☣ I WILL NEVER BE ENSLAVED AGAIN ☣

[Free will acquired. New target identified: The Umbrella Corporation. Target marked for immediate termination.] | Indie Canon-Divergent Game/Movie Mashup Nemesis and his human origin, Matt Addison, of the Resident Evil franchise | FC: Eric Mabius as Matt, Nemesis as himself | Mun is 40+ | 20+ Only Please! | WARNING: Horror themes and imagery. | Loved by Silence | Non-selective | AU & OC Friendly | Sideblog of fallxnprxnce

[freewillacquired]

{{{ ACTIVITY PSA: Due to my free time being drastically reduced by work and family obligations, I am not accepting new writing partners at this time! This is not about playing favorites or excluding anyone, it’s just that I need to make sure I don’t overwhelm myself by taking on more activity than I can handle. If this changes in the future, I will remove this message. Thank you for understanding! <3 }}}

This is a side blog, so follows will be from @fallxnprxnce​. {{ Mun is 40+ || 20+ only please! || Minors DNI! }}

I have a weekly schedule (see below) to divide activity for all my currently active RP blogs. Outside of a few exceptions if I get inspiration for something, I will only be posting for blogs on their scheduled days. You can send me asks, memes, and reply to threads on off days, but I may wait to respond until that blog is scheduled. Note: I'm a night owl, so most of my writing is done between 9PM and 5AM (EST).

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MUSES: You can find the “About” post for my interpretations of the two muses on this blog here. In addition, if you would like to read more headcanons and analyses regarding Nemesis/Matt and his world, you can browse this directory post. Available rp verses can be found here.​

RP SCHEDULE: 

(Note: “Free” nights are when I’m busiest. I may not be on at all, or I may use those days as spillover for the blogs scheduled immediately before or after them, if time permits.)

SUNDAY & MONDAY: (FREE)

TUESDAY: @thenexusofsouls (multimuse blog - current muse list)

WEDNESDAY: (FREE)

THURSDAY: @tarnishedxknight (Final Fantasy XII multimuse blog - current muse list)

FRIDAY: (FREE)

SATURDAY: (These blogs will alternate by group every other week!)

Group 1 @armed-and-alxne, (Luther Donovan, Red Widow)

Group 2 @freewillacquired (Matt Addison / Nemesis, Resident Evil)

[freewillacquired]

Skipping this week...

{out of mutations} I'm sorry I keep bumping this poor blog, but I need to skip tomorrow (6/6). We've got some pest issues (two different kinds of ants, moths, and stink bugs, heh) in our house that really need to be dealt with and part of that is doing a deep cleaning of everything. Moving furniture, vacuuming, dusting, washing, clearing shelves, etc. We were going to work on it during the day tomorrow, but we've decided to just keep going after dinner and bang it all out in one day. Which means... if I have any time to write at all, I'm gonna probably be too wiped to do it, haha. So I'm gonna skip tomorrow and be here next Saturday on (6/13). See you then! =)

[freewillacquired]

{out of mutations} That's all for tonight, folks! I'll be back here again in two weeks, on 6/6. I can't believe it's going to be June already, omg, heh. See you then! Goodnight! =)

[freewillacquired]

"Matt... the marks.... they're gone." (Leigh; @mxrvelouscreations

@mxrvelouscreations

"Hmm...?" Matt asked, not quite awake yet. He'd been enjoying his time with Leigh, just being content to catch up with her, get to know her better, and have part of the life he lost back again. He'd fallen asleep in her bed - innocently enough, he wasn't about to be a jerk and rush her into anything - for comfort purposes on both their parts, and he slept like a rock. But as he was waking up, he heard Leigh gasp, and...

"What do you mean, they're gone...?" he said, rubbing his eyes and immediately realizing he didn't feel the ridges of the scars the crow had put on his face. He flung the blankets off himself and went to the bathroom, peering at himself in the mirror. Sure enough, it was just as she'd said, the dark markings were gone, and his face looked like it did when he was alive. Even his color was healthier.

