Ok so this is a yaoi… and I'm using human names ok? First time writing a yaoi and there may be lemons later…. But I'm not sure. So bear with me please!

Maple Flavored Birthday Kisses

Matthew sighed, rubbing the back of his head. He had just woken up, after all. "Yo! Marvin! You up here?" Alfred's voice floated up the stairs.

Matthew stuck his head out of his room, "Up here Alfred," he said. He walked down the stairs and Alfred punched him.

"Happy birthday little bro!" Matthew jumped a little. 'I can't believe I forgot my own birthday!' he thought to himself.

"I-isn't there a meeting today?" he asked.

Alfred nodded, "Yep! So we gotta go!" The Canadian stared at the American for a minute, sighed, and went back upstairs.

Matthew got ready quickly, walked back downstairs, and quietly followed Alfred to the meeting hall. They walked in and Matthew sat down. "Oh Kumaichi, I wonder if anyone will notice me today?" he asked the little bear.

"Who are you?" the bear asked him.

"I'm your owner!" Matthew said, giving up. The little bear sighed, squirming a little. Ludwig walked up to the front.

"So, returning to our topic. Any solutions for global warming?" he asked. Naturally, Alfred shot his arm up, exclaiming,

"We should build a huge hero! And it would protect the Earth!" Various other countries, Arthur among them, voiced objections.

The meeting got more and more chaotic until Ludwig shouted, "EVERYONE SHUT UP!" A shocked silence fell over the assembled people. Ludwig sat down, "Just… meeting dismissed. Go away." A deafening scraping replaced the silence of seconds before. The Canadian stood up, accidently running into someone.

"Hey! Watch where you're going," they shouted.

"S-sorry!" Matthew said, rushing out. He walked quickly to a small café, ordering a large mocha and a chocolate muffin. He sat down next to the window and pulled his laptop out of his bag.

Contently munching the muffin, he opened up the first draft of his book. He typed a few sentences, realized that it was pointless, and opened up Facebook. Francis pinged him on chat almost immediately.

F: Mon cher? Where are you?
M: I'm in a café Francis.
F: Oh! Well, remember Mon cher. You know where to find me ;)
M: W-what?
Francis is offline…

Mathew logged off and put his laptop away, shaken . Francis was always so… flirtatious. It shocked Matthew; no one really did that. Francis didn't mean much by it but… it still confused him. "Hey.. uh…" Matthew turned, sipping his coffee. "Oh! Matthew. Alfred was looking for you, aru."

Matthew smiled at the Chinese man, "Thank you." He slipped off the chair, walking out.

Alfred smiled at him, "Yo Mark. You know Arthur right?" Matthew nodded.

"Of course," he said. "Who doesn't?" Alfred laughed, more nervously than usual.

"So he's like pretty cool right? Like cool enough for a hero?" Matthew looked at his older brother blankly. Was he asking him for advice?

"Um…well… I guess so?" Alfred whooped, obviously hoping for that.

"Yeah! I knew it! Thanks Martin!" He then ran out, ignoring Matthew's shout of his actual name.

Matthew sighed, sinking down into his chair by the fireplace. The fireplace itself stayed dark and cold and he stood up, planning on lighting one. "Maybe not…it is my birthday after all…" he murmured to himself. "But no one even knows me…maybe something to drink will help…" He nodded to no one in particular, checking briefly on Kumajiro before leaving. The little bear was sound asleep, curled in a small ball. Matthew laughed, tugging a coat on, and quietly leaving the house.

A few moments later Alfred's obnoxiously painted sports car pulled up. "Hey Mark! Need a ride!"

Matthew jumped slightly, "O-oh! Alfred…you scared me…heading to the bar?"

Alfred nodded energetically, "Yeah! Arthur's gonna meet me there! Hop in dude! The hero can get you there quick!" Matthew laughed, complying with his older brother's wishes.

One thing that could be said for Alfred's driving: it was not by any means, slow. They got there in ten minutes flat, ordinarily it took Matthew twenty to thirty minutes to get there. "Come on dude! Heroes don't keep people waiting!" Alfred shouted, running in. Matthew laughed at his enthusiasm, walking in.

"Oh veh! Nice to see you!" the happier of the two Italians shouted.

"Eh! Feliciano do your damn job!" the other shouted at him, smacking him over the head.

