Matt Makes a Move

Kirby arrived at the hospital for one of his regular visits to see Quinn and Diego. Vasquez had already told him that Matt had flown back to New York when he'd heard about their accident, so Kirby wasn't surprised when he ran into him in the corridor.

"Matt," he said, and he bent over to give him a hug.

"Hey Kirby," said Matt, returning the hug as best as he could with his paralysed arms.

"I can't believe you're back so soon," said Kirby, as they made their way together to Quinn and Diego's shared hospital room.

"I hated thinking of Diego and Quinn so badly hurt and not being able to see them," said Matt.

"I get it," said Kirby sadly. "Still, you didn't have to buy tickets. Finn would've teleported you here."

"Yeah, I know," Matt shrugged. "But I can't really brag about all my American adventures if I legally haven't left the country. Besides, I've got compensation from the TAC, compensation from the hospital, and court-ordered compensation from those fuckers who did this." Matt gestured to his wheelchair. "So it's not like I can't afford it."

When Matt and Kirby arrived at their friends' room, both Quinn and Diego were asleep, so Kirby pulled up a chair, and he and Matt got to chatting.

"So how have things been in Australia?" asked Kirby. "We didn't really have all that much one on one time back in February to ask then."

"I've actually been playing some sport," said Matt. "Did you know powerchair sports are a thing? Because I didn't."

"No, I had no idea," said Kirby in surprise. "Quinn and Diego don't do anything like that. I mean, Quinn, sure, obviously. But I'm surprised Diego doesn't."

"I actually asked him about that," said Matt. "He said he doesn't like sports, he likes baseball. And there isn't any powerchair baseball, I looked it up. I've been playing football and hockey."

"That's really cool," said Kirby, smiling sincerely.

"And would you believe it," added Matt, "I'm actually considered one of the "most able" players. As in like, less physically impaired."

"You, most able?" said Kirby, reflecting Matt's own mocking tone. "Surely not."

"Surely so," said Matt. "Like my chest control's absolute shit, so I have to wear a harness that goes way up past my nips. But everything else I'm pretty good at in comparison." He paused for a moment in thought, and Kirby waited for him to continue. "There aren't actually many quads on the team. Most of my teammates have genetic conditions, things like that."

"What's it like?" asked Kirby. "Like how does it compare to... You know... Before."

"Would you believe I was never actually a sports kid?" asked Matt, and Kirby did a double take. "See! I seem like the type, don't I?"

"Yes!" exclaimed Kirby. "I'm shook, I just assumed you were athletic."

"I mean I watch sports. And I was active, just not in any organised way. I did gymnastics as a kid, but that's it."

"Wow," said Kirby dramatically. "You've just changed my whole world view with that revelation."

Matt laughed. "I am really enjoying it though. Turns out I'm a very competitive person."

"Now that part doesn't surprise me," said Kirby, and Matt grinned.

"Kirby?" came a muttered voice from across the room, and he and Matt looked up to see Quinn waking up.

"Hey Quinn," said Kirby, walking over to give his boyfriend a kiss. "Matt's here too."

A look of confusion filled Quinn's face. "But Matt's in Australia."

Kirby shook his head. "He came back to see you."

"Hey Quinn," said Matt, parking his wheelchair beside Kirby, as close as he could get to Quinn's bed. He lifted his left arm off the armrest and placed his hand on top of Quinn's casted one. Neither of them could move their fingers, but the feeling of Matt's hand on his brought comfort to Quinn, and he smiled weakly.

"How are you feeling?" asked a concerned Matt.

"I've been better," Quinn admitted. "I hadn't broken anything before or since my spinal cord injury, and now I've broken my neck twice more in the space of two years. Not to mention everything else. I'm starting to get on board with that whole cursed theory. Because it hurts like hell. Still, I'm better off than Diego."

"Cursed theory?" asked Matt, confused.

"You know..." said Quinn, though Matt didn't know. "Kirby thought he was cursed... Sean thought the baseball team was cursed... Diego thought the frat was cursed... I don't think any of them are right, but maybe someone's cursed."

