comfortable love that had been missing with the virtual dissolution of their family. She tugs him over to the couch as Mags climbs onto his shoulder.

"How did things go in New York?" she asks, concern in her eyes. She knows he had some obstacles to get through when he was there.

Ignacio lets his hand find her back, her shoulder, and down her arm as she walks to the couch and catches her hand like it's a string to the moon. His fingers squeeze hers. A silent conversation. Confirmation she's here and real. He sets his bag down and fall-flops to the couch flinching faintly on avoiding Finch's floor. Arm slides around her and pulls her close. He's actually not too cold. Someone dropped him off. Raf likely. Another smooch goes to the top of her head. "Eeeeh went as well as we can expect it." He's not going to lie to her. He is genuinely trying to do that less. "They want to meet you and my sister gave me a present for you. Ended up staying with her a couple nights when I was out there. Pretty nice." Taking a deep breath he asks curiously, "Sounded like lunch went pretty...alright. Is it still?"

Finch snuggles in against him, just letting her Glimmer seep out and take in all that she knows is him, the beat of his heart, the thrum of his pulse, the expansion of his lungs. She knows them like they are melodies, a map of his life. "Your sister seems nice. She didn't have to give me a present though!" She nods to him a bit. "It was just coffee, but we asked each other some questions about our lives. It went ok I think. I'm hoping he calls to talk some more."

Ignacio can feel that network of nerves and scar tissue in his leg abate and the inflammation recede. It wasn't why he loved her, but he did love her for it. Her glimmer seeping back into his nerve network exploring the walls of his being and his finding Finch, the shape of her mood, and the colour of the sky in her soul. An odd tandem harmony. "I'm... I'm really glad he chose to try.I was really hoping he would. " He didn't leave the number for his own health after all. "February I'm going to ask a huuuuuge favor of you. You know that." An eyebrow arches. This is his serious face, you can note this by the eyebrow and the trying not to grin.

Finch arches a brow curiously at the mention of a favor. "Oh? What sort of favor is that?" She tilts her head at him and reaches to give Miss Mags a scritch behind her ears.

Ignacio loos up taking the hot cocoa with a warm grin and asks Gran, "Can I steal Finch for a weekend in February to New York and make her wear fancy clothes and be all mushy and stuff for my sister's Valentine's Day wedding thing?" Looking to Finch he says "Competitively. Mushy." He nods sagely and says stoically, "It's serious business. There's an award for first place that looks like more cake." He's making the BIG EYES, Finch! All both of them! Maybe more earnestly ridiculous because it makes up for lost time or because he's always at least half not-serious to ward off getting old. "For reals my sister invited us out ahead of time beeeecause she want to hang out with us before people in dress shoes tell her where to stand and call her funny names."

Finch chuckles. "Of course I'll go. But how fancy is fancy for clothes?" she asks with a wrinkle of her nose. She hasn't worn fancy foo since high school and the budget is stretched pretty thin.

"Of course you may borrow her, just bring her home in one piece, Ignacio, dear," Gran notes with a smile, before she heads back to the kitchen.

There's something that pushes out from him as he settles into the couch with his girlfriend and her rat: respite and reprieve. There's a calm on him that gets share; a calm that relaxes saying I am home. The one he chose when the lines were drawn. It might be a line in sand, not stone, but a line is a line and he chose. Unburdening himself of that baggage alone is exhausting enough, but he's happy to not move from this spot anytime soon.

"Well, it's going to be little black dress or better. You don't have to dress like a cupcake. Aaaaaand since I'll have a tux taken care of?" The eyebrows arch and waggle, Oh yeah, fancy pants. "I got like three hundred set aside aaaand I thought we could go get you something maybe as part of an early Valentine's Day present." That impish grin of his returns slowly, "Turns out having a paying job that pays? Pays off."

"You are not spending that money on a dress I'll only wear once, Figgy," Finch points out with a LOOK. "I think maybe we can find something in a Vintage or second hand shop or on eBay, and Gran can tailor it to fit me perfect. Deal?" she offers, with a grin and a nuzzling of his neck.

"I have really missed you so much. The best present of all is you being here, you know that?" she murmurs, hugging him.