Work Text:
Since Amity and Willow both have some studying and practice to do, only Luz and Gus are sitting in the library and eating lunch.
This is a pretty good shot for Luz, actually. Gus said Mattholomule might show up, but when he messaged Gus that he wasn't able to show, Gus started to seem down in the dumps a little bit. Obviously, he loves hanging out with Luz. Any of his friends. But, especially recently, it's become obvious to them that he has a sweet spot for Mattholomule.
Luz hesitates, slightly nervous to make Gus sad. Yet, this is the way she is; interested in other peoples' love lives and feelings. So, Luz speaks up.
"Hey, Gus?"
"Oh. Yeah?"
"Can I ask something?"
"Yeah, what is it?"
"You seemed kinda off after Mattholomule said he couldn't make it. What's up with that?"
Gus freezes for a moment. He didn't think Luz would notice. Actually, he should've expected she did. Maybe he was just hoping she wouldn't.
"Oh. I dunno. I was really looking forward to it, is all. Haven't gotten to see him outside of school in a while."
"Gus, you hung out with him, like, two days ago."
Gus' ears start to make a sort of wiggling motion, a tell-tale sign that a witch is extremely nervous. "That's true. Um..."
Gus trails off, whispering to himself something Luz can't pick up.
"Uhhh... Luz?"
"Uh-huh?"
"I guess... Maybe that wasn't the entire truth..."
Gus looks down onto the floor, avoiding all eye contact with Luz, with the knowledge she's making some sort of smirk that might make him break and dump everything. And he doesn't want to dump everything.
"Willow, Vee and Hunter already know about this, so don't bother hiding anything from them. So... I only really came to terms with it when we were in the human realm, but I don't know exactly when it started. I've had some sort of feelings for Matty- uh, Mattholomule, for maybe two years now. It feels weird 'cause he gives me second-hand embarassment all the time. And he's kind of a weirdo."
Gus smiles fondly for a second before clearing his throat. He hesitates to speak any other words. Luz is cool with Mattholomule, thank titan. But he's... Not the nicest witch. Well, with Gus, it's usually in an affectionate way. But, to everybody else, there's still sarcasm, small threats and insults flying around.
"Oh! Wasn't really expecting that." Luz says, who fully expected that.
"Yeah. I don't know what to do about it. He seems happy as friends. I'm his best friend. We're so close. I really don't wanna break it."
Luz is certain Mattholomule likes Gus back. She doesn't hang out with him much whenever Amity or Gus aren't around, but whenever Gus is there, or even brought up in any way, his eyes light up. Suddenly, he'd seem more invested in the conversation, energetic. Maybe even a little red in the face. And Gus talks about Mattholomule, like, a lot. Especially when they were in the human realm.
Gus sinks back into his chair a little bit, speaking almost sadly. "I mean, he totally wouldn't be mean about it, but we might become... Awkward."
Gus finally looks back up at Luz, who has dropped her mischievous smirk so Gus doesn't think she's not listening. "I felt a similar way about Amity; I didn't want her to think I was cheesy or something, people back in the human realm would say I was. But, come to think of it, being cheesy sort of worked in a way. Well, technically it was Hooty who arranged it, but Amity and I ended up working out. Go for it!"
Gus, despite hearing this, is still nervous. Gus had become more confident and extroverted ever since he helped save the demon realm from Belos. But his feelings for Mattholomule get stronger every day, so around Mattholomule he feels very different. A little less confident in his ability. He wants Matt to think he's cool. Titan, Matt has already said that he's cool, and Gus doesn't want that to fade.
Most of his insecurities have somewhat gone away, but insecurities never truly dissappear. They just get locked away until something triggers them again.
Every time Gus thinks he's screwing up their bond, his insecurities threaten to escape. So Gus is always trying his best around Matt. Just in case.
He sits up again. "Well, that's Amity. Matty's different than her. They've got similarities, yeah, but bringing him through a 'tunnel of love' to ask him out might not work for me."
"Gus," Luz begins. "It'll work out. Trust me."
Gus' heart races at the thought. The thoughts of kissing him, hugging him, cuddling with him, being able to say 'let's go on a date,' hearing the word 'boyfriend' roll off of Mattholomules tongue... It paints a picture too beautiful to look at.
"Yeah, I'll... I'll go for it soon."
Luz cheers before being shushed, as they're in the library. She pulls out her scroll for reasons unbeknownst to Gus.
