Disclaimer: Characters Not Mine, Plot only.
Oh, and Unbetaed. Enjoy.
Rites Of A Snake - Pt.2
The eerie hoot of a lone owl echoed across the night sky as clouds enveloped the glow of the moon.
In one of the buildings being used as a dorm room for the tourists, Violet eyes blinked open, accompanied by a yawn.
A tired Matthew Williams, aged-29-and-change, looked around the room in puzzlement. What woke him up?
His answer was swift in coming as a tiny pebble was thrown with near expert precision at the window next to him – the sound could easily be mistaken for a bug hitting the glass.
Curiously (and a bit apprehensively, as Gilbert was sound asleep in the bed next to his) peeking out the window, Matthew was met with the startling sight of the blond snake-man from the woods, half-in one of the many, carefully pruned bushes around the building. To make matters worse, it was close to one of the many street lights in the sort-of garden, making the black and blue tail partly visible in the bushes whenever it twisted.
Spotting him, the snake smiled, white (sharp) teeth shining slightly in the dark, and beckoned the blond down by giving an awkward wave.
Gaping and heart hammering, a now wide awake Matthew grabbed a long coat and hurried out to the garden as quietly as he could.
Unnoticed, red eyes snapped open as he shut the door.
-xx-
Alfred couldn't help but feel elated when he heard the telltale humming vibrations that passed through the air.
Naturally, none of the other snakes heard anything, so it was understandable if his older brother (and clan leader), Arthur, was a little bit angry at his brother's sudden lack of attention.
"Alfred!"
His brother's yell quickly remedied that though.
"What?!" Alfred yelled back, startled.
"Will you please pay attention? This is important. Do you want to help me run this clan effectively or not?!" he spoke, green eyes glimmering with frustration as his matching tail pushed himself up to his little brother's current height.
"Dude, 'course I do!"
"Then pay attention to what I'm saying! Keep in mind that neither of us have found mates which, as you know, makes our workload even bigger."
"Er..."
Alfred's hesitance and sudden twitchiness caught Arthur's attention immediately.
"Alfred?" Eyes widening, the English-born Naga placed a hand on the slightly bigger snake's shoulder. Had he...?
"Well..." the younger snake squirmed, blushing slightly.
"You have? Who? Alfred if you have found your mate, this is big news! Where are they? Why didn't you bring them home?" the older snake spoke quietly. He didn't want to excite the other serpents if he had misread the situation.
Alfred, slightly overwhelmed by the rapid-fire questions, only blushed harder.
"W..well...see...it's..." the younger snake then gulped and leaned close to his brother's ear.
Intrigued, Arthur humoured him.
"He's..." Alfred gulped. At least he was sure of the human's gender now. "...kind of...human." The last word was spoken so low, Arthur barely heard him.
When he registered what his brother had said, the shock was evident on his face. It was quickly followed by sorrow, however.
Seeing the expression on his brother's face, Alfred began to worry. "Arthur?"
His worry turned to shock as his brother enveloped him in a tight embrace.
"Iggy? What's wrong?"
"Alfred, I want you to take care of yourself, ok? Be good to your mate. And remember to visit your big brother when you can, hmm?"
"Dude, what do you mean visit?!" Alfred's yell caught the attention to some of the nearby serpents as he pulled away.
"Arthur? Is something the matter?" Lakshmi enquired, slithering closer. Her Indian accent was evident, as she was originally from one of the tribes that dwelled further south.
Arthur breathed in, and then out, before answering.
"Alfred...has found a mate." He said slowly. "A human."
The gasps of the assembled serpents (more or less the entire clan, now...gossip travelled fast) had Alfred renewing his attempts to glean information from his brother.
"Alfred," Arthur addressed him, thus silencing the younger part-reptile. "A human is a very fragile creature, as you well know. Resourceful, but fragile. All attempts to have one live among us has ended with those humans nearly dying. Or, in some tragic cases, actually deteriorating...literally."
There was a reason this topic was never really discussed when mating rituals were being taught to younger snakes. It was encouraged for discussion but most snakes found it too depressing. Arthur was one of them.
"It is for that reason that any Naga or Nagini who ends up mated to a human is strongly encouraged to go live with that human. Forever. In the past few centuries, though, that has become harder as few humans actually believe we exist. And our discovery could now prove dangerous to both them and us. So you will be required to hide yourself around most of them. Your mate should help you with that. His family will have to be informed if they are deemed trustworthy, though."
"So...I'm leaving?" Alfred choked out.
Arthur nodded.
"You'll get to visit. That is certain. Come now," Arthur spoke, turning. "Chin up. We had best prepare for your departure, as I doubt the poor lad has any idea exactly what he's gotten himself into."
-xx-
And that was exactly how Alfred found himself in the bushes, near Matthew's dorm, at around one in the morning.
But Matthew didn't know that, as he pelted full speed towards the bushes, trying to make as little noise as possible.
He was just wondering what the hell the snake-man was doing here. He was also trying not to panic thinking about what would happen if someone else saw him...actually both of them. He wasn't supposed to be out of the dorm room this late at night.
"What the hell are you doing here?!" Matthew whispered, now starting to panic.
Apparently the snake-man didn't understand him because it responded by hugging him (again, he would be so embarrassed if this snake was female).
Deciding to get out of the 'danger zone' and then freak out, Matthew tugged on the Naga until he got the hint and slithered out of the bushes (and away from the light) and draped the coat over his (the snake's) midsection, double knotting the sleeves after a second thought. He'd have to find out his name as soon as he could.
Matthew turned to go back into the building, praying no one was awake.
Only to nearly get a heart attack as he saw a red-eyed albino standing silently behind him.
After recovering from his near death experience, Matthew whispered, annoyed. "What are you doing- never mind. Come on, help me take him up."