"No-one's cursed," came a muttered voice from behind Kirby, and he and Matt looked over to see Diego beginning to stir. "And I was joking when I said that."

"Diego, you're awake," said Kirby and Matt, almost in unison, and Kirby got up to give his fibreglass-encased body a gentle hug.

"Hey Kirby," he muttered, and then glanced over at Matt. "What are you doing here?"

"I hated thinking of you two hurt like this," said Matt. "So I came to see you hurt like this instead."

Diego laughed weakly, and then winced as the laughter hurt his numerous fractures.

"It's good to see you," he muttered.

"It could be better," admitted Matt with a slight smile.

"Stop making me laugh," said Diego. "It hurts too much."

"Sorry," said Matt.

The four friends talked for a little while longer, until Quinn and Diego seemed to be getting exhausted.

"We'll let you get some rest," said Kirby, and they all said their goodbyes before he and Matt left the room.

"Do you need a lift home?" asked Kirby, as he and Matt made their way towards the exit. "I mean, to the frat house. If that's even where you're staying with both the guys in hospital..."

"Nah, my carer's in the waiting room, we hired a wheelchair van. But thanks though. And yeah, I am still staying there."

Matt's carer met him at the waiting room, and he and Kirby said their goodbyes, but before they parted ways, Matt hesitated.

"Do you wanna meet for lunch tomorrow? I'm having dinner with Vasquez tonight, but I'd like to see you."

"Sure!" said Kirby. "Is 12 alright?"

"Sounds good," said Matt. "I'll meet you at the Retro Diner at 12." Immediately after suggesting it, he began to second guess himself. "Wait, I can't do burgers on my own yet. If it's just the two of us would you be up for helping? We can go somewhere else instead if you want."

"No, I don't mind," said Kirby genuinely. "Burgers, just the two of us, helping you eat... That's all fine with me."

Matt smiled, relieved. "Cool. I'll see you at 12 then."

"Cya then," smiled Kirby, and the two friends parted ways.

The next day, the pair met at the Hawthorne Retro Diner and placed their orders - a cheeseburger with extra pickles for Matt, a regular cheeseburger for Kirby, and chocolate milkshakes for both of them - before taking a seat.

"Hey, can you grab something out of my bag for me?" asked Matt. "It's a sort of brace."

"Sure," said Kirby, getting out of his seat and rummaging through the bag that hung from Matt's wheelchair. "Is this it?" he asked Matt, pulling out something that looked like a wrist brace.

"That's the one," said Matt. "Just pop it on the table."

Kirby obliged and sat back down, watching curiously as Matt used his teeth to unfasten the brace, before struggling to put it on with his paralysed hands.

"Do you need a hand?" he asked hesitantly, but Matt shook his head.

"Nah, I'm good," he said, smiling. He knew it looked like hard work, and to be fair it was. But Matt had done it many times before, and he was proud of how much progress he'd made. "Thanks though."

Once the brace was on, Matt used his teeth to tighten it again, and then began the hardest part. He moved his hands over to the basket of cutlery in the middle of the table, and began trying to pick up a fork by pressing it between the knuckles of his left hand, and his braced right hand.

"I'm still super unco," he explained with a slight laugh as he struggled to pick up the fork, but Kirby had a look of awe on his face as he watched Matt, and shook his head slowly, his mouth open in a smile.

"No, you're getting really good at that," he said with genuine pride. "When I saw you at the trial you could barely move your arms at all."

"Thanks," said Matt, smiling at Kirby. "I've still got a ways to go, like I can't lift 'em any further than this." Matt stopped reaching for the forks, and lifted his arms up a few inches, his elbows not even reaching shoulder level before his arms started shaking and he had to put them back down again. "But I can do a lot more myself now." He returned to his mission to pick up a fork, and it took him a few goes, but he managed to grab three, slowly lifting them out of the basket. "That'll do," he said, and dropped them on the table. He pushed one of them towards the edge of the table, making sure the handle was over the edge, before holding it down with his left arm and pushing his braced right one into it. He used his teeth again to tighten another strap on the brace, and Kirby realised that the fork was now securely attached to the brace around Matt's wrist.

