Ugh, sorry for week long absence. School and updating for other chapters. You guys know how it goes. But we had a small snow storm today so I finally got to update. Hope you guys like it!
"So who am I meeting today?" Alfred asked curiously.
Arthur looked at the teen walking behind him and said,"You'll see your brother first. Then you can meet Gilbert, Matthew's caretaker, Kiku, and then you'll meet Francis. You've seen Francis before but I suppose you haven't properly talked to him yet. Sound alright?" Arthur asked.
Alfred nodded his head. But he still felt a tad nervous at meeting them.
The teen had heard plenty of stories of pirates. They were the scoundrels of the sea. They kill, rape, and pillage towns without any concern for others. Or so he's heard at least. He didn't know exactly for sure but still.
It wasn't that he was scared of them. No. Of course not. He just had no respect for people like that.
But he had to give Arthur a chance in this challenge so Alfred had to meet Arthur's crew. He had to gauge just how bad or good these people were.
If they were bad then Arthur would probably have his work cut out for him. But if his men were good, then Alfred supposed that Arthur would be a little closer in getting that map he wanted so much.
But his men being good wouldn't even put a dent in what Arthur would have to do to get the map from Alfred. The teen was still very pissed with the older man and so it could take years in order to get what he wanted.
Alfred was fully immersed in his thoughts and never snapped out of them until he ran straight into someone's soft, trembling body.
The person immediately went flying to the ground and small squeak leaked from behind their lips. Alfred looked down and found that he had knocked down none other than his younger brother.
"Oh, god! Mattie? Are you alright?" Alfred asked. The teen bent down to help his twin up but someone else beat him to it.
"Jeez, Mattie. You sure are clumsy." the man said while practically picking up Alfred's brother off the deck of the ship. Matthew blushed when the man helped him up and continued holding onto him even after he was steady on his feet again.
"G-g-gilbert. I'm f-fine." Matthew stuttered.
The man named Gilbert didn't listen though. He merely continued to hold on to the teen and turned their bodies so they were facing Alfred.
"My name's Gilbert Beilshmidt. I've been taking care of Matthew here ever since you were knocked out." the man said casually.
Alfred looked the man over carefully. The man had nearly pure white hair almost like an old man would have. He also had dark red eyes that sort of reminded Alfred of blood. All in all, this man looked a bit like what Alfred would imagine a demon to look like.
"Are you a demon or something?" Alfred couldn't help but ask. The man looked like one so the teen couldn't really help himself.
Alfred was more than surprised though when Gilbert started laughing. "That's exactly what Matthew here said," Gilbert said nudging Matthew. "But no; I'm not a demon. I guess you could say I'm an albino." the man explained.
"Oh. Uh, I've never seen an albino before, I guess." Alfred said almost uneasily. He also felt a bit stupid for not realizing it before. "Sorry." Alfred added after a few seconds.
"It's no prob. I get it more often than you would think." Gilbert said nonchalantly.
"It's hard n-not to." Matthew chimed in. Gilbert stuck his tongue out at the teen before returning his attention back to Alfred.
"So what happens now since the captain couldn't find the map? We're keeping you guys, right?" Gilbert turned to look at Arthur now. "I wouldn't want to lose Mattie. I've grown so attached to him." Gilbert teased before rubbing his cheek against Matthew's head. The younger teen tried pushing away from the man but was too weak.
"Uh, I actually have the map memorized." Alfred said while staring at the two in bewilderment.
Gilbert stopped messing with Matthew and turned to look at Alfred. "You do? Is that why Francis told us that the captain wanted to give us the day off?" the man asked.
Matthew perked up at that too. He had been questioned about the map but had never actually known of its existence. When interrogated by the pirates he claimed he had no clue where it could have been. Well, at least now he knew it did indeed exist.
"I suppose. But I'm not just going to give it to him." Alfred said crossing his arms. Arthur grumbled slightly and crossed his arms in obvious irritation at being reminded of his challenge.
Gilbert stared at the teen for a few seemingly long seconds before saying,"What? Why not?" Arthur had told everyone that the teen would most likely just give it to him since the boy had been infatuated with him at one point. Had Arthur lied or something?
"He's a loathsome asshole." Alfred said casually.
Arthur winced at the name but Gilbert stared at the teen blankly for a few seconds before he burst out laughing uncontrollably.
"Oh, god. I love this kid, Artie!" Gilbert said clapping Arthur on the back. The blonde man didn't really look all that happy about the insult and being laughed at but he stopped himself from saying anything. He would really have to watch what he said now.
"Thanks. But, uh, do you mind if I speak with my brother?" Alfred asked. Gilbert nodded and waited for the brothers to begin talking. "Alone." Alfred added.
