Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Hooty promised to not help out anyone ever again. 

But he didn't promise Augustus that. Nor with Mattholomule.

Yes. You see, these two have been coming over to hang out at the Owl House for the time now. Hooty sees the same thing everyday.

Mattholomule walks in, sets his bag down. (He ignores Hooty's kind greeting. But Hooty is sure he doesn't mean to!)

Gus greets him, and they sit down and talk for a while and draw on a little piece of paper, including ideas for some sort of project.

Obvious romantic tension rising in the air. Anyone could tell. Hooty is excellent at stalking people  eavesdropping so with his keen observation, he could obviously help.

Luz walked nearby as Hooty cautiously stared at Mattholomule and Gus and shook her head and whispered "Hooty, no."

Hooty grinned widely and scream whispered back "I wonder who helped you get that awesome GF of yours..."

Luz turned bright pink shuddered. "Don't say it like that! It sounds so weird." 

Luz glanced back at Mattholomule and Gus. She made a tiny squeak noise and fiddled with her hands until groaning quietly and turning back to Hooty.

"Fine! But do NOT use that tunnel of love! Understand!" She narrowed her eyes.

Hooty bobbed his body up and down as if he were nodding and responded "hoot hoot! Your wish is my command! M'lady."

Luz cringed but darted out the door. With the approval of his friend Luz, he is sure to be able to do this!

Hooty approached Mattholomule and Augustus and listened in to their conversation.

"So if we put that trap here it would be most effective to get thieves and robbers out. Duh." Mattholomule pointed out.

"No... Because when we walk in we'll get caught by the trap ourselves!" Augustus pointed to a map.

Hooty decided to drop in to greet the boys.

"Hiiiii." He raised his body up and wiggled.

"OH TITAN." Squeaked Mattholomule and jumped back.

"Oh uh hello Hooty. We didn't ... Notice you there." Augustus forced a smile.

Hooty twisted his head to the side with a blank grin.

"Sometimes I don't notice myself eitherrrr." He slurred.

Augustus and Mattholomule exchanged awkward looks.

"Well Hooty... Could you maybe..." Augustus started.

"Leave us alone? We are busy here." Mattholomule finished. 

Hooty smiled as he blankly looked at the two.

Maybe pairing them up will be harder than he thought.

How can he interfere with the binds of fate if he must be cast out!

Perhaps Hooty will observe from a nice distance so he can know when to truly step in.

Hooty slid himself behind the couch. Surprisingly, nobody has noticed him so far. Good good. This is all part of the plan. 

Every once in a while Hooty lifts up his head to see how things are going. 

Mattholomule snickers at a few weird human jokes Augustus tells him. His cheeks slightly flush while laughing.

Hoot hoot hoot! TIME TO SWOOP IN AND- 'no Hooty. Not yet.' Hooty reminds himself. 

Augustus starts to talk about an interesting conversation.

"So I learned this human thing a while ago." Augustus said, he lifted up his hand nearby Mattholomule.

"It is called a high five!" He said enthusiastically.

The brunette stared at the younger witches' hand for a second. He seemed like he didn't know what to do.

Augustus kept his hand in the air with a slight wide grin. 

Hooty could tell exactly what was happening. Funny enough, the same thing happened with Amity once. A classic. 

Mattholomule awkwardly wrapped his hand around Augustus'. Augustus stared at his hand now understanding he didn't quite explain this well.

They stayed still for a while like that, both not knowing what to do. 

Mattholomule's cheeks slowly turned pink as he questioningly looked at Augustus confused.

"Uh... A high five is where someone puts a hand up, and the other taps it with their hand." Augustus coughed. He pulled his hand away slowly and tapped Mattholomule's hand quickly.

"See?" 

Mattholomule looked immediately regretful. And embarrassed.

"UH I- I KNEW THAT! I was just testing to see if YOU knew!" Mattholomule wiped his hand after releasing Augustus'. 

"Uh yeah sure... Anyways. Back to um. The plan." Augustus shifted his eyes from Mattholomule. 

A new awkward tension rose in the air.

Good thing Hooty is an expert at breaking awkward tension.

The worm tube owl slithered up over the two boys. 

He stretched open his mouth 

and then he vored them

And then he engulfed the two boys. He slithered down to a secret chamber in the basement. 

He owl pelleted the two out. 

From inside the owl pellets. Two boys desperately tried getting out. Mattholomule used his magic to make a wooden axe. He sliced his way out the owl pellet and gasped for air.

"HOOTY! THAT WAS DIS-....?" Augustus whined. Later taking a look in his surroundings. 

"Hey Gus... Where are we?" Asked Mattholomule. Looking equally confused. 

"I have no idea... I haven't been to this part of the Owl house." Augustus admitted. Looking around. He tapped the walls a bit and grimaced at the weird texture.

A small note laid across the floor.  Mattholomule leaned down and picked it up and unfolded it to see what it said.

'You two seemed like you needed a little help. So I made this maze! To get out, you have to follow each step I put along the way!

-your best friend. Hooty.'

"It's that weird Owl tube that put us here. It says we have to get through some sort of maze." Mattholomule grimaced. He glanced back at Augustus who was observing his surroundings. 

"Well I don't see a maze..." Augustus mumbled. Looking around. Still quite confused.

"That means we must be inside it right now." Facepalmed the brunette witch. 

"That makes sense." Augustus groaned. He tapped the walls around them. It smelled like a mixture of wood and Moss. It was weirdly sturdy and tall.

"Maybe we can get Hooty's attention and ask him to get us out." Mattholomule considered.

Augustus and Mattholomule jumped up and down calling Hooty.

Hooty watched from the darkness and blankly stared out into the maze.

He dropped a note into the middle of the maze.

Augustus caught it.

"It says here

You must find the way out through love. 

-xoxo your best friend, Hooty." He read out loud.

"What the hell? What does it mean by love?" Mattholomule asked quietly, squeaking by the last word.

Augustus looked around and shrugged.

"I have no idea. All I know is that we need to get going already if we wanna survive." Augustus moved up ahead. 

Mattholomule stayed behind a good distance before whispering loudly in the air.

"THIS IS NOT FUNNY HOOTY!" He pointed to the air looking around paranoid.

Mattholomule's face was red. Hooty couldn't tell if it was because he was mad or flustered. Hooty took the flustered option.

