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Gus bopped his head to the pop tune. It was very catchy. Good melody, fantastic beat. One of the many things he loved about human music was its creativity. Music on the isles was painfully bland. Despite the excitement of bard magic, the music itself was all sweeping instrumentals and grand horns. In the human realm they experimented. Used bright catchy melodies or fun rhythms to make the perfect tune.
This song was especially one of his favorites. It was bright and fun and sugary. But also, it made him think of Matt.
Since the defeat of Belos and the rebuilding of the boiling isles, he and Matt's visits to the Looking Glass graveyard had resumed. Lots of their progress in the ruin had been reversed during the disaster, so Gus had gotten to spend a lot of time with his friend. In that time however, he had learned that he felt more for Matt than just friendship.
Matt was a bundle of fun. Beneath his prickly exterior and desire for power and drama was a pretty nerdy guy. One that cracked hilarious jokes that left Gus’ sides aching. One that was actually very good at magic and could create beautiful things, both real and illusionary. He made Gus feel more himself in a way he never had with his other friends.
Then the crush had begun. It had started by noticing more little things about Matt. His adorable cranky face when he was concentrating, or the way his bangs fell dreamily over his forehead. Then it led to butterflies in Gus’ stomach at unintentional touches and distracted hours daydreaming. Now Gus was deep in the throes of a massive crush on the witch and all his friends were beginning to get sick of it.
“I think you should just tell him how you feel.” Willow had commented after a far too long crystal ball call over what to wear to the graveyard that afternoon. “You two are close. If he doesn't reciprocate you can still stay pretty good friends.”
Gus had groaned, but eventually conceded, promising to tell Matt that very day. But then he chickened out. Despite Willow's words of encouragement, he worried that Matt might still not be interested. After all, it had taken ages just to become his friend. Something more was surely impossible. Now he was laying in Luz's living room, brainstorming ideas of how to confess while listening to whatever music played off of the bluetooth speaker on the coffee table.
“Step one, do my highlight
Make me shine so bright in the moonlight
Step two, silhouette tight
Baby, even my shadow looks good, right?”
That was it! Gus sat up abruptly. If he wasn't sure Matt felt the same way, he would just make sure of it first. If there was anything Gus could do it was razzle and dazzle. So what better way to build confidence before a confession than to lay on just that? Matt would be so swept up in how amazing Gus was, he would have no choice but to reciprocate his feelings.
“Ive gotta go!” Gus haphazardly explained to a startled Luz, shooting up from his seat and towards the door “Just had a great idea and it cannot wait!”
“Good luck!” she called after him as he zipped out the door.
—
Gus had checked his pocket mirror what had to have been seven times on the way to school. He had spent the better half of the night crafting the perfect illusion to put into a cloaking stone. The kind that made his eyes sparkle just right when he smiled and every angle of him look flawless. He had put it into a blue aquamarine stud he wore on the ear opposite his magic amplifier. It was the perfect start to his perfect plan.
Gus scanned over his notebook again, where he had kept the rest of it. “Augustus’ ultimate love strategy” was scrawled across the top of the page in pristine blue ink. On the list were all the things the song had described. He had already checked off “perfect highlight” with the cloaking stone. Same with step 2. “Silhouette tight. Even my shadow looks good.” Gus glanced down at the ground. In the school corridors there wasn't much shadow to be noted, but it was enough knowing he had still put the effort programming constant perfect lighting into the stone.
Now was time for step 3: “when i arrive, make you look my way with your heart eyes.” Gus hadn't been entirely sure what that line had meant as an instruction, but he chose to interpret it the best he could, and that interpretation was a perfect entrance to class. Gus always arrived to first period after Matt, so he figured then would be the perfect opportunity.
Gus scanned his face one last time in the mirror. He looked perfect. He had the razzle, now he just needed to dazzle. He cracked his knuckles and slid into the doorway of the classroom.
Matt was sitting at the table they shared for first period, gazing off into space with those gorgeous brown eyes. He turned his head Gus’ way. Time to turn on the charm.
He leaned against the doorway nonchalantly, gazing off into the distance in that way actors did in movies when they were cool and mysterious. He leaned his head back before gently turning his gaze in Matt's direction. To top it all off he held up an illusion of a single red rose, sniffing it dramatically before tossing it over his shoulder. Perfect. If that didn't catch Matt's attention, he didn't know what would.
