what do we think - is matt a jealous bf? but like … in a hot way & i’m gonna show you through really good, dom sex way. not a controlling way.
ohhh 👀
hmm I believe as nonchalant matt portrays himself to be, I think for things and people that mean a lot to him, I can definitely see him becoming protective over them. It’s more like the mentality of “she is mine and only mine!! smh 😠😤”
it’d be cute to see him get all worked up loool but then in private he’d show you who you really belong to (even though nothing has to be proved bc you know you’re his but you let him have his small tantrum bc hey at least you’d get a good fuck out of it, am I right chat? 😁🎤)
BUT a whole another part of me also likes to believe he’d love to show off his gf with immense pride because he’s so beyond over the moon for acquiring her in his life 🥹 matt’s a big sappy romantic i just knowwww
nerdy!matt convinces college student!reader to get a matching tattoo with him (3.4K words)
view more of this au here
Contains: fluff, mentions of alcohol, mutual pining, slow burn
The campus bar was crowded and loud, and shots were lined up between Matt and me as we toasted to surviving finals, the weeks we spent apart during winter break, and the return to our new and last semester of our undergrad.
Drunk Matt shortly emerged by the time he was five shots in, shedding his polished facade to reveal his true reckless side, that only I knew of. His bright blue eyes flashed with a cocky promise as he rolled up his sleeve to flash his tattoo sleeve, and proposed the idea that now propelled us down the neon-lit sidewalk.
"C'mon, what's the worst that could happen?" he had slurred against my ear earlier, grinning with wild surety. "We match, we laugh, and possibly regret it when we’re thirty."
I protested at first as we stumbled towards the tattoo shop, my giggles bubbling up unbidden while the tequila swirled in my stomach, reminding him with slurred insistence that I could barely commit to picking an exam answer sometimes let alone permanent ink on my skin.
"You're insane, Matt. I can't do this." I said, leaning heavily into his side for balance, the cool night breeze carrying the distant hum of traffic and making my head spin faster.
But Matt only chuckled as he steered me forward with a hand on my lower back, his touch steady despite the buzz we both carried. Deep down, I craved the recklessness with him, the side of me that let him push until I caved, and under the haze of shots, his words wore me down until I was laughing nervously and muttering, "Fine, but you're going first, Matt."
The neon "open" sign buzzed faintly above the door when we finally reached the shop, casting a pinkish light across the sidewalk and illuminating the mischievous glint in Matt’s eyes as he pushed the door open. Inside the air hit us thick with the mixed scents of fresh ink and sharp antiseptic. The low hum of fluorescent lights overhead mingled with the distant buzz of a needle from the back room, made me immediately realize we did not belong here in our bar-rumpled clothes. Our hair was messy and cheeks were flushed from laughter that spilled out too loud into the quiet space.
The walls were lined with designs, some traditional and some strange, and a man with thick-rimmed glasses looked up from his phone with the weary expression of someone who had seen far too many drunk college students stumble through his door at midnight. The tattoo artist, a burly man with full sleeves of his own work, raised an unimpressed eyebrow at our entrance but said nothing as Matt scanned the sheets of various designs pinned to the wall.
He looked at Matt first, then at me, and then back at Matt again. “You got an appointment?” he asked, already knowing the answer.
“Nope!” Matt said cheerfully. “But we have a vision.”
The artist sighed. “Of course you do.”
Matt scanned the designs with an intensity that felt almost theatrical. He was playing the part, I realized. The impulsive ringleader, the one who would take the blame if we regretted this tomorrow.
"That one." he declared with slurred confidence, turning to me with his grin widening as he held up his inner wrist to mirror where mine would go. Matt was pointing decisively at a tiny puzzle piece design, that looked simple enough for a quick drunk decision. "Because you're my missing tab, sweetheart."
The words hung in the air longer than he probably expected it to. His expression shifted, the playful edge softening into something I could not exactly name.
A hiccup suddenly erupted out of me, breaking the silence, making me let out a giggle. The alcohol made Matt’s idea feel like equal parts thrilling recklessness and terrifying permanence.
He turned to the artist and grinned widely, as he said, “Two matching puzzle pieces. Inside the wrist, please.”
The man looked between us again, this time with something closer to amusement. “You two sure about this? It is permanent.”
Matt looked at me once more, to check if I was still onboard with his decision and I looked at him, equally grinning. “Yes.” we said at the same time.
Matt went first as I had demanded, rolling up his sleeve with casual ease to reveal the edge of his existing tattoo sleeve peeking out, as he extended out his inner wrist. The artist cleaned his skin, applied the stencil, and asked if the placement was right. Matt barely even glanced at it.
“Perfect.” he said, and then he looked at me and winked.
I watched the needle work, and Matt didn’t flinch, not even once throughout the entire process. He smirked straight at me over his shoulder occasionally, his glasses slipping slightly down his nose. He chatted with the artist like they were old friends, asking about his other pieces, the shop, and how late they stayed open. He was so casual and unbothered, as the needle pierced his skin, causing red dots to bead across his skin. Watching Matt in this state, made my chest ache. What should have been a painful, rash decision turned into something that felt unfairly intimate and hot, as I watched transfixed from the stool beside him.
When it was done, Matt stood and examined the fresh ink on his wrist. A tiny puzzle piece, nestled among the existing lines of his sleeve like it had always belonged there. He flexed his hand, watching the way the skin moved around it, and then he looked at me with that infuriating grin of his.
“Your turn.”
