TWs: Slight arguing, lying, panic attacks/crying, toxic viewpoints in a family, family perfectionism/conformity. Stay safe :)
As the day passed, Bing switched topics to Arthur's living situations, saying he didn't want Arthur to stay at his studio like a bum.
"I expected you to stay at some fancy hotel or resort, not my studio, of all places," Bing spoke.
Arthur sighed, "I may have had a fortune back then, Bing, but that doesn't mean I have it now. All the money I used to have has gone into my projects and my son's inheritance."
"Inheritance?" Matt perked up at the word.
"Yes- I've sent you cheques in the mail for a few years now..." Arthur tapped his cane against the floor.
'He has?' Matt quirked his eyebrow, thinking for a moment. The ginger had received cheques in the mail from someone he didn't know, but he didn't comprehend that it was his father under a pseudonym.
Bing paused, "It can't be that hard to find a place to rent."
"And I would go out to find that 'place,'" Arthur furrowed his eyebrows, "If I had any money."
"So what- you don't have anything?" Bing looked perplexed.
"The only things I have is my technology and some clothes, all in a duffel bag."
Bing huffed, crossing his arms, "We have to figure something out; I'm not letting you live here."
"I'm not planning on living in your studio."
Edd looked between them, watching them go back and forth, "Man- any idea why those two hate each other?"
Larry glanced over at him, "Hate is a strong word. Arthur said yesterday that they both prefer the term 'mildly dislike.'"
Matt watched the two bicker about Arthur's living situation, wondering if there was nowhere his father could live.
He scoffed to himself, 'Of course not- I still have ownership of...'
Matt trailed off his train of thought, his eyes slowly widening. Why didn't he think of that before? Maybe because he didn't remember until just now.
He skimmed over to his father and uncle, which seemed to be a one-way glaring contest, and decided to speak up, "Ahem- if I may?"
Everyone turned their heads to Matt, even Arthur's head shifting abit.
"I know a place."
The group left Bing's studio, bringing Arthur along with them. They managed to squeeze in Edd's car, Tom in between Matt and his father.
Matt told Edd the address, the taller inputting it into his phone's GPS. Arthur tensed upon hearing the location, recognizing it yet saying nothing.
The younger ginger relaxed back into his seat, glancing at Tom, who had been silent for most of the day. He appeared to be in a daze as he slightly scratched at his wrists which were covered by his long hoodie sleeves.
Nudging the shorter, Matt spoke quietly, "You okay?"
Tom stopped what he was doing, turning to the other, "What?"
"You've been quiet today- everything alright?"
"Oh, yeah." The bassist cracked a small smile, "I'm fine. There's just a lot of things on my mind."
Matt hummed, "If you say so..."
Edd continued to follow the directions, quirking an eyebrow when it brought them to a wealthy part of the neighborhood.
"Uh, Matt- are you sure this is the right way?" He questioned.
"Indubitably." The ginger nodded.
Matt had never spoken to Edd or Tom about his 'wealth,' mainly because he was used in the past for it since he was gullible. Tord was the only person he told, albeit reluctantly. He learned from Tord; he doesn't think the Norsk realizes how much it means to him.
"Your destination is on the right." The GPS spoke, prompting Edd to come to a stop. The brunet looked out the car window, seeing a fancy barred gate surrounding a massive house.
"Woah, take a load of this place." Edd gaped. Tom peered out the window, leaning across Matt to do so.
"Holy triangle on a bicycle," Tom spoke, "What kind of rich prick owns this place?"
Matt's heart pricked in his chest, slightly hurt by the bassist's words.
"So- Matt, where is the place?" Tord questioned.
"Uh- you've been here before, Tord." Matt chuckled lightly, "We're in front of it."
"Wait, this is the actual place?" Edd's eyes widened, "It's like a mansion!"
"Technically- it is a mansion." Matt shrugged, "Two main floors, an attic, and a basement. There's also a garden with a fountain and a pool in the backyard."
"Who owns this place?" Tom asked.
"I do," Matt paused, "Technically..."
"What!?" Edd and Tom exclaimed.
"Can we discuss this inside? It's stuffy in here." Arthur spoke up, startling everyone.
Everyone got out of the car, Matt leading them to the front gate that had vines cascading from stone crevices. The ginger pushed the gate open, it screeching as it opened.
"How long has it been since you've been here?" Tom queried, wincing at the noise of the squeaky gate.
"I don't know," Matt muttered, "Definitely more than eight years, though."
As they walked along the driveway, Tord noticed something familiar.
"Isn't that the tree you sprained your wrist from?" He spoke, smirking a bit.
"Yes- that was the first time you convinced me to climb a tree," Matt huffed, "and the last."
Tord chuckled a bit, still finding the memory amusing.
Walking up the stairs to the door, Matt moved to a potted plant on the side, shuffling through the weeds until he found the extra key in the soil.
"I don't keep the key on me, so I have a spare lying around." The ginger unlocked the door, creaking it open.
