Timeline - November 2nd | ( morning )

What Matthew loved most, if anyone asked him, was waking up beside the woman he loved—her hair a waterfall of lush honey brown that often amazed him, wrapping itself around his body, while her limbs tangled affectionately with his.

In his opinion, there was nothing better than feeling Eko stretch out over him, her lips lightly brushing against his skin. In this new chapter of his life, he had found love and peace, and he intended to hold onto that happiness tightly, keeping it all to himself.

His deep love for Eko made him fiercely protective of her. Even the smallest hint of danger sent a wave of anxiety through him. As he lay beside her, he tried to push aside the troubling thoughts from the day before, gently kissing her temple and silently, almost religiously, praying to the heavens always to keep her safe. He wanted the universe to look after her, even if she tested their patience with her reckless actions, even if her behavior often drove him to the brink of frustration.

As he kissed her and moved his hand along her arm, he noticed that the cut from the youma yesterday had completely healed, leaving no trace of evidence that it had ever bled so profusely. It puzzled him, and he made a mental note to figure out why it had healed so fast, shifting that to an after-breakfast conversation. For now, he had places to be—places that required him to be Ace.

Matthew gently pulled away from Eko's sleeping form and got out of bed. He had kept his early morning outings a secret, knowing that discussing them would lead to difficult conversations. It was going to be hard enough to explain who and what he actually was to her. Right now, he was convinced it wasn't a burden Eko needed to carry.

Quickly getting dressed, he glanced back at the woman softly snoring in his bed, her chest rising and falling rhythmically. The sight of her peaceful slumber brought a bittersweet smile to his face. She looked so serene, so untouched by the horrors that lurked outside their sanctuary. In moments like this, he wished he could shield her from the world forever.

Matthew moved quietly, trying not to disturb the delicate tranquility of the room. As he reached the door, he paused, taking one last look at Eko. The love he felt for her surged through him, mingling with the anxiety and determination that drove him to these secretive outings. The weight of his responsibilities pressed heavily on his shoulders, but he carried them willingly, knowing that every sacrifice he made was for the love of his life, still sleeping soundly, blissfully unaware of the chaos. After all, ignorance was sometimes bliss.

***** *****

As dawn broke, Matthew wrapped up his visit to the medical ward, coming straight from his routine morning monster hunts. The doctors were satisfied with his check-up, especially after the incident the day before. With that worry off his mind, his focus shifted when his communication device chimed with a new message. To his surprise, it was from Madison.

Curiosity piqued, he read the message: "Urgent. Meet at Cedery." His brows furrowed, recognizing that she wanted to meet at the private cafeteria reserved for employees on the upper levels of Allegiant. Without overthinking the reasons, he made his way to the elevator and headed upstairs.

As the elevator doors shut, a wave of unease swept over him. Given the circumstances, it was a natural reaction. Madison held the power to take Eko away from him, and it was no secret that he was far from being her favorite person. He was fairly certain she barely tolerated his presence, a reality that gnawed at him.

With a soft ding, the elevator doors opened, and Matthew stepped out, quickly spotting the café. It was still early, and the café was quiet, the air thick with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. He easily noticed Madison, recognizable by her distinctive black raven hair, seated at a table in the back. The secluded location she had chosen only added to his growing apprehension.

Matthew took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever news or confrontation lay ahead. He made his way towards Madison. "Morning, everything okay?" he greeted as he approached, taking a seat opposite her. He noted the prudence in her choice of location for their meeting. This section of Allegiant was more secluded, offering enough privacy to avoid unwanted attention and, importantly, to keep Eko out of the loop.

As he settled into his chair, Matthew observed Madison, who remained silent but glanced up when a café worker approached their table. The young woman, with her ginger hair, offered a warm smile to the early risers, greeting them kindly.

"Headmaster," she acknowledged, a hint of surprise in her voice. "We don't see you up here usually?"

"Just coffee with a friend," Matthew replied casually. "The usual for me. Madison?" He looked at her, indicating the choice of drink.

"I'm fine, thanks," she replied curtly, gesturing to her own cup.

Matthew nodded and turned back to the server, giving her a brief smile as she hurried off to prepare his order.

