Don't ask me why chapter seven is out already xD
I don't own Hetalia. Enjoy!
"Mr. Edelstein, how do you feel about your upcoming performance tonight?"
"Are you nervous?"
"This is going to be your first show after returning from Vienna..."
"Mr. Edelstein, a word? Just a word, please!"
Roderich pushed his way through the throng of reporters that ambushed him out of nowhere. The recital was at six and the reporters were already here at eleven in the morning. It was annoying.
"No comments, thank you." Roderich said quickly as he walked towards the safe zone in the fastest pace he could without looking like he was running away. He immediately felt liberated when he reached the empty recital hall, which was off limits at the moment.
He breathed in relief when he found his way to the performance room and headed backstage. Ever since his debut six years ago the reporters were still after him like rabid dogs after food. He thought if he came early enough to practice he wouldn't have to meet those reporters, but he did. It was horrifying.
-
Roderich walked backstage towards the curtains, the whole room thundering with his heartbeat. The stage lights were bright and piercing in the thick awaiting silence, forcing the brunette to take a deep breath behind the curtains before walking in a brisk, but elegant manner, to the sleek grand piano that stood in all its glory in the middle of the stage. Smile, smile, he thought to himself as he bowed to the empty row of red velvet seats, they're all here to see you.
The brunette sat down on the piano bench, his back straight and his hands poised above the ivory keys. He closed his eyes and took another deep breath, as he always did when he was nervous, and when he opened his eyes the violet irises were shining with a touch of confidence and then his fingers began waltzing on the piano keys, dancing and laughing and playing along to a light melody that poured forth, engaging the entire hall in a merry party.
It was a masquerade where men and women were wearing elegant masks and luxurious clothing. The hall was glittering from the lights of a brilliant crystal chandelier hanging above and reflected in the shining eyes of characters below. Women were hiding smiles behind their feathered fans whilst eyeing their men of interest and children were playing hide and seek among the throng of people, shrieking with laughter as they popped out behind ballooned skirts and from under tables of exquisite food. Figures in passionate red, merry yellow, summer green, calming blue and mysterious black bobbed around the dance floor whilst fashionable grey bowed in return.
Detached from the dancing couples, one lavender lady stood alone in the corner, her sleek brown hair piled atop her head, secured with bobby pins and dressed with ribbons. Her mask matched the color of her dress and was simple in design. Some men tried to catch her eye subtly by walking around her in circles, whilst some of them—the bolder ones— had approached her and were arguing on who should have the first dance. The lady was afraid, for the men were drunk and had begun yelling loudly, gesticulating wildly and were about to fight. Just when one man grabbed the lady by her arm, the door was thrown open with a loud bang. The hall quickly grew silent and murmurs of who the latecomer was spreading through the crowd like wildfire.
The lady stared at the door with her lovely eyes and caught the sight of a man clad in black from head to toe, accentuating his pale skin and silver hair that shone like the moon. The man threw his cloak to one side and marched towards the lady with his blood-red eyes burning into her, rooting her to the spot so she could not run away from such passion. The lady took a feeble step backwards and the man made a step forwards, and they performed such an awkward dance for a long time until the man finally swooped in and tangled his rough hand in her silky brown hair and pressed a hot, wonderful kiss to her trembling lips, making her shudder and swoon and unable to do nothing but stare into those eyes, those delirious red eyes—
Roderich stopped abruptly with his hands in the air and his breathing rough. This wasn't right at all. What was he doing? In the end, he had made his choice. He married Elizaveta, despite the fact it took him a year to let her touch him and another year for him to be able to be intimate with her—which, in Roderich's definition, was holding hands, kissing cheeks, and occasionally sharing the bed when he had nightmares.
For the five years he was married to Elizaveta, Roderich never bothered to have the bed in the master's bedroom removed. He still slept in it, a small part of him still clinging to the delirious past that made him feel alive. The night they were married, Elizaveta took one glance at the bed before retreating, saying that she was going to sleep in the guest room. Roderich never asked her why.
"It sounds like you were going to have some nice sex there," A husky voice said from the never ending darkness in front of Roderich, snapping the brunette out of his thoughts. "Why'd you stop?"
Roderich drew in a sharp breath, his eyes refusing to look at the person who was alone in the same room as him. It couldn't be. It was impossible. He was hallucinating, he was just too stressed for the recital tonight— he couldn't be here, could he?
The silence was deafening, but blood rushed and roared in Roderich's ears as he felt the painful gaze on him, burning, awaiting for a reaction. Seconds ticked by, making it harder to breath. Roderich finally tore his eyes from the keyboard and turned to look at the man who had changed his life forever.
"Gilbert," Roderich managed feebly. "How on earth did you get in?"
