Chapter Text
Matt knew it was dumb but he simply couldn't get it out of his head.
They could be siblings AND dating
Chris's words kept circling in his head throughout the video and it was only made worse by the fact that Nick actually made the joke of them dating this time instead of acting like it was above him.
That confused Matt. Normally when him and Chris got too weird, Nick was the voice of reason and the one Matt looked to for guidance when a situation with Chris inevitably cropped up.
If Nick was calm and allowed it then so would Matt since it was obviously not bad enough. If Nick got all irritated by it or pointed out that their situation was weird, then Matt would retreat and stop whatever was going on so that they stayed on the right side of the boundaries they had all set.
But now it was all upside down. Nick was making the jokes, Chris wouldn't stop touching him and trying to tickle him and they had to end the video earlier than usual because their normal parking lot was creepy and unusually full today.
He had to drive them back home, unsure of what had happened exactly but knowing that he seemed to be the only one who thought it was weird.
He got ready for bed even though the other two complained that it was too early so he joined them when they suggested they play some Wii.
It was quiet for a little while, the only sounds were from the Mario Kart menu as they selected characters and Nick scrolled through track options.
"Put some music on." Chris said, tossing his phone to Matt carelessly.
They could be siblings and dating.
The words followed Matt as he scrolled through Chris's Spotify until he found the playlist the three of them had made for late night gaming sessions.
They could be siblings and dating.
The words came again as Chris gave him a high five and a smile that was too bright for 1am.
They could be siblings and dating.
The words were still there when Nick threw his remote down after 6 rounds of last place and told them that he was going to bed.
They could be siblings and dating.
The words bothered him while Chris changed the music to their special playlist and changed the track for another round of Mario Kart.
They could be siblings and dating.
These words made their presence known when Chris turned and got all up in his face after his third win.
"I'm better than you tonight Matty!" He crowed and Matt let him, enjoying the happiness radiating from Chris.
Their gaming soon turned into the two of them talking quietly with the Wii switched off and the Spotify playlist morphing into something quieter, something Matt hoped Nick would never catch them listening to or they would never hear the end of it since it was lesser-known, soft pop songs.
The words, They could be siblings and dating., were still circling in his mind. Matt couldn't stop thinking about them.
It didn't take Chris long to notice that Matt wasn't exactly listening to whatever he was saying at the time and the words, They could be siblings and dating., sprung back to Matt's mind when Chris gently touched his shoulder and asked what was wrong.
They could be siblings and dating.
How could Matt deny Chris an honest answer when he was being so soft and gentle. Chris was hardly ever like that, normally the first one to punch your arm and giggle with you. Matt decided he liked this Chris better, the soft, quiet and gentle Chris.
So he asked him. "Why did you say it?" and then had to explain himself because it appeared that Chris had forgotten he even mentioned it.
Chris seemed taken aback. "It was honestly just a comment. We all joke about it all the time and there are millions of jokes about being from Alabama and doing your cousin or something." Chris shrugged like it was nothing. "Thought our fans might laugh at that. A bit of stereotypical fun."
Matt nodded like he understood and came to the realisation that his brother didn't realise how much it had affected Matt himself.
He didn't want to draw any more attention to the fact that he clearly couldn't stop thinking about what Chris had deemed a throw away comment so he stood up to go to bed.
He was stopped by a gentle hand, wrapping around his wrist and tugging on it.
He looked back at his brother, who had uncurled himself from where they had been laying on the couch, to grab his wrist lightly.
"Why do you ask Matty? Did it bother you that much?" he asked.
Matt scowled, those godforsaken words springing eagerly to the front of his mind as if he needed reminding.
They could be siblings and dating.
"It didn't bother me! Just seemed like a weird thing to say! Especially after-" Matt cut himself off, shaking his head and trying to free himself from Chris's grip which had tightened unexpectedly.
"After what? Don't stop on my account." Chris said, squeezing his wrist.
"Because there was the whole shirt thing and then Nick's joke later. Don't want people to think... you know, stuff about us and all that." Matt mumbled.
Chris let go of his wrist and leaned back into the couch again. "Who cares! We know the truth right, that's all that matters." He said.
They could be siblings and dating.
Matt nodded and they held each other's gaze for a few more seconds before Chris heaved himself off the couch and started walking away.
He stopped to cheekily wink at Matt and hold his hand out to Matt.
Matt rolled his eyes but took his brother's hand anyway.
They could be siblings and dating.
Matt shoved the words aside as they both climbed into Matt's bed and curled up into each other. This had happened since the fire, nobody used the bed in Chris's room unless Nate was staying over and then he got that bed with Matt saying that he "didn't mind sharing".
Matt had become so used to having someone else in the bed with him that he couldn't sleep unless Chris was pressed against his back with his arm around Matt's waist.
They could be siblings and dating.
Yup, those words were going nowhere as Matt and Chris blurred the line between siblings and dating but only Matt seemed to realise that as what Chris had said when Matt asked only told Matt that Chris had no idea what he had suggested and how it had messed with Matt's head.
Maybe we should be the siblings who are dating Matt thought as he drifted off to sleep, his brother sleeping peacefully already, no thoughts troubling him and Matt dreamed of a world where Chris greeted him each morning with a kiss and the words: We could be siblings and dating.