The two of them arrived back at Alex's house at around 11 o'clock. Not much had changed there since they had left besides the kitchen being cleaned up and Hrafn no longer occupying it. Matthias however was now properly bandaged up with a few stitches in his arm and orders to rest until his concussion was healed. He had also gotten more used to walking again which was helpful with someone as big as he was. Even so, Alex stuck close to his side, or maybe it was the other way around, as they walked in. He guided him up the stairs that the Dane had walked up countless times before. He probably knew the house as well as either of the brothers. They got to the guest room door when Alex stopped and turned to his guest.

"You can lie down for a bit here. The bed's always made." Matthias nodded and muttered his thanks. "Just don't lie on your stitches even if your arm is numb. I'm going to make some lunch." He watched as his friend lurched a bit as he walked and walked off slowly, not speeding up again until he heard the soft thump of a body collapsing on the bed.

In the kitchen he pulled out a chopping board and searched the fridge for food. Sandwiches would have to do, he decided, gathering up bread and fillings. He only just noticed his brother's presence as he was cutting up some ham. Hrafn stood silently in the door for a moment before stepping forward to reclaim his seat at the table.

"You're home." Those were the first words out of his mouth. Alex nodded in reply, busying himself with the food. "I barely heard you come in." Once again Alex nodded. Harfn sighed lightly; he could see how tense his brother was and he knew exactly why. The topic was waiting to be brought up, the subject of which was upstairs presumably snoring quietly again. The younger boy decided that he may as well bring it up first. "What's happening with Matthias?" He knew he had asked the right question when the sound of the chopping board stopped short.

"...I don't know." Alex admitted quietly. He hated having to say those three words; he was the kind of person who wanted to know things confidently and hated uncertainty. Seeing that his brother had nothing more to say, Hrafn spoke up again.

"I heard you two this morning." No reply; no chopping sounds; he continued. "I know he does need help. And a place to stay." Alex sighed, slowing resuming his sandwich preparation.

"He does, and I don't know anything about that either." Hrafn raised an eyebrow, expecting him to at least bring the obvious idea up.

"You said you didn't want to kick him out."

"I don't."

"Then don't." Alex's movements stopped again, this time followed by him turning to face the other teen.

"Be serious Ice," he said flatly, looking down.

"I am," he persisted. "We have room, so you don't have to kick him out."

"We don't have the money-"

"Ask mum or dad for a bit more of an allowance. They won't mind, especially since mum has a soft spot for her 'growing young men.'" They stared at each other for a moment. "Look Alex, we don't know where else to send him, you don't want to kick him out, he practically lives here anyway; what's your issue?" The older blonde strummed his fingers across the counter top as he thought.

"So you're alright with it?" Hrafn rolled his eyes. That had obviously been his brother's issue all along.

"Would I have spent that long arguing about it if I wasn't? And besides," he added. "I wouldn't be able to kick him out any easier than you could. He bothers me sometimes, but I don't hate him. If he behaves I won't say anything against it." Alex nodded, giving a small smile as he turned back to lunch.

"Are you sure you can handle that much Dane in your life Ice?" he asked with a much lighter tone. The boy gave a slight smile back.

"I think I'll manage."

Matthias was dozing on the bed when Alex returned. The sound of the door and footsteps pulled him back into consciousness along with the clinks of a plate being placed on the bedside table. He opened his eyes and tried pulling himself upright, but ended up settling for lying with his back higher up on the pillows. Alex passed a plate to his and pulled up a seat beside the bed. Matthias took it and sank back into the pillows, looking relaxed. Alex envied him, as he himself still felt tense about everything. It was a bit frustrating that despite being the main victim he could take it easily.

"So you've been faking it this whole time?" Alex couldn't hold back from asking softly. Matthias took a bite from his sandwich before choosing to answer.

"Faking what?" he grunted back through bread and butter.

"This," Alex replied lamely, gesturing to all of him. "The whole 'happy-go-lucky Dane' thing you've always had." He placed a hand atop his own sandwich but didn't pick it up. "Does that person everyone knows at school even exist?" he questioned quietly. Matthias rolled his eyes and poked Alex's cheek.

"You're over thinking things Nor. I'm not that complicated." He paused to eat more, definitely acting in his public character at that moment. "Eat your food Norge or I'll finish mine and try go after it," he advised cheekily. "Anyway, I wasn't faking being happy at school. I love school!" He grinned at his doubting friend, showing off a piece of lettuce in his teeth. "The working bit kinda sucks, but being with friends and stuff is awesome. Still, being at your place is better."

