Mattheo Riddle - Imagines/OneShot

Unexpected Tenderness - M.R as a Boyfriend

Word Count: 721

Mattheo Riddle wasn't known for his softness. His reputation preceded him—sharp, calculating and always a bit...dangerous. But somehow, for whatever reasons Y/N couldn't explain, he had chosen her.

It started like most of his actions, without warning. He appeared in her life like a storm, his dark eyes watching her from across the Slytherin common room, his smirk never quite reaching his eyes. At first, Y/N thought it was a game to him—an experiment to see how far he could push her before she broke. But as days turned into weeks, and the scathing remarks gave way to quiet, lingering conversations in empty corridors, she realized there was something more. Something beneath the surface, something only she got to see.

One rainy afternoon, they found themselves tucked away in the library. It wasn't unusual for them to sit together now, but Mattheo's demeanor was always the same: cool, collected, and guarded. He sprawled in the chair next to hers, his fingers idly spinning his wand as Y/N flipped through a particularly difficult textbook.

The rain tapped softly against the windows, creating a rhythm that matched the steady hum of the castle. Y/N felt her frustration growing, the words on the page blurring together. She sighed, closing the book with a thud, rubbing her temples.

"Everything alright?" Mattheo asked, his voice low with a slight tease.

"Just...tired," she murmured, glancing at him. "This stuff is impossible to understand."

He tilted his head, a small frown forming on his lips, something rare for him. "Here. Let me see."

Before she could protest, Mattheo shifted his chair closer, the warmth of him suddenly surrounding her. He took the book from her hands and began flipping through the pages with surprising focus. Y/N watched in silence, unsure of what to expect.

After a few minutes, he pointed to a passage. "This is what you're missing," he said quietly, explaining the text with ease. His voice was calm, almost soothing, as he broke down the complex parts.

Y/N blinked, taking in the sight of him so close—his messy dark hair falling over his eyes, his brow furrowed in concentration, the tenderness in his voice so at odds with the persona he wore like armor.

"How do you know all of this?" she asked quietly, in awe.

He shrugged, his eyes still on the book. "I pay attention to things that matter."

Her heart fluttered at his words, and she couldn't help but wonder if she was also included in that.

After a moment of silence, Mattheo closed the book and set it aside. He turned to her, the playful smirk she had grown used to gone, replaced with something softer, almost vulnerable. His hand reached out, hesitating for just a second before brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"You push yourself too hard sometimes," he said, his voice quieter now, as if he didn't want anyone else to hear the tenderness in his tone. "You don't have to be perfect all the time."

Y/N stared at him, taken aback by the unexpected gentleness. This was Mattheo Riddle—sharp, distant, guarded—and yet here he was, touching her like she was something fragile, something he was afraid to break.

"Mattheo..." she started, but he shook his head, cutting her off.

"I'm serious," he said, his eyes locking onto her, their usual intensity softened by an emotion she couldn't place. "You don't need to prove anything to me."

Y/N felt her breath catch in her throat. She had never imagined he could be this way—so soft, so...kind.

Before she could respond, Mattheo's hand lingered against her cheek for a moment longer, then dropped to his side. He stood up, slipping back into his usual casual demeanor, though his eyes still held a certain kind of warmth.

"Come on," he said, grabbing her bag, slinging it over his shoulder. "Let's get out of here. You need a break."

Y/N couldn't help but smile, her heart full of something that felt impossibly light. She stood and followed him out of the library, her fingers brushing against his for just a second. Mattheo didn't pull away. Instead, he laced his fingers with hers, a silent promise hidden beneath his cool exterior.

And as they walked through the castle together, Y/N realized that maybe Mattheo's tenderness wasn't so unexpected after all—it was just something he reserved for her. 

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