Gilbert seemed to get the hint then. "Alright. I guess I'll go hang out with Francis or something." Gilbert said before letting Matthew take a hold of the side of the ship and making sure he was steady before walking off to find his French friend.
Arthur waited until Alfred was gone before he said,"I suppose you want me to leave too?" Alfred didn't even hesitate in nodding.
The pirate captain sighed in irritation but did as Alfred wanted. He walked off after Gilbert and joined the man in searching for Francis. It wasn't until Arthur was out of sight that Alfred spoke to his younger brother.
"Are you alright? No one hurt you did they?" Alfred asked while looking his brother over for any bruises, cuts, or any other sign of trauma.
"Y-yes. I'm fine. Gilbert has been good to me." Matthew said blushing profusely.
Alfred looked at his brother confused but waved it off as his brother getting a hot a flash or something. His brother got them often so he wasn't all that surprised.
"That's good. How long have I been out?" Alfred said changing the subject.
"Oh, uh, only a day or so." Matthew answered. Alfred looked at his twin in shock. He had expected a few hours at most. Not a whole day or more. Arthur must have really hit him hard.
"Well, that's it. Arthur's gonna get his ass handed to him." Alfred said in obvious anger. Sure, he had hit Arthur pretty hard too but not hard enough to knock him out for a whole entire day. Oh yes. Arthur would definitely get it now.
"Just be careful. I don't want you getting hit again." Matthew said with a weak smile. Alfred smiled back and gathered his brother into arms.
"Don't worry, baby bro. Big brother's gonna take care of us. We'll make it out of this." Alfred said before ruffling his brother's already messy hair.
"That's good. But what's this whole thing about the map?" Matthew inquired.
Alfred scratched the back of his head lazily before saying,"Well, like I said before, I burned the map. The one they've been searching for. But I have it memorized. If Arthur can prove he and his crew aren't bad then I will redraw them the map."
Matthew had always known his brother wasn't exactly the brightest flower in the field but he had to admit that this plan wasn't half bad.
"Do you think he'll be able to do it?" Matthew asked looking around for Arthur.
Alfred shrugged his shoulders. "Not all that sure. I'm not ignorant. I've heard of the Ocean's Pearl. Its crew is rather notorious for plundering other ships and killing. They must think that I don't know since Arthur thinks it'll be rather easy."
Alfred looked over the side of the ship and stared down at the bright blue water rushing past the side of the ship below.
"But you didn't know that Arthur was the captain of the ship and crew?" Matthew asked.
Alfred shook his head. "No. I was always under the impression that he had finally gotten sick of me or something and decided to move to some other country." Alfred answered.
Matthew gave his brother a sad look. "And you hate him now because he left you alone to take care of me?" Matthew whispered.
Alfred looked over at his brother shocked. "Of course not! I mean sort of, considering I was rather young when I did take you under my care, but still! I've never regretted taking care of you! It was either take care of you or let you die and I would rather die then let you suffer." Alfred said quickly while taking Matthew's hands into his.
"I know, Alfred. I know." Matthew smiled weakly before engulfing his brother in a weak hug.
Alfred hugged his younger brother back before letting go and saying,"So are you feeling alright? Your sickness isn't getting to you or anything, right?" Alfred said.
Matthew shook his head. "No. It took a toll on me when I first got on the ship but I'm okay right now." Alfred's younger brother said. Alfred smiled in relief before looking around the ship again.
"I'm going to see if Arthur can get a hold of some medicine for you just in case. I don't want you getting really sick and we have no medicine for you." Alfred said.
Matthew smiled at the motherly-like way Alfred was fretting over him but brushed it off like he usually did.
"I think he walked over to the either side of the ship." Matthew said while pointing in the direction of the other side of the ship. Alfred gave his brother a soft kiss on the forehead.
"Thanks, Mattie. Will you be alright here for now?" Alfred asked.
"Y-yeah. If you see Gilbert, send him my way. Him and you are the only people I really trust right now." Matthew whispered almost embarrassed before looking around uneasily.
Alfred gave his little brother a knowing look. "You like Gilbert, don't you? And I mean more than friends." Alfred said.
Matthew's face turned as red as a tomato and the teen sputtered uncontrollably. Alfred definitely knew then that his brother indeed liked Gilbert the way Alfred thought.
"O-of c-course not! He just t-takes care of m-me." Matthew stuttered profusely.
Alfred merely laughed at his brother's embarrassed face before he started walking off in the direction of the front of the ship. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say." Alfred said while chuckling.
Well, hope you guys liked it. Next chapter will probably be about France and Arthur talking along with Alfred meeting either Kiku or Francis. And sorry for the slow updating. It'll pick up pace as soon as Darkest Mercy is done. That should within another month or two. Just depends. Anyways, hope you guys enjoyed the chapter!