"Did you say something?" Asked Augustus, tilting his head back slightly.

"N-no! Nothing! Everything is fine." Mattholomule replied gritting his teeth and taking one last look back.

"I'd say we follow these notes. I promise to get us out of here! Dead or alive!" Augustus smiled triumphantly.

Mattholomule shook his head slowly.

"Preferibly alive!" Squeaked Augustus, correcting himself.

The two boys seemed unsure of how long it would take to get out. They continued walking ahead. Looking around to try and spot Hooty. 

The two boys headed deeper in the maze. Not knowing what they will go through. Hooty should have done this with Luz and Amity. But no matter. He is trying to help Gus and Matty now.

Hooty grinned as he watched the two. 

He was indeed a genius.

Chapter Text

Mattholomule held unto the note and crumpled it in his hand. A small streak of sweat sliding down his face as he continued to internally panic.

WHAT DID THAT WEIRD BIRD THING MEAN BY.. LOVE???

He and Augustus are friends. And that's as far as they even are. 

Actually, screw that. Mattholomule isn't even. Sure if they are friends. 

You see, sure they uh... Hang out sometimes. But they haven't actually publicly went out and hung out... As friends.

"That doesn't even make any damn sense." Groaned the brunette mentally.

But case closed. The bird is delusional. There is nothing between them. PERIOD.

Love... Why the hell is that word making Mattholomule squirm???

He glanced back up at Augustus, who seemed nervous by another factor. Which way to choose for the paths.

He quickened his pace and moved up ahead to get a closer look. Augustus had a hand under his chin as he counted the paths out loud... For some reason.

"Uh. There are three pathways. You're welcome. I counted them for you." Mattholomule snided sarcastically.

Augustus side glared.

"I know that dingus. I'm just trying to see which path is the safest. Who knows! There might be death traps in here!" The younger witch pointed his hand to the paths dramatically.

Mattholomule raised an eyebrow and snorted quietly.

Augustus' ears turned red in mild embarrassment. 

"Fine. If you think they're so safe-" he muttered. Suddenly standing behind Mattholmule.

"-then go! I dare you to go in one of these paths." Augustus shoved Mattholmule in front of him to face the three paths in front.

Suddenly seeing Augustus' point, he glanced back to back out.

Then he saw Augustus' daring face.

Oh no. He is NOT going to give him the satisfaction of him wimping out.

Mattholomule is NOT a wimp.

"Well uh... I'm going to choose a path. Just to prove I'm right. If I win this, you get to add my traps I suggested for the grave." Mattholmule decided to add in. 

Augustus quietly gasped. 

"Well if I am right and I have to save you from danger, may I remind you yet AGAIN. You have to wear these cat ears luz gave me!" He suddenly reached his hand into his bag and reached out a headset of embarrassingly cute cat ears.

Oh hell no. Mattholmule is NOT wearing those.

Yeah, he has got to win this.

"Fine!" Mattholmule replied, heading straight towards the middle path.

"Fine!" Yelled back augustus.

"Fine!" Mattholmule yelled as he was halfway stepping in.

"FINE!" hollered Augustus.

"FINE!!!" Screamed back Mattholmule. Before heading face to face with a canon with Hooty's face on it. The canon eerily grinned at Mattholmule as he screamed and ran back.

"NOT FINE NOT FINE!" 

Mattholomule tried escaping but the Hooty canon yelled one giant 'HOOT" noise before shooting one paper at his face.

He stumbled back over to the younger witch. Holding on the the walls for support. The note pressed against his face.

He ran into Augustus, who caught him easily.

"Told you it was dangerous." Said the younger (yet strangely taller. Was Augustus always this much taller than Mattholomule?? Oh no.) Witch, through some small snorts.

Augustus peeled the paper through a Dizzy Mattholomule's face.

"But you didn't have to come and save me! And it didn't kill me!" Mattholmule protested.

"Yeah yeah we'll settle this after I read this note." Augustus pressed his hand on brunette's head to keep Mattholomule from attacking him.

Augustus cleared his throat and did his best Hooty impression.

"To pass through my maze. You must mutually choose the best path in life to find your soulmate. You may bicker over different opinions, however in the end hoot... The right path remains the same.

P.s: if you are reading this note hoot, you chose the wrong path! Try the one to the left :-)

From your best friend for life: Hootsifer.

(P.p.s Lulu calls me that! And you can too!)"

"I think he wants us to go that way. Not this one. I told you." Augustus showed Mattholomule the note, as the brunette squinted at it.

"What did he mean by soulmates?"Internally screamed Mattholomule, slightly turning pink.

"Hey are you okay? You're face is turning a bit red." Augustus noted, putting the back of his palm on Mattholomule's forehead.

"no no no don't panic the birdbrain wanted this to happen." Mattholomule thought to himself.

Too late. He is panicking. Time to escape.

Mattholomule got out of Augustus' grasp and then stared at Augustus trying to decide what to say and quickly changed the subject.

"How the titan did you say ":-)" out loud???"

Augustus burst out laughing and tucked the note in his pocket.

"It is a cursed gift I have." He waved his hand in the air pitifully.

Mattholomule flicked him in the forehead playfully.

"That is so weird." He snickered. 

Augustus' face darkened mischievously and said, "If neither of us won, none of us want to lose our pride. So I say we make a truce. You wear the cat ears, and I let you add your traps into our plan. Fine?" 

Mattholomule bit the inside of his cheek and decidedly to step aside and run to the left path already. Augustus made an illusion of himself stand in front of the path blocking it. Startling Mattholmule.

"Nope. No running. Now put it on." He stepped towards Mattholomule as the brunette stared in mild fear.

He doesn't remember what happened next because all he knows is that he has the cat ears on.

"I will kill you for this once we are out of this maze." Growled Mattholomule. As Augustus kept giggling.

"I hate him so much for it! I want to... I want to..." Mattholmule ranted internally, glaring straight on at Augustus. 

Augustus turned back and grinned playfully.

Mattholomule's heartbeat started racing.

Ok. New plan. Instead of killing Augustus when he gets out of this maze. He will kill that stupid bird owl tube... Whatever it is.

Because it's either he is actually somehow getting feelings for Augustus, or he is actually just going crazy because of this maze.

"So these cat ears-" Mattholomule started with a bitter taste in his mouth.

