Hey guys! This is just an idea that came to me the other day and ive been mulling it over for the past two days. I just loved the whole angsty, but sweet and cute idea of it! Anyway i hope you guys enjoy!

Monotonous, invisible, lonely, depressing, dreary, sad, dull…

Words that blare along with his alarm at 6:30 in the morning. They dance and tease him as his own personal tormenters, pulling at his heartstrings and jabbing him with pointed insults. Even when he stares blankly into his reflection with white foam from his toothpaste dripping down his face, he could still hear unbearable words that were accurate as they were sharp. Matthew wasn't a morning person.

His morning routine consisted of nothing unordinary, just hygienic procedures such as showering and brushing his teeth. His favorite thing to do after he was dressed was to make pancakes topped with a heavy layer of Canadian maple syrup. Music sometimes would be playing from his cell phone, just to make his silent mornings songful.

It would be 7:10 by the time he finished his food and searching for his red messenger bag. He wasn't disorganized, just forgetful. Once he had the strap around his shoulder and his jacket zipped up past his collar, he would take the elevator from his apartment to his simple blue Jetta. On the ride to work he would feel meaningful warmth spread through his chest, excitement for a new day to help those who need him.

His work made him happy. It made him feel purposeful, like this was his reason to keep on persisting. He had been working for the Washington DC suicidal hotline for three years, only having two weeks off to visit London for his father's matrimony to his stepfather. They had almost forgotten to invite him, but his brother hadn't failed to flood his texts asking what he was buying for the two.

At a stoplight he thought of his stepfather, Francis. He wasn't the type of man that he could ever in a lifetime imagine with his biological father, Arthur. That Englishman was the most stubborn, I'm-always-right-and-you-can-sod-off person that Matthew had ever laid eyes on. His brother became as arrogant as the man, yet he lacked the intelligence to go along with it.

He chuckled under his breath, pressing the gas to roll the car forward. No, he was the one to get the brains and his brother could keep the brawns.

Back onto his original thoughts, Francis was a suave egomaniac that had no trouble challenging Arthur's pigheadedness. Not only he was risky in his behavior toward Arthur's sensitive ego, but he also tested dangerous waters hitting on Matthew himself. The first time that he had met the French man he had brought the young Canadian into a loving hug. At least he thought it was a loving gesture until a hand had brushed the fabric on the back of his jeans.

He pulled up to his parking space with a snort. Dear lord the look on Arthur's face was horrifying. The man looked like a volcano about erupt…and Alfred's laughing hadn't helped the matter either.

"Matthew!" Was all the warning he received as he stepped into the building before being tackled into a hug by an overzealous Italian boy. However years of ice hockey had prepped him enough to be quick on his feet, plus keeping a surprising amount of balance when a body slams into yours.

"F-Feliciano," it wasn't easy to talk when you're being suffocated by one of your coworkers. Thankfully the young man got the hint, he pulled away and beamed cheerily, much different to Matthew's polite half-smile. He wondered idly if he ever smiled as brightly as Feliciano does on a daily basis.

"Guess what?" The brunet bounced on the balls of his heels like a hyperactive child. Feliciano reminded Matthew of a puppy that got into a trash bin of sugar. The blond set his bag onto his own station, Feliciano following him like the puppy he replicated.

"What?" Matthew looked at him with a cheeky kind of smile. Recalling the faint blush on olive skinned cheeks, he could guess this was about-

"Ludwig finally asked me on a date!" he squealed loudly, some of their coworkers' heads turning with annoyed looks. They all were speaking to some callers and Matthew knew how annoying it was to be interrupted, so he gave the best apologetic look he could.

He rested onto his rolling chair and looked up at Feliciano, grabbing his headset. "That's great Feli, I told you he was just shy. He just needed some time," he put the headset over his head and adjusted the microphone.

Feliciano huffed and stuck his tongue out, like a child. "Okay you were right," He drawled in a whining manner, "but just to let you know he's only shy around me. How can a personal trainer be shy? Anyhow I also wanted to ask you something." The Italian started to bounce with building excitement again, only this time he was biting his lip eagerly.

Matthew raised an eyebrow, "Go ahead."

"Would you want to maybe go on a double date with me and Ludwig this Friday? His brother is single and cute!" The littler bent at his waist and grabbed Matthew's shoulders, shaking him forward playfully with each word. "Ludwig didn't talk much about him actually, but going by the way Ludwig is, I'm guessing he has the same genes!"

"I-I don't know…You know I don't like blind dates." Matthew gently detached the Italian's hands from his body. "Besides, I haven't been having the best of luck with dating." He shuddered thinking about the Russian that had proved to be only a virus rather than a miracle. That was something he didn't need to repeat.

"I know, but please Matthew. I promise this would be the only date you would have to come on. You have nothing to lose!" he fell to his knees dramatically, folding his hands on top of Matthew's lap and making him blush furiously. "Please?"

