MATTHIAS GOETSCH

{drew starkey, twenty-eight, cis male, he/him} MATTHIAS GOETSCH is a non-mutant who has been in new york for ONE MONTH where they spend most of their time as LAWYER AT THE BRANDT & GOETSCH LAW FIRM. when i think of them, i think of THE CLINKING OF ICE CUBES AGAINST A GLASS OF WHISKEY, SUPERFICIAL CONVERSATIONS AND FAKE SMILES, THE LIBERATING FEELING OF UNDOING A TIE KNOT AFTER A DAY OF WORK. they are AGAINST MUTANTS. 

click here to check out his introduction/biography and here for task #1.

~

Cas was almost caught off guard for Matthias reaction. It’s not as if he’s been the most decent friend as of late, so there shouldn’t have been much surprise, but, to be frank, he didn’t believe that Matthias had noticed anything was amiss. Was it the fact that he was avoiding him? Or the fact that he had been spending time with the very women he claimed he couldn’t stand? It was anyone’s guess, but Cas could hazard that Matthias wasn’t too keen on him at the moment. 

“Well. It’s been the same old same old around here,” He offers, doing his best to make it sound as genuine as possible. “I’ve been just trying to get through caseloads lately.” The most honest thing he had said all day. “Maxine has been keeping me busy. Probably just working overtime to keep me out of her hair.”

this is it, maxine surmises. although there’s a part of her that wants to take it all back, to pretend, to lie—and relish this weekend with him (and what is, quite obviously, their last)—she knows it’d be foolish to drag this out any longer than it already has. cruel, too. to let him believe that even just for three days, everything’s fine. five years apart and he finally comes back… and she was starting to think that it meant something. “it’s not about what happened. it’s what’s about to happen.”

Endless possibilities start running through his mind the moment those words leave her mouth, however he knows better than to start guessing now, that will only make him more anxious than he already is and despite not wanting to hear what she had to say he knows she needs to say it - it’s hurting her which means it will hurt him to. “and what is about to happen?”

“and i…” can’t thank you enough. have missed you and i’m still missing you even though you’re right in front of me. have never wanted to kiss you more than i do right now. needed this, and needed you, more than anything else in the world. have waited for you for five years. don’t want to lie to you. have to tell you something. must warn you. this is all going to end. this is all going to crash. everything will fall apart and i— “…can’t do this. i can’t do this, matthias. i’m sorry. i’m so, so sorry.”

Matthias frowns and his smile disappears from his face as he stares at Maxine, a bit confused, perplexed and then, finally concerned. He knows something has happened, he feels that something is wrong and that sole thought makes his chest hurt, it seems like they can never have anything nice. “what happened?”

the thought of telling matthias the truth briefly crossed ciarán‘s mind but he shut it down almost immediately - it would make an already complex situation even more complicated. he wasn’t ready to reveal his status as a mutant to his friend, not when he was still struggling to forgive him. and then there was the added guilt he felt. it was best to just suffer in silence.

“as ready as one can be,” ciarán responded with a laugh as he allowed a faint smile to settle across his face. for once he was being truthful. “i imagine playing catch up won’t be too fun.”

“it never is,” Matthias replies with a small shrug, work was never meant to be fun, you did it and you did it well, that was what he was always taught “but don’t worry too much about it, Pearce can update you on everything that has happened” that was what secretaries were meant for anyway, to make your job easier.

.

Not every job is scandalous… Sawyer wonders what it says about him that that’s kind of disappointing. It’s not that he wants the drama in his life personally, but if he spent all those years and all that money training to be a hot shot lawyer and you just got boring cases? That’d be a let down.

“Criminal defense, that sounds like the fun one, like the ones you see on the TV. I bet you’re tryin’ to say it’s just like any other job so as I don’t get jealous.” Sawyer throws a cheeky grin over his shoulder as he screws in the new headlight. “Although corporate? Alright, that sure sounds a little more dry.”

He tenses a little as the question comes back to him, just because Sawyer always assumes people are going to look down on him. He’s definitely not going to admit to his lack of formal qualifications: if Ralf trusts him, that’s enough for Sawyer. “I’m a new hire, just got here a few weeks ago. But my specialty is paint jobs. Now you don’t strike me as a ‘flames on the side of his car’ kinda guy so maybe my full creativity ain’t gonna come out, but I promise when I’m done with her, your car’s gonna have the smoothest paint job in New York.” It’s something Sawyer used to do for his friends: paint their cars in exchange for bottles of liquor or a fistful of dollar bills. Never anything classy: flames, warrior women in fur bikinis, that kind of thing. But hey, his ‘clients’ always seemed happy.

