“Did he tell you about George?”
“George?” I frowned, not recalling him mentioning anyone namedGeorge.
“Y’know, the…he didn’t, um…?” Stuck, Stryker blinked at me. I could tell that he didn’t know whether to keep talking or not.
“He told me that the head in the cupboard nightmare wasn’t a mission, but-“
“George.” He visibly relaxed upon realising that he hadn’t said anything he shouldn’t have said “I met him once. Lovely guy. Dean was in pieces about him.”
“It’s what happens.” I winced as I spoke “when they get found out.”They.
“Yeah.” Stryker mumbled “it’s…it sucks. It’s not their fault, y’know? It’s not like they wake up one day and decided to like the same gender. They shouldn’t bepunishedfor it.” He paused “respectfully, Theo, but you seemedagainstall this-“like the rest of the goddamn world -“so I don’t really understand why the doofus would have told you. No offence. Nothing against you, of course.” He hastily added “I’m just confused.”
I understood. I also didn’t feel anywhere near ready to share the real reason, so I settled for mumbling “none taken. I don't know why.” I paused “I wanted to understand if you had any strong opinions, is all.”
His brows furrowed “well…no? I don’t really care. I’m there for him if he needs me to be and that’s it.”
I nodded slowly.
“Do you?”
“I don’t know.” I admitted. Any ‘strong opinion’ was mainly linked to my own complications with Matt “I don’t really care that he is.” It was true, I really didn’t, “I mainly…I don't know, I just felt like I needed to tell you that he told me.”
“Fair enough.” Stryker breathed.
I ran my hand through my hair “you feeling any better?”
He pulled a face “it sucks. You found anything on the kids?”
“No.” I admitted quietly “Johnathan still hasn’t said anything and…we’ve found that they’re all being snatched from bars, but…”
“Have you spoken to the parents?”
“I think Jack’s working on it. Don’t…we’ve got it covered. Just get better.”
“Sure.” He smirked “now go talk to that girl.”
Iwishedit was a girl.
As soon as he saw me approaching him, Matthew practically darted away in the opposite direction.
“I don’t want to talk to you.” He muttered when I showed no signs of relenting my pursuit, quickening his pace in his hurry to get away from me.
“Matthew! Come on!” I shouted, heart beat accelerating. As if I weren’t nervous enough without him being difficult.
“It’s not a good time, Danes.” He shouted over his shoulder.
I grit my teeth and broke into a jog to catch up with him“I- please, I just wanted to- to apologise.”
He halted. He stood stock still, back to me. When he turned round, he looked on the verge of tears. With a shuddering breath he gestured for me to speak.I swallowed hard, walking up to him, ducking my head. “I’m sorry…for…what I said.” I apologised quietly, physically unable to meet Matthew’s tearful gaze. I stared at my feet instead, shifting awkwardly “I was…I got scared and I was being a dick.”
Matthew scoffed quietly, and I allowed myself the smallest glimpse of the smile that had spread across his face before looking back down.
“A bit?”
“Yeah, a bit. Let’s not get too cocky.”
He huffed out a quiet laugh “s’alright.” His voice cracked and he cleared his throat.
