Work Text:
=
A soft breeze passed through the air, gently shaking the branches of the winding great tree that sat on top of the hill. Some of its golden-orange leaves, painted a soft purple in the moonlight, drifted to the ground around the witch sitting below.
Gus had been sitting here a few minutes, having ordered two drinks from a nearby cafe, which both now sat at the base of the tree against some large roots beside him. He was staring at his scroll, waiting patiently for someone to arrive; Mattholomule.
Matt was usually late to things, so Gus had already expected this to happen, and so spent his extra time grabbing them both a sweet scaramel latte before getting comfortable at the tree.
He didn't try to think of reasons why he'd be late this time, but unfortunately some still poked at his head like annoying little woodpeckers.
Maybe he got lost? Does he remember where the hill is? Did I tell him the wrong information? Is he scared? Does he wanna dump me? Did someone attack him? IS HE DEAD?! Okay… Dramatic, much, Gus? He's okay. Unless a slasherbea-
Gus summoned an illusion of himself simply to slap himself. The illusion tsk tsked, shaking its head and telling Gus to stop being so nervous. Then, the image poofed into nothing as fast as it had appeared.
Gus exhaled, tapping anxiously on a tree root he'd been leaning his arm on. He trusted Mattholomule wouldn't stand him up, but then… Had the other night been a joke to him? There was no way. He'd been so emotional! And of all things Matt could act out or fake, Gus didn't think an emotional breakdown over a hug was one of them.
His ears perked as he heard a distant panting, heavy breathing from someone clearly running up the hill. He turned his head and, to his delight, there was the boy he'd been waiting for.
Mattholomule skidded to a stop and tripped over a tree root, landing face-flat on a small pile of leaves.
Gus let out a gasp and ran to help him up, desperately asking if he was okay only to get a hand in his face.
"I'm fine!! Stop making such a fuss!" He angrily struggled out of Gus' hold, and crossed his arms, ears drooping a little and a thick red blush all over his face.
"Hey! I just wanted to check you were okay-" Gus let out a snort. "Look where you're going next time, okay?"
"Yeah, whatever. Why did you wanna meet up?" The witch's eyes widened a little in curiosity, one brow furrowed. "Is this, like, some weird kinda date?"
"Uhh… Yeah, I guess so." Gus sat back where he'd been before, and patted the seat beside him. "C'mere. Oh, and be careful, there's two drinks here-"
"Oh? You bought us coffee? Augustus…" Mattholomule leaned forward, putting a hand on his heart and making puppy-dog eyes along with the most shit-eating of a smirk he could muster, speaking in his baby-voice. "That's sooo sweet of you! How adoooooorable!"
"Matty…! Stop doing that!" Gus covered his face, going completely red.
"You love it." Mattholomule let out a cackle and fell down beside Gus, getting comfortable in the small space between him and another huge tree root.
Matt scooped up one of the cups and gave it a sip, eyeing Gus as he did so. His eyes widened and he looked at him in surprise as the flavour hit his tongue. "Wait, this is a scaramel latte?"
"Yeah… Sorry, don't you like it?"
"No, it's my favourite! I'm just surprised you didn't wanna get payback for the black coffee-"
"I got payback when you drank it the other day and pulled a face that looked like a deranged cat trying to cough up a hairball."
Mattholomule scoffed and gently shoved him.
"Shut your mouth!"
Gus giggled and took his own drink, taking a sip before turning his head to the skies above.
He let out a sigh and smiled slightly.
"I wanted to bring you here to… You know, like, relax-"
"You wanted to stargaze, didn't you?" Mattholomule chuckled and leaned back on the tree, taking another sip of the latte, a blush growing on his face and eyes averting away from Gus as he spoke. "That's pretty cute." Gus' face flared up with a blush now, and he let out a small laugh.
"Aw… Gee, well, I thought it'd be nice since there's a meteor shower tonight, and uh, you know, uhh… Like…" Gus stuttered on all the words and seemed shaky. He was nervous; he didn't want to mess anything up, and here he was stammering like an idiot over some boy calling him pretty cute. Pull it together Porter!
Matt let out a loud chuckle, before flicking his forehead and smirking at him.
"You're even cuter when you're a mess like this, you know?"
"Mattholomule…!!" Gus hugged his knees and hid his head. "I'm trying not to be! I want this date to be perfect!" The witch fell onto Matt dramatically, a hand on his forehead and a frown on his face. "If you wanna break up, I understand-"
"You idiot." Mattholomule laughed again, slinging his arm around Gus. "Any time with you is perfect. Stop being dramatic."
Gus turned to him with the puppy-dog eyes. Mattholomule raised his eyebrows and stuttered a little, his blush turning him into a tomato. "W-Wow, that was super sappy huh."
Gus chuckled. "Yeah. It was." He leaned forward and placed a kiss on the witch's forehead, which he could tell was immediately making him freeze up and panic a little, but a shy smile had spread across his lips. Nice one Gus.
Matt covered his face. "What are you doing to me, Augustus?! Look at me!" He pulled his hand away and gestured at his face. "What is this?! Why am I being so soft and gushy?! You're ruining me!" He stuck out his tongue.
"You've got it bad for me, that's all Matty." Gus smirked, immediately earning himself a slap. "Ow! What the heck?"
"I'll bite you if you carry on." Matt crossed his arms and turned away with a hmpf, his face still as red as it could ever be.
"Oh, really? You don't even have your fangs yet."
Mattholomule turned and growled, immediately regretting it as Gus took hold of his cheeks.
"Awww! Your growling is so cute!"
"Curse you, witch puberty. One day I'll stop being so nice, Augustus." He shook his fist. "ONE DAY!" He then slumped in the boy's hold. "But not today, because this is actually kinda fun, I guess."
Gus pulled Matt into a hug, slowly feeling the smaller witch's arms wrap around him and cling on.
"Oh, hey, Matty! Look up!" Gus stared up at the sky, now littered with falling stars. Mattholomule stared up at them and smiled.
"Wow…" He leaned his head onto the other's shoulder. "Thank you. This was a pretty cool first date." Gus blushed at him and leaned his own head on Matt's.
"You're welcome, jerk."
"Nerd."
The two laughed, and continued to watch the stars as they fell.
Gus could feel the smaller witch getting comfortable and starting to weigh on him; he was probably pretty tired. He couldn't blame him; it was getting late and the lapping of the boiling sea on the cliffs below was calming to hear. Everything about this spot was perfect, and at this point, Gus would consider it their spot.