SUE: Not a Star But a Galaxy (Cameron)

[Mathis Reeves]

Mathis didn't really know when the last time he felt this bad was. Usually the mimic sported a higher than usual immune defense. Nothing ever got him sick. But somehow the sickness had gotten past his walls, which would explain why the mimic was drowning in his own mucus. Not literally, of course, but that is what it felt like to him. His nose was stuffed to the point he was pretty damn sure he sounded like a hamster was living in it and his throat was sore from constantly coughing up flem.

But it wasn't as bad off as a lot of students, who seemed to be throwing up everything that went down. Mathis hadn't yet had that problem which he was incredibly grateful for. After all he really liked food.

The mimic groaned slightly before rolling over in his bed once more, hugging the stuffed lion close to his chest. Beside being sick, Mathis was slowly discovering he didn't actually being sick and alone. From past experience he'd always had his brother to take care of him when he was ill and even if Matty was more self sufficient than your average sixteen year old being sick had the ability to turn him into a twelve year old once more. A wet, disgusting cough racked his body before he rolled over to face the wall. He couldn't sleep alone, it just wasn't happening. So the mimic ran through his list of friends, trying to figure out who'd be more likely to not only take care of him- but to let him crash with them.

Eventually one name continued to pop up with such force that it pulled the sick boy from his bed, automatically pulling on a pair of red plaid pajamas and a thin white t-shirt. He picked up his lion, holding it close to his chest with no fear of being judged as he "snuck" out of his bedroom and dorm (the coughs gave him away). Though Matty wasn't entirely sure he was ready to respond to the question Cameron had asked so many weeks ago, the discussion he'd had at the LGBT center had helped clarify his thoughts. Granted he was still pretty sure God would never approve, he was more inclined to finally agree.

The journey to Cam's room was lost on the slightly feverish boy and before he could register where he was, Matty was already knocking on Cam's dorm door. Hopefully the light manipulator would open up, and take care of him. He hugged the lion closer and tilted his head away as he coughed into one of the thousands of Kleenex hiding in his pocket. Though "thousands" was heavily exaggerated.

((his lion))

[Cameron Osiris]

As if the power outage hadn’t been enough, now more than half of the student population was sick with this nasty virus. Luckily, Cam had been taking enough Vitamin C that he could’ve glowed orange if he wanted to. With his diet being what it was, his immune system was impeccable, and right now he was thankful that he didn’t have any classes he needed to go to, and risk exposing himself to the virus.

Working on some videos in his room, Cam’s straggly hair shielded his eyes as he continued splicing parts of his new bike video that he liked. Large headphones were over his ears, his tongue sticking out as he concentrated on what was the most aesthetically pleasing. It had to be awesome.

It hadn’t been Cam who opened the dorm door, but another sick roommate who let Mathis in and then proceeded to fetch Cam. The blond wasn’t really paying attention to what was being said to him, until Mathis’ name was specifically mentioned. Pulling his headphones off, Cam felt extremely self-conscious as he left his room in sweats and a white tank top.

“Hey Matty,” he said, giving the boy a hug despite how he was clearly sick. “You look like hell,” he said, concerned as he left one arm across Matty’s shoulders. “Ya need anything? Soup or something?” Why else would Matty come over? They hadn’t really spoken since their movie marathon and Cam was convinced there was nothing he could do to change Matty’s mind on the current status of their relationship.

[Mathis Reeves]

Mathis didn't know that Cameron has decided all that time ago that the two would just be friends. He had half hoped that the life manipulator would be as confused and lacking in sleep at Mathis was over the whole decision. Something that would of been a lot simpler, had Mathis not wanted to keep Cameron to himself. However, what he didn't expect was that Cameron did this sort of thing with everyone. The gentle, kind star summoner he'd met that night in club seemed -to Mathis- to be a lot more sinful than even Matty. The mimic had heard stories about exactly what all Cameron gotten up to. Flirting with anything that moved, flirting with everyone at the same time, heck Mathis had even heard about Cameron having a kid.

