Ch. 7:
Francis mouthed an apology from across the table and Matthew smiled with reassurance, he really wasn't bothered.
Not long after Alfred left on his date-not-date with Arthur, Francis had appeared stating there was no reason that his brother has all the fun and invited Matthew on a definite date. Matthew had been beyond thrilled as he took Francis's hand and was led back outside, his enthusiasm didn't even damper when they ran into Gilbert and Antonio who decided to follow along (though Francis hissed that they were just spying). With those two along their date destination turned to a karaoke bar.
Now Francis sat across from Matthew, while Gilbert sat next to the Canadian and Antonio claimed the seat next to his French friend, waiting for their drinks to arrive while an old man sang a Beatles song.
"So, Mattie," Gilbert turned to him, resting an elbow on the table and his head in his hand, "Got any interesting stories about Francis to share with us?"
Matthew's mind instantly went to last night and he hoped he wasn't blushing, "W-What do you mean?"
"You know, has he done anything clumsy or embarrassing yet," Antonio asked, "Because if he hasn't yet it's only a matter of time."
Matthew tilted his head, confused, "What do you mean by that?"
"Oh, you don't know," Gilbert laughed then pointed at the glaring Francis, "This cream puff is a grade a klutz, not to mention a pansy."
"You can shut up now, Gil," Francis all but growled.
"But it's true, mi amigo," Antonio added with a smile, "Remember that one time you tripped on air and kissed the sidewalk?"
"Of course he doesn't," Gilbert cut in, "That's happened so many times he's lost count."
"I was drunk," Francis explained, "And it's not like you two were exactly poised that night either."
"True," Antonio laughed at the memory, "But I never pretend I am a graceful person."
"I may not be graceful," Gilbert winked at Matthew, "But I am pretty awesome."
Matthew allowed a soft smile, their laughter was starting to get contagious, "Well, there was that time when we were ice skating."
Immediately Gilbert and Antonio leaned forward with interest, but Francis looked at Matthew with dismay, "Et tu, Mathieu?"
"S-sorry," Matthew said quickly, feeling guilty for bringing it up when he knew how embarrassed Francis was about it, "I won't say anything."
Antonio booed while Gilbert looked at him, indignant, "You can't shut your mouth now! Not when you got us all excited!" He turned to glare at Francis, "Now he's a tease just like you!"
Matthew wondered what he meant by that but then Francis sighed with defeat, "Very well, go ahead and tell them, Mathieu."
"Are you sure," Matthew asked.
Now it was Francis's turn to smile at him with assurance, "If you don't they'll pester me about it until my ears bleed, do save me from that torture."
By the time Matthew finished his story Gilbert and Antonio couldn't stop laughing, not even when their drinks arrived.
"Why," Gilbert gasped, wiping away a tear, "Could you not video tape that, take a picture, something!? That sounds like the best thing, Francis falling on his ass in front of a bunch of kids and I can't-" Gilbert burst into another fit of giggles.
"Would you by any chance want to go ice skating afterwards, Francis," Antonio asked, only to receive a smack on the head.
Matthew felt a wave of guilt and fiddled with the straw in his drink, Francis looked so angry and it was because of him. Guess this'll be my first and last date…
"It's all fun and games isn't it Gilbert," Francis spoke to the laughing albino with a nasty grin as Antonio rubbed his swore head. "At least, until…someone mentions May 8th.
Immediately Gilbert stopped laughing and sent a terrifying look to Francis, "You wouldn't."
"Oh, but I would," Francis smiled then cleared his throat, "One day, while at a pub in Italy a young lass with flowing red hair came and punched-"
"Shut it," Gilbert barked so sharply Matthew nearly jumped out of his chair.
"What am I missing," Matthew asked.
"Oh, about a year ago Gilbert got sucker punched by some lady," Antonio explained, "She hit him so hard he hit the ground, it was really funny." The Spaniard had to duck when Gilbert swung a fist at him.
"First off," Gilbert seethed, lifting a finger, "I only fell because it was a sneak attack, if I had seen her coming it would've been different." He lifted another finger, "Second, her hair was brown, not red."
"Ah, yes," Francis said with a devilish smile, "And such heavenly brown eyes."
"They were green you idiot do you never pay attention-" Gilbert stopped and Matthew could see his pale cheeks starting to redden before he snapped, "You know what shut up!"
Francis and Antonio both laughed before Francis stood up, "If you gentleman and two hooligans will excuse me I need to use the restroom." He aimed a serious look at his friends, "Do not scare Mathieu off while I'm gone."
"We make no promises," Antonio waved as Francis walked off.
Matthew chuckled, "You three have been friends for a long time, haven't you."
"Oh yeah, since when we were like, twelve," Antonio said with a smile, "My parents were huge tourists and wanted to visit Italy, at the same time Francis's parents wanted to find some wine to sell at their restaurant so we met on the plane."
"Then they came to the awesome Beilschidmt vineyard and met the awesome me," Gilbert finished, "But enough about us, tell us about you."
Matthew blinked, "What about me?"
"Well, Francis doesn't exactly spend this much time with one person," Antonio said and Matthew felt those words sting, but he wasn't sure why. "So what makes you so special?"
Matthew shrugged helplessly, "I don't know, I'm just as confused as why he hangs out with me."
"Have you had sex yet," Gilbert asked bluntly and Matthew nearly choked on his drink.
"N-no," Matthew sputtered, blushing, "We haven't." And he doubted he would've talked about it with his friends if he had.
"Huh," Gilbert said thoughtfully and Matthew suddenly felt uncomfortable in the albino's gaze.
The music stopped and Antonio sat up immediately, "Okay, that old dude's gone, come on Gil!" He reached his hand out to his friend, "Do you trust me?"