"-Yeah! I told you, Luz gave me them. She has a lot of human stuff and said she didn't want them anymore." Augustus explained excitedly.

"Yeah yeah... So when do I give them back to you?" Asked Mattholomule impatiently.

A small awkward silence ensued.

"... Actually... I was hoping you could keep them." Augustus admitted. 

"WHAT! ARE YOU DELIBERETLY TRYING TO end ME???" Mattholomule hissed. Pointing at how stupid and dumb the cat ears looked on him. 

How evil and vile is Augustus??? 

"No no! You got it all wrong!" Justified the taller witch waving his hands.

"Then what! Why else would you make me wear these-?" Mattholomule didn't notice how his how face was now slowly turning red.

"Well uh... To be honest they suit you! For some reason it makes you look... Weirdly cute?" Augustus laughed awkwardly and rubbed the back of his head.

Mattholomule can't take this anymore.

He has now fully turned red and ran up ahead while mumbling "I'm gonna kill that bird."

Augustus ran after him, confused.

Hooty watched them both run from afar. 

"Hoot hoot. This is developing much better than I thought!" He cooed. 

"Mmm. Perhaps I should add in more clues along the way! I'm so helpful." Hummed hooty.

Unfortunately for Gus and Mattholomule, that means more canons.

Augustus continued running after Mattholomule, vaguely confused over what happened.

Chapter Text

Gus ran towards Mattholomule, no being able to see his face, and almost out of breath. 

Maybe it was too mean to make him wear those cat ears? Gus thought it was funny though. 

Gus remembers when Luz was going through some old stuff and found the cat ears. He used to be so infatuated with them, Luz let him keep it.

But to be honest, they never looked good on him. He has tried putting them on multiple times, but it never really fit well and all with his personality. 

Maybe it's just being very perfectionist, but Gus still carried the cat ears around with him. Along with a few other human items that could prove useful, such as the famous paper-clop.

He reached into his pocket and looked at it fondly before shoving it back in and still running. 

Gus let out a wheezy "WAIT." and swore he caught Mattholomule glance back and then pacing up even faster. 

"I wonder if I was that fast when I used to be shorter." Gus mentally questioned himself. He heard another loud "HOOT" in the distance. Mattholomule stumbled back and let out a muffled large amount of curse words and Gus winced a bit.

"Matt! Are you okay?" He rushed over to him. Mattholomule sat on the floor trying to tear off the paper from his face again. The cat ears were set slightly crooked. 

Gus fixed the cat ears and peeled the paper off Mattholomule using the paper-clop. (Which now makes it the second time he saved Mattholomule with that thing. Fascinating.)

"I should get more recognition for this." Gus smiled, Mattholomule scowled as he pushed Gus off and brushed dust of his clothing.

"For what? Humiliating me?" Mattholomule scoffed at Gus, who only chuckled lightly.

"You were the one who ran into the... Hooty canons(?)" Gus smirked playfully as Mattholomule growled under his breath. 

Gus was about to read the paper when Mattholomule suddenly yanked it out of his hands. 

"Um hello? I was still reading that." Gus said mildly annoyed. He folded his arms as Mattholomule scanned the paper and crumpled it up.

"What the heck? Why did you do that! Maybe there was a clue in there about which way we should-" gus protested. Mattholomule hushed in and glanced around nervously.

"It was nothing okay? It just said to um... Take that right path!" Mattholomule pointed to the path on the right, and Gus sceptically raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure? Because you know we could potentially get hurt if we choose the wrong path-" gus started lecturing and Mattholomule rolled his eyes and started walking off to the pathway. 

"Also, I am done wearing these cat ears! They keep pushing my bangs into my eyes!." Mattholomule let out a whine mixed with a scoff and pointed to his hair.

Gus laughed softly and then caught up to Mattholomule and slightly nudged the cat ears off. 

"H-hey what are you doing? GET OFF ME FIEND" the brunette squeaked as Gus struggled to put the cat ears back on him.

"You put the cat ears on wrong! Thats why it keeps bothering you! If you just let me-" Gus strained his voice as he tried pushing Mattholomule's restraining hand off his face. 

Finally, Gus got the cat ears back and gently adjusted them to feel more comfortable.

Mattholomule smacked his hand off. And then patted down his hair. Gus snickered quietly to himself before having a GREAT idea.

"Hey Matt! You have construction magic, right?" He scanned the maze. 

"Well duh, but I don't understand why the hell you are bringing it up n-" Mattholomule began to retort before his scowl turned into a grin as he began to understand what Gus meant. 

"Oooh. I see. Ugh why haven't we tried this before! Alright, stand back illusion boy." Mattholomule cracked his knuckled and knelt down to the ground before drawing a rather large magic circle.

The ground under him lifted him up. Mattholomule laughed excitedly before extending a hand to Gus and lifting him on there.

"Oh wow. You're strong." Gus said as Mattholomule easily helped him on. The taller witch steadied himself on as Mattholomule looked up ahead into the ceiling. Hoping to find some sort of hole.

"And you're light for a tall guy." Mattholomule smirked as Gus dramatically gasped pretending to be offended. 

"Anyways, let's get this over with, I don't like the texture of this maze. It feels weirdly familiar to those owl pellets we woke up in." Mattholomule grimaced. Gus shuddered and rubbed his arms.

"I can still smell them." Gus stared ahead with a traumatized empty look.

Mattholomule nodded solemnly before resting his hand on the mossy wooden ground again and sent them up.

Hooty watched from the corner, frowning indecisively.

"On one hand, I can knock them up ahead from there to my favorite part of this maze hoot." He watched Mattholomule teu raising his mini toweer up higher.

He grinned ominously "But on the OTHER hand, I don't have hands. Guess that is my only option! Hoot hoot hoot! The owl tube bird slithered deeper into the dark corner.

Mattholomule glanced over, suddenly feeling uneasy, making the tower stop growing for a second. The sudden halt made Gus stumble over and hold onto Mattholomule for support.

"Oops! Sorry Matt." Gus laughed awkwardly shifting his eyes aside before letting go of the shorter witch. Gus' cheeks slightly turned pink but it seemed that Mattholomule didn't notice. 

Gus sighed softly in relief. 

"Shut up! Don't you hear that vvrrring sound?" Mattholomule snapped. Gus raised a questioning eyebrow before Mattholomule groaned.

