A/N: I'm so sorry for another late update. This was supposed to go up Sunday, but I'm posting it now, followed by the usual Thursday update.
"As you all know, we are here for Yao today." Tino said. Everyone had showed up, and now they sat silently, listening. Francis wasn't crying. Lovino's phone was tucked away. They all knew that this mattered. "He will be returning home today, but Ivan is at a mental health hospital where he will be given medication, therapy, and an environment where he and Yao can figure out what to do next. Is there anything anyone would like to say?"
"Can I speak?" That Other Guy asked tentatively. It was hard to hear him, hard to focus on his face. He had tried to talk before, but this time, for whatever reason, the Group heard.
"Sure. Um, what was your name again?" Tino said.
"I'm Matthew," he said. "I...I don't talk much, and I know that. When I do you don't always hear me. But I don't want you to know me as the guy who never talks, and I don't want to know you all as the guys who were in jail, the guy who tried to kill himself, the guy who cries a lot, the guy who threatens to kill people, and the guy who was abused. I want you to know me as the guy who loves pancakes and hockey and has a stuffed polar bear that he loves more than anything. So...that's all."
His words were met with more silence, but not the awkward type. The Group just sat and thought for a minute. Lukas didn't have a witty line, Francis didn't start crying.
"I'm Lovino," he spoke up. "I work at my Grandpa's restaurant, Casa Vargas. I love tomatoes. I have a little brother named Feliciano and a boyfriend named Antonio. I make the best pizza outside of Italy." His golden eyes flicked from person to person, waiting for a reaction. Matthew gave him a tiny smile, a thanks.
"As you all know, I am pretty awesome," Gilbert started, flashing the Group a crazy grin. He talked, then Denmark, then Francis, then even Lukas. Tino smiled and told everyone about his husband, Berwald, and son Peter. Finally, only Yao was left.
He took a deep breath. "I love to cook," he said. "I do tai chi and paint. My favorite thing in the world is Hello Kitty. But I'm not the only one people only see the damaged parts of. Can I...Can I speak for Ivan?" Yao asked Tino, who nodded. "Ivan always wears a pink scarf that his sister made for him. He likes knitting, and could probably live off of vodka. His dream is to one day live somewhere warm near a field of sunflowers."
And he hurts people. Lukas thought. And you still love him. How do you do that? He glanced at Denmark across the circle. How do you love someone like me?
There was silence again, that second silence. The one that wasn't awkward, just everyone in their own worlds and yet all together in their little circle of chairs.
"Meeting adjourned," Tino finally said, and the Group stood and left.
A/N: Thank you for reading!