Sorry for such the long wait. But I'm lazy ha…
Well, anyway.
Gilbert woke to the screeching of his alarm clock. He groaned, rolling over and punching the thing till it shut up. He opened his eyes sighing as he thought about Mattie-
"Mattie!" He sat up looking down at the now empty bed and his heart sank before noticing the note that was left behind on his pillow.
Gilbert,
Sorry, but I can't seem to manifest my body for such a long period of time and I don't seem to sleep anyway but I'm sorry that I had to leave you. I'll be back at 3 in the morning again... I can't wait to see you. I love you.
Love,
-Birdie.
Gilbert smiled at the thought of Matthieu taking his time to write the simple note, brow furrowing as he tried to pick the right words to say.
He swung his legs out of bed looking at the time. 11:00... 16 hours till Matthieu showed up...What can Gilbert do in 16 hours?
Gilbert felt a sadness welling up in his heart. What was he supposed to do when Matthieu is completely gone? Everything he used to do practically revolved around his lover. On a normal day he'd go to work thinking about him then come home to a comfortable home with Matthieu cooking him dinner and a warm kiss waiting for him once he walked through the door.
Gilbert felt tears welling up in his eyes at the thought of not being able to feel the warm touch of his lovers lips or the comforting press of his body when they slept together or the taste of Matthieu's' pancakes in the morning when he woke up to the sweet syrupy scent.
He laughed tears spilling over the edge remembering all the good times they had spent together in this home.
'Are you crying again, Gilbert? I'm not gone yet. I want to see you smile.' Said a distant voice.
"Mattie?" He asked looking around the room wiping away his tears.
'Yeah, who else? Sorry, but I'm not there with you. I'm saving up energy in limbo. But I can send you messages for now.'
"That's great!" Gilbert laughed. "I'm glad I can still talk to you. There's so much I haven't said to you."
'Gilbert... There's something I need to tell you...It's really important.' Gilbert could hear the sadness in Matthieu's voice.
"W-What is it, Birdie?" He asked nervously, wondering if he really wanted the answer. "Is something wrong?"
'Yeah... It seems...I'm going to pass on sooner than we thought.'
"What do you mean?" Gilbert's voice shook as he covered his mouth with his hand shakily. "You're leaving me?... when?"
'Tonight... I'll still be able to see you when I promised but...I won't be able to stay for long.'
"What do you mean 'not for long'?"
"I may only be able to stay for an hour or so. The gates only open for so long."
Gilbert remained quiet for a moment biting his lip in thought. "Okay," he said finally. "I won't try to stop you from leaving. If I can manage it, anyway. Don't let me get in your way, Mattie."
"Thank you, Gil." Gilbert could hear the smile in his voice. "I love you."
"Love you, Mattie." He said the words cheerfully but to him it seemed almost robotic and he was grieving inside.
A few hours later Gilbert had decided to run a few errands to keep himself busy until it was time to actually see Matthieu, and to restock his increasingly low food supply.
He walked into the cool-air conditioning of the local grocery store grabbing a cart, wheeling it to the juice section.
"Gilbert?" Questioned a voice behind him. Gilbert turned, looking into the familiar blue eyes that belonged to Matthieu's brother. "What are you doing here?"
Gilbert shrugged. "Hungry..." he mumble.
"Don't you have food at home?" Alfred gave him a weary smile trying to make small talk.
"Hardly any." Gilbert swallowed the lump in his throat. "We're-...I'm out of milk." he said through gritted teeth and tears clouded his vision, threatening to spill over.
"Oh." Alfred looked down at the ground. "Do you need any help?" The words seemed to be asking for more than just help with his shopping and Gilbert felt himself fill with rage.
"No, I don't need your help!" He burst out, glaring at Alfred.
'Calm down, Gilbert. He didn't mean anything by it." Matthieu's voice chimed over Gilbert's raging thoughts. He sighed rubbing his hands over his face trying to calm himself. "Sorry."
"I know... I miss him too."
"I don't want to talk about." He muttered walking away from Alfred.
'Yes you do.' Matthieu whispered.
"No, not with him. Not with your brother."
"I loved him too, you know?" Alfred shouted after him.
Gilbert stopped in his tracks, he turned. "I'm sure you did... But I still don't want to talk about it."
'Oh, Gil..."
Gilbert plopped down on his bed tucking his hands under his head with a loud sigh.
His apartment felt empty without Matthieu there to entertain him. This was usually their date night. Matthieu would pick where they go; even though it was mostly going to the movies, Gilbert didn't mind they normally just kissed in the back not paying attention to the movie. Gilbert smiled to himself, he remembered how Matthieu blushed when he began to initiate the make out session and he'd complain quietly how he'd want to watch the movie but Gilbert always knew how to make him give in and he'd subdue to Gilbert's tender kisses.
