Work Text:
You know when somebody says something to you and then it keeps rolling around in your head, sinking into an important spot in your memory? That’s the kind of affect Matholomule’s words had on Gus.
“But then I met some dork who used his powers to save me from a man-eating detention pit. All I'm saying is, if a dumb illusion can save a jerk like me, maybe it's not as useless as you think.”
Even though that’s what he’d said, that’s not exactly what Gus heard. When he’d looked into his eyes, Gus had heard something else.
“Thanks for saving me, even though you didn’t have to. I’m sorry for being a jerk. And you’re a lot more capable than you think.”
Gus would eventually learn Matt’s eyes often said for him what he really wanted to say, but was too embarrassed to really say it.
“So, does this mean we’re friends now?” Gus asks later, self-conscious and unsure.
He loves the friends he has, but has never had many of them, and neither has Matholomule.
They have more in common than they originally thought. It could work between them.
“I.. don’t know,” Matt says, face pensive.
For the record, Gus gets it. Matt hasn’t had great, or even good, friends. He hasn’t exactly been a great guy either.
But he’s not bad.
Gus has had enough people pretend to be his friend just to use him, to know to be cautious. He doesn’t feel like he has to be cautious with Matt though.
Matt has kind eyes. And not like Bria. His are warmer.
“Squirt,” Matt says with a grin and gives Gus a playful shove.
It’s not quite a ‘yes’, but it’s not a ‘no’.
“Jerk,” says Gus, shoving him back.
They share a smile.
There’s something in Gus’ chest that tells him this will be a good thing.
He didn’t know it then, but the same something wells up in Matt’s chest.
It was their hearts slowly beginning to match each other’s rhythm.