"It's been so long." Matthew muttered as he gazed at his hometown's welcome sign. A small hopeful smile crossed his face as he began walking further into the small town.
It was a Saturday afternoon. After deciding his life had gotten too out of control, the Canadian had decided it was time to return to his roots. Now, he was here, walking down the streets he hadn't seen since he was eighteen. He held onto the straps of his backpack, hiking it up and continuing his surefooted walk to his childhood home.
Communication between Matthew and his dad had been pretty shaky. They loved each other, sure, but with Matthew's crazy life, Francis could hardly ever get a hold of the small blond. Matthew's heart fluttered with the image of his father opening the door and smiling at the sight of his son. He imagined he'd be ushered inside while his father chattered on about how much he missed the boy.
Finally, he reached the street he grew up on. He walked up to his house and straightened his clothes before ringing the bell and waiting (a little impatiently) for the door to open.
After a few minutes, it did, and Matthew felt a burst of excitement before it fizzled out completely.
"M-Mr. Kirkland?" the blond stuttered, looking at his former English teacher. The short brit looked back, raising an eyebrow.
"Matthew, is that you? Come in, come in. It's been such a long time." the British man opened the outer door, allowing the Canadian in and leading him into the living room. "Francis, come here! Someone's come to visit!" the man called.
Matthew looked around the now unfamiliar house. Pictures of Arthur Kirkland and Francis adorned the walls, various poses of a typical happy couple. This was not normal. A handsome French man came into the room, shifting through some papers.
"Oui, mon amour? Who is- mon dieu! Mon petit Mathieu, it has been far too long!" Matthew felt a bit of relief seeing his father and hugged the man tightly as he set the papers down.
"Oh, papa, I'm sorry I've been gone for so long. I was hoping you'd let me stay here for a little while? I want to really get my life started." the French man pulled back and smiled at his child.
"Of course, Matthew. Your room was the only thing we left untouched in our redecorating phase." Francis said, looking at Arthur. Matthew looked between the two.
It had only been three years, yet so much had changed just in his own home. Matthew tried sorting through the few conversations he'd had with his father. When did he start dating Arthur? Last he knew, the Brit hated him.
Matthew looked up at his father with a small smile.
"Is it alright if I go take a nap? I walked here from a few towns over." Francis nodded.
"Go ahead, mon fils. I'm so glad you're home."
The small Canadian grabbed his bag and walked through the house slowly, admiring all the differences. It did look like a nice family home now. As he climbed the staircase, he noticed that even the pictures ascending the flight had changed. They were still as old as the ones of Matthew's childhood, but there were pictures of only Francis and Matthew, instead of the family photos including his mother. He also noticed pictures of Arthur and a boy as well. Did Arthur have a child?
The blond shook his head and continued up to his room, bracing himself before entering. Nostalgia wrapped around him instantly as he saw his old hockey gear still in a pile in the corner. Pictures of old friends were pinned all over the walls. A Canadian flag was draped above his bed. Matthew walked in and dropped his bag by the door, walking around and examining the pictures.
It was like looking into another person's life. These memories had been shoved into the deepest parts of Matthew's mind the day he left. Why had he ever wanted to give any of this up?
His hand lingered over a blurry picture of an albino teen. In the picture, the boy was reaching for the camera, humor in his bright red eyes. Matthew remembered taking this. Gilbert had been his first boyfriend. They dated for half of Junior year and lasted all the way til the day Matthew left. They had been so comfortable with each other, the Canadian had no doubt they would still be together if he never left.
He sighed and went back to his bag, taking out his phone and charger. Plugging the device in, he looked into the mirror over his dresser and remembered his desire to take a shower. He went to the dresser and looked through the clothes. He'd lost so much weight, these were all about two sizes too big. Still, he picked out a sweatshirt that had been big on him in high school and a pair of black basketball shorts.
Matthew walked out and down the hall to the bathroom, making sure there were towels in the cupboard before he turned on the water. He'd made that mistake far too many times as a kid. Tossing his old clothes into the hamper, he got into the warm shower.
He felt so optimistic. As if this one shower was washing away all of his sins. He felt like once he stepped out, he would be a changed man. However, Matthew knew that wasn't how change worked. It would take him a little while and a lot of mental strength to get started. He was ready to accept this challenge, though.
He got out after a few minutes and dried off, relishing the feeling of fresh towels instead of the rough motel towels he was used to. He put on the clothes he had brought and inhaled the faded smell of detergent. Matthew looked in the mirror and brushed out his wavy hair, leaving it unstyled. He looked so old yet so young at the same time. A few good night's rest would really help him. A nap would help right now, too, he thought.
He walked back to his room, but stopped at a door just before his. It was covered in signs saying "keep out", "do not enter", and "knock first". Matthew thought back to the boy in the pictures with Arthur. Did he live here? That would mean that Arthur lived here. How close were he and his father? The blond sighed and walked back into his room, crawling into his bed. It only took a few moments of gazing around his room to fall asleep.
Matthew groaned as his phone buzzed. He rubbed his eyes and yawned, sitting up. The phone persistently buzzed on his nightstand. The blond grabbed it, pulling it off the charge and holding it up to his ear.
"Hello?"
"Mattie, baby, where are youuu? You totally dipped out with this hottie last night and I, like, lost you!" the blond winced at the energetic voice of his best friend. "P.S. you totally sound dead. Do you, like, need me to pick you up?"
"No, Feliks, I'm fine. You just woke me up from a nap."
"Okay, cool, cool, so like, where are you then? Because I totally got us a way to get into that rocking club we've been dying to go to, and-"
"Actually, I'm home. I'm gonna be home for awhile."