"Hey..." She looks up for a moment. "Why did you tell Willow, Vee and Hunter but not me?"
"Willow's been my best friend since before you even discovered witches, Hunter's a fantastic listener, and Vee was literally there when I realized. No offense, Luz- and I say this out of love- you sometimes try to get involved in things that don't necessarily involve you, especially with peoples relationships. My crush on Matt isn't something you need to meddle with."
"Alright. I'll stay out of this one..."
Luz looks back down and starts texting someone.
Gus has got to tell Mattholomule his feelings eventually if he wants anything to happen... Surely he won't have a negative reaction.
Gus gets a notification from Mattholomule.
Amity and Willow are finished with their studying. As they're both heading home going seperate ways, Amity sees a calling bird fly towards her.
"Hello?" She says into the raven.
"Amity?"
"Yeah, Matt?"
"Could you come over? I told Augustus that I couldn't make it, but I'm finished with my project. I'm- I dunno, I want to talk about something that I can't really say to him."
Amity has a pretty huge suspicion on what Mattholomule wants to talk about. But, she can't assume. "Alright! On my way."
"Okay. Thanks. I'll see you."
The bird flies away, and Amity changes directions to head to the Tholomule residence.
Amity knocks on the door and is met with Mattholomules brother, Steve.
"Hey Amity! Haven't seen you in a while." Steve says to her joyfully. "Matt told me that you were coming over to talk about something. He's been closed off a tiny bit today."
Despite Mattholomule being nowhere in hearing range, Steve leans closer and whispers to Amity as if they're hiding a huge secret.
"I think it's about that Augustus kid."
"I won't be surprised if that's the case." She whispers back. "He brings him up every time I hang out with him."
Amity moves around Steve and finds Mattholomule sitting on his couch, staring at his own lap, before his head snaps up to Amity. He smiles a bit and beckons her to come over.
"Hey Matt! W'sup?" She says as she drops onto the couch next to him, more joyous than he expected.
"I wanted to, um... Tell you about something. Or I guess, ask you something? I dunno anymore." He mumbles, rubbing a hand on the back of his neck, looking away again, feeling a bit awkward.
"Alright. Hit me."
"Okay. So, you're pretty observant, and I saw Steve whispering to you earlier, so you might already have an idea of what I'm about to say. Um..."
Mattholomules face flushes, ears doing that wiggling motion witches' ears do sometimes. He falters on the next sentence. This is very much out of character for him, he's usually pretty cocky, it's weird to be this vulnerable with Amity, but he needs to ignore the awkwardness he's feeling to get these words out.
"I, uh... For a pretty long time, I've had feelings... Like, romantic feelings... For Augustus. And I sort of wanna try to ask him out? I wanted a little bit of help in that department." The sentences confirming Steve and Amity's theory.
"Go for it!" Amity says without skipping a beat, in a kind of excited tone.
Mattholomule didn't expect that tone from Amity, it's as if she had already figured it out. "What?" He starts, looking back to Amity. "Augustus is way too cool for me to just 'ask out.' I was asking for advice. You and Luz have been together for... Actually, I don't know exactly how long. A few years now, right? But you two are, like... A fantastic couple! Never really awkward or mean to each other, nothing like that, you guys are basically perfect! Meanwhile, we tease eachother probably too much to be a couple like you guys."
"And you want to ask him out anyway?"
"W-well, yeah. I guess it's because it somehow worked out between you and Luz even though you, like, tried to get her killed. I mean, Augustus and I put each other in danger at the detention pit a few years ago, I think that was a bit similar... Thank titan he didn't die or leave me behind."
Amity winces at the memory of the day she met Luz; she seldom remembers that she tried to get Luz dissected. "Y-yeah. True. I mean, personally, I think you've got a good shot. I probably shouldn't be saying this, but, pretty much since we were in the human realm, Gus would talk about you. Like, a lot. It was a little bit odd to me at the time, but it makes me think you've got a chance. Take the risk!"
"But, like, when? How?" Mattholomule questions nervously.
"The ruins might work. You guys go there pretty often. Maybe walk around the day market, too! Have this whole fun time with him and then drop it, y'know?"
"Barely even ruins anymore." Mattholomule says under his breath, before chuckling weakly. "But that sounds nice. We love the looking glass graveyard."
"Yeah! Fantastic, huh?"
