Chapter Text
"Aaghhh! Goddamn it." A low growl.
Nico leans over the side of the couch, trying to see down the hallway. "What? Are you okay?"
"Fine." Matty reappears. "Shut my finger in the door."
"Shit." Nico frowns. "Do you want some ice?"
Matty does his best to rub his nose with his shoulder while he's holding one hand with the other. "No. I dunno." He grimaces. "I think it's fine."
"Let me see." He gets back a vague protesting sound. "Come on, we don't have to leave yet, we have time."
Matty sighs and sits down heavily on the couch beside him. Nico gently takes his hand: It's hot and already a little swollen, going to bruise for sure. Nico kisses him on the shoulder and stands up. "I'll get the ice pack. You stay here."
Matty's already slumped against the back of the couch when he comes back, eyes nearly closed. They're so shadowed they look almost bruised. Had he looked that bad before?
"Babe." Stopping next to the coffee table to look him over.
Matty grumbles unintelligibly and reaches for the ice pack. Nico hands it over and then sits back down beside him on the couch.
"You look exhausted." He puts gentle pressure on Matty's shoulder until he leans back against him with a groan.
"Fucked up my hand," Matty says defensively, but he turns into the touch without opening his eyes until he's lying on Nico's chest.
Nico hums in agreement, sliding closer to horizontal, and pulls the blanket from the back of the couch over them both. He's quiet for a minute, rubbing Matty's back through the blanket, feeling his body heat seep through his own clothes. "You're really warm." He brushes Matty's hair out of the way and presses a hand to his forehead. Yeah. Fever-warm for sure.
Matty shakes his head against him, but his back is already rising with an intake of breath. hhh… h'Dtt! "Nnngt, shit…" Through gritted teeth. Apparently not even pain was enough to stop the muscle memory of stifling with his left hand. hhhh… He shifts to cradle his left hand against his chest and pinch his nose with his right hand. h'NGT!'hhh…
Nico makes a sympathetic noise and reaches over to grab the box of tissues that lives on the coffee table. Matty blow his nose forcefully and then drops his head back to Nico's chest.
"I don't think we're going to make it to the movie tonight," Nico says gently, and pulls out his phone to text Charlie and Sophia to let them know.
"We can," Matty says, but it's weak, and he pulls the blanket tighter around them, shivering when he gets the ice pack back on his fingers, tucked against Nico's chest under the fabric.
"Nah." A few more taps and swipes gets him the controls for the living room lights. It's an indulgence, but one he's always grateful for. "We can go next weekend. Or just wait until it comes out on streaming." He pulls down the virtual dimmer switch and the lights go low, and he feels Matty's exhale in his whole body, and closes his eyes.