Mattheo riddle x reader.
Dating Marcus Lopez Arguello and surprising him on his birthday. (Requested)
Fluff and agnst.
Marcus never made a big deal out of birthdays.
He'd shrug whenever someone brought it up, mutter something about it just being another day, then change the subject before anyone could ask what he wanted,You knew better.
He didn't hate birthdays. He hated expectations,So this year, you decided not to ask him what he wanted.
Instead, you paid attention.
A week before his birthday, you "accidentally" borrowed his hoodie and refused to give it back. You remembered the tiny comic shop he'd stopped outside a month ago, pretending he wasn't interested in the old editions sitting in the window. You even convinced Maria and Willie to keep him busy after classes while you disappeared to get everything ready.
The plan wasn't huge.
Marcus would've hated huge.
Just your room, a cheap chocolate cake that you nearly burnt, fairy lights stolen from the back of your wardrobe, takeaway from his favourite place, and one stupid little gift you'd spent way too long trying to find.
By the time the sun had gone down, everything was ready.
Now all you needed was Marcus.
A knock came at the window.
Of course
You rolled your eyes, smiling as you opened it.
"You know doors exist."
"They're overrated."
He climbed inside with that lazy grin that always looked a little forced around everyone else but somehow genuine around you.
"You've been acting weird all week," he said.
"I have not."
"You stole my hoodie."
"I borrowed it."
"You've had it for eight days."
"I was cold."
Marcus narrowed his eyes.
"Liar."
Before he could ask another question, you covered his eyes with both hands.
"What are you doing?" He sighed.
"Trust me."
"I don't trust anyone."
"You trust me."
There was a pause.
"...Yeah."It came out so quietly you almost missed it.
Your heart squeezed.
You guided him forward, ignoring every complaint about almost tripping over your rug.
"Okay," you whispered. "Open."
He blinked as he looked around.
The fairy lights.
The tiny cake.
The takeaway boxes.
A couple of badly wrapped presents.
It wasn't impressive.
Honestly, it looked a little ridiculous.
Marcus just... stared.
"You remembered."
"Obviously I remembered."
"No one's..." He swallowed hard before forcing out a laugh. "No one's really done this before."
The smile on your face faded.
You reached over and took his hand.
"You deserve birthdays too, Marcus."
For a second he didn't say anything.
Then he pulled you into a hug so suddenly you nearly dropped the cake.
He wasn't usually affectionate.
Not because he didn't care.
Because he'd spent so long believing people eventually left.
He buried his face against your shoulder.
"You know..." he mumbled. "You're making this really hard."
"Hard?"
"To keep pretending I don't have feelings."
You laughed.
"I think that ship sailed a while ago."
"...Probably."
When you finally pulled apart, you handed him the smallest present first.
He frowned.
"You got me something?"
"You say that like you're offended."
"I am."
He carefully peeled the paper back instead of ripping it.
Inside was the comic he'd stopped to look at weeks ago.
Marcus looked at it.
Then at you.
Then back at it again.
"...You noticed."
"You literally stood outside that shop for ten minutes."
"I thought I was being subtle."
"You were about as subtle as a brick dumbass"
He laughed—an actual laugh, the kind that made his shoulders shake.
God, you wished he laughed like that more often.
He set the comic down before gently cupping your face.
"I don't know what I did to deserve you."
"You're here."
You smiled sadly.
"I stayed because every version of you I've met has been trying to become someone better."
Marcus looked away.
Sometimes you forgot how hard it was for him to believe someone could love him without expecting him to earn it first.
You took his hand again.
"You don't have to spend every second proving you're worthy of being loved."
His eyes met yours.
"They already are."
For the first time all evening, he looked completely speechless.
Then, without saying another word, he leaned down and kissed your forehead.
"...Thank you."
"No, Marcus."
You smiled.
"Happy birthday."
He rested his forehead against yours, the smallest smile tugging at his lips.
"...Best one I've ever had.
Requested by : @trnketts -I'm so sorry about it taking a couple of days. This I'd my first fluff/angst so I hope it's okay! If not please anyone let me know what I can improve on, thank you all my loves.












