Worth It
Pairing: Matt Casey x Reader
Requested: no
Summary: Y/N struggles with demands from a friend, and Matt solidifies the fact he will always be in her corner.
Word Count: 2.6K+
Warnings/Tags: toxic friendships
A/N: something bugged me recently so here’s a fic! This can be a bit of a controversial take based on the context but didn’t want to go full on in the fic so anyway~ just needed to get this off my chest.
“Baby, I’m…” Matt’s voice drifted off slightly before he completed his sentence, “…home.”
You could only imagine being Matt and coming home to this sight.
You were seated in the middle of the living room in the apartment you shared with Matt, surrounded by yarn, bits of fluff stuck in your hair, sheets of sketched designs strewn across the floor.
You could feel the panic rise even more as you took in the look on Matt’s face. Especially since you couldn’t read his emotions as the anxiety clouded your brain.
“Matt, I…”
You couldn’t continue as you felt your chest tighten just a little, the anxiety and panic clawing its way to the surface and rearing its ugly head at you.
This had all started with Amy.
Amy.
She was a friend you’d known for almost your entire life. You’d laughed together, cried together, dreamed about the future together and talked about those dreams. Along the way, you both had stumbled, you saw less of each other, and Amy reached out less, sometimes forgetting to respond to your messages. Despite what everyone told you, you convinced yourself that it was just how life was and you made excuses for Amy’s growing absence in your life.
Then, she’d reached out to tell you she was getting married.
You felt the excitement first, remembering it like it was yesterday, how you had both talked excitedly about how you would be each other’s bridesmaids. It wasn’t a conscious memory, but it was like your brain had pulled it up, triggered by the words Amy was saying.
You didn’t even feel any apprehension when she asked if you would make the flowers for the bridesmaids. You weren’t too confident because crocheted flowers weren’t really your thing. In fact, you’d only tried it out once. So you’d told Amy you’d give it a shot, make a prototype and see how it went.
You could tell Matt hadn’t been thrilled with the idea but he didn’t say much, only offering opinions when you asked for them and keeping most of his comments focused on the task rather than Amy. Yet, you knew he was holding back. You knew Matt didn’t feel great about Amy, mainly because of the things he’d witnessed, in particular, the way she blew back into your life when it was convenient for her.
But things had been going downhill ever since you’d made the first prototype. She kept changing what she wanted, and even you were getting a little frustrated, mixed with a desire not to disappoint her.
So, having Matt stand there with a surprised look on his face in the middle of an extremely messed up living room only added to your current panic.
You felt your breath quicken and very soon, Matt’s figure was clouded by the tears you didn’t realize had pooled behind your eyes.
Without saying anything, Matt dropped whatever was in his arms, heading straight for you and folding you nice and tight into his arms.
“Y/N, it’s okay. It’s okay.” Matt whispered quietly, and you felt the rumble of his chest before your breathing slowly evened out once again.
Matt didn’t move immediately, but his fingers brushed off the residual tears that were rolling down your cheeks.
“Sorry, I don’t…”
Matt just tightened his arms a little and pressed a kiss firmly to the top of your head.
“Sorry,” You mumbled, scrubbing off the remnants of tears on your cheeks before glancing up at him.
Matt shook his head and leaned down for another kiss and you leaned into his embrace, temporarily forgetting about the mess in the living room.
By the time you woke up the next morning, there was barely a trace of the mess last night. The yarn was back in the boxes you had in the corner of the room and the half done flowers were laid out neatly on the kitchen counter.
No one else would have guessed what had happened the night before.
Matt was almost on his way out, draining the last sip of his coffee and smiling as you walked into the kitchen.
He didn’t ask but just studied your face for a little longer than usual.
You smiled back at him and nodded. “Go on, I’m fine.” You assured him, even though you stepped toward him and nuzzled your face into his shoulder.
Matt pressed you lightly against him and pressed a kiss to your temple.
“You know where to find me if you need me.” Matt whispered gently into your ear.
You smiled into his shoulder with a small nod before both of you pulled away and you let Matt go before he was late for shift.
