A/N Thing: So, this was actually my first time writing a fluffy piece, I normally only write darker things. But my friend (shameless plug) Johanna-Luke is a pro at them and she convinced me that I could give it a try. She is also my beautiful and gorgeous Beta! I hope you enjoy….
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Matthew walked down the street, flowers in sweaty palms. It had taken him a half hour to get the shop-keep to notice him enough to ask for the dozen red roses, and then it was another twenty minutes for them to remember he was there and give him the flowers. After another five minutes of trying to pay her Matthew finally gave up and left the money on the counter. He knew that had he been his brother, he wouldn't have bothered with the money, simply would have left with the flower.
Then again, if he were his brother... He would have been noticed the minute he walked in the door... Matthew sighed, yet another reason everyone like Alfred more than him...
Well everyone other than Gilbert I suppose... A small blush crossed his cheeks as he thought about what he was going to go do. Matthew smiled a small, adorable smile, Gilbert doesn't even LIKE Alfred. I suppose they're both just too loud... Too much like each other to get along...
Matthew could recall Gilbert talking long, and rather loud, about how annoying Alfred could be. Matthew had laughed, chuckling at how very ironic that was coming out of the Prussian's mouth. Surprisingly, Gilbert had not ignored him... Instead, he looked at him and asked, "what's so funny maple-boy?"
Gilbert's brother, Ludwig, who was younger, yet took care of the home and his elder brother far more efficiently than Gilbert ever could, had interjected once he saw Matthew's shocked and terrified face. He had been so afraid Gilbert was going to smack him. "The fact that you think Alfred's annoying. You're even louder and more obnoxious than he is. It's called irony."
Gilbert looked in shock to Matthew, who couldn't help but smile, it still made him laugh. And surprisingly, Gilbert found it funny too. He smiled broadly and began laughing that strange chuckle of his, causing Matthew to join in, and even Ludwig cracked a smile. They had all been staying in the conference room after a world meeting; the German brothers, having hosted it, were cleaning up, and Matthew was waiting for his brother to get smacked by Arthur as he always did for bothering him so that they could go home.
To this day, Matthew still couldn't help but smile at the memory, it was probably the moment he had begun to like the loud man. He had not only noticed him, when he was most often ignored by anyone outside of his family, but he had even laughed at what he found funny...
Matthew took a deep breath and tried to loosen his death grip on the flowers in his hands. Come on Mattie. You can do this. It's just Gilbert for maple's sake! He couldn't be awkward if he tried! He's always so confident... And loud... And people hear him... And pay attention to him... And he's always the center of attention... Oh Maple. This isn't going to work...
"West!" Gilbert ran frantically downstairs. "WEST!" He bolted into the kitchen and bowled over Feliciano, knocking him to the ground and nearly crushing the roses he held.
"Ve! Gilbert!"
Gilbert turned bright red as he looked down to see Feliciano's shocked face. "Sorry Feli, I uh... Wasn't watching where I was going..."
"Ve! It's alright Gilbert! Ludwig's a lot heavier than you!"
Gilbert looked down at Feliciano in confusion, trying to figure out why Ludwig would be laying on Feliciano... He opened his mouth to ask as much when he was interrupted by an awkward coughing sound. He looked up to see a red faced Ludwig standing in the doorway. "Bruder! There you are!" He hauled himself up and ran to Ludwig, who shook him off in favor of helping Feli to his feet.
"Vas is it bruder?"
"Okay so. Um... I can't find... That one thing... You know. The thing!"
The look that Ludwig gave his brother was priceless. It spoke VOLUMES: Why are you asking me? What do you mean by a thing? And of course: why the hell are you my brother? You are stupid.
"The thing! That you're supposed to give your... um..." Gilbert's face turned bright red as he looked down at his feet, unconsciously shuffling them, embarrassed about saying the word.
"Ve! Your date!" Feliciano asked happily, already recovered from his tumble and now leaning into Ludwig's chest as he put an arm around the smaller man.
Still not looking up, Gilbert nodded. "Yeah. That one..."
Surprisingly to Gilbert, Ludwig chuckled and delicately took one of the roses from Feli's hands. He tenderly stuck it into Gilbert's lapel, straightening his suit out in the process. "It's called a boutonniere. And where is your tie?"
Gilbert turned his head to the stairs just as they heard a rather disgruntled chirping sound. "I uh... told Gilbird to find one..."
And lo and behold, bouncing down the stairs, tumbling head over wings, was the little yellow bird, a tie in his beak, and wrapped around his tiny frame. When he hit the bottom, he looked up at Gilbert and glared, chirping angrily. It was obvious to see what he was so thoroughly annoyed with. The tie, the expensive red silk one that matched his eyes so well, was too heavy for him to fly with. Thus causing him to fall down the stairs...
"Gilbird! Little buddy! Are you okay?" As Gilbert worried, Feli picked him up and unlooped the tie from the tangle, he stroked the little guy as he gave the tie to Ludwig, who turned then to his brother. Ludwig tied the tie with care and made sure it was straight, before handing the other rose to Gilbert.
"Another boutonniere. This, is the one for Matthew."
Gilbert took it from his hand and stared at it. "What do I do with it? Give it to him?"
Ludwig stared at him, his face blank, before Feliciano saved him, "Ve! You have to pin it to his button hole! Just like Ludwig did for you! Ve, if you're on a date, it's the romantic thing to do! Ludwig ALWAYS does it for me when we go out on dates!"
Gilbert smirked and look at his little brother, who was as red as his best friend Antonio's tomatoes. "Really West? Romantic are you?"
Before Ludwig could respond, Feli again jumped in. "Si! Ludwig loves to bring me flowers... And he always tells me how handsome I am! Ve, even though he always blushes when he says it. He's so cute!"
All Gilbert could do was laugh.
"Ver dammt! Aren't you late or something!" Ludwig shouted.
Gilbert snickered and said "How can I be late? Matthew is coming here so we can leave together."
Ludwig scowled, before grabbing Gilbird gently from Feli's hands and plopping him on his brother's head. He laid a hand on Feli's waist and turned him, determined to leave Gilbert downstairs. Feli however, had one more piece of advice before they left. "Don't forget! Roses are a sign of true love!"
Ludwig pulled the giggling Feli upstairs, he knew, though he doubted anyone else did, that Feliciano wasn't as oblivious as he appeared. Granted most of the time he truly had no idea what was going on, that last comment was definitely thrown out for Gilbert's benefit only. Ludwig had overheard the conversation he and Francis had had earlier, Feliciano knew very well what Francis had told his nervous son to bring.
Gilbert paled and looked down at the rose in his hand. True love? He thought with a pang of panic. That was a bit much for a first... date... Just then, the bell rang and Gilbert shrieked, sending himself and Gilbird flying into the air. Gilbird chirped at him as he flew around his head. Gilbert meanwhile, was more concerned with calming his now racing heart down. It's just the verdammte door! Calm down Gil! You're awesome! You've GOT this! There's NO way anything could go wrong! Ha! If West can pull off a date, YOU can! You're WAY more awesome than he is! I mean... Just because Feli is all bubbly, and never stops talking so there's never an awkward silence... I mean, Matthew talks plenty right?
...Gott verdammt. I'm screwed.
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Obligatory A/N: Squee! Thank you for reading lovely ladies and gents! I hope it wasn't too terrible for a first try. R&R begged for, I'm a little unsure about how it turned out…
Keep a watch for more to come! ;)