Matthew Gray Gubler One Shots and Scenarios

The Air That I Breathe

The Air That I Breathe

Matthew looked across at the girl as she talked on the phone with her best friend, Y/B/F. He watched as the light from outside illuminated her face, like a sign from heaven. As she wandered from the living room and into the corridor that separated his living space from the other rooms in the apartment, he couldn't help but smile. Y/N was one of his best friends and had, more recently, been taking up far more of his thoughts than just a friend should. He fiddled with the remote as he sat on the couch waiting for her to return. He muted the television. The room was silent except from hearing her dulcet tones through the door. He was just content hearing her voice as she spoke about how excited she was to be seeing Y/B/F for the first time in months however muffled it may have been. He felt right at home with her, wherever in the world that might be. Everyone in their small group of friends knew just how besotted he was with her - everyone except her. He sighed hoping that one day he would have the courage to tell her so.

Hearing the door handle rattle, he put the sound back on the TV. He sensed her move across the room and looked up, his eyes totally fixated on her. She didn't even notice him staring at her as she put her phone back in her pocket. As she showed signs of looking up, he turned back to the television, busying himself in trying to concentrate on whatever programme was on. Feeling the couch dip as she sat down next to him, he looked down at her, offering her a sincere grin.

She grinned up at him as she cuddled close up to him.

"I'm really glad that you chose to stay."

"Me too, Matt."

He sighed, resting his head on hers and relishing in the time that they were spending alone together, even if all she thought it was was him acting the way a friend should. All he needed was to breathe the same air as she did.

That night, Matthew felt like the luckiest man alive, simply having her next to him, yet he still felt incomplete. Y/N was lying in his arms, dreaming the night away. He often lay awake at night, wondering what she was dreaming and whether or not she dreamt about him as much as he did of her. He loved to just watch her as she slept, watching intently as her eyelashes fluttered with each breath she took, breathing cool air onto his chest. He moved a stray hair from her face and her face lit up with a smile at his touch even though she was far from consciousness. Did she always smile when he touched her, or when he entered her mind? Did it mean anything to her to be held in his arms, and if so, how much? Did she ever think of him in the way that he thought of her? He gave a groan. He'd never know unless he told her. The thought to tell her had been playing on his mind more frequently during the week that he had spent with her. It was this that was giving him the confidence to tell her. To finally take the bull by the horns and let her know just exactly how he felt.

In the morning, he was sitting at the breakfast bar when she appeared still half asleep and in her favourite "Where's Waldo?" onesie. It had been too hot for her to sleep in it during the night and she had opted to switch to a much cooler vest top and pair of shorts. Clearly, she had been missing the comfort of hiding in something warm as Matthew had awoken and left the room, and the day's air had turned colder. He smiled at her. Even in her onesie she was still the vision of perfection. She smiled back at him as she spied the kettle. He gestured for her to sit and poured the still hot water into a mug he had prepared earlier, knowing that it would be the first thing she would go for in the morning. Y/N rested her elbows on the table and held her chin in her hands, just watching him make tea. As he took out the tea bag and topped the mug up with milk, he turned back to her and placed it in front of her.

"Thanks."

He gave her a grin and a short nod.

She gripped the mug in her hands as she studied him staring into space.

"Are you ok?"

Her words caught him off guard and he nearly spilled the contents of his own mug on the table.

He looked at her.

"You've not really been yourself since I got here. I mean, you're still being you, just more distant..."

He braced himself. "I need to tell you something."

It was her turn to nod at him as she stood up and sat beside him, placing her hand on his as it rested upon his knee. "What's wrong?"

"There's nothing wrong I just..."

She searched his face for an answer, squeezing his hand.

"I just feel... different."

"What about?"

"You."

She stared at him, slightly shocked. She wasn't prepared for what he might tell her.

"I just..."

"Go on," she encouraged, urging an answer from him. Her heart was beating out of her chest, fearing the worst.

"I...." He averted from her gaze, "I don't want to be friends anymore."

She closed her eyes, tears building up behind them.

"Y/N/N..."

"Please don't." She stood up, preparing to leave.

He grabbed her hand in an attempt to stop her, standing up beside her.

"Matthew. Don't." The tears were threatening to fall.

"I have to."

As she gave him a confused look, he took her face into his hands and leaned forward, kissing her softly but sweetly.

She looked up at him, even more confused before slowly realising what he had done.

She touched her lips with her fingertips before her face cleared and her face lit up, the tears turning from sorrow into happiness.

He smiled at her as he held her face in his hands. "Y/N/N, I want to be more than friends."

She just gave him a nod as she leaned in and kissed him back.

He pulled away from her gently. "Y/N/N; you're the air that I breathe."