Even as the door closed behind Matt, you felt it rear to the surface. This time, the feeling was different. It wasn’t even residual anxiety from the night before. You couldn’t put your finger on it but it was bugging you.
Deciding that it might be good to have a change of pace, you grabbed the materials you needed, slung the tote bag over your shoulders and left the house, figuring you’d find a nice cafe to work out of.
So you did and you had been right. A change of environment had done wonders for you and you finally had a final prototype for the new flower idea Amy had had.
You snapped a photo and sent it to Amy, quoting as reasonable a price you could for the materials and stitches. You even gave her what she called a ‘friend discount’.
But for someone who sometimes took days to respond to you, her response was quick now.
It’s a little out of my budget.
Thereafter, she proceeded to give you a price she was willing to pay that was such a lowball, you almost dropped your phone.
It took you a moment and another few breaths to register that feeling bubbling up in your chest now. You recognised it as a more intense version of what you had been feeling that morning. Now, you could indeed put your finger on it - Disappointment.
It was disappointment that raged within you. Especially when you’d always treated Amy like a sister.
You felt it swell as you thought about the effort you’d put in all these years, even just the effort in designing flowers she would want for her wedding, and then you remembered the many times she’d blown you off, and when she’d been dating that toxic ex of hers and had cut you out of her life for more than a year until the break up.
Resisting the urge to send her a scathing reply, you stuffed the rest of your belongings into your bag and headed out the cafe, only realizing where your legs had taken you when you looked up at the firehouse in front of you.
The trucks were all parked which meant everyone was around.
Now that you were here, you had second thoughts and you were about to retreat, thinking you’d talk to Matt during breakfast the next day when you heard an all too familiar voice call out to you.
“Y/N?”
Of course today would be the day Kelly came to get something out of his car.
“Hey, Kelly.” You greeted back, your voice sounding weird even to you.
Kelly either didn’t notice or chose not to mention it. He just smiled and nodded. “Come on, Casey’s in his office.”
You didn’t protest, letting Kelly lead you in as if it was your first time visiting the firehouse.
Everyone called out toward you with smiles and you waved back at them as you made your way through the common room and toward Matt’s office.
“Look who I found,” Kelly called with a casual rap at Matt’s door.
Matt sat up, glancing at you before smiling. “Thanks, Sev.”
Kelly winked, more at you than him, before leaving the both of you alone.
Matt got up to close his door and glanced at you. “Everything okay?”
After all, you rarely came to the firehouse without a call beforehand. Usually, you were worried about being in the way so you only came to bring them some food, especially when you’d heard it was a difficult shift.
You nodded. “Nothing big, I just…”
You held back a heavy sigh and just handed him your phone.
Matt’s eyes moved across your phone screen as he read the message and you could see the slight darkening of his expression, even though he was trying to keep it under control.
Matt looked back up at you and handed your phone back to you. “So what are you thinking?” Matt asked.
You shouldn’t have been shocked by Matthew Casey’s complete focus on your feelings, but you couldn’t help the little jolt of warmth that still filled you even though you and Matt had been dating for a long while.
You shrugged and Matt gave you a look, which just made you smile.
“Fine, I’m annoyed. It’s like every single moment with her has been flashing in my head since I got that message and the annoyance has been piling. That’s why I haven’t responded.”
“Go for it, babe.” Matt said, matter of factly.
You glanced at him with half a smile.
“You deserve to be treated with respect and I think it’s high time someone told her. And if you don’t want to do it, I’d be happy to.” Matt said, his voice laced with a subtle protectiveness.
You pulled him toward you, just so you can lay your head against him and smiled. “Thank you.”
The conversation had gone about as you’d expected.
You tried your best to keep your side as light as possible while remaining firm, and ultimately, the decision had been for you to try to do little flower wristlets for Amy’s flower girls, instead of a large order of flowers.
You weren’t too thrilled to do it anymore, but a part of you felt obliged to, so you’d agreed.
It was only two days later that you had run into Amy when Matt had taken you out for dinner.
“Hey, I…” You greeted her even from a distance, trying to keep things as normal as possible.
But you didn’t miss the look on her face as she turned away, as if she was pretending not to see you.
