PARTIES: @fearhims3lf and @doctorareyes
TIMING: Shortly after Max bit Xó :/
SUMMARY: After being bitten by a vampire, Xóchitl goes to where she feels safest. Mateo offers what he can. The two make a very important confession.
WARNINGS: None?
When the night cloaked over the sky, there were a few things that Mateo liked to get up to. Music, guitar repairs or builds, a fun little job, or taking a moment with Xóchitl. With her being busy that night though, and no job on the docket, he was left to his own devices.
Which meant he'd get out his solder kit and a new pedal he'd been cooking up, and play a few tunes to drown out the rest of the noise. His neighbors would complain, but Mateo didn't care. The last time the super tried to tell him to stop, he threw a wad of cash his way, and the argument ended there.
Flipping on the sound system, Mateo set up his work station and opened up the pedal's compartment to get to work. He was hoping to create a thwangy crunch effect, but time would tell if he could actually accomplish that. His tools were just about to touch the alloy insides when there was a knock at the door. The sudden sound made him jump slightly, but he thankfully didn't graze any of the sensitive material.
“Fuck,” Mateo hissed under his breath, shaking off the surprise and sauntering over to the door. Whoever the fucker was, they were about to be greeted with a scowl and a background soundtrack that consisted of the Misfits. Mateo yanked the door open, ready to be a bitch, but that all disappeared. His expression softened immediately when he saw that it was Xóchitl standing there, looking pretty upset.
“Hey,” Mateo said gently, “What's up, ma? You okay? Come in.”
She shouldn’t have been as unnerved about what Max did to her as she was. She’d invited her over, after all, and she’d flirted, and she’d wanted to do all sorts of things with her. Xóchitl, however, had not wanted to be fed on. She hadn’t wanted to feel that level of panic. Especially not unexpectedly and without warning.
Thankfully, Max had left and after she’d showered, she’d tried to sleep. Really and truly tried. Except that it hadn’t worked, and she’d tossed and turned far more than she would have liked. There was only one place to go when she couldn’t sleep. It was perhaps somewhat ironic that the person she went to when she couldn’t sleep could cause nightmares, but she wasn’t going to question that.
So she found her way over to his place and knocked on the door. She realized then, that she should have texted him beforehand. What if he did want to break up? Or what if he had someone else over? That was perfectly allowed, so long as they were open about it, and she didn't want to bother him or ruin his fun night with her soured mood.
But then Mateo opened the door and he told her to come in and she burst into tears before stepping inside the door and grabbing his hand. “I – I’m not okay. No. Can we talk? Or sit? Or – can I have – I can’t sleep. I just – you were the first person I wanted to go to.”
Mateo didn't know what to make of the tears that tore down Xóchitl's cheeks. Clearly she was upset, but her statements were too broken for him to understand quite yet. “Y-yeah.” Mateo let himself be pulled into his own place, kicking the door shut on the way to the couch.
When they settled into the cushions, Mateo kept himself quiet and mostly still, waiting for the appropriate moment to pipe up. If there was such a thing. After a few beats, he realized the music was still playing and he rushed over to his stereo to turn it off completely before shuffling quickly back into his seat.
At that point, Mateo didn't think he could fuck up the timing anymore, so he took a deep breath and did his best impression of a half decent partner. “Did something happen?” And if so, who did he have to speak to? Mateo was only mediocre at words, but his fists spoke just fine when it came to settling his version of justice.
“What's going…” He gingerly tucked a rogue strand of hair behind Xóchitl’s ear, hoping to bring some comfort. Instead, Mateo found a mutilated section of her neck. His expression fell, worry consuming his frown. “Who did that?” It came out firm, way firmer than he intended, causing him to recoil and adjust his tone into something softer. “Who hurt you, amor? Do we need to get them taken care of? Do you need me to do something?”
Mateo went away for a moment but before Xóchitl could say anything, he was back. Thankfully. It took a moment before she registered that he’d just turned off the music, and even though silence could be itchy, akin to a cheap sweater, with him it never was. Which was sort of funny to think about, given how the two of them had initially at least somewhat connected over music, and given how intimately tied to music Mateo was (it was one of so many things she loved about him). But silence with him was fresh air, perfectly chilled temperatures on a hot day (but not too cold), was easy and good.
