I just want to take the time and thank all of you for enjoying the 1st chapter. This so far has been the best turnout I had for a single chapter in a very long time. Thank you all so so so much, you all don't understand how I was gushing at my inbox seeing people enjoy the story. Thank you all so much, I love you all and let's continue. (More author notes at the end of the chapter.)

Chapter 2: Mario Kart and Superheros

To wake up is a challenge when the impending doom of people is just around the corner. To say Matthew's strong suit is interacting with humans is a stupid lie. While he can speak to people and knows what to say and not, it doesn't mean the poor boy isn't shy and introverted. He can easily talk to his brother and joke with him, but only because Alfred is his brother. If Alfred weren't his brother, he would've tried his best to avoid him (this once was mentioned to the poor Alfred and he had nearly cried while holding onto Matthew and nearly suffocated Matthew).

Matthew sits up in the darkish room. He pulls up his legs and wraps his arms around them, hugging the limbs on his form. Alfred is gone from his own bed and Matthew can hear water in the bathroom. Another shower? While it doesn't surprise Matthew anymore, it would freak out others. Alfred is a bit of a hygiene freak (or at least when it comes to his body). Matthew chuckles darkly remembering a time when Alfred and him were children. The two used to play in a random park as kids, and Matthew would tease poor Alfred of his cleanliness, throwing dirt at him as a joke. He never did this to anyone but poor Alfred but he can't lie and say he regrets it now. He knows Alfred showers at least 3 times a day (the morning, after gym, night) but he could imagine Alfred does more without anyone noticing. He's almost scared of looking at the water bill because of his brother.

The water stops and footsteps approach the room. The light turns on and Alfred is clad in his uniform, a white button down with a logo on the top right and black jeans (not to dress code as they were supposed to be black Dickies but maybe being on the football team had its quirks). "Mornin' sleepyhead. Get dressed we're going soon."

Matthew stands up and stretches lazily. He handles his morning business and hurriedly gets dressed. He walks to the downstairs kitchen and grabs toast from Alfred's hands. "Thanks for the breakfast Al." He starts eating it and Alfred whines.

"No fair Mattie, that was my toast." Alfred gets out another piece of bread and sticks it in the toaster. He turns and flashes a grin at Mattie. "I guess I'll get you back later."

Matthew finishes the toast and rolls his eyes. "Sure you will."

After the toast came out the toaster, the two don't waste time to leave the house. While walking to the bus stop they talk about mindless things. "Does anyone at school know you're a neat freak Al?"

"Does anyone at school know you're a sarcastic prick that steals peoples toast?" Alfred glares playfully at his brother, earning a laugh from Matthew.

Matthew shakes his head, "I'll keep it our secret until you date someone."

Alfred shuffles uncomfortably while walking. "Um Matthew I don't want to date anyone."

Matthew stops walking and sighs. "I forgot you were asexual."

"I don't like labels bro, just don't spread that info around too openly." Alfred laughs and faces Matthew, a mischievous glint in his eye, "I think I have someone to interest your little gay heart bro~"

Matthew continues walking and rolls his eyes, "I'm not gay I'm questioning."

The banter continues until they make it to the bus stop and see a shorter blond with larger than normal eyebrows and an attractive face. He's playing on his phone, playing Tetris and doing rather well. "Yo Arthur!" Alfred calls out to the shorter boy and in return he looks up, unamused.

Matthew comes to a stop after getting to the destination, he could feel his mouth go dry. This always happens when he meets new people, how he hopes he can cope when he gets to school.

Arthur looks at Matthew up and down and holds out a hand, "I'm Arthur, you must be the brother Alfred was telling me about. It's nice to meet you."

Matthew takes the hand hesitantly and shakes softly, his voice just coming to a whisper. "Hello, yes, I'm Matthew. It's nice to meet you."

Alfred groans, "Come on Mattie, you steal my toast and now you get tongue tied in front of him of all people?!"

After two arguments and a discussion of Mario Kart was exchanged between Alfred and Arthur (Matthew laughing quietly while listening in) the bus shows up. They all get on and the ride is uneventful, the only notable thing was the rise in nervousness in Matthew's stomach the closer they got to school. He could describe the feeling like reading a really good book, and getting close to the climax. Each turn of the wheels was a paragraph closer to the main character's fate. He muses about being a main character, what would that be like? His life is mostly uneventful and not worth writing about (much less reading about). His life wouldn't be a mystery, he doesn't have anything to hide. Maybe some sort of light angst story. He knows it wouldn't be some sort of romance, he doesn't know anyone he would really date.

While entertaining the thought of being in a hero story, the bus stops and doors open. The shuffle of feet and bookbags erupt from the bus. Light chatters and whispers as they step off and hit the pavement. Matthew gets off behind his brother and sees metal front doors you pull to get in. He walks behind Arthur and Alfred, returning to the discussion of video games and comics.

"Shy Guy is the best on Mario Kart 3DS you can't argue with that Artie." Alfred says as the group goes up stairs. "Metal Mario can suck my ass."

Arthur scoffs and rolls his eyes, "Metal Mario won't see your ass he'll be so far ahead of it."

Matthew chuckles softly and decides to join the conversation, "Honey Queen is the best, she can go fast."

"NOT AS FAST AS ME!" Alfred then grabs Arthur's bookbag, right off his back, and runs into the library with it. "Thanks for the distraction Mattie!"

"YOU FUCKING WANKER!" Arthur yells back, Matthew trembling in his borrowed red Converse. Arthur sighs and looks at Matthew sympathetically, "I'm sorry about that. We are going into the library anyway so I guess he did me some help."

Matthew looks away from Arthur's eyes and nods, suddenly losing all confidence out of Alfred's presence. While going up the stairs and entering the noisy library, Arthur attempts twice to start a simple exchange, failing twice. They sign in and approach the table where Alfred sits and waits, going through Arthur's things.

With a cheese-stick in his mouth he waves. "Arthur, you've been holding out on me. You had prepackaged cheese."

The duo sit at the table and Arthur grabs his bag, sighing in defeat. "I haven't been 'holding out' you didn't ask. You now owe me food."

"Aw come on man, that isn't cool. I didn't have anything to eat this morning!"

Matthew snorts, "I'm willing to bet you ate more than toast this morning Al."

Alfred pouts and leans back in the chair, "So what- I hardly ate anything. Maybe a sandwich."

Arthur sighs and zips his bag shut. "Oh yes, hardly anything. I think the starving children and you should make a club."

The trio continue lighthearted banter until the bell rings, then going to the gym. Matthew and Arthur sharing the same 1st period classes on both A days and B days*. With that the boys parted ways and went to class.

*If you don't know A day and B day schedules have different classes on different days. One week you have 5 days so it goes in a pattern as so:

Week 1- ABABA

Week 2- BABAB

It's a school thing that I'm used to so I'm gonna stick to it here.

So I'm trying to get some good chapters out before the school year starts up because I'm going to be at schools from 7am to 7pm and still balance homework and dating a person who doesn't go to the same school as me? Also the updating schedule would be updates once every 2 weeks so I'm trying to get at least 5-7 chapters out before the school year starts. I'm thinking this story is gonna have at least/most 20 chapters considering the last story was on 12 or 14 and wasn't halfway done.

R&R I love feedback it makes me so happy to see when people like my work and read it. Thank you so much, love you all!

-CW