"Breathe in, breathe out
Move on and break down
If everyone goes away
I would stay.."
Francis sat beside Matthew through the night, always whispering something in French to the unconscious Canadian. Alfred sat at the foot of the bed, unable to comprehend the situation fully, but deep down he blamed Ivan. The Russian man appeared in Matthews life for one night and Matthew fell apart.
Arthur, on the other hand sat in a chair near the window, looking at the other three before him. Trying to put all of the pieces together but every time he would reach a conclusion, something would seem missing. There where too many holes in the story Alfred had told him, but what was missing?
"Dammit all!" Arthur growled as he stood, kicking his chair back into a wall.
Alfred walked over and put an arm around Arthur, leading him out of the room to calm down.
As the duo approached the door, Matthews heart monitor flatlined. A bright light flashed above Matthews head and a voice spoke over an intercom, alerting the doctors and nurses.
Alfred clutched onto Arthur as they were pushed out of the room, Francis was crying now.
"Mon petit Matthieu! Non! Matthieu! He needs me! I need to stay by his side! S'il vous plaît! Non! Matthieu! " Francis was also taken out of the room by a nurse, who tried to console him.
Arthur went to help the nurse steer Francis away from the room, Alfred stayed in one spot as a team of nurses pushed Matthew away. The nurses yelled something about preparing the OR, but Matthew was okay? Wasn't he? He couldn't die or anything? He was a country for gods sake! Countries don't just die for no reason! Alfred took off running to go find Arthur and Francis, he needed to find out a few things.
X
Ivan walked up towards the hospital, holding a bouquet of sunflowers in his hands. As he entered the building, a nurse looked at him fearfully, the Russian approached the front desk.
"Where is Matthew Williams? I know he's here because I saw an ambulance leave his house." Ivan spoke calmly, yet his evil demeanour always made him seem very intimidating.
"H-he is in the OR r-right n-now sir, if y-you could p-please w-wait in the waiting room." The nurse stuttered, pointing to the waiting room to Ivan's left.
Ivan walked over and sat down, causing some visitors to cower in the corner, hoping the Russian man won't hurt them. On the bright side if they did get hurt, there where doctors nearby...
"What in the bloody hell are YOU doing here you wanker!?" Arthur yelled as he approached Ivan, Francis followed slowly behind.
Ivan stood up and smiled a scary smile, Arthur growled and stood an inch away from the Russian. The English mans eyes darkening with anger, the thick brows furrowing more as the silence dragged on. Francis stepped forward and put a hand on Arthur, trying to pry the two apart.
"Matthew is a good friend of mine and friends see each in the hospital when they are sick." Ivan stated simply, staring Arthur in the eyes.
The two stood like that for a while before something seemed to set off in Arthur, who pulled his arm back and punched Ivan in the nose.
"You better stay away from my son, you bastard!" Arthur yelled again, gaining the attention of the security.
Ivan was tended to by some nurses, who tentatively tended to Ivan's bloody nose. Arthur was held back by the security, Francis just stood there, touched that Arthur thinks so fondly of Matthew.
Alfred ran into the room, out of breath and grabbed Francis, pulling on the mans arm.
"Matthew- he - please come with me!" Alfred panted, tears rolling down his cheeks, stomach rolling.
Arthur yanked himself free from the security and ran after the other two.
Fear clutched at everyone's heart, Ivan was quietly walking behind the teary eyed trio. The hospital room held five nurses who had a stoic expression, Matthew was laying on the bed. No monitors, no lights, no noises.
X
"If you can hear me now
I'm reaching out
To let you know that you're not alone
And if you can't tell, I'm scared as hell
Please let me take you
Out of the darkness and into the light
'Cause I have faith in you
That you're gonna make it through
Because you're not done
You're far too young"
X
Matthew was stranded in the middle of the ocean, holding onto a beach ball that has floated up beside him.
Nothing was in sight, the water was calm, even the sky was empty save for the sun blazing down. Fatigue hit Matthew like a bag of bricks, he really wished he was on land now. He really wished that someone was here with him..
"Please, can I at least have some land to rest on? My legs are getting tired, please give me some land." Matthew felt ridiculous seeing as he was the representative of Canada.
Eyes closing, Matthews hand started to slip as his body wanted to just curl up. Before he can fully go underwater someone pulled him up onto a boat, holding the small Canadian close.
