This wasn't supposed to be posted until I finished another chapter, but I'm so hooked on Supernatural that I have no time DX Blame one of my co-workers, she did this to me. I'm also starting school, like everyone else, so updates may take a few extra days.
Warnings: Same as last chapter + mentions of verbal abuse and the start of incestuous content (but nothing hardcore).
Dedication: This is for Zanteh, 'ti voglio un bene dell'anima even if you will never see this.
Thank you to CBJC, 91RedRoses, Ruthe-La, Cheerful Black Rose, Product Of A Sick Society, ncalkins, and ChocoVanille, your words were greatly appreciated. As were the favourites and the alerts. Thank you.
"You look tired, Alfred." The concern in Matthew's voice was genuine; the soft cadence of words that his ears struggled to pick up was like a soothing balm to his frantic mind.
"What happened to Arthur?"
"Nothing. He moved to one a bit further away and has since lived life happily and untroubled. Or so I assume."
"I never saw him at any of the other schools, and none of my friends had seen him either," Alfred narrowed his eyes in suspicion, "How far is 'a bit further'?"
"A State over. He went to go live with relatives."
"You drove him a whole State away just because he had a crush on me?"
Matthew's fingers stilled from where they had been playing piano on the table, his eyes darkening with an emotion Alfred couldn't read. Didn't want to read.
"I put up with your girlfriends, but I was not going to put up with some British boy watching you constantly. Your girls only ever lasted a few weeks at a time, but somehow I knew that if you were caught by him you would be trapped longer."
"So even then…"
"No, I never felt that way about you until him. I never considered it a possibility until I realized it was probable, that maybe it could work and that maybe we could love each other more. You always told me that I was only yours, so I decided to make that a reality."
"Tell me."
"Ask me. Ask me exactly what you want to know."
"What did you do to Arthur?"
Matthew leaned back, his arms falling to lay straight down his body as his stance widened, sinking into a more comfortable position. He looked completely relaxed, completely comfortable with sitting still while Alfred shivered and hunched forward in on himself.
"Shall we start at the beginning?" Matthew asked back, a half smirk appearing, "It all started when he first joined our class; he sat behind us at the opposite end of the room, and even on that first day he stared at you."
3 Years Ago
Matthew watched the teacher with half closed eyes, chin in hand and elbow propped up, trying not to fall asleep as she explained things he had figured out years ago. His parents had decided to keep him in the same grade as Alfred, even when various teachers had told them that he could move up, that he was bored and needed more of a challenge. He was fine like this though, Alfred was always beside him this way; he could feel the warm buzz of Alfred's presence, calming and familiar as it soothed the emotions that welled up within him.
A familiar feeling prickled the back of his neck, the feeling of eyes turned their way. A slight turn of head and a glance to the right, keeping his own gaze hidden, he caught the glint of green eyes before they turned away.
The new student was a problem waiting to happen, and Matthew's fingers started tapping the wooden table in thought until Alfred's hand curled around his own.
"What has you so frazzled, bro?" he felt, more than heard, whispered into his ear.
"Just bored," he whispered back under the teachers glare. Alfred's whispering wasn't really whispering, it was more like peoples 'indoor voices'.
"I hate to break this touching moment, but this is the middle of class. If you need to speak that badly then why don't you share it with the rest of the class?"
Matthew's gaze jerked back to the teacher, lilac eyes deadly as she immediately paled, then flushed angrily.
"Mattie isn't feeling well," Alfred said before things became worse, though the concern in his voice made it clear that he had no idea he was interrupting a tense moment, "I'm going to take him to see the nurse."
"The nurse isn't in today,"
"Then he can take a nap. Come on, Matt."
The warm hand grabbed his again, pulling him up and away from the teacher who was standing speechless at the front of the class. Everyone else just continued as they were, talking with each other or texting, completely use to the twins suddenly pulling each other out of class at random times, but no one had warned the new teacher.
"You're going to get us in trouble," Matthew said mildly as he was dragged down the hallway, hand still clenched in his twins.
"Naw, all the other teachers will just tell her to get use to it before she bothers to phone our parents."
