cravating | (no subject)

Fucking Christ... [He mutters under his breath because of course Matt can turn it around just like that without even batting an eye.] Yeah, just might need to get rid of it all. Could get the shower going to warm us up?

[Turn about is fair play, sir.]

[ And there's that delighted grin again that he got a reaction. Really he could keep up with that all night. ]

Oh I can think of a thing or two to get the blood flowing.

Could you? Mind sharing with the class? [So far he hasn't actually... said anything. He's just teased at it. Nate's curious just what sort of ideas he's got about what they're going to be doing.]

[ Ah well there's the crux of it. Matt's all talk, but he's hardly an expert on fucking men, in truth? He hasn't got a clue. He's just going with the flow here and hoping things just work out. He could keep up the bravado, but he knows, Nate knows him better. So he looks at him and laughs, shaking his head. ]

I really haven't got a clue, you know. You're kind of my tour guide. And hey, you loved that when we went to the Lake District.

[The honesty is just really refreshing, honestly. He's seen Matt really play up the act with girls before, and while he's always sweet to them, he can really be just a confident asshole when he wants to be.]

I'll take care of it, don't you worry. [Approaching his building, Nate slows to a stop.]

Oh, fuck.

I'll hold you to it [ he smiles a little as he talks, glancing down before those two words have him lifting his head sharply back up. ]

What? What's wrong?

[He gestures to a car parked up ahead.]

Simon's car. Shit, he must have... fuck. [He really doesn't like confrontation, especially after the incident with Matt. It makes him jittery as hell.]

[ Who the fuck drives in London... and look at that showy thing is what Matt thinks, but manages not to actually say because even he knows that insulting the boyfriend (ex boyfriend?) isn't the best thing to be doing right now.

Of course this has happened though, of course his boyfriend would come after him, worries. He probably wants to be all rational and shit, and if there's one thing he knows? If he sees him, he'll flip his lid.

Pretty much nobody wants Matt in Nate's life, and he can understand why. Friends is bad enough but more? Well nobody would even expect that. He knows Nate didn't tell a wide group of people what happened, only those in the pub that night that probably hadn't all believed it anyway. ]

I should-- I should go. You don't need me here, I'll just make it worse.

[All the worst scenarios keep playing in Nate's head, but the only one he can't stand to think about? Is the one where Matt leaves, because he's almost positive he won't come back. Not for a long while, at least.]

Please stay. [He pleads, reaching a hand out but not touching him. He just...needs to know this isn't going to fall apart.]

Wait here if you'd like. I'm going to talk to him, send him home. Just...wait here, okay?

[He doesn't move to leave until he hears Matt's response, though. He needs assurance that he'll be here when he gets back.]

[ He can see the panic in Nate's eyes. He never used to seem so easily on edge, and he expects that's his fault, after everything. He steps forward, reaching a hand up and setting it against Nate's arm. ]

Nate just... [ he sighs ] Go in. Go back to your boyfriend. He's worried about you. He doesn't need to know I was here, okay? Just... text me, let me know you're okay. But I shouldn't be here.

Please don't do this, Matt. I don't... I don't know if I can manage this without you, alright?

[Knowing Matt's waiting would help him stay on topic, not let Simon get him chatting too much, not allow him to get too emotional.]

Don't run away from this, from me. I just need to talk to him. Please.

I'm not... Nate, I promise I'm not. But it's not right, is it. It's not you, off dumping someone while the other one waits outside.

[ His hand grips his arm a little tighter, and his eyes seek out his gaze. ]

Look at me, okay. I'm not running. I'm just trying to help. If he finds out I'm here, then things will get nasty. You know they will.

He won't find out. I won't say anything, just-- [Oh god he can't stop himself from getting a little worked up, voice cracking as a few tears slip free. It all mingles with the rain. And unfortunately, he's not really keeping his voice down, is he?

In the distance, there's the sound of a car door closing and soft footsteps jogging across the street.

"Nate! I really think we should-- What's he doing here?" Simon wasn't the type to jump to anger, but he's definitely not pleased to see Matt there. He mostly looks confused as hell, though.]

[ It's proof enough there, Nate isn't a liar, he isn't the sort to hide things, and there he is already doing it. And oh fuck he's crying. Matt would do anything to stop that. He's about to say something when Simon appears, and he looks over Nate's shoulder at him.

Oh shit.

He tries not to bristle at the fact he calls him Nate. That's his name for him. The guy who introduced himself as Nathaniel, shortened it to Nathan, and reminded him that 'Nate' isn't his name the first few times. It's his name, so why is this prick using it? Okay Matt, not the time or place, and don't get angry over something like that. He tries to remind himself, stay calm, don't get angry. ]

Look he just wanted to show me his paintings.

[Simon looks doubly confused by that, but it doesn't even cross his mind that anything would be going on between them. He knows what Matt did, but not why. Not the whole story, anyway. He just knows that Matt has a temper and should probably be in prison after what he did. Giving him a cautious look, he focuses his attention on Nate, who is already shaking his head.]

I said we could talk tomorrow, Simon. I can't do this right now.

