Matthew smiled as he curled against his brother, Alfred. They were lying on the couch watching TV while waiting for their father to come home. Today was their birthday, they would be ten.
Alfred looked at the door as it open, instantly the smell of alcohol filled the house. His eyes widened as he shot off the couch and pulled Matthew with him 'Not again' he thought. Their father was drunk, and when he was drunk…. He got physical.
Matthew stumbled after his brother as they ran towards their bedrooms, their one safe place. They didn't make it. Hand grabbed the Canadian by the hair and pulled him back and away from Alfred "AL!" he screamed as his father started pulling him towards his bedroom "ALFRED!"
Alfred stopped and looked at his brother who was being dragged away by the hair, he gulped before he continued running towards their bedroom
"ALFRED!"
"ALFRED!"
The Americans eyes shot open and were instantly blinded by the sun coming through his window. He looked at the door; his mother was there with her hands on her hips
"You're going to be late to your first day at the new school"
Alfred looked at the clocked and shot off the bed "Oh shit!" he said grabbing some clothes out of the closet "I'll be down in a few, mom"
Matthew screamed all the way to his father's bedroom, he was lifted up by the neck and slammed down onto the bed and held there. Tears rolled down his face as he struggled to get free "You're drunk, Daddy!" he sobbed as his father stripped him of his clothes "Daddy, Please!" His pleas did nothing to help him as he was flipped onto his stomach and his hips lifted into the air. Matthew screamed as his father shoved into him completely, his body was torn in two. "Daddy! STOP!" he begged as the man started thrusting without mercy or thought "ALFRED!"
Matthew opened his eyes and sat up yawning; he glanced at the clock and smiled. It was the first day of school, meaning he would get away from his father once again. He got out and walked into the bathroom to shower. Once the Canadian pulled his shirt off he winced, there were bruises all across his chest. He sighed, it was another sweater day.
Alfred listened to his brothers screaming, he was under his covers with his pillow covering his head. He was trying to block out the painful cries of his brother. He could almost feel his brothers pain, but their father had never laid a hand on him. It was always Matthew that he would rape when he was drunk or frustrated. The American kept promising his brother that he would protect him, but each time he failed. Each time he can hear his brother screaming in pain through the walls of the house, each time the Canadian would forgive him.
Alfred jumped out of his mom's car "BYE MOM!" he called waving to her before he walked towards the school. It was large and everyone was getting along. "Maybe this isn't so bad" he thought before freezing. Standing not ten feet in front of him was Matthew, his brother.
Matthew sobbed into his father's bed, he had felt the man come several times but he was still going. He had lost feeling in his entire body and couldn't move anymore; all he could do was wait for the man to finish. That could be hours.
Matthew laughed as his boyfriend Gilbert wrapped an arm around his waist. He looked up at the Prussian before smiling until the other gently kissed his lips; he froze slightly before he melted into the kiss. "Come on, Gil" he said after the other pulled away "Not during school"
"Mein Liebling" Gilbert said brushing some of the Canadian's hair behind his ear "School hasn't started yet"
Matthew pouted "Gil" he said softly before knowing he had the other when Gilbert let out a sigh, he smiled "Merci, Mon Amour"
Alfred woke up several hours later as the door to their room opened; he shot up as Matthew limped towards his bed "Mattie!" he said as the other laid down on the bed with a hiss of pain "I'm so sorry!"
"It's alright Al"
Alfred barely heard Matthew's voice, he sounded so broken "I didn't keep my promise thought" he said gulping as his brother rolled over to look at him "I didn't protect you from Father like I said I would"
"It's not your fault, Alfred" Matthew said smiling "You couldn't have done anything to save me"
Alfred bit his lip, his brother looked happy but he could tell the other was hiding something. He knew instantly when he saw the bruise on his brother stomach as his shirt lifted slightly when he wrapped his arms around the albinos neck. 'it's still happening' Alfred thought his blue eyes widening as the bruise was once again covered by his red sweater.
Matthew knew his brother would keep blaming himself "Alfred" he said when the other opened his mouth again "You saved me by not being there, knowing that you were alright was enough"
"B-But-"
"Alfred" Matthew said frowning "Please, just drop it"
Matthew smiled as he stepped away from Gilbert "What plans do we have for after school?" he asked as the Prussian took his hand and led him towards the school
"I don't know" Gilbert said shrugging "I was thinking about taking you to IHOP for their pancakes but I decided against it"
Matthew frowned "You know how much I love that place" he said as Gilbert looked at him
"That's why we're going" Gilbert said ruffling Matthew's hair "I'll pick you up at your house, around five"
Matthew thought, his father comes home at five thirty "Would four thirty be alright?" he asked, he didn't want to be leaving when his father came back. That would make the other angry, then Gilbert would find out what goes on at his house.
"Four-Thirty is fine" Gilbert said gently kissing the others lips before they went their separate ways
Alfred watched Matthew roll over again, that's when he realized that his brother was still naked. The bruises down his back almost taunted the American with his promise "I can't drop it, Mattie" he said quietly "I can tell how much it hurts you"
Alfred walked into his classroom a few minutes after the bell and was instantly scolded by the teacher "sorry" he said scratching the back of his head "I got lost"
"You must be Mr. Jones"
Alfred nodded "call me Alfred" he said looking around the classroom before his eyes met shocked violet, Matthew was staring at him. He looked back at the teacher as she pointed to the desk right next to his brother. Alfred nodded and walked over to the empty desk and sat down. He looked at his brother and smiled "Been a while hasn't it, Mattie" he said as Matthew looked at him once again
Matthew frowned "What are you doing here" he demanded softly as the teacher started the lecture "If father finds out that you go to this school… damn it, he's been trying to get custody of you back from Mom for several years"
Alfred blinked "Mom hasn't told me that" he said before the teacher yelled at him about already disturbing her class.
"Get out of here" Matthew whispered as he started writing down the notes "and do it as soon as possible"
"I'm not leaving you"
"You're already too late for that one, Alfred" Matthew snapped before he started ignoring his brother, who, in a few minutes already had a detention.