“I – yeah.” But before she could say anything else, he was brushing her hair away and then he saw where Max had bitten her and she wanted to shrink away from him, shame washing all over her. She would have drowned in it if he hadn’t been there, she figured. “A vampire.” She swallowed, thick. “It’s – well, I met her out on the street, and she was hot and I didn’t know what she was, and so we went back to my place and –” Xóchitl could feel herself shaking. “Well, we had sex, but then she bit me, and now she – she can – she knows where I live and she—” her sentences remained broken and she moved closer to him, burying her face against his shoulder.
“I’m sorry.”
Not because she thought he’d be mad, but because the shame was suffocating. “I wasn’t thinking, and I – it hurts.” She blinked rapidly. “I’m sorry.” Repeated again. “I was – she was cruel, and she said she could – come back – she can get in whenever she wants and I –” more broken sentences. “Amor, I just – I needed to come somewhere I felt safe. So you were the first place I thought to go.” It was true. It was the safest place she had in town, and the place where she felt most at ease. Even if sometimes she didn’t think she deserved any of it, given how she’d treated Mateo. But he had forgiven her and once she stopped to think about things, she’d come to realize that she was at ease with what he was. She’d fallen in love (much to her surprise) with him, and his being non-human hadn’t changed that.
Besides, he wasn’t fae. He wasn’t prone to trickery.
“I just – can you hold me?”
Biting kinks weren't uncommon, and usually it wasn't dangerous. Practicing with a vampire who didn't know boundaries was a whole other story, though. And it wasn't like Mateo could use his abilities to cause this vampire hell. Not his mare ones. But his closet full of weapons and his training could. He'd make that plan later.
“Hey,” Mateo whispered in a soothing tone, planting a kiss on Xóchitl's temple. “I got you, ma.” Gently, he laid his hand on her neck, hoping the coolness helped her ease into a sense of calm. Or at the very least, Mateo hoped she felt somewhat safe with him.
He was a killer, and a bad dream, but his hands didn't always produce horror. Sometimes, when he really needed to, Mateo could make certain dreams happen. “C'mere.” He pulled Xóchitl in, laying back so she could lay on him while he held her. “You can stay here and I can get someone to board Esperanza for the night, if you want.”
I got you. It was simple, and it might have seemed like just something to be said to fill the air for some, but Xóchitl knew how much Mateo meant it. She could feel it coursing its way all throughout her body (and not even in a sexy sort of way – just a grounding one. The ways that Mateo managed to make her feel safe would never fail to astound her). His hand on her neck served multiple purposes – it cooled it down, and it also helped to further ground her. Which, apparently, she was in fairly desperate need of. Around Mateo, she could admit that. Around Mateo, she could be scared and vulnerable.
He pulled her back against him and she nestled her body against his, finding the perfect fit. Perhaps there was also something to be said about how well the two of them quite literally fit together. Something scary, but maybe in a good way. If she could manage to think like that for long enough. “I’d like to stay here. I have a dog sitter I sometimes get, I can text them, I’m sure they can take her…” she trailed off. “Or you can, from my phone.” She buried her face in his chest. “Then we can do whatever you’d like.”
“Ain't about me, ma.” Mateo ran his hands through Xóchitl's hair, massaging her scalp every now and then. While Xóchitl rested against him, he took the chance to slip her phone out of her pocket. He remembered the name of the sitter and unlocked the phone to navigate to the contact. After a quick back and forth with the sitter, Esperanza was situated for the evening, which freed the both of them to relax and rest.
“Okay, puppy is all good.” He kissed the top of Xóchitl's head. Sometimes Mateo wished he didn't cause animals so much panic so that Esperanza, or any animal, could be around him. He knows how grounding the golden retriever can be for Xóchitl, and although Mateo knows he does a decent job himself, there's something to be said about a canine touch.
“I love you.” It came out as a small murmur, a nervous one, but it felt right to say. Mateo had never loved like that, had never kept anyone close enough to do so. And after being together as long as they had, it was a little ridiculous he hasn't said it yet. More so that it took seeing Xóchitl hurt to pull it out of him. Better late than never, though he supposed he was right on time in that case. “I love you,” He said again, stronger that time.
She felt herself melt against him. It was easy to do that with Mateo, just simply by virtue of all that he was. He was tough, of course, but he was soft and even if she was the only one truly privy to seeing that side of him, she adored it. Xóchitl also knew that she likely wasn’t the only one who experienced that, and instead of making her jealous, it filled her with a certain sort of intense joy. She found herself again grateful that she hadn’t completely given up on Mateo after he’d told her what she was, and even more grateful that he had had the softness and grace to welcome her back, even after what an incredible jerk she’d been.