"I've heard your cries, silent or aloud, I will always be here to help you my friend." Ivan mumbled and laid the Canadian down on the bench, a pillow under his head.
"Don't worry I will take good care of you from now on."
Matthew opened his eyes after an hour, a bird chirped nearby and he was laying on something soft. Yawning he sat up slowly, looking around he was in a normal sized bedroom, but nothing was around except the bed. The paint job was plain, the bedspread was a pale yellow.
"Oh, you are finally wake! I am so glad!" Ivan walked through the door, holding a trey of tea and cupcakes.
Matthew blinked a few times, not believing what he was seeing but smile anyway. Glad that he was not with some creepy stranger, Ivan was a great guy when he wasn't holding his metal pipe or around Alfred.
"Thank you for saving me from drowning, Ivan." Matthew smiled as he leaned against the pillows, stomach growling a little too loudly.
Blushing he took a tea cup that Ivan offered, the silence was comfortable, Ivan held a friendly smile this time.
Matthew finished the tea and looked out the window, watching as a bird tweeted happily. Ivan sat beside Matthew on the bed, putting an arm around the Canadian.
"Ivan?" Matthew looked at the Russian, confused and worried.
"I love you Matthew, I just wanted you to know that. I have loved you the moment you joined us in the war. The way you always smiled even if no one noticed you. You are a gentle, humble and cute person. Totally unlike your brother, when you thought no one noticed you. I did, always watched and was afraid to approach." Ivan spoke, making Matthew look him in the eyes.
Matthew blushed and stared at Ivan, the close proximity was sending shivers down Matthews spine.
"I love you too Ivan..."
X
"You guys should take him home, he might feel better there. We will send a doctor with you guys too, it will be better that way." A nurse spoke as the four entered the room.
Matthew still had his eyes closed, but his chest was rising and falling normally. Alfred nodded, stepped forward and collected his brother in his arms. Francis walked out of the room, looking like he aged ten years, his eyes had bags under them. The usual aura was long gone now, the French man was in a horrible condition now.
"He will be fine Francis, no country has ever died for no reason! Don't worry he will pull through!" Arthur comforted Francis, patting the mans shoulder, smiling softly.
Francis nodded and helped Alfred lay Matthew down in the back of the car, putting the Canadians head on the French mans lap. Singing a soft lullaby as he brushed the younger mans hair back.
Arthur took it upon himself to drive, Alfred sat in the back to allow the doctor to sit in the passengers seat. Ivan wandered off to find his own way back to Matthews house, still holding the bouquet of flowers. No one wanted to speak anymore, even Francis stopped singing, the only sound was everyone's breathing. Whimper, yelp and groan escaped Matthews closed mouth, his arm outstretched.
"Matthieu, open your eyes my son. Please, papa is here with you, you have nothing to worry about. Matthieu?" Francis grabbed Matthews hand, kissing his palm.
More whimpers, Matthew opened his eyes and stared towards Francis.
"Papa?" Matthew tried to focus on his papas face but his eyes would not focus properly.
"Yes, I am here my son. Papa is here." Francis smiled and pulled Matthew up into a hug, tears falling down yet again.
"Papa has and alway will be here for his little Matthieu."
Matthew leaned into Francis's hug, his eyes staring off into space, unblinking, Alfred smiled and waved to his brother. Something was wrong still, Matthews eyes looked different, holding up two fingers the American asked quietly.
"How many fingers am I holding up, Matthew?" Alfred whispered, leaning a bit towards the Canadian as Arthur pulled up to Matthews house.
Everyone turned to Matthew, who just sat there looking confused, his eyes staring off into space. Francis hugged the Canadian tighter, holding his breath.
"I'm sorry Alfred, I can no longer see.." Matthew answered quietly, reaching for what he hoped was his brother.
Tears fell silently from Alfred's eyes as he grabbed Matthews hand, opening the door with his other. Arthur stepped out of the car and went to open the front door with his emergency spare key. Alfred carried Matthew inside, who struggled, scared that the world is still dark around him. Francis, however, lingered behind, too scared to find out what was wrong with his son.
The doctor examined Matthew as soon as they got inside, nothing else seemed wrong with the boy. Other than the blindness, which the doctor recommended seeing an optometrist soon. Arthur nodded, taking the prescription that doctor wrote up, making a mental note on remembering the follow up in a couple days at the hospital. The doctor assured the countries that Matthew will be fine, he just needs to take it easy for a while.
