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

Now if you never shoot, you'll never know

"Are you scared?" Ross asked Matty after they pulled up in front of the small shop, his dark eyes seeking Matty's out as he leaned on the door in preparation.

"No," Matty huffed, hoping that Ross didn't catch onto the falsity he could clearly hear in his own tone. "Maybe a bit nervous though."

"You'll be fine, just remember the plan. I've got the gun, so I'll go for the register, you simply grab food, water, whatever you can take as quickly as you can. This shop should only have one employee at this hour, but keep an eye out for another coming from the back just in case."

"Got it," Matty nodded, his heart thrumming against his ribcage as Ross threw the door to the van open hastily.

Matty chased after Ross as the older man sprinted toward the corner store with long strides, his mind struggling to figure out how he had ended up here barely three weeks after running away from home.

But just like George, he didn't regret what he was about to do, at least not yet. He was simply proving himself to Adam and Ross now that his ribs were mostly healed and he'd shown no signs of fucking off like Adam had assumed he would, which meant he had to pull his own weight, and stealing was how they made their living.

Matty didn't really have a moral dilemma with this, although he probably should have, but as long as they didn't ask him to hurt anyone, he knew he could do this. The shop wouldn't suffer all that much, and they needed supplies and money to survive. He was only looking out for his new family after all, so his intentions were good if not his actions.

And as they burst through the glass doors like they owned the place, Matty felt a rush of something intense flowing through him. Maybe it was just adrenaline, but it was overpowering, filling him with courage, and purpose, and assurance as they shooed the one person inside out of the door, leaving Matty free to scrabble around and fill the small bag he'd brought with anything he could get his hands on as Ross collected the money from the teller who seemed to be complying easily.

And even after they had returned to the van, Matty was still thrumming with energy, his jubilation fueled by Ross's praise and George's broad smile as they all congratulated him on a job well done.

It was in that moment that Matty knew he was truly home, he had found a place where he belonged, where he was wanted, and safe, and maybe even loved.