My heart dropped to my stomach. All at once, the tequila haze cleared just enough for reality to set in. I was about to get a needle shoved into my arm, all because of a whim.
I groaned while hiding my face briefly in my hands as my heart hammered wildly against my ribcage. I slid into the chair anyway, the vinyl cool and tacky against my bare thighs, as I held out my arm like I was offering it for sacrifice.
“You okay?” Matt asked, as the artist wiped my inner wrist with alcohol that stung cold.
I nodded, as my jaw was set tight.
He moved closer, settling into the seat beside me, close enough that his knee pressed against mine. Matt didn’t say anything else, but simply just reached over and placed his warm hand on my thigh, grounding me.
Then the needle descended upon my skin.
I sucked in a breath. It stung, badly, like a sharp burning sensation that crawled up my arm, but I sat still. I felt Matt squeeze my thigh gently, and I focused on that instead of the pain. The pressure of his palm... the familiar weight of him beside me…
“Look at me.” he urged quietly.
And I did. His blue eyes were soft behind his glasses, softer than I had seen them all night. He held my gaze while the artist worked away, and I let myself get lost in them and in the way his touch radiated warmth against my skin. The piercing pain slowly began to fade into background noise.
“You’re doing so good.”
When the machine finally clicked off, I peeked down at my fresh ink to find the puzzle tab staring back at me. The skin around it was inflamed and tender beneath the plastic wrap that the artist slapped on with gruff instructions about aftercare and keeping it clean. But I barely heard him. I was too busy staring at the fresh ink on my skin, the tiny puzzle piece now permanently etched onto my body.
Matt held his wrist up beside mine immediately, both red and raw under the lights, and pressed them together gently so the tabs almost fit. He was beaming like a fool while he paid for the both of us. The recklessness soon settled into giddy pride as we stumbled back out into the night.
Once we stepped out of the shop, the adrenaline crash hit me all at once. My legs felt unsteady, my head spun, and my wrist throbbed with a dull ache that reminded me of what I had just done. I pressed my fingers to the bandage, half convinced I imagined the whole thing.
"I can't believe you made me do this." I said, holding my wrist protectively.
Matt bumped my shoulder with his. “What? Regretting it already?”
“No.” I replied, surprising myself with how true it felt. “Not yet, at least.”
He then leaned in close, his voice dropping to that low smug tone that always unraveled my defenses, with the scent of his cologne mixed with tequila on his breath. "Admit it, you like it. And besides, now you'll never forget me."
Something about the way he phrased it, so smug and so sure amid the streetlights casting their long shadows around us, pulled the truth from me before I could clamp it down completely. "I could never forget you anyway." I admitted, the words slipping out softer and heavier than I expected it to.
Matt froze mid-step, as the noise of distant cars and laughter from a passing group faded into a sudden hush between us. He stared at me with a sharp unreadable gaze as heat crawled up my neck in mortified waves, that made my pulse thunder louder than the fresh tattoo throb ever could. His lips curved into something different from his usual cocky smirk, a small knowing smile that made my stomach flip violently as I shook my head hard to dispel the moment.
"God, listen to me. I’m so fucking drunk." I said quickly, forcing a brittle laugh while I waved my hand dismissively.
Matt's smile did not fade at all, but instead it deepened with a softer edge that saw straight through me. His eyes lingered on mine for a beat too long while the throb in my wrist pulsed right in time with my racing heart. I hated how it made everything feel far more real than what our casual label had any right to allow.
We stood under the buzzing neon glow from a nearby sign for what felt like ages. All I could hear was the pounding of my pulse directly in my ears, and the weight of my slip making the air between us thick and charged with something unspoken. Matt didn’t move or look away, but instead his presence held me in place with unspoken intensity as if he was waiting for me to double down or take my words back.
I laughed again, far too loud this time, as I shoved my hands deep into the pockets of my hoodie. "Seriously, tequila makes me sappy like that, so please ignore me completely." I insisted desperately, but Matt simply tipped his head slightly with a slow smile tugging at the corners of his lips in that gentle knowing way that made me want to vapourize into thin air right there on the spot.
My throat went dry as I hated the warmth his look stirred inside me, and hated even more how steady Matt remained while I scrambled internally to take back what I had blurted out. I nudged his shoulder with mine to drag us back into safer territory.
"Stop staring at me like that." I muttered, my words tumbling out defensive and breathless. "You're supposed to laugh it off and make a joke about it. That's our thing, remember?"
He chuckled, the sound being warm and gentle. "And ruin this moment?" he replied, the question hanging light but loaded, and my stomach flipped again.
I shot back too fast and too defensive. "There is no moment, Matt. It’s not like that."
Matt didn’t call me out on the lie but instead shook his head with that small maddening smile still curving his lips, falling back into step beside me as if we had not just cracked open something fragile and real between us.
The air felt entirely different now, it was much heavier, as his eyes lingered too long whenever I glanced away. Being drunk around Matt was dangerous, and the fresh puzzle tab on my inner wrist throbbed as a constant reminder, as we continued our walk towards the dorm rooms.
Back in my room, the familiar cluttered space felt smaller… somehow. Or maybe it was just that we were standing closer than usual, the air between us charged with something that had nothing to do with tequila anymore. I sat on the edge of my bed, suddenly very aware of how late it was, and how quiet the room had fallen.
Matt settled onto my desk chair, with his legs stretched out and arms crossed behind his head. He looked unfairly composed for someone who matched me shot for shot. When our eyes met, he gave me a small smile that made my stomach flip.