"What?! Oh no, did something, like, happen to your dad?" Matthew smiled at the concern in his friend's voice.
"No, everyone's fine. I just.. Feliks, I think I'm going to get serious about my life. I can't party through the rest of it." the other man was quiet for a bit, then laughed softly.
"Well, like, welcome back Matthew. Good luck. Maybe I'll like drop by sometime. For now, Tori and I are totally gonna hit up that club!" the Canadian chuckled.
"Have fun, Feliks. Tell Toris to have a good night!"
"Totally!" the blond hung up and set his phone down next to him. He had been asleep for a little over an hour. It was now almost three in the afternoon. Matthew stood and stretched before taking another look at all his photos. So many of them featured Gilbert. A slight thump in his heart made him yearn for the German albino. Part of him wanted to go look the man up and see where he was now.
"No.." the blond mumbled, shaking his head lightly. "I need to focus on becoming something." he'd spent the last three years in one night stands and blurry drunken nights. It'd be better if he forgot about dating all together right now.
A light knock pulled him from his thoughts.
"Come on in." Matthew answered. The door opened, revealing Arthur. The Brit smiled at Matthew.
"Do you mind if we have a chat?" Matthew nodded and sat on the edge of his bed, gesturing to his desk chair for Arthur. The shorter man sat in the chair, facing the Canadian. "I know it must be a little disorienting, coming home and finding everything turned around.." he started. Matthew laughed lightly.
"Yeah, just a little. Last I knew, you were totally against my father." Arthur smiled softly.
"I was never totally against him. We all have people that push our buttons. Some do them in ways that we don't understand until it's too late to catch ourselves." the blond looked at his former teacher.
"Do you regret it?" the Brit shook his head.
"No. Francis makes me and Peter very happy. Anyway, I just wanted you to know that even though the house may not look like yours, it is. And you're obviously welcome to stay as long as it takes to get you started." Matthew smiled and looked down in his lap.
"Thanks, ." Arthur stood.
"Please, call me Arthur. Now, come. I've made tea." he gestured out the door and Matthew walked in front of him, heading downstairs and into the living room.
Francis looked up from a book and smiled at his son.
"Mon petit Mathieu, how was your nap?"
"It was nice, papa, thank you. I'm glad to be home." the Canadian sat next to his father, who pulled him into a side hug and kissed his head.
"Me too, mon fils. So, have you decided how you're going to start this new journey?" the blond thought for a few seconds.
"Obviously, a job. Maybe I could take a few classes at the community college? It's not too late to register, right?" the French man shook his head.
"Non. I can take you to the Academics office on Monday over lunch." Arthur walked into the room then, carrying a tray of cookies and tea.
"What are you thinking of pursuing, Matthew?" the Brit asked, pouring a cup for each of the men.
"Y'know, I think I want to start a business." Matthew said confidently. "A coffee shop sounds nice." Arthur made an impressed sound as he handed the two men their respective drinks.
"Oh, now that would be lovely. Perfect for a small town like this." said the Brit, sitting on the loveseat opposite of the other two.
"Oui, I think it would be nice to have a different place to hang out and grade papers in." Matthew smiled at the thought of settling down in his hometown again.
"It would be nice to settle down here.. But, I'll take it one day at a time. Tomorrow, I'll go see if anyone is hiring around town, then Monday I'll get registered for classes." Francis smiled proudly at his son.
"It's so good to have you back, Matthew. I thought you had changed forever once you left." Arthur nodded off to the side.
"Where have your adventures led you?" Matthew blushed and rubbed his neck,nervously laughing.
"Ahaha.. I'm actually not too sure. It was a rough few years. I've been everywhere and nowhere all at once." the French man watched him silently as the Brit raised an eyebrow.
"Really now? Didn't you leave with that Polish boy? What was his name.. Feliks?" the blond nodded lightly.
"Yeah, we've stuck together. He met a nice man named Toris, actually. They were meant for each other, but I don't think anyone can ever fully tame Feliks." Arthur nodded and sipped his tea. Matthew felt his father's eyes boring into his skin. He knew he would have to divulge his history to him later.
The sound of the front door opening and closing made everyone look up as a blond teen walked into the room. The boy stopped and looked at everyone.
"Who're you, then?" the teen asked, pointing at Matthew.
"Oi, Peter, don't be so bloody rude." Arthur snapped. Matthew smiled.
"It's alright. I'm Matthew, Francis's son. You must be Peter." the Canadian said, getting up to shake the boy's hand. The teen looked at his hand, then up at him.
"Yeah, what of it?" Matthew tensed a little and put his hand down.
"Nothing.." a hand grasped Matthew's shoulder and Francis smiled down at Peter.
"Mon fils will be staying with us for awhile. That's alright with you, oui?" Peter smiled at the taller man.
"Yeah, sure thing, papa. It'll be cool to have someone else around the house while you and dad are busy." Matthew felt a twinge of jealousy. Why was this boy calling his dad "papa"? That was Matthew's name for Francis!
"I'm glad you think so too! Did you have any plans for tonight?"
"Actually, I was gonna go stay with Im Yong Soo and Li Xiao, if that's okay?" Francis nodded and looked back at Arthur.
"Mon amour?" the Brit sighed.
"Alright. Be nice to Mr. Wang, though, lord knows he's got enough trouble makers on his hands as it is." Peter rolled his eyes before smiling at Francis and running upstairs.
"Thanks, papa!" Matthew looked up at Francis, who shrugged.
"He'll warm up to you, mon fils."
"Ruddy brat only warms up to those that spoil him." pouted the British man, picking up a newspaper. The Canadian felt a little comfort knowing he wasn't the only one jealous of the relationship between Peter and Francis.