Madison adjusted her posture, contemplating the most effective way to carry out her plan. When Matthew spoke again, his voice cut through the silence, causing an internal shudder. Her dislike for him simmered beneath the surface as she struggled to maintain her composure.

"Mads?" He asked again, concern creeping into his tone. "What's going on? Seriously?"

"I've always been straightforward with you, haven't I?" Madison responded.

"Hmm," he nodded, a hint of amusement coloring his voice, "more so than anyone else, I suppose." He chuckled then, though he felt a tinge of unease about where this conversation might lead.

"Then you'll understand the significance of what I'm about to say."

"O-okay?" His tone shifting as he tensed at her serious demeanor.

"After the recent events and the incident yesterday, we have decided to leave. We need to get out—an aircraft is required. And Headmaster, you are to cut all ties with my cousin. No further contact. I will not tolerate a repeat of what happened at Sea-Tac."

With that said, Madison left no room for negotiation in her statement, and Matthew took a moment to process everything. Had he heard her correctly? As he studied Madison's rigid posture, he could tell she was resolute in what she had said, and it irritated him that she had mentioned leaving.

Raising an eyebrow, he decided to give Madison the benefit of the doubt. Given her royal status, he deemed it prudent to take her words seriously. He realized the importance of gaining her trust to safeguard both of them, especially Eko, from Madison's impulsive decisions.

"Madison, I'm struggling to grasp all of this, and I'm not entirely sure what you're asking of me?" he asked, seeking clarification.

"Let me reiterate," she acknowledged. "My cousin has a tendency to be less than forthcoming with the men that she has these dilly dances with. Secondly, and most importantly, we are leaving. That's the focus of this discussion."

"Dilly dances?" Matthew repeated, the phrase striking him oddly and his frustration mounting.

"Let's not be daft," Madison leaned forward, her hands resting on the table as she scrutinized him. "Skarsgard, your tone and continued idiocy on this matter are vexing."

Matthew was taken aback by Madison's blunt demands and found himself defensively bristling. "Firstly," he scoffed, gathering his thoughts, "I am in a relationship with Eko."

Madison started to speak, but Matthew raised his hand to stop her. "And as for your departure? Considering I just left Eko in my bed, she wouldn't have failed to mention that to me, just putting it out there?"

"She was supposed to say goodbye last night," Madison expressed, her annoyance evident. "I have told you that this world is not sustainable for us. We have ignored our responsibilities for too long. I allowed her time to... exhaust this phase. Clearly, she is too immature to say goodbye. A recurring pattern with the individuals she becomes sexually involved with."

Matthew's mouth hung open in shock. "Wait?" He was startled by what he had just heard. "Wait, are you suggesting this is typical for her?" He fixated on that part of Madison's explanation. "That she was just using this relationship to get me out of her system?"

Madison responded with a derisive laugh and a roll of her eyes. "Oh, please," she retorted dismissively. "Surely you're not naive about your place in her life?" She let out a brief chuckle. "You've been close to her long enough to see the patterns in her relationships. You. Luke. There are likely others she hasn't even mentioned to you."

Matthew found himself struggling to process the barrage of information that was now igniting the seed of doubt he had long suppressed. That doubt began spiraling out of control.

"Skarsgard, you are merely someone she's passing time with. I don't need to make it any clearer about what her actions indicate. Now, with sufficient time having passed and our commitments calling us, we're returning to the royal court. Yesterday was a turning point. That's why, when I spoke to my cousin yesterday, I informed her of our impending departure. She agreed it was time to leave and said she would inform you when we returned to base. Clearly, she has neglected that task," Madison concluded, her eyes narrowing sharply.

Matthew paused, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to process Madison's words.

The instinct to protect surged within him. He loved Eko, and if what Madison said was true, he would address that separately; his immediate concern was Eko's safety. "Firstly, about the... leaving and," he tried to keep his tone measured, "returning to the royal court? We both know that's on hold until a new king or queen is crowned, as per the court's rules. That's at least ano-"

Madison cut him off, "-I am very familiar with the matter."

"Fuck!" His frustration boiled over. "Why are you leaving, and where are you going?" He knew there was more to the story.