"So saying that you only come to school for your social life wouldn't be far from the truth then?" Alex asked, finally beginning to nibble the edge of his own sandwich.

"Hey, I don't mind the learning bit that much," he replied in defence of himself. "I'm just not that good at it." Alex shrugged dismissively, letting the conversation drift into silence for a short while. Honestly, such casualness from the other teen bothered him greatly. There were such serious topics floating around and yet he was managing to brush it off like it was nothing to him. Then, he could also be lying with how good he was at was finishing off the last of his sandwich when Alex spoke again.

"So you're saying that aside from the street fighting thing you were telling the truth mostly?"

"Yeah." He stopped and thought about that statement for a moment. "There were some other little things, but mostly..."

"What are those?" Alex asked immediately. Matthias shifted, eyes wandering around the room.

"Um, why I don't like Fridays for one; my timetable does kinda suck, but mainly it was something else. School finishes for the week, and you know…" he trailed off absently. The other teen stared pointedly at him until he continued. "Friday means two days before I have to see any authoritative people, so two days for things to heal. He thinks he can get away with more on Fridays. And he can." Alex nodded at the twisted philosophy. Matthias quickly become concentrated on eating the crumbs from his fingers after that, so it was obvious he wouldn't say more. The Norwegian moved the plates to the side, stacking them on the bedside table, and folded his hands in a formal manner.

"Hrafn heard us talking this morning." Matthias continued to be engrossed by the state of his hands, giving only the slightest twitch in response. "We decided that you can stay here, even if just for a while."

"What?" Matthias shot up, staring at him. Alex nodded, waiting to be attacked by a bone crushing hug. Instead the boy frowned deeply, looking down. "You don't really want me here."

"We're not kicking you out," Alex repeated firmly.

"Yeah, but you really won't want me here. You'll get sick of me; I already eat all of your food." Alex frowned back at him.

"Food matters are fine," he insisted. "We'll buy for three instead of two now."

"That'll cost-"

"Our parents can afford to spend a bit more money through to us. They'll just think we're growing again."

"It's just-"

"You're staying here Matthias." Alex snapped, causing the Dane to flinch. Sighing, Alex moved closer to him on the bed. "What's wrong with staying here?" he questioned quietly. An obnoxious feeling of déjà vu was coming over him heavily now.

"I… I'd just hate to end up as just some nagging pest to you guys," he admitted. "I mean, I'm pretty useless with most things so I can't really pay you back." The words sounded uncommon from him, though they probably wouldn't have if said by the other. Alex stared at him oddly. This person in front of him was so worried and sincere, with an obviously hurt self esteem.

"You've never minded before," he pointed out.

"That was different. You could kick me out easily then…"

"I still could." He commented. "If you keep acting like you are then you'd probably leave the first time I tell you to." The Dane was silent, so Alex poked his cheek. "This is when you laugh and tell me I'd never do that," he goaded half-heartedly.

"Hm?" he looked up and took in the words. "Oh, right. Sorry."

"Don't apologize," Alex muttered, poking him again. He wondered again if Matthias had been lying when he said his school smile was real. He'd been with Alex all morning and was still acting lethargic. Alex didn't like it, even if it did mean quiet. "It's not burdening if we offer, idiot. And if it makes you feel better I can teach you how to wash dishes or something. I never intended to cut you out of chores." The pair stared at each other for a moment, Matthias doing the thinking for once. Slowly he smiled and grabbed the other blonde around the waist.

"Come 'ere." He grinned, pulling him close and nuzzling into his back and shoulders. Alex grumbled for show, but allowed it. The hug wasn't as strong as usual because of his injuries, so he deemed it not too bad. "You sure about this?" Matthias quietly questioned again.

"Of course not, I wasted five minutes of my life on a bad joke for you," he stated as dryly and sarcastically as possible. Luckily Matthias picked up on the humour and kept smiling.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," he chanted into the fabric of his shirt. "I get to live with my wifey who makes me sandwiches in bed," he added cheekily.

"Don't get ahead of yourself," Alex snorted indignantly, but still turned his head to kiss Matthias's, patting his golden hair rather affectionately.

"Ya know, this is the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me." Alex hadn't known that, but with everything he'd learnt in the last 12 hours he didn't doubt it in the slightest.

A/N: Ah! No more prewritten chapters. Have to write each chapter as they come again. A Oh well. Anyway, as always reviews are appreciated! (I got kinda bummed when I only got two for the last chapter, and one of them was forced. *Sorry Kales!*)