Work Text:
Hugo gets the first text during lunch.
Hello yes I am dying.
Texts like that never fail to get his thumbs flying. The rest of his sandwich lies forgotten on his desk, and he doubts he’ll have time to finish it.
Mat, what’s wrong?
Are you okay?
Do you need to call me?
If he didn’t need this job, if he didn’t get only a handful of sick days from the school, he’d drop everything in a second. But instead he’s forced to watch from the sidelines.
Mat takes his sweet time typing a response.
The worst thing about Mat’s anxiety is that it’s contagious. Hugo finds it so easy to get wrapped up in a whirlwind of emotions and match Mat’s energy. Most of his caregiver willpower is spent forcing himself to stay calm. Finally, a response pops up.
I’m just… small I guess. I miss you. Does that sound dumb? It sounds dumb. Sorry
Hugo lets out a small sigh. Worse yet, Mat’s getting stuck in his own head. He types back.
You’re okay. Do you want me to keep texting you? Would that help?
Yes please, Mat responds. There’s a beat before a second text pops up. No big words please
“Big words” is part of their code. That way if either of them gets caught texting, there’s nothing really incriminating. Using “big words” means that he should be talking to big Mat instead.
How polite! It’s safe enough to use but patronizing enough that little Mat should love it. Would you like to tell me about your day?
Umm… The three dots remain at the bottom of the screen, meaning that Mat is still typing. Well I’ve mostly been working at the coffee shop. Lots of people.
Good for you! You’re so brave! Hugo glances at the time. He has five minutes left before his next class.
Thanks :)
Listen, I have to go soon, but I’ll text you in between classes, okay?
The first of his students begin filing in, most notably a couple mousy girls who are always talking about books. He smiles and waves a greeting, which they return before going back to their conversation on something called Six of Crows.
Okay. A second text pops up. How long?
Probably forty-five minutes or so. Can you be brave for me?
Mhm.
Hugo proceeds to respond with a nauseatingly high number of heart emojis before the students come flooding in and he has to start his lesson.
He’s sure he looks like a madman, flying to his desk to check his phone the second the bell chimes, but he can’t bring himself to care.
Mat texts him periodically throughout the hours, usually venting about work. Hugo spends the first minute speed-reading through the texts.
Some woman just snapped at me because I gave her one scoop of sugar instead of two
Another lady brought in her kid and they’re watching some cartoon on her laptop and let me say I’m Jealous
This one dude came in and he legit smells like a burnt dumpster
Hugo glances up to check the time. He still has a few minutes.
You’re being so brave for me!
You can do it!
Mat answers with a dabbing emoji, which Hugo pretends to understand and sends a thumbs-up emoji in return.
Mat continues texting him throughout his next class, but at some point, the texts abruptly stop. Hugo sends his usual words of encouragement, and even goes so far as to send some pictures of cute cats, but every break, he returns to his phone to find no new messages. For the sake of his focus, he pretends like that isn’t a worst case scenario.
The day goes on with no more texts, so by the time he’s able to head home, he swings by the Coffee Spoon, only to find Pablo there. He orders his usual and heads home.
He doesn’t get his answer until around six.
Hey, I just woke up. After work my shift I went home and took a nap. I feel a lot better. Thanks for the support. It means a lot. Like a lot. So thanks…
Hugo’s heart swells, and the words die on his tongue. He doesn’t say anything about how he wishes he could’ve been there, because that’s unfair to him and Mat. They’re both adults, and while Hugo can’t always be there, he’ll help where he can.
Anything for my little man <3