Feliciano has to be a real puppy, no living human being can pull eyes like those. He sighed and rolled his eyes, "Fine. Text me the details."

The young man skipped up to his feet, leaning in and kissing Matthew on his cheeks. "Thank you thank you thank you! You wont regret it!"

He watched Feliciano's retreating back for a second before turning to the grey box that connected him with any individual that needed him. At least it's not another Friday alone.

He clicked the switch below the red blinking button. "Hello this is the DC suicidal hotline, my name is Matthew. Would you like to talk about something that's been troubling you?"

A tearful sob came from the other side, "…Y-Yes." A girl's voice answered. She sounded young, too young to be calling.

"Okay sweetheart, I'm right here."

Another sniffle, by the way she spoke it sounded like she was trying to keep herself from falling apart. Her voice would take on a winded and thin tenor, like if she breathed any deeper than small puffs of air, she would collapse by the weight. "I-I…I'm pre-preg-pregnant…"

"Go on sweetie, you're doing great. I promise I wont tell anyone, anything you say is just between you and me. Okay? I'm here." He said softly, this was a reoccurring case with many girls. They would get pregnant and the father would neglect her and the child, they would feel stuck and turn to the only route that would end all their problems. People can be blind to the other paths in life. Death isn't getting rid of your problems, it's giving them to someone else.

"That's," She breathed quickly, he could hear her deliberately not taking in a full breath, " That's not the prob-problem…its-the f-f-fathers my…" A sob had escaped her chest, one that sounded so anguished and hurt.

Matthew frowned sadly, "You can tell me anything honey. I promise no one will know about anything you say. You have my word. I'm here." He liked to remind the people he would speak to that he was there, actually listening to their cries of help.

"He's my tutor!" She shrieks into the phone, finally the seal that held her together breaking. She fell apart through the phone, crying and cursing and screaming, anything and everything that would help make her feel less bolted up inside her own sanity. He could tell this was the first time she had said anything to anyone about this.

Matthew sat straighter, he was prepared for instances like these. He took the procedures necessary, talking it through with the girl. He asked her meaningful questions that didn't dictate what she should do, but gave her the perspective of what she could do and how it would help not only her, but also her child.

She is a human being that has a choice to make; Matthew will not force her to do anything she doesn't want to. He just wants to show her what she is capable of doing, people have more power than they are aware of and sometimes it takes one person to show them their paths and where they lead.

After an hour and half of speaking to the girl, she had come to the conclusion of telling her best friend's parents, rather than her own. It's a small step, but Matthew had great hopes for that girl. No one should be that scared and feel that small in such a big situation.

More calls poured in after that, he hated it. He could care less about the workload, but the fact that so many people call. So many people hurt and scared and confused, it was that dreadful amount of people that he hated. It gave light to the cruelty the world had. So many broken souls, so little people to help.

Feliciano had stopped by with some home cooked pasta, Matthew had forgotten to bring his own lunch today, and for that he was grateful and thanked him for having such wonderful timing. It had been 45 minutes and no one had called in yet.

This made him smile, for 45 minutes no one needed help. No one needed someone to cry to or to ask questions hoping for an answer that didn't leave them with more questions. He wanted it to stay like that for the next two hours of his workday.

Then the red light flickered, that damn light that lit up like the flame. In his years working at the hot line, the urge to smash that light had never diminished.

He sighed and flicked the switch. "Hello this is Matthew for the Washington DC suicidal hotline, is there anything you want to talk about that's troubling you?"

"Geez dude, with that lusty voice you would think this is a phone sex line." A man's snarky voice mocked.

…Okay that wasn't a usual response Matthew had ever gotten. "U-Um," He cleared his throat, hoping it would cover the utter shock in his voice. He knew it did a poor job, "Sir we really do not appreciate p-prank ca-"

"Woah! I'm not prank calling shit! Damn I was just messing with you, I really do have a problem…" The man's snide comments died into a trail of genuine sadness. Matthew's eyebrows knitted together, perhaps he shouldn't have jumped the gun.

"A-Ah, I'm sorry sir. Well can I start with your name?" He usually doesn't ask for names, but something compelled him to ask this time. He felt that with this certain man, becoming personal with him would be key for him to open up.

"Gilbert." It was a fast reply, but Matthew wasn't fazed by it.

"Okay Gilbert, well I'm Matth-"

"You said that already."

Matthew blinked, "O-Oh I'm sorry, I must have forgotten." He chuckled lightly. The voice on the other line just sighed though, which in turn made him stop.

"Is there anything you prefer to talk about Gilbert?" He asked sweetly.

"Well I called didn't I? Do you think I would call just to hear you breath?" He snapped, but he also ended in an odd laugh, almost sad. "So yeah, I think I want to talk about the fact that…"

Matthew nodded, unconsciously wanting the man to go on, "I'm here." He said without thinking.