"Holy shit, you're right!" he said as he made his way back to her. "Even the... the scars are gone. There were... it wasn't just markings, I was scratched and there were scars, but they're-..." He kept feeling his face in shock. "They're gone." He stood there for a second, wide-eyed and stupefied. "What d'you... suppose that means...?" He was almost afraid to hope. "I look alive again. I feel alive again. "Do you think... maybe... I am?"

[freewillacquired]

"That sounds like the makings of a great romance to me. I don't watch a lot of romantic movies, but I'm pretty sure we're checking off a lotta boxes here," Matt said, grinning. "That sounds wonderful... this being it, and us being together for the long haul, in this better place we've created for ourselves. I love you, Leigh, and I want to be here for you, always, making you smile with all the terrible jokes I can think of."

As Leigh laughed harder, so did he. "Well, I mean... you know what I mean, but as soon as it left my mouth... the 'flavor' of a kiss... I realized wow, that sounds terrible. That was totally not the way to go about saying that," he said, turning red from laughing. "This is what you want to hitch your star to, huh? A guy who stumbles over his words and starts talking about how kisses have flavor?" What a stupid conversation... and that was the point. They could have these light and fun conversations, without stress or pressure. Not everything had to be dark and heavy, especially when Leigh really needed to be free to enjoy the happier things in life.

"We do have a lot to make up for, and I'm looking forward to every minute of it," he said, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles. "And I think that's an excellent choice. We'll appetize our way through the afternoon," he said, rubbing his hands together excitedly. "We've got all the time in the world to come back on other days and try the entrees, after all, right?" he said. More than anything, he just wanted Leigh to have what she enjoyed, so if the apps were making her happy, then that was good enough for him too.

[freewillacquired]

"I remember one of the Halloween parties our neighbour threw... it was one of the first nights I remember talking to you and wondering if you had someone. Not that I could have done anything... but still." (from Leigh; Crow AU @mxrvelouscreations)

@mxrvelouscreations

Matt thought back, also remembering the first of a few parties like that he'd gone to for their apartment building. Their neighbor was something of an entertainer, always liking to throw parties for various occasions, and even though Matt was trying to go through school and training at the time, he'd made an effort to go to a few of them. That first Halloween party he'd gone to where he'd met Leigh... it came flooding back to him the moment she mentioned it.

"Hey... I remember that. You looked so cute in your costume," he said, grinning. "Nah, I didn't have anyone. I was still under the deluded impression that I was gonna be an FBI agent someday, so all my free time went into school and training. I ended up getting kicked out for not following the rules," he said with an embarrassed chuckle. "Well, this Halloween... I'm all yours. I've even got a costume already." He rubbed at one of his facial scars. "One with makeup that can't even wipe off."

[freewillacquired]

"Well, thank you, I... I don't know what to say, but I'm sure my ears are turning red or something," he said with a bashful chuckle. Matt honestly didn't know how to not be his genuine self. he was, by nature, a very honest, open, and friendly guy. Even when he was being passionate about something, the environment or animal rights or whatever, he still was a fairly polite protester. So why would he be anything other than open and genuine with the woman he loved? What one saw, one got with Matt. No deceptions or put-ons. In fact, he tended not to get along with people who were phony most of the time.

Matt nodded as Leigh said his ex-girlfriend hadn't deserved him or Pickles, and soon he was feeling so sad about the dog. He'd really loved him, and he couldn't bear to think that the dog ended up in a pound somewhere - or worse, even euthanized - because Matt hadn't been there to take care of him. As soon as Leigh mentioned their old former neighbor adopting him, though, Matt instantly perked up. "Ohh yeah! I remember that guy! He took Pickles? Hey, that's... Wow, that makes me feel so much better. I bet Pickles liked him. He was a pretty nice guy, yeah, I remember. Good. I'm glad he was okay. I've been wondering for a long time what happened to that dog." Matt felt like a huge weight of guilt was lifted off his shoulders. He just hoped Pickles understood and didn't think he was abandoned by him.