I flopped onto the bed and buried my face in the pillow to escape the lingering spin behind my eyes. "We're idiots." I groaned, tugging my sleeve down instinctively to hide the tattoo as the plastic wrap crinkled audibly under my fingers.
"Finally regretting it, are we?” he chuckled, with clear amusement colouring his tone. I peeked out from the pillow to glare at him half-heartedly as the silence stretched for a few beats. Matt then broke it by tapping a pen idly against the desk. Hs voice cut through low and probing. "You meant it though, didn't you?"
My stomach lurched at the directness. Then, I slowly twisted onto my side to face him better. "Meant what exactly?" I asked, though I knew precisely what he was referring to.
"That you'd never forget me." he replied, watching me with an infuriating calmness that made heat flare across my face anew.
"Matt, I was drunk. And I still very much am."
He leaned back in the chair, stretching, watching me with an unrelenting gaze. “Doesn’t mean it wasn’t true.”
I threw my pillow at him in retaliation, but he caught it easily with a grin that widened into triumph. He tossed it casually aside onto the floor, as I muttered a cuss under my breath and yanked the duvet up over my head to hide from the intensity of his gaze.
Matt’s voice softened as he moved closer to me, the mattress dipping under his weight when he perched on the edge and peeled the duvet down just enough to meet my eyes. "You know what's really funny about all this?" he murmured. "I'll never forget you either, ink or not."
The duvet suddenly felt too hot and suffocatingly heavy, trapping the air while my heart slammed against my ribs. All l I could whisper through the lump in my throat was, "What?"
Matt chuckled softly in response while brushing the duvet down a bit further to reveal the unmistakable spark shining clearly in his eyes, as his fingers lingered just a moment too long near my cheek in the dim light. "Hm, not the reaction I was expecting.” he said with the words carrying a playful edge, yet laced underneath with that deeper truth we always danced so carefully around.
“Oh, fuck off, Matt.” I snapped back at him with a quick shove, even though my pulse betrayed every single flinch and shift in my body language.
He leaned even closer with his smirk returning to full force and noting the blush that crept steadily up my neck. "Sweetheart, you're literally blushing right now." he observed with obvious smug satisfaction, as he tugged lightly at the edge of the duvet once more.
"I’m not, stop it." I retorted, dragging the duvet higher to shield myself, but Matt persisted with glinting eyes.
"You are, and what's the matter? Scared I'll make you say the whole thing again when you’re sober?" he teased, and I swatted at his arm in flustered retaliation.
"Go to hell."
He laughed freely at that and fell back onto the bed beside me with one arm behind his head, looking perfectly at home as if challenging me to push further.
I groaned into the pillow again while he basked in my unraveling state. When I cautiously glanced up at him again, his laughter had softened into something quieter with now only a smirk lingering but lacking its usual sharpness entirely.
"I mean it though." Matt said suddenly, his voice serious now as he reached out to brush a stray strand of hair from my face with uncharacteristic gentleness that nearly undid me completely. "Forget the tattoo and the alcohol. I couldn't forget you if I tried." he added, the raw honesty in his tone leaving no room for our usual clever deflections.
My chest tightened painfully at the sheer weight of his words, while my breath caught sharp and uneven in my throat. I didn’t know where to direct my gaze as Matt’s touch lingered soft and reassuring, while his eyes held mine firmly without even the slightest hint of his cocky veil for cover.
“Matt…” I was left completely speechless, when I actually wanted to attempt to lighten this heavy moment between us somehow, and hide exactly how badly it shook my carefully maintained control over everything.
Matt’s smile deepened noticeably, but then he quickly shifted back to his playful demeanour that I was far more familiar with. He pulled his hand away from my face very slowly, almost reluctantly. "So, mind if I crash here tonight? I’m too lazy to go back to my place."
“You’re so annoying.” I scoffed, while poking him firmly in the chest.
Matt's smirk twisted back to something noticeably sharper, with his eyes narrowing playfully with that familiar spark as he caught my hand loosely yet securely in his own larger one. "And I’m ever so lucky that you love all sides of me. It's all about maintaining a balance. I can't let you forget exactly who I am under everything else." he replied smoothly, as he leaned down close enough for his chain to brush coolly against my collarbone, which sent fresh shivers throughout my skin.
"Unfortunately for me, I do after all have a matching tattoo with you now. So forgetting you is seeming to be impossible right now." I shot back, pulling the duvet tighter around me like armour.
Matt grinned wider and husked with smug certainty. "Good, because I don't plan on going anywhere." The promise laced with that cocky edge of his made my heart thud traitorously hard in my chest.
"God, you're so cocky." I rolled my eyes even as the words landed heavily, and he sprawled fully beside me with his arm slung over his head, grinning.
"And I know you love it." he said, shrugging nonchalantly.
I looked at him with narrowed eyes, as the alcohol haze sharpened into defensive sass, with Matt’s audacity showing no limits in my space. "You do realize I could revoke your privileges, right? No more late-night study sessions, and no more staying past hours in my room. All rights gone.”
Matt raised a brow like I had tossed him his favourite challenge. His eyes flashing with that mischievous gleam behind his glasses as he propped himself up on one elbow. "Privileges? Sweetheart, this isn't some library pass you can just take back whenever you feel like it." he teased, his voice dropping to that low timbre that always chipped at my resolve.
"Try me." I shot back quickly, but the heat rose to my cheeks first.
"You wouldn't last a day without me here, and you know it deep down." he murmured, the words smug and true as his gaze held mine.