"I know you're performing here tomorrow so I'd thought I'd drop by. You're still so sexy, you know that?" Gilbert said with a small laugh, but underneath his bravado Roderich sensed that he was nervous—no, that wasn't the right word—he was scared, scared that Roderich had forgotten him, forgotten their time together.
Roderich squeezed his eyes shut. At least the man had the decency to show up scared and frightful. If Gilbert had appeared as if nothing happened Roderich might have tried to hurl the piano at him and watch him as he gets crushed to death.
Gilbert had changed. He was taller and had a more somber aura around him. Roderich could see him in the darkness between the row of seats, his hands in his pockets and his eyes the color of dying embers that were still fighting to glow a fiery red.
"When did you come back?" Roderich asked as he tried not to look at the red orbs that glinted from the stage light but failing miserably.
"I just came back." Gilbert replied.
"I don't want to see you," The tired brunette managed after a long moment of silence. "Please don't bother to come to the recital tonight."
"Roddy—"
"Gilbert, just go." Roderich sighed as he pointed to the exit. Somewhere in his mind he remembered doing this a long time ago.
Gilbert didn't budge. "Can't we talk?" He asked, his voice trembling.
Don't soften up to him don't soften up to him…Roderich repeated in his mind while he answered an outright "No."
"….can you answer one question for me, just one?" Gilbert asked, the pleading tone in his voice surprising Roderich.
"What?" Roderich asked; his voice softer than the harsh tone he intended.
"Do you have the German Cross I gave you?"
After a pregnant pause, Roderich shook his head.
"There was never a German Cross, Gilbert." Roderich said slowly as he looked through his mind. "Besides, it's the most important thing you have; you wouldn't give it to me. Why would you ask me this?"
Gilbert let out a mirthless laugh at Roderich's reply before spinning around and walking towards the doors. "It's nothing."
The door closed with a soft thud and Roderich slumped onto the piano bench. After Gilbert had left years ago Roderich thought it would be nice to never see him again, but he realized those red eyes were still able to make his heart squeeze into a painful bunch of longing.
Gilbert was back in town and back in his life whether he liked it or not.
The performance ended spectacularly and the sound of applauding was enticing, but Roderich wanted to do nothing more than leave. He managed to shake himself free from the reporters and was walking down the hallway in a brisk pace when someone grabbed his arm roughly and pulled him into the men's washroom.
"What on earth—"
Roderich's exclamation was drowned by a passionate kiss that almost swept him off his feet and made him unable to do anything aside from stare at his invader, whose red eyes flashed with momentary guilt but made no attempt at slowing his movements down as he unbuttoned Roderich's shirt and ran a warm, calloused hand from his waist to his chest, making Roderich feel light-headed and dizzy and delirious at the same time—.but the brunette pushed Gilbert away and pulled his unbuttoned shirt together, regaining the bit of consciousness and conscience he still had.
"I told you not to come!" Roderich spat as he pushed his glasses back to their place and re-buttoned his shirt clumsily, his face blushing red with anger and lingering passion.
Gilbert just looked at him, his features contorted in pain.
"I can't let you go this time—I swear I can't—"
"Stop it! You were the one who went off 'touring' to Europe without telling me anything and you expect me to take you back just like this? I'm married, Gilbert, married!" Roderich almost screamed as he shoved his left hand into Gilbert's face, his bottled up emotions overflowing him and making him hysteric. "And don't say you forgot what happened eight years ago!"
"I haven't!" Gilbert yelled as he slammed a fist on one of the walls of the cubicles, "Look, it was a mistake, I made a mistake and it was wrong, okay? But Elizaveta, she—"
"Don't you dare bring up her name," Roderich hissed as he glared at Gilbert from across the room. "Don't you even dare to think about her— don't you remember what you did to her, to me? That disgusting deed, that horrible—"
Suddenly there was a sound of the toilet flushing and Roderich stiffened with fear, stopping his sentence and quickly fumbling with his shirt. He barely got it buttoned up when a blond man exited the cubicle.
"Francis!" Gilbert exclaimed in disbelief, his wary stance wavering when he recognized his best friend, and the Frenchman smiled wryly.
"Nice to see you, mon ami, I haven't seen you since Paris. So you decided to come back?" Francis asked, his blue eyes falling on Roderich before turning onto Gilbert.
"Francis, did you come to see my performance?" Roderich asked in a small voice before Gilbert could say anything, fully embarrassed that his cousin had witnessed such an unsightly scene.
"It was wonderful, my dear," Francis said with a sparkling wink at Roderich before turning back to Gilbert, his gaze hardening. "You should leave with me, now."
Gilbert opened his mouth to retort but Francis gave him a warning look. With one glance at Roderich Gilbert left the room, his red eyes down-turned and his fists clenched.
Roderich held his back straