#brainworms courtesy of mebs art

[blackyote]

Here, have a concept that doesn't seem like enough for a fic but I have to get it out of my head:

Imagine the first day Matt comes to Hexside sporting his brand new horn. Gus calls to him and Matt pulls back his cowl hood for the big reveal, eyes shining with pride and excitement, his grin smug as always but it's DIFFERENT this time. The grin implies something new - that he feels attractive for the first time in his life, and that confidence changes so much about him.

There's a look in his eye, past the smile, that says he's anxious for Gus' reaction in particular.

Gus runs up, exclaiming, "You have a horn now?!" and Matt is here to flaunt it. It actually came in two nights ago but he was keeping it a secret, even when the two boys talked over Pensta.

Throughout the day, every time Gus sees Matt he finds himself staring. That's his best friend, his partner in crime, but since when was his face worth this much brain power? The horn is the only real difference, and yet it makes his face look complete, somehow. Matt is growing into his features at long last, and the result is more than the sum of its parts. (As Lolly said, he's so LOOKABLE.)

In Illusions class they sit next to each other, as always, and Matt does an unconscious little hair toss, highlighting the horn, and Gus has to look away. He doesn't know what this new feeling is but it's loud and alarming. (It's gay panic.)

Matt laughs at something in his annoying, gremlin way and leans into Gus, and for the first time Gus feels his face warm at the contact. What the Titan is happening.

Matt catches him staring and asks, grinning but completely serious, if Gus wants to touch it. Gus dies on the spot.