There was stillness on the other line, like the man stopped breathing because of what he just said. Worried, Matthew was going to take it back, but Gilbert spoke before he could apologize. "…Thanks. I kind of wanted to talk about how, just how unawesome my life has become after my unawesome boyfriend left me."

"Okay, tell me about whatever makes you feel upset and I'll do my best to help."

A grunt, "Yeah, uh thanks kid. Anyway this asshole leaves me for this Hungarian bitch a few months back and ever since that I've been living in my brother's basement, cant hold a job for more than a week, cant socialize for shit because other people aren't as awesome as me, and…"

Matthew didn't say anything this time, instead, he waited for the man to bring himself the courage to say what needs to be said.

"…and my only friend is a stuffed yellow bird plush." It was a meek tiny voice compared to the self-absorbed boom from before, Matthew frowned sadly. This poor man, he wasn't scared or confused, he was just lonely. Matthew didn't know what was driving him, but he didn't want to help this man, he /ineeded/i to.

"Its okay Gilbert, I'm here. You can tell me anything you want. We can talk for as long as you want, I don't mind. Okay?"

"Don't talk to me like a child!" The man growled, Matthew's eyebrows shot up.

"O-Oh, I-I'm sorry. I was just-"

Again the man sighed loudly, cutting Matthew off for what felt like the millionth time that day. "Listen kid, I just want someone to talk to okay. If you're not up for a job send me through to another guy. So just shut up and let me vent to you."

Matthew reeled back, he was perplexed by the blunt rudeness by this man. He was just trying to help…dear lord maybe there is no helping this man. He found himself actually afraid to speak up, like he's the one being treated like a kid. He swallowed thickly and chastised himself for being so silly. "What ever you prefer to do sir." The uneasiness was given away, making him reluctant to converse further.

"Good, now let me tell you about dick face McFucker, this arschloch. We were dating for four good years. We both lived in his house, which is huge as fuck, and I thought we were happy…" That tiny voice came back. He didn't sound like he was crying, but Matthew knew the difference between a person crying on the outside and a person crying on the inside. Surprisingly they aren't that different, except one is much more damaging.

Gilbert was definitely crying on the inside and those are the hardest type of people to help, because you cant wipe their tears away.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?" Matthew chewed on his lip, hoping that the man wouldn't hang up.

After seconds of reserved silence, "Yeah. He uh, he and this girl from his younger days got back in touch. They used to be married actually…I guess he wasn't over her or something and he kind of just told me to piss off. I-I didn't know where to go, so I just kind of went to my little bruder's."

Matthew hummed, "There's nothing wrong with going to family. I'm sure your brother is glad to help you." By some of the German vocab, plus a lingering accent on certain words, he must have been from Germany or Austria.

"Yeah I know, but still I feel like a loser or some shit. Plus that's not my biggest problem, its been like five months and I still haven't found some new tail, you know?"

Matthew almost nodded, it's become a habit. "Yeah, I know what you mean. I know this is o-off topic, but are you German?"

There was an angry huff, "No! Im Prussian! Prussia is more awesome than Germany!" He claimed happily, Matthew had never heard anyone so happy for his nationality, with the acceptation of his patriotic American brother.

Matthew laughed lightly, "My mistake, anyway why don't you try going to bars or social meets?" He suggested.

"I've tried! My brother says that I come off creepy and overly self-centered. I told him he's just being a dumkopf. I am the awesome Gilbert! No one can resist my charm! All of the cute boys and girls will bow to my awesomeness!"

Matthew nearly choked on his laughter. Gilbert went silent on the other line, but he was laughing too hard to notice. "I-I'm," He laughed again, "I-I'm sorry, you're just really funny…"

"You think I'm funny?"

Matthew nodded, not realizing he did it again even though no one can see him. "Yes, you're very funny! I haven't laughed like that in a long time…"

"It's a nice laugh, you should laugh like that more often. Maybe if you talk to the awesome me you can laugh like that everyday!"

Matthew started to blush heavily. Something had changed in the conversation, but he couldn't pick out what it could have been. "I'm enjoying speaking with you Gilbert."

"…Ja me too, I-I mean to you…though."

It was almost 8 in the evening, the time that Matthew had to get off. He had been talking to Gilbert for the past hour and he was happy to say that the man was…wonderful. He had a charm and humor to him that was refreshing to Matthew. He hadn't had a conversation this enjoyable in a long time. It made him never want to end the call, but home was calling him.

The blond hummed happily, "Is there anything else you want to tell me before I go?"

There was a thick pause, "Nien, I think I feel much better now. But can I call you tomorrow?"

This time Gilbert didn't sound big or tiny, no he sounded like a hopeful and modest man. Matthew smiled, "Of course. Just call and ask who ever picks up to connect you to Matthew."

"Ja, I will. Danke Matthew."

His finger halfheartedly rested on the switch. "Tha-thank you Gilbert too, for talking to me I mean. Sleep well."