Love?

Chapter 4: Collar

"Time is the only thing that keeps passing by, crumbling this world in a matter of seconds. Coating over this twisted scenery, I don't want the truth; a lie is just fine. I was somehow left behind. A colorless world; a world I've dreamed about. Even throwing away this rotten fruit, I can't do it alone. I want you by my side so much."

―"Torinoko City"/"Left Behind City" by Miku Hatsune [English Translation]

oO_Oo_oO_Oo

"Did you hear that?" Ivan asks over the music. The couples in the room are dancing to a middle-paced country song that Ivan doesn't recognize.

Alfred frowns. "Hear what?" He pauses. "I don't hear anything."

Ivan shakes his head. "Never mind."

When the dance songs start, Alfred is more than happy to teach Ivan how to do the "Macarena", "Cha Cha Slide", "Cupid Shuffle", and "Cotton-Eye Joe".

At the beginning of the "Cha Cha Slide", Matthew appears beside Alfred, and as it turns out, both twins have no sense of left and right. It's actually rather funny to see the two of them together since Ivan doesn't see that very often, but Matthew seems different. Ivan assumes he's just tipsy, and Alfred doesn't mention it.

Overall, Ivan finds himself laughing and smiling through the entire thing.

After the dancing, Alfred gives Ivan a kiss on the cheek and says, "I'm going to run to the bathroom. Think about the movie you want to watch, okay?"

"It's your birthday; you should pick."

"Nope. You pick."

Ivan sighs, but he moves to the movie rack that Alfred pointed out earlier. Francis is the only one who notices that Alfred turns right down the hallway, towards the kitchen rather than the bathroom.

In said kitchen, Matthew pulls another wine cooler out of the refrigerator.

"Mattie, are you drunk?" Alfred asks, snatching the bottle out of his brother's hand.

"Give that back!" Matthew reaches for it, but Alfred holds it away, and they repeat this a few times. "It's mine!"

"How many will this be?"

"Three! No, four." Matthew stops and counts on his fingers. "How many comes in a pack? That was the last one."

"Six? You've drank six of these?!"

"No, five. Nearly six. Give it back!"

Alfred sets the bottle in the fridge and stands guard in front of it so that his brother can't retrieve the alcohol. "You're cut off, Mattie. No more booze for you tonight."

"Don't call me that."

Blue eyes widen behind glasses. "W-what?"

"Mattie. Don't call me Mattie." Matthew crosses his arms over his chest, but then he wobbles and has to put his hands down on the table to steady himself. "I'm not a little kid anymore."

Alfred frowns, but nods. "Um, yeah, okay. If that's what you want, Matt."

Matthew doesn't reply. He doesn't say that it's not what he wants but what he thinks Alfred wants. If the other can't say "Mattie" when Matthew actually needs it, what's the point?

The rest of the night goes by in a slight blur for Alfred. Ivan picks out How to Train Your Dragon to watch, which no one complains about, but Tino and Berwald haven't seen it before and both seem slightly offended by the characterization of Vikings. Alfred himself isn't sure which he finds cuter: Ivan bursting about how adorable Toothless is or Lapushka nuzzling his owner every time in a seeming fit of jealousy.

But sometime during the movie, Matthew disappears from his seat in the back of the room, as does Gilbert. Francis says that Matthew probably went to bed early, but Alfred knows by the other's conflicted and hurt expression that he's lying through his teeth.

Upstairs, Gilbert lands on his back with a grunt, bouncing slightly on the mattress.

In front of him, Matthew kneels on the edge of the bed and pulls his shirt over his head, revealing smooth skin with very few scars. Gilbert lowers his gaze and wonders when the bottom portion will come off.

"Are you going to regret this in the morning?" Gilbert asks. "I don't usually get involved with that."

"Most definitely." Matthew tilts his head back and drags his hand down his neck and chest. When his fingertips brush his jeans, he pulls at the waistband teasingly.

Gilbert groans deep in his throat. "Never mind. I don't care." He curses under his breath. "Where'd you learn to be this sexy?"

"I got it from my daddy," Matthew replies before he leans forward. His lips ghost over the other's ear. "And besides that, I am the second largest country. I've never left anyone unsatisfied."

At that, Gilbert says, "Who said you're on top? I'm too awesome to take it."

Matthew chuckles, and it's too breathy to be anything but arousing. "I say. And I know the way you look at me, so you're either going to take it or get nothing. Entirely your choice." His teeth graze the shell of Gilbert's ear. "I hope you like it rough."

"Yes," Gilbert moans.

"Then let's get started, shall we?" Matthew whispers.

oO_Oo_oO_Oo

"Prussia's an imbecile, but you really think he's dumb enough to sleep with Matthew when he's obviously not thinking clearly?" Arthur asks as Francis paces in the kitchen.

"Non, I think that Mathieu inherited my abilities to seduce even a rock."