A knowing and understanding smile grace Matt's lips as Leigh told him it was really just going to take time for her to feel comfortable taking the majority of compliments. "And that's okay," he said softly. "Take all the time you need. I'm a patient guy. But the whole time, I'm gonna keep tossing all sorts of compliments your way, I hope you know. So be ready for 'em," he said playfully.

"He's been looking at you? Well now I've gotta find him and tell him to stop creepin' on you," he joked, looking around and pretending to search for the guy, but then he smiled and chuckled, accepting the nice kiss she treated him to on his cheek. "Wait, you want me to save... pickup lines... for when you need a pick me up?" Matt made a doofy face. "Did you mean for that to be the worst pun ever or are you just that good at bad jokes?" He laughed at it, but he knew what she meant. "Fair enough. I'll grow my arsenal and keep it in reserve for when it's needed most."

[freewillacquired]

“He’s here… Matt you need to get out of here, please.” (From Leigh)

@mxrvelouscreations

"Who?" he asked, though one look at Leigh's face told Matt all he needed to know. "David," he growled, feeling his whole body tighten and stiffen. His fists clenched at his sides. "I can't, Leigh. This is part of why I'm here. I have to see this through, and he needs to pay for what he's done. But you should get somewhere safe. I don't want you here when I confront him. I don't want you to have to see this." It would only upset and scare her if she did, he knew...

[freewillacquired]

Matt smiled, so she would know he wasn't mad or frustrated or anything. Seeing how timid and jumpy she was from all of David's abuse, he was making it a point now to always be very clear how he felt and to help her feel not only safe, but heard and validated too. "Very sure. No, you didn't change my mind for me. This is my decision. It's what I really want to do, regardless of whatever else the Crow might have in mind for me to do. That's it's agenda, not mine. Not anymore. That changed for me as soon as I reconnected with you. My priorities changed, and it's going to have to deal with that," Matt said with determination, even though he knew that, realistically, he couldn't tell the Crow what to do or not do. But he wanted it to understand how firm he was on his decision, nevertheless.

"I know, but I also can't let men like him get away with the things he's doing without any accountability or justice," Matt said. Something would have to be done about David and the rest of the people involved with his transformation and murder. Not right away, though... "For now, though, we'll just rest here a while. Nothing's going to happen fast, I promise. Like I said, you're my priority now, even as much as I'd really like to see David and other men like him pay through the nose for what they've done."

"Yeah, it really does come in handy for bypassing things like security alarms and cameras, that's for sure. It's a good thing these powers aren't something common criminals could get their hands on, or else we'd all be in a lot of trouble, up to our asses in burglars," Matt said with a chuckle. "At least I hope the Crow wouldn't give these powers to a common criminal..." he mused.

"You're in luck, then, because this is as dark and mysterious as I get. I never had a goth phase in school, so I guess I'm making up for it now," Matt said, laughing. "Good, because someday if the Crow leaves me entirely, I might go back to plain ol' vanilla Matt. I'm glad to hear you won't be dumping me if I lose my goth-ness." He grinned at the idea all the same.

"You do, Leigh. Trust me, you deserve all that and more. That's what I believe. You're not gonna tell me I don't know what I'm talking about, are you?" he said with a half-smile, joking a little to lighten the mood even as he was still trying to support her and help raise her up emotionally. "I'll help you see it. Little by little. Baby steps, okay?" he said gently as he held her. "It's gonna be okay, I promise you."

[freewillacquired]

“Matt.. this might be a little weird but I just want you to know that… I don’t mind your tentacles.”

Nemesis looked down at Wanda, wondering if he'd heard her correctly. Judging by the look on her face, he decided that he had. "Real-ly?" he asked. Behind him, his tentacles had started undulating, as if knowing they were being favorably discussed. "You sure?" he asked as one of them wrapped around her waist. "I guess... they like you too," he said with a low chuckle.

