I'm all You Need

People know me as Nathan Matthews. There's more than meets the eye with me...If I were you, I'd stay tuned. I just want to be part of my daughter's life...now that I'm a changed man and all.

[nathan--matthews]

Nathan Matthews

[nathan--matthews]

Common Goal || Apollo as Nathan and Charlie

Before coming back to Elysium as Nathan, Apollo had lived on this island as Patrick. He'd been here during the early days and had seen alliances and friendships form throughout the mutants before he'd decided to inhabit Patrick's body. One of Madelina's early friends, along with Amy, had been a girl named Charlie Diaz. Their bond had gone deep. So deep, in fact, that she'd been there when Madelina used her telepathy in order to kill someone for the first time. Charlie had been there to help Madelina get rid of the body and had also confessed her feelings that same night. To his surprise, Madelina rebuffed Charlie and the girl skulked off, licking her wounds.

It was no secret that Nathan was on Elysium Island. After a few encounters with onlookers, word had spread like wildfire. He'd even heard it at their wedding when he was in his real body, pretending to be 'Sean'. Madelina must have heavily shielded her mind that day because talk of Nathan and his return was on almost everyone's lips. "What would happen now that they are married? " "Didn't he say he wanted to be in hers and Lottie's life? " "How would that work?"

In fact, Apollo had been incredibly pleased that people were talking about Nathan. The more the island talked about him, the easier it would be to involve himself in Madelina and Amy's affairs.

However, in contemplation with himself, he realized that he would need allies. He would need people on the island and in Maddie's life to vouch for him, to speak for him when he couldn't speak for himself. He'd already reached out to Amy's mother. It hadn't backfired on him yet, but he was cautious. He found himself constantly wondering what Charlie Diaz was up to and made it his mission to 'bump into her' somewhere in Elysium. And so, here he was. In one of her favorite bars on the beach, waiting to run into her. When he caught sight of her familiar red hair, he cleared his throat and used his voice. "Excuse me...are you Charlie? Charlie Diaz?" He asked.

The girl looked suspicious almost immediately and looked him up and down before deciding to answer. "I am. How do you know who I am and why do you know my name?

"My name is Nathan Matthews. You might have heard of me from Maddie," he used the shortened form of the winged woman's name, knowing that the only person in her life that called her by her whole name was himself, Apollo. "I'm Lottie's father." He waited for a moment as understanding settled on her features.

"What are you doing here? You pushed her away. She's married now...or hadn't you heard?" She said it with a disgusted tone and rolled her eyes, disgusted at both the marriage and Nathan. "She's moved on, man. Give it up and go back to the mainland where you belong." She started to move away from him when he stopped her.

"I just want to be part of Lottie's life. Please. Hear me out. I thought if anyone would understand me...it could be you." He sounded genuine, he knew. He'd been practicing, trying to be more like Nathan than even the real Nathan was. "You were once her family, weren't you? I remember. After Maddie left and came back here, you helped her with Lottie. You were there for some of her pregnancy. You have to know what it's like to have a family in the palm of your hands and then feel them slip away from you." He felt his own eyes fill with tears and did an internal fist pump-- damn, he was good. He was so good, in fact, that Charlie started to get emotional as well.

"How do you know all that? Did Maddie tell you?" She asked, blinking rapidly so tears wouldn't fall.

He didn't answer, but changed the subject. "Let me buy you a drink. I want to explain why I'm here. I think we could help each other." He put his hand on her back and led her to a more private spot in the bar where they wouldn't be seen or heard. "What would you say if I told you that I have a plan to get Maddie away from Amy?" He asked dubiously, tilting his head to the side.

Charlie chuckled wryly. "Not likely, buddy. They can't be pried apart. They're like one person now...or haven't you noticed? They're all over each other all the time and holding hands and kissing each other. It's revolting." She said, rolling her eyes.

"And what if it was Amy's choice? Or...what if something...happened...to Amy?" He floated, trying to gauge her reaction.