And the worst part? Matt wasn't entirely wrong. But I didn't have the words or the sobriety in this very moment, to answer back to him. So instead, I rolled onto my other side, tucked the duvet under my chin, and prayed sleep would come to my rescue quick.
A/N: its between me and god on how much I struggled to write this bc its been 5 months since the last update oopsdfjffk which is why i'm not THAT happy with this one :( but i am veryyyy excited to write all the upcoming smut for the next few parts hehe
nerdy!matt convinces college student!reader to get a matching tattoo with him (3.3K words)
view more of this au here
Contains: fluff, mentions of alcohol, mutual pining, slow burn
The campus bar was crowded and loud, and shots were lined up between Matt and me as we toasted to surviving finals, the weeks we spent apart during winter break, and the return to our new and last semester of our undergrad.
Drunk Matt shortly emerged by the time he was five shots in, shedding his polished facade to reveal his true reckless side, that only I knew of. His bright blue eyes flashed with a cocky promise as he rolled up his sleeve to flash his tattoo sleeve, and proposed the idea that now propelled us down the neon-lit sidewalk.
"C'mon, what's the worst that could happen?" he had slurred against my ear earlier, grinning with wild surety. "We match, we laugh, and possibly regret it when we’re thirty."
I protested at first as we stumbled towards the tattoo shop, my giggles bubbling up unbidden while the tequila swirled in my stomach, reminding him with slurred insistence that I could barely commit to picking an exam answer sometimes let alone permanent ink on my skin.
"You're insane, Matt. I can't do this." I said, leaning heavily into his side for balance, the cool night breeze carrying the distant hum of traffic and making my head spin faster.
But Matt only chuckled as he steered me forward with a hand on my lower back, his touch steady despite the buzz we both carried. Deep down, I craved the recklessness with him, the side of me that let him push until I caved, and under the haze of shots, his words wore me down until I was laughing nervously and muttering, "Fine, but you're going first, Matt."
The neon "open" sign buzzed faintly above the door when we finally reached the shop, casting a pinkish light across the sidewalk and illuminating the mischievous glint in Matt’s eyes as he pushed the door open. Inside the air hit us thick with the mixed scents of fresh ink and sharp antiseptic. The low hum of fluorescent lights overhead mingled with the distant buzz of a needle from the back room, made me immediately realize we did not belong here in our bar-rumpled clothes. Our hair was messy and cheeks were flushed from laughter that spilled out too loud into the quiet space.
The walls were lined with designs, some traditional and some strange, and a man with thick-rimmed glasses looked up from his phone with the weary expression of someone who had seen far too many drunk college students stumble through his door at midnight. The tattoo artist, a burly man with full sleeves of his own work, raised an unimpressed eyebrow at our entrance but said nothing as Matt scanned the sheets of various designs pinned to the wall.
He looked at Matt first, then at me, and then back at Matt again. “You got an appointment?” he asked, already knowing the answer.
“Nope!” Matt said cheerfully. “But we have a vision.”
The artist sighed. “Of course you do.”
Matt scanned the designs with an intensity that felt almost theatrical. He was playing the part, I realized. The impulsive ringleader, the one who would take the blame if we regretted this tomorrow.
"That one." he declared with slurred confidence, turning to me with his grin widening as he held up his inner wrist to mirror where mine would go. Matt was pointing decisively at a tiny puzzle piece design, that looked simple enough for a quick drunk decision. "Because you're my missing tab, sweetheart."
The words hung in the air longer than he probably expected it to. His expression shifted, the playful edge softening into something I could not exactly name.
A hiccup suddenly erupted out of me, breaking the silence, making me let out a giggle. The alcohol made Matt’s idea feel like equal parts thrilling recklessness and terrifying permanence.
He turned to the artist and grinned widely, as he said, “Two matching puzzle pieces. Inside the wrist, please.”
The man looked between us again, this time with something closer to amusement. “You two sure about this? It is permanent.”
Matt looked at me once more, to check if I was still onboard with his decision and I looked at him, equally grinning. “Yes.” we said at the same time.
Matt went first as I had demanded, rolling up his sleeve with casual ease to reveal the edge of his existing tattoo sleeve peeking out, as he extended out his inner wrist. The artist cleaned his skin, applied the stencil, and asked if the placement was right. Matt barely even glanced at it.
“Perfect.” he said, and then he looked at me and winked.
I watched the needle work, and Matt didn’t flinch, not even once throughout the entire process. He smirked straight at me over his shoulder occasionally, his glasses slipping slightly down his nose. He chatted with the artist like they were old friends, asking about his other pieces, the shop, and how late they stayed open. He was so casual and unbothered, as the needle pierced his skin, causing red dots to bead across his skin. Watching Matt in this state, made my chest ache. What should have been a painful, rash decision turned into something that felt unfairly intimate and hot, as I watched transfixed from the stool beside him.
When it was done, Matt stood and examined the fresh ink on his wrist. A tiny puzzle piece, nestled among the existing lines of his sleeve like it had always belonged there. He flexed his hand, watching the way the skin moved around it, and then he looked at me with that infuriating grin of his.
“Your turn.”
My heart dropped to my stomach. All at once, the tequila haze cleared just enough for reality to set in. I was about to get a needle shoved into my arm, all because of a whim.
I groaned while hiding my face briefly in my hands as my heart hammered wildly against my ribcage. I slid into the chair anyway, the vinyl cool and tacky against my bare thighs, as I held out my arm like I was offering it for sacrifice.
“You okay?” Matt asked, as the artist wiped my inner wrist with alcohol that stung cold.
