#ask matt

Heh— You wanna tell em or should I, babe?

@emeraldwhump

It was not uncommon for Matt to work late shifts, or for him to leave at unpredictable times to deal with an unexpected threat. He was the top hero, after all, the city relied on him at all times.

Perhaps that was what had happened that night, too, even though Matt had said he wasn't working that weekend. He just got an emergency call and had no choice but to be late.

Kiran had nothing to worry about, despite what his stupid brain told him. Still, he couldn't get rid of the tightness in his chest.

"Ah, he left you, didn't he?"

Came a familiar voice Kiran had wished to never hear again. His eyes searched the room but could find no one. They landed on the mirror, on his dreaded reflection.

"Of course he left you, look at you."

Seth's disembodied voice continued ringing loud and clear in Kiran's ears.

"You're ruined now. Who would want to stay with you?"

"Shut up!" Kiran yelled. The glass from the broken mirror flew everywhere and he was left staring at his bleeding hand. "He hasn't- He wouldn't leave me. He, he promised."

There was no response other than his own hitched breaths as he slid to the floor, curling into himself.

"He wouldn't, he wouldn't leave..." he mumbled as everything went blurry and the first sob tore itself from his throat. He stayed that way, until he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Kiran..?"

Raising his head, Matt's worried face came into view. Kiran found himself curled up on the couch, and the mirror intact.

Just a dream, he thought as he threw himself into Matt's waiting arms. "I, I thought..." his voice cracked, "I thought you..."

"I'm so sorry." Matt pulled him close and began to rub circles on his back, "I got a call from the agency about a bomb threat. I should've let you know. I'm so sorry, Kiran."

"It's okay..." Kiran muttered, "You're here now..." he wasn't necessarily responding to Matt. He was mostly reassuring himself that he was indeed home.

Matt lifted him up. It wasn't hard, given how thin Kiran had gotten. "Come on, let's go to bed. Sleeping on the couch is bad for your back."