[ Foggy making cheeky remarks and Matt laughing; this feels right, and Matt thinks faintly that he doesn't ever want to give up their refound comfort with each other. Matt catches on from Foggy's sly tone what he means by "taking care" but nods with an "ah" anyway at the explanation, laughing some more. They are definitely coming back around to that subject, and he'd be more than happy to show Foggy that he really meant it when he was assuring him he was special.

Foggy gets a snort of a laugh during the second it takes him to realize he really did say sweetheart. The idea he'd been talking that way all along with subsitute affections, Matt's face goes a little rosy as he smiles at that, worried signs subsiding for the moment. Matt's fingertips trace absently on the back of Foggy's neck as he sits straighter and attempts to look serious as he replies ]

Yeah? I love you too, dude.

[ He only holds the serious expression for that long before cracking up. ]

I guess I didn't date many petname types now that you mention it. Or it didn't get serious enough that it felt right for me to say, even if they threw names around casually. I don't know, I guess I thought I'd be bad at it... and I never reached the point where I thought I could try.

[ And he turns a deeper shade of pink as he realizes how deeply he's thinking- overthinking? this. ]

The only people who called me nicknames were supposed to be like family. My dad, the nuns and some of the kids at the orphanage...

[ Stick. But he'll avoid bringing him up unless necessary for the rest of the night. ]

I don't mind if you slip in some more of that along with buddy and man. Or if you want to call me Matty like they did? It feels right. You're my family, my home... And I don't have to force myself to say that or that I love you like no other. I'm just saying what I'm feeling, Fo- Foggy My Love.

[ Please believe. His smile goes crooked as he stammers out the end. ]