The most disgusted look fell onto Matt's face. His nose crinkled watching his friend’s behavior. Then an embarrassed flush crept to his cheeks and he tugged at the hood of his cowl in an attempt to hide his face.
Gus’ heart sank. Maybe he had pushed too hard at the ‘heart eyes’ goal? But he had made an entrance! He wasn't sure what he got wrong. He stood up from the doorframe and slowly approached his seat next to Matt.
“Hey Matt!” he greeted, hoping some cheer would lift Matt from his hunched over position. “How’s it going?”
“Hey Augustus…” Matt said slowly, face still hidden behind his hood. “Um, i’m Okay…"
Gus thought back to the list. ‘Step 4: get you on the floor’. The very idea sent a shot of heat to his cheeks and ears. He thanked the cloaking stone for its presence more than ever now.
“Soooo how was your weekend after visiting the graveyard Saturday morning?” Gus asked cautiously.
“Fine.” Matt said, letting his grip on his hood free. “Spent some time with my brother, read Blademage. Nothing much. How about you, Augustus?” Matt met Gus’ eyes. He had some sort of strange smile on his face.
Gus’ ears flicked happily. Maybe this was a good sign! Maybe Matt hadn't been embarrassed, but was gathering himself after Gus’ grand entrance! The strategy was working!
“Oh, not much.” Gus said, leaning back in his seat trying to look as cool as possible. “Hung with Luz in the human realm. We listened to cool human music.”
“You visited the human realm?” Matt asked, eyes wide. He was probably still jealous that Gus had spent so much time there. “You should've invited me, you jerk.” He bumped Gus' arm playfully, sending butterflies to his stomach.
“Yeah, it was pretty cool.” Gus boasted. Be cool. Matt cared a lot about coolness, so cool Gus would be. He was practically icy with how cool he was. Matt would have no choice but to fall for the love strategy.
“You know, I've only gone with you a couple times. Mind inviting me along on one of those adventures of yours for once, Mr human expert?”
It was working! Matt was asking him to ask him out! This was perfect! Time for step 4.
Gus obviously couldn't get Matt on the floor in the traditional sense. They were at school for titan’s sake. Even the idea was too ridiculous to fathom. But he still needed to follow the steps in the song, didn't he? He remembered a trope he had seen in a lot of Luz’s anime. Where instead of a floor someone would get pinned to a wall by someone else. They were seated, but on the other side of Matt was a wall. Gus would just have to pin him against it. It was the only way to complete the strategy and win Matt’s heart.
Gus reached his arm behind Matt and leaned, letting his palm press against the wall. There he was, on the wall. Strategy complete.
Wow, Matt's face was very close. Like REALLY close. And red. And scrunched up. That wasn't right, was it?
“Augustus, what are you doing?” Matt asked, face getting redder by the second.
“I’ve, uh… got you on the wall.”
“I can see that, you jerk” Matt stammered. The way he said ‘jerk’ wasn't his normal teasing way. It felt more sincere. “Why do you have me on the wall?” his brows scrunched.
Gus jerked back, unpinning Matt from the wall. “I'm sorry!” he yelped, feeling red covering his own face now too. “I… I should go.” Gus shot up from his seat hastily, bolting into the hallway.
Why did I think that would work? Why why why??
Gus needed to get out before he died of embarrassment. Why did he listen to you, stupid beautiful human pop music! He'd go to his hiding spot and just live there for the next million years when no witch or demon left alive could remember his fumble.
He slid into the empty classroom he and Willow used to hide in all those years ago. Even now, it was empty and abandoned. The perfect place to hide after what he did. He slunk behind a desk and curled to a ball on the floor.
Why did he ever think dazzling Matt was a good idea? Why did he ever think getting a crush on Matt was a good idea? Matt was cool. Smart. More talented than anyone gave him credit for. Far too much to ever fall for Gus’ ‘strategy’.
Gus pulled out the earring, letting the illusion over him fall. This whole thing was stupid. Here he was acting dumb again. He could see hints of blue playing at the edges of his vision. Just fantastic. Not only had he wrecked any chances he may have had with Matt, he had to relive the damn thing too. Already glowing outlines of the scene were playing around him.
“Augustus?” a gentle voice said. “Are you okay?”
Matt
Gus looked up, spotting Matt breaking through the illusion around him.