They passed the secretary, an older woman whose black hair was slowly greying, and Alfred waved, giving her a smile and a wink. She laughed, covering the phone with a hand as she called out a greeting and motioned them onwards, not bothering to ask what they wanted, just trusting that they would find their way.
"I'll stay with you until the bell rings, then I have to go to gym class or else I'm going to be reamed out."
Matthew smiled, giving the hand a squeeze before releasing it entirely and sitting down on the bed, "I'm fine, actually. I was just thinking about Arthur."
Shock and interest mingled inside of him when jealousy flashed across Alfred's face, the dark emotion looking odd on such a cheerful person. He had thought his brother above such an emotion now that they were young adults, but being proven wrong in this brought an odd thrill.
"Alfred?"
"Wha? Oh, sorry, just thinking." Alfred grumbled, sitting down beside him while staring at the wall.
Matthew laughed and placed his hand on Alfred's thigh, drawing the hyper active teen's attention back to him, "Don't hurt yourself," he teased gently, leaning forward under their foreheads touched.
Alfred's eyes slide closed, followed by Matthew's own, as their breaths mixed, their heartbeats evening out as they relaxed and their hands sought each other out.
They stayed like that until the bell rang, and then it was Matthew who moved back, brushing his lips against the corner of Alfred's mouth,
"You better get going," he said at last, not bothering to hide the wistfulness in his voice, and slowly released Alfred's hands, "I'll see you when you get home for supper."
"Mattie-"
Mathew hummed in recognition, gazing at Alfred with carefully blank eyes. Unlike him, Alfred was an open book of confusion and love wrapped up in yearning, and he couldn't resist reaching out to brush a few strands of hair away from the sky blue orbs.
The warning music started and Matthew finally stood up, casting one last look back at his brother from the doorway, "You better run," he warned, then left, hurrying down the hallway so that Alfred would not see his smirk.
If played correctly he would never have to share Alfred with anyone else.
Present
"What does this have to do with anything?" Alfred demanded, leaning over the table, hands braced against the cold metal.
Matthew smiled, leaning forward as far as the chains would let him, their noses just brushing as he tilted his head, ghosting his breath across Alfred's lips, "Always so impatient. See, if that had never happened I would not have gone to the party with you. Arthur would not have been torn apart enough that he left state. I would not have spent so much energy on making sure he stayed away."
3 Years Ago
"You look fine, bro. Honest. So stop fidgeting!"
Matthew untangled his fingers from the hem of his shirt and dropped his hand to his side with an annoyed grunt, "You know the parents are going to kill me if they find out that I snuck out to go to a party."
"Chill, I do this all the time and the parents don't care," a heartbeat of silence, then, "Gilbert, you fucktard! Haven't seen you in ages!"
"Don't call the awesome me a fucktard, dumbass!"
Matthew was left alone to walk up the front steps, a glance over showing him the wary look Alfred's albino friend was giving him. Gilbert, older brother of Ludwig, was the one hosting the party under the excuse of a 'Ludwig needs to loosen up' event. The two had never had any issues, but both were wary of the other and had come to an unspoken arrangement of tolerance.
Gilbert watched over Alfred while Matthew was away, and Matthew wouldn't fuck up Ludwig or Feliciano.
The house was shaking in time to the bass, very room filled with people in various stages of intoxication, some dancing, some just talking, and a few already throwing up in the bathrooms. It was chaos, and through it all Matthew could hear the heavily accented voice of one British student, his words already slurred even as he proudly proclaimed himself to be sober.
"I think you've had enough," he yelled over the music, taking the beer can from the insecure grip.
"Alfred! I didn't know you would be coming here," Arthur slurred, wrapping his arm around Matthew's shoulders while reaching to take the beer can again.
Matthew moved it away to quickly down it, watching the other teen from the corner of his eye.
"That was mine, you twat."
"Mhmm," Matthew agreed, licking his lips and watching as Arthur became even more flushed, his face taking on an unattractive purple hue, "Wait here, I'll go get us more."
