A/N: You guys, just because I got TWO reviews for this in under an hour of my posting it, you guys get an early update! Thank you, so very much for you're reviews, and even for just reading it!
lunareclipse3: Thank you for being my first reviewer of this story! Also, thank you, though I don't think you'll be saying that for long. Especially with this chapter... B-but I'll make up for it! Though, about your question, I don't want to spoil it, so you'll have to wait to find out!
Gat: Anonymous review, bawww. But that's okay! I appreciate your taking the time to review regardless. Roddy... seems well behaved, but next chapter should change your mind a bit. Oh, yes, things are definitely not as they appear, aha.
too-lazy-to-log-in: Here's more, dear! And nonono, it's not beastiality, don't fret!
adorable: Ahh, why did it make you laugh? ;; But thank you, I'm sure he'd love to cuddle up with you too! Well, maybe not if Gilbo was there...
KyuuketsukiNekko: Danke~ You'll have to see what happens, though. I'll keep it a secret until the very end!
Read on!
On a particularly cold day in November, Gilbert came back to his apartment from work to find it broken into, door wide open.
He expected something like that to happen because of the bad neighborhood he lived in. Out of all his stuff, a lot of it worth more money than he should have, he found everything in its place. As he walked down the hall to his room, he realized something.
Roderich was nowhere to be found.
The albino searched the apartment frantically, looking for the cat that had somehow in the last few weeks become so dear to him, but to no luck. As he settled into bed numbly, he realized that the brown mess of fur was gone forever.
It rained that night.
On random occasions, Gilbert wondered if the cat was okay. Was Roderich dead yet? Freezing in the cold? Was he suffering in an alleyway again?
After the twenty-third time of checking that alley, he gave up. Gave up thinking about it.
He still felt guilty.
Sometime in late December, Gilbert found himself spending time with his two best friends, Francis and Antonio, quite a lot. He'd nearly forgotten the long lost cat's place in his life, though he'd never forget those sharp violet eyes.
As Christmas came nearer, the trio of friends tried to decide what to get each other. Noticing their friend's unhappiness at the loss of the cat, they wanted to get him a new one, even though Gilbert refused, saying that he didn't want any other cat.
On Christmas, Gilbert went to Francis' house, where they celebrated with Antonio and his boyfriend, Romano, Francis and his two younger siblings, Michelle and Matthew, who he treated as children. Gilbert came alone, solemn as he used to celebrate this holiday with everyone and his younger brother, Ludwig, before the accident.
Romano and Gilbert shared a sympathetic look as they lit two candles and prayed for Ludwig and Feliciano, wishing them happiness and good luck where they were.
They all sat in silence before Gilbert cracked a comment, earning himself a swat from Romano, and the air became less tense.
It was time to open presents.
Antonio got Romano a book of coupons for kisses, Romano got Antonio a tomato juicer, and a knuckle sandwich for his gift.
Francis got Matthew a new hockey stick, and Michelle a very large stuffed fish, to replace the old one she'd worn down over time. The two children had chipped in together to buy Francis a bottle of cologne that was imported from France and two roses. The French man had cried at the display of thoughtfulness, and wished he had gotten more for the two.
Gilbert got Antonio a gift card to Romano's Macaroni Grill, if only to piss off the Italian, Romano a gift card to his favorite pizza place, Francis a box of condoms which he discreetly had already placed them in his room. For Matthew he gave the little Canadian boy a plush polar bear, which the small child proceeded to name "Kumajirou" for some odd reason, though the name changed each time he said it. For Michelle, he got her several new ribbons for her pigtails.
Gilbert did not expect gifts in return, and usually asked for others not to give him gifts, though Francis and Antonio persisted in getting him something anyways every time.
The two left the room for a few minutes, leaving Gilbert alone with Romano, Matthew, and Michelle. They sat in silence, before Romano cleared his throat, grabbing the albino's attention.
"...it's been almost four years, Gilbert."
Gilbert was confused for a moment, before it clicked. He meant four years since the accident.
"Yeah. Next month..." he frowned, staring at his hands, the slowly fading scars on his hand from the night with Roderich. Fading, like his memory of the feline. Gilbert was no fool, runaways rarely came back, and the cat had been gone for two months now.
"I think it's time we got over it. You need to celebrate your birthday again."
Gilbert shook his head. The cat was probably dead.
"Nein. I promised to never celebrate it again."
"Gilbert..."
He wondered how Roderich had died. Hit by a car?
"I said no. It's not like my birthday is that important anyways."
"Stupid bastard..." the brunette Italian grumbled, crossing his arms and walking off from Gilbert.
Or maybe he was chased down by a dog or larger cat and killed, eaten for food. Animals were that desperate, weren't they?
Francis speaking Gilbert's name in his thick accent caught his attention from his thoughts, and he turned around slowly to face them.
He was met with large violet eyes.