waving through a window

Matt Murtaugh 19 years old Barista and Waiter at Jitters Double majoring in Criminal Justice and Pre-Med "It’s a rare person to face who they are and not run from it.. not be broken by it."

[crestfallenmurtaugh]

Despite the shouting match a couple of weeks ago between Matt and Christian, Matt was still training with Max. He was running late, courtesy of a roommate who insisted the early alarms were destroying his life. But despite waking up about 30 minutes later than planned, Matt was only running through the door five minutes late, extremely out of breath. “Sorry I’m late. Sorry, I was-” He stopped to breath for a minute, before straightening, his eyes falling on a Detective who looked a little worse for wear. “Woah, are you okay?”

@detective-stone​

[crestfallenmurtaugh]

drcaitlinxsnow‌:

“It ain’t that bad and don’t go feelin’ sorry for me. We all have our place in this world and mine just happens to be inside the head of a brilliant doctor. Don’t let her know I said that or I’ll ice you.” Frost hissed. She didn’t know how to emotionally process her confinement. Where there days that she wished that she could do as she pleased, sure, but it wasn’t like her counterpart didn’t feel the same. They both needed to work together or they’d rot in a miserable cycle. “Anyone would want to be free. It’s natural but I don’t mind being here with her. Someone’s gotta make sure she’s protected. That’s where I come into play.” Frost brushed off his curious back peddling with a shake of her hand. “If I were offended by what you said, you would know. I don’t mind.”

She nodded confidently in the wake of his surprise. There was something delightfully corny about this young man and it warmed a very tiny part of her. “Wanna see something cooler?” Frost held her hand out and conjured an icy replica of a rose before allowing it to evaporate into dust. “Fuck expectations. They’re some stupid standard set by someone who failed to reach it on their own. Who do you want to be? Whomever that is, you do it. Live for you and no one else because life is too damn short to play second fiddle in your life.”

Matt found himself smiling. The love that Frost held for Dr. Snow wasn’t lost to him. She didn’t seem to be the type to enjoy expressing that easily, but Matt liked to think he was good at reading people with different temperaments. (He wasn’t, though that was typically his self-doubt that anybody actually cared for him.) “My lips are sealed,” he replied, running a hand through his hair. He would have to clean up before going back to his dorm, if only to avoid the questions from the others in his building. “It makes sense. I couldn’t imagine doing what you guys do, but,” he shrugged, “it sounds like you make it work.”

His grin only grew and he nodded, watching as she created a rose with her ice. “Holy shit that’s amazing. Your powers are so cool. Pun, not intended, but still valid.” he gushed, waiting for the thing to evaporate before looking back up at her. His grin softened, his eyes once more filled with doubt as he thought about the expectations laid out for him. “It’s easier said than done though, isn’t it? I- I mean. If you do something that upsets someone else, you run the risk of being ostracized or shut out.” Or hurt. And of course, there was always the fear that what he wanted wasn’t exactly best for him.

[ironshy]

[crestfallenmurtaugh]

daughterofdemons‌:

Nyssa side-stepped the boy easily as he narrowly missed bumping into her, raising an eyebrow curiously at his rambling apology. Well, this was certainly easier than engineering an excuse to bump into him - he had done it all for her. “No harm done.” She gave him a small smile. “Matthew, isn’t it?” She asked. Curiously, she hadn’t been able to dig up much more on this boy than a name, and a picture perfect cover story. A college student, perfect grades, working towards med school, part-time job to help cover costs. No criminal record, even a sealed juvenile one. Nothing that connected him to Al Saher but a shared surname - Murtaugh. Honestly, Malcolm could have been far more creative with his cover name, he could have at least changed his first name too. And the inclusion of a son was a curious choice of cover. She was mildly curious about it all, but more so about what this boy knew of his mentor, and how much he might let slip.

Matt returned the smile with ease, but the moment she said his name his eyebrows scrunched up. “You know my name.” If it had been his father, that would have been exactly how it sounded- a statement. But Matt had never been that commanding of a person and the question was clear, primarily based off of his body language and the confusion on his face. “Sorry, uh...” He looked around, wondering if maybe she was a coworker of his dads. He had never seen her before though and he had seen quite a few of the agents there, if not from all the time he used to spend in the lobby. “Have we met, before?”

[crestfallenmurtaugh]

“Could you leave him that message for me? Uh, yeah. Murtaugh. Thanks.” Matt took a step back, taking a quick look around the lobby of the ARGUS building before moving outside. He just needed to deliver his dad his work schedule so they could plan more training sessions, but unfortunately his dad was too busy. He moved quickly out of the building, a skip in his step as he realized he had some free time. He didn’t see the girl until he was almost running into her, though he quickly dodged to avoid the unnecessary contact. “Sorry. Sorry. I wasn’t watching where I was going. Sorry.”