"Watch your language," Madison scolded. "And as the headmaster of this academy, you surely understand your influence on her. The way she behaves, irrational in her behavior and choices. It is a reflection of the lifestyle that is conditioned here. It is not healthy for either herself or I to continue living in such a toxic environment."

"You gotta be fucking with me," he scoffed sarcastically, the sound resonating deeply. "Your opinion does not dictate our relationship. You have no authority in decisions concerning myself and Eko. You, however, are free to leave."

Madison's disdain rose as she continued her reprimand, "You fail to grasp the world we come from. Nor do you meet the standards that we uphold. Your presence in her life is not a positive influence, and I dislike the version of her that emerges around you. I fear for her future with you in it."

"So that's what this is. I'm not good enough?" he laughed incredulously; this was a first.

"No, you are not. I thought that was quite obvious." Madison's eyes narrowed as she regarded him coldly. "Skarsgard. This is not real, and you are someone who will never be a part of her world. You are merely someone to fill the time until life reconvenes."

"Life reconvenes?"

"Yes. It's her pattern." Madison nodded without a heartbeat. "She becomes infatuated with someone, and when he's no longer fulfilling a need, she moves on to the next, like what happened between you and Luke."

"What? No, that's not what's happened!"

"Please, do you really think she didn't have him in her bed when you weren't here? Told him that she loved him too?" Madison rolled her eyes and, seeing the realization dawn on him, she pressed on. "No, Skarsgard, you will not be the first man she's told that she loved, nor will you be the last. The fact is, she isn't even capable of love."

Matthew's response was uncharacteristically hesitant, "Of course she's capable of love, and Eko loves me," he stammered. "What happened with Luke— that was a misunderstand with our communication."

"You're no different from the others. You're not special, regardless of how she makes you feel. She is not capable of feeling anything beyond the extent of her own trauma. This was inevitable." Madison tilted her head, her fingers idly tracing the rim of her coffee mug. "In what world do you both exist? Hmm?"

Rendered speechless, Matthew could only listen as Madison continued her biting critique.

"Yes, this has lasted slightly longer than with other men, but given the circumstances, that we have no home to return to, she's made herself comfortable in your bed."

"Are you even hearing yourself?" He retorted bitterly, disbelief coloring his tone.

"I am, and, secondly, I will no longer allow us to get involved any further with Ezra, nor whatever schemes you have going on in this place, Headmaster," Madison stated firmly, nodding affirmatively to underscore her resolve.

"Schemes?" He was incredulous. "We are at war, Madison, nowhere is truly safe!"

"There are other places, safer ones, beyond these realms. Places where we could be safe, but only if my idiotic cousin isn't tied down to you, here. That's why I'm ordering you to back off so I can take her away from this chaos."

Matthew was stunned, his heart pounding. Her words cut through him, revealing painful truths he didn't want to face. But just as the waitress returned to their table, Matthew regained his composure and took a deep breath. He counted to ten internally, striving to control his rising impatience, and with the final count, he gripped his coffee cup tightly.

Madison appeared genuinely frightened; given she was the Princess, fear was not a common expression, but now it was unmistakably etched across her face. He reminded himself that her safety, and by extension Eko's, was paramount.

"I can assure both of you, you'll be safe with me," he asserted firmly. "There are safeguards in place, similar to the ones that protected Sea-Tac during Ezra's assault. Such a breach won't happen here—"

"Safe?" she scoffed dismissively. "In a school designed for war? That's ridiculous. We'd be safer far away from you. I don't want us to die because we stayed. It's that simple."

Matthew's frustration boiled over. "What's your fucking problem, Madison?" he snapped, his patience gone. "What the hell is all this about? Who the hell are you running from?"

Madison didn't flinch. "With leadership like yours, it's no wonder Ezra felt threatened and retaliated. You're partly to blame for the attack on the moon and the ongoing loss of lives," she fired back, as Matthew gripped his cup tighter and she straightened her attire.

Matthew was momentarily taken aback, but when he spoke again, his voice was biting. "You're blaming me for all of this?"

"Isadora and the royal court aren't the ones waging war with her," Madison shot back.

"The Queen herself supported our stance! That's why the two worlds are at war. We're merely the mercenaries executing the plans," he scoffed in disbelief. "You'd rather surrender to her will? Even though she's responsible for the deaths of millions!"

