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[usurpers]

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[blessmefather]

Through text alone? Impressive. Good to hear her help was... Helpful. Third parties don't always help in these circumstances.

[He's speaking from experience. Unfortunate recent experience. His hand starts to tighten around the letter.
Thankfully the sound of it crinkling reminds him what he's holding and he stops short of bending it unforgivably far. ]

Growing up doesn't stop with reaching a certain age. You deserve credit for how far you've come though.

[usurpers]

I guess.

[ it’s always good to bask in it just a tiny bit, but watching matt for a second and looking up and down, especially to the letter— ]

What about you?

[blessmefather]

Me?

[ He didn't expect the conversation subject to turn to him. He lifts his face slightly, lips parting. ]

Regarding what?

[usurpers]

All this.

[ you know, dating, and stuff . . . matt just seemed too thoughtful about that last part. he taps the top of the letter. ]

Who’s it from?

[blessmefather]

[ It's Matt's turn to have a racing heart. He quickly draws in a breath, reminding himself to keep calm. He can poker face his way out of this surely! He shakes his head ever so slightly. ]

It's a letter from a friend. It's uh, actually a funny story. We met at a Summer camp for the performing arts when we were thirteen and became real close. [ Real close? Clarify. ] Like old friends! But at the end of the Summer we had to part ways and lost contact. I had moved in at the orphanage not long before that and this was before people were using the internet for personal communication. We thought of writing but any letter I received would need to be in braille. [ He holds up the envelope currently in hand. ]

So we went our separate ways and then last Thanksgiving one of my friends invited his cousins who just moved to the city to join us and it turned out he- my old friend from the camp was one of them. We've been catching up since then. I guess you could say this letter is one to uh make up for the years we missed writing to each other.

[ Just ignore the fact it's on Valentine's okay Eren? Besides what kind of love letter starts with U R AN ASS? Matt adjusts his glasses and hopes he wasn't too suspicious. ]

I'm surprised... Must have found someone with a braille printer to print this out.

[usurpers]

[ if this were just an ordinary thing that came up, it probably would’ve gone right over eren’s head. just friends, summer camp, lost contact, found each other again. sounded like a good friendship to reunite with!

except he said all of this, as in, all this dating stuff, and matt responded with more than a simple explanation. he replied with a story that had meaning behind his nervous uhs. not even with “oh, this is just a friendly letter”, like eren did with bakugou’s jerky. ]

Sounds like he really likes you if he went out of his way to find a braille printer.

[ these days, when you have the internet and privacy of a phone? to say the least, it was sweet. ]

[blessmefather]

[ So much for poker face. Eren's tone gives away the warm smile on his face, not that his words didn't speak volumes. Without thinking Matt jerks his head away and frowns. To his surprise it's relief that hits him next. Of course Eren would accept this news, he has his own boyfriend. Another close friend, family member really, who doesn't bat an eye at the revelation.

He hesitates for a moment before he turns his head toward Eren again to speak in a low voice. ]

I... I really like him too.

That Summer all those years ago I had a truly embarrassing crush on him...

Then I- I went home to the orphanage. And... Well I discovered what I was when the nuns kicked out a couple of the older teens when they caught them together. I put it out of my mind the best I could. I liked girls too so nobody would have to know. In college I reconsidered, dated around a little. But as I was finishing my education I- [ He shakes his head. ]
It's a long story.

That's why I never told you before. I only just told Mary a couple months ago.

[usurpers]

[ yikes, but aw at the same time. he gets where it’s going at least, and he does frown at the explanation out of sympathy. even then, in the end, he half smiles— it feels just a tiny bit familiar. ]

At least you knew for a while. [ but he doesn’t mind not knowing until now. he never had the chance to tell matt either. ] Does he know?

[blessmefather]

[ Matt nods his head. ]

He wants to date, he said he doesn't mind keeping it on the down low since I'm not out yet but... That hardly seems fair to him. He deserves someone who won't feel self conscious about holding his hand in public. Someone who will proudly tell others that he's the one they're with.

That's not even counting this. [ He gestures towards the material covering his face. ] And it's not even a matter of just telling him what I've been doing at night. Last month I got a memory and he was there.

[usurpers]

[ eren could say a few things to that. take your time, do what you feel comfortable with, talk to him, or a la grandmother willow: listen to your heart, you will understand 🌲

but there seems to be something slightly pressing! ]

Wait— he was there in the memory or, he was there when you got the memory–?

