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Welcome to Nothing [Chapter 2]
Title - Welcome to Nothing
Author - shorthorror
Pairing - Jimmy Sullivan / Matt Sanders
Rating - NC-17
Summary - Jimmy Sullivan has never found so much in so little. His struggles become someone else's struggles after an unexpected run-in. Now Jimmy doesn't have to suffer by himself.
Disclaimer - Purely fictional. The words are mine but the names are not.
Warning - Language, sex and mature situations.


Prologue
I




Enveloped in a heavy silence, Matt and I wandered through the open gates of the city park. We had walked about seven blocks from the coffee shop and found ourselves instinctively turning onto the stone pathway that lead us through to the heart of the park where a glorious marble fountain in the shape of a coy fish spouted bubbling water. The fountain could have been used as a pool by the way it's base stretched out widely to accommodate the aerial display of sparkling white liquid. Matt veered off towards it so I followed close behind. The weak scent of fresh water filled me up refreshingly, along with the smells of the trees and Matt's cologne. We sat down side by side on the edge of the fountain, just inches away from the falling water. I wasn't sure how, but being near the fountain gave me a sense of relief and purity.

I slouched over and let my hands dangle between my knees. My eyes traveled from the ground to the trunks of the trees and the other people walking or jogging through the park. Everybody's expression was the same, I noticed. All neutral with no hints of emotion whatsoever. Eyes were locked straight ahead and mouths were kept in a straight, unrevealing lines. When I looked at Matt I saw the same natural scowl that I had been observing for the past couple of hours. He was slumped over in the same bent-spine way I was, only his hands were clasped together.

"So um, I hope you don't feel obligated to stick around with me just because you saved my ass last night." I broke the silence, after some excruciating minutes deliberating on what I should say.

"What?" He said loudly as his hazel eyes practically shot me.

I withdrew. "Like, I appreciate it a lot and all that but, what now?"

To me it seemed leaving him was slightly inappropriate seeing as he'd saved my life, sheltered me in a place that wasn't even his and bought me food. But I had only known him for a little less than three hours. What was to come of us now? Were we going to become best friends now? Or would we eventually part ways, to never see each other again. I was at a loss, seeking the outcome of our meeting in the deep hazel of his inquisitive eyes.

Matt sighed heavily before dropping his head. "I guess I should come out with it now then huh?"

"Come out with what?"

He rose his head and stared at me, his features softening. I liked it better when his forehead wasn't creased with the emotion that might have been locked inside of him. He looked better when he smiled and the character of his dimples showed through, giving him a boyish charm that was hard to find in most grown men.

"Well Jimmy, I find myself in the same position you're in." He told me.

I cocked my head curiously, realization setting before I even had the chance to ask. My eyes widened and I was rendered speechless, but it all made so much sense now.

"Yeah, as you might have guessed... I'm homeless too."

I shook my head quickly. "No. I had no idea."

Matt's dark eyebrows rose in disbelief, his lips lifting into a smirk.

"Seriously. I didn't even suspect."

"Well it's true. I've been living on these streets for a few months now."

"Why? I mean, if you don't mind me asking."

Matt looked away, that despondency taking over again and making his face harden. "I got into some trouble with the law and got myself kicked out of the place I was staying. I did some time in the big house and when I got out, no one would take me because of my record."

"Oh..." Was all I had to say.

"What about you? Why are you out here?"

I thought of my story and the reason why I had been reduced to living alone with nowhere to go. I grimaced as though all the bitterness in the world plagued me. I probably had the same look on my face that Matt always had. The discontented scowl towards a place that robbed you of your youthful outlook with such an unsympathetic disposition.

"I dropped out of high school and was disowned because of... a problem I had with my parents. I mixed in with some bad people and got taken out of the inheritance my father was leaving to me. Now I'm jobless, homeless and have no money." Said I.

After getting the story off my chest I felt so much lighter. I knew somehow that I could confide in Matt and he wouldn't put any judgment on me in return. After he nodded his head, seemingly unfazed, I felt as though I could tell this man anything. He was like a vault; strong, with his guard up. Perhaps my secrets would go in and they wouldn't come out. Maybe this Matt guy had a bigger role other than just being the person that saved me from being assaulted to death.

"I don't understand people these days. They bring children into this world and expect them to make all the right decisions, and when they don't, the parents kick them out instead of trying to fix their mistakes. It's sad." Matt said.

"I know exactly what you mean. The world is a machine, and when one of the parts don't function properly, it's discarded and replaced." I said, liking the sound of my little philosophy.

Matt shook his head. "So true... so true."

After a long and surprisingly comfortable silence, Matt turned to me with a smile. "I don't know why, but I think we were meant to find each other."

I was slightly stunned by the way he had read my mind and nodded wholeheartedly. "I was thinking the same thing."

"Listen, I know we've only known each other for a couple of hours, but I think we should stick together y'know? After all I mean, you don't look like you know what you're doing and it seems to me that you need some help. And I need... well... I need somebody that I can talk to."

"Seriously?" I asked, still overwhelmed with surprise.

"Well, you seem like a nice guy and I'm a nice guy. But I understand if you want to be on your own..."

"No! No. No it's cool. I agree with you. It's just... I didn't expect you to say that."

"Was it weird?" He asked.

"No not at all. Actually I'm sort of glad you offered because..." I trailed off.

Matt didn't so much as blink when he awaited my next words. I bit my lip and tried to push myself to be honest as my rescuer stared at me. I found it difficult to express myself with those deep hazel eyes boring into me and the slight breeze whispering in my ear.

"I guess I'm just afraid now." I admitted.

Matt threw his arm around me and slapped me hard on the shoulder, causing me to jerk forward. "You don't have to be scared with me around Jimmy. I'll protect you."