Matthias laughs before he even has the chance to suppress it, it’s an actually genuine one, the type that makes his blue eyes seem smaller because he is squinting with joy,  it always catches him off guard when that happens, as if he is showing a part of himself that he isn’t supposed to. “Just as glamorous as the ones you see on TV” there is no way of saying if he’s telling the truth or not. What is true in fact is that not going into criminal defense was just a way of rebelling against his own father, Jonas had seem one heartbeat away from a heart attack when Matthias told him he was pursuing corporate instead, that sole reaction has made his choice all worth it.

“A lot more dry, even if most of my clients have the tradition of trying to get me drunk on whiskey whenever I managed to close a deal for them” now he was joking a little. 

At Sawyer’s reply he nods as if to tell him he is right, never, not once, even as a kid did he envision having a car with crazy designs attached to it, maybe that made him boring, but honestly he could be a pretty boring man and he was alright with it. “I trust you to take good care of her, she needs it” and with that Matthias takes his cue to leave “It was really nice meeting you, I won’t take anymore of your precious time. I’m looking forward to seeing your work”

The handshake is offered, and there’s a moment of cruelty that flashes beneath his shades. He can refuse. Or burn his hand when he goes out to touch it—a sneering remark about his father, about the open gaps in the armor. Victor isn’t kind. The harder spikes, the sharper edges, but he sees his friend. He sees Matty and something in him pierces through the clouds. The wounds might not be seamless, but there will be healing, in the end.

So he holds the hand tight and pats his shoulder. No hugs, but it’s something. “I—Matty.” Not Matthias. Not Goetsch. Just… Matty. All at once, he returns to himself, and sighs, lingering in front of him, face hard as stone once more. “You’re not off the hook yet, but—” He looks impassive beneath the shades, the burning light beneath his eyes the only indication that he looks at him now.

“Well. You’re willing to try. I can hold a grudge, but why keep it anyways? It won’t keep me young and pretty, right?” That fake grin is plastered again onto his face, a practiced smile for now. One that Matthias knows well. “Besides. I missed your cars. You gonna take out to drive soon then, if you want to be my friend oh-so badly again?”

Matthias notices the hesitation if only briefly, he knows that their they still have a lot of work to do if they plan to fix what once was a genuine friendship, if they can manage to do that, maybe it will be even better, stronger, no more secrets, no more fear. But only with time and effort will they be able to tell if this was all worth it. 

This is a good start, it’s enough to make him have a bit of hope. He smiles a bit more easily than before, his laugh a bit more genuine and less practiced. “I know that,” he nods, Victor had never been the type of friend who said things only to please him, he was not afraid of telling Matthias the ugly truths and while that was almost their downfall, he did appreciate it, he needed more people like that. “You can tell your chauffeur to take a vacation, if that’s what you want. I just picked my favorite from the mechanic last week, he did a wonderful work, I’m sure you’ll appreciate it” 

•

“You’re a good friend.” It’s what Victor gives him. He knows that Matthias “I don’t know if you’re a good man, Goetsch, and I’m not gonna throw stones since my list of sins’ are gonna make priests burst into fucking flame but—you’re a good friend.” He loves Matty, in the way that friends do. They were close, before that whole drama about him being a mutant, about him being a public-facing superhero went. He wants to fix this broken friendship, the life raft where the two of them stood uncertainly. They could drown and drag each other to the depths or find a shore where time could only tell if they had a bat’s chance in hell of fixing things.

He pauses, drinks a little and grimaces at the lack of alcohol. Old Los Angeles habits. Maybe he should cut back on the booze. “Can you still see me, Matty?” That old nickname feels like digging up a grave, and the lights dance around his fingers, as he looks at him beneath his shades, a wall of stone behind them. Looking for a flinch or a grimace or anything that could tell him he still hated mutants. No, that’s not fair. He’s never hated them—he just… he has feelings about them. “Like Victor? Could you be okay with having a mutant as your friend?”

Matthias almost flinches at that, he had ruined too many friendships in the past and that had lead him to believe that he really was not capable of maintaining one anymore. He had seen it in Max’s eyes when he first saw her after five years, she had forgiven him and their situation was more complicated and yet he was sure he had not been a friend that she deserved. He still saw it in Ciaran’s eyes, how guarded he was, how upset he still became, he knew he was not a good friend and yet here Victor was, still believing in him despite all that had happened between them.