"That vvrrring sound that happens right before-" a giant Hooty canon emerged from the wall behind Mattholomule and Gus widened his eyes at the massive hooty beast. It grinned evily, looking just like it craves witchling flesh. Or in this case, craved spitting wads of paper on them.

"That happens?" Gus whispered in terror. Mattholomule jolted silently. He gritted his teeth and turned back slowly. His eyes widened and his pupils sharpened as he took in the huge horror movie perfect hooty canon.

He stumbled back as the hooty canon opened it's mouth.

"Yeah. That." He squeaked. The two boys hugged one another for dear life as they prepared for whatever might be shot out of the Hooty canon's mouth. 

"Before we die, I have something to tell you!" Mattholomule impulsively squeaked out. His face full on red.

Gus looked back at him and with the same amount of impulse squeaked out "Well, I also have something to tell you!" His face burning up before glancing back at Mattholomule.

"Well I-" the brunette began before a loud "HOOT" of death shot out two papers with a strong amount of force pushing them off the tower. 

The boys screamed for titans mercy as the tower crashed down just like the two boys falling.

Mattholomule made lousy attempt of magic but not doing it correctly. Gus kept screaming and flailing his arms. He wondered to himself, if this was how he would did?

He always imagined his death... Cooler. Like, saving the world cooler. Dying with a legacy and statue of him cooler. Not, being shot to who knows where by a canon with a House demon's face on it.

Oh woe and sorrows! What a pathetic death he has. It seems he must accept fate. 

He shut his eyes waiting to accept his merciless pitiful end before he felt two hands swoop in and grab him. 

"Mattholomule..?" Gus asked as he looked at the brunette. Wow. He actually looked really cool. 

Mattholomule avoided eye contact and suddenly held Gus close to him and drew another circle in the air with his free hand and lowered the ground his raised up to catch them.

They both landed on the ground safely. 

"I would kiss this beautiful land but since it reminds me of owl pellets I don't even want to touch it." Gus marveled now at the sturdy ground underneath. 

Mattholomule coughed awkwardly and let go of the younger witch. He looked away and then peeled the paper off his face.

Gus did the same, and they both read each message quietly. 

Gus' message puzzled him slightly, as he muttered the words softly under his breath.

"Dear Gus. 

You see, music is more than just a fancy beat. It has movement. It has love. Now what songs induce both reactions? Love songs. 

I will play some familiar tunes for you, all you need is to follow your heart to it's beat.

Best of luck, your best friend forever and for all eternity, hootcifer."

Gus squinted at the confusing letter as Mattholomule groaned and looked around after finishing his letter. 

"What did your letter say?" Gus glanced over as Mattholomule hastily shoved it in his pocket.

"Nothing. Nothing at all. Yours?" Mattholomule glanced over and Gus shrugged and showed it to Mattholomule.

"That's... Weird." Mattholomule muttered. 

Gus suddenly remembered "Hey.... Weren't you going to say something to me?" 

"Uh that um... Yeah... No." Mattholomule laughed awkwardly. He side walked looking for a pathway to escape. He looked around and began to inspect the surroundings.

"It looks like a torture room." Mattholomule cringed.

"Actually.... It looks like a.. Dance room?" Gus dragged out his conclusion more like a question.

"Same thing, I suck at dancing." Mattholomule snided before he glowered at the room.

"By the way... With that girl you danced with... Are you guys like... Going out? Or...?" Gus trailed off, leaving his hand limp in the air.

"Oh her? Augustus, please." Mattholomule cackled. Gus kept looking at Mattholomule untill he rolled his eyes and replied "She ditched me." 

"Oh. Well I'm sorry..." Gus began rubbing the bsck of his head awkwardly as Mattholomule snorted "It's fine. I didn't end up liking her that way after all."

"If this turns out to be some sort of flimsy dancing music puzzle I will end that bird with no remorse." Mattholomule's face darkened as he held out his hands in defense.

Gus laughed lightly in mild fear. 

The floor from underneath started shaking.

Gus frowned as his letter started to make sense now. 

Hooty smiled from the corner. "I hope Gus knows how to dance." 

Chapter Text

The floor rumbled around the two boys as Mattholomule squeaks and stumbles back trying to hold onto something sturdy. 

The past two notes make total sense now. 

Well sort of? It's just that they had WAY too much romantic undertone. He couldn't bring himself to show Gus the letters because he just felt.... Uh... Weird about them?

The first letter directing the pathway implied that hooty was indeed setting the two up. WITHOUT their consent. Plus, it was super annoying of Hooty to assume they just like... Uh... Liked eachother.

"Luz and Amity were obvious. Gus and I are just... Friends." Mattholomule snided to himself. 

The second one was just... Romantically direct implication. Not to mention the dancing room was somewhere in there too.

But well... Mattholomule was too focused on trying to make it seem obvious he does NOT think of Gus romantically at all. 

Maybe the dancing part of the letter just flew over his head while he worried to himself.

Mattholomule groaned since he didn't catch that last part earlier. He hates dancing. 

He thinks back to that moment when he and Gus were nearly killed by that mega hooty canon.

The brunette wonders what Gus wanted to say to him. 

"Knowing Gus, he would have probably said something dramatic like 'I am glad I died by your side' or whatever." Mattholomule snorted to himself softly. Nothing else.

But it doesn't matter. Because whatever it is... It probably wasn't anything related to feelings. Unlike this whole maze is manipulating Mattholomule to feel.

The brunette honestly doesn't know anymore.

Not to mention how weird it would be if Gus... Didn't really uh... Like Mattholomule that way. 

'I mean! I don't like him like THAT either but... I guess I don't want to make things weird." The brunette whimpered quietly in his mind. He continued to keep flailing his balance. The walls and floor continued shaking, somewhat as if they were molding into something new.

The walls unfortunately, still smell like owl pellets. The brunette arched his back forward while gritting his teeth in disgust. 

The taller witch held onto Mattholomule's shoulder trying to him him steady. Mattholomule muttered a 'Thanks.' And then focused his glance to the room.

He held an arm out protectively over Gus. 

The room would look fairly plain in all honesty. Aside from interesting wall texture. His gaze then slid down to the floor. There were diamond shaped tiles on the floor. 

On the corners in the wall, had two hooty shaped speakers. It kind of reminded him of the ones at school. Just more irritating.