"Yeah. At the same time, though, I'm nervous. Well, yeah, asking someone out always gives a witch nerves. But, y'know, there's other reasons. Augustus is the first real friend I've had in a really long time. The only real best friend I've had, actually. I don't want to ruin that. I love hanging out with him, that's obvious enough. But..." Mattholomule rubs his eyes and looks to the ground before shutting his eyes tight.
"Telling him I have a crush on him is gonna change our relationship forever, for better or for worse. I was harassed a good amount at Glandus, and had a lot of 'friends' who kind of just used me or pushed me around, really."
He looks up and over at Amity, eyes puffy, and slumps back into the couch. He starts to make dramatic hand gestures as he continues his ranting. "It was all just because I was a squirt and weaker, which made me easy to pick on! Probably what made me be a huge jerk, I wanted to prove that I could be strong to Hexside kids because Glandus kids didn't believe in me. The point is, I always hung out with people that didn't actually like me. But Augustus does. He likes hanging out with me. He likes talking to me. He likes me. I just hope that he likes me in the way I want him to."
Amity watches Mattholomule sniffle as he looks down to the ground for what feels like the hundredth time. She elbows him affectionately. "Matt, you have genuine friends now! You're pretty good at magic, too, maybe you were, like, meant to be a student at Hexside. You've definitely gotten stronger. I'm so sure Gus likes you back. As much as you're nervous, and as repetitive as I'm being, you have a really good chance. Like I told you... He talks about you a lot. Like, way too much for it to be platonic."
Amity notices Mattholomule blush and look away awkwardly. "Whenever you're present he seems happier. Anytime you're brought up in conversation he smiles and seems a little more invested in what we're saying. He still thinks that you're awesome even though you sometimes do very embarrassing things. He sticks up for you when someone mocks you. And, lemme tell you, when I was first crushing on Luz, I would write about her every day and sometimes even talk to myself about her. Gus just has people that'll listen to him ramble about you. If I had that back then, trust me, I would've been doing exactly what Gus is."
Mattholomule laughs while Amity speaks. "And, hey... I can see it now, Matt. Ship name: 'Gustholomule.'"
"Tholomule is my last name. That's just if he had my last name." Mattholomule states, cracking a smile. "But, thanks."
"There ya go, you're smiling!" Amity teases. "this is awesome. Okay, you got this. Just... Uh, be yourself."
"That's what everyone says. But, alright."
Amity gets a notification, and looks at her scroll. Mattholomule takes the chance to set up a meeting with Gus.
"Sweet potato, guess what happened!" Says a text from Luz.
"What is it?" Amity messages back.
"We were right, Gus likes him"
"Oh my titan, Matt likes Gus!"
"WOAH WE WERE DOUBLE RIGHT"
"I got Matt to message Gus and ask to hang out so he can tell him his feelings!"
"Gus is literally reading his messages out to me right now this is awesome"
"Is Gus trying to ask him out too?"
"YEAH HE JUST NOW TOLD ME HE'S GONNA TRY! Ok we'll see if it works out"
"Alright. ❤️"
"❤️❤️"
Amity puts her scroll away and sees Mattholomule smiling at his own. She pretends not to know the whole story as Mattholomule tells her what Gus is saying. Afterwards, they continue to just do what they normally do when they're together, just hanging out for a while.
Amity's excited to see what'll happen. Mattholomule is less nervous, thanks to her.
Mattholomule and Gus walk along the street together, both pretending to be interested in everything, even though they're only really thinking of each other. Every now and then, they'll stop to look at something, but never buy it... Even though they both have the snails to.
They only went and bought one thing.
"Matty!" Gus exclaims out of nowhere, almost scaring Mattholomule. "They have rotten candy! They didn't the last time we were around. We should go get some."
"Oh. Alright, sure." Mattholomule agrees.
Gus starts to walk over, before he decides Mattholomule is following a little too slowly. Without thinking, he grabs onto his hand and brings him along.
He grabs onto his hand.
Mattholomules heart is pounding abnormally hard, and his face is so flushed that he's considering casting an illusion on himself to hide it. Gus is so focused on getting that rotten candy, though, that he kind of doesn't fully process what he's done yet.
Once they make it over, Gus fishes some snails out of his bag to pay. He glances over to Mattholomule, who's most definitely blushing. Gus' ears twitch as he realizes that they're still holding hands. That must be it. He feels disappointment in himself as he quickly lets go.
"Uh, you want some, right Matty?"
"Y-yeah! Yeah I do."
"Okay!" Gus says, hoping his voice cracks didn't tell Mattholomule anything. He'll tell Mattholomule how he feels on his own time.