@daughterofdemons​

[crestfallenmurtaugh]

ashersteele‌:

“No it doesn’t.” Asher responded on instinct, his natural tendency to be belligerent and difficult when it came to Matt winning out over his instinct to be polite to his mom. “I mean–sorry. Yeah, it sounds fine.” He rolled his eyes and stuck his tongue out at Matt.

The house around them was worn and lived in, but clean. It showed the signs of wear-and-tear from housing a rambunctious teenage alien with enhanced strength for years. Asher eyed the poorly patched hole on the staircase and cringed as he remembered the time he and Matt had decided to try sledding down the stairs. The resulting crash had been pretty bad, and they were both lucky to have walked away without any broken bones. Brushing aside thoughts of the past, he responded to Matt’s tug on his sleeve with a sharp turn of his head, somehow still on edge despite everything. “Should you--Fuck. Should you? I don’t know. Is that a good idea? Would it make things worse?” No, he needed to get a grip, because they couldn’t both panic here. That wouldn’t help anything.

“Okay. How ‘bout this? You very causally bring it up like no big deal, and they’ll probably act like it’s all chill. But I don’t really see things getting less awkward if we keep ignoring it.” Either way, he needed Matt to talk for the rest of the night so he didn’t have to talk to his parents. And, for some reason, he really wanted his parents to forgive Matt. But he wasn’t ready to try examining the reasons for that.

Matt had laughed, the softest snort falling past his lips and for a moment he wondered if he actually saw the curious look on Asher’s mom’s face. Almost like she believed that Matt wasn’t like his parents. But then they were in the kitchen and Asher and Matt were slowly tagging behind. A peak into the kitchen showed that his parents were talking, his dad looking more concerned over anything. He allowed himself the memory this time of the two boys eavesdropping one night, trying to see if they could be spies. They were terrible at it and had gotten caught more times than they could count, only ever managing to grab a few words here or there, until one of them got bored (usually Asher) and suggested a new game.

He bounced back onto his heels, taking the chance to run a hand through his neatly combed hair out of pure nerves. “I don’t know, I don’t-- Maybe if we just clear the air it’ll help? It could definitely make it worse and they could just kick me out, or turn me into the police for living with an actual murderer, or they could pretend to believe me and then tell you privately that you should move dorms or schools, or--” He stopped himself, ducking his head so he could take a breath and clear his thoughts. “Or it could clear the air and put the pressure back on you, instead of me.” And though the words itself were teasing, his voice was still chalked full of anxiety.

[crestfallenmurtaugh]

ashersteele‌:

‘I’m sorry.’ Asher mouthed when Matt caught his gaze, but he couldn’t help feeling like the words were far too little, far too late. He’d signed up for this, and he’d dragged Matt along with him, and he’d just have to suffer whatever consequences were about to follow. “You know he doesn’t have allergies, he didn’t have allergies before.” He said to his parents, trying to keep the level of annoyance out of his voice. Antagonizing his parents was the least helpful thing right now.

“The weather! Let’s talk about the weather. It might snow. I’ve heard. Or saw. On the news.” Asher interjected awkwardly when Matt trailed off. He shot his roommate a confused look, asking for backup and receiving none. ‘You watch the news now?’ Asher’s dad asked, looking somewhat bemused. Asher decided to ignore him.

But Matt came back to his senses and responded before Asher had a chance to send the situation spiraling further. ‘We’re having meatloaf, Matt, I hope that’s okay.’ Asher’s mom said, and Asher made a face. His mother was a lot of things, but her cooking was just okay. And meatloaf? For company? He had a feeling he’d be ordering the two of them a pizza as soon as he got back to the dorm. “Gross, mom. I thought we’d be having actual food for dinner tonight?”

Matt took another brief moment to shake away the memory before offering Asher’s mom a soft smile. (An almost apologetic smile.) “Meatloaf sounds-” He shot Asher a look, thankful that his first instinct to elbow the other was shut down before he could actually do it. “-delicious. It sounds delicious.” He rocked back onto his feet, his eyes moving to the array of photos that lined the walls. 

It wasn’t there anymore, but there used to hang a photo of the two of them. Even back then Matt had looked sheepish, but he could remember the grin on Asher’s face as he held up a pair of fingers behind Matt’s head. It was a ridiculous photo, one that probably had been thrown away ages ago.