"Nope," Gilbert said, taking his hand, "But that has never stopped me once in my life."
"Want to sing with us," they offered but Matthew shook his head.
While the two went to select a song Francis returned and breathed a sigh of relief as he saw his friends not at the table, "Thank God," he said, taking his original seat, Matthew was a little disappointed he didn't take Gilbert's seat, "I really should've hid my trail from them.
"I-I'm sorry," Matthew finally said.
Francis cocked an eyebrow, "Sorry about what?" He suddenly paled in terror, "What did those two beasts do while I was gone?"
"Oh, nothing," Matthew quickly assured and Francis deflated in relief, "I mean, I'm sorry about earlier, about mentioning the ice skating."
Francis smiled, "You don't have to apologize about that, Mathieu. I'm not mad or anything."
"Really," the boy asked hopefully, eyes beginning to twinkle.
"Of course not," Francis laughed, "I was just embarrassed, I didn't want those two to soil your opinion of me."
"They didn't," Matthew promised, "I still like you."
Francis's eyes were warm as he gazed at Matthew, "I'm glad."
Gilbert and Antonio chose that time to start singing and Matthew looked over his shoulder to watch them sing a Katy Perry song.
"Oh dear," Francis's moaned, burying his head in his hands, "Can they never stop with this mortification."
"I think you're lucky," Matthew said, "I never had many friends growing up except for my brother."
"More proof that you grew up surrounded by idiots," Francis replied and Matthew smiled as he continued to watch Gilbert and Antonio.
As he watched Matthew slipped his shoe off and trailed his foot across Francis's ankle, it was too loud for the Canadian to hear Francis's intake of breath.
"They're really getting into it aren't they," Matthew laughed as he watched the two, "I think Gilbert would surf the crowd if there was one."
Francis trailed his foot up Matthew's leg, "Oh there is no doubt, and it's already been done."
Matthew turned to Francis with disbelief as his toe circled the Frenchman's ankle, "Are you serious?"
"Oh yes," Francis replied, reaching Matthew's knee, "The memory's kind of foggy, I don't remember what band it was nor if we actually paid to get in. But damn me if he hadn't climbed onto the stage and jumped right into that throng of people. Those people were so surprised they nearly didn't catch him."
"Lucky for Gilbert they did," Matthew replied, now sliding his own foot up Francis's leg.
"Yes, it was," Francis smiled devilishly, "That is until he surfed his way over to Antonio and I, we let him fall."
Matthew laughed, "You three really have each other's back, don't you?"
"Oh, yes, inseparable we are," Francis smiled at Matthew, his foot finally reached Matthew's inner thigh, "Nothing's ever gotten between us…until now."
Matthew's smiled faded slightly at those words, "I don't think Gilbert likes me that much." He couldn't forget the way Gilbert had looked at him earlier, like he was trying to figure Matthew out, and ask what made him so special.
Francis sighed, "Gilbert can be a little possessive when Antonio and I are involved. It's just been us for years now and he doesn't like the thought of these days of endless adventure and drinking ending."
"Will it," Matthew asked, their game of footsie forgotten.
Francis gave him a serious, slightly sad look, "Of course it will, everything does. But Gilbert refuses to believe that, I can understand why, but still…"
"My mom once told me that when one adventure ends, another begins."
Francis smiled, "She was a wise woman then."
Matthew smiled, "What's your next adventure, Francis?"
Francis opened his mouth to speak when suddenly Gilbert ran over to them, "You guys come on! We need a quartet!"
"You must be joking," Francis said and Gilbert shot him a puppy dog look.
"I don't mind," Matthew lied, he had never sang before, and he didn't want to start in a room full of staring people. But he thought it was important to make as many memories as possible before this adventure ended, for both Francis and himself.
"Very well," Francis agreed, standing up. Gilbert grabbed Matthew's arm and dragged him out of his chair to where Antonio waited with four microphones in his arms. They ended up choosing a One Direction song and as the music started Matthew realized he had made a huge mistake when he saw all those people staring at him, he swallowed his throat suddenly dry.
But then a warm hand rested on the small of his back and Francis winked at him, "If you can ice skate, mon cher, you can certainly read lyrics."
Before Matthew could reply Gilbert starting singing, though standing next to him it sounded more like he was just screaming the words. Antonio and Francis joined in, their voices much smoother and Matthew quickly joined in. After a few moments he didn't mind the stares anymore, in fact, this was really fun. He started to sing louder and louder, trying to get as loud as Gilbert, the albino noticed this and gave Matthew a devious yet playful grin before raising his voice even louder and Matthew realized there was no beating that. He smiled at Francis, who grinned back, wrapping his arm around Matthew's waist and pulled him closer, Matthew adored how natural it felt to be so close to Francis, like he was born to be by his side.
"That was really fun," Matthew laughed cheeks warm as Francis escorted him to his hotel, arms linked.
"I'm so glad you think so," Francis said, "I was sure my day was ruined when Gilbert and Antonio tagged along."
"No," Matthew assured, "I like your friends."
They continued their walk in silence when Francis spoke up, "Mathieu, can I ask you something?"
"Of course," he replied, curious.
"Would it be incredibly rude to steal a kiss right now?"
Matthew smiled, "It's not stealing if it's given to you willing."
But sadly before Francis could act a loud voice caught there attention, Matthew's heart sank when he recognized that familiar voice singing the Batman theme song.
"MATTIE!"
Matthew turned and sure enough, Alfred was waving at him with both arms next to the hotel, his face flushed and smiling like an idiot. "I'VE MISSED YOU SOOO MUCH BROTHER OF MINE~!"
"Mathieu," Francis spoke, sounding like he was desperately trying to hide his amusement, "I believe your brother is what I call Beilschidmt drunk."
