Gilbert stepped onto the damp grass, the coolness sending a shiver up his spine. Inside his two inhabitants were sleeping soundly in their rooms. Lucky bastards. It was a few minutes past three AM and Gilbert still couldn't sleep. He figured he could walk around the back yard and work off the excess energy that he had. Stifling a sigh he continued walking, eyes studying the tree and bushes. He stilled as he felt the wind change. There was the sound of snapping twigs coming from behind the tree.
Gilbert narrowed his eyes, wondering if there was a thief trying to find a way into the house. He took calm steady steps toward the sound, determined to seek out the source. He looked behind the tree and saw the black silhouette of a person leaning against the bark. He took a step closer when the person didn't respond to his appearance. He knelt down and shook the person. The person hissed as if the movement hurt him.
Gilbert pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and flipped it open. The light shining on the person's face. Gilbert's eyes widened as he took in the features of the boy. Violet eyes hidden behind a pair of glasses, shoulder length curly blond hair with a fly-away stand. It couldn't be, could it? "Matthew?" The boy didn't respond, just smiled sadly. Gilbert shook his head in disbelief, blinking a few times. He took in the rest of Matthew. A shredded T-shirt soaked with blood, bruised face, and ripped jeans. "What happened to you?"
Matthew shrugged, choosing to not answer the question. Gilbert let out a breath of air, surprised his Matthew would ever look like that. "Come on, let's get you inside and doctor those wounds." Matthew nodded and slowly stood up, gripping his side as if that would lessen the pain. He followed Gilbert to the house, and into the bathroom. Gilbert sat Matthew down on the side of the bathtub. "Who did this to you?" he asked grabbing a washrag and wetting it to get ready to clean the wounds.
"Some old acquaintances. We got on bad terms." Matthew said quietly, trying to not let show how much pain he was in.
"How unawesome..." Gilbert muttered. There was a moment of silence before Gilbert said, "I thought you left me. . ."
"You wanted me to leave."
Gilbert looked at Matthew sadly. "Because I thought it would be for the best, but after," he paused and finished with a strangled voice, "you know . . . I wanted you back."
Matthew frowned, "You expected me to stay after all the things people were putting you through, after you did that?"
"Well, yeah, kind of."
"You wanted to spend the rest of your life with someone no one could see and get made fun of because of it. You would have rather gone through that 'unawesome' crap again?" Matthew shook his head in disbelief.
"It would have been better than going through life alone." Gilbert said firmly, placing antibiotic on Matthew's cuts, making him wince.
"I'm sure you've made friends." Matthew said through gritted teeth as the pain slowly went away.
"Yeah, but, I don't know, it hasn't been the same without you." Gilbert frowned. "Quit making me say all this stuff. It's not awesome for me to be saying this sappy crap."
Matthew shrugged, ignoring the ache of moving. "You're the one choosing to respond that way."
Gilbert sighed. "Well, now that you're all doctored you can go back to your imaginary place."
Matthew smiled slightly, "I can't."
Raising an eyebrow, Gilbert asked why not.
Matthew shrugged.
"What? Not going to answer that?"
"It's not important," Matthew said, fidgeting.
Gilbert sighed. "Yeah, yeah, sure. Just like I'm not awesome, which I totally am."
Matthew smiled the first real smile of the night. "I guess some things just don't die."
Gilbert smirked, "Yeah, that's right. Anyway, it's late, Birdie, let's get some sleep."
Matthew nodded and headed to the bedroom with Gilbert even though he knew at the moment that he shouldn't be anywhere near Gil, since he broke a crucial oath. Only disaster could come from his decisions, but not tonight. Tonight he would relax in the arms of the person he went through hell to be with.
Outside, rain clouds were gathering and the sky rumbled with the beating of Matthew's heart.
O-o-O-o-O
Matthew flinched and burrowed himself under the covers as bright lights greeted his eyes. The now awake Gilbert tightened his hold on Matthew and looked up eyes squinting trying to adjust to the brightness.
"Oi, get up."
"Go back to bed!" Gilbert snapped.
"Not my fault you were up all night. Get up."
Matthew peeked up over the covers, to see who was trying to wake them.
"Didn't know you brought anyone home," the boy said, his blonde hair still array from sleep.
Gilbert was silent for a second. "Yeah. Surprised you didn't hear, he screamed like a banshee all night."
Matthew blushed. "I did not."
Gilbert grinned, "Ah, so you're not denying that we had sex?"
"We didn't do that either. . ." Matthew frowned. "Quit being unawesome."
"Huh? Excuse me; did you just say I wasn't awesome?" Gilbert looked shocked. "I'm the most awesome thing to grace this earth."
"I disagree," Matthew said, a small smile forming on his lips.
Gilbert snorted. "Oh, let me guess. Pancakes are the most awesome thing?"
Matthew blushed. "Just because I'm Canadian -"
"Has nothing to do with it," Gilbert said smirking. "I know you."
