Intertwined Souls (Matty Healy/George Daniel)

5: "A Taste Of His Own Medicine"

Matty's gaze lingers on George's retreating figure until he's swallowed up by the crowd, his mind spinning rapidly as he tries to work through what the fuck just happened.

Matty can't believe that George mouthed off to a customer for him - hell, he's shocked to see him here at all. He had thought that George was never going to come back to the club, it's obviously not his usual element, and although Matty had wanted to see him again, he'd given up any hope of that after two weeks had passed with no sign of him.

Matty doesn't know why he's still thinking about George at all actually, because he barely knows him, but he can't deny that he's a bit enamored with him. Maybe it's because George seems so different than most of the people he interacts with on a daily basis, or maybe Matty just finds him attractive, but either way, he would be lying if he said he hasn't been keeping an eye out for his tall frame and messy hair among the throng of people that occupy Menswear each night.

Matty wants to follow after George, to ask him what he's doing here, to make sure he doesn't leave before he has a chance to apologize for his harsh words, but first, he has to deal with this customer, because no matter how much Matty would love to tell him to fuck off before chasing after George, he can't risk losing clients, especially not right now when he needs them the most.

"Sorry about that." Matty does his best to hide his grimace as he turns back to the man he had been dancing for, his skin crawling slightly as he forces himself to settle down against his wide thighs again.

Matty's no stranger to unpleasant characters in his line of work, but this man has been making him uncomfortable ever since he waved him over. He's new here obviously, and he hasn't learned the proper etiquette of behavior that most of his other clients adhere to, but Matty's not in the right mindset to deal with idiots tonight, and his patience is hanging by a slender thread.

"Is it typical for your boyfriend to pull that sort of shit?" the man grumbles as Matty begins to work up a slow rhythm, his arms thankfully hanging at his sides instead of pawing at Matty like they were earlier.

"He's not my boyfriend," Matty mutters under his breath, just wanting to get this dance over with so he can search out George immediately afterward. He's constantly scanning the crowd as he moves, but he can't spot George just yet. He remembers the direction he headed in though, so hopefully, he'll still be in that area once Matty's finished.

"Sure seemed like it," the man huffs in reply, his large fingers beginning to trace over Matty's hipbones again, releasing small shivers of displeasure that continuously shoot up his spine the longer he touches him. "You know, I should report this to the manager, it was very unprofessional, and I'm a bit put off now honestly."

"Good luck with that," Matty snaps, his temper finally getting the best of him as he wrenches himself out of the man's lap, a half-smile twisting at his lips when he imagines how Jamie would react to this prat's complaint. "Look - I am sorry he interrupted us, but you shouldn't have grabbed my hair either, in fact, I'm quite fed up with you in general, so you're lucky I'm even still here at all."

"Y-you can't talk to me like that," the man sputters indignantly, his face flushing all the way down to his neck when Matty crosses his arm stubbornly. "Touching's allowed above the waist, I checked," the man continues to protest, and Matty can't help but roll his eyes obnoxiously at this man's attitude.

"It is - yes, but you're treating me like I'm a fucking blow-up doll. You can't just yank half of my hair off and expect me to sit there and take it, so if my friend hadn't stepped in when he did, I would have said something."

"But you're a stri-"

"Of course I'm a bloody stripper," Matty cuts the man off midsentence, his bones figuratively vibrating as he loses the last shreds of his tattered composure, "but I'm a person too, and you should remember that if you want to be allowed back in here. One more complaint on you and I'll make sure the bouncers won't let you in again."