"You could not possibly seduce a rock."

"I seduced you, non?"

Arthur ignores the comment. "So they have sex. What's the harm in that? Matthew is young; it happens."

"I did not raise him to do such things." Francis leans against the countertop with his back to his partner. "I always told him that he should never, under any circumstance, give his body to someone that he does not love. Sex is meant to be something to enhance emotions and intimacy, not a way to forget the world around you."

"If you aren't going to do anything about it, what is the purpose in worrying?" Arthur asks.

Francis doesn't reply.

Upstairs―

"You are upset. Why?" Ivan asks as he washes Lapushka in the sink.

Alfred runs a bath pouf over his soapy skin and keeps his gaze away from the person on the other side of the glass door. "I'm fine."

"You are correct, Fredka. 'I am fine' is a very irritating response."

"Payback."

A few moments later, Alfred hears the shower door open, along with a rush of cold air that makes him shiver, and the other showerhead comes on. Trying to be subtle, Alfred lowers his water temperature, but at the giggling behind him, he knows Ivan saw it.

"But truly, what is bothering you?" Ivan asks as he wets his hair.

Alfred faces the wall, holding the bath pouf under his chin. "Matthew. He got drunk and told me not to call him Mattie. Then he just disappeared during the movie."

"Has he been acting differently lately?"

Alfred shrugs. "I don't think so. I mean, I haven't talked to him as much as I usually do, but we still hang out. We went swimming this afternoon when you stayed up here, and then I talked to him yesterday. It's not like I've been ignoring him or anything."

Ivan pauses. "But you two are twins, da?"

"Yeah."

"And I am the first person you have been in a relationship with?"

"Yeah."

"So maybe he is jealous."

Alfred scoffs. "Ivan, he's not jealous. That's ridiculous."

"Human emotions often are."

"But still." When Ivan doesn't say anything, Alfred continues, "Why would he be jealous? I still spend time with him, and I include him in stuff."

"I wonder if Matvey may think it is as ridiculous as you do. He may tell himself that he should not be jealous and upsets himself."

Alfred sighs. "I'll talk to him tomorrow."

"Da, I do not wish for you to be sad. If we have to wait so that you can settle everything with Matvey―"

"No, it's not that big of a deal."

"―that would be fine," Ivan finishes. "I am not as important as your family."

"Dude, yeah, you are."

"I should not be."

Alfred opens his mouth, but then he closes it again.

After a moment, hands appear on his shoulders and work out the tension that lies there. "Maybe one day, our relationship will be that strong, but right now, it should not be. Your family and friends come first."

"Yeah, I know." Alfred sighs again. "How can you give that kind of advice? I mean, no offense, but you don't really have those kind of relationships, right?"

"And it is because of my lack of them that I want you to cherish yours all the more."

Alfred nods. "Yeah, okay…thanks, I guess."

"Da."

oO_Oo_oO_Oo

When Matthew wakes up, he wants to curl up in a ball and die. His head is pounding, and Gilbert is asleep on the other side of the bed, snoring even worse than Alfred sleeping upright.

And then, there's a knock on the door, followed by a hesitant, "Matthew? You alive?"

The clock reads eleven; he normally would have been out of bed over an hour ago. And not only that, but he's naked, irritable, hurt, and still reeling from his argument with Francis last night. That is, that argument is the last thing he clearly remembers. In a thick fog, he remembers talking to Alfred at one point, though not what was said, and pictures of Gilbert in various positions.

"Yeah, just a second!" Matthew calls, summoning thoughts of maple syrup to make his voice sound decently normal while he stumbles out of bed to pull on a pair of sweatpants. He doesn't even bother with a shirt.

On the other side of the door, Alfred smiles when he sees his twin, though he must see the figure in the bed and scowls, but he quickly regains his composure. "Hey, Matt."

The hungover Canadian furrows his brow. "'Matt'?"

"You don't remember anything from last night?"

Matthew shakes his head.

"You told me to stop calling you Mattie, so―"

"Forget that. I wasn't thinking," Matthew says, forcing a smile. "Sorry, I don't really remember much of anything."

Alfred pauses. "Uh, do you remember how he got in your bed?"

"Somewhat," Matthew replies before he steps out of the room and closes the door. "Don't worry about it. So was there something you wanted to talk about?"

"Dude, you haven't really been, you know, you recently. I just wanted to make sure that everything's alright."

"Everything's fine, Al. Really, there's nothing wrong."

"Why'd you drink so much last night then?"

"I just got a little carried away."

"And France was all upset, too."

"He has this philosophy on only having sex with people you love. I think I probably disappointed him."

"And that doesn't bother you?"

"He's not my guardian anymore."

"Right."

They stare at each other for a moment. Then Matthew raises an eyebrow at the other. "If that's it, I'm going back to bed. I have a really bad headache."