Gilbert, ever the eloquent one, yawned, stretched and generally took his sweet time before picking up the Naga by his lower half while Matthew hoisted him up under his arms. Making sure his tail was more or less in the coat turned sling, the two made their way back up the building and into their room.
-xx-
Alfred, while completely confused by his new position (literally), chose not to fuss. Matthew had to know what he was doing, right?
Mentally shrugging, Alfred settled for being carried in the rather uncomfortable position to what he assumed was his mate's nest.
Or temporary nest, anyways. Arthur had expressed concerns that his mate might not be from the surrounding area, hence why none of them had ever caught his scent before... it was also the reason why Alfred might not be able to visit as often as he would like.
After an...interesting...trip consisting of many frustrated words from his mate and his mate's friend and many bumps, some of which might probably bruise later, the trio had reached their destination more or less, safely.
As the two opened the door, Alfred was bombarded with his mate's scent (and his friend's, but that was easy to overlook. It was like the other was hardly here.)
Sighing in relief as he was placed on a soft, cloth covered surface, Alfred made himself comfortable and turned to face the panicking humans.
-xx -
"Gilbert, I swear, I will kill you. Painfully."
To his credit, the albino did not even flinch as those piercing violet eyes attempted to glare a hole through his skull.
"For what?" he instead asked, attempting an innocent air, before completely ruining it by saying: "I didn't tell your snakey friend to come here."
Matthew gritted his teeth and took several deep, calming breaths before he responded.
"You are the reason he met me in the first place. Of course it's your fault he's here."
The Prussian shrugged, absentmindedly spinning the golden ring around his ring finger – it was the only finger it would fit on...quite eerie actually. Even more so when it happened to both of them.
"So...what are we going to do with him?"
Matthew looked ready to pull his hair out at the albino's question.
"Why do I think he's going to fight any and all attempts to send him back?" he spoke.
The two turned to look at the snake, who was, by all appearances, trying to make himself comfortable in a nest of sorts made from the comforter and a pillow.
"Probably because he will. We wouldn't know exactly where to send him anyways." The albino responded.
"Actually I was-mph" Matthew was cut off by a pillow hitting him in the face.
"What the-?" the blond groaned, rubbing his face. Gilbert, meanwhile, had turned to look at the snake-man, who was giving Matthew a rather big pout.
When the snake-man saw Matthew looking at him, he gave a keening whine, shifting around and then patting the newly-made space next to him.
Gilbert stifled a snort when Matthew's cheeks turned bright red.
"Better get over there, lover boy. Wouldn't wanna keep him waiting." He remarked, gesturing towards the bed.
Matthew gritted his teeth as he passed the albino and, after a bit of hesitation, sat on the bed next to the half-reptile.
Matthew jumped a little as the Naga started that weird purring thing again.
It wasn't like a cat's purr, this was more of a deep sort of hum that Matthew felt quite certainly, would be sending light vibrations through the snake's entire frame. Like it came from somewhere in the reptile's belly rather than his throat.
The Canadian couldn't help but feel rather wary of the snake-man when he saw fit to press himself as close to Matthew as humanly possible without squishing him.
Gently picking up the hand that bore the ring, Alfred pressed his lips to the finger, half-on, half-off the ring and, ignoring Matthew's slight start, went back to nuzzling his mate.
Gilbert stopped his snickering when he saw the Naga press his lips to Matthew's ring finger. Chancing a worried glance at his own, he spoke up.
"Hey, Matt?"
His long-time friend looked over at his tone.
"Yeah?"
"Can you get that ring off your finger?"
Matthew frowned at the odd question.
"What do you mean? Of course I –" he cut himself off, shocked that the ring which he was trying to remove refused to even budge.
The Naga chose that moment to shove a dirt and grass stained note in front of his face.
Starting slightly, Matthew leaned back to read the note.
If Alfred is showing this to you then you put on the ring he threw at you. I express my congratulations to you both, because, to be blunt, you are now mated to my younger brother.
This bond is unbreakable, so don't even think about trying. If you hurt him, though I doubt you can, I will find you and rip you apart piece by bloody piece. So be a good brother-in-law, take care of him and teach him your ways (and English, please).
Wishing you both the best,
Arthur Kirkland
Blinking in confusion and disbelief (he was what?!), Matthew grabbed the note from the N- no, Alfred's – hand and re-read it about six times before Gilbert snatched it out of his hands.
"Wa- Gilbert!"
Giving a low whistle as he finished reading, the albino turned to the Canadian and replied "Tough luck, birdie. Enjoy married life. And cuddle your husband for Gottes sake."
Still somewhat in shock, Matthew wrapped his arms around (a rather pleased) Alfred.
"Taken a look at your ring finger lately, dear Gilbert?"
The amused expression was promptly wiped from the Prussian's face.
"If I put on the ring and my...suitor...came to call, I assume yours is not far behind."
In response, the albino just scoffed, subconsciously twisting the ring. "Don't be ridiculous. If the Awesome Gilbert is ever to wed, it will obviously be to someone of his choosing. Not due to some creepy snake-magic."
As if he had understood the Prussian, Alfred (lightly) whacked him with his tail. Gilbert was promptly introduced to the hardwood floor.
Matthew smirked. "There's your answer."
Glibert just glared.
"And the best part is," Matthew continued, ignoring the other, "You've got the entire year after break to meet him."
Actually, as Matthew was opting out of the Archaeological program, he'd have to introduce Alfred to human society sooner rather than later (The threat from the letter was still fresh in his mind.). Not that he was going to point that out to Gilbert, of course.
Looking back on the moment, Matthew would later conclude that he was still, very much, in shock. No way he would have acted so calmly, otherwise.