"Well if the two of you are done with your . . . whatever. Breakfast is almost done." The boy cut in, his emerald eyes sparking in annoyance.
"You aren't the one cooking are you?" Gilbert asked.
The boy looked majorly offended. "No, Mathias is," he sniffed.
Gilbert nodded. "Okay, Birdie and I will be there in a minute."
The blond boy nodded and shut the door as he left.
Gilbert lay back down on the bed, sighing heavily. "That Arthur Kirkland and his totally not awesome moments."
"He one of your friends?" Matthew asked, sitting up.
"Yeah, I guess. Me and him have our times when we disagree, but most of the time we get along okay."
Matthew nodded and threw the covers he was sharing off and moved to get out of bed. Before he could fully get up, Gilbert latched on to his wrist.
"Birdie, how come he could see you?"
Matthew bit his lip, nervously, "I'm more human now."
"And why is that?"
Matthew tried to put on a joking face. "I made a deal with the Devil."
"Really?" Gilbert sat up in shock. "Why would you do a stupid thing like that?"
"I was just joking, Gil." Matthew said.
"Bad joke."
The Canadian rolled his eyes. "How about some of that breakfast?"
O-o-O-o-O
Matthew ate heartily at the plate of pancakes and bacon that was presented before him. Even though the pancakes were slightly burnt that didn't stop him from gobbling down the food. Gilbert smiled in wonderment. Even though he knew about Matthew's love of pancakes and all things maple he had actually never seen the boy eat. All the times when it came down to eating, his friend had never taken a bite claiming he already ate before he came. It never bothered his dad, mainly because he never knew Matthew existed. To his father Matthew was just a figment of his imagination, what he called an imaginary friend. Deep in his heart though he knew Mattie had to be real in some aspect.
"So," Matthias began, obviously amused at Matthew's eating, "your new lover?"
Gilbert frowned, glancing at Matthew to see what he should say. Matthew just shrugged and continued shoveling food into his face. "Well, not really. I was just joking with Arthur about that. I actually found Matthew outside last night. Some people had hurt him and he was all beaten up so I let him come in. He was a friend of mine in high school. We stopped talking after some . . . issues that we were having."
Matthew nodded his agreement.
Matthias looked from Matthew to Gilbert but saw nothing to be suspicious of, so he continued to try his best to flip the pancakes without burning them.
Gilbert watched as Matthew finished his plate and walked over to the stove to stand next to Matthias. Matthew placed his hand on top of Matthias and showed him how to tell when the batter was ready to be flipped. Gilbert watched as he felt a pang in his abdomen. He remembered when Mattie first tried to show him how to flip pancakes and how to flip them with style. Gilbert was clumsy and always messing up, but Matthew was patient and affectionate, even when Gilbert spilled pancake batter on the floor. All Matthew did then was laugh and hug him, saying one day he would get it, and tried to help Gilbert clean up. He bit his lip at the surge of jealousy as he watched Matthew laugh at Matthias when the other boy didn't lift the spatula high enough and the pancake only flipped halfway, leaving deformed food in their sight.
Gilbert looked down at his plate of bacon angrily, listening to the laughs of Matthew and Matthias. He looked over to Arthur who was absorbed in his book and iPod. Gilbert frowned and walked to the nearby window. Not knowing what else to do, he opened it, inhaling the scent of fresh air. But instead of fresh air he caught the scent of burning sulfur. He nearly gagged and started backing away. A big black bird landed on the sill, its feathers glinting blue in the sunlight. It croaked and watched Gilbert with red tinted eyes, eyes like his own but much worse. Soulless eyes that looked like they had seen the fiery pits of hell and laughed.
Matthew stepped between Gilbert and the bird and closed the window. The bird flew away and Matthew turned to face him, his eyes filled with their own hellfire. "Stay away from that kind of bird."
"Why?" Gilbert asked stupidly, even though the tugging at his gut told him to listen to Mattie without any questions.
Matthew shrugged, "Even though ravens have many good stories about them there are plenty bad."
"When did you become superstitious?"
Mattie just looked at him. "Things happened to me while I was away."
Matthias walked over. "Everything okay?"
Matthew nodded and tried to smile reassuringly at the other male. But Matthias wasn't fooled for he saw how the smile didn't reach his eyes and how it was more of a nervous grimace then a smile. "Ya know, if someone was bothering you, I'm sure Gilbert, Arthur, and I could help. Besides Arthur used to be into some real shit, whoever is freaking you out, we can set them straight."
Matthew shifted his weight nervously. "I . . . I'm not sure that would be possible. I appreciate you wanting to help but I wouldn't want you to get involved."
Arthur sighed and placed his book down. "Matthew, who is after you?"
Matthew stilled, "It's nothing I can't handle."
"I heard you talking about ravens earlier. Interesting creatures aren't they?" Arthur said standing up and walking over to the other three men. "Though the different myths surrounding them confuse me."