Feeling a small pang in his chest, Matt looked to the three, grateful to see his parents had turned away for a moment. It was long enough for him to grab Asher’s sleeve and whisper. “Should I mention it? Like, just clear the air? Or do you think that’s a terrible idea and that I should just not talk for the rest of the night?” He wasn’t sure why he went from one extreme to the other, but his nerves were driving him crazy.

[crestfallenmurtaugh]

drcaitlinxsnow‌:

“Not as much as I’d like but I guess. Caitlin is the one who the prime personality. For a long time, she didn’t even know I was a part of her. I may have pissed away my privileges on the outside after I started working with less than savory people like Savitar and Oracle.” Frost didn’t have any reservations over her head. She wouldn’t blow up the secret identities of Team Flash; she wasn’t that heartless and she knew Caitlin would blow a gasket. Matt’s curiosity piqued with each honest response and it amused her. She never really seen this kind of acceptance and joy beyond seeing the world through Caitlin’s eyes. “No. It’s kind of like sleeping. When I’m out, she’s sleeping. What I do is my own and what she does is also mine. It’s funny when you lived in someone’s head for this long. I’ve seen everything like a two way mirror.” Frost stepped hastily towards him. Her fingers radiated the chilling fog. She held it over his cut and watched as the skin began to heal. “I see why you’ve been chosen to come to this lab. You’re painfully kind. The skirts are boring and impractical.” She leaned back on her heels, taking note of his change in posture. 

‘Well, you’re not bad at the whole fighting thing. I get that–the whole bad daddy thing. Mine tried to kill me once upon a time.”

Matt watched her for a moment, trying to find the right words for her situation. When he found his brain lacking, he settled for the easy ones. “That... sucks.” He let the word out with a huff of air, his eyes still on her. There were the slightest differences between her and Caitlin, but other than the color of her hair and eyes, they could be twins. He wondered what it’d be like to have another person inside of him, but shook that thought away quickly. There was no point in pondering. “Do you ever wish you could be your own person?” It was more sincere of a question than he planned and the second he said the words, he started backtracking. “Not to be- You don’t- You don’t have to answer that. Sorry.”

Matt ran a hand over his face, his eyes following her when she stepped forward and healed him with the cool fog. The embarrassed look was replaced quickly with awe. “You can heal, too? That’s so cool.” And a brief pause, as he processed her compliments. “I’m not... I’m not all that great. It’s... mostly just me trying to live up to expectations.” And failing. He ducked his head. “I’m sorry. I- I know it’s not my fault or anything, but someone should apologize to you for that.”

[crestfallenmurtaugh]

drcaitlinxsnow‌:

Frost victoriously clicked the dampening cuffs on the idiot who dared to storm the castle on her off day. She didn’t like to be disturbed while she slept unless it were dire. Her gaze flicked back to the young man who proved to be more than just some yuppy college kid. The blood that smeared across his skin left her uneasy. She didn’t usually have a soft spot for anyone but there was something about the kid that begged for some compassion. He did go from puppy eyes to snapping snarl in an instance. That’s useful. “The name’s Frost and yes she does. Doc and I work in tandem but we’re very different, kid. I mean look at what she’s wearing,” she sneered. What was with Caitlin and these damn pencil skirts. “Sadly, I do know both of those dorks. They’re very much like you–makes sense why you’re drooling. What’s ya name and where did you learn to fight like that?” 

Matt was surprised when Frost answered all of his questions, but the soft smile that slipped on his lips was evidence enough that he was pleased about it. “You’re two completely different people, that’s- That’s fascinating. Do you guys, like... uhm... take turns?” That would make the most sense, but Matt didn’t want to just assume. “And can she see what you see? Like, when you do something does she know? Not, uh, I’m not very fashionable, but I think the pencil skirt look works. So does the leather jacket thing, it’s uh, probably just a preference thing.” He was way too nervous, but he had so many questions. “I’m Matt. Erm, Matthew Murtaugh. My dad taught me to fight. He kind of trained me my whole life, but... he’s not really a good guy.”

[crestfallenmurtaugh]

continued from (x)

The fight was over and the villain-- albeit a pretty weak one-- was taken care of. Matt had a few fresh wounds, though that tends to happen when you get thrown into a wall. His body ached, but the adrenaline was still pushing through. Quickly he wiped the blood from his nose, looking towards the white haired meta with admiration and curiosity. “So you’re Dr. Snow? Or, well, it seems like you’re two different people. Does Dr. Snow know that you’re a part of her? Is this-- Is this your guyses base? Do you know Vibe? And the Flash?” The slew of questions came out faster than he meant them to, the soldier persona completely gone.