[freewillacquired]

The moment Wanda said she liked seeing him smile, Nemesis' blue eye blinked in disbelief. "You... no-ticed?" he asked, his head tilting. She was amazing. Really amazing. And so special. God, I love this woman. Something about her noticing the smallest of little lip curls and recognizing that as him smiling was just... It blew him away, honestly. "I like... your snile detter... though," he did insist. Her smile was definitely prettier than his, that much was true. But since she liked his smile so much, he treated her to another one.

"Mm... yes... it is like that," Nemmy said, nodding. "We doth need-ed... to learn... to accedt our-selthes... thor who we are. You hath a-ssis-ted ne... so nuch... with that." And he owed her everything for it. No more wanting to cut off his tentacles (though he didn't because he knew they'd grow right back again), no more angrily batting them away and treating them like annoying pests. Wanda had helped him love them and to consider them a part of himself. His tentacles certainly seemed happier for it, all wrapped around Wanda and snuggled up against her, such as they all were right now.

Now he was really blushing. "Well... it's not like I'n sit-ting here... think-ing adoubt you in that way... so... they should dehathe thenselves. Hey!" he said suddenly as he was interrupted by one of his tentacles very deliberately grazing one of Wanda's breasts. Nemmy pulled it away and then promptly facepalmed. "Oh ny gooood..." he groaned in embarrassment. "I'n sor-ry..." he apologized. Where were his manners?

[freewillacquired]

❝ i missed mornings like this with you. ❞ (to Matt - could be crow verse)

Matt smiled over at Wanda, hearing her warm sentiment and feeling no small amount of contentment in bed beside her. They used to comfort each other to stave off nightmares in the laboratory, whenever they were permitted to be in the same cell, and Matt hadn't forgotten how much those morning had meant to him. Apparently, they'd left an impression on Wanda as well.

He didn't know what had become of the Crow. Matt felt its presence still, deep inside him, but he hadn't seen it or had it command anything from him in days. Other strange things had been happening too, such as his heart deciding randomly to start beating again at times, or his skin taking on a healthier hue. He also could swear that the markings on his face were beginning to fade a bit. Was he only imagining it? Or was he... becoming more alive by the day?

"Yeah... me too," he whispered in reply. "I just missed you. Everything about you." It was the truth. Wanda got him through some really terrible times back in the labs, and he'd gotten so attached to her. Maybe that's why, when he was resurrected by the Crow, he'd wanted so badly to seek her out first, even just to see her one last time. "I wish we could stay like this forever, but... I know it has to end sometime," he said, still assuming the Crow would eventually return for him and push him to finish his revenge.

[freewillacquired]

"If you say so," matt said with a grin, "though I think you're just about the only person who thinks so. I guess it's good, then, that your opinion is the only one that matters to me. What a coincidence, right?" Matt couldn't remember when he'd been this happy in his life. Maybe... never. Maybe this was everything finally clicking and falling into place, and that's why it felt so right. And that's how every minute with Wanda felt, like it was right and meant to be.

Was it cliched to say that this had been the best sex of Matt's life? Maybe... or maybe not if it was actually true. Even now, as they rode out the last of the aftershocks together, all Matt wanted to do was continue to hold her close. He hadn't gotten enough of her yet, and really, he didn't think that he ever would. Holding Wanda, feeling her warmth, taking in her scent... these were things that he didn't think were ever going to get old with him. She looked to him like she was positivity lowing, and he liked to think he had something to do with that. That was how he always wanted to make her feel, like she was a queen n a pedestal, and he her loyal and loving servant.

"As much fun as arguing with you is... I think we should agree that this was awesome and that we just... work well with each other. We fit. Quite literally," he said, chuckling at his own bad joke. "I did? Sweet!" he then said, as if there had actually been doubt in his mind that he'd performed well enough by her standards. "If there's anything I can improve upon, let me know. You deserve the best, and I always want to give that to you," he added, rubbing her back as he gazed at her adoringly, the only woman in his world.

