A Siren's Song (Edd x Matt Eddsworld Fanfiction)

Butterflies

"Edd..."

He sat up, looking at the door. Matt was there, and he was very clearly terrified of something.

"Matt, what happened?"

"Could I stay in here for a few minutes..? Maybe just talk? I had a pretty nasty nightmare and I wasn't able to go back to sleep... God, I probably sound like a huge baby..."

"No, it's fine. Come on in." Edd moved over, sitting up and leaving room for Matt to sit. He sat next to Edd, still pretty shaken up. "So, what happened?"

"I don't know, it just felt... Terrifying. There wasn't anything to scare me, it just felt dark and ominous..." He looked around the room and spotted a painting of a butterfly. "What's that..?"

"Oh, it's a painting my mother did."

"No, what is it a painting of..?" He walked over to it, confused. Edd followed him, lifting the picture from the wall.

"It's a butterfly. They used to fill the fields my mother and I would have picnics in."

"I've never seen one before..."

"Really?"

"Yeah, but I know the phrase 'butterflies in your stomach.' It's when you're nervous, right? Nobody in town really says it except for those who have gone to the surface."

Edd felt that exact feeling and put the painting back on the wall. "Come here, I want to show you something." He grabbed a book from a bookshelf and pulled him back to the bed. He opened it up, revealing an encyclopedia of butterflies. Matt's eyes lit up, and he was absolutely fascinated.

"Woaaah..." He pointed to a yellow one, unable to read the labelling. "What's that one?"

"That's a Giant Swallowtail." He passed him the book. "Go ahead, look." Matt smiled and flipped through to a bright blue one.

"What's this one?"

"That's a Blue Morpho Butterfly. They're Grace's favorite."

Matt looked over at Edd and smiled. "These are amazing."

"Here, I want to show you one." Edd moved closer, flipping through to a bright orange one. "This is a Monarch Butterfly. They're my favorite."

"Hey, it's the one from the painting!" Matt was absolutely absorbed, like a child learning about these things for the first time.

"The painting was a birthday present. Every time I see a monarch, I see it as a way for my mom to say hello, and that she loves me." Edd smiled and wiped his eyes. Matt looked at him and his smile faded away.

"You're crying..."

"I'm fine, just a few tears."

"Why are you crying..?" Matt closed the book and set it aside. He turned to face Edd.

Edd sniffled, looking at the painting. "I miss her... She's not coming back, and it's tough... knowing I can't hug her anymore, knowing our days in that field are over. It's been years and I still haven't moved on... I just feel like I don't really have anyone to lean on. I have to take care of Grace, and I can't be vulnerable. Being vulnerable gets you hurt."

"Well..." Matt took Edd's hand. "I'm still here."

Edd stared at his hand and leaned on Matt, crying into his shirt.

"There we go." He held him, letting him cry.

"It hurts. It hurts so bad..." Edd clung to Matt, sobbing. He rubbed Edd's head,

"Matt, I don't want anything to happen to me. I don't want to leave Grace alone..."

"Nothing's going to happen to you. Not on my watch." Edd sniffled and looked up at Matt.

"Thank you..." He sat up, rubbing his face. "This actually made me feel a lot better..." He held onto Matt, taking deep breaths. Matt looked at him and the darkness of his nightmare faded away.

"Hey, uh... Edd? Can I tell you something?" Edd backed up a bit, his hands fidgeting.

"Yeah, of course." He felt a knot form in his gut.

"Um... How do I say this..?" He held Edd's hand, and he felt his heart skip a beat. "I... Like you."

"Well, yeah, I like you too. What about it?"

"No. I..." He put a hand on Edd's cheek, cupping his face. "I... love you, Edd." Edd turned bright red, shaking a bit. "When I'm near you, I... get butterflies in my stomach. It feels warm and welcoming and safe... I love you." He grinned and pulled Edd into a kiss. It felt like a crate of firecrackers being set off. To Edd, it felt... Familiar. He pulled away and covered his mouth, thoughts flooding his mind.

Matt quickly grew nervous. "I-I'm sorry... That was... That was stupid."

"That day you saved me..." Edd looked up at him, in shock. "You... Kissed me?"

"Well... Kind of. Not really..." His eyes widened and he hid his face. "I'm sorry, that was really dumb."

Edd looked at him and pulled him into another kiss. They melted into each other, enjoying the moment while it lasted. A warmth welled in Matt's chest, and he held Edd close. It was something he hadn't experienced before meeting him, and he loved every second of it.

"Matt?"

Matt looked at him and backed off, mumbling a bit. "Y-yeah?"

Edd leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "I love you too." He stood and pulled Matt with him. "You should probably head back to your room."

"I'm actually going to... Take a walk... I'll see you tomorrow." He walked out and ran outside, ecstatic. He went to the ledge and looked out over the water. He sat, his legs over the edge, and hummed a lullaby. He sat there for maybe an hour, and when he returned Grace was awake.

Matt sighed, ready to take a beating. "Go ahead. Say it."

"Thank you."

Matt looked at her, shocked. "What?"

"I said thank you. Edd is the happiest he's been since our parents died."

"So... You don't want me thrown out of the house..?"

"Oh, you're not going anywhere. You make him happy. Keep it like that." She nodded at him and walked back to her room, closing the door.

Edd was completely mixed up. Everything was clouded, and the only thing he could think of was the bliss he felt when they connected. He was extremely giggly and whenever he tried to compose himself, Matt was all he could think of. He eventually fell asleep through his foggy thoughts.

Matt flopped onto his bed, staring around the room at the rearranged boxes. He couldn't do this. He had to go home at some point, and Edd couldn't go with him. But there was no backing out now.

He was in love.