In perfect timing, the waitress served Kirby and Matt their meals, and they both thanked her before she left. Then Matt wiggled his eyebrows at Kirby.

"Check this out," he said, and used the fork attached to his wrist brace to pierce a chip and bring it to his own mouth.

Kirby opened his mouth even wider in delight. "That's amazing!" he exclaimed, genuinely happy for Matt, and Matt grinned.

"I'm getting the hang of this whole quad thing," said Matt as he ate more of his chips.

"You really are," agreed Kirby, and he ate a few chips of his own.

They continued eating, Matt eating his chips while Kirby ate his own meal, taking short breaks so Kirby could feed Matt his burger.

"I hope this is alright," said Kirby. "I'm bad enough at feeding myself burgers without making a mess."

Matt took a bite of his burger and swallowed before laughing. "Nah, this is good. Thank you."

Matt didn't start on his milkshake until after he'd finished eating, taking off his wrist brace so he could hold the cup between his palms.

They kept chatting while they finished their drinks, and then the pair got ready to leave.

"Do you want to go for a walk?" asked Matt as they were heading out the door.

"Sure," said Kirby, and the two made their way off campus, towards a large park that was nearby.

"Thanks for coming down for the trial," said Matt as they made their way through the park, his tone suddenly serious. "I know you could've done it online."

"That's alright," said Kirby, matching Matt's serious tone. "We thought it'd probably be hard for you on your own."

"I think it would've been," agreed Matt. "It helped me so much you guys being there. Especially you. Watching afterwards with your hand on mine... I don't know if you meant it but just feeling it there helped calm me down."

"I'm glad I could help," said Kirby. "It was pretty hard for me, I can't imagine how much harder it was for you."

They kept talking as they walked, and as the people in the park became fewer, Matt took a deep breath as though still deciding whether or not to say something.

"Can I ask you something?" he asked, looking at Kirby, and Kirby nodded. "Do you and Quinn have sex?"

Kirby was taken aback by the question. "I- I mean we have. It's just- I'm ace, so- It's not my favourite thing, I just- I just do it to be close to people, you know?"

"Sorry," said Matt sincerely. "I didn't mean to pry."

"No, it's fine," said Kirby, just as sincerely. "Sorry I'm so awkward."

"You don't have to be sorry about that," said Matt, smiling warmly at Kirby. "It's probably not a question most people get asked."

"True," agreed Kirby. "But if anyone's gonna ask..." he glanced pointedly at Matt's wheelchair, so similar to Quinn's own.

"Also true," said Matt, and they both laughed.

"Let's take a break from walking," suggested Matt as they walked past an empty bench, and he rolled over to it before parking his wheelchair next to it, at an angle so he could look at Kirby when he sat down. Kirby took a seat beside him, and following Matt's cue, also sat down at an angle, looking at Matt.

"You know, it's not just Vasquez I was interested in. Out of you and all your friends, I mean."

Matt rushed through the sentence so fast that the word 'you' blended into every other word, and Kirby missed the hint entirely.

"Really?" he asked, and before Matt could answer, added "who?"

Matt stared at him for a second, a glint in his eye and a slight smile on his face, as though the answer were obvious.

"You," he said, and for a moment Kirby was speechless.

"Is this a date?" he asked, taken aback.

"Do you want it to be a date?" asked Matt, smiling flirtaciously.

Kirby was breathless for a moment, but nodded, smiling as well. "Yes," he said, a faint tinge of red spreading over his cheeks.

"Then I guess it is," said Matt, his own smile broadening.

They kept talking for a while, neither of them able to wipe the smile off their face, before deciding it was time to head home. Kirby walked Matt back to the frat house, and they said their goodbyes before Kirby turned around to leave. He hadn't gotten very far before Matt turned his chair around and rolled towards him.

"Wait!" he called out, and Kirby did. "It's a date, remember?" he said flirtaciously, lifting up his head towards Kirby's.

Kirby smiled. "How could I forget?" he asked, leaning down towards him.

And then they kissed.

Next (Matt): The Milkshake Trio

Next (Kirby): Kirby Tells Finn

Previous (Matt): Matt Back at the Airport