@drcaitlinxsnow​

[crestfallenmurtaugh]

[Flashback]

“Matthew.” The voice rang out, stern and cold, but Matt didn’t hear it. His eyes were fixated, staring in admiration at the billowing red cloak. Superman was right there, staring down at his family-- well, staring at his father, actually. The blue and red blurred the boy’s vision and he wondered briefly if it’d be an inappropriate time to ask for an autograph. Only ten years old, he didn’t realize what was happening.

“Matthew!” The second time his father called out to him snapped Matt out of his stupor and he turned, seeing the panic in his mothers eyes-- and the anger in his fathers. “Get over here.”

Fingers clutched at his backpack, the very few items he had been allowed to grab shoved hastily in there. He couldn’t understand why his mom had told him to pack, but now it was starting to sink in. His dad had been caught. He tugged the bag over his shoulder, following his dad as they ran, eventually slipping through the scary portal. As he jumped through the thing, he took one last glance back, meeting eyes with his hero.

[Present day]

He was late. Not that Max probably cared. Detective Stone was much more relaxed than Matt’s dad had ever been and given Matt’s excuse, he was sure he’d be forgiven. That didn’t quite stop him from running, hoping to find a good shortcut to get him to his destination much faster.

He looked worse for wear, though he blamed the grueling training his dad had put him through. He wasn’t sure why, but Malcom was being harder on him than he had before. Their training sessions tripled in the past month and most of the time Matt was left with fresh bruises and less resolve than before. He was lost deep in thought, wondering what it could be that his dad was preparing him for. He rounded a corner into an alley when he felt himself run into what felt like a brick wall. “Sorry, sorry, I wasn’t--” Staggering back, it took a second for his eyes to adjust as he found himself staring up at... Superman. “Holy shit.”

@kryptonsxlastxson​

[crestfallenmurtaugh]

detectivechucklxs‌:

ARGUS.

Christian’s mind circled back to the soft whispers that often cascaded down the walls at their mention. He hadn’t forgotten the offer that had been extended to him after his last tour. Luckily, he no longer wanted to be a pawn in the arsenal of some untouchable governmental agency anymore. Christian James Singh did his time. The chilling details of his father’s flippant disregard for life, meta lives, pinged a hidden bout of guilt that Christian hoarded. It wasn’t very long ago that he shared the same distaste for metas. Breathing in through his nose, he leaned back into the chair. 

Thank god I sat down.  

“Okay.” Christian held his breathe for a moment. This wasn’t nearly as weird as the things that he had heard. It only furthered his understanding and h a t r e d for the boy’s father. Not only did he instill Matt with such a deep, fearing complex but he put him under unmeasurable pressure to choose between his morality or blood. “It goes without saying that you don’t feel the same. Has he been pressuring you and has he done anything to anyone as of late? Is someone in trouble?” 

The silence was deafening as Christian processed the information that Matt had thrown at the man. The anxiety pushed through him as he watched the emotions flicker over Christian’s face. With his lack of questions over ARGUS, it was clear the man knew about the organization, at least a little. Though that didn’t quite soothe Matt’s fears over the whole thing. He wanted to keep pacing, but that wouldn’t help anything, so he pulled up a chair and sat in front of Christian. His leg bounced and he picked at the tattered sleeves of his jacket, his anxiety threatening to bubble over.

“No, no, of course I don’t feel the same, but--” He shook his head, not quite sure how to word it. How could he explain that he had such a fear of disappointing his father and exposing the man’s anger toward himself that he was still on the fence about this entire ordeal. “He took me on my first hunt last night. It was a girl I knew and,” he swallowed thickly, almost ashamed to admit his weakness. “I let her go. But he thinks she’s dead. And I- I don’t know what to do. Christian, I know people who are meta-humans, and- and aliens.” His mind briefly flashed to Alicia. And Asher. “If he hurts them, it’s my fault.”

[crestfallenmurtaugh]

auroraxjett‌:

rory’s hands were held up but they lowered slowly when he tossed the cuffs towards her. rory knelt down carefully to pick them up, turn them in her hands to make sure they were what she’d thought they were - police issued. rory looked up at the young man again, her jaw screwed tight as she watched him draw closer to her - right now he was just standing in her way, and he was affiliated with malcolm merlyn. somehow all those factors adding up together just told her that she couldn’t trust him. 

rory held her arm forward as she barreled into him to push him against the wall and out of her way, using the cuffs to encircle his wrist and chain him to the nearest pipe. “you’re why i’m in this mess to begin with.” rory seethed between her teeth once she made sure the cuffs where secure before she finally looked back at him, her lips falling slack immediately when she realized she recognized who it was under the street light. “matt?” rory whispered, her arms falling off him almost immediately

“what…what the hell are doing?” rory breathed out, hurt in her tone beyond her control as she looked back to the cuffs she’d just used to incapacitate him. “how did you get those? how - why are you doing this?” rory pulled her hood down as she shook her head, “your father is malcolm merlyn?”

