Chapter 32 part 1

Matias

Matias wasn't used to being very open to anyone, especially involving his relationships. Sometimes he'd get awkward when speaking of a simple friendship, and now he was having to explain that him and Samuel were together.

His face was hot and he couldn't stop fidgeting, though he tried to hide it when he realized. His mind kept flashing back to when he could easily calm his emotions and would've been able to sit still through this all. The realization of how much he had changed was like a slap in the face.

Before he could grasp his emotions and say anything, Lexi let out an amused scoff.

When he looked up to meet her eyes she had a slight smile, though the shock was still planted on her face.

It wasn't long before a few breathy laughs escaped her lips and her smile grew awkwardly.

"I cannot believe you!" She nearly squealed, laughter still emerging from her lips.

Matias felt Samuel shift awkwardly beside him. It was clear neither of the two knew where this was going.

"You never thought to tell me? Oh my god, how long has this been going on?" She continued to shout, amused.

"Uh.." Matias muttered, unsure. They first kissed months ago, but started being intimate—in a way— only in the last few weeks. Hell, they hadn't even clarified what they were.

"Technically a few weeks" Samuel finally spoke up, sounding almost more unsure than Matias.

"Technically?" Lexi asked, leaning forward in investment.

When Samuel stayed quiet, Matias realized he would be the one answering her question.

"It's.. complicated" he stuttered.

"Oh no! You will not be giving me that! Tell me the story" Lexi dismissed in a hurry.

As nervous as he was, it brought a smile to Matias's face seeing Lexi so enthusiastic. She had seemed so exhausted recently, not to mention it looked like the life had been drained out of her. Now she was back to being normal Lexi, as nosy as she was.

"Earth to Matias? One of you is going to tell me what happened" she demanded once more.

Matias looked over at Samuel for the first time, meeting his eyes. Neither said a word, but exchanged a knowing look.

After an undoubtably awkward minute, Matias sighed.

"Well you remember how I told you that I found the hero in an alley after the new villain attacked?" Matias spoke slowly, trying to ease away the silence.

Lexi nodded, her face changing briefly at the mention of Meera.

"Well, he was conscious for a bit before I took him to the hospital"

Samuels head turned quickly to stare at Matias and Lexi had a face of pure curiosity.

"And right before he passed out..." Matias hesitated, searching his mind for the least embarrassing way to say it.

"I kissed him" Samuel interrupted when the silence grew too long.

Matias felt his face flush and his heart pound. When his gaze shot over to Samuel he had a cheeky grin on his face, acknowledging Matias's embarrassment.

Lexi gasped dramatically, her hand raising to her chest. "So this was all before you came and visited me? You were already together and you didn't tell me?" She accused.

Matias stammered but failed to find words. He slowed down and took a breath, but both Samuel and Lexi were now looking at him in anticipation. "It didn't seem important"

Lexi's eyes got wide and a gasp escaped her lips, but she said nothing—much to Matias's relief.

"Anyways", Samuel interjected, "we didn't see each other or have a chance to talk for a while after that. Up until the police found us in the alley and we were taken to the hospital"

Matias stared down at his hands intently, but could see Lexi out of the corner of his eye staring at Samuel as he spoke.

"While we were in the hospital Matias came to my room and we told each other that we loved the other" he went on.

Matias was astonished by how casual Samuel was about all this. Maybe Matias just wasn't used to being in relationships—or being intimate at all—but Samuel being so calm still shocked him.

"And now that we're both out of the hospital Matias has been staying with me" he finished, looking over at Matias and smiling.

Matias resisted the urge to speak up, but raised his head to look at the two.

"Okay, but when did you officially get together?" She asked like to was an obvious question.

Matias glanced over to meet Samuels eyes. They shared a questioning look until Lexi slapped her hands down on her knees and gasped once more.

"You haven't made it official? What is wrong with you two?!"

Samuel and Matias both tried to interrupt, but Lexi refused.

"You are both grown men! You seriously can't handle making a relationship official?" She complained so loud the neighbors probably heard.

"We just didn't-" Matias tried, and failed, to speak.

"Nuh-uh, don't even try to give me one of your ridiculous excuses!"

Matias and Samuel shared yet another glance. Matias was shocked—and very clearly still embarrassed— by the situation, but after only a second Samuel had a smile crack on his face and a laugh escape his lips.

"Are you serious?" Matias asked, being the last one in the room taking any of this seriously.