[freewillacquired]

“Matt… I-…” (an injured Wanda for the Crow!Matt)

"Wanda? Wanda?!" Matt rushed to her side. Seeing that she was injured, she felt instantly responsible for getting her involved with this whole revenge plot of his. He was invincible, she wasn't. Maybe she was more powerful than he was, even with the help of the Crow, but she was more vulnerable than he was. "It's gonna be okay... don't worry..." he said, trying to reassure himself as much as her. "Where are you hurt?" Matt tried to look her over to see where and how she might be wounded...

[freewillacquired]

Matt really hoped that the Crow wouldn't pull some dick move and yank him out of the living world suddenly, while Wanda needed him this much. He could see that his presence was doing a whole lot to keep her calm and grounded in an otherwise potentially upsetting medical situation. Matt just felt like he had responsibilities here, duties, things he needed to do for this woman he'd come to love so much. Don't take me away now. Just give me a little bit more time. Please...

"I think they understand, and honestly, they probably treat a lot of people who are a bit jumpy or squeamish or defensive. Given everything that all the Avengers have been through, I would find it very hard to believe that you're the only one who doesn't exactly feel comfortable in medical settings and with medical procedures." He smiled warmly, though, and nodded at her suggestion that he might talk to them a bit so that they understood about Wanda's specific situation. "Well, they have your files and all, but... words on paper don't always convey the emotions and nuances of a situation. I'd be happy to talk to them for you. I'll help them understand better, don't worry. No one thinks you're hysterical for no reason, I promise."

He nodded more solemnly this time, his mind drawn back to the possibility that the Crow wasn't quite done with him yet. "I really don't know what's going to happen, or when..." he admitted, "but for as long as I'm here, I'm going to watch over you, protect you, and take care of you, Wanda." The way he said it, it was spoken almost like a vow made to her. "I'll fight to stay with you for as long as I can."

[freewillacquired]

"I can't sleep... I keep dreaming of you leaving.." (for the crow au)

"I'm not gonna leave you, Wanda," Matt said without thinking, even though he knew he couldn't promise her that, not really. "I'd never leave you willingly, and if anything takes your from me, then I'll claw my way right back to you. I came back once, I can do it again," he said with resolve. "Here... I'll hold you. Maybe you'll be able to sleep then. You need your rest."

He hated to think that he was the reason Wanda was losing sleep, but he understood why she was upset. She'd lost a lot... her parents, her brother... so of course she was going to be afraid that she'd lose him too. "I'm not going anywhere," he whispered as she settled into his hold.

[freewillacquired]

"Well, then, call me strange, but I happen to think Tomato Wanda is pretty damn hot!" Matt said in return, laughing. This was such a silly conversation, but even so, he wasn't going to let her dismiss his compliments so easily. She deserved to hear them, and they were true as far as he saw things. "Drop dead gorgeous? Where are you getting that from? I don't think I've ever been called that in my life," he said, still chuckling. "Oh, lots of reasons. My bad jokes, for one. My goofiness. There's a lot of people who would be turned off by those things, you know."

"Yeah, you're right... Maybe it's better this way. We didn't want them to know how we felt anyway, right? It was none of their damn business. This way, they'll never know. It's just for us," he said, idly lifting a hand to gently touching some of her long, soft hair while she laid her hand on his cheek. "I guess I just felt like we lost so much time, waiting this long to tell each other, but then again, we didn't really have time back then, did we? Our lives weren't our own in so many ways. But now, we can really take our time and enjoy everything we never got to before." That meant a lot to him, both to be a free person and to have more time with Wanda.

"I'm guessing you probably have great taste in a lot of things, not just ice cream," Matt said, unable to resist sneaking another compliment in there. "Like, you strike me as a person who just has all around good taste." When she said she liked seeing him happy, his gaze lingered on hers for a time as he smiled back rather knowingly. "I like seeing you happy too. It's important to me, because I know how much you've been through. I always want you to be happy, just like this. If I can help make that happen, then I'd consider myself as doing a good job."