Alfred smiled and hugged his brother, scared that if he let go, that Matthew could slip away from him.
The doctor left after twenty minutes of paper work and asking some questions, Matthew nodded and answered tiredly.
"Would you like something to eat Matthew? I can make you anything you'd like." Arthur spoke, walking towards Matthew, frowning as the violet eyes stared blankly.
"Non, I can make something for him Arthur. You just stay with him, I don't want him getting hurt." Francis slowly walked in and went straight to the kitchen, making a lot of noise.
Arthur followed Francis into the kitchen, insisting on helping, Alfred walked to Arthur to keep a fight from happening.
X
"To live a life that seems to be a lost reality
That can never find a way to reach.
My inner self
I stand alone!
How deep can I go in the ground that I lay?
If I don't find a way to see through the gray that clouds my mind."
X
"You don't know the chances. What if I should die?!
A place inside my brain, another kind of pain
You don't know the chances. I'm so blind! "
Matthew listened as the three in the kitchen fought over what to make for dinner. Not liking that people were so worried about him and fussing over him when he was just a little sick. Standing up, Matthew carefully walked forward and towards the stairs. He just wanted to lay in his own bed, act like everything was normal. The tough part is, the lack of vision was really not helping him in anyway.
'Oh mon dieu! The stairs are taller than a mountain!' Matthew thought as he climbed up, one by one, clinging to the railing.
Shuddering as Matthew reached the top of the stairs, he started shuffling towards his room at the end of the hall.
"I am fine on my own, the others do not need to stress themselves out for my sake." Matthew fumbled around with the door and stumbled in, happy that he can finally curl up on his bed.
Ivan walked through the front door, leaving it open after he saw Matthew climb the stairs. The Russian man smirked as he heard Francis, Arthur and Alfred talk in the kitchen. Quietly walking upstairs, Ivan opened every door looking for the blind Canadian. Noticing the door at the end is slightly ajar, he walks forward and sees his favourite county laying on the bed.
"Matthew.." Ivan whispered as he approached, a smile on his face.
X
Francis leaned against the counter, the plate of food beside him, what a mixed dish disaster. But he was able to even turn Arthur's horrible recipe into something mouthwatering. Arthur sighed and poured some tea into four cups, while Alfred pawed around for something.
"I am going to grab Matthieu now, excuse me." Francis spoke, leaving the kitchen but stopped short when he saw the empty living room.
"Arthur! Alfred! Matthieu is missing!"
The two countries ran from the kitchen, staring in shock, Alfred pointed out the open front door. Arthur shook his head, pulling Francis away from the living room.
"We should at least check the rest of the house before jumping to any conclusions." Arthur reasoned, going off down the hall to check the guest rooms first.
Alfred nodded and went upstairs right away, scared yet again, fearing for his brothers life. Nothing, all the doors where open but none of them held any people, but a quiet song was heard from down the hall.
X
"I believe I can cure it all for you
Coax or trick or drive or
drag the demons from you
Make it right for you sleeping beauty
Truly thought
I can magically heal you
You're far beyond a visible sign of your awakening
Failing miserably to rescue"
X
Ivan smiled as the song seemed to coax the magic out, light flashing and Matthew started to stir in his sleep. Alfred growled and rushed forward, tackling Ivan to the ground and started punching the Russian.
"STAY AWAY FROM MY LITTLE BROTHER YOU SADISTIC BASTARD!"
Alfred yelled, continuing his attack.
Ivan just took the punches, but blocked the ones aimed for his face, he gave the American a creepy smile. Knowing fully that the American is too late, what is done, is done now. Matthew will wake up, but something will be different, not too drastic of a change.
"Alfred! What in the bloody-" Arthur ran into the room, followed by Francis, the two stopped in their tracks.
Alfred was on top of Ivan, trying to beat the man to a pulp, while Matthew was sleeping peacefully. Arthur pulled Alfred off, both staring at Ivan in fear and disgust.
Matthew, finally opened his eyes, a strange sensation fell over his body.
No one got close to Matthew as a red light started to flash from his chest, Arthur started to shake. His magic started to react with the forces inside Matthew that pushed to get out.