Eyes That See Everything

By keisan

Author's Note: Today I was at Union Station and I saw a large group of people in fabulous Hetalia cosplays! It was the highlight of my day and reminded me how desperately I want to make my own APH Canada cosplay. Since I'm awful at doing that sort of thing (and need some help that I don't currently have), I decided that I would write a new APH fic because well…I do that better than designing cosplays. If I poked you or your friend on the shoulder today and exclaimed in my shy way how much I adored your cosplays, then this is a shout out to you and your cool friends. And since I always write from Mattie's point of view, you're kind of stuck with that from me… same goes with my favoured AmeCan pairing. But have no fear, there are other pairings within! Just wait and see. Reviews are love!

Chapter 1...

Matthew Williams was late. He cursed to himself softly; he was already not feeling so hot, battling the residual symptoms of a nasty flu. He took in a deep breath and made his way to the bus. Fortunately, there were still plenty of seats left and he sat down near the back in the window seat. He set his things down and breathed in a few calming breaths as he laid his head back into the cushiony seat. The sun was slowly setting on a late, chilly October afternoon and the gentle sway of the bus slowly lulled him into a light sleep.

Some time later, there was an abrupt stop that shook Matthew awake. He looked up to see that he still had some way to go before he was to get off but there were a few new passengers filing onto the bus. Matthew ducked his head down in hopes he remained unnoticed as he usually was. He bit his lip hoping that no one would sit next to him or on him in some cases. It was simpler if someone didn't try to talk to him. People in general made him feel anxious so it was easier to just not go there.

Unfortunately, the rest of the bus seemed to be full up so someone did plop down next to him. Matthew wrapped his arms around him and kept his head down; at least they hadn't sat on him. He peered through his messy strawberry blond bangs at the man sitting next to him. There was a tilt of confidence to this man's chin; he was tall, blond-haired, blue-eyed, and looked decently built. His hands were large and strong and he lifted up a heavy looking bag and set it down beneath his chair.

The man seemed to suddenly notice Matthew's gaze and flashed him a friendly smile, "Hi!"

Matthew looked up at him fully and quietly nodded, "Hello."

The guy seemed a little intimidating to Matthew so he shied away, hoping the guy would get the hint and stop talking to him.

"You getting off the bus soon?"

Matthew frowned suspiciously, "Maybe, why?"

The other man shrugged, "Just making conversation. I'm Alfred, Alfred Jones."

Matthew studied him for a moment before deciding he didn't look too untrustworthy and shook his hand. "I'm Matthew Williams."

Alfred grinned widely, "Pleased to meet you, Matthew."

Matthew blushed and glanced away, before mumbling, "You too."

"That's a nice ring," Alfred remarked, his blue eyes landed on Matthew's left hand.

The strawberry blond looked down, "Oh. Thanks. It's not… I mean—never mind."

"I was almost married once myself. It didn't work out though," Alfred said wistfully.

Matthew nodded, "I know how that goes. It's an engagement ring. But…I don't know."

"It's a big decision," Alfred said with a nod of finality.

"No kidding." Matthew rubbed a hand over his left ribs, his face carefully blank.

Alfred shifted his head, "Life's full of the unexpected, I've found. You just never know. Plans fall through sometimes."

"That's very true," Matthew agreed.

Soon the bus lurched forward once again before stopping. The strawberry blond man looked up to see it was his stop this time.

"Um, I have to get off here," he mumbled.

"What? Oh, this is my stop too!"

Matthew gave Alfred a small smile and got up to follow him off the bus. He glanced down at his phone to see that he actually had an extra ten minutes before his appointment. Elizabeta had better have been right to recommend this therapist.

Alfred returned his smile, "Well, it was nice to meet you, Matthew. Maybe we'll bump into each other again." Alfred winked and went on his merry way.

Matthew nodded and walked toward the café nearby. He'd have enough time to get his coffee before he had to go to the clinic.

Once he arrived at the office, conveniently located across the street, he filled out the paperwork and sent a snarky text to Elizabeta Héderváry...well, that used to be her last name... Elizabeta was his dearest friend and his new roommate.

'You know, if I get kidnapped by one of the weirdos out here, I will tell said kidnapper to come after you so at least I have some company—even if you're crazy.'

Elizabeta replied, 'Excuse you! That was uncalled for! And he'd probably be a really hot kidnapper that you totally would have the hots for. Don't send me those weak threats of yours.'

'Sorry. It's just what if he finds me? You never know.'

Elizabeta's reply was serious this time. 'Look, you're in the witness protection program—we both are—so you'll be fine. But they're right, you do need someone to talk to (who's objective) and Kiku said this was a good place!'