He looks at Victor, the way the light dances around in his skin, glowing, illuminating him and for a moment Matthias thinks how it suits him, how it complements him in a way that he can’t still quite understand. Maybe he never will. Maybe they will forever be on two opposing worlds, however that did not meant their friendship should be ruined forever.

“a whole weekend?” maxine repeats, her laughter now a palpable and genuine response. “i don’t think my schedule will allow that.” (that’s a lie, she doesn’t have a life anymore.) despite herself—and everything that’s happening that matthias isn’t privy to yet—she gets a bit flushed, “this… you didn’t have to do this, matthias. really, it’s—” maxine gestures to the quiet luxury of the mykonos, “—i don’t celebrate my birthday anymore, is all.” that, and there’s a little niggle of a feeling that’s starting to creep up from the bottom of her spine. it feels like guilt.

Matthias smiles at her and he can’t help but be honest with her “I pretty much begged your secretary to give me information about your plans for the weekend,” there is a mischievous glint on his eyes that had not been there for years “don’t fire her, she didn’t give them to me, but I got hold of her computer when she was on break, so I do know your schedule will allow that” 

“you…” maxine gives him a small laugh of disbelief, “…you planned a birthday dinner for me?” it’s not the dinner itself that is surprising; slowly, then all at once, she realizes matthias’s efforts at planning something for her—efforts that make it seem as if today were any other day and not one filled with memories of the past—she softens. even though five years have passed, and even just last month— “but…” why? —is what maxine wants to ask; instead, she purses her lips and looks down, “…i didn’t think…”

He had miss it, the sound of her laughter, it makes him ache when it is cut off short and yet at the same time it also makes him smile in return, a small nod following in response to her question. “A whole weekend, actually” it seemed little when he compared it to the previous years, as a child Matthias remembers wanting to extend her birthday celebrations for a whole week. “I think you deserve to have a nice time,” he shrugs “I just happened to be able to arrange that for you”

“At least it was just a broken nose,” he says, offering him a pat on the shoulder. He still remembers that Brotherhood member, dripping oil, claws through his gut—there are days where he wakes up in a cold sweat. There are nights where he cannot abide the darkened room, and the glaring heat of his light needs to see every corner. Victor hasn’t picked up any better coping mechanisms, aside from drinking. And the sizable respite that Samson gives him isn’t going to help that much. Maybe he should go to that meditative retreat in Alaska. He hears that they at least give him some peace of mind—and that they’re discreet enough.

He apologizes, and Victor wonders if he can’t keep hanging on to that spark of anger, to the grudge that he bears against Matthias. Victor wants to let go, but he resents it, that anger that Matthias leveled at his chest. “Thanks for the apology,” he says, putting his shades back on. The drink tastes like summer, but he shoots it down and drinks fast. Old habits. “But everything’s our fault; it’s not like it’s anything new.”

His eyes, shining with inhuman light even beneath the shades, looks at him, their darkened glint questioning everything that he is. “Is this real, Matthias? Or am I just going to set myself up for more disappointment? Because at least let a guy know beforehand—I might need to stock up on vodka.”

Matthias nods, glass in hand, seemingly lost in his own thoughts, the confusion that had clouded his mind at first, then understanding and fear that things would go wrong. He doesn’t mention the fact that he saw someone die right in front of his eyes, doesn’t speak of his own nightmares and the urge that he constantly has to push down to fall back into old habits. He allows the conversations to drift into other topics, even if this is just as hard to talk about. 

He looks at Victor, blue eyes searching his face, the anger from that day is long gone, but he doubts that he has forgotten about it. Unfortunately, he isn’t able to study him for long, his own face looks back at him the reflection of his sunglasses. “I don’t know,” he was being honest, he had meant that apology, but things were complicated and he was not sure if Victor and him could even attempt to fix it, without making the situation worst again. And, Victor made it worse by speaking like that, making Matthias look into his own drink, he never wanted to be the reason someone needed to find an unhealthy escape from life. “Maybe you are, but so am I” it was true, they were in this together. “I know I’ve said some things and I know that’s why you couldn’t....can’t trust me” he looked back at Victor, he did miss their friendship “this is hardly the place to talk about it, but, I just want to tell you that I understand” 

maxine doesn’t say anything. she can’t say anything. she stares at the screen in horror. the truth is out there. it’s real. it’s always been real. now there’s no escaping from it. she has to do something about this.

but not tonight—especially not with matthias beside her, even more, bewildered and incensed than she is. the jittery feeling inside her body from their kiss is starting to fade, replaced by something much worse: fear.

she isn’t sure whether she does it on purpose or instinctively, but maxine squeezes matthias’ hand and lets her gaze drift to face him. with the way he looks just as mortified as she is—does that mean he never knew about this, too?