They get handed their rotten candy, laughing nervously toward eachother. This is a little too uncomfortable for either of their liking.
"Um. Augustus?"
"Yeah?"
"Uh..."
Mattholomule pauses, remembering his recent conversation with Amity. He attempts to make his voice and face expression casual again, which, to his surprise, works well. "Wanna ditch this and go to the graveyard?"
"The looking glass graveyard? Yeah!" Gus gasps, pointing to Mattholomule with his free hand. "Maybe you could help me out more with construction magic. You promised you'd do that for me. It's only fair."
"Ha. Okay. But, Augustus, keep in mind that I'm studying illusions, but you're not studying construction. Not a very balanced deal we have."
"Matty, I teach you tricks they don't want students knowing. You started studying illusions fairly close to the day of unity, wheras I have been a master illusionist for years. I'm better than you." Gus says playfully, getting a small chuckle out of Mattholomule.
"Yeah. Whatever."
They're both glad that short-lived awkwardness is over. At least for now.
But, Gus already misses having Mattholomules hand on his.
At one point during their walk to the graveyard, after they've finish their candy, Gus nudges Mattholomule playfully, bumping their shoulders together. Mattholomule pretends to be offended as he does the same. They do this over and over, a little bit more aggressive every time, but just light enough to not push eachother over. Despite making their own safe path, it's a little muddy out there, and they'd rather not get covered.
But, to no avail. Gus eventually hits him too hard, causing Mattholomule to lose his balance and topple over.
Before he can hit the ground, Gus grabs him by the arm and swiftly pulls him up, the two facing each other.
Much to their surprises, Mattholomule doesn't speak. No thanks, no cocky remark,
and he's definitely not pulling away from Gus.
He's doing nothing that he usually would. Titan, not even he knows why.
Actually, nevermind. He's got a pretty good guess why.
They're just staring at eachother. Not blinking. Not moving. Not speaking.
Gus loosens his grip on Mattholomules arm, maintaining eye contact, before his hand glides down to meet his. Mattholomules ears wave as he breaks eye contact and begins to laugh, Gus thinking it's at his expense, before Mattholomule returns Gus' gesture, holding back and dropping their hands down. They're holding hands, for real this time.
They begin to walk again, fingers intertwined, trying to act casual despite the duo being horribly nervous.
They can both tell the other is nervous by the nearly rapid movements of their ears. They've given up trying to hide that by now, though, knowing they're mutually nervous about this almost gives them a sort of comfort.
They start speaking again, reluctant to mention their feelings despite them being close to taking over their thoughts. This causes the two to start tripping over their own words, forgetting what the topic was every now and then and having to ask each other.
They finally make it to the graveyard.
Oh. They made it to the graveyard.
And that's when they stop talking.
There's only three thoughts in both of their heads...
"Get it together. Tell him. You promised her."
But neither speak. Neither follow through with their promises, not yet.
They turn their heads to look at each other again, before their eyes shoot down to their hands. How long were they holding hands for? Why didn't they talk about it earlier, if it was making them feel this way?
"Um..." Gus mutters. "Do you wanna-"
Mattholomule takes this the wrong way, quickly and immediately pulling away from Gus.
"N-no, I didn't mean- Ah, nevermind, I guess." Gus looks away awkwardly. "I thought you were, like, good with that? Sorry. Anyways, I-"
Mattholomule could swear his heart skipped a beat. "What?" He says, voice above a whisper. "No, I didn't... Really want to pull apart. I just thought you were gonna ask me to."
"No, I was gonna ask if you wanted to go over there and help me with construction magic. Y'know... Like we said we would. We did, right? Honestly my thoughts are a little clouded right now." He giggles nervously, his heart pounding so fast he's afraid he might start breathing a little too heavy and have Mattholomule think he's not okay.
Mattholomule shrugs and walks closer to the center of the circle, smirking and beckoning Gus to follow with a simple tilt of his head.
Gus follows, facing him. They're just far enough apart that it looks like they're about to start a battle.
"Alright!" Mattholomule claps loudly. "Augustus, hit me with what you've got."
"Wait, what?"
"You've learned a lot. Show me what you know. Unless you're... Bad at it? Have you been doing your homework, Augustus? Doesn't seem like it."
Gus readies himself, placing a hand in the air so he can draw a spell circle. "You know I'm too determined not to, Matty." He winks, making Mattholomules face flush once more. "I'll be just as good as you one day. Maybe even better."