Charlie became completely serious. "Excuse me?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. "Amy would never choose to walk away from Maddie. Not after they got married...not with Lottie as her new daughter." She said, vehemently before leaning forward, her eyes watching Nathan's face. "And if something happened to Amy...you mean...something intentional. Is that what you mean?"

He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms, shrugging his shoulders. "Maybe. If it was...what would you say to that? It would free up Maddie for you...get rid of Amy..."

Charlie wasn't fooled. She cut him off quickly. "Then why are you here if not to get Maddie back? What the fuck do you need me for if you're just going to go after Amy and you can have Maddie in the end. Why pull me aside and tell me all of this?"

Apollo had to remember what he'd said when he first got to the island, it was important to remember the reason he'd given for Nathan to be there at all. "All I want is a relationship with my daughter, Charlie. And I can't have that with Amy in the picture because she already has 2 parents. If you were with Maddie, it would be like...a quirky aunt in her life instead of another mom." He offered. It wasn't true. He wanted Madelina and he could care less about Lottie. Lottie was simply an instrument to get him into Madelina's life. If need be, he could pawn the little girl off on Charlie entirely or even Maddie's father and stepmother. All he wanted was his Madelina back and maybe as Nathan, he had a chance at that. "I see that I overestimated your devotion," he said, starting to rise. "Clearly you don't feel as strongly about Maddie as I thought you did. Else...you would do whatever it took to get her back."

Charlie's hand struck out and stopped the man. She breathed heavily for a moment, closing her eyes as she made her decision. "I'm making a deal with the devil...aren't I?" She asked, looking up at his face intently. "If we are going to do this...it can't be painful. However we get rid of Amy...she can't suffer. Maddie would never live through it. And we have to do it soon. If Lottie remembers Amy, that will make it harder for me to be her new parent. I don't want her to have any trauma."

Apollo had to stop himself from grinning like a Cheshire cat. He moved to sit back down and put his hands in front of him, finger's laced. "Then let's talk specifics, my new friend. Let's talk specifics."

[nathan--matthews]

What is your job?

Nathan: I was...am a journalist.

That's actually how Maddie and I met. I was supposed to interview her for an online magazine and talk to her about her plans for Elysium and how she was going to bring the mainland and Elysium together. She showed up and she was just so kind, she asked how my day was, she asked me questions about myself and always kept the topic on Elysium even when I would ask her about herself, personally.

But yeah....I'm a journalist. A writer.

[nathan--matthews]

Do you see yourself and Maddie together again?

Apollo as Nathan: If I'm being honest, my goal isn't only about Lottie. I still love Maddie. Who wouldn't? Have you seen her? Have you spoken with her?

When you are standing in front of a gorgeous woman who has wings like an angel, and then she starts speaking and you realize she is insanely smart, witty, charismatic, open-minded, and so determined to make the world a better place. How can you not fall in love with that?

Nathan: No. Leave Amy and Maddie to their happiness. Let them have their family.

[nathan--matthews]

Maddie's family like you?

Nathan: I...I think they did. I got along with her father and her stepmother. I met Andrea a couple of times and...yeah...I was excited at the prospect of them possibly becoming my family. But that was before I pushed her away. I'm not surprised if they hate me now. I would hate me.

[nathan--matthews]

Are you friends with Maddie's friends?

Apollo as Nathan: I know quite a few of her friends. I believe you would remember Charlie Diaz? There's also a man named....Sean, I think is his name. I'm still trying to meet them all. I would like to know them, actually. So they could see that I'm not really a bad guy.

Nathan: I just want off this island and back to my life with Maddie and Lottie as far from me as possible.

[nathan--matthews]

I think Amy is way better than you to be Maddie's partner. Her abs are better. She knows what gold is. She is popular, famous, the world loves her.

Apollo as Nathan: You're probably right. But I mean...have you looked at me?

Blonde hair, blue eyes, a chiseled jaw line. I may not be as famous as Amy, but I'm just as beautiful as she is.

And isn't there more to life than all of those things? What happened to love, trust, faithfulness? Fame and popularity isn't the only reason Maddie is with Amy. And she did love me at one point. We both know that...Lottie is the proof.