His kisses on her head felt good and cool and she looked up at him with another soft smile. It was rough, the fact that Mateo, who was probably her most trusted person in town, couldn’t be near Esperanza, but even if she didn’t entirely comprehend or understand why Esperanza had such a reaction to him, she did have an answer. That, and she knew that Mateo didn’t want to have to be away from Esperanza. For now, that was good enough.
I love you. At first, she thought that she had to have misheard or was putting words where she wanted them. Except then he said it again and she looked up and him and responded with, “I love you too.” She pressed her lips against his, letting their noses bump into each other just a bit. “So much. Thank you – just – thank you.” It wasn’t enough, but it felt good to tell him how much she loved him. It could only make their relationship stronger.
A ringing enveloped Mateo's ears while he waited for a response from Xóchitl. He took a leap he couldn't take back. Not that he wanted to by any means, but the risk of it all made his stomach feel like it was filled with a thousand pounds of cement.
One second went by, and a few hundred more pounds piled on top. Then, a few hundred more. It felt ridiculous that a meager three seconds made his body feel like it was sinking painfully into the couch, but eventually, there was respite when Xóchitl finally said something.
Mateo sighed a breath of relief, smiling with a tinge of bewilderment. He'd never told someone he was with that he loved them, avoiding it completely. But he couldn't avoid it anymore. He didn't want to. Most of his life was spent keeping his heart in check because the risk of proximity had too many variables. Love didn't have room for that kind of strategy though.
“Anytime.” Mateo said, returning Xóchitl's kiss. “It's you and me.” All things considered, Xóchitl was taking a risk too. That was love, in the end. You had to love people enough to let them see the risk and take it on their own terms. Withholding that choice isn't to say there isn't love in the first place. Just that fear had a bigger hold of your heart than hope. And Mateo? He is fear. So, everything simply trickled into place like a rain of glitter. Not unlike the kind running through Mateo's veins.
She really did love him. Love was complicated, and it hurt, and she wasn’t sure if she deserved it – or if those she loved deserved – to have love, especially where it involved her. She knew that she was bad luck, even if others disagreed at times (they didn’t know everything awful there was to know about her), but she really wanted it. It was greedy and selfish of her, but it was also an intense craving and Xóchitl felt a need to give into it.
His body against hers was comfortable and comforting, and she could hear a small, satisfied sigh escape her lips again. This was where she felt best. This was why they were each other’s, first and foremost. Of course, there were other reasons, but the fact that the two of them fit together so naturally had to be noted. In both a softer way like this, and in a more sensual way, too.
“It’s you and me.” She repeated back to him with a smile. “You have me, and you aren’t going to lose me.” The original reason for her coming over nearly forgotten (though the pain on her neck still present) she kissed him again, hungrier this time.
Xóchitl brushed her nose against his, switching over to Spanish. “Figured I would say I love you here too. I love you no matter the language, and I am yours forevermore.“ She tapped her nose against his. “In the loving sort of way, not weird possessiveness sort of way. But I am yours, Mateo Lara, and I’ll love you forever and always.”
Mateo sighed blissfully, pulling Xóchitl even further into him. It was greedy and desperate, inviting and hopeful, all of his emotions bare for Xóchitl to see. He wanted her to, after all. “I'm yours, Xóchitl Reyes.” He chuckled into her hair, laying his face into her hair. “You know, Mateo Reyes has a nice ring to it.” His smile grew bigger in a knowing way, amused and delighted. “But we can talk about that later.” Mateo returned to English, affections growing hungrier as the two of them allowed themselves to grow lost in each other. After all, when they needed it most, home was within each other.
Just wanted to say that I hear you... totally agree with your post. So much love - and acceptance, which is even better as it is a lot harder to handle as a parent, I think - there, in every bloody action of Marco IMO. Btw, read the new chapter on Ao3, I like how you are including Rumple in all of it. Jojo
<3 Exactly!! August and Geppetto have a hell of a long road ahead of them but you just know that they would both really try as best they could. I mean...if there was any parent + son duo was used to working through difficult circumstances, it would be them.
And thank you so much!! 💖 Rumple will naturally be appearing a little more in the upcoming chapters, so hopefully you'll find things interesting on that front :)