Which didn't explain, at all, why Mathis found himself still up late at night trying to sort through keeping God happy... and Cameron. Another cough left his body before the door opened and Mathis looked up hopefully, into the eyes of someone who was definitely not Cam. For a half a moment he was prepared to turn around and run until he realized the girl that answered was hopefully just one of Cam's roommates. Or... Some sort of girl no one told him about. Mathis was pulled in and waited inside while the girl walked away to get Cam. He coughed again, sniffling loudly while he cuddled his lion. He felt sick, and stuffy, and just generally miserable. Sympthoms not helped when Cameron stepped out of his bedroom and Mathis' stomach (he refused to say it was his heart) did all sorts of funny things.

God might say no. The school might say no. Demetrius might enforce his no. But Matty was still feeling like leaning to 'yes'. Smokey blue eyes looked up at the manipulator before he nodded, holding his lion closer before leaning against his friend. The thought tugged at his brain that he should have spoken to Cam sooner, but then again if he had he might have just made things worse by his general panicking. "Heya Cam..." His voice was filled with a lackluster excitement, though mostly lackluster from being tired. He was still excited to see his friend. "Mmmm... I made myself soup earlier." Mathis leaned into the arm around his shoulder, pressing himself against Cam's warmth. "Do y'mind if I stay the night?.. My room kinda sucks 'n I'm sick 'n I don't wanna have ta stay alone." His voice was hopeful as he looked up at Cameron, holding up his lion to show he was prepared for staying the night. "Maybe... We can talk or somethin'?" Breaking away some, Mathis tilted his head to fish out a Kleenex, coughing once more in his wet, disgusting manner.

[Cameron Osiris]

All of the rumors Mathis had heard about Cam were true, at least to some degree. Yes he was a flirt and he liked everyone, and he most definitely had a kid. But these things weren't why he had decided he and Matty would probably only ever be friends, he just didn't want to make Matty discover something about himself he just wasn't ready to hear. Besides, it was only a matter of time before Mathis found out who Cam was around most people. What he may never find out, was what Cam was like when he really wanted to be with someone, and let his walls down. Rumors were rumors, but if Matty wanted the truth, he would have to go to the source.

Cam wasn't mad either way. Whatever Mathis decided he wanted to do, Cam would support him. He hadn't given up on Matty, he wanted to be there, but he had fallen in love with someone who didn't love him back and that was painful. It was better to be friends than nothing at all. Cam had fallen in love so many times people were beginning to think he was crying wolf. And yet, he meant it every time.

"Alright, less work for me," Cam said light heartedly. Grinning at the lion, Cam was reminded of their movie marathon. The blond kept his arm around Mathis, mostly because the brunet felt like he was going to fall over any second, but also because he liked being near to him. Surprise overtook Cam's face. "Sure, stay until you feel better," Cam offered. Mathis probably wasn't attending classes in this state and Cam didn't really blame him. Petting the lion as though it were a pet and not a stuffed animal, Cam led Matty down the hall. "You sure you're up for talking?" Cam asked, though he had to admit he was curious as to what Matty had to say.

Opening up his room, Cam slid the headphones off of his neck and onto the desk, leaning over to finish off the movie for now, and save his progress. "What's the lion's name?" He asked, looking over his shoulder to make sure Matty hadn't fallen down or something.

[Mathis Reeves]

The site Joshua had shown Mathis definitely helped the poor mimic make his decision. Granted he still didn't want to say it out loud, but he would. He still wasn't even sure his decision was the right one, but he was. For all he knew the site could be a lie, everything could be a lie. But he wasn't like Demetrius, he wanted to see the good in people and so he did. Mathis wanted to shove aside what he knew about Cameron now, pretend it wasn't there so he could focus on the cheerful manipulator he knew and liked. (Because it wasn't yet love.)

He was coming to all these decisions on what to say to Cameron as soon as he saw the other's face. It felt like all the doubt had been washed away. Except... It hadn't been and he still had a feeling God would hate him. But once he spoke to the churches, the fear would probably fade away.