I nodded, as my jaw was set tight.
He moved closer, settling into the seat beside me, close enough that his knee pressed against mine. Matt didn’t say anything else, but simply just reached over and placed his warm hand on my thigh, grounding me.
Then the needle descended upon my skin.
I sucked in a breath. It stung, badly, like a sharp burning sensation that crawled up my arm, but I sat still. I felt Matt squeeze my thigh gently, and I focused on that instead of the pain. The pressure of his palm... the familiar weight of him beside me…
“Look at me.” he urged quietly.
And I did. His blue eyes were soft behind his glasses, softer than I had seen them all night. He held my gaze while the artist worked away, and I let myself get lost in them and in the way his touch radiated warmth against my skin. The piercing pain slowly began to fade into background noise.
“You’re doing so good.”
When the machine finally clicked off, I peeked down at my fresh ink to find the puzzle tab staring back at me. The skin around it was inflamed and tender beneath the plastic wrap that the artist slapped on with gruff instructions about aftercare and keeping it clean. But I barely heard him. I was too busy staring at the fresh ink on my skin, the tiny puzzle piece now permanently etched onto my body.
Matt held his wrist up beside mine immediately, both red and raw under the lights, and pressed them together gently so the tabs almost fit. He was beaming like a fool while he paid for the both of us. The recklessness soon settled into giddy pride as we stumbled back out into the night.
Once we stepped out of the shop, the adrenaline crash hit me all at once. My legs felt unsteady, my head spun, and my wrist throbbed with a dull ache that reminded me of what I had just done. I pressed my fingers to the bandage, half convinced I imagined the whole thing.
"I can't believe you made me do this." I said, holding my wrist protectively.
Matt bumped my shoulder with his. “What? Regretting it already?”
“No.” I replied, surprising myself with how true it felt. “Not yet, at least.”
He then leaned in close, his voice dropping to that low smug tone that always unraveled my defenses, with the scent of his cologne mixed with tequila on his breath. "Admit it, you like it. And besides, now you'll never forget me."
Something about the way he phrased it, so smug and so sure amid the streetlights casting their long shadows around us, pulled the truth from me before I could clamp it down completely. "I could never forget you anyway." I admitted, the words slipping out softer and heavier than I expected it to.
Matt froze mid-step, as the noise of distant cars and laughter from a passing group faded into a sudden hush between us. He stared at me with a sharp unreadable gaze as heat crawled up my neck in mortified waves, that made my pulse thunder louder than the fresh tattoo throb ever could. His lips curved into something different from his usual cocky smirk, a small knowing smile that made my stomach flip violently as I shook my head hard to dispel the moment.
"God, listen to me. I’m so fucking drunk." I said quickly, forcing a brittle laugh while I waved my hand dismissively.
Matt's smile did not fade at all, but instead it deepened with a softer edge that saw straight through me. His eyes lingered on mine for a beat too long while the throb in my wrist pulsed right in time with my racing heart. I hated how it made everything feel far more real than what our casual label had any right to allow.
We stood under the buzzing neon glow from a nearby sign for what felt like ages. All I could hear was the pounding of my pulse directly in my ears, and the weight of my slip making the air between us thick and charged with something unspoken. Matt didn’t move or look away, but instead his presence held me in place with unspoken intensity as if he was waiting for me to double down or take my words back.
I laughed again, far too loud this time, as I shoved my hands deep into the pockets of my hoodie. "Seriously, tequila makes me sappy like that, so please ignore me completely." I insisted desperately, but Matt simply tipped his head slightly with a slow smile tugging at the corners of his lips in that gentle knowing way that made me want to vapourize into thin air right there on the spot.
My throat went dry as I hated the warmth his look stirred inside me, and hated even more how steady Matt remained while I scrambled internally to take back what I had blurted out. I nudged his shoulder with mine to drag us back into safer territory.
"Stop staring at me like that." I muttered, my words tumbling out defensive and breathless. "You're supposed to laugh it off and make a joke about it. That's our thing, remember?"
He chuckled, the sound being warm and gentle. "And ruin this moment?" he replied, the question hanging light but loaded, and my stomach flipped again.
I shot back too fast and too defensive. "There is no moment, Matt. It’s not like that."
Matt didn’t call me out on the lie but instead shook his head with that small maddening smile still curving his lips, falling back into step beside me as if we had not just cracked open something fragile and real between us.
The air felt entirely different now, it was much heavier, as his eyes lingered too long whenever I glanced away. Being drunk around Matt was dangerous, and the fresh puzzle tab on my inner wrist throbbed as a constant reminder, as we continued our walk towards the dorm rooms.
Back in my room, the familiar cluttered space felt smaller… somehow. Or maybe it was just that we were standing closer than usual, the air between us charged with something that had nothing to do with tequila anymore. I sat on the edge of my bed, suddenly very aware of how late it was, and how quiet the room had fallen.
Matt settled onto my desk chair, with his legs stretched out and arms crossed behind his head. He looked unfairly composed for someone who matched me shot for shot. When our eyes met, he gave me a small smile that made my stomach flip.
I flopped onto the bed and buried my face in the pillow to escape the lingering spin behind my eyes. "We're idiots." I groaned, tugging my sleeve down instinctively to hide the tattoo as the plastic wrap crinkled audibly under my fingers.
"Finally regretting it, are we?” he chuckled, with clear amusement colouring his tone. I peeked out from the pillow to glare at him half-heartedly as the silence stretched for a few beats. Matt then broke it by tapping a pen idly against the desk. Hs voice cut through low and probing. "You meant it though, didn't you?"
