/ / R O B B E R S / / (Matty Healy/George Daniel)

Said one more lie, will I know you

Matty awoke with a start some time later. He wasn't sure of the hour, but it was still dark out, and thankfully no one else was up, meaning that Matty could hide the tears streaming down his face in the thin pillow he had been given by Sasha earlier.

Images of his father flashed across his mind even now that he was conscious, reminding him of everything that he had so narrowly escaped from, of his demons that he wasn't entirely sure would ever leave him in peace even now that he was on his own, and before Matty could stop himself, he was whimpering softly, his eyes stinging harshly as his brain attacked him with harmful memories that haunted both his waking and sleeping hours.

Matty tried his best to keep quiet, even though suppressing his sobs hurt his ribs, but his efforts were proven unsuccessfully when George shifted suddenly, his hands untangling themselves from the sheets before they pushed Matty's messy curls back from his face, revealing his red cheeks and glassy eyes to George's panicked gaze.

"What's wrong, what happened?" George asked in a harsh whisper, his gentle touch contrasting his sharp words, the juxtaposition leaving Matty even more emotional than he already was.

"Just - just a dream," Matty heaved out, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment as he realized how silly he sounded, how young, but the brush of George's fingertips across his scalp lessened his mortification slightly. "I have nightmares, I'm sorry, I'll be fine, you can go back to sleep."

"Don't apologize to me," George murmured, his tone emerging much calmer than it had moments before. "It's alright love, I'm here. You can cry if you need to."

Matty took George's permission as a chance to touch him, curling his smaller frame against George's chest as sobs continued to wrack his body, his breath coming in harsh pants that had his ribs aching and his body shaking as George held him closely.

"You wanted to know how I ended up here yeah?" George asked, but before Matty could compose himself enough to answer, George was talking again. Matty recognized his attempt to distract him as what it was, and he was so incredibly grateful to George just then that he thought his heart might burst because of it.

"I was about your age I think, I've only been with Adam and Ross for a year or so now. I'm almost eighteen by the way, I don't think we ever really told you our ages. Ross is twenty-one, and Adam is nineteen."

Matty nodded soundlessly, a weak smile splitting his lips when he learned that George wasn't that much older than him. For some reason, Matty had assumed that he was at least in his twenties, maybe just because he seemed so composed compared to Matty, but he was glad to find that they were closer in age than he had originally assumed.

"I wasn't in nearly as bad a state as you, I was just a little shit mostly. I didn't go to college, couldn't be bothered, so I was left with too much time on my hands and an older brother who ended up getting me into a lot of trouble with him. I've got parents, they're separated though, and mum was never around, she pretty much left me and him on our own once we were old enough to fend for ourselves, and that was fine yeah, but I just - I was always so angry. I felt like my life was pointless, so I dove into drugs and parties and anything I could find to distract myself. I got arrested a few times, but my brother would bail me out so I wasn't there long enough to regret my actions."

"That sounds lonely," Matty spoke for the first time in what felt like years, his hand curling around George's wrist without any conscious thought on his part.

"It was, and it was stupid of me. I could have gone back to school, done something with my life, but I didn't know what I wanted, everything seemed so pointless. I tried to kill myself about a week before I took off with Adam and Ross actually, I just didn't care about anything anymore, didn't really see the appeal in living."

"George," Matty gasped, a few more tears slipping out of the corners of his eyes when he imagined a world in which George didn't exist, which was ridiculous since he'd only known George for a day, but the thought still filled him with a sharp pain that resonated throughout his body.

"Didn't work though obviously, just woke up in a pool of my own sick since no one even noticed I was gone. That was my lowest point, but it was as if some higher power knew that and gave me something to live for in the form of Adam and Ross."

"Thought you didn't believe in fate," Matty chuckled quietly, a soft sigh leaving his parted lips when George's fingers began rubbing at the back of his neck absentmindedly.

"Bit silly of me isn't it, it was like a miracle really. I was in a shop a few days later trying to nick some beer when Adam and Ross came in. I faintly remembered Adam, we'd gone to school together, but we were never close. He was quiet too, not that he isn't now, and all I knew about him was that he lived in a foster home. Anyway, I practically shit myself when Ross pulled out a gun and started robbing the place, just stood there in shock while Adam was grabbing things and Ross made the teller open the register. I don't know what I was thinking, but when another worker tried to call the police, I just - acted. I took his phone and threw it against the wall like I was in on the whole thing. I guess a part of me wanted to believe that Adam had a good reason for doing this, and it felt right to help him out, I don't know even now really. So when Adam and Ross turned to leave, they motioned for me to come with them, and I did. Never looked back, and I haven't regretted it to this day. They are the family I never had, they love me, and I love them, and although what we do might be a bit shitty, I've never felt more alive than I do now."

"I think you're strong too," Matty smiled as George's tale drew to a close, "and brave, and honestly, I'm really glad you did what you did, because if you hadn't, I would never have met you."

"Guess I should stop bashing fate since it's been so kind to me lately," George chuckled quietly, his hand never stopping its repetitive petting through Matty's curls.

"And Adam and Ross, how did they end up doing all of this?" Matty inquired, his sniffles fading away into nothing thanks to George's excellent distraction techniques which had allowed him to forget all about his nightmare.

"Now that's a story for another time," George grinned against the top of Matty's head. "Get some rest love."