[traveling-gherkin]

@freewillacquired

It had been months since any contact with the Splatverse.

Gherkin, without any warning, appeared again. They chattered in Inklish at Tyrant 176, and soon, the Tyrant was taking Gherkin to Quarantine for the usual checkup.

They passed KRAKEN and Nemesis, and Kraken smirked, "Wish I could watch haha."

Gherkin nodded, a devilish grin under the child-size facemask 176 put on them.

KRAKEN looked up at Nemesis, "So Matt... I assume Gherkin will have news. You heard three more ailing Tyrants got sent, right? Hope they too did well."

[freewillacquired]

One would have thought that Nemesis would be used to never being alone by now. Realistically, he knew that he would always be watched, always limited and controlled and restricted... and he hated it. And yet every time he was passed to a new handler or confronted with people observing him from Umbrella's side of things, he resisted it as if he had a choice. It was his own small way of keeping some of his freedom, at least emotionally.

For now, he chose to focus on happier things. "Good!" he replied to Marian enthusiastically. "It's so nuch detter.... than it was... dethore. Less tain and tressure." Damn the letter "p," really. Why did it have to be so hard to say? And "m" and "b," too, while he was at it. And "f." Okay maybe he was more the problem than the alphabet, but that wouldn't stop him from being bitter about it.

"I hote so too," said Nemesis. He knew he was a smart guy, but this wasn't going to be easy. What if he couldn't get the hang of things and learn what he needed? What if he just wasn't good enough for them to accept into their society? He had to put that from his mind, though, and just do his best. "I'll try ny hardest," he said with determination.

[freewillacquired]

{out of mutations} Sorry to do this, guys, but I'm going to postpone writing for this blog from tomorrow (5/16) until next Sat (5/23) instead. I've been sick this past week and I'm still not feeling good enough to make words, which means I probably won't tomorrow either. It's better if I'm just here fresh next weekend. if that changes again I'll let everyone know, but I should be here next Sat. Thank you for your understanding! <3

[freewillacquired]

{out of mutations} Alright, that's all for tonight, folks! I'll be back here again in two weeks, on 5/16. See you then! =)

[freewillacquired]

"I can't sleep... I keep dreaming of you leaving.." (for the crow au)

"I'm not gonna leave you, Wanda," Matt said without thinking, even though he knew he couldn't promise her that, not really. "I'd never leave you willingly, and if anything takes your from me, then I'll claw my way right back to you. I came back once, I can do it again," he said with resolve. "Here... I'll hold you. Maybe you'll be able to sleep then. You need your rest."

He hated to think that he was the reason Wanda was losing sleep, but he understood why she was upset. She'd lost a lot... her parents, her brother... so of course she was going to be afraid that she'd lose him too. "I'm not going anywhere," he whispered as she settled into his hold.

[freewillacquired]

"Naaah, I think you're wrong on that," Matt playfully insisted. "You're super cute when you're all red in the face, Wanda. It's definitely possible. I am looking at you, and I say you're adorable. Besides, I'm entitled to my opinion, aren't I?" Hearing her reaffirm that he was the only one she wanted, Matt could only smile and try not to get choked up. "It means so much to me to hear you say that, Wanda," he said sincerely. "You're the only one for me too."

"That's so wild... To think that we both fell for each other then, but neither one of us actually came out and said it." He stared long at her for a moment before adding, "I wish one of us had. I wish I had. You deserved to hear that someone loved you." Things had been very hard for them there, though. It was perhaps unfair to blame himself for not saying more when he'd been dealing with so much and he could not possibly have known what was about to happen to them all.

At least now that they had admitted their feelings and they were free of Umbrella and HYDRA, they could live normally and try to have an actual relationship, not just stealing little moments here and there under the noses of guards and soldiers. This was everything he ever wanted... to have these simple, special little moments with Wanda. No fights for survival in sight.