Matthew moves to open the door, but Alfred grabs his wrist. "Mattie, wait." When he turns, Alfred continues, "Look…you and me, we're always going to be brothers. Nothing can change that. Even if I hang out with Ivan a little bit more, you're still my best friend. Always."

"Al, that's touching and all, but I'm fine. Seriously, you and Ivan need to go and have fun. Have your special night." Matthew smiles.

"You're sure you're okay? You're not jealous of Ivan?"

"No, I'm not. So go. You have a road trip, don't you?"

Alfred grins. "Thanks, Mattie. I'll call you when we get there so you know we didn't get eaten or anything."

"You do that. Now go!" Matthew teases.

"Okay, I'm going!"

A few minutes later, Alfred feels a little uneasy, like he missed something. He replays the conversation in his mind, but he can't think of anything off about it. Maybe he's just paranoid.

Once Alfred disappears around the corner, Matthew drops the smile and turns back into his bedroom, where Gilbert is sitting up.

"What time is it?" the Prussian grumbles as he stretches.

"A little after eleven," Matthew replies as he lies down again, his back to the other. He just wants to sleep.

Then there's something pressed against his back, and an arm loops around his waist. Matthew pauses, opening his eyes. "What are you doing?"

"Sharing my awesomeness with the underprivileged."

"You think I'm underprivileged? What gives you that idea?"

"My awesome is a different breed of awesome," Gilbert says, though his voice doesn't hold its usual confidence.

After a moment, Matthew rolls over, propping himself up on his elbows. The other still has his arm over the Canadian's waist and doesn't show any signs of removing it, but that's not what Matthew is looking at. It's the tiniest bit of pink of Gilbert's cheeks. "That's what it is, isn't it?"

"What? My breed of awesome? Are you admitting that―?"

"No, I mean the reason you spew out pickup lines uncontrollably." Matthew feels a smirk pulling at his lips. "I make you nervous."

"That's crazy, little Birdie," Gilbert says, but the color in his cheeks darkens.

"Prove me wrong then."

Gilbert opens his mouth, but no sound leaves.

"Don't hurt yourself."

"And why aren't you normally this sarcastic?" Gilbert asks. "I'm getting a reaction, aren't I?"

"I'm in a bad mood, and most people don't notice when I'm sarcastic."

"I can cure your bad mood, ja?"

Matthew smiles. "Nein."

"No need to get personal. Besides, we already had sex once; would one more time really hurt?"

"I was drunk the last time."

Gilbert pulls the other closer by the waist. "Ja? So you're not usually that wild?"

"I never said that."

Gilbert laughs quietly as he leans closer to Matthew's lips until their noses bump. Then he whispers, "Prove me wrong then."

"Hm, I never would have guessed you have such masochist tendencies."

"Masochist? Hardly."

"Could have fooled me."

"You're not a sadist. Just…untamed."

"And you're domesticated?"

After Matthew says it, Gilbert is straddling him, pinning his hands above his head. With a smirk, the albino says, "Let's play a game. See who can tame who first."

Matthew laughs, and it's something so different from the usually innocent boy that Gilbert shivers. "Loser has to wear a collar for the rest of the day."

"Deal. You have a collar?"

"Al had a dog at one point, and I know where he has a few extras."

Oo_oO_Oo_oO

"Bruder, what on Earth are you wearing?!" Ludwig bursts when Gilbert appears at the pool wearing a Speedo, love bites, and a black dog collar.

Feliciano smiles. "Oh, Canada must love body paint!"

"Feliciano!" Ludwig and Lovino both burst while Antonio laughs.

Francis narrows his eyes, but says nothing as Arthur rubs circles into his back. The jets and temperature of the hot tub help as well, or at least, they do until Matthew sinks down into the water with them as if nothing is out of the ordinary.

"It is not healthy," Francis mutters before he closes his eyes and leans back against the wall of the hot tub.

"Neither is a hot tub to someone over sixty-five, but since when are nations concerned with such things?" Matthew replies.

Arthur sees Francis's jaw clench out of the corner of his eye, and he says, "Both of you, calm down. I have seen you two more upset in the past three days than I have in the last several decades."

After a moment, Matthew mutters, "Sorry."

"Je suis désolé, mon ange," Francis says.

Author Note: So a short chapter to make up for the last one being so long. Matthew and Gilbert are so out of character, I know, but I think it's an interesting dynamic. Maybe? Tell me if you agree. And next chapter, I think you all can guess what happens! If you're excited, please, Please, PLEASE REVIEW!

Translations:

"Je suis désolé, mon ange." – "I'm sorry, my angel."

A hint for next chapter:

Ivan smiles and before Alfred knows the Russian has moved, he's enveloped in a tight embrace, but he can breathe at least. "Thank you so much, Fredka."

"You're welcome." Alfred returns the hug, his nose in Ivan's scarf. "I want this to be perfect and special. We don't have to do everything, but―"

"Nyet, I want to do this. All of it."