Matt kept his arms raised as he inched closer, wondering if the girl would trust him. She had every reason not to, considering the situation they were in, but he hoped. He should have expected her move but he was, at heart, still just a kid. When she slammed him into the wall and cuffed him to the pipe he yelped, his body tensing as he tried to force away the urge to slip back into that soldier persona. His father had raised him to never be the flight in a fight or flight situation and though he hated everything his father stood for it was engraved pretty deeply.

He heard her say his name and it was then that he allowed himself to look at her, her face all too familiar. “Rory?” He could feel the wind knock out of him as he looked into the eyes of the nurse he worked with a few times a week. He would consider her a friend, though she probably had people who were much closer, but this... This would ruin everything. 

He gaped at her, trying to find the words as he looked back down the alleyway, worried his father would come running at any time. “I- No, he-- Murtaugh. Our last name is Murtaugh. But that is my dad, I--” He shook his head, as if that would change what he was just caught doing. “He expects me to follow in his footsteps, to hunt,” (the word flew off his tongue like poison, his hatred for the term so clear) “people like... well, like you. But, but I don’t want to, I swear. I just want to be a normal college kid.” 

[hesagentlelman]

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[crestfallenmurtaugh]

detectivechucklxs‌:

“You don’t look fine.” Christian withheld his grumbling retort. It wasn’t going to help him currently nor would it make him any less haggard looking. He tipped back on his heels before sitting down per his request. Christian needed to be as open to this to ensure that Matt felt comfortable. He looked like he was about to melt into the floor. 

“Go ahead,” he motioned. “The floor is yours.”

Matt watched as Christian sat and he wondered momentarily if he should do the same. He took a breath, finding himself pacing as he tried to find the words. “I--” He sucked in a breath, finally sitting down across from Christian. “My dad works for a government agency, called A.R.G.U.S. They deal with, uh... Meta humans, mostly. People they deem as threats. They take them into custody. But my dad,” he turned his head down, staring at his hands as his fingers picked at his already destroyed cuticles. “My dad--” His breath stuck for a moment and he shook his head, looking back up at Christian. “He hurts them. Kills them. And he wants me to do the same.”

[crestfallenmurtaugh]

detectivechucklxs‌:

Christian’s gaze snapped up to the meek voice that called down to him. He gave him a hasty once over before calming making his way over to Matt. The last thing he wanted to do was spook him but his haste came from a place of internal fear. Since their little hiatus, Christian worried constantly about his well being. A part of him felt like he failed him more by emotionally abandoning him. 

“Kid,” his voice lighter this time as he finally cleared the last step towards the landing. “You look like crap…..have you eaten or slept?” Christian fired off a few question and gnawed on the side of his cheek. A nervous tick he had since he was a kid. “What’s going on?” 

Matt shoved his hands into his pockets, the nerve making them shake. He still didn’t know the right way to tell Christian everything. How was he supposed to? Would Christian even believe him? “No, not since...” Was it two days? Three? Matt had stopped counting. He felt exhausted, but he had too much to do and when he finally tried to sleep he usually wound up tossing and turning. “I just ate. I’m fine.” He wasn’t, really, but he needed words to come out. “You should sit down.”

[crestfallenmurtaugh]

detectivechucklxs‌:

The squealing sound of tires rippling along the black top coupled with the wailing sirens echoed baselessly in his Christian’s ears. Central City’s winding sidewalks blurred like distorted charcoal streaks illuminated with the darting flash of red and blue. He streamlined into one for of the spaces in front of Jitters. 

Fuck no standing. I am the fucking law. 

His ming spiraled at the grimness of his text. No matter the state of their current relationship or lack of one. No one on this planet was going to hurt his kid. Christian stormed the entrance. “Where is he?”

Matt heard the sirens and for a moment his anxiety doubled, wondering if something else had happened. He stood from where he sat, looking out to see Christian storm into the coffee shop. His mouth went dry and he wondered if his words would continue to stick in his throat. Was this a good idea? If his father ever found out...

“Up here,” he called down, staying long enough for the officer to see he was not injured-- before heading back to his seat. There was no backing down now.