Nathan: Amy is infinitely better for Maddie. I never could compete with their connection and I'm not a mutant like she is. I could never understand the things Maddie has been through.

[nathan--matthews]

Do you want Lottie?

Nathan: "I do. The more I think about her growing up without a father, the more I regret pushing Maddie away."

Apollo: "I could give two shits about that little shit. But if it gives me an in into Maddie's life, then yeah, sure. I want Lottie."

[nathan--matthews]

How did Lottie happen?

"Well, Maddie and I were almost engaged. After she and Amy had gone their separate ways, we met and fell quickly for each other. Our lovemaking was some of the best I've ever experienced. I honestly thought, at the time, that we would be together forever. Obviously, that isn't what went down and I pushed her away when things got to serious. I shouldn't have done that, especially considering she was pregnant with our daughter. That's why I'm here. To make amends. To be in Lottie's life."

[nathan--matthews]

Accidental Run in? || Apollo/Nathan and Isabella

Apollo kept tab on the comings and goings of Madelina and Amy's families. It wasn't often they were in the same place at one time and ever since the beach incident, he'd been looking out for their family members in case an idea struck him while in public. Amy's parents didn't regularly visit Elysium, but when they did, they usually stayed in Madelina and Amy's home, as it had become quite the manse over the years.

He'd been sitting at a coffee shop as Nathan, pretending to be occupied on his computer and sipping a latte here and there. He'd been coming here for days, hoping to see someone, anyone that was close to Madelina that he could use to strong arm his way into her life. It wasn't enough anymore to claim that all the wanted was to be with and get to know Lottie. The little girl was quite insignificant to Apollo, truth be told. She was a means to getting into Madelina's life, that was all. He had no fatherly instincts toward the young mutant, although he could feel that Nathan himself did.

Someone walked through the door, and his eyes shot up. Bingo, he thought. Amy's mother walked into the cafe and ordered a drink, moving to sit down at a table that wasn't far from Apollo. He slowly shut his laptop, cleared his throat, rolled out his shoulders and started walking towards the woman. He took a deep breath before speaking.

"I'm sorry to bombard you like this...but your Isabella Tisdale, yes? Youre Amy Tisdale-Hastings's mother?" He asked sweetly, pointing a finger at the woman and squinting his eyes, as if he was trying to place her. "I don't believe we've met, but you might know of me. I'm Nathan Matthews. I'm Lottie's father. Maddie's little girl?" He asked, trying to seem kind and a bit awkward. "I spoke to both Maddie and Amy about possibly seeing our little girl, but they didn't seem very...receptive."

[amy-the-surfer-tisdale]

When Maddie reached for her body, Amy was already out of this world. She wasn't breathing; in fact, her lungs were full of water. If she had been underwater any longer, she would have been dead for good.

In one thing, Apollo was right: he could win. "Could" being the key word. Because he would never truly win. He almost succeeded this time—if he had waited a moment longer, if he had made sure the guy was still controlling the water for a few more minutes, Amy would be gone by now. But his excitement over his plan ended up ruining it.

As soon as Isabella heard that someone had taken over that poor guy's mind, she knew what was happening. She looked at Thomas and then at Maddie, who she knew was thinking the same thing. "He is back, right?" was all she could ask, because Maddie knew exactly who she was talking about. Apollo. Their shadow.

Had it been a bad idea to let her daughter marry Maddie? Now, if Apollo was truly back, Amy would be his number one target. She would never be safe again! "I knew I shouldn't have allowed her to marry you! I knew it!" Isabella screamed at Maddie, terrified for Amy and not even sure of what she was saying. "Bella, this is not the right moment to make a scene," Thomas said, holding his wife back and trying to calm her down.

While all that was happening, Drea was somehow able to make Amy breathe again. After a moment or two, Amy started coughing and throwing up the water that had filled her lungs. She was barely breathing with everything that was going on. She lay on her side, trying to expel all the water.