My stomach lurched at the directness. Then, I slowly twisted onto my side to face him better. "Meant what exactly?" I asked, though I knew precisely what he was referring to.
"That you'd never forget me." he replied, watching me with an infuriating calmness that made heat flare across my face anew.
"Matt, I was drunk. And I still very much am."
He leaned back in the chair, stretching, watching me with an unrelenting gaze. “Doesn’t mean it wasn’t true.”
I threw my pillow at him in retaliation, but he caught it easily with a grin that widened into triumph. He tossed it casually aside onto the floor, as I muttered a cuss under my breath and yanked the duvet up over my head to hide from the intensity of his gaze.
Matt’s voice softened as he moved closer to me, the mattress dipping under his weight when he perched on the edge and peeled the duvet down just enough to meet my eyes. "You know what's really funny about all this?" he murmured. "I'll never forget you either, ink or not."
The duvet suddenly felt too hot and suffocatingly heavy, trapping the air while my heart slammed against my ribs. All l I could whisper through the lump in my throat was, "What?"
Matt chuckled softly in response while brushing the duvet down a bit further to reveal the unmistakable spark shining clearly in his eyes, as his fingers lingered just a moment too long near my cheek in the dim light. "Hm, not the reaction I was expecting.” he said with the words carrying a playful edge, yet laced underneath with that deeper truth we always danced so carefully around.
“Oh, fuck off, Matt.” I snapped back at him with a quick shove, even though my pulse betrayed every single flinch and shift in my body language.
He leaned even closer with his smirk returning to full force and noting the blush that crept steadily up my neck. "Sweetheart, you're literally blushing right now." he observed with obvious smug satisfaction, as he tugged lightly at the edge of the duvet once more.
"I’m not, stop it." I retorted, dragging the duvet higher to shield myself, but Matt persisted with glinting eyes.
"You are, and what's the matter? Scared I'll make you say the whole thing again when you’re sober?" he teased, and I swatted at his arm in flustered retaliation.
"Go to hell."
He laughed freely at that and fell back onto the bed beside me with one arm behind his head, looking perfectly at home as if challenging me to push further.
I groaned into the pillow again while he basked in my unraveling state. When I cautiously glanced up at him again, his laughter had softened into something quieter with now only a smirk lingering but lacking its usual sharpness entirely.
"I mean it though." Matt said suddenly, his voice serious now as he reached out to brush a stray strand of hair from my face with uncharacteristic gentleness that nearly undid me completely. "Forget the tattoo and the alcohol. I couldn't forget you if I tried." he added, the raw honesty in his tone leaving no room for our usual clever deflections.
My chest tightened painfully at the sheer weight of his words, while my breath caught sharp and uneven in my throat. I didn’t know where to direct my gaze as Matt’s touch lingered soft and reassuring, while his eyes held mine firmly without even the slightest hint of his cocky veil for cover.
“Matt…” I was left completely speechless, when I actually wanted to attempt to lighten this heavy moment between us somehow, and hide exactly how badly it shook my carefully maintained control over everything.
Matt’s smile deepened noticeably, but then he quickly shifted back to his playful demeanour that I was far more familiar with. He pulled his hand away from my face very slowly, almost reluctantly. "So, mind if I crash here tonight? I’m too lazy to go back to my place."
“You’re so annoying.” I scoffed, while poking him firmly in the chest.
Matt's smirk twisted back to something noticeably sharper, with his eyes narrowing playfully with that familiar spark as he caught my hand loosely yet securely in his own larger one. "And I’m ever so lucky that you love all sides of me. It's all about maintaining a balance. I can't let you forget exactly who I am under everything else." he replied smoothly, as he leaned down close enough for his chain to brush coolly against my collarbone, which sent fresh shivers throughout my skin.
"Unfortunately for me, I do after all have a matching tattoo with you now. So forgetting you is seeming to be impossible right now." I shot back, pulling the duvet tighter around me like armour.
Matt grinned wider and husked with smug certainty. "Good, because I don't plan on going anywhere." The promise laced with that cocky edge of his made my heart thud traitorously hard in my chest.
"God, you're so cocky." I rolled my eyes even as the words landed heavily, and he sprawled fully beside me with his arm slung over his head, grinning.
"And I know you love it." he said, shrugging nonchalantly.
I looked at him with narrowed eyes, as the alcohol haze sharpened into defensive sass, with Matt’s audacity showing no limits in my space. "You do realize I could revoke your privileges, right? No more late-night study sessions, and no more staying past hours in my room. All rights gone.”
Matt raised a brow like I had tossed him his favourite challenge. His eyes flashing with that mischievous gleam behind his glasses as he propped himself up on one elbow. "Privileges? Sweetheart, this isn't some library pass you can just take back whenever you feel like it." he teased, his voice dropping to that low timbre that always chipped at my resolve.
"Try me." I shot back quickly, but the heat rose to my cheeks first.
"You wouldn't last a day without me here, and you know it deep down." he murmured, the words smug and true as his gaze held mine.
And the worst part? Matt wasn't entirely wrong. But I didn't have the words or the sobriety in this very moment, to answer back to him. So instead, I rolled onto my other side, tucked the duvet under my chin, and prayed sleep would come to my rescue quick.