“How did you kno-”
“Where to find you?” Matt asked, sitting next to him “The teacher asked me to go check on you. Didn't want you missing class or something stupid like that.” Matt rolled his eyes. “I tried to get Willow to do it but she insisted I should go. Said you would probably have come here.”
Gus glanced at the illusion version of Matt beside him, almost aligned exactly with the real one. He couldn't make out his real friend’s face, covered by the illusion’s scrunched redness.
“What are you doing?” illusion matt spat “like id ever want to go out with you.”
Gus hung his head. It was right. Why would anyone want to even be near him when he pulled things like this.
“Im so sorry.”
“Augustus? Your eyes are glowing blue. Are you seeing those illusions again?” Gus couldn't see Matt anymore. Just the sound of his voice was a welcome presence though, even if it was out of pure obligation to their teacher.
“Yes” Gus' voice was small.
“Okay, breathing helps you with those, right? Would that help?”
Gus nodded.
“Okay, inhale.” Matt said. Gus breathed alongside him, counting on his fingers. They exhaled on the same count and repeated a few times. After the fourth deep breath the illusion disappeared.
“There you go,” Matt said, coming into view. He was still seated next to Gus, a worried look on his face. “Now mind telling me what's going on?”
Gus gulped. There really was no excuse for what had happened. No logical explanation. He had been foolish, nothing more.
“Come on, you jerk, I'm not gonna bite your head off.”
“I guess I do owe you an explanation, don't I?"
“Yeah, no shit.” Matt leaned against the desk and folded his arms.
“Okay okay!” Gus held up his hands defensively. “The truth is… I… I have feelings for you.” Gus’ cheeks and ears seared with heat now. “Romantic ones. But I was too chicken to ask you out properly.” Gus pulled out his notebook, revealing the pages of plans he had written out. “I got the idea to follow this ‘love strategy’ to get you to like me back so I wouldn't feel so embarrassed. But I just screwed the whole thing up instead. I'm sorry. I understand if you don't want to hang around me anymore.”
Matt stared at the notebook, jaw agape. “You… like me?”
“Yeah. I do.”
“And you were going to go through all of this just to get me to like you back?” a devious smile was now creeping across Matt's face. The smile he made before he told Gus about a prank he came up with or had gossip about one of their classmates.
“Yeah, I was. And it's soooo hilarious I'm sure.” Gus grumbled.
“No, it's not that!” Matt stammered, now stifling chuckles “it's that I like you too, you dweeb!”
“What?” Gus’ head shot up in alarm "You're messing with me, aren't you?”
“Im not! I swear!” Matt was fully cackling now, wiping tears from his eyes. “I’m being genuine!”
“Then why are you laughing?”
“Because despite you acting like such a dumbass I still fucking like you, you idiot! In fact I think this whole thing is adorable! You were going to go through all of this for a jerk like me?”
“Well first of all you're not a jerk.” Gus protested, "I happen to think you're actually really cool and nice deep down.”
“Aw man you really are head over heels for me aren't you?” Matt’s chuckles died down. “But in all seriousness, if you still wanted to ask me out I would totally say yes.”
“You would?”
“Yeah I already told you I would! If you don't believe me, why don't you try for yourself, you dimwit?” Matt jabbed Gus in the side.
“Okay then, you jerk.” Gus sat up and faced his friend. “Matt Tholomule, would you like to go out with me?”
“Eh, I don't know. Apparently this lame-o illusion guy has the hots for me so I might be taken.” Matt gave Gus his signature shit-eating grin.
“Matt!”
“Fine! Fine! Yes! I would love to.” Matt smiled. Twinges of pink played on his cheeks. He took Gus’ hand.
“Ha, look at you.” It was Gus’ turn to tease Matt now. “You like me~” he sing-songed.
“Yeah! Yeah! Take a picture, it'll last longer.” Matt looked away in embarrassment.
“Will do!” Gus gave him a smug grin. He brushed his thumb across the back of Matt's hand. They sat in silence for a while.
“We should… probably get to class before the trouble sniffers find us.” Gus said glumly.
“Nah,” Matt shrugged, “Let them look for us a while longer. I… kinda like just being here with you for now.”
“I do too.” Gus smiled. “And about that date… would you want to visit the human realm together?”
Matt’s eyes lit up “Do I? Of course I do!”
Gus smiled. “It's a date.”