Mathis tilted his head up to smile at Cameron, glad that the other wasn't fighting the fact he wanted to stay the night. He hadn't even thought it was a possibility until he asked the question. "Thank you... I promise I ain't gunna make too big a deal." Pulling the lion away from Cam, smiling slightly as he watched the tan hand petting his toy like an animal Mathis laughed some. "'Course I'm up for talkin'. I wouldn't offer it otherwise." He explained gently.

Blue eyes watched with interest as Cameron walked over to the desk, trying to see what the other was doing on the laptop. After only a few moments of waiting with his lion, and another fit of coughing, Mathis shook his head and walked over to Cam's bed. He checked it briefly for any items before flopping down, holding the lion close. "Rocko." Mathis laughed softly before starting to cough again.

"Do you remember when y'asked me that...? Through texts..? How I said... Umm... To wait?" This time he was even more quiet, his voice fading as he buried his head into his lion. He didn't really want to say it. Well he did, but he didn't. But having Cameron around was effecting his brain, just like the fever was effecting his thought process.

"Okay."

[Cameron Osiris]

It wasn’t like Cam to turn away a friend, sick or not, no matter how busy he was. And it was a rare thing that someone actually needed him around, not just wanted to be around him. He was the kind of person people wanted around for a good time, not someone to be trusted. He was trying really damn hard to be someone people could trust and depend on. Cam just smiled gently – no point in arguing with a sickie.

Hearing Matty cough made Cam seriously concerned. Yeah it was only a cough, but he still felt bad and wished he could do something for the brunet. Cam smirked at the screen as Matty gave the lion’s name, since it mattered that stuffed animals had names and all. “I like it,” Cam said, shutting down his computer and going to sit on the bed next to Mathis.

Cam nodded a few times. “Yeah, I remember that,” he said, sighing deeply. “I still like you you know, if that’s what you wanna hear,” he teased, looking Mathis up and down. “Ya sure you don’t need anything?” He didn’t know what Mathis was after, but he seemed like he was gonna throw up. But Cam secretly hoped that Matty had changed his mind, you know, about like liking him.

[Mathis Reeves]

Mathis casually shoved down the blanket on Cam's bed before slipping underneath it to drag it back up. Now that felt much better to the sick mimic. He curled up slightly underneath the soft blanket, trying to find a way to hold the lion to his face while having the blanket by his face as well. Eventually he settled for just letting the blanket lay around him, having come to the realization that it would be really weird to cuddle another guy's blanket. "Mmmm... I picked his name when I was ten." He offered up helpfully. Which meant the current animal covering his face was six years old, almost seven years. It was in pretty good condition as well, all things considered, though there was an obvious patch job where someone had to reattach one of the arms.

The mimic tensed as Cameron came closer, but he was quickly curling up for another bout of coughing. He tried to listen to Cameron while he caught his breath, really he did, but the coughing covered up some of the words. From the gist of it he realized that Cameron didn't understand what he just tried to say and a small dose of panic ran through him. The 'okay' had been as close as he wanted to go into explaining but it seemed like Cam would need more.

Mathis sighed softly and pulled the lion further over his face. There was no was he would be able to look at the manipulator as he spoke. Especially considering he didn't even want to speak. "Cam..." He mumbled softly, blinding reaching out to grab the other's arm. "Okay." Still.. Might not be enough... Mathis tensed some before mumbling his next words still they were little more than a whisper. "The answer is okay."

((It sucks. I'm sorry))

[Cameron Osiris]

"Ah," Cam said, looking over Matty snug as a bug in his bed, "so you're the sentimental type." It was probably why Cam liked the brunet so much, not a lot of people were willing to be so vulnerable around him. He was really starting to believe that he was a terrible person if no one could trust him. Even those that said they did, he didn't really believe it.