'Text me a novel, why don't you,' Matthew replied rhetorically. 'Gotta go.'

He rubbed his hands over his thin arms chasing away the chill that ran up his spine from Elizabeta's words. It reminded him why he was here to begin with.

"Mr. Williams?" called a soft, lilting voice.

The blond looked up at the tiny blond woman, a tomboyish girl really, who called his name. She stuck her hand out and shook his hand. "I'm Lili Zwingli. Pleased to meet you."

"You too," Matthew replied quietly.

She smiled sweetly at him and gestured to the long corridor of offices. "This way."

He sat in the comfortable armchair across from his therapists' once they entered the last office. He clasped and unclasped his hands over and over again and bit his lip.

"Care for some tea, Matthew?"

He shook his head and pointed at the sealed water bottle he carried with him, the other item he'd bought at the café. "I'm good. Thanks."

She nodded before pouring herself a cup. The scent of rose petals and mint slowly filled the room. "Well, what do you want to talk about today?"

He shrugged again. "I thought you would just ask me questions and how I feel or something…"

Lili looked at him thoughtfully with bright green eyes. "I suppose we can do that. Just so you know, everything said in here is confidential unless I strongly believe you may seriously harm yourself or purposely put yourself at risk. These sessions are for you and you can tell me whatever you like."

Matthew felt some pressure in his shoulders loosen and he nodded. "Well, uh… I don't know what Elizabeta told you when she made the appointment, but um, I moved out here a couple of weeks ago. The police have me in their witness protection program." He twisted the engagement ring absently as he spoke.

"Can I ask what happened?"

Matthew nodded and shrugged, "I guess…I don't know where to start really."

"Anywhere you'd like. Maybe why you're in the program is a good place to begin. You can share whatever you like."

Matthew bit his lip, his hands still clasping and unclasping the other. He thought back to everything that had happened over the last several months. His lift had changed so quickly and he was in trouble before he'd even realised it. He twisted the ring again; that's where it had all started really.

"Well, I guess it all started with the hockey team. My friend Tino Väinämöinen convinced me to join our town's team with him because he wanted to play and he had a giant crush on this Swedish guy on it. I thought Berwald was kind of terrifying but he is more of a gentle giant, I guess. He was always decent to both Tino and I. Tino and I met because we used to play hockey together when we were kids. We lost touch for a long time and ran into each other in the supermarket one day. I was looking for my favourite maple syrup brand and Tino was getting some stuff to… He kind of walked into me and I ended up with gouda cheese all over me. Apparently they didn't package the stuff very well… Anyway, after that we started catching each other up on our lives and occasionally we'd go out for drinks."

Matthew smiled as he got caught up in the memory.

"Bonnefoy, you really have a good tolerance, you know?" Tino's slightly glazed and bright lavender eyes caught Matthew's.

The taller blond grinned, "Thanks."

Tino brought his glass of Finnish vodka up to Matthew's pint and they clinked together. "Cheers!"

The Finnish man grinned and took another swig; Matthew followed. "So how come you don't date anyone?"

"Tino!" Matthew admonished with a slight blush.

"What? Are you celibate or something?"

"You have no shame," Matthew shook his head. "No, I'm not celibate…I just haven't found the right person."

"Well, you never will if you don't ever give anyone a shot. C'mon. I'd date you. You're good looking! What's your type anyway?"

Matthew blushed again and mumbled, "I don't know. I guess, I like guys…as you guessed… But uh, I don't know. Tall guys?"

"That hurts," Tino said dramatically.

"Hey! It's not that you're too short for me… I just… Well you're my friend and I know you like that Swedish guy you keep mentioning."

It was Tino's turn to blush, "Yeah yeah. Good guess."

"Not a guess. It's pretty damn obvious."

Tino punched Matthew's shoulder lightly.

"Hey!"

"Okay okay. If I ask him out, you have to join his hockey team with me so you can meet guys that you're into. It's a great way to meet people! And it's fun and I know you're kickass at hockey," Tino said.

Matthew sighed and magnanimously agreed, "Fine."

"Hey, maybe you'll even impress the scary Russian. He's their kickass goalie."

Matthew rolled his eyes. "As if."

The next weekend rolled around and Matthew and Tino were on the hockey team. Tino tried out for defence and got it in one while Matthew tried out for centre forward and impressed the team with an amazing three goals that went into the opposing net consecutively. It was only a practice but they both had what the team needed.

"You play well," Ivan Braginsky commented and nodded to Matthew as he left the ice rink.

Tino poked his friend in the side. "Told ya."

Berwald Oxenstierna nodded and shook Matthew's hand, "He's right."