“…it is.”

maxine’s eyes are fixed on the screen, pure terror filling every part of her body as she listens to stories from people who have been tortured. every word that comes out of their mouths is unimaginable, yet she keeps listening and doesn’t turn the television off.

she has to fix this. all of this.

this is going to be a long night.

Matthias is a bit paralyzed, just staring at the screen, wide blue eyes reflecting the whole interview, the truth is out for everyone to know and he can barely believe it. He thinks of Crystal, briefly, the guilt makes his stomach turn, the fear she had felt had been justified and Matthias had sent her away, had played the victim for more than five years, made her seem like a monster, he had helped, indirectly to justify these types of actions. 

Some parents had never seen their children again, families were torn apart and meanwhile Matthias was living a blissfully ignorant life. Meanwhile, Brandt & Goetsch had been representing the Essex Corporation, his whole head hurt just thinking about it, had Stephen know? Did his own father know? What did this all mean?

Thankfully, there was someone he knew he could trust. He wasn’t alone and neither was Max. They had each other and the squeeze to his hand had grounded him, but it wasn’t enough. 

The pause is interesting; a lot of people don’t pause, for questions like that. Sawyer’s used to asking people about themselves — he’s not worked at Ralf’s for long but back when him and Harley were doing seances, Sawyer always made a point of getting to know the people. Made his job easier, because they tended to share more than they realised. But in a mechanic shop, people aren’t vulnerable and their responses tend to be canned. You ask people if they like their work and they say yes before they can even consider if it’s true.

But not this guy, apparently. Either he’s more thoughtful than the average person, or else he has an uncommon amount of respect for a lowly mechanic and wants to answer Sawyer in earnest. Either way it makes Sawyer think he’s a step up from what he would usually think of lawyers. Alright, giving out his business card definitely feels more on-brand. The cynic in Sawyer thinks that’s just a neat way to drum up new business. But he accepts the card anyway, tucking it carefully into his overalls’ pocket. “I don’t think it’s awful to find it rewardin’.” Sawyer shrugs. “Kind of the opposite. Y’all’re meant to care, right? The money is just… incidental.” He smiles, wry, like he knows that’s a totally naive perspective.”What kinda law do y’all do at… Brandt and Goetsch?” He mispronounces both of the names, though he tries his best. There’s no way in hell he could ever afford a place like that, even if he did need it. In theory, though, it’d be very fun to sue anyone and everyone involved in Essex. Obviously he knows little about the legal system, but he’s pretty sure every lawyer has their own niche that they work within, like divorce or property or… whatever.

Matthias nods and he realized how absolutely ignorant he must have looked for agreeing with that statement. He was aware of how he grew up, big house, not just one, but multiple, private schools and ivy league college, country club on the weekend, brand new car when he started driving, winters in Switzerland and summers in France. He had money, but his money was never truly his, his father had worked for it, his mother’s family had money to last for generations, he had never worried about such thing, the money was always just incidental.

“I suppose so, it’s worse when you care sometimes” he had been target for it, someone doing this to his car was actually the best thing that could have happened. He still remembered that one and the plastic on the floor of his office when he stepped into it. It had hardly been a friendly visit. “I know how it might seem sometimes, but not every case is scandalous and not every lawyer works only for the bad guys, it’s just a job like many others”.

Now, finally a question that Matthias could reply with ease. He gives Sawyer a little understanding him, his German was awful until five years ago, he understood the struggle and appreciated that he had at least tried. “Criminal defense,” that was what they were most known for “Securities defense, Tax controversy, Personal Representation” but of course he didn’t want to bore Sawyer with all of this names “I work in Corporate, not really a crowd favorite, but I seem to do pretty well” he pauses, he was never a man that really liked to talk much about his life anyways, “what about you? I haven’t seen you here before, what is your speciality?” 

     the person who she worked for seemed a little on edge with her comments and it did take her by surprise. perhaps it was because she wasn’t emotionally invested in any of it and that she didn’t care what the news said. she would occasionally give the old yikes to stories about deaths and the essex house but that was about as far as her empathy stretched. the response is a somewhat understanding one, one that registers with lavinia but that’s all. there were several thoughts of hers that she knew would be deemed apathetic so she wouldn’t voice them at all. “sure.” she was flat, her apathy showed and her body was quick to shrug. “people should just own who they are and be done with it. if you;re truly sure of yourself, it’s unlikely people will harm you.” lavinia had always been so sure and catastrophe didn’t follow her (perhaps she was the source).