NatePat One-Shots

Gold Star For Me

song; gold star for me - dodie clark and carrie fletcher
warnings; mentions of anxiety
natepat

i'm a semi-functioning human
but i've done pretty well so far

Matthew Patrick had dealt with crippling social anxiety all his life. There was a point where he couldn't even go outside without beginning to sob. However, after meeting Nathan everything turned around. Nathan praised everything he did, giving the boy little gold stars just for getting out of bed in the morning.

sure i slept in till like three
but i made a great cup of tea
so that's one gold star for me

It had been a stressful night. Matthew stayed up insane hours writing an essay for his English teacher and he ended up waking up at three in the afternoon. Class was over and he burst into tears as soon as he looked at the digital clock beside him.

The brunette stumbled out of bed, tears dripping down his face and onto the grey fabric of his shirt. Eventually he made it into the kitchen, staring at a small Earl Gray tea bag on the counter on top of a sticky note.

Hey Matty <3
Had to go to class, noticed you weren't awake. I hope you're doing okay, make some tea and I'll be there to cuddle as soon as I get home.

- Nate

Matthew smiled weakly, going on to make the tea. The television was on some classical music station, playing soft Mozart that completely dropped away every bit of sadness and anxiety he felt. Nathan always knew what to do and how to handle things.

He grabbed a mug, putting the tea bag into it before putting in two spoonfuls of sugar. The hot water next to him was poured directly onto the tea bag, and he stirred it mindlessly until the door opened.

Matthew drank the tea slowly, a smile spreading across his face at how amazing it tasted.

"I slept till like three, but I made this really good tea," he looked up to see Nate with a small gold star sticker on his fingers. The flower crown wearing boy stuck it on Matthew's cheek.

"One gold star for you!" Nate kissed his cheek and he melted into the smaller's touch, the feeling of falling in love happening all over again.

i might forget your birthday
i might not even know your name
but if you tell me a secret, it's as safe as it can be
so that's one gold star for me

Nate poked his boyfriend's cheek, holding out a card in front of him.

"Hey handsome, can you sign this card? It's Mark's birthday, I thought we could send something if we can't go to the party."

They could've gone to the party, but Matthew's crippling social anxiety disabled him from going. Of course, Nate didn't want to make it seem like that was the reason he wasn't going. He blamed it on how there was going to be alcohol there, and Matthew accepted that as a valid reason.

Then again, he couldn't remember who Mark was.

"Who?" Matthew frowned, wrapping his arms around himself, "do I know them?"

"Of course you do, silly!" Nate was giggling so hard his purple flower crown fell in his face, "Mark Fischbach. Red hair."

"Oh!" he gasped, remembering the secret Mark told him and only him, "okay. I'll sign it, but is this the Mark who- wait, no. I can't tell you. I promised Mark that I wouldn't tell anyone."

After signing the card, Nate took it and put a sticker on his boyfriend's cheek. Matthew knew what it was: a gold star.

"Good job, my forgetful secret keeper."

there's nothing wrong with falling down
forgetting your keys is allowed
i cry at every film i see
but i'll give you the best hug that you'll ever receive

Matthew had a hard week, from falling flat on his face and breaking his nose on the nature hike he took with Nate to forgetting his keys back to their house after seeing a movie that he sobbed hysterically while watching, he just had an emotionally draining week.

Nate was there every step of the way, though. He sat on Matthew's lap and ran his hands through his hair as they waited for him to get pain medicine after breaking his nose. He found their long lost spare key when they got locked out, and made an amazing dinner while Matthew calmed himself down with old Jenna Marbles videos.

"What did I ever do to deserve such an angel in my life?" on Sunday Matthew pulled Nate against his chest, wrapping his arms gently around him and burying his face into his boyfriend's ebony, vanilla scented hair.

"Must be those hugs you give. I could live forever in your arms," Nate smiled, kissing Matthew's cheek gently before pulling out a sheet of gold stars. He put one on his boyfriend's forehead, hopping up and kissing his forehead.

"I love you so much."

"I love you more."

"I doubt it, angel."

i can barely count to ten in the morning
my eyeliner will never even out
but i'll smile till i'm blue
so that you can smile too
so that's one gold star for me

Matthew frowned at the ceiling, mouth moving but no words coming out.

"Whacha thinking 'bout, pretty boy?" Nate sat down on the bed next to him.

"I forgot how to count to ten."

"Well, it is six in the morning. I made some tea, it is the big day, isn't it?" he smiled.

Matthew looked so confused, "big day for what?"

"Your play, silly! You've got a lot of make up to put on, I recommend getting started now."

The brunette pulled himself out of bed, taking the tea from his boyfriend before walking over to vanity. It was covered with Nate's make up, including the eyeliner required for his part. He shakily put it on, huffing when it didn't come out even.

Hours passed and he was still in front of that vanity, until finally it came out perfectly.

"Babe! I got it!" Matthew rushed downstairs, seeing Nate frowning in the kitchen.

"Oh, hey! You look gorgeous," he forced a smile, looking like it pained him to do so.

"Are you okay?" Matthew pulled his boyfriend to his chest.

"I smile a lot. I want you to smile, but it gets hard sometimes when even I'm not happy."

"Oh you little angel, I love you so much," he kissed Nate's forehead, reaching in the back of his jeans and pulling out the sticker sheet.

"What are you doing?" Nate seemed confused.

"Never feel obligated to make me happy if you aren't. If you aren't, you're my priority. However, since you've done so amazing making me smile, that's one gold star for you."

For once, Matthew and Nate both genuinely smiled at the same time. Not for each other, but because of each other.