He looked down and examined the tiles. A biolumenicent light glowed from each tile. The tiles on the floor had little arrows engraved in them.

Mattholomule cringed.

He glanced back at Gus wondering to see how he reacted. The taller witch examined the tiles mildly fascinated. Gus gently brushed aside Mattholomule's arm and looked up.

The two boys saw a rectangular screen up on the end of the room. 

It showed arrows pointing different directions, looking somewhat nonsensical.

"Well. We're screwed." Mattholomule muttered leaning back.

"Wait... I think I know this game!" Gus muttered excitedly.

"Game? Gussy boy, we are in a maze that can probably kill us. This is no mere game anymore." Mattholomule squinted.

"Yeah yeah hold on." Gus stepped on one tile matching the one on the wooden mossy rectangular screen.

"Outstanding!" Hooty's shrill voice ran from one of the speakers.

Mattholomule made magic circlr to summon a mildly large rock and threw it at the hooty speaker.

It landed in it's mouth. The hooty speaker proceeded to swallow it.

"GAH! THAT BIRD." Mattholomule groaned furiously. His ear twitching.

He adjusted the dumb cat ears on his head.

Gus smiled and stepped unto a step with no arrow on it.

"AUGUSTUS! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" Mattholomule exclaimed because he was worried desperately. Clutching his hold to the wall.

"Don't worry! I know exactly how to do this! Just follow my lead." Gus said proudly. He started stepping on each of the arrow steps while dancing along to them. 

Catchy music started playing from Hooty's speakers. 

Mattholomule cautiously looked up on the wooden board. He reached out a foot nervously but then pulled it out.

"I can't do it. Sorry! I just uh... Remembered... Owwww I hurt my foot." Mattholomule limped his foot fakingly.

Gus looked unimpressed. Mattholomule scoffed and turned his head away as Gus groaned.

Suddenly, the taller witch pulled the older one towards him.

Mattholomule stumbled like a newborn witchling as he gained his balance.

"Just hold on to me and follow my moves. If we stay together we will finish this faster." Gus said as he positioned his hand on Mattholomule's waist and positioned his free hand on one of Mattholomule's hands.

"kshfistfuzheifhskhfsihd AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" Mattholomule internally screamed. He was TOO CLOSE.

Mattholomule wondered if Gus could feel him heating up. He also wondered how much he is blushing.

He could hear Gus' heartbeat as he tried copying the younger witches' moves.

He tried SO hard not to step on the other's foot.

Everytime Mattholomule stumbled Gus would secure his grip on him and patiently smile.

Mattholomule wonders how things would have gone had he gone with Gus instead at grom...

"I think I will ask him to come with me to grom next year." Mattholomule thought to himself softly. 

But like, only as friends though! Mattholomule doesn't like Gus romantically. Psssht. That'd be weird. Right?

Mattholomule slightly relaxed against Gus' hold. He is only a bit shorter than Gus. A bit sad since he is older but... By only a year.

The neon lightly from the glowing tiles lit up a strangely fitting light shining directly at Gus.

Gus looked... Nice over the shining light.

His childish smile glinted. The way his hair always looked neatly composed. The way his grey leaning to black eyes had a small blue shine in them.

Mattholomule could say he even looks handsome. 

Please, how could anyone not be mesmerized?

Mattholomule's eyes slightly sparkled as he stared.

"Um Matt? Are you alright? You kinda look... Dazed." Gus turned and made eye contact.

"I'M FINE! for titan's sake...." Mattholomule snided and turned his head to the side.

Gus rolled his eyes and then grinned excitedly. 

"Looks like we are almost to the end of this room!" Gus exclaimed. He pulled Mattholomule tighter to him as he pointed to the end of the room, only a few steps away.

"Hell yeah!" Mattholomule snickered. 

On the tile screen it showed four more steps.

Up, down, left and.....

Wait.... Up down? No comma? Like a combo? But how? 

"Hmm... I think I may have an idea for the last combo." Gus smiled. Matt squinted suspiciously.

As they soon approached the last step, Gus smiled at Mattholomule.

"Do you trust me?" Gus said with a solemn look on his face.

"NO! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU-" Mattholomule couldn't even finish his protest as he was soon spun around.

"Now! I jump on this tile and you jump on that one!" Gus said still holding onto Mattholomule's hand.

Mattholomule clumsily stumbled untill he stepped on that tile safely and Gus stepped on the other.

One hooty canon shouted an incoherent "CONGRATULATIONS!" and then stretched open it's mouth revealing a small pathway that leads to the maze again.

Gus grinned triumphantly and turned to Mattholomule excitedly.

"That was awesome! You did so great!" Gus impulsively hugged Mattholomule and the older witch froze.

His cheeks flushed a dark shade of red as his mussed down his hair and turned away.

"Yeah yeah. Now let go of me and let's figure out how to get out of here. I have a feeling we might be close to a nearby exit." Mattholomule pushed Gus away.

"Alright! Looks like the team Gustholomule is winning this round!" Gus pumped his fist in the air as Mattholomule snorted.

"Team Gustholomule? What the hell is that supposed to be?" Mattholomule put a hand on his waist and snickered.

"It's supposed to be our team name! You know, like Gus + Mattholomule? It is our names mashed up together?" Gus explained as he held up two fist and pounded them together.

"Aren't couples the ones who stupidly mash their names together?" Mattholomule teased, despite all his instincts screaming at him to shut up.

Gus' face slightly turned pink and he awkwardly rubbed the back of his head and mumbled something that sounded a lot like a "....well yeah... I mean... If you want it to... Uh...be"

"What was that?" Mattholomule asked as he turned around.

Gus' smiled and waved his hands in the air waving away whatever comment he made before.

"Nothing! Just saying how uh... If you want it to be our team name we can like. Officiallly make it!" Gus grinned stupidly.

Mattholomule groaned but smiled.

"You are such a damn goofball." Mattholomule laughed and his ears turned slightly pink.

"What was that?" Gus yelled from the back.

"Just like you said, nothing." Mattholomule smirked.

Gus caught up with him whining as Mattholomule quickened his pace again up ahead.

Hooty watched proudly from the corner.

"Ah... Young love developing! .... Not fast enough as I hoped. Thank goodness they are only halfway past my maze hoot!" 

Mattholomule ran into another canon again.