Instinctively, you glanced up at Matt, your expression one of disbelief.
Matt just squeezed your hand but you could see the strain lines on his face which were a clear telltale sign he was using all his effort to hold back.
Matt was trying to reassure you, but the only thing you felt now was anger.
There was no more second-guessing on your part about whether you had been too harsh or too mean. You knew the answer.
You were about to open a small side business for your crochet. All your friends, including Amy, knew that.
In fact, anyone who tried to ask you to make something for them had always offered you more than what you quoted, reminding you that friends didn’t take each other for a ride.
Amy was the exact opposite and what really grinded at you was the fact that she thought she was well within her rights to be angry at you.
You were a little confused but the anger had swallowed it all up.
“You want to go elsewhere?” Matt offered.
You glanced up at him.
If this had been anyone else, it might have made you avoid the situation altogether. But right now, the indignant feeling had turned into anger.
“Why should we? You put in so much effort into trying to get a reservation here. Let’s just have a good dinner.” You answered.
This felt like a huge breakthrough moment for you, even Matt felt it - you could do anything you had set your mind to.
You sat down with Matt in a corner of the restaurant, pretty sure that Matt had used one of his superpowers to get the both of you a great table and you turned your back on Amy, focusing all your energy and attention on the one person who was worth it.
Once the appetisers were served, you’d thrown Amy to the back of your mind, sinking into Matt’s company and enjoying the date night that both of you deserved.
It was just as the both of you had stepped out after paying the bill when someone grabbed your arm.
“Food’s great here, isn’t it?”
You blinked back in disbelief at Amy, who was smiling as if nothing had happened.
It would have been much better if you hadn’t met her in front of the restaurant earlier. Now, you were just wondering what the hell she was doing.
Matt didn’t say anything, just stood by your side and waited.
“What are you doing?” You asked, unable to hold it back any longer. There was a slight tremor in your voice that no one but Matt picked up on.
The saddest part was Amy used to be able to. Now, she just didn’t care.
That realization hit you hard but also allowed you to look her straight in the eye.
Frustratingly, Amy was staring at you as if she was confused by your question.
When you didn’t offer her any explanation, she swallowed and spoke, “Come on, Y/N. I told you I was on a budget. You’re my friend, I didn’t expect you to try and profit off my wedding.”
You glanced up at Matt just a little and he merely nodded in encouragement.
“Profit? Amy, you agreed to pay! You are literally the only person that has lowballed me for anything crochet related. I’m not even asking you to pay me for the prototypes or the materials used for it. Have you looked up the prices online? I’m profiting nothing.” You paused and looked her directly in the eye. “Look, I think this isn’t a good idea. “
“What are you saying? You don’t want to talk about it?” Amy asked, and you could hear the tone in her voice change slightly.
You sighed. “I’m saying I don’t think I can make anything for your wedding, or be your bridesmaid. I’ve said everything that needs to be said.”
“Y/N, you… What am I supposed to tell my family?”
You couldn’t hold back the chuckle that escaped your lips. You shouldn’t have expected anything else but the fact that she was more worried about having to explain what had happened to her family members who had always treated you as one of their own, spoke volumes.
“You can tell them what happened, Amy. Just remember that if anyone calls me, I’m telling the truth.”
Matt smiled and slung an arm around you, turning to lead you away before he paused.
He glanced back at Amy before he spoke, “She cared. She really cared and you threw it back in her face. She deserves someone who treats her as a friend.”
You tugged at Matt’s arm and Matt sighed before taking you away with him.
The journey home had been pretty silent and Matt only broke it as he closed the door behind the both of you and hung both your jackets by the door.
“You okay?”
You glanced up at him and nodded before you pulled back again and shrugged. “Kind of, you know? I’m upset but like it also feels lighter? If that makes sense.”
“It just has to make sense to you. The only thing important to me is how you are feeling right now.”
You stepped into Matt’s embrace and smiled against him.
“With you? Matthew Casey, I’m on top of the freaking world.”
Matt smiled, leaning back enough to take a look at you before pressing his lips gently to yours in a deep kiss.
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