[blessmefather]

He was in the memory. Our Other Selves knew each other. Last month...

[ He pauses to rub a hand over his face, an action that looks a little funny when half of it is covered. ]

I found out at the beginning of last month. Something bad happened to me then and it triggered a memory where he and I were having an argument. Then about a week later while I was out on patrol a guy jumped him and put a knife to his throat. After I knocked out the attacker he said he recognizes the costume but he doesn't remember who is wearing it. I couldn't bring myself to tell him.

I have concerns about how the Other Life will affect our relationship.

[usurpers]

[ ohhhh boy.

eren inhales, exhales— sure he’s younger and has many ways to go, but if he could give matt a bud of advice, as a friend . . . he’ll give it. he can see it in the other’s tone, in the way his lips move that he’s worried. that he doesn’t know what to do and is grasping for aids in the air. ]

—You don’t have to listen to any of this. You can figure out your own way to handle it in the end. But . . . [ he swallows, holding the charm in his hand and reminded of elliot. ] Secrets are the worst things to keep from someone like that.

[ talking. talking, talking, and more talking. talking about problems, talking about worries— opening up. that’s the only way you can let someone into your life. ]

It’ll be worse when he finds out on his own and knows you didn’t tell him.

[blessmefather]

[ Matt's mouth twitches. He is... aware of that. It'd harder to ignore when someone else says it, and Eren is the first person he has told. ]

...What would you do if you found out you were friends with Elliot in the other life but you let him down and hurt him?

[usurpers]

[ this visibly hurts to think about. the tenseness across eren’s features might not be so easy to pick up, but the tightness in his throat and chest probably is for matt. not by too much, but it’s a small change that feels like stirring a pot. ]

. . . I’d do it differently here. [ he couldn’t stand the thought of hurting elliot, letting him down and breaking everything about his own image to him. it almost felt like loss. ] I’d do everything I could, to do it differently. You don’t know if you’ll get another chance.

So, I’d take it.

[blessmefather]

[ Matt takes a deep breath and nods, turning just a little to make sure they aren't being watched. He grabs Eren's shoulder. ]

You're right. You're absolutely right.

[ He gives his shoulder a pat before letting go again, reaching up to his forehead only to remember the mask. He takes another breath and pulls the material up so he properly run his hand over his face this time. ]

Sorry, that was a loaded question and I would never wish that upon you two.

[ With the mask pulled up his emotions are far plainer to see. There's a worried crease in his forehead and there's something more vulnerable about his expression with his eyes out in the open instead of behind a mask or glasses. ]

I just... You want someone important to you to see your better side.

[usurpers]

[ yeah, there it is. the worry he felt was most definitely all over his features. no one is looking anyway, eren double checks, but when his shoulder is squeezed, he puts his hand over matt’s and claps over it once as well, for good reassurance. ]

I know that— and It’s just a question.

[ and after a moment, eren says with a little more of a smile. ]

You’ve got a ton to show, so— show him.

[blessmefather]

[ Matt looks like he's bracing himself as he replies. ]

Right.

I'll uh... I'll have to introduce you to him sometime. I think you'd get along, he has a great sense of humor.

[usurpers]

[ that’s the spirit, matt. eren can’t help but smile very warmly. ]

What’s his name?

[blessmefather]

[ Matt cracks a grin and the worry on his face quickly fades. He's curious what Eren will think of the name. "Everyone has an opinion I swear. You'd think they call me something embarrassing like Cloudy." Foggy had grumbled once after telling him about his latest run in with someone who thought his nickname was stupid. ]

Foggy Nelson.

[usurpers]

His real name’s Foggy?

[ foggy. eren doesn’t crack anything teasing or the like, rather, a surprised looking smile that seems interested. ]

[blessmefather]

His real name is Franklin. He used to go by Franky when we first met as kids. Then I'm told his younger sister pronounced Franky as "Foggy" when she was a toddler and the entire family began calling him that and now everyone does.

[usurpers]

[ wow, that’s!! cute!! ]

You’ll introduce me soon, right?

[blessmefather]

Sure. Sometime next month after this mission is complete?

[usurpers]

It’s a deal.

[ who knows . . . a double date maybe—?? ]