"Ha. As if. Maybe start studying construction, and I'll believe that."
"Pfft. You just wanna spend time with me."
"Hm." Mattholomule pretends to think about his next answer. "Maybe I do. Or maybe you just wanna spend time with me. Am I really that cool?"
"Tch. Whatever. Lets go, loser. Three, Two-"
Mattholomule brings up a wall in front of Gus to prevent him from moving forward for a moment.
"Matty, I didn't say one!"
"Okay, one."
Gus and Mattholomule make dumb insults to eachother as they have their small battle, careful not to hurt each other too much, but real enough for it to be a sort of contest.
Throughout, they use little illusion tricks, just to make it harder to tell when a spell is real.
When Mattholomule eventually hits the ground, their goal to end every little fight they have, he does a T motion using both of his hands.
"Alright, Augustus." He says. "You win."
"Yeah I do. Guess I am better." Gus states as he walks toward Mattholomule and holds out a hand to help him stand.
"Hey!" Mattholomule shouts in defense, rolling his eyes. "Don't forget that I beat you most of the time."
"Yeah, I'll give you that." Gus says with a laugh as he pulls Mattholomule up. "Can't believe I beat the champion."
Mattholomule, though attempting to sound serious, is smiling, making his voice sound happier than intended. Well, he can't deny that he's happy to spend any time with Gus.
"Exactly." Mattholomule says, brushing himself off after the fall, and checking to make sure he isn't hurt anywhere. "I'm usually better than you."
"Whatever you say. You're the president."
Mattholomule laughs, giving Gus a playful shove. "Only at the H.A.S."
"Thought you wanted 'power and drama,' Matt."
"Shut up. That was a while ago. I'm kinder now or something."
"You say that as if you don't like having power." Gus says, taking a step forwards to get back in his original spot before leaning in slightly. "And I thought the drama thing stopped after the day of unity rolled around and you decided that was enough drama for a lifetime."
Mattholomule takes a quick glance at Gus' lips before moving his gaze back up to make careful eye contact again, hoping Gus hadn't noticed him doing so. His smile, though feeling a tiny bit forced at the moment, remains.
"Nah. I'm all the drama in your life right now. You just got used to me."
"I think you feel the same way about me." Gus says while he straightens his back, his head starting to hurt from when he was suppressing the strong urge to look down to Mattholomules mouth, as he was certain that he would catch that. "Y'know, that I'm a part of your life you can't ignore at all."
"Can't get you out of my head sometimes." Mattholomule whispers, half hoping Gus hadn't heard it. Why does he regret saying that when he literally promised himself and Amity that he would tell Gus his feelings today?
Gus heard it, though, and his face heated up so badly that you could swear he had caught a fever right then. At the exact same time, his smile drops and his eyes widen in surprise. His ears start to wave fast, confirming Mattholomules tiny fear. "What'd you say?" He asks, voice low, as if scared of the answer it may recieve.
If Mattholomule denies saying it, or corrects the sentence, Gus will be fairly sad. But if he said what Gus heard...
Bells could ring. Sparks could ignite. Hearts could be pierced.
Or, maybe their hearts were already pierced long ago.
Cupids arrow could have shot through them before they even knew it did. It could've shot through years and years ago.
Cupids arrow could've shot them before they were even friends.
A red string of fate- or, rather, maybe a blue, glowing string- tying them together, making their meeting destiny.
What they've been thinking for the last couple years was that they 'have feelings' for each other. But maybe it's more than that. Maybe more than just a crush. Maybe it's closer to love than they want to think.
"I can't get you out of my head sometimes." Mattholomule repeats, letting go of a breath he didn't realize he was holding. His own face flushes, ears waving maybe even faster than Gus' are.
"Oh." Gus mumbles. He has no idea how to respond to this. Is there any answer that's right in the moment?
This response makes Mattholomule a little sad.
"Um... Sorry. Let's just go back to-"
"Matt, I like you." Gus blurts out, cutting him off. He shouts it before he can even process the action.
"You- You what?" Mattholomule says. "Say... Say that again."
Only after Mattholomules request does he realize what he just said. His heart beats a mile a minute. The realization hits him like a truck; he didn't even mean to. He didn't think he was fully ready.
"I- I like you, Matt. Like, romantically."
The two stand there, staring at each other with shocked expressions, red faces, beating hearts, and waving ears. "Oh."