["Sweetheart, please...what did I do? Is it because I missed the show? Babe, you know I wanted to be there. I just couldn't." He feels awkward as hell having this conversation with Matt right here but he's going to have it no matter who's around, basically.]

It's not-! It's not that... I mean, maybe it partly is. I don't know. It's nothing you did, no one thing anyway. I just... I can't do this.

[He casts a quick look to Matt, as if trying to make sure that he's still there, that he hasn't gone.]

[ Oh well, he finds he likes it even less hearing him call him sweetheart and babe. It makes him grit his teeth, pushing away the anger. ]

Nate go inside. Have this conversation there. Look at the bloke, come on, this isn't what you want to do.

[ Whether he sounds reasonable or not, Simon doesn't want to hear it, and so he gives a rather stern glare in his direction. "We don't need your input, thank you. Now leave before I phone the police."

Matt scoffs. ]

For what? Standing in a street?

I'm not having this conversation at all tonight. [Nate snaps, not at either of them really. Or maybe at both. He hates this, hates confrontation. This was what he was trying to avoid.

Simon takes a step back and gives Matt a glare, "Well, now look what you've done."]

Oh yeah what I've done. Because I'm the one that came here after he was told to fuck off, right?

[ Well. In a way, yes. He distinctly remembers some strong words from Simon after he and Nate got back in touch again. He doubts Nate even knows about that visit. ]

Look, don't push me or I'll--

[ "Or you'll what, Matt? What will you do? Do you hear that? Threats already. "Will you put me in hospital this time, or do you have your sights on him again?" ]

[Nate finds its harder to draw a breath in now, his chest feeling right as panic sets in. This isn't how this was supposed to go.]

Simon. [He says with as much force as he can muster.] You need to go. I'll ring you tomorrow and we can talk then. I just...can't do this tonight.

"I'm not leaving you alone with him, Nathan. He's dangerous."]

He's not. [His eyes flick over to Matt.] You're not. [He thinks he might want the reassurance.]

[ "You just need a break. You've been pushing yourself too hard trying to get this show together. Come inside, come on, let me make you some tea. We can go away, just the two of us, use those air miles, go anywhere you like. As soon as this big case is over. Just away from him. Nate look at you, look what he's doing to you, sweetheart you're shaking." Simon tries to implore him, while all the while looking over towards Matt as though he's about to explode.

Matt stands there, feeling like he should be just about anywhere else. He hears Nate's reassurance, but he hears Simon's words too, and maybe he's right. Nate's worked up, and this big mess is all because he came back. ]

Nate listen. I'm going to go so your posh boyfriend doesn't call the police for breach of the pavement or something.

[He can't do this. He can't stand there and argue with the both of them about what he really wants.]

Please don't do this... [He pleads with Matt, trying to say everything that he can't with those words. Don't go. Don't run.]

[ Matt looks at Nate. Oh those giant fucking eyes of his, it's not fair is it, being able to look at him like that. It'd put any puppy to shame. So he huffs out, and flings an arm. ]

Look, he wants me to stay.

[ "What have you done? What have you said to him? He's probably scared of you! That you'll hurt him if you don't do as he says." Simon's opinion of Matt is about as low as they can get, and Matt shakes his head and lets out an angry laugh before muttering.. ]

Oh I'm going to fucking swing for you.

Matthew. [Nate says quickly. He doesn't call him that often but when he does, he means business.

Simon just nods and waves a hand. "Exactly! You know how he gets, Nathan. You know what he's capable of!"]

Simon, you know I care about you, but I've asked you to leave. Please just respect that. This isn't some case you can win. I just need some time.

[That seems to maybe get through to him, causing Simon to take a step back. "Babe, I wasn't..." Except he sort of was, wasn't he? "Tomorrow, then? Lunch? That place you like by my office?"

Nate just nods, silent and doing his best to keep himself together. Simon nods again and gives Matt an unforgiving look, still blaming him for this, but not trying to argue with Nate further, afraid that he's just digging himself a grave by doing it.

"I love you." Simon adds, voice trembling a little. "You know that, don't you? Course you do. So...tomorrow, then. Yeah, tomorrow." With that, he slowly backs up and turns to get back to his car, climbing in and driving off.]

[ The full-naming makes Matt almost jump, and he looks to Nate with a serious stare. He knows why he did it, and he's right. He needs pulling back, snapping out of it, and he knows when Nate is pulling no punches in what he means.

Matt takes a breath, closing his eyes and trying not to get even more angry as Simon goes on about what he's capable of. When he opens his eyes, it's to give a heated glare towards Simon, bristling around the edges as he watches him finally back away, trying not to feel sick when he hears him tell him he loves him.

He doesn't say anything at all until the car is out of sight. ]

He loves you. Do you hear that, he loves you. I should go.

[Nate watches Simon drive off and breathes a sigh of relief, glad that the worst of the fighting is surely over. But then Matt is talking and saying just the opposite of what he wants to hear.]

Don't you dare.

[Emotion shakes each word. He just fought for this. He's not giving it up so easily.]