He could feel the eyes watch him leave, glancing back only once to catch a glimpse of desire before it vanished, hidden behind an alcohol induced daze. Matthew sighed and headed off to snag two more beers from the freezer, popping one open to take a sip before heading back.
"Here," he pressed the cold can against the flushed cheek, smiling down at the clouded green eyes that stared up at him.
"Thank you, Alfred."
"Matthew, Alfred's twin brother. He said he was getting this for you then got distracted so I thought I should bring this."
The crushed look that got him almost made him smile, but he kept up the sympathetic expression as he sat down, "He's a really social guy, but a bit of an air head, so don't feel bad when he forgets about you."
Arthur smiled weakly before taking a long swing of beer while Matthew watched, sipping on his own until he lost interest in the downtrodden expression. Other people walked by, each going their own way with different purposes in mind; a few pausing to ask if they had seen a certain person while most ignored them.
It took a bit of silence, a few half hearted prompts, and another beer before Arthur opened up, admitting his mixed up feelings for Alfred, and the confusion he felt about finding himself liking another guy. Matthew listened patiently, nodding at all of the right parts and making sympathetic hums every now and then, all the while storing away any bit of information that was unwittingly given.
By the time Alfred came to find him Matthew had enough to set his plan into motion, and had stolen the other boy's phone to add his number. There was no hiding the longing in his eyes when Alfred drew near, or the hurt when his crush barely glanced at him.
Matthew just patted his leg and smiled before following a frowning Alfred outside and down the driveway, walking in tense silence, neither speaking until Alfred growled and caught his arm to yank him back, forcefully turning Matthew around to face him.
"Do you like him?"
"Well, sure," Matthew said pleasantly, trying not to laugh, "He's a very interesting individual."
"Matthew," Alfred warned, his grip tightening until Matthew flinched, trying to ignore the shiver that went down his spine by focusing on the pain.
"Alfred, I'm sixteen. I will be friends with who I want, just as I will date who I want."
"But you're mine," Alfred said, suddenly sounding confused. Matthew guessed it was a bit confusing for his brother who had always assumed that he would always be by his side
"I just need a bit of freedom, but we can still hang out and walk to and from school together."
Alfred didn't look happy but he nodded and dropped his hold, leaving marks that hid beneath Matthew's long sleeves, "If he hurts you, I'll kill him."
"You wont have to worry about that," Matthew laughed, ignoring the puzzled look that was back on Alfred's face.
Over the next few weeks Arthur and Matthew became closer, the two appearing inseparable while in school, even as Matthew whispered his poison. At first it was just passing remarks that could be taken either way, then slowly growing more barbed as time passed.
Within three months Arthur lost all of the other friends he had made, no longer looking them in the eye when he talked, and sitting by himself when Matthew wasn't there. He still kept his whip-like tongue, shooting back just as sarcastic retorts until Matthew looked him in the eye with a sharp glare.
Alfred became colder to the Brit, fueling many of Matthew's comments about Arthur's worthlessness, his inability to be loved, and his disgusting personality, pushing until the boy finally snapped.
"Who the fuck do you think you are?" Arthur hissed angrily, slamming him hands down on the table and leaping to his feet while Matthew calmly sipped on a juice box.
"Matthew Jones-Williams. We've been friends for how long now?" he raised his eyebrows mockingly, "Sit down, would you? You're causing a scene."
"Like you bloody care, you little snit. I can't believe I never realized what you've been doing."
"Oh?"
"What's going on here?"
Matthew glanced up, feeling his brother's presence at his back and a hand on his shoulder. Alfred looked livid, focusing completely on the one that was a threat to his twin while Matthew inwardly sighed and glanced around as the room quieted.
"Your brother is an asshole, that's what; and you don't even see it. He's been fucking lying to us-"
Alfred was across the table in seconds, already grabbing the other boy's shirt and swinging a right hook at his face before Matthew realized that he was gone. Another sigh, this one out loud, one more bite- letting Alfred get in a few good hits- (and Arthur too, his brother deserved them) before standing up, catching Alfred's arm, and dragging his brother back.
