[ They did dance together, and yeah it was pretty adorable. Those tabloids aren't making up that part.
That question, though. That question is pretty weird, Noah. And yet Matthew, sweet stupid Matthew, just gives the honest answer before he considers the reason for Noah asking something like that in the first place. ]
I don't know.
[ ... Wait.
His nose wrinkles.
Wait. Wait wait wait. Is Noah asking because of his "kiss ten people" bucket list thing? Matthew can't be certain because it's not like he and Lucy have ever talked about it, but, uh. ]
I'm not sure she'd be into that.
[ Casual kissing, is what he means, but they're having two different conversations at this point so it may sound like something different to Noah. ]
[ Matthew continues peering and considers that for a second... two seconds... and then suddenly the laughter just bubbles up out of him in that infectious Matthew Lynch sort of way, and he can't stop it. Not that he tries very hard. ]
Yeah, yeah, but we don't like each other like that. We're not dating or anything.
[ Matthew's laughter takes a few moments to fade, like at first he thinks Noah is kidding. Then he realizes it's not a joke, and his round eyes get even rounder. ]
[ Matthew is a little distracted again now, trying to figure out if some article declaring him to be Lucy's boyfriend is going to make things weird somehow. Not between him and her, of course; they know they aren't dating.
But she is the Ambassador now. Rumors probably aren't good. Hm.
Anyway, this means his attention is divided again, and that's why Noah gets this stupid question: ]
[ Matthew's thoughts settle a bit more on the actual conversation. ]
Oh.
[ He doesn't really get it, but then, for him, loneliness has always been a very easily solved problem. He just calls up a friend, or group of friends, or wanders around the house until he finds somebody to talk to. Plays with the dog, or Adam's cats, or the ducks, or goes out to find Henrietta.
Having somebody to kiss goodnight has never seemed like a necessary part of the equation. ]
Yeah, I guess. But they're still your friends, too, right? So you aren't really alone.
[ He kind of wants to understand where Noah's coming from, though. ]
[ Matthew laughs and shifts so he can stretch his legs a little, and there's not enough room on the couch for him to do so without nudging Noah again so there's some jostling. Later he will probably feel guilty for saying this, but-- ]
Ronan and Adam think so.
[ It's a very younger brotherly kind of tease, more affection than mischief, really.
But underneath that, Matthew might be growing just a little curious. ]
[ Matthew 'hm's pleasantly, smiling as he thinks about it, and distractedly brushing his curls back into place where Noah's foot bumped his head. After a moment of thought, he says-- ]
When dad was alive, sometimes he and mom--
[ Then he stops, laughs at himself, and gives his head a little shake. Noah probably doesn't want to hear about Matthew's parents laughing and kissing in the kitchen, when Niall came back from his trips. But their affection is a very pure and dear memory for Matthew, who will never forget being surrounded by so much love in that house. ]
I mean-- [ He plants his elbow on the back of the couch, and tips his head into his hand, smiling down at Noah. ] They liked each other.
[Noah feels it anyway - he doesn't see them, he lets that memory stay private, but the love and affection that Matthew radiates are too bright. It makes Noah smile, lazy and wide.]
Mine did too.
[And somewhere, in another universe's Virginia, they still do. He can picture them on the porch, sipping wine on a warm evening, and looking out at the fireflies.]
I can imagine what it's like.
YOU JUST COULDN'T SLEEP WITHOUT A LITTLE MORE CUTE FIRST
Yeah, [ Matthew agrees, a simple answer from a simple boy. He kicks his feet up over the back of the couch and flops backwards, imitating Noah's posture. When he settles, they're close enough for their shoulders to be touching.
The truth is, his imagination is not that great, so he can only sort of imagine it for himself, but what he's got in his mind seems pretty nice. ]
So this is why you have "kiss ten people" on your list.
[Noah watches this extravagant repositioning, gently amused, and grins when Matthew finally settles in next to him. Their hair, soft and golden, looks like sunlight together on the cushion.]
I mean, I guess ten was kind of ambitious. But yeah, it's just about my favorite thing.
[ Matthew laughs a little again and wiggles his feet on the back of the couch, like a happy kid that just can't sit still. Ten sounds pretty ambitious to him, but Noah clearly has moves (or something. It sounds like he knows what he's doing, at least.) ]
How many are you at now?
[ He's genuinely curious, because he genuinely cares about Noah's bucket list. ]
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[Noah's on his best behavior. He's actually imagining them dancing together, some sort of goofy waltz, and it's adorable.