Just like Gus, Mattholomule doesn't know what to say now. He should know, because he thought he was prepared to hear Gus' answer to his confession. But that was it. his confession. He wasn't expecting a confession from Gus, and now that he has it, he can't think. He can't breathe. He can't talk. He can't move.
"Oh." He repeats breathlessly. "I..."
They're both frozen. Breathless. Shocked. Nervous.
"Augustus..."
"Y-yeah?"
"You... You mean that, right? You're not messing around?"
"No."
Five seconds of silence before Mattholomule lunges forward and gives Gus a tight hug, burying his face into the space between his neck and shoulder. "Okay."
They both exhale once Gus hugs back. They stay this way for titan knows how long before pulling apart. Gus notices something; tears pricking Mattholomules eyes.
"Oh! Oh my titan, Matty, did I do something wrong?" He questions, almost shouting.
"No. No, you did everything right. Just... That's it. You did everything right. Not one friend I've had before you did everything right." Mattholomule rubs his eyes off before he lifts his hands up to Gus' shoulders.
"Back at Glandus, it felt as if nobody really liked me. And they didn't. I was a nobody. I was supposedly friends with Bria, but she didn't actually care. Nobody cared. You've seen it, I was constantly trying to prove myself, and after I got to hang out with the stronger kids, it just got worse. I couldn't handle it anymore, so I moved. Once I got to Hexside I decided I wouldn't get pushed around anymore. I thought I could make it so nobody would, but instead I just became a total jerk."
Matt looks at Gus. Like, really looks at him. He's never gotten to admire Gus before without the fear of being caught and judged for it. But now he can. Now he's safe.
Mattholomule smiles, bright. "But... But then you came along. Well, I guess, you and Luz. But it was you, Augustus. After the looking glass ruins ordeal, and the fact you kept being so nice to me even though I was mean to you... You were offering to hang out with me. You made me feel like I was somebody. You genuinely liked being around me. Not because you could see my weaknesses and wanted to take advantage of them, you liked me for me. And..."
Mattholomule cups Gus' face. "And it made me like you."
Gus, though flustered, finally gains some courage. He places his hands on top of Mattholomules, and gives him a sweet smile.
"Dork."
"What?! Dude, I'm being all vulnerable with you, shut up!" Mattholomule says, pulling his hands away from under Gus' and punching him on the shoulder lightly.
"You can't make me." Gus says with a teasing smile, moving his hands to his own hips.
Mattholomule freezes, looking away from Gus as if asking himself a question.
After a few seconds, Mattholomule nods, to Gus' confusion. He places one hand on Gus' neck, the other returning to his shoulder...
And pulls him forward.
The kiss was slow and serene, only half-expected by Gus. His eyes shoot open, but shut just as quickly. Gus cups Mattholomules face in return.
Mattholomule pulls away, pressing their foreheads together before they begin to laugh softly. Their hands remain in their spots, still holding each other. They look up into each others eyes again, and a burst of butterflies causes them to laugh harder. Mattholomule removes his hands from Gus and shoves him away playfully, still giggling.
Gus sighs as he stops laughing. "You like me."
Mattholomule looks at him with a confused but happy expression as his laugh dies down. "Says you!"
"Oh my Titan, Matt-"
"Screw you, lover boy!"
This makes them laugh... Again.
Gus steps forward and plants a kiss on Mattholomules cheek. "Whatever."
Mattholomule sighs before him and Gus hug once more. Gus holds him tight. Not as tight as the previous hug, but, tight. Tight enough for Mattholomule to know he's here, he doesn't plan to leave, he's never going to use him, never going make him feel unloved, and that he's never going to be rude and careless when Mattholomule is vulnerable.
"So... Augustus."
"Yeah, Matty?"
Mattholomule pulls back and makes eye contact with Gus. His smile is gone, much to Gus' surprise.
"Does this mean we can, like, date now? Um, please?"
Gus giggles. He doesn't know why, maybe it's because Mattholomule said please.
"Yeah, Matty. I'd love to be your boyfriend."
Mattholomules smile returns when he hears that word.
Boyfriend.
They're boyfriends now. Something the both of them have yearned for for years.
"Augustus, you're a loser."
"Hey, you're the one that lost our duel. You're the one that asked me to date you. Don't play games."
"Whatever." Mattholomule says with another laugh before he sighs. "Amity's probably gonna harass me about what happened today."
"Luz'll probably ask me a billion questions too."
They laugh together one more time.
"I really like you, Augustus."
"I can tell."