The Fin looked up at Berwald wondering if he liked his playing skills too. Berwald turned to Tino and Matthew swore his eyes light up ever so slightly as if they were smiling. "You too." The tall Swede took Tino's smaller hand and brushed his fingers across the top of it. Then in a surprise move, he lent down and brushed his lips over Tino's hand.

Tino blushed and smiled. "Thanks."

Matthew brought himself back to the present and smiled at Lili. "Those two were meant to be."

Lili smiled and nodded, "Sounds like it."

"Well with hockey, the players usually go out for drinks after our games and we definitely had a lot of drinks after our first game. We killed the other team and won like ten to nothing or something like that and that's when I really got to know Ivan," Matthew explained.

"I got really wasted that night. Tino did too but Berwald was kind enough to take him home. I guess I convinced him that I would be fine with the other guys because I'd wanted to stay out or something. I remember Ivan talking to Berwald before they left in their cab.

"Emil, Matthias, Lukkas, Toris, and Gilbert were all still at the bar so I stayed with them. Gilbert left when Ivan got back—they didn't really get on very well, I guess. I vaguely remember Ivan taking me home a little while later. He had a personal driver and he insisted. That kind of started it all.

"It was actually really nice. He always made sure I got home safely and stuff. He kind of took care of me that way and I thought he was easy on the eyes. Anyway…" Matthew blushed when he noticed Lili's smile.

"It's okay to want to be taken care of," she said.

Matthew blushed again and shrugged. "Ugh it's sort of emasculating…"

"That's society's view, and it overlooks the fact that everyone wants to be taken care of at some point or another, regardless of their gender."

"I guess. It was nice at the time… and then I got to know Ivan better… and well, here I am," Matthew swallowed heavily.

Lili's smiled waned and she nodded. "It looks like our time is up today but I hope you'll make another appointment next week. Does two appointments each week work for you?"

Matthew nodded.

"I'm not here on weekends so let's start next week," the young therapist said.

"Okay."

Matthew picked up his red hoodie and tugged it over his head and headed out. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes once he was outside again. The door opened just behind him and he was nearly shoved over as someone tried to walk through him. The blond caught himself before he fell and he glared at the person who nearly knocked him over.

"Hey!" Then he stopped when he realized it was that guy he met earlier. Alfred Something.

Alfred looked up, blue eyes wide and smiling, "Hey! Matthew right?"

"Uh yeah…"

"Shit did I run you down? Sorry man, I didn't even see you."

"That happens…" Matthew muttered and walked toward the bus.

Alfred hurried to catch up to the other man, "Hey wait! Can I buy you a drink or something?"

Matthew flinched and stopped in his tracks. He slowly looked at Alfred from over his shoulder, "Um no, thanks… I don't drink."

"Oh sorry, dude! What about coffee? Tea? Hot chocolate?"

"No thanks, I have to go home."

"Is it 'cause I crashed into you? I said I was sorry. Please? Let me make it up to you," Alfred insisted.

Matthew shook his head, "It's fine. I don't care about that. I just really have to go."

The strawberry blond grabbed his phone and called a cab. There was no way he was going to chance taking a bus with this creepy persistent guy.

Alfred sighed. "Well, if you change your mind, here's my number."

He pulled out a card with his cell phone number on it and handed it to Matthew. "And just so you know…" Alfred reached into his jacket pocked to pull something out. Matthew tensed until he was presented with a badge. A cop's badge. Matthew looked at him fearfully, wondering what this guy wanted; he hadn't done anything and the police at the witness protection program said that no one would know he was here unless they had come with him, like Elizabeta had. Some authorities would be informed but it would be on a strictly need to know basis since his record was clean.

Matthew bit his lip and nodded, "Did I do anything wrong?"

Alfred's eyes widened, "No, of course not! I just wanted to let you know that I'm not some creep or something… if that's what you were thinking."

Matthew tilted his head and nodded bewildered. "Uh…okay. I'm going home now."

The cop's shoulders dropped. "No problem. Get home safe. Keep that card if you want."

"Thanks."

The strawberry blond waited a few minutes before the cab came up to the curb and hopped in. He watched the police officer walk to the bus stop and wondered why the man wasn't driving his own car. He shrugged and leaned against the window, anxious to be home.

a/n: Whew! Um so yeah, this is gonna be a few chapters long but not a lot of chapters… I'd like to get it done within a month or so… but usually I don't have a ton of time for updating my fics. So I'm gonna make an effort to finish this in a few chapters. I've put down some of the other stories I've been working on for the time being but I do intend to finish 'Long Way to Happy'. I have no idea when however.