Author Notes: Wow I'm so confused with how to upload things here… Anyway, I've decided to continue with my story, yayyy~ ahaa. So I have a question for you, have you every heard/read/learnt something about history and then it talks about countries and then you characterize the countries as aph characters, and then you go squee? Yeah, that happens a lot for me… So! On with the story! Oh, and I do not encourage smoking!

Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia or My Life With You, both mangas belong to their respective owners.

Chapter 2

I still remember the day you decided to be with me, the time you came up to me and told me I was your hero. I didn't know at the time, but it was a subtle love confession. I wish I could have said something then.

Light filtered through half open blinds upon a figure. Disheveled silver hair shown under the morning light and bloodshot crimson eyes opened. He rose painfully, waking from a nightmare.

I broke protocol again. Gilbert brought his hands to his face and then ran his fingers through his hair. He thought of the scientist they had rescued. He thought of how vulnerable the boy had looked. Like a little bird.

Then his thoughts drifted to the boy's features. On the way back to base, the scientist had fallen asleep. Gilbert took that time to observe the way his hair gradually changed color as it neared the roots and the boy's long eyelashes hidden behind lenses. He certainly was beautiful.

France had tenderly wrapped the scientist in a blanket and made him as comfortable as possible. The similarity in their wavy hair made Gilbert think of how odd it was that the person they rescued was Francis' cousin. A strange coincidence, but he didn't think much of it. Anyway, they had to bring to boy to a hospital; three years of malnourishment in Siberia needed professional care.

Gilbert closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He had to get ready for today. So he got up and temporarily abandoned his thoughts of the beautiful scientist.

It was almost a week after they had rescued Matthew. Their morning had been spent training but they were doing nothing now except lounging around and smoking. That was, until they heard Matt.

"Excuse me!" Matt's quiet voice actually rose above a whisper.

Gilbert turned around to see Matt approaching them. He couldn't say he was unhappy to see the scientist though. Actually, he was excited to see him.

"Yo, Matt," Gilbert greeted.

"Hi Gilbert," Matt responded, his voice had reverted back to its soft tone, "Uhm… there was something I wanted to tell you."

"Mathieu! How cruel, you do not even say hello to me!" Francis complained.

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't see you," Matt blushed a little in embarrassment. But to his defense, Francis was standing behind Gilbert. "Hey Francis," he offered an apologetic smile, "Antonio, Lars," he greeted the other two soldiers in turn believing it was rude to ignore them as well. He received nods of acknowledgement.

"I'll forgive you because you're cute," he winked while blowing a flying kiss towards the boy.

"So what brought you here to base?" Gilbert interrupted.

"I work here now," Matthew swallowed, embarrassed at the next words he would say, "today, tomorrow, five years from now, as long as you're here so am I." Hearing such bold words from someone like Matt would be strange to people who knew him, and even though Gilbert had only known the guy for a little over a day, he was surprised.

Gilbert let out some smoke from the side of his mouth and let one of his eyebrows raise. "Why?"

Still blushing, continued saying, "Well, in order to work in the same base as you, I got qualified as an operator in the ground communication system, so I left my post in DARPA*. Now I'm doing research in satellite image processing and telecommunications."

There was a slight pause after which he added in an even softer almost inaudible tone, "I mean to say, I'm a really big fan of yours…" Matthew's violet eyes looked down now.

Amazingly, all four of the men heard Matthew's little confession. Gilbert almost dropped his cigarette.

Francis cocked an eyebrow and let out a low whistle. A strange development, he thought to himself.

His mouth formed into a goofy smile, Antonio teased, "I wish Lovino was that honest."

Lars whistled first, and then chuckled, letting out a long drag of his cigarette.

"Ah, that didn't come out right," Matt blushed at the realization and waved his hands as if trying to erase his words.

"Uhm, I mean, you saved me, so… yeah that's it…'' the roar of a helicopter drawing closer made his voice fade for a moment.

"You're a hero! At least to me you're my hero!" Although Matt had raised his voice again to a normal one, Gilbert still had to strain his ears to hear the words.

The helicopter's blades sliced through the air, creating gusts of wind and sound waves. It was odd, but for a moment time seemed to slow. Gilbert could not hide the astonishment from his face but soon after he could only narrow his eyes.

He didn't say anything to Matt, he couldn't. If only you knew… was the single thought running through his head as the helicopter had finally landed.

Gilbert scratched his head behind his ear, "I really don't know what to say," were the only words Gilbert could murmur.

It was only a moment, but Matt looked at Gilbert as if he wanted to ask if something was wrong. He didn't get to though because some men in suits called to Matt that they had to leave for the meeting.

"Coming!" he turned back to call.

Gilbert managed a smile, "Well I'll see you around, Matt."

"Yeah, okay," Matt beamed. He started to turn around to walk to the helicopter.

"It was really nice seeing all of you again. Goodbye, I'll see you later!" Once again Gilbert had to strain his ears to hear the man but he was able to hear enough of it to get the message.

Gilbert waved goodbye to the scientist. He's so naïve…

"Ah, mon cher est tres doux n'est pas?" Francis easily slipped into his French.