"Owie! Veh…" Feliciano said sadly, continuing to serve the other patrons.

"Awww. Lovi, you should be nicer! A cute tomato can't be mean!" another chimed in.

"Sh-shut up. Damn drunk matador…and my name is Lovino!" he retorted rudely.

"And mine's Antonio…your point Lovi?" the other hiccupped. Lovino gave Antonio a particularly ill-natured glare, walking down to the other side of the bar.

"Veh~! Big brother, you shouldn't do that! It's not nice!" Feliciano shouted down as Matthew sat down at the far end, nearest the door. "Oh! Hello veh~! What would you like?"

"My usual, Feli. If you would," Matthew responded, smiling at the perky Italian. He received a puzzled look from Feliciano and elaborated, "A glass of shiraz, Feli."

"Oh! Ok, veh~!" the other said, grabbing and artfully filling a glass. "Here you go~! Veh!"

"Thanks Feli."

"Of course veh~!" Feliciano flashed him a peace sign, walked to the other half of the bar, and continued the other customers service. Matthew swilled his drink around, sipping lightly at it. The delicate flavor, slightly dry, coated his mouth. He'd always adored wine, the French in him, he supposed. Several of the bar's patron were familiar. Ludwig and Gilbert were downing beers, Ivan, vodka like always. Francis, Arthur, and Alfred were all pretty well in the bag.

Matthew watched with some interest as Alfred grabbed Arthur by the tie, pulled him across the table, and enveloped his lips. Arthur fought back weakly, murmuring something about Alfred being a wanker before submitting completely. Francis laughed, sitting back and noticing Matthew for the first time. He sauntered over, "Oh? You're out tonight?"

"It's my birthday…" Matthew responded softly, sipping his wine slowly.

"Mon cher! It's your birthday and you're alone?"

"Y-yes…"

"Oh no…that won't do at all," Francis said admonishingly, sitting down on the stool next to Matthew.

"Huh? What's wrong with being alone…?" Matthew's confusion clearly came out in his speech.

"It's your birthday! Haven't you any interest in love at all? Let's find you someone!"

Matthew didn't respond besides a slight blush coloring his skin.

"Someone in mind?" Francis persisted.

Matthew mutely shook his head, not trusting his voice.

"You do! Who is it?"

"N-no one! No one…" Matthew said, trying to inject sincerity into his voice. "No one at all."

"Uh huh. Sure, mon cher."

"It's true! It is… I think…"

"Who is it? C'mon, who?"

Matthew looked into his drink miserably and through a sip of wine said, "Ivan…"

"What? I couldn't understand you."

Matthew put his empty wine glass down, "I-Ivan…"

Francis stayed quiet for a moment. Finally, he said, "What? As in… Ivan Ivan? That Ivan?"

Matthew nodded, "I'm a masochist Francis… A total masochist… Feli, give me something strong." The Italian nodded and slid a clear glass of some kind of alcohol along the bar. Matthew picked it up, drinking half the glass in a single sip. It burned his throat and tongue, but he didn't care.

"Hm…well…Ivan, eh?" Francis finally said.

Matthew nodded, drinking the alcohol slower. It tasted a bit like the moonshine he used to drink during Prohibition. "I don't know why… I'm so stupid…" he finally said in a bitter tone.

Francis lightly patted his head, "Mm…it's not that bad Matthew…"

Matthew watched Arthur and Alfred for a long time before answering. They were still drinking slightly, but mainly were talking. Occasional kisses were exchanged. "Not that bad? Francis…he doesn't even know I exist for God's sake! At least… I don't think he does… I mean he did sit on me…"

"I dunno know mon cher. Go talk to him… I'm going home. Happy birthday, by the way," Francis finished by kissing his nose lightly. He waved to Arthur and Alfred and walked out. Matthew continued sipping at his drink, wrestling with his mind.

'Go talk to him! Just go!' one part screamed. Equally strong however, was the part screaming, 'Don't! He doesn't know you, you're partially intoxicated, he sat on you for Christ's sake, and he's totally nuts! Don't do-' Matthew silenced this voice and, surprising himself, stood up and walked over towards the other end of the bar.

"Um… Ivan? You mind if I sit here?"

End chapter… A/N! Hey peoples :3. I this is realllly awful I'd appreciate a review saying so…