"I refuse to accept any more casualties. Your approach only leads to more dead bodies. We need a better way to handle this."

Matthew shook his head, crossed his arms, and leaned back. "I've had enough of tolerating the shit that comes out of your mouth. If you want to leave, fucking leave. As for Eko, I won't do anything to stop her if she chooses to leave me."

"She's made her choice, and we're leaving as planned. I expect the aircraft to be ready within the hour," Madison declared, her chin lifted defiantly. "My cousin will have her things packed by now, and then we'll be gone from this place. You're dismissed, soldier."

Matthew's heart sank, a sense of betrayal washing over him. "Wait! Was this all a distraction for her to leave?" He felt a tightness in his chest, struggling to breathe. "You kept me here, arguing, just so she could pack and leave?"

Madison's nod was firm, her stare icy and unyielding. She watched as he contained any further outburst, merely standing up and shoving his chair back. "Get the fuck out of my academy, now!" he snapped, his gaze shifting away as he marched off.

His departure was swift, fueled by a mix of anger and disbelief. He left the small cafeteria, feeling the eyes of a few onlookers on him as he stormed out. His heart pounded in his chest, and a million thoughts raced through his mind.

The halls of the academy seemed to narrow around him, each step echoing the collapse of the world he thought he understood. Reaching the elevator, he pounded his fist against the button, the familiar ping and the sliding doors providing a momentary relief from his frustration.

Stepping inside, he pressed the button for the training arena, seeking solitude in the one place he felt in control. As the doors closed, he was enveloped in silence. He looked up at the ceiling, allowing the silence to consume him.

He felt like a fucking idiot.

The realization hit him hard, tightening his throat and catching his breath. He tried to steady himself, taking a deep breath, but his exhale was shaky and uneven. Despite trying to stay rational, the emotional blow was too much to ignore.

Ultimately, he couldn't deny that Madison was the Princess, and Eko would follow her wherever she went. She was her family, after all, and he had no right to interfere with that bond.

The elevator chimed again as the doors slid open, and his footsteps echoed heavily against the floor as he trudged towards the training center. There, he could lock himself away from the world, allowing his frustration and confusion to unfold freely.

He would issue the command to prepare the aircraft and keep himself isolated until they departed. This solitude would give him time to process the gravity of his last conversation with Madison and digest the heavy words that still lingered in his mind.

"Please, do you really think she didn't have him in her bed when you weren't here? Told him that she loved him too?" Madison rolled her eyes as she pressed on. "No, Skarsgard, you will not be the first man she's told that she loved, nor will you be the last. The fact is, she isn't even capable of love."

Madison's revelations were particularly painful, because Eko had told him that he was the first person she had ever told she loved. Hearing the harsh truth from Madison exposed a vulnerability in him that he had not previously acknowledged.

Afterall, some people don't have the bandwidth for it, some people don't know how to function in society after the war. And even though he loved her deeply, the harsh reality he had to confront was that Eko was a by product of this war and love was a capacity that she did not know how to have.

***** *****

"Babe!" Eko called out as the elevator doors slid open. She had no idea where Matthew had disappeared to but found him stalking towards the training arena, seemingly in the mood for a sparring session.

She smirked. Great minds think alike. Their minds always thought alike.

"Matthew! Wait up!"

He tensed slightly, she noticed, as he came to a stop. Her brows furrowed as she caught up to him, and that's when she rounded him, she noticed a shift in his demeanor. His usually lively eyes now looked somber, the light within them dimmed

Eko stepped around to face him, and a sense of unease crept over her as she sensed his troubled state. She knew him well, even after their relatively short time together, and it was clear that something had gone wrong that morning.

"Hey?" she cooed, reaching out to gently touch his arm, but he flinched backwards, and Eko did not know how to take it when he recoiled from her like that. She searched his etched features as she looked up at him, trying to find answers in his face.

"Hey?" Her voice was soft, laced with extreme worry. "Matthew, talk to me. What's happened?"

Matthew didn't respond to her but shook his head and tried to step past her. Eko reached out and grabbed his chin, turning his face towards her, her expression filled with concern.