The wounds on her back and head were also being healed by Drea. Now, only her hair was bloody, but she no longer had any cuts; it was all just dirt. "What… What is going on?" Amy finally asked once she was able to speak again.

[missmadelina1x1]

Maddie left the side of the man who'd been used to hurt Amy and went back to kneel beside her wife. She was purposefully ignoring what Amy's mother had said, not even in the right head space to argue-- her whole focus was on her wife and the mother of her child. Thoughts were racing through her mind as she watched her little sister heal Amy. Was Isabella right? Was this Apollo's work? And if it was, what did that mean? They'd defeated them, hadn't they? She'd been there when he died. She wanted to cry, to scream, to rip her hair out until she was bald.

Maddie's eyes filled with thankful tears as Amy choked up the water that had been in her lung. "Oh my God, Amy. You're okay, you're okay. I'm here." She said, grabbing the woman's hand and squeezing it tight. "I'm right here." She could hear the people around them comforting each other, but her only focus was on her Amy.

"Something happened while you were surfing, hun. You fell off your surfboard and then somehow you were dragged under water. Someone used this man's ability without his consent....I'm still trying to figure out how. It's like his mind has been erased." She leaned forward to help Amy sit up a bit and leaned her forehead against the other woman's. "I'm so glad you're okay. I don't know what I would have done if I 'd have lost you. There was so much blood." She turned to Drea and kissed the little girl on the forehead. "Thanks, munchkin. Again."

[nathan--matthews]

Apollo was seething. He stood there, clenching and unclenching his fists by his side, trying to figure out how to go about what was to come. He stared daggers at the man whose body he used to drag Amy down into the deep. Should he kill the man? Should he let everyone know that he wasn't 'Sean'...that he was actually Apollo? What would he lose by doing that? Especially now that Amy's mother suspected that he was back.

But, no. Not yet. Not this way. Not in his real body where he couldn't hide who he was. He'd take someone else's body again before he let them see the real one that tethered him to the mortal plane. He shook his shoulders out and started walking toward the scene, his hands in the pocket of his swim shorts. "Wow...that was a close one, Amy. I'm so glad you're okay," he said, a small smile on his features. He could play this part to perfection, he knew. "And you...Drea...is that your name? Maddie's sister? Look at you...coming to the rescue. How sweet," he said, his voice dripping with sweetness. He almost laughed at Isabella's outburst. It was something he wasn't expecting, but he welcomed it. If Amy's family hated Madelina, that could only benefit him in the end. Perhaps he would have an ally in Amy's mother.

The man he'd used was still standing with his son, horrified and staring at his hands. Idiot, he thought, scoffing internally. "Well...seems like you've got this well in hand now. I'm gonna head home, I think. I'm glad I saw her wipe out so we could get to her in time..." he said, trailing off, hoping for more of an interaction with Amy and Madelina's family. He needed to stragegize and plan his next move. Perhaps Nathan would have an idea.

[nathan--matthews]

Horrified || Self Para For Nathan

Nathan shifted in his sleep, moving from his side onto his back. Slowly, his eyes opened and he blinked a few times. Where was he? He looked around and vaguely recognized his surroundings. It was the condo Apollo had been able to purchase on the western most side of Elysium Island. Nathan laid there, waiting to feel Apollo’s familiar presence, but he was nowhere to be found. He sighed a sigh of relief and rubbed his face with both of his hands. 

Times like this were few and far inbetween. He was unsure where Apollo went when he left Nathan’s body, he just knew that there were moments where he could, once again, take control of his own actions and not BE controlled by another entity. 

He got up from the bed slowly, savoring every movement as if it were his first...or maybe his last. It was always a little slow going whenever he got to have control of his own body. He had missed the feeling of his muscles, the way he could stretch his fingers or make them into a fist. He enjoyed the feeling of his feet touching the ground and he memorized what it felt like to take each step. He knew it was temporary, that Apollo would be back soon. 