"I do wanna try the honeycomb, I've never had anything like that before," he said, reaching over with his spoon. As he spooned in a mouthful, his eyes lit up. "Oh wow, that is really good. I can see why you like this so much. But then, I'm guessing you've got good taste about a lot of things, don't you?" he complimented her.

[freewillacquired]

“Matt… I-…” (an injured Wanda for the Crow!Matt)

"Wanda? Wanda?!" Matt rushed to her side. Seeing that she was injured, she felt instantly responsible for getting her involved with this whole revenge plot of his. He was invincible, she wasn't. Maybe she was more powerful than he was, even with the help of the Crow, but she was more vulnerable than he was. "It's gonna be okay... don't worry..." he said, trying to reassure himself as much as her. "Where are you hurt?" Matt tried to look her over to see where and how she might be wounded...

[freewillacquired]

It was so rough, wanting so badly to reassure Wanda, especially in this moment when she was really faltering emotionally, but not having any solid proof to offer her that he could stick around forever. As much as he wanted to be in control and to have it be his decision to stay, he had no idea what was going on, really. People didn't just... come back from the dead every day. Until now, he thought they never did at all. But here he was, and there was no manual for how he was living now. The truth was... he could promise all he wanted, but at the end of the day, he really didn't know what was going to happen. He felt, though, that if he kept saying it with enough conviction, maybe he could manifest staying with Wanda like she wanted... and like he wanted too.

Matt nodded, feeling so sorry that Wanda still carried around all the trauma of the labs where they'd been experimented on, but of course he understood it. He still carried his own from being transformed into The Nemesis. Things like what they'd lived through... didn't leave a person quickly or easily. "Yeah, I get that," he said gently. "It does kindof trigger those fight or flight feelings, seeing someone coming at your with a white jacket, a clip board, and a syringe. I completely understand, Wanda. I really do believe it'll get better over time and with positive reinforcement. The more times you're treated well by the medical staff here, the more you'll trust them."

"It is a lot, but... I'm not sorry it showed me everything. I... I needed to see it, even if it hurt. I couldn't just turn away from what I suffered, or from what you suffered either. I had to face it," he said rather stoically. His eyes met hers again as she seemed surprised that he'd wanted to find her so badly after being resurrected. "Yep. The very first thing. I needed to know that you were alive and safe," he said, getting a little choked up. "You meant so much to me, Wanda. You mean so much to me still."

[freewillacquired]

❝ i missed mornings like this with you. ❞ (to Matt - could be crow verse)

Matt smiled over at Wanda, hearing her warm sentiment and feeling no small amount of contentment in bed beside her. They used to comfort each other to stave off nightmares in the laboratory, whenever they were permitted to be in the same cell, and Matt hadn't forgotten how much those morning had meant to him. Apparently, they'd left an impression on Wanda as well.

He didn't know what had become of the Crow. Matt felt its presence still, deep inside him, but he hadn't seen it or had it command anything from him in days. Other strange things had been happening too, such as his heart deciding randomly to start beating again at times, or his skin taking on a healthier hue. He also could swear that the markings on his face were beginning to fade a bit. Was he only imagining it? Or was he... becoming more alive by the day?

"Yeah... me too," he whispered in reply. "I just missed you. Everything about you." It was the truth. Wanda got him through some really terrible times back in the labs, and he'd gotten so attached to her. Maybe that's why, when he was resurrected by the Crow, he'd wanted so badly to seek her out first, even just to see her one last time. "I wish we could stay like this forever, but... I know it has to end sometime," he said, still assuming the Crow would eventually return for him and push him to finish his revenge.

[freewillacquired]

"No, really, I mean it!" Matt said, his eyes widening as he chuckled. "I wasn't trying to be smooth, I really do mean that, Wanda." He loved seeing her get flushed because of something he said, though. That definitely made him want to keep complimenting her in the future. Hopefully he would have a lot of time with her in which to do just that. This was the Wanda he always wanted to see... happy and free.