"Matthew, hey, talk to me?" she said, her voice tinged with concern. "Is it Cid? The board?"

His eyes bounced between hers, and she noticed a look that almost resembled hatred seep into his gaze. He grasped her wrist, yanking it away from him as though her touch was poison.

"Madison explained everything," he said.

Ohhh, what the fuck? — "E-xplained... everything?" Eko trembled, her expression turning wary. "About what?" The fear that Madison might have disclosed her true identity clung to her thoughts.

"Let me be very fucking clear on this."

No, no, no. Eko took a slight step back as he pointed at her, his wrath palpable as if he could tear her apart with his words alone.

"You do not owe me any explanations about any of this," he said, his voice low and controlled, but laden with an edge that chilled her. "She made your intentions here quite clear."

"Hey! Wait... explanations about what? My intentions here?" Eko repeated, scrambling to understand exactly what Madison had conveyed to him, and when she could have possibly spoken to him.

"If you want to leave, then fucking leave!" he gestured expansively towards the walls of the academy, "GO!"

"GO? Go where?" Eko's hand flew to her chest, her heart pounding as she struggled to make sense of Matthew's words.

"I'll be here, so go upstairs, finish packing your fucking stuff, and leave. I'll have the aircraft ready—"

Eko was speechless, her mind racing to make sense of the bombshell Matthew had just dropped. "Woah! Hold on! What the fuck!?"

He moved as if to step past her, anger radiating from him. Then, another thought struck him, and he halted, staring at her as if the whole world had swallowed him whole. "I just wish... you had enough fucking respect to tell me what this was. To admit that I was just another one of your distractions." He locked eyes with her, his gaze searching for an elusive truth. "You know what, Eko? Just... get the fuck out of my life, and stay gone this time!"

Matthew tried to move past her again, but Eko swiftly stepped in front of him, blocking his path.  "No, nah uh! You stay the fuck there! This doesn't make sense!" Eko's voice escalated in frustration. "STOP!" she insisted as he tried to bypass her again.

"What doesn't make sense is why you even started a relationship with me. I—I fucking told you I loved you, Eko. FUCK!" he yelled now, his frustration boiling over. "Why couldn't you have just left things as they were!"

"Left it the way it was?" She echoed, puzzled by his agitation. "What the fuck is going on! Matthew, hang on! Back up! Where is this coming from?" Eko's voice rose with frustration and desperation, trying to understand what Madison had actually said to him.

"Fuck," he muttered, running his hands through his hair. Eko could see his emotions unraveling. "I should've known. I should've fucking known it was too good to be true! WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU LOVE ME!"

"OF COURSE I LOVE YOU!" Eko's voice cracked as she pressed her hands firmly against his chest, her eyes searching his for a glimmer of belief, pained by the doubt that shrouded his gaze. "I WOULD NEVER LEAVE YOU. Jesus, fucking Christ!" Her fingers tightened on his shirt, grasping it with a desperate intensity.

"Matthew!" she cried out, seizing his hand and pressing his palm against her chest where her heart hammered violently—a visceral proof of her sincerity. At this, the man before her finally took a deep breath, and she captured his full attention as he looked at her with those glassy, searching eyes.

"W-what did she tell you? Matthew, baby," she implored, her voice trembling as her emotions threatened to overwhelm her. "Tell me what she said?"

"Tell you what she said!?" He barked and it was like light switch of emotions as his words tumbled out in a frenzied rush.

Eko's hands moved gently from his shirt to his throat, then to his chin, before finally resting firmly on his cheeks. Her eyes flickered between his, absorbing every word. A sharp pain lanced through Eko's heart, igniting an unprecedented fury toward her cousin.

As Matthew's words faded into a heavy silence, a cold resolve then settled over Eko. She stood there, her hands still resting on his cheeks, feeling the tremor of his unresolved anger and her own rising fury. All she could think as she stared into his glassy eyes was that her cousin had hurt him.

She had hurt someone she loved.

And in that moment all she could think was heaven help her cousin, because the storm she had stirred was about to sweep them all into a maelstrom of change.

Eko knew, with chilling certainty, that her next actions would upend their lives forever. If Madison wanted to play this game, then she was going to tell Matthew everything.