Only You (Matty Healy/George Daniel)

37: You And Me

George stares at the back of Matty's head as the older man sleeps soundly next to him. Matty had drifted off almost as soon as they'd taken their seats on the flight, his spine resting against George's chest and his head lolling on his shoulder instead of the pillow they'd provided for them, not that George is complaining.

Still, George wishes that Matty was awake so they could speak about things. He has so many thoughts running through his head, the underlying tone of each relating to how fucking in love he is with Matty. He knows they've gone about this all wrong, but George wants to fix things. He can't stay away from Matty, not now - maybe not ever. He needs him in his life, and not just as a best friend. He's done denying his feelings, but he also needs to know if Matty feels the same.

"Hey...he okay?" Ross asks softly from his seat across the aisle. George twists as much as he can without disturbing Matty in the process.

"Yeah, he just needs some rest."

"We all do," Ross nods, "that means you too. I know you want to look after him all the time, but you've run yourself into the ground lately."

"I'm fine," George sighs when Ross raises his eyebrows at him, "or...I will be."

"You gonna talk to him soon?"

"Probably," George shrugs. "Not sure if right now is a good time though. He has other things to deal with."

Ross shoots George a look that screams "you idiot just tell him how you feel" but he doesn't say anything else, so George takes that as permission to turn back in Matty's direction. The older man hasn't moved at all. George can't remember a time he's looked so peaceful. His heart aches as Matty nuzzles deeper into his side, his eyelashes fluttering against his cheekbones as he gets comfortable in his sleep.

"I love you so fucking much, and I'm going to take care of you okay," George whispers fiercely, his volume inaudible to anyone but himself. He means every word of it though. Matty might not be ready to hear it, but George has to say it aloud, even if no one witnesses his confession.

He knows Ross is right, he has to tell Matty soon, and he will. The time for hiding is over, all he can do is hope for the best.

~~~

"Matty, wake up, George nudges the sleeping man gently, "we're landing. You've got to get up."

"No..." Matty whines, his eyes squeezing shut instead of opening like he knows they need to. "I'm comfy."

"Don't make me carry you off of this plane."

"Hmm, that's tempting," Matty grins. "What if I want you to?"

"You are insufferable," George groans. "Come on now, I'll carry you from the car to your flat if you walk through the airport on your own two feet."

"Deal," Matty agrees, a small smile stretching across his face as George sighs in a suffering fashion.

Matty does behave himself while they wind their way through the airport, doing their best to avoid any fans that might be waiting for them to arrive. It's all over social media what happened in Boston and that the rest of the tour is canceled, so it doesn't take a genius to figure out that the band is heading back home. They're lucky though, no one spots them, or at least if they do, they don't make a fuss.

They make it to the car waiting for them without incident. George's phone starts ringing as soon as he turns it back on, but he ignores it. It's not Jamie, so it doesn't matter, the only thing that does is in the seat next to him.

Adam and Ross get dropped off first, they happen to live closer to the airport. George's place is next, and it doesn't surprise him at all when Matty climbs out of the car with him. He heaves out a breath when Matty jumps on his back while he's trying to grab both of their luggage at the same time. He'd forgotten his promise from earlier, but Matty obviously hadn't.