Memory: Pet Names (6 years previous)
Matthew was pressed between a wall and one of his new(ish) teammates. The towering blond's breath warmed his face and the smell of sweat clung to the air. Blue eyes bore into purplish ones and a small laugh echoed through the smaller's lips. The conversation was dead and now they were basking in the closeness of their bodies. It was weird, new and exciting.
"We have a case." An accented voice cut through the moment. Matthew laught again and pushed the hunk of sweating muscle away. "Thank you, Yao."
"Oh, and darlin'?" The taller blond hummed as he walked towards the showers. Matthew perked a brow. "Don't call me cupcake."
"How abo' Sweetie Pie?"
"How about no?"
"Interesting."
Matthew fumbled with the phone. He was a mess. Everyone was chasing after the wrong person. He couldn't tell him because his fingers just wouldn't work. They thought it was a woman, a woman who was burying people alive and turning them into fancified mushroom food. They were wrong. It wasn't. It was a man. "Of course...this is what fear feels like isn't it?"
"And just what do you fear?" A voice asked behind him, causing the tactical genius to squeak and spun around. There stood a man as lanky but full of strength. Fear sunk into his heart as he was approached by the criminal. "I think the mushrooms will enjoy your mind the most. You have such a high IQ."
"Oh? Says who?"
"The fact you don't know fear."
"I'll keep that in mind." Matthew said offhandedly a he clicked buttons on his phone. He, by some miracle, called Alfred's phone. "Want me to express how clever you are? The ones designed like you always need that validation."
"Then validate me." The man crooned as he lunged towards Matthew, blue eyes flashing dangerously.
Alfred rushed onto the roof and was greeted with the sight of Matthew sitting on a man, hands pressed against the other's chest. He looked as though he was trying to reassure the man. "Mattie."
He drew closer and saw that no matter how much Matt tried his best to bring breath back into him, the whole head bashed in would prevent that. "Mattie."
Matthew didn't respond. He looked green and panicked and unaware of anything other than the need to bring back the man he had so violently destroyed. Alfred didn't expect the scream when he reached out and tried to pry Matt away. "Whoa, Mattie. Calm down."
The tactical genius took one look at Alfred then started to cry. "I-I! I didn't know-w-w-w deat-ah-ah-ath was s-s-soooo vi-vi-violent!"
Alfred held their youngest member to him and stroked the locks of blonde hair. So he had never killed? Though he supposed it made sense, this was his first time out. Matthew continued to sob and when the other two arrived he had calmed considerably. "He looks bashed in, like a pumpkin."
The other three laught. He was morbidly correct.
It was their first argument. Just weeks after that day on the roof, yeah, that one. Matthew didn't want to go back out into the field with them. But they were going to be on the other side of the country. Alfred was trying to convince him to go. Instead of calling the American his given name, Matthew had accidentally called him "Pumpkin."
The air was thick with tension, then the two broke down into laughter. "Fine, you don't have to come."
"Really?" The voice dared to be hopeful.
"Yeah, and darlin'?"
"Hmm?"
"I like Pumpkin."
"Interesting."
Memory End