A/N: its between me and god on how much I struggled to write this bc its been 5 months since the last update oopsdfjffk which is why i'm not THAT happy with this one :( but i am veryyyy excited to write all the upcoming smut for the next few parts hehe
i have come to the decision that i might just start writing in 1st person pov (excluding smut pieces) because i just feel like my writing would be 10x times better this way ANYWAYS YOU ARE MY INSPIRATION FOR THIS😇😇 also im running to your dms to yap about my new wip (pilled ontop of my 10000 other wips) 😭😭😭
Awwww thank you honestly sometimes I second guess myself and wonder if I should even write in 1st pov bc I know not everyone fucks with it but it’s the only way I write best so thank you sweet mari :’)
OMGGG PLS DO I miss you yapping it up in my dms 🙂↕️
BEAUTIFUL PERSON AWARD! Once you are given this award you're supposed to paste it in the asks of 8 (or more) people who deserve it. If you break the chain nothing happens, but it's sweet to know someone thinks you're beautiful inside and out 🩵
random little mannerisms or quirks the triplets have that i'm fond of
nick being a matt girl, even though we know these two argue quite often
all of them frequently using hand gestures while talking
matt chewing certain syllables or words
chris having unexpected moments of insight about people, life, and his brothers that are usually hidden behind his more humorous nature
nick disliking physical affection quite a bit more than his brothers but often patting their arms or shoulders, or touching their hands briefly, especially when feeling strong emotions (positive or negative)
the way matt rubs his eyes when he's laughing
the moments when they're all laughing at the same time and leaning
nick's delivery on certain words or sentences, which is a huge reason why he's so comedic. great timing and mannerisms in that
matt and chris giggling in sync
nick and matt sharing a look when chris says something they find confusing, weird, or unexpected
the fact that they keep running notes on moments in their lives that they find amusing, heartwarming, etc. for car videos but in general is such a nice way of remembering life
chris and matt often being on the same wavelength, and most commonly the ones who say things in sync
their wit! we often talk about nick's comebacks but they all have sharp tongues and quick reactions, just in different ways! nick is more blunt and can carry it longer, matt has attitude and usually keeps his more witty comments for specific moments (distinct timing), and chris largely depends on his mood because he's least likely to speak so harshly but CAN
matt's little voice acting moments
also matt's facial expressions when something insane is happening; he always gets so wide eyed
they all make for great reaction images/gifs though
nick apparently being a peaceful sleeper and his brother's being so fond of that
nick and chris often having different interests but breaking out into song together, even after they were just bickering
weird little thing, but how harsh their features can be when they aren't smiling
chris being a bit obnoxious when competitive but honest about it vs. matt being competitive but pretending not to be until he's either winning or thinks he shouldn't be losing...and then there's nick trying but not really caring if he loses or not
them being horny for no reason but especially when the others get weirded out by it, i just think it's funny
matt's honesty and awareness of anxiety and mental health struggles
matt's love for animals and especially how gentle and patient he is with them
chris being so expressive but also keeping certain parts of his heart close to the chest, and the fact that he admits he does this
i love how curious and introspective they all are, especially chris with out of the box thinking or matt with some deviousness
nick being so open about his sexuality and how his brother's support, accept, and embrace that wholeheartedly
matt and chris still being kinda up each other's asses even after saying they were trying to do less triplet related things
unexpected dark humor related to violence or suicide (commonly from nick or matt)
speaking of, nick responding to weird facts or a minor comment with something along the lines of 'that's how he wants to die', which is both funny and slightly concerning because it happens on multiple occasions (ex. the hippo, the molasses flood, 'so should i kms?')
matt being a safe driver but also somehow having road rage
chris ability to be amused by everything, how easily he laughs, how loudly and unrepentantly he does
them bringing up triplet references
matt genuinely being a little bit of a shapeshifter (ex. looking a bit more like nick or chris at different points in their lives, beard vs no beard, 'tuff' vs soft matt)
nick responding to mentions of food he loves with something along the lines of 'i want to rub that all over my body' OR the exact opposite, with 'there are so many things i'd hate to be covered in'
matt being a deeply nostalgic person
chris' love for 'classic' designs, all of them enjoying vintage elements in their personal aesthetics
nick being openly appreciative of female musicians. i feel like this isn't super common among male youtubers. they often listen to men to near exclusivity
i love that they all accessorize!
when they have the sillies or start playing up some zesty mannerisms
how often they make references to other media. sometimes it's pop culture moments, niche things from their childhood or specifically boston, or things they watch and listen to
chris making gay jokes to nick, and nick calling him gay back over stupid shit like bros what are you doing
them arguing or yelling at each other in one minute and then talking normally or laughing the next
when they call cluster together into one space without realizing (it's so adorable)
when they busta move
THERE'S PROBABLY SO MANY MORE. these are just the ones i'm thinking of at the moment.
BEAUTIFUL PERSON AWARD! Once you are given this award you're supposed to paste it in the asks of 8 (or more) people who deserve it. If you break the chain nothing happens, but it's sweet to know someone thinks you're beautiful inside and out🩷
BEAUTIFUL PERSON AWARD! Once you are given this award you're supposed to paste it in the asks of 8 (or more) people who deserve it. If you break the chain nothing happens, but it's sweet to know someone thinks you're beautiful inside and out 💚
BEAUTIFUL PERSON AWARD! Once you are given this award you're supposed to paste it in the asks of 8 (or more) people who deserve it. If you break the chain nothing happens, but it's sweet to know someone thinks you're beautiful inside and out <3
INTRODUCTION: hey everyone, its me, your host @/crystalcider otherwise known as cynn. i'm a fairly new writer in all fandom spaces, but as for the sturniolo triplets? i've been around a bit, but never really knew when to make a splash in the sturniolo fandom specfically. i wanted to make a good impression, and find a way to bring people together for something positive, and thus SUMMER OF STURNIOLO was born !