He made a beeline for the kitchen. He was incredibly thirsty and his stomach was growling with intensity. Apollo didn’t tend to feel these types of things, it seemed, at least not when he was inside Nathan’s body. He neglected it, leaving Nathan in the back of his mind begging for Apollo to take care of his body. What did Apollo care? He could have any body he wanted? There wasn’t anything special about Nathan except he had an in into Maddie’s life. 

He grabbed the bottle of water in the fridge and downed it in one go. He grabbed a fresh loaf of bread and shoved it into his mouth eagerly, not wasting any time. Who knew how long he would have with his own free will? He needed to take advantage of it before Apollo came back. 

He wished with desperate intention that he knew where Apollo went to on the days he went away, but the other man was careful not to let him know those kinds of thoughts. Though he had no problem using Nathan’s in order to weasel into Maddie’s life. By the time he finished eating, he was breathing hard. As he stood there, he contemplated. He remembered the day he’d woken up without Apollo before, looking at Maddie with his own eyes and seeing the danger for her and their unborn child. He’d done his best to convince her he wanted nothing to do with her or the child and to his astonishment, it actually worked. 

But Apollo was furious when he came back and he punished Nathan’s body. He scratched his torso and slammed his head into the wall, knowing that Nathan would feel it and Apollo would feel nothing. 

As he went to the bathroom to relieve himself, he caught a glimpse of his reflection. He didn’t look so much like himself, he was gaunt, dark circles under his eyes. Of course, he was still beautiful, no one outside of himself would notice how different he looked to the eye. Would Maddie notice? 

He looked around the condo and his gaze landed on the phone. He ran to it, eager to send some sort of warning when he realized it was password protected. He tried as hard as he could to wrack his brain, to figure out what it could possibly be, but Apollo was smart. There were moments that were stricken from his mind, almost as if they’d never been. Nathan supposed it was due to Apollo’s mind control. He felt helpless. He started to run for the door. At the very least, he could get an uber and find Maddie and Amy, warn them of what was to come. But as his hand landed on the doorknob, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. FUCK.

Without warning, Apollo’s consciousness slammed into his body, almost knocking them both to the ground. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Apollo asked. 

Nathan fumbled for a moment before lying. “I was going to find something to eat. All we had was bread...you’re not taking care of my...I mean...our body.” Would Apollo believe it. 

He sighed out loudly. “Fiiiine,” he said, like a petulant child. “You better not be lying to me, or next time I will make sure you can’t move or do anything when I leave. I could handcuff you to the bed and then where would you be?” He said, laughing as he walked out and into the sunshine. God, Nathan wished he could remember what the sunshine felt like on his skin. 

[nathan--matthews]

If you could take someone on a date, who would it be? Also, how would the date be like?

I heard there's a girl named Charlie on the island, Maddie had also talked to me about her. Some unrequited love affair on Charlie's part. It seems the girl might still be hanging on...maybe we have some things to talk about, no?

I could buy her coffee or a meal. I would love to pick her brain about the island and Maddie and Amy's relationship or how they are parenting my child.

[nathan--matthews]

What do you think of Amy?

I don't know her directly, of course, but I feel like I know her through Maddie.

Even when we were together, Maddie spoke of Amy. Highly. And with a lot of love. I'm not surprised they are back together now. I just hope that it's not her intention to get in between us...and our daughter. I'm glad she's been another parent to Lottie and I'll always be grateful for that.

Stop using my memories, you asshole.

[nathan--matthews]

Have you met your daughter?

No. I have never met my daughter.

I know. I'm an asshole.

[nathan--matthews]

Would you want Maddie back?

I see Maddie having the "life of her dreams". I don't intend to screw with that. All I want, is the chance to see my daughter. If that happens to come with Maddie attached? Then, so be it.

Please...no...leave them alone. Let them be happy.

[nathan--matthews]

What is your daily routine like?

Ever seen American Psycho?

They must have based Patrick Bateman on me.

I mean...look at me.

No, but I wake up, take a shower, brush my teeth. I go to the gym. After, I drink a little tea, I like to read. My day to day is normally very different. I have a new goal every day.