"What are you hinting at here?" Matthew asked, voice wavering slightly and eyes narrowed.
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Nothing, I was just trying to make conversation."
Gilbert looked over to Matthew, "What's going on?"
"Nothing," Matthew said quickly, obviously lying. His eyes scanned the room as if looking for an escape. Matthias was about to open his mouth to comment but Gilbert told him not to say anything that would make Matthew upset. There was a tapping at the window and everyone turned. Gilbert's face twisted into an expression of confusion. Arthur's and Matthias's face mirroring his. Matthew on the other hand grimaced at the sight of the Raven's beak snapping and pecking at the window.
The room had chilled and Matthew knew suddenly that they were in danger. The air seemed more suspenseful and tense. He glanced wildly around the room trying to locate the reason for this. His eyes swept underneath the dining table then quickly glanced away. Yet, as he glanced away he saw two glowing orbs under the table in the corner of his eye. He glanced back to the table, seeing nothing. "Guys, let's get out of the house." In his mind he was hoping that if they went outside, whatever malice that was in the house would stay there and wouldn't come after them. Though, deep in his heart he knew that the thing would follow him wherever he went. Though, if he got outside before the thing attacked there would be less of a mess to pick up when the fight was through, if he was still alive, of course.
Gilbert tore his eyes away from the large bird and turned toward the panicking Matthew. "Why is something wrong?"
Matthew shook his head. "No I just need to get outside, quickly."
Gilbert frowned in confusion and stepped next to Matthew. "Sure okay, but once we're outside you tell me what the hell is going on." He took Matthew's hand and led him past the table to the back door. Arthur and Matthias quickly followed when they noticed what was going on. Matthew ushered for them to get hurry up and get closer. Arthur furrowed his brows, but looked behind him as her heard a low rumble come from the kitchen. He glanced suspiciously at Matthew but hurried up his pace. Matthew gulped as he heard the soft padpadpad of animal footsteps following them. Matthew's breaths started coming out in short gasp and he tightened his grip on Gilbert's hand and rushed outside.
"Matt? Mattie?" Gilbert's asked. "Are you all right?"
No, Matthew thought, no I'm not alright. He was starting to think that coming outside was a bad idea as the braying of hounds filled the air. Barking, snarling, horrible sounds filled his ears and from the confused looks on Gilbert's face he was the only one who could hear it. Though, Arthur was glancing wildly around. Did he hear it too? Matthew shivered despite the sun shining down on them. He took a few steps away from Gilbert and that was when they attacked. He heard the growl as it lunged. His vision was full of the image of black fur and red eyes full of hellfire. He struggled against the black mass on top of him the other hounds howling with laughter.
Gilbert tried to help save Matthew from the force that was invisible to his eyes but Arthur and Matthias held him back eyes wide with fear.
"What the fuck is going on?" shouted Matthias.
"You mean you can't see it?" Arthur shouted back, as he watched the hell hound bite into Matthew, claws digging into his shoulder. The trio watched as Matthew tried to fend off the devil creature helplessly, clothes ripping and tearing at whatever was clawing against him. Gilbert was near tears. Fear creeping into his heart, afraid that he would never see his friend alive again.
Cr-r-ruck!
Matthew squeezed his eyes shut as the hell hound's slobber fell on his face.
Cr-r-ruck!
Gilbert felt his legs give out and he landed heavily on his knees.
Cr-r-ruck!
Matthew cried out in pain as the hound's teeth grazed his face.
Cr-r-ruck!
The raven from earlier flew down towards them, croaking and Cr-r-rucking.As it neared the ground it started to shift. Wings' becoming arms, legs thickening, body getting bigger, and soon a boy was standing before them. The boy was tall and blonde, St. Peter's cross holding his hair back. He looked back at the three helpless boys and turned his attention over to Matthew. He walked calmly over to the fallen boy and hell hound, pulling a sword out of the sheath that hung on his hip. As soon as he got close enough he swung the sword decapitating the hound that only he, Arthur, and Matthew could see.
He looked down at Matthew studying him, before extending a hand. Matthew looked at the hand and grasped onto it. The taller blond effortlessly pulled him up.
"Who are you?" Matthew asked, holding his bleeding arm.
The other boy was silent and silent still when he shook his head. "I will not say my name."
"Why did you save me?"
"You can't die yet," he said simply before walking away and taking flight as a raven.
Matthew looked nervously over to Gilbert and his two friends. Gilbert was still on his knees and Arthur's and Matthias's faces mirrored each other's. Matthew took a deep breath and held it for a few seconds before letting it out and saying, "I guess I got some explaining to do, eh?"
A/N: Disclaimer. I Do Not own Hetalia or the Characters mentioned.
The chapters 1-3 have been updated since last time, some errors were fixed, hopefully I got most of them.
Donuts and Cookies to those who take the time to read this. (:0:) (:0:)