“Well, I’m on dinner duty-“
“That’s a thing?” I asked, interest lacing my tone.
“I’m good at cooking, so I offered.” He explained softly “and it’s my turn, so…you better eat or I’ll get offended.” His voice didn’t carry even a hint of the firmness that it was intended to.
“So?” I sniggered, patting his chest with my hand.
He huffed, nudging me to straighten “I’ve got your painkillers.”
“Oh.” I blinked a few times, lifting my head. Matthew handed me a glass of water and two pills from the coffee table with a soft smile, kissing the top of my head before ruffling my hair and muttering “bottoms up.”
I rolled my eyes fondly, knocking the pills back with a huff before settling back down.
I dozed again, the warmth of Matthew’s body and the motion of his hand in my hair lulling me to sleep. My brain even managed to block out Johnathan’s shouting.
“Hey.” Matthew kissed my forehead “I need to get cooking, lovely.”
I hummed to indicate I’d heard him.
“Which means you need to get off me.” He chuckled.
I groaned “fuck you. You’re warm and I’m comfy-“
“Theo-“
“Matt.”I begged.
“I can’t let the others go hungry.” He whispered, kissing my forehead again, fingers tracing patterns where they rested on my arm, tickling my skin. He seemed to be doing it absentmindedly. I didn’t want him to stop.
“But then I’ll be cold.” I whined.
Stryker came wobbling down the stairs, resembling a baby deer except a lot paler.
“Hey.” Matthew greeted “shouldn’t you be in bed?”
“Can’t sleep because of megavoice over there.” He grunted, indicating the other room with a limp movement of his hand. He surveyed us, analysing as always, before meeting my gaze. “We gonna call it Kevin, then?”
“Huh?” I mumbled, confused.
“You and Matthew’s son.”
We looked at each other and burst out laughing.
Mistake on our part, because Johnathan came storming in like a man on a mission. Which…he probably was.
I slunk back further into Matthew’s hold- on reflection, I should have moved away from him. Thankfully, he seemed too pissed off to notice.
“You.”He pointed towards Matthew “are supposed to be making DINNER!”
I cringed at his loud voice and at the anger he emanated.
“Andyouin BED! Is it so hard to follow orders around here! GOD DAMN IT!”
Stryker flinched next, still looking unsteady where he stood “I, uh…it was too loud to-“
“And you.” He pointed at me “I have no idea what you’re supposed to be doing but for the love of god do SOMETHING!”
“My…knee…” I trailed off helplessly.