"DAMNIT STUPID F*CKING BIRD" 

Chapter Text

They have been wandering around for... Who knows how long?

Time is a myth. Time seemed to rot away to it's void that melts as you wander in it.

A very bad smelling owl pellet like void.

In other words, Gus lost track of time of how long they have been in the stupid maze.

Gus already grew accustomed to the shrieks of terror whenever a canon blasted in Mattholomule's face. 

Soon, Mattholomule seemed like he wasn't too shocked whenever a canon blasted. Just, bored.

Well, it makes sense since they are both pretty tired... But yeah.

But no matter what, for some reason. Mattholomule would absolutely refuse to show him the notes.

Now, it was starting to kind of annoy Gus.

"Look, there are important clues in these papers! We need to work together!" Gus pleaded he put his hands together and tried giving his best puppy eyes.

Mattholomule shook his head forcefully as he ripped up the new paper and threw the pieces aside like a pile of sad confetti.

"At least he didn't EAT it this time..." Gus thought to himself. What could be on those papers that is so bad Mattholomule doesn't trust Gus to see?

Or maybe... Mattholomule just doesn't trust Gus enough to help...

"These papers are just dumb poems. Besides, the important part is that we can find our way out using them." Mattholomule scoffed. 

"Yeah... I guess." Gus sighed impatiently. 

Mattholomule stood up ahead and kept looking over suspicuously around them. He made a sort of childish pouting face. 

It reminded Gus of an upset cat.

(Well... He is wearing cat ears after all so-)

Gus made a magic circle illusion of Mattholomule.

The mini Mattholomule was a perfect mirrored image of the real one. It imitated the positions of the original Mattholomule.

The illusion looked up at Gus and scoffed. The younger witch snickered softly.

Glancing up ahead at the brunette, Gus decided to mess around. 

"Hey Matty!" Gus called to get the older boy's attention. He knew Mattholomule HATED being called that. But desperate times in boredom calls for extreme measures.

Mattholomule's head slowly turned back to give an annoyed expression.

"I already told you before! Don't call me that sh*tty nickna- what the hell is that?" Mattholomule squinted at the illusion of himself.

The illusion had cat ears, cat tail and was exagerrated to be extra cutesy. It had a grumpy expression on it's face. Gus snickered quietly as Mattholomule stared at his mini counterpart confused.

"It's you~" Gus snorted. Gus made the illusion stick his tongue out childishly at the actual Mattholomule.

"What? That looks nothing like me. THIS is me." Mattholomule did a magic circle and the ground raised up slightly and he shifted it to be a statue of himself.

The statue was exagerratedly muscular, and tall.

Gus hummed and nodded as if he understood, but then added an illusion of cat ears to the statue.

"Ah. I see now." Gus snickered.

Mattholomule scowled.

"Well. This is you!" Mattholomule collasped the statue of himself and then made a new one. 

The new statue was a poorly constructed smug looking version of Gus. The Not gus was in a flexing position with no muscles at all. 

Gus gasped offended. He made a magic circle and a detailed sparkly version of himself with a rose in his mouth appeared. It flexed it's muscles, which were actually FIT.

"Your interpretation of me was inaccurate. However- you can use this as reference for further use." Gus bowed at his own creation.

Mattholomule threw a pebble at it causing the illusion poof away. Mattholomule then made a whiny impression of Gus.

"Hi I'm GuS aNd I lIkE hUmAns and I aM tOo TaLl" Mattholomule messed his hair to try and fit a somewhat similar hairstyle to Gus'.

Gus rolled his eyes and put on an upset face and squatted slightly to be as shorter like Mattholomule's height.

"I'm MaTtHoLomUlE and I aM eMo aNd SaD." Gus made a nasally sad impression of Mattholomule.

Mattholomule raised an eyebrow as if he were saying "Don't you dare."

Gus then parted his hair in the middle and added "I haVe a BowL cUt tOo."

Mattholomule scoffed and pushed Gus softly.

Gus shoved him back not so softly.

Mattholomule pushed him forcefully back not so lightly.

A slapping contest ensued.

"Stop... Hitting me!" Gus whined and tried pushing Mattholomule off.

"You... Started it!" Mattholomule strained as Gus had a hand positioned on his head.

"Well you continued it!" Gus pushed Mattholomule off and the two boys scowled at each other.

"You know what! I can't face your UGLY face right now." Mattholomule spat.

Gus gasped for the millionth time and folded his arms. How dare he! 

"You take that back Mattholomule!" Gus dramatically prepared a fighting stance.

"No! And I'm taking these cat ears off too!" Mattholomule growled and tried pulling the cat ears off.

yank.

Yank.

"uh... Gus?" Mattholomule squeaked a bit.

"What?" Gus asked raising an eyebrow.

"... The... Cat ears are stuck in my hair." Mattholomule said quietly.

Gus squinted sceptically.

"Ugh. You don't believe me." Mattholomule laughed dryly.

He groaned and tried tugging the cat ears off again.

"Oh noo Matty! What if they fused with your head!" Gus teased quietly.

"AUGUSTUS PORTER THIS IS NO LAUGHING MATTER." mattholomule angrily waved his hand in Gus' general direction.

Gus had to use all his willpower not to laugh at Mattholomule.

Which wasn't much because he ended up laughing at him anyways. Not in a mean way though! More in a... Wow... That happened.

"Well, it's good that you can't get it off. Remember about our truce?" Gus reminded Mattholomule. He waved his finger in a way someone would scold a child, despite being younger than Mattholomule.

"Shut the f*ck up." Mattholomule rolled his eyes. 

Gus chuckled softly. 

The floor was shaking again and whatever little argument they were going to start or bring up again was interrupted. Mattholomule stumbled back and held onto Gus as they both prepared for whatever eas going to appear.

A huge Hooty canon emerged from the ground. It was silver and it's eyes were golden.

"WHAT IS IT WITH THE DAMN CANONS ??!?!? WHY IS IT ALWAYS THE CANONS-" Mattholomule yelled into the air incoherently shaking his fist. Gus laughed nervously as he stared at death in the face once again.

"Child, I am no canon." The hooty spoke.

"Then what the hell are you??" Mattholomule screamed annoyed. Gus and Mattholomule were still holding on to eachother. Gus tried not to notice it too much. Or make any deal of it. Obviously. Just two guys holding on to eachother while facing a giant metal(?) Hooty.