He wants to be adorable with someone like that.]
... Is she a good kisser?
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That question, though. That question is pretty weird, Noah. And yet Matthew, sweet stupid Matthew, just gives the honest answer before he considers the reason for Noah asking something like that in the first place. ]
I don't know.
[ ... Wait.
His nose wrinkles.
Wait. Wait wait wait. Is Noah asking because of his "kiss ten people" bucket list thing? Matthew can't be certain because it's not like he and Lucy have ever talked about it, but, uh. ]
I'm not sure she'd be into that.
[ Casual kissing, is what he means, but they're having two different conversations at this point so it may sound like something different to Noah. ]
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What do you mean? [He tilts his head back, tickling more with his hair.] You guys just aren't gonna kiss, then?
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Why would we be kissing?
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Because you like her, and she likes you. And people who like each other kiss.
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Yeah, yeah, but we don't like each other like that. We're not dating or anything.
[ WHATEVER GAVE YOU THAT IMPRESSION, NOAH. ]
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The post said called you her boyfriend.
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Wait, seriously?
[ He was really not paying attention. ]
Well. I'm not her boyfriend.
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Good. 'Cause being the only single one in the house would suck.
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But she is the Ambassador now. Rumors probably aren't good. Hm.
Anyway, this means his attention is divided again, and that's why Noah gets this stupid question: ]
You think so?
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Sometimes. Like, if all your friends have someone to kiss goodnight, and you're alone.
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Oh.
[ He doesn't really get it, but then, for him, loneliness has always been a very easily solved problem. He just calls up a friend, or group of friends, or wanders around the house until he finds somebody to talk to. Plays with the dog, or Adam's cats, or the ducks, or goes out to find Henrietta.
Having somebody to kiss goodnight has never seemed like a necessary part of the equation. ]
Yeah, I guess. But they're still your friends, too, right? So you aren't really alone.
[ He kind of wants to understand where Noah's coming from, though. ]
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Not alone. But it's nice, having someone to kiss. Even if they aren't your girlfriend, or boyfriend, it just makes you feel... warm.
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I don't know.
[ Wait, that sounds like he's disagreeing. ]
I mean, that sounds right. [ A little shrug. ] I've just never done it, though. Kissed somebody.
[ His mom probably does not count. ]
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Never? Dude, it's, like, the best thing!
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Ronan and Adam think so.
[ It's a very younger brotherly kind of tease, more affection than mischief, really.
But underneath that, Matthew might be growing just a little curious. ]
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They've got the right idea.
[He scoots a little to make room, and one foot taps the side of Matthew's head.]
I mean, sometimes it's kind of weird, at first. But if you like the person, it's really fun.
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When dad was alive, sometimes he and mom--
[ Then he stops, laughs at himself, and gives his head a little shake. Noah probably doesn't want to hear about Matthew's parents laughing and kissing in the kitchen, when Niall came back from his trips. But their affection is a very pure and dear memory for Matthew, who will never forget being surrounded by so much love in that house. ]
I mean-- [ He plants his elbow on the back of the couch, and tips his head into his hand, smiling down at Noah. ] They liked each other.
[ They had fun kissing. ]
i'm AM going to bed!!!
Mine did too.
[And somewhere, in another universe's Virginia, they still do. He can picture them on the porch, sipping wine on a warm evening, and looking out at the fireflies.]
I can imagine what it's like.
YOU JUST COULDN'T SLEEP WITHOUT A LITTLE MORE CUTE FIRST
The truth is, his imagination is not that great, so he can only sort of imagine it for himself, but what he's got in his mind seems pretty nice. ]
So this is why you have "kiss ten people" on your list.
it's truuuuue
I mean, I guess ten was kind of ambitious. But yeah, it's just about my favorite thing.
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How many are you at now?
[ He's genuinely curious, because he genuinely cares about Noah's bucket list. ]
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I'm still at zero. It turns out actually finding people to kiss is the hard part, here. It seemed easier at Aglionby.
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[ He 'hmm's again, thinking about it, tapping a finger on one of his own ribs. ]
What about anybody here?
[ He laughs, because it's a silly suggestion. Most of the people in their house are dating each other already.
... Most of them. And he's really got no reason to think Noah might want to kiss any of the ones who aren't. ]
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Dude. [He tilts his head backwards until he's looking at the room upside down.] No one here'll say yes.
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