His arms wrapped around the lean waist while his chin pressed against his twin's shoulder, just letting his presence sooth as he turned their bodies away from Arthur who stood panting off to the side in the grip of other students.
"Easy, Alfred," he whispered, breathing against the rapid pulse and not letting go until his brother was limp in his arms. Only then did he unwind himself to turn and look at Arthur, just staring until the boy shifted uneasily and huffed.
Then Matthew smiled, a small twist of his lips, "No harm done, right?"
"What the fuck are you talking about, Mattie?" Alfred spat, "I told you, if he hurt you I'd kill him."
"And I said you wouldn't have to do that." Matthew reminded him, only glancing at his brother before looking back at Arthur. Stepping forward, he held out his hand and grabbed Arthurs', pulling his close until he could whisper in his ear, "There are many things worse than dying. If you so much as look at Alfred you'll find out what they are.
"I would suggest moving on, there is nothing and nobody for you here, you worthless piece of shit."
He stepped back, dropping Arthur's arm like it was garbage, and turned to Alfred, "Let's go before the teachers get here. I'll patch you up at my locker."
Alfred gave Arthur one last glare when he thought Matthew wasn't looking, then followed, his arm wrapping protectively around his twins shoulders, once again not noticing how close Matthew was to laughter.
"He didn't hurt you, did he?" Alfred asked that night, once again curled up in Matthew's bed.
Matthew shook his head, smiling as he played with Alfred's hair, content to remain quiet as his brother stewed in old anger.
"You shouldn't of stopped me. I don't care if the teachers had caught us, he was being an asshole to you."
"It's over," Matthew told him, rolling his eyes.
"No it's not. No one messes with you and gets away with it. Not when I'm around."
Matthew snorted and leaned over, pressing his lips against Alfred's until he felt shock turn into returning pressure, "We all get that you're my knight in shining armour, so give it a rest."
What? Hey…" This time it was Alfred who leaned over, who pressed his lips against Matthew's and coaxed him to open up.
And Matthew knew then that Alfred was all his.
It was even later that night, after Alfred had fallen asleep, that Matthew got up and snuck out of his window, heading for a house ten minutes away. There Arthur was sleeping fitfully, tossing and turning until the blankets were wrapped around him like a straightjacket.
Matthew sneered as he stared down at the one who had dared to try and take Alfred from him, slowly crawling over the bed until he was kneeling over him. Only then did Arthur start to wake, coming out of his nightmare slowly only to realize it had come true.
Matthew's hand clamped down hard on his 'friend's' mouth, grinning in the shadows as he leaned over, "Now, now, waking everyone up would just be plain rude. Let's keep this between us, shall we?"
He brought his other hand into play, this one holding a knife from Arthur's kitchen, placing the blade against teen's throat, moving it hypnotically over the delicate skin.
"You really are a useless little boy, aren't you? Good only for making people hate you," Matthew spoke the words with false love, with false care, just as they had once been said to him, "See, you are going to talk to your parents tomorrow and tell them that you want to move schools. I don't care which one, but if you haven't vanished by the end of this month…"
Matthew let his voice trail off, smiling kindly down at Arthur while removing the knife. Green eyes followed his every move, watching him like a trapped animal that had forgotten how to flee or fight.
"You have until the 31st, Arthur. Get out."
Present
"But you better get going, Alfred, we went a bit over time since Peter isn't here; the guards won't be impressed that we didn't follow the rules."
"I still have so many questions," Alfred growled, glaring at the door when it opened, "Cant we have more time?"
"You already had an hour extra. Time to go or else you give up your visiting rights," the guard warned, heading over to Matthew who sat still while being unchained from the floor.
"Alfred, don't come to court tomorrow."
"I have to."
"Don't, or else you'll regret it, and I don't want you hurt."
"I'm sorry," Alfred said softly, "But I don't want there to be any more secrets between us."
Matthew nodded and ducked his head, leaving without any fuss; leaving Alfred to collect himself under the weight of what he had learned.
Next chapter is when things start getting really dark- we get to see why Alfred is Matthew's everything, and why Matthew is so twisted and torn up- so I'm excited and nervous about posting. Until next week or so! Goodbyes.