Cam rubbed Matty's back as he coughed, still wondering why Matty chose to come here out of anywhere in the school. Most people chose to go somewhere they felt they could be themselves (aka whiny) while they were sick. Cam tried not to over think it too much.

Cam smiled, even though Matty couldn't see it. Since when had he started falling for the cute ones? "Okay what? Okay you wanna date me? Or, you're okay with me liking me, or..." Cam didn't want to get too excited if things weren't how he were assuming them to be right now.

[Mathis Reeves]

Of course he was the sentimental type. The plushie (and his brother) was one of the few things he had left of a family he'd never get back. Anyone one would hold it in high value. However Mathis didn't say any of this back and instead curled up further under the blankets, if that was possible, holding his lion over his face protectively. If Cameron ever explained that he thought no one trusted him, Mathis would probably have to disagree. He trusted Cameron wholeheartedly, or else he wouldn't have continue to seek the male's attention.

Mathis wasn't a whiny type of sick person. He was the type that liked to find a spot, curl up against warmth and sleep until everything was better. Granted he wasn't fully against whining, and did so regularly, but it wasn't to the point of other sick people. Plus it didn't hurt that he felt comfortable around Cameron and he was tired and he wanted to respond to the older boy. And he may or may not regard Cameron as "as cuddle worthy" as his brother.

His carefully built up confidence wavered some when Cameron didn't understand him, and Mathis turned to bury his head in the pillow. It had taken him a lot of effort to just offer up that little bit of agreement. Maybe it was sign or maybe it was fate? Something outside his control telling him that it was a bad idea to continue. Mathis shoved the thought away. This wasn't a bad idea. There were churches who said otherwise, though the boy didn't fully believe them, and well... He wasn't going to dwell on the matter of his family. So he took a steadying breath before turning his head to peek at Cameron over the edge of the blanket. "Okay, we can try... dating..."

[Cameron Osiris]

Cam couldn't wipe the dumbfounded look off his face. "Really? You really wanna date... me?" It was stupid to ask again, he had asked the first time around and had been really disappointed that Matty had said no and now he was saying yes and he had to double check?

"Well yeah, I mean, if you want to." Now he was trying to play it cool. Dating was dating, even though he was graduating soon... "Once you're better, you probably don't wanna do anything right now." Cam laughed nervously. What the hell was happening to him?

Smiling ear to ear, Cam kissed Matty's fevered head and pulled away just as quickly as he came. "Thanks for giving me a chance." It was more than anyone had given him in a long time.

[Mathis Reeves]

Stormy eyes watched Cameron, filled with the worry and confusion that was battling away in his head. Thankfully he wasn't so caught up in his own head that he missed Cam's question. A small voice in his head told him not to respond but it was much easier to squash than it would have been before. The sick mimic sat up slowly, letting the blanket fall off of him. "Yeah.... Yeah I wanna date you." The words were honest, and unlike his eyes, revealed none of his inner turmoil.

More confusion flashed through the mimic's eyes as he watched Cameron curiously. With the heaviness in his head Mathis wasn't fully sure he could decipher what the manipulator meant by not wanting to do anything now. Granted the mimic wasn't unaware of sex and the mechanics of it, however with the plague currently hampering his brain making the connection between dating and doing stuff wasn't exactly... connecting. If that is even what Cameron meant. Truly Mathis had no idea what was going on.

What he did understand was that Cameron was happy about it. Even if the kiss to his forehead made Matty squirm slightly, a smile pulled at his lips heedless of the feeling in his stomach. On reflex he reached out to wrap an arm around the back of Cam's neck, dragging him back so Matty could hug the other boy. All while doing his very best to suppress more coughing.

[Cameron Osiris]

As Mathis reassured him, Cam was determined to make sure it wasn’t going to be something Matty would regret. Cam’s reputation was awful, but there were many layers to the young man that most people didn’t know. Maybe Matty could get to those layers…

Really Cam only meant that they shouldn’t go to a movie right now, it wasn’t anything sexual at all. Well, Cam did find Matty attractive of course, but that wasn’t what was on his immediate mind. As soon as Matty was better, Cam was going to plan a terrific date. Uh huh.