This is ridiculous. Why is Gus caring about this? Friends hold on to friends all the time. Friends clutch close friends very closely as they are probably meeting their lethal end.

Yeah no nothing about this is normal.

Gus' face turned slightly pink when he realized HE was the one still holding on to Mattholomule. Oops.

He let go of the older witch slowly, hoping maybe he didn't notice it and think of how weird it was.

Anyways back to almost dying.

"I am the TRUTH MASTER" The giant hooty exclaimed.

"The what?" Mattholomule sarcastically asked.

"The... TRUTH MASTER." The giant hooty repeated himself.

"...and?" Gus went on. They got it. He was a fan of dramatic entrances as any other witch but they are kind of in a hurry.

"Jeesh! Don't rush me!" The giant hooty glared. It cleared it's throat loudly and tried to make it's entrance one more time.

"Well we kinda want to GET THE F*CK BACK HOME." Mattholomule growled. He made a magic circle and a huge spiky statue tried stabbing the giant Hooty.

"Rude!" The giant hooty spat as it dodged the spiky statue.

"Mattholomule, leave the silver hooty alone. What do we need to do to get back home?" Gus held out an arm to stop the angry Mattholomule. Mattholomule slightly slumped.

"I am SO glad you asked." The silver hooty said happily. It twisted it's head ominously and opened it's mouth revealing a door.

".... What?" Mattholomule quietly asked confused. He stepped back and glanced over at Gus.

"I am the doorway leading to the short way out of my maze!" The silver hooty replied.

"Really! That's great!" Gus darted in before the hooty snapped it's mouth shut and Mattholomule grabbed Gus to keep him from becoming Hooty food.

"Ah ah ah!" Tutted silver Hooty.

"What now?!" Mattholomule groaned.

"I am the TRUTH MASTER. To pass through my door, tell only truths the whole way through." The silver Hooty explained.

"And if we don't?" Mattholomule snided sarcastically.

"Then you'll probably be impaled by those spikes I left on the ceiling." Hooty replied casually.

"Wait SPIKES?" Gus exclaimed. Spikes??? How is he going to make it? What if his whole life is a lie!? Then he will die just by stepping one foot in! 

"Ugh... Fine! We'll play your stupid game." Mattholomule growled. He grabbed Gus by the wrist and stepped inside the silver's hooty's mouth in mild disgust. 

The door seemed unaturally clean. 

Gus reached a hand for the door handle.

He twisted it with a pit in his stomach growing.

What could really go wrong?

Chapter Text

As Mattholomule stepped inside the Hooty's mouth, a chill ran down his spine.

Damn, this is going to be hard as hell.

Okay okay, spikes. That will impale you if you lie. Yep. Nothing at all to be worried about.

Mattholomule sighed as he examined the new hallway. He looked around for any spikes that he should remind himself and Gus about. He tried slicking his hair back but his hand met with the cat ears he had on.

He pulled his hand back and glared at it. He is definitely pulling those dumb cat ears off when they make it out.

He just needs to remind himself to stay quiet.

After all, being honest won't help. Especially if he isn't sure if he is sure about his own feelings or not. 

He glances back at Gus who seems to be taking it all in. He doesn't blame him.

Gus had a look of mild terror in his eyes. He seemed nervous, understandably.

Mattholomule slightly reached a hand up to comfort him but then pulled it back instinctively. He turned his body to start walking already.

A small light flickered in the distance. The tunnel's silver outlaying reflected the two boys standing there.

Underneath the silver walls, mattholomule squinted and could vaguely see spikes.

"We... Should hold hands..." Gus suddenly spoke up.

"...What?" Mattholomule asked, raising an eyebrow. Why the sudden need for affection? Mattholomule ignored the way his heart suddenly pounded. Mainly for fear of the spikes he assumed.

"Hey! It is dark in here, and I.... I just don't want to get lost!" Gus stuttered a bit. 

Gus froze a bit, as if waiting incoming impact but nothing happened. He then slowly reached over to Mattholomule and held out his hand.

Mattholomule then became vividly aware of how sweaty his hand is. He wiped it on the side of his shirt hastily and then forcefully grabbed Gus' hand.

He kept his whole face toward despite being curious as to how Gus reacted.

Gus' hand was a little bit bigger than his. Mattholomule felt a little weird, because his own hand was rough, in contrast to Gus weirdly soft hands.

Why is he thinking about this? They MIGHT DIE.

Okay okay. Back on track.

He walked through the tunnel, his heart pounding more and more. He glanced back at Gus, who was staring straight ahead.

"So... Since we are here... Can I ask you a question?" Gus asked.

"No." Mattholomule replied.

"Ok cool.. So..." Gus started off.

"No." Mattholomule quickly cut him. The frizzy haired boy scrunched up his nose in a way of confusion but then sighed.

Mattholomule rolled his eyes.

"So... Um... Are you just... Going... To not say anything?" Gus asked.

Mattholomule looked back at Gus with a small glare. Uh duh? Of course he is staying quiet! His strategy: don't say anything = not lying.

"Yikes. Okay." Gus mumbled. His ear flickering slightly.

Mattholomule felt kind of bad but he didn't say anything about it. They just need to get through this tunnel.

The light in the distance slightly dimmed, but started up again. 

Mattholomule stared down for a bit, and for a second he saw a reflection of Gus' face.

It looked sad.

Mattholomule tried brushing it off. But who is he kidding? He felt like a sh*tty friend.

"... Do you hate me?" Gus asked. In a tiny voice.

Mattholomule winced a bit. Damn. 

"I don't? What the hell got you thinking that?" Mattholomule raised an eyebrow. Oops. He raised his voice slightly as well.

"Well... This whole time you have been either running from me, hiding the notes from me, or overall avoiding me." Gus listed down. Yeesh. Was it that obvious?

Not the hating him part... But... All of that.

"... I don't hate you." Mattholomule replied. Gus still looked uneasy.

"Then why aren't you even looking me in the eye?" Gus replied.

"You idiot... If I hated you... These spiked would have already stabbed me... I said I didn't hate you... Like. Twice." Mattholomule pointed up ahead at the ceiling. 

Gus looked up as well.

Mattholomule reached a hand over to Gus' forehead and flicked it.