Stepping inside, Matt flipped the lights on, illuminating a chandelier dangling over the entryway. A stairway was curled around to face them, a doorway implanted within it. Two archways were on either side of the group.
"To the left of us is the living room, and to the right is the dining room and kitchen," Matt spoke as he adjusted a portrait of him and his mother, "Upstairs is the bedrooms and my mother's study."
Edd and Tom gaped at everything in amazement and disbelief. They couldn't grasp the concept of Matt living here.
Tord watched as Matt adjusted the frame before wandering over to the staircase. The ginger placed his hand on the railing, letting out a small sigh. The Norsk frowned and strode over, "What is it?"
Matt perked up, glancing at Tord, "Ah, nothing! Just a lot happening today, y'know?"
Tord furrowed his eyebrows, not believing him. Matt gave him a smile before walking over to his father. Tord huffed.
Arthur was leaning against the entryway of the living room, looking in the direction of the grand piano in the corner.
"So? What do you think?" Matt queried.
"I missed this place." He responded.
There was a moment of silence.
"Your mother used to play the piano." Arthur reminisced, "She would get excited when she finished learning a new piece and immediately show it to me."
"She used to play the piano when I was younger," Matt crossed his arms, "but things changed, and she grew distant for some reason."
Arthur frowned as he glanced down, silently knowing the reason.
"Alright, guys, I think it's time to go," Matt spoke to the others as he looked at the time.
"What? We didn't even see the first floor." Edd countered.
"Uh- well, it's getting late, so we should go-" Matt fidgeted with his hoodie strings.
Tom and Edd glanced at each other, silently agreeing on what the other was thinking.
"Guys..." Matt warned, "Don't."
With no further notice, they sprinted up the stairs.
"Guys!" The ginger yelled, following them.
Stopping at the top of the stairs, Matt saw the duo frozen in their tracks as they stared at a door down the hall.
"Caution tape...?" Edd muttered.
Matt felt sick once he laid his eyes on the door to his mother's room, his legs rocking as he grasped onto the wall for support. He sucked in a breath, tears threatening to fall as he sunk to the floor.
"Matt!"
His vision became blurry as he cried, and everything became too much. He heard shuffling of feet and voices above him, one yelling before being silenced by another.
"Matt, nod if you can hear me." A voice whispered to him. The ginger slowly nodded, his head reeling, "Can I touch you?"
Instead of answering, Matt reached forward and wrapped his arms around the figure in a tight hug, earning a chuckle from the other.
That was an all-too-familiar sound for Matt.
"You okay?" The voice asked.
Matt whimpered as he buried himself further in blue fabric, "I'm sorry..."
Glancing at the caution-taped door, Tom had a feeling the ginger wasn't apologizing to him.
He peered up at Edd and Tord, the latter running up as soon as he heard the commotion. Arthur was standing at the top of the stairs, gazing around the hallway with a frown.
"We should go," Tom spoke.
Matt said nothing the entire ride home, just silently hugging himself as he tried not to think about what had happened that day.
He didn't speak to his friends as he pushed past them to get to his flat, locking the door behind him. Hopefully, they would leave him alone for tonight.
His eye contacts were starting to sting in his eyes, so he decided to take them out. He doubted anyone would see him for the rest of the day.
Placing his contacts somewhere safe and grabbing his glasses, he settled them on his face and looked in the mirror.
Mint green and sky blue eyes peered back at him.
He grimaced as he looked at the flaw, remembering the remarks of his family members at the mere sight of his eyes. The reason why his mother bought him colored contacts was to make him appear 'normal' and 'perfect' to others.
His family wanted him to exceed the expectations of 'perfection.'
Of course, this led to his mother always wanting more from Matt, which is why she signed him up for piano, violin, French, and dance lessons.
He never blamed his mother for wanting them to be seen as 'perfect.' She was just naive and was easily swayed by the idealistic viewpoints of their family.
Sitting down on the sofa, Matt sighed, wanting to relax for a while.
He was slipping off to sleep when a knock at his door startled him. He groaned at the noise, wanting to be left alone.
He got up, striding over and opening the door, "What?"
"Woah," Tom spoke, "Someone's grumpy."
The bassist blinked at Matt's appearance, doing a double take on his eyes.
He thought Tord's heterochromia was weird, but looking into Matt's eyes was a different experience for him.
"Did you need something, Tom?" Matt frowned, feeling self-conscious.
"Oh- I was just checking to see if our uh- date is still on for Saturday." Tom cleared his throat as he glanced away.
"Of course! I wouldn't miss it for the world."
Tom sighed in relief as he gazed into the ginger's eyes again, "Me either."
"Did you need anything else...?" Matt asked.
The shorter hesitated before saying, "Your eyes are unique- in a good way."
"You think so?"
"I know so." Tom smiled softly as he hurried back to his apartment.
Matt closed the door; his face flushed as he took in Tom's words. He liked the imperfection?