Hugging Matty gently, Cam found himself thinking highly of the brunette. He had to be very brave to make this kind of decision with how his family was, and how he had been raised. It made Cam feel worthy of so many things he thought he could never be worthy of again.

Cam let go of Matty slowly, looking over his face. “You should rest now. You want me to stick around?” He asked, his hands still lingering on Matty’s waist.

[Mathis Reeves]

Mathis knew about Cameron's reputation, after all with the amount of friends he had, it would be impossible that he didn't know about the stuff Cam had gotten up to. However, he had carefully pushed it inside that little box inside himself where he put everything else he didn't want to deal with. Eventually he might need to face the sort of history Cam had. But the Texan would prefer that all didn't happen for months. Or ever.

They could leave the pasts and reputations in the past where they belonged.

The younger boy would probably be embarrassed that he had immediately jumped to the conclusion that Cameron had been merely thinking about a date. Thankfully he hadn't voiced his thoughts allowed so he was saved dying of embarrassment. Instead, he just started coughing like something had gotten caught in his throat and he pulled away from Cameron so he wouldn't cough all over the poor light manipulator.

Adding to the box of 'not-going-to-be-discussed' was the whole process of how he came to be sitting on Cam's bed, agreeing to all of this. Because, really, Matty didn't ever want to relive the embarrassment of going to the LGBT Center. No matter how helpful Josh was to his predicament, it was still a special kind of torture to the Texan boy.

"If y'don't mind...?" His voice was quiet and hoarse from the recent bout of coughing. Reaching down he lightly rested his hand on Cam's, smiling gently at the older boy. He could do this, it was already getting easier. He just had too keep repeating his actions until he could get comfortable, then move onto the next step. "Or... I dunno... I don't wanna interrupt or nothin'."

[Cameron Osiris]

Cam would also prefer that they didn’t discuss his last few years here at Hammel. He hadn’t really discussed his past with anyone before, and he didn’t plan on doing so now. Yes, there had been moments where he had shared his heart, but he had been hurt enough to know better now. He just wore his heart on his sleeve in different ways.

Frowning as Mathis hacked up a lung, Cam wished there was something more he could for this flu. But everyone else who had caught some strain of it simply had to wait it out. It was a good thing Cam had an excellent immune system. So instead of offering anything useful, Cam let his hand rest on Mathis’ knee by way of comfort.

Cam just assumed Matty had answered his own questions – Cam didn’t need to know more than that to be happy. He couldn’t have been the one to help Matty through this, not when he was the object of confusion. It wouldn’t have been the first time.

“I don’t mind,” Cam said, glancing over his shoulder at the video he was editing. Getting up slightly, Cam haphazardly tucked Matty in, secretly hoping the boy would give in to sleep. “Wanna see what I’m working on?” He asked excitedly, eager to show off, but also wanting to give Matty a distraction.

[Mathis Reeves]

Mathis would be lying if he said he was still perfectly comfortable with the idea of being with Cam. He's be lying if he said he was taking a leap he was ready for. But a good thing about being sick is that he could do what he might not necessarily have done otherwise- like agreeing to date the boy beside him. It would be a long process until Mathis was fully ready to admit that he might like... Well, anyone in a sexual or romantic sense.

It made the younger boy wonder if other people struggled with the same thing he did. Maybe he should see about helping... When he was older and not so sick, though.

The mimic didn't really protest when Cameron tucked him in, though he definitely would have pinned the faint pink on his cheeks to his fever. "If y'sure..." He mumbled some, pulling the blanket closer to his face - poor Cam was probably going to have to wash his sheets when Matty left - and used it to supplement the pillow beneath his head. Blue eyes flicked up to Cam then looked to the computer, a look of confusion passing his face before comprehension set in. "Sure!" His voice, despite being quiet and rough from coughing, displayed a slightly more subdued form of his usual enthusiasm. "What's it for?"