WHAT'S SOS ( SUMMER OF STURNIOLO ) ? : summer of sturniolo was born out of a need to have a place to put my creativity, as well as wanting to bring sturnblr closer together. summer of sturniolo (shortened to sos) is a summer writing event where i will be debuting my sturniolo triplet writings AND inviting other writers to join! think of a xmas writing event, or kinktober, it'll feature writings themed around a certain season, except this time, it'll be summer. that's right, anything summer related goes, so go crazy! i'll be debuting 4 au's :
LIFE IN CHERRYWOODS, CALIFORNIA: a reality tv show au about 10 20-something descendants of actors, celebrities & musicans are hand picked to live together for the entire summer, in an attempt to show the world they're more than just nepo babies
BOY NEXT SHORE : a the summer i turned pretty inspired chratt au
THE COAST OF CALYPSO : an island matt au featuring a charming view on island life and a clandestine mystery that incloses it
ESTEVILLE, KA: inspired by skins, uk au: a group of 20-somethings and tales about their stumbling and falls from grace into adulthood and 'maturity'
and the best part? all long fics. promised romance. thrill. adventure. mystery, juicy drama, and of course summer flings.
now, that's just what i'm bringing, but the question is what are you bringing to blow us all out of the water? all writers are encouraged to join, i'd love to see people join in with their own summer-influenced twist on fics! and in fact, they'll be suprises floating around sturnblr soon, actually, maybe as you're reading this right now, hiding in your inbox, or a friend, or a friend of a friends. i want you in, summer's known for being a time to cool off, and there's no pressure, no competition, just a way for writers to come together and beat the heat (or not), or maybe get steamy (lol)
SOUNDS COOL, HOW DO I JOIN ? : it's simple, if you see details on summer of sturniolo, and wanna join in to write. or, you want in on the fun just to read and support, you can send me an ask or comment requesting to be tagged!
IF YOU'RE A WRITER: if you have an idea you wanna create for this event, send me an ask as stated above, and state what day you'd like to debut, official start date is june 15th, i won't put an end date yet, depending on how many people join. but, i'll be adding everyone to an SOS lineup, similar to coachella, to know who's posting when, so readers have an easier time keeping up. and so the event stays streamlined.
IF YOU'RE A READER: just follow the above instructions and send asks to be tagged or for more details if you're curious!
*if you're both, it's double the fun!
WHEN IS IT? AND WHERE CAN I GET DETAILS ? : ah, the best part, summer doesn't have to end, does it? summer of sturniolo is all. summer. long. but dates and details may change, depending on who or how many people join. you can get details from me, your host cynn! who'll be guiding and maintaining this event. the original plan for the event was a month long, but if everyone wants it to go on longer than that, it will!
WHAT ARE THE RULES + GUIDELINES ? : well i'm glad you asked, they're placed down here and sorted based on certain criteria!
FOR WRITERS : this event is a writing event, so obviously writing is required, but here's the nitty gritty
ONE: no diving in the kiddie pool! this is an 18+ EVENT ONLY, let's make that clear
TWO: the reason for the first rule is because all writings are allowed: smut, angst, fluff etc. so with that being said, rules on what can and cannot be written should be pretty clear: anything you would see in a typical writers rules about general NO NO's apply here, shouldn't have to spell them out. no incest, scat, non-con, -18 etc. yeah, you know the rules
THREE: minimum writing wc is 500, there's no maximum, feel free to go crazy! longfics and shortfics are encouraged, au's, !readers, oc's, anything! creativity is key! just NO AI!!
FOUR: when entering the event: make sure to state these key things: who you're writing for, what slot you want, and the name/title of your fic, au, drabble etc, so i can make a masterlist on each sturniolo and whos writing for them! so that way, readers can keep up even when they missed a day, and its easy to look back on in the future!
FIVE: when tagging, tagging #SUMMER OF STURNIOLO or #SUMMER OF STURN 26' or something similar could help readers, other writers and myself find & keep track of posts!
SIX : once a date has been chosen, try to pick a different one! so everyone has a day to shine! (i dont think this will be an issue but just in case) if all dates are full, feel free to pick one that has the least on a specific date
FOR READERS : this should be a given, but its an 18+ EVENT!! this applies to readers as well, this is absolutely a MINORS DNI situation, i should not see any minors and if i do i'm blocking on sight
with all that being said, what are you waiting for? join in on the fun!
CRYSTALCIDER'S STURNIOLO TRIPLET MASTERLIST (MY FICS ONLY)
SUMMER OF STURNIOLO MASTERLIST
SUMMER OF STURNIOLO LINEUP : DATES + HEADLINERS (AUTHORS)
SUMMER OF STURNIOLO GOOGLE DOC
SUMMER OF STURNIOLO TAGLIST
*my fics will be linked twice in my personal masterlist and on the summer of sturniolo masterlist (where all other fics will go!) , again, just for future reference and organization!
NOTES : OMG im so excited to FINALLY be sharing this with you all, i'm a vv small blog so i really hope this reaches sturnblr in full because i really want this to be a really good sturnblr 26', and i hope this can help that :). with that being said, if anyone has any questions, send me an ask, dm or anything!
just tagging some sturniolo triplet fandom moots n' people who i think would like to join or be notified!
izzy806
2087
germansingergirl
stormborns
prguitarman
romaincrisis
annaxmalina
titsay