Gilbert bit his lip, chocking on tears. He was really going to miss Matthieu when he was gone.
'Gil?' Matthieu's sweet voice broke the silence.
"Yeah?" Gilbert's voice sounded shaky to his ears.
'I know you're still sad but... You're going to have to get over me. Let me go.'
"Let you go? I AM letting you go, Mattie. Tonight. In case you've forgotten. You asked me to, remember?"
'You know what I mean, Gilbert. You have to let go of me... From your heart. Live your own life.'
"You know I can't do that. I'll never leave for get and leave you behind." His voice was strained; his anger was beginning to show. He wasn't angry at Matthieu, he could never be. He was angry at himself. Matthieu was right, he had to let him go... but he knew in his heart he could never to such a thing. He was afraid he'd forget about him over the years. That he'd fade into a distant memory.
'You will someday. And I'll always wait for you.'
"Until that day comes, I am not going to talk about it!" He caught himself; he hadn't wanted to yell at him, he really didn't. It just...popped out. "I'm so sorry, Birdie. I- I didn't mean to-"
'It's okay.' Matthieu's voice quivered slightly. 'I understand. You need to think about it. I'll come back later. See you.'
"No, Mattie! Wait!" Gilbert sat up desperate to keep Matthieu with him.
'Later, Gil. I love you.'
Gilbert felt empty once again and he realized Matthieu had left his head.
He looked at the clock seeing it was only 4:45. Sighing, he laid back on his bed closing his eyes.
Gilbert gasped sitting up in bed eyes scanning the room.
"Gilbert." Matthieu sat up next to him and Gilbert gasped clutching his chest.
He visibly relaxed when he saw who had invaded his bed. "You scared the crap out of me, Mattie."
Matthieu smiled. "Sorry."
"What time is it? 3:15! You should've woken me up..." Gilbert looked over Matthieu's ghostly form. His pale eyes seemed duller than before and his body, more transparent.
"You seemed to be sleeping well and I didn't want to disturb you."
Matthieu's cold hand brushed against Gilbert's cheek affectionately.
"I want you to wake me up no matter when it is. I want to see you as much as possible. So, next time-" Gilbert's voice caught in his throat. There won't be a next time... "I mean..."
"It's okay. I know you didn't mean it. Just lay down with me. Take it easy."
They both lay there tangled in each other's embrace for a while before Gilbert spoke up. "When am I going to see you again?" He asked quietly, touching this forehead to Matthieu's.
Matthieu sighed, his icy breath tickled Gilbert's face, "I'm not allowed to say. But we will meet again. I promise. It's almost time for me..."
Gilbert held onto him tighter. "Don't go." He whispered.
Matthieu buried his face into Gilbert's neck. "I have to go. I don't have a choice, you know that."
"How much longer?" Gilbert bit his lip in anticipation as Matthieu tensed letting out a quiet answer. "A few minutes. I'm so sorry, Gilbert."
Gilbert shook his head his body trembling. "You don't need to to be sorry. It's not your fault...It isn't. I just... Don't want you to go. I don't want you to go..."
"Gilbert, if I could stay with you I would. But I have to go." Matthieu pulled a short distance away from him looking him in the eyes. "I have to go."
Gilbert gulped his breath quickening. "R-Right now? Mattie, you can't. You can't!"
Matthieu shook his head. "I'm sorry." He leaned in kissing Gilbert gently, feeling hot tears on his pallid skin. "You're crying..." He said quietly pulling away.
Gilbert shut his eyes pulling Matthieu close to his chest. "Don't make me lose you again."
"You won't. I'm sorry for hurting you like this but you...won't remember anything from yesterday that has to do with me."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"Listen to me." Matthieu locked eyes with Gilbert. "I don't have much time and I don't want to have this be difficult. Everything you've seen or heard from me will be gone, Gil. Gone."
Gilbert's brow scrunched together. "Why? Why can't I remember my last moments with you? It's all I have."
Matthieu smiled and shook his head. "No it's not. You have all the years we've spent together, all the times we've spent the night in bed, when you first asked me out and you were so nervous you almost fainted." He laughed to himself quietly. "I love you."
"I love you, too." Gilbert whispered clamping his mouth to Matthieu's once again before an empty blackness took over him.
The sunshine shone through the window onto Gilbert's face, rousing him from his sleep. Gilbert rubbed his eyes sitting up and peeking through the curtains, he let out a small sigh.
Mattie...