You're not alone.... [Matt Tom monster AU]

Chapter 2

Matt sat awkwardly besides Tom on the sofa. Otherwise, the living room was vacant. Tom had drawn all the blinds in his apartment in fear that Matt could possibly dissolve into a puff of smoke on account of the lazy afternoon sun. What little light escaped the blinds gave the room a hazy, golden tone, sending dust motes dancing into the air.

Neither said a word.

Matt looked at the foreign creature to his left. Tom, with his dark eyes and brown hair, frequently shared his lithe visage with more monstrous features, such as his pointed teeth. Matt wasn't sure what had happened to his friend, or even when, but it was good to see him in close proximity again, even under such unfavorable circumstances.

Tom stared back at his old friend. Were they still friends, after so long? Yes, he concluded. The being at his right could no longer be described accurately as human, but he was still a friend. Matt's skin was as pale as a corpse, and he wasn't far off from being one. A recent bandage concealed an injury on Matt's neck. It didn't stop the bleeding, as there was none, but at least it kept Matt from rubbing it.

What the two had uncovered about one other was, least of all, somewhat comforting. For an entire year, Tom distanced himself from his friend group; he was fearful that if they discovered he was a monster, they would be afraid of him. Or worse, they would hate him. But now that Matt was a monster too, maybe he would not feel so alone anymore.

Matt shuffled around a bit as he brought his knees up from the floor and covered his legs with his hoodie, trying to get cozy. He shivered from the cold chill of his own body, then looked at the still-shirtless Tom. It had only been a few hours since Matt had been bitten, but already he reminisced the warmth of the living. Matt groaned as he pulled his arms into his hoodie and against his chest in an effort to get warmer. Tom watched as the ginger struggled with the simple but childish action.

"Are you okay?" Tom questioned, a bit worried.

Matt shook his head."No, I'm freezing. Can't believe I already miss being alive." He answered sadly as he rubbed his hands all over his body, hoping for some friction with which to warm himself, even if just a little. Without a second thought, Tom embraced his vampire friend. Even though the hoodie, Tom felt Matt's ice cold skin. Tom attempted to rub Matt's shoulders, trying his best to warm his friend up, but nothing seemed to work.

Then Tom had an idea.

"Matt, take your hoodie off and sit on my lap."

"I beg your pardon?" Matt demanded, a bit flabbergasted.

"I can warm you up with my body heat, you idiot." Before Matt had the chance to protest Tom picked up the ginger with ease and set him down on his lap. Matt stared at Tom in amazement: he was really strong. Tom watched the man on his lap.

"What?" Tom asked in a monotone voice, as if this wasn't at all something out of the ordinary.

Matt pursed his lips in embarrassment; if he had any blood left in his body, it would be rushing to his cheeks at the moment. "Nothing at all, it's just... You should put a shirt on." He looked away nervously.

"Nonsense." Tom wrapped his arms around the ginger and held him close. Matt's icy skin meet with his own, soothing his muscles aching from the strenuous activity of shifting. "This way, you can warm up faster and I can cool down at the same time."

Matt had to admit that Tom was rather comfortable, and he frankly felt quite cozy being in his arms. Tom didn't object with Matt's silent contentment; it was nice not to feel the uncomfortable heat he usually put up with. Not having a good night's rest was taking its toll on Tom, and he felt his mind slipping away from consciousness. In a matter of minutes, the oddly imprisoning combination of Matt being a cool blanket and the exhaustion weighing on Tom's bones lulled him to sleep. He was out like a light, loosely holding on to Matt for his chill.

Matt giggled a bit when he noticed how fast Tom had fallen asleep. He wondered how long it had been since he himself slept for a whole night. Matt tried not to disturb Tom as he curled up somewhat. His eyes fell shut as he took in all of Tom's warmth.

In the soporific, somewhat stale afternoon, Matt too fell asleep.

_

Matt was woken from light slumber by the sound of someone rapping on the door. A voice carried from the other side of the door, but Matt couldn't still wasn't functioning enough to register what was going on around him. All Matt wanted to do was remain where he was, hunkered down all cozy and warm with comfortable pressure around him making him feel secure.

"Hey! Tom! Are you in there?" Matt recognized the voice as Edd just in time for the door handle to turn, left unlocked by mistake. The pieces came together as the door swung wide.

He was in Tom's apartment, and he was lying down on Tom's couch.
With Tom on top of him.

Suddenly gripped by panic, Matt scrambled to get out of Tom's grasp before Edd could see, the process knocking both of them off couch. Matt landed on the ground with a thud, in a very uncomfortable position. Matt faced the ground, butt up in the air. Tom sat up, cradling his injured head in his hands.

Despite Matt's efforts, it was too late to act like nothing happened. Edd stood in the doorway, surveying the scene in front of him with a vacant look between horror and confusion. Matt and Tom both gave short shrieks and scrambled to opposite sides of the room.

"Oh uh, h-hi Edd. What -uh, what brings you here?" Tom nervously stammered out, shooting glances between Edd and Matt.

Edd sucked a breath in through his teeth and stepped backwards out of the doorway.
"I, ah, I was looking for Matt. I hadn't seen him all day and I was worried. But I... ah, see you guys are busy, and... I'll leave you guys be...." Edd quickly turned on his heels and darted down the hallway to the apartment.

Tom ran at his heels, howling with embarrassment,"I swear it isn't what it looks like!"

Matt, in contrast, collapsed to his knees, burying his face in his arms due to his embarrassment.
"At least he doesn't know," Matt feebly tried to comfort himself. It wasn't working very well. He finally lifted his gaze when he heard Tom gently close the door behind him. With his newly heightened senses, he seemed to catch every detail, like how Edd looked at them both. Matt met Tom's worried expression as Tom rushed over to him.

Tom knew from the shame on Matt's face that if he had any blood left in his body, he would look as red as a tomato. As it stood, he was still quite pale.

"Matt are you okay?" Tom gingerly reached for Matt's arm, which was as red as a tomato. Many blisters were forming, even as Tom watched. He remembered the sun, and quickly acted to shield his friend with a blanket.

Matt looked up to Tom, and gave a soft, wan smile. "At least we know I won't die if sun hits me," he said with a small, humorless laugh.