You were eased on a plush couch, remnants of dirt gathered over the surface flickered into the air before settling back down as you depressed on the cushions. When Matatagi placed you there, you were able slacken your muscles a bit - relaxing as you rested your body, the place that cramped the most was your stomach; never had you accomplished such a feat as being jotted in there by a knee, it was something you never wanted to recollect again.
But Yuuta and Shun were safe, so it was worth it.
"Here's a tissue. Hurry and bend your head back," he commanded, bringing you sharply back to reality. Matatagi was on his knees in front of you, urging the white paper at your bleeding nose. You thanked him, a wry smile curling on your lips as you tentatively plucked the item from his hand, and did as you were told; tilting your head back and pressing it tightly against your nose to prevent the torrent of blood from further spilling out. "The bleeding should stop soon."
You were grateful he came to your rescue, though his conspicuous switch of personality there was alarmingly, and the fact he was now aiding you in your injuries. Who knew what you'd do if you had to deal with this plate on your lonesome if you had opted to go home instead. There was a pause of silence as your [e/c] optics stayed fixated on the rotating fan propped on the ceiling, dull white contrasting a cedar brown.
"Why?" Matatagi breathed out, fueled by curiosity and a shot of vexation. "Why did you help my brothers?" he was thankful himself you were able to impede, and drive away any attacks on his younger brothers and took on the onslaught of forceful punches yourself. He just couldn't understand why you would go so far for his family, what drove you so far off the brink and into heroism. Not to mention you could've gotten severely hurt yourself, you were lucky he came in and saved you. He thanked himself partly for that.
You cocked your head back so you were riveted on his face, a subtle trace of annoyance clearly blatant on his features, but you couldn't perceive exactly from what. "Because they're good kids! They don't deserve to be beaten!" you answered with enough confidence to make Matatagi ground his teeth together, utterly spleen from your remark.
"Do you even know what they did?" he started, swallowing thickly. He turned his gaze away from your heated one, unable to watch your reaction explode as he spoke his next words; "They stole! Just like the first time you met them." - though he doesn't blame his brothers entirely, they couldn't help it.
Your face hadn't been fazed by his outburst, instead a look of sheer sympathy had replaced your expression. "Even if what they did was bad, doesn't mean anything; there's a reason, right? I always thought so," you earnestly babbled. The way their orbs twinkled with mirth as you played with them, watching their honest admiration shine through their lips at their older brother, all confirmed that they weren't bad to the core.
There was evident shock written on Matatagi's face before it melted off to reveal the true form of his irritation towards you, "What would you know?!" he expected a jarred response from you, but that thought was in vain.
"Tell me," you softly spoke, enthralling him to get a glimpse of your face and was moderately astonished you still kept an honest smile. He heaved a small sigh, inclining his head downwards to cause his bangs to act as curtains for his eyes.
"Fine," he sucked in air. "We don't have a father, and our mother is really sick. Money is really tough, so you just have to do what you have to survive." There was a pang in your heart as he rambled about his past, he was almost toneless, shoving down practically every trace of emotion from his voice from showing to you.
He still didn't entirely trust you.
Reversing his solemn to enthusiasm, he bounced his head back up to without properly allowing you to rebuttal to his apparent sob story. He brought a hand forward, taking the hem of your shirt between his fingers and slowly pushing the fabric up. "Wh-What are you doing?!" you screeched, red embedding your cheeks at his motion.
"You're bruising," Matatagi pointed out, and you followed his gaze and noticed a patent purple splotch bubbling on the surface of your stomach. His other hand came forth, slowly running it across the spot and causing you to wince as a sharp prick stabbed you there. "I better get an ice pack, stay here."
"Thank you for everything, Matatagi-kun!" you shouted before he got from his seat, and he simply nodded his head before straightening himself out, and treaded out of the room to fetch the aforementioned item.
As he made his way to the kitchen, he let out a breath of his own, an injection of relief filling him. "I can't believe her..." he murmured, a hand coming up to his face; he wasn't sure what he was feeling, that look you had given him - that distinct look of affinity...he felt as if you had a share of his pain of your own.
Matatagi pursed his lips together. No matter what you said, he was a bad person, he knew that.
Even if he did save you from all those attackers, it didn't automatically turn him into some makeshift knight. He had to imbue that thought into his head, because he wasn't sure how much more his stony heart could handle.
.
.
With racy breaths, you recovered a normal color to the apple of your cheeks; embarrassment raking up your body as you sat there slightly dazed. But remembering what he had to endure alongside his brothers only made your bond for him strengthen.
They needed help, and you vowed to yourself to give it to them.
a/n; So finally the reader has a chance to learn about Matatagi's past~ Thank you everyone for reading as always!
inazuma eleven go (galaxy) © level-5