Samuel hunched done over his legs and was shaking with a hushed laughter. "I'm sorry" he whispered, failing to hide his amusement as a few giggles emerged from him.

Lexi broke out into laughter along with him, also bending down towards the couch.

"You have got to be fucking joking" Matias grumbled, only to be met with more laughter.

Seconds passed, and then a minute, and eventually Matias sighed and leaned back on the couch.

Lexi had begun to wheeze and Samuel was gripping his stomach in pain while his laughter just continued on.

"I'm sorry" Samuel breathed, the laughing calming down and him beginning to sit up.

Matias scoffed and turned away slightly.

"Mat-", Samuel interrupted himself with laughter, "Matias"

Lexi's laughter slowed down as well, though she was still clearly amused. "I'm sorry" she wheezed, "you can't say I'm wrong"

Matias considered responding, but still stayed quiet. He didn't have enough confidence to believe he wouldn't embarrass himself even more if he did anything else.

A few more seconds went by before Lexi and Samuel both had calmed and were now sitting normally— aside from the small grins on their faces.

"Anyways," Lexi began "why not make it official now?"

Matias instantly felt his face heat up once more and he subconsciously fixed his posture. How could she say that and not be the least bit embarrassed?

"What?" Samuel exhaled quickly beside him, clearly caught off guard.

Lexi looked back and forth between the two, failing to hide her amusement. "You two are impossible" she sighed.

Samuel glanced over at Matias but when Matias noticed he only avoided his eyes.

"Lord" Lexi grumbled. "Samuel, you like Matias, right?" She asked slowly, like an elementary teacher explaining math problems.

Matias finally broke and his head turned to look at Samuel, whose face was slightly red but clearly calmer than Matias.

"Of course" he replied sounding contempt.

Lexi's smile seemed to grow as she turned to Matias, but he ignored it as he had been doing with much else.

"And Matias, you like Samuel, right?" She asked with a cheeky hint to her voice.

Matias hesitated a bit too long before answering with a hum.

He half expected someone to say something, either to mock him or question if he really did like Samuel, but no one did.

"Alright" Lexi finalized, dragging out the word and making it sound official. "Wasn't that easy?" She continued to joke.

Samuel laughed and Matias, for the first time, managed a short chuckle.

The moment was cut short when Samuels phone dinged, making him pull it out of his pocket.

When he glanced at it Matias saw his jaw tense and his eyebrows raise slightly.

"I think we need to get going. Ellie and Amanda have already been alone for two hours now" Samuel spoke slowly, only an ounce of worry bleeding into his voice.

It wasn't until he saw the concerned look Matias was giving that Samuel confessed, "I'm a bit worried about Ellie freaking out"

"Ellie?" Lexi suddenly interrupted.

Matias had partially forgotten she was there, only for a second.

"My daughter" Samuel wasted no time explaining. "Amanda is her babysitter"

Lexi's mouth opened slightly, showing her teeth, and her eyebrows furrowed.

"She-" Samuel began, but stopped when Lexi raised a hand in dismissal.

"You have a daughter?" She asked, sounding dumbfounded.

Samuel nodded. Matias began to feel like he was an observer in their discussion, but was unbothered by it.

"But what.. I mean.. what did she do when you were like, captured or whatever" Lexi stuttered, struggling with her words. "Didn't she go to the police or something?"

Samuel glanced over and Matias and Matias returned his look.

"She's five" he stated blandly.

Lexi scrunched her nose. "I don't know why I assumed she was older" she chuckled quietly, bringing a hand to her face. "I mean, you're not old enough to have a teenager, obviously"

Samuel gave an awkward laugh in return.

"We should get going" Matias finally interjected, trying to rid the awkward atmosphere.

Samuel nodded in response, standing from the couch.

Lexi and Matias both stood in turn, Lexi giving Matias a long, strong hug. Matias felt his head tingle from the motion— as it had been doing since he was hit in the head— but he pushed away the feeling and hugged her back.

When she finally released Matias she turned to Samuel, who looked completely oblivious. In just a heartbeat, however, his eyes went wide and his mouth fell agape.

Lexi had wrapped her arms tightly around him, trapping him in a strong hug.

Matias saw his face scrunch a bit as she put pressure on his stomach especially, but he said nothing.

"If you ever need a babysitter, I'm great with kids" she laughed in a way that made Matias question if she was joking or not.

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