"Si, e inocente también," Antonio too, said in Spanish.

"Hij is als een kind," the Dutchman noted.

"I don't understand a word any of you said," Gilbert lied. He understood a few words in their respective languages and got the basic gist of their remarks but for some reason feigned ignorance.

Gilbert lay in bed that night replaying Matthew's words in his head.

A hero huh? That's only because you saw me as a brave and proud soldier on the battlefield.

If only you could see me in my nightmares.

-A few months later-

Gilbert walked into a well-lit room of computers, desks, files, a coffee table, and a couch.

"So this is your new lab," Gilbert looked around, taking the place in. "They really did give you everything!"

It was so strange how close they had become, Gilbert thought. After Matthew's little confession, he had begun to hang out with not only Gilbert, but the other soldiers as well. The scientist practically went to all their outings whenever they went downtown. Gilbert was surprised to find that Matthew could actually hold his liquor well.

"That's because they want me to spend every minute working on the new weapon," Matt explained as he tidied up a few files on one of the desks.

"Awesome!" Gilbert let himself on the couch.

Gilbert spotted a large blob of white fluff next to him, "What's this?" He poked the white mass thinking it some kind of pillow or something but was then astonished to see it move.

"Woah!" Gilbert jumped off the couch to see the "pillow" unroll itself, yawn, and then stare up at the stranger.

Matt giggled, "That's my bear, Kumajishi." He picked up the bear and gave him a tight squeeze. Matt proceeded to walk across the lab to what looked like a real pillow and placed the sleepy bear on top of it.

Gilbert had a rather incredulous look on his face, "A bear?"

"Yeah, do you have any pets?" Matt spoke as if having a mini polar bear as a pet was completely normal and commonplace.

Gilbert decided to let it go, "A bird, but that's it. What?" Matthew had an odd look on his face at the mention of a bird.

"No, it's just… I think it's funny how someone like you has a pet bird. You look like you should own guard dogs or something," Gilbert could sense the laughter in Matt's voice.

"Hah, no. That's my brother," Gilbert settled back on the couch, "Anyway, nice place, wait till the girls hear about this!"

Matt suddenly seemed a little uncomfortable and uneasy as he sat next to Gilbert.

"Uhm…" he couldn't look at Gilbert and instead kept his eyes on the floor playing with his hands.

"Gilbert, I haven't told you, but…" Matt paused again, unwilling to disclose his words. They had known each other for a while and yet Matthew didn't know how the soldier would react. "I'm not interested in women so…" he turned his face away from Gilbert to hide his flushed face.

"Hey. Hey!" Gilbert placed his hand on Matt's shoulder trying to make the guy face him. "You have nothing to be ashamed of."

Matt shifted to stared at Gilbert in disbelief, as if his words were completely unexpected.

When he could finally find his voice again, he stuttered, "R-really? I have been worrying about how you would react if you found out, are you sure?" He had thought it through and figured it was best to tell Gilbert first before the other guys. His head was to the ground again and his hand was on his eyes as if trying to prevent himself from crying.

"Hey, my brother has been in love with the same Italian boy since they were five. Toni's is dating that Italian's brother. And Francis…" Gilbert paused, "you know how he is. I'm used to it, trust me." He had not mentioned Lars because he was actually unsure of the man's preference. Gilbert had never seen him with anyone and the Dutchman never disclosed such information.

Matt still looked doubtful, "I was so scared you would shun me…" Matt's barely audible voice was softer than usual.

Gilbert pulled Matt closer to him so the man could calm down a bit.

Matt, you give me way more credit then I deserve. I'm not half the man you think I am.

"Hey, there's a change of plan," another man with a gun said through the door. "If he's not talking, kill him. He's no use to us."

Another man held up a pistol, "Well then, this is your last interrogation."

Gilbert's body was bruised and bloody. His arms were chained above his head to the ceiling. He gritted his teeth and stared at the gun in the man's hand. Damnit, if you're going to kill me do it already! Just kill me! Gilbert's eyes screamed what his mouth could not.

"Ah, I'm sure we can get some information out of him, da?" the biggest man in the room asked. The smile his on his face was deceiving, even with a ridicules looking water pipe in his hand, the giant looked positively evil.

Gilbert jumped up out of bed crying and panting. He covered his face with his hands to wipe away the tears. Holding his head, trying to even his breathing, Gilbert once again thought of Matt.

I'm just a coward. I'm not even supposed to be alive! I should be dead. Gilbert rubbed his temple, too many thoughts going through his head.

Second chapter. Good? Bad? Reviews are much welcome. Anyway, I'm thinking of posting up the third chapter right after this one so wait for it! Thanks so much for reading my fanfic (:

DARPA – Defense Advance Research Projects Agency

Ah, mon cher est tres doux n'est pas? – Ah, my dear is very sweet don't you think?

Si, e inocente también – Yes, and innocent too

Hij is als een kind – He is like a child

I'm sorry if any of the French/Spanish/Dutch is wrong, I only have limited knowledge of them… Oh and America is gonna be in the next chapter! I hope, maybe, I'll see.