"OW. What was that for?" Gus muttered as he pulled his hand from Mattholomule's to rub his forehead.

"For thinking I hated you. Now c'mon. If we continue being all soft and dumb Hooty might..." Mattholomule trailed off. Actually, does Gus know what Hooty is trying to do?

Judging on Gus' confused expression, mattholomule assumed he didn't.

"... Nevermind. Let's keep going." Mattholomule's ear twitched slightly.

Gus suddenly got a peak of curiosity.

"What were you going to say?"  Gus asked as he walked side by side to Mattholomule.

Mattholomule glanced to the side as he mumbled something incoherent.

"Hm?" Gus leaned his ear towards Mattholomule. He was basically close enough to be leaning on his head. 

Sh*t. The panicky feelings that Mattholomule doesn't understand are back.

The older witch shoved him softly to the side.

"You do know if you lie, we could literally get killed." Gus casually said. 

Mattholomule mentally pictured images of him beating a certain owl tube to death.

Okay not death... But like one of those cartoony beating people up like things.

"... So you're just going to clam up again. Aren't you." Gus looked down slightly disappointed.

Mattholomule mentally kicked himself.

"Since we are supposed to be honest and stuff... I guess I'm going to say something now." Gus looked down at his hands.

Mattholomule started running now.

"H-hey! This is exactly what I was talking about! You... You're always running from me." Gus panted slightly as he tried catching up to Mattholomule's pace.

Mattholomule kept on running, his heart pounding from the adrenaline. His palms sweaty.

Dammit. After looking at his own reflection, even his face is red.

No no no no no no no.

This is the maze's fault.

The stupid maze.

The stupid bird tube.

The stupid.... Gus.

He stopped running for a second and just. Stopped.

Gus finally caught up to him.

"I know you want to get out of here but... What the heck was that?" Gus asked. The younger witch was almost out of breath and leaned over on the wall.

The silver glistened.

Mattholomule didn't say anything.

"... Please. I.. Need to tell you something." Gus said quietly. Mattholomule avoided eye contact. He stared down at the floor under him.

"And... Don't run." Gus added.

Mattholomule slightly snorted at that, but didn't interrupt.

"Look. I.. I like you. But... Not in a friend.. Way? Ugh." Gus muttered slightly.

Mattholomule looked up. His eyes widening a bit. His gaze shifted to the spikes.

"I... Like like you. I guess. Titan... I don't know." Gus mumbled now, shrugging. 

Oh.

O h.

Jeesh.

"... This is Hooty's fault isn't it." Mattholomule suddenly started laughing.

"Wh-?" Gus started.

"Okay so uh... Funny thing! That damn bird tube... Is... Oh this is hilarious... Trying to get us together! Like... Amity and Luz. But get this... I... I think that he.... Is manipulating us! To uh... Get these..  Feelings!" Mattholomule laughed in a stronger and slightly forced way.

Gus looked scared. He stepled forward to reach a hand but Mattholomule jolted away.

The whole surrounding atmosphere started shaking.

"So... No. You don't like me." Mattholomule concluded. Still laughing.

Gus looked a mixture of hurt and terrified. Because soon enough, spikes were coming down on them.

Gus grabbed Mattholomule's hand. In an instant, they began running. Together.

Mattholomule's heart pounded again, but this time, out of fear.

Dammit. This is all his f**king fault.

Gus led Mattholomule through. The spikes falling and the two boys trying their best to dodge them.

A spike narrowly hit Mattholomule, and he squeaked as it hit the floor behind him.

The spikes were silver, and sharp. 

Each thump on the floor made Mattholomule jolt.

A small shard of a spike dug into Mattholomule's leg.

He groaned as he tried walking.

Gus stopped and suddenly scooped up Mattholomule, bridal style.

He kept running.

"... Wow. Luz was right." Gus panted as he held Mattholomule. Trying not to drop him.

"What?" Mattholomule snapped back.

"You're light." Gus grinned and snickered.

An exit in the distance found them. 

Gus nodded as a warning that he was going to jump out. Mattholomule held on.

The younger witch jumped out. With Mattholomule in his arms.

They both landed on a mossy wooden floor, that was softer than it seemed.

Mattholomule winced as his leg throbbed with pain again.

"I... Can't believe we made it out of there.. Alive." Mattholomule said breathlessly.

Gus didn't reply. But he then looked at the brunette with a serious and hurt expression.

"I do like you. I have for a while. It isn't just because of this maze." Gus said.

Mattholomule slightly shrugged.

"Do you like me too?" Gus asked.

"I... Don't know. It's just... New to me?" Mattholomule sighed.

"In which way?" Gus asked softly.

"Like... Liking someone in general. The only crush I ever had was on Bria. And she made fun of me for two years because of that." Mattholomule shrugged.

"Besides... I never actually like liked her." Mattholomule stared down.

Gus reached a hand out and took Mattholomule's.

"It's okay to accept you have feelings. Or feel, confused. As in, not knowing yet." Gus smiled.

"..." Mattholomule's ear twitched.

"Yeah... I guess I like you in that way too." Mattholomule blushed. His heart pounding louder. And louder.

Gus grinned widely.

"Cool. Um... So like.. What do we do now?" Gus asked sheepishly.

"Uh.. First things first, if...uh.. We um.. Oh titan.. Become a thing... Or dammit... Whatever... I.. No being mushy like Amity and Luz!" Mattholomule stuttered, trying to straighten the clutter of thoughts and emotions swarming inside him.

Gus snorted.

"Duh! They are a sweet couple but sometimes too much." Gus snickered as Mattholomule fake gagged.

"Yeah okay... So.. Uh.. Yeah. Wow." Mattholomule glanced around.

"Okay now... For real... Can you carry me? Like, I got some bigass piece of silver hooty in my leg and I don't know if I can walk with it." Mattholomule pointed downwards.

"Oh yeah! Of course." Gus laughed and picked up Mattholomule again.

The two witches laughed as they walked out. 

"Okay but honestly, can I take these cat ears off?" Mattholomule whined.

"Hmmm... Once we get out." Gus grinned slyly.

Mattholomule squinted.

Hooty (the real one) appeared from down below. 

Hooting in success.

"Hoot hoot! It worked!" Hooty wiggled happily.

Suddenly forgetting about leg pain, Mattholomule lunged at hooty with murderous intent.