cravating | (no subject)

[ Matt can scarcely believe what he's watching. He didn't expect Nate to actually do it, but there he is, doing just that. By the time he puts the phone down, he's standing jaw open just staring back at him. ]

You split up with him. Nate you fucking idiot what did you do. For me? What did you-- You're an idiot, you're such an idiot.

[ But even as he's talking, he stepping forward, moving towards him, concern in his eyes, shock and just about every emotion he can find. ]

For me? You did that for me?

[He slides his phone into the back pocket of his jeans, still shaking and a little scared, but not regretting it. Not even a bit.]

I did that for me. But yeah... you too, I guess. [He gives him a slightly bashful smile.]

[ This feels like it's probably not real, like he's about to wake up or a camera crew are going to jump out and say it's some elaborate set up for a tv show. Either way, it can't be real, can it? But look how he's shaking, he has that fear in his eyes, like he's worried that he's made a mistake. Matt wants to help, he really does, but he doesn't really know how.

So he reaches for something. Anything. A truth, something to give him, even if it's ridiculous. ]

Do you remember when I was taking those extra shifts at the bar? [ It's a marker, another way of saying 'after Sally' ] And you started seeing that guy, that Ben? There was this one night you brought him back to the flat and went to bed. I mean you know what the walls were like there, right? I could hear you fucking. Hear him fucking you. Hear you. And I... [ he shifts a bit awkwardly, why the hell is he telling this story? ] Well I sort of rubbed one off to it.

[He's not entirely sure where the story is going. And even as the point becomes clear, he just looks really confused for a second.]

You..? [What even, Matthew. But he can tell what he's trying to do, even though it's so very misguided.]

Just the once? [Well, now he's curious.]

I don't make a habit of jacking off to my mate's having sex [ he sounds a little exasperated, like come on, as though he hadn't just admitted to doing exactly that. ]

Anyway, I was usually the one getting some. Well you remember, I mean, thin walls.

Yeah, I know. I heard plenty of it. [He glances away because... Well, he probably enjoyed himself a few times while all of that was going on.]

...Do you want to get out of here?

[ Oh Matt has no doubt he heard, no doubt too that so clearly so he probably knows the exact sounds Matt makes when he comes. It's a loaded question, he knows, and it makes it all the more scary for that.
]
Yeah. Yeah lets.. Yeah.

[ But he can't help contemplating that awkward tube ride again, and how it will be even harder this time, in both senses of the word. ]

[The rain hasn't let up, but Nate barely notices it as they walk to the tube. He feels like he's walking through some weird dream. This time, he does find a seat, one with an empty one beside him. Everything feels more intense, brighter, louder, like he's seeing the world for the first time.

He has to remind himself to breathe.]

Glad you liked the gallery.

[ On the tube, Matt sits himself down next to Nate, both of them freshly soaked and neither of them caring. In the chair, he manspreads, because that's the sort of asshole he is. ]

You're getting better, you know. All that shit. You were always good, but that? And that blue one? I'm buying that. Just so you know, that fucker is mine.

Who says you can afford it? [He says with a little smile.]

Someone I know told me to make sure to get top price for my work.

[ he turns his head towards him and smirks a bit, nudging his knee over against his. ]

Who do you think brought your last three pieces? [ Yay Knights credit card ]

[He just looks at him like he grew a second head.]

Wait, seriously?

[ He smirks from ear to ear like so fucking proud of himself. ]

This new job comes with perks. [ And frequent life threatening situations but shhh ]

Sneaky little bastard. [He says, but he's got a grin to match. And his hand sort of drifts to the outside of his thigh that's touching Matt's, his pinky finger barely brushing the back of Matt's hand.]

[ The instinct is for Matt to pull his hand away. It's stupid, he really needs to get over that. So he does his best, not yanking his hand back sharply, just looking towards him and grinning. ]

Oh you know it.

[ There are only a couple of other people on the carriage, none of them paying attention to them. He looks at him again, before glancing back to the dark window opposite, just about seeing their reflections in it. He nudges his knee against his again. ]

I really like your hair like that, by the way.

[The fact that he doesn't yank his hand back is just...wow. How far have they come in one evening. Mention of his hair makes him look a little bashful.]

Yeah? Not too long?

Definitely not. Something to hold onto. [ Yes, he went there, he said that, and he's not regretting it, but he is smirking to himself like a fool. ]

So when we get back to yours.... What's the plan?

[Nate chokes a little on the breath he was trying to take in.]

Jesus... [Kill him, why don't you!]

Didn't really have a plan. Figure we can have a drink and just talk. See what happens.

[ That smirk is there again, delighted with himself for having got a reaction. He still likes to wind him up even now. Of course it's a coping mechanism too, make a joke out of it to make it just a bit less real. ]

So what's your place like?[ Bloody smalltalk. He'd much rather be doing the scary kissing again. ]

It's pretty small. Basically all I could afford on my own. But it's nice. [He would also rather be kissing, but he's not about to press his luck with that right now.]

Probably won't stack up with your big orgy castle.

Yeah it's a pretty special place. I mean just take the orgies.

[ He turns his head looking at him now instead of the reflection. He smiles, a bit. Fuck it's so good to see him though, even this, sitting next to him on a tube, it's ridiculous how good that feels.

The carriage stops, and the only other person that remains on it but them steps off, leaving them alone. ]

[Nate's quiet as the last person gets off. They've got a couple more stops until theirs, so he's very still, waiting until the doors close again and they start moving. They're alone, so he hooks his pinkie around Matt's, then gets bolder by reaching across with his free hand to tip his face just right so he can kiss him.

It's brief, soft, and sweet. He just likes being able to do that, even if it has to be while no one is around to see it.]

I'm not really interested in orgies.

[ It makes him laugh. It's not really humour it's just barely believe that he's kissing him. That that's just a thing that's happening; Nate kissing him on an underground carriage. And more, that he's not just completely freaking out about it. Wonders will never cease. ]

Yeah? So what are you interested in? [ Well, he laid that bait, now he wants the details. They've had all sorts of chats, but they never had this one. ]

What, you think I'm going to just tell you? [He raises both eyebrows and gives him a teasing smile.]

And here I thought you'd be sure to have it all figured out. Seeing as you were apparently listening to me shagging and all.

[Well, did you think that wasn't going to come back to haunt you, Matt?]

Once, Nate, fucking once. And you were loud, what was I supposed to do, buy earplugs? [ he doth protest too much ]

And anyway, how many times have you listened to me shag? Yeah exactly I thought so.