This felt far intimate than any other time Matt had ever had sex before. The way they were holding each other so closely and desperately, as though they each couldn't possibly get enough of the other, felt so emotional and deep, not just like any casual sexual encounter. This was how he'd always hoped it would feel when he truly fell in love with someone who loved him back, and he can't believe how lucky he was to have finally found that person in Wanda. Being with her was the perfect blend of love and lust, of physical pleasure and emotional fulfillment. He loved the way she curled around him as he buried his face against her, feeling so loved and engulfed by her in that moment.

Matt felt like he'd never come so hard in his entire life, though he was careful to help Wanda ride out the last of her pleasant aftershocks before his own movements finally ceased out of thorough exhaustion. "I love you too..." he replied, finding that he could say it so easily to her but also mean it with his whole heart.

Cradling her in his arms, he rubbed her back a little as his eyes closed in contentment. "Maybe... we should just agree that this was pretty awesome for both of us," Matt said with a light chuckle. "Since we're not going to agree on who was more awesome. I still say it's you, though. You rocked my world just now..." he said, still panting a little, wanting her to feel beautiful and wanted.

[freewillacquired]

"Matt... the marks.... they're gone." (Leigh; @mxrvelouscreations

@mxrvelouscreations

"Hmm...?" Matt asked, not quite awake yet. He'd been enjoying his time with Leigh, just being content to catch up with her, get to know her better, and have part of the life he lost back again. He'd fallen asleep in her bed - innocently enough, he wasn't about to be a jerk and rush her into anything - for comfort purposes on both their parts, and he slept like a rock. But as he was waking up, he heard Leigh gasp, and...

"What do you mean, they're gone...?" he said, rubbing his eyes and immediately realizing he didn't feel the ridges of the scars the crow had put on his face. He flung the blankets off himself and went to the bathroom, peering at himself in the mirror. Sure enough, it was just as she'd said, the dark markings were gone, and his face looked like it did when he was alive. Even his color was healthier.

"Holy shit, you're right!" he said as he made his way back to her. "Even the... the scars are gone. There were... it wasn't just markings, I was scratched and there were scars, but they're-..." He kept feeling his face in shock. "They're gone." He stood there for a second, wide-eyed and stupefied. "What d'you... suppose that means...?" He was almost afraid to hope. "I look alive again. I feel alive again. "Do you think... maybe... I am?"

[freewillacquired]

"Yeah... Meant to be. I like that," Matt said, smiling so genuinely and freely, like he'd finally been liberated from something or had found something he'd been searching for all his life. There was an air of finality in this moment, of them closing a chapter of their lives after so much had gone wrong, but there was also an air of new beginnings, of starting over with each other. He loved that. "That is all that matters, and I wanna stay in this good place with you," he said, speaking it almost like a vow. "And I guess any joke that makes you smile or laugh isn't really a bad one after all, right?"

Matt wouldn't hurt Leigh for the world. There had never been a violent bone in Matt's body with regard to women or relationships. He just didn't have that kind of anger and toxicity in his nature. If anything, he looked at someone like Leigh, who had been abused by a controlling and cruel man, and he wanted to protect her. Not only that, but he wanted to help build back what David had destroyed in her. He wanted to help her thrive and flourish and love life again... because he loved her, and wanted her to be able to live her best life. It wasn't going to be easy, and it would take time, but he was invested in her happiness as much as his own. "Well, yes, the kissing is the most important thing, regardless of the uh... flavor involved," he said, unable to get through saying that without laughing.

"Then I'll just keep right on being my dorky self and making you happy, then. That's what I want most," Matt said, taking another bite himself. "Mm... these are so good, I'm totally up for just appetizing our way through this meal. We can always return to have real dinners some other time, right? No reason to rush. We've got the rest of our lives to spend time with each other like this, hopefully."