Flame Inside ✿ Damien and Matthew

Chapter 16

(This comes from the Matthew special episode, Simon's Revenge)

One year after Diana

Emma expected many things in her life. She expected to graduate, follow her dreams eventually, and live a happy life with the person she grew to love. Well, she got just that with her absolutely adorable incubus, Matthew. Matthew and Emma had been together for a year. They were happy, they were in love, everything was perfect between them.

Being with Matthew was like a dream come true for her. Matthew would design toys for the Anderson Toys Company, always asking Emma's input before he turned in the final design, while Emma worked on her book editing, taking to edit Damien's children books when he finished them along with others. And, whenever they were free, they would play videogames until the pillows of their bed called them to sleep. Emma always woke up with a goofy grin and would go to bed as happy as a kid after a day full of fun. That was the joy that she got being with Matthew, it helped her heal from the trauma of her past.

However, there were a couple of times in her time with Matthew where life wasn't full of laughter. Instead of the couple sharing a laugh, it was the mischievous albino squirrel(?) doll with a knife that was laughing maniacally as Matthew chased after him, shouting, "SIMON! GET BACK HERE!"

Emma stared her boyfriend incredulously, gasping, "Matthew?!"

Simon, their dear 'pet' of sorts, was always a handful and managed to add a little... spontaneity to their days. Often he'd run around the mansion, exploring new nooks and crannies and finding little gems for his treasure hoard in his corner of the kitchen. However, sometimes that wasn't enough and he'd start going after Matthew's things, making things disappear one by one underneath Matthew's nose. Being busy and distracted, Matthew would never notice until the amount of missing items piled to noticeable standards. And sometimes, it took a lot of theft to get Matthew's attention. "Give that back, Simon!" Matthew called.

"Matthew, wait! Hold on! What did he take this time?" Usually, Emma was able to help. For some reason, Simon imprinted himself on her, treating her with a fair amount of respect and obedience. Whenever it came down to getting something for Matthew from Simon, she was always the mediator between the man and the toy.

This time, though, Matthew wasn't as eager to get her help, "W-what? No! No, I-I got it! SIMON!"

"Wha–" Before Emma could ask why, Matthew was off in a cartoon-like chase with Simon on the second floor. She had to take a moment to absorb what had happened. She clenched the bridge of her nose, quietly asking herself, "Did... Matthew really say no for help with Simon?" It was practically unheard of. Simon was like his mortal enemy of the house, now that Sam was gone. If anything, Matthew always called on backup just to even the playing field with Simon, as the little furball was known for not playing fair. Emma stood there for a small second, listening to the distant sounds of Matthew running around crashing into things– thanks to Simon, no doubt–, flabbergasted.

***

Much to her dismay, Simon's antics and the odd change in Matthew's behavior didn't end there. At one point, it apparently grew to its worst. Matthew was baking again in the kitchen. The smell of sugar and vanilla practically invaded her senses as she walked into the room. She was more excited to see her incubus meticulously measuring out ingredients. A part of her wondered why he didn't become a baker or a pastry chef. She guessed he was just happy working for his brother at the Toy Company. Somehow, that part of Matthew made her smile a bit, knowing he was helping her grandfather's company grow.

She shook herself out of her thoughts and let the sweet air completely consume them, lost in the guesses roaming her mind of what Matthew could have been making. She hummed in contentment at the scent, coming up behind him and wrapping her arms around his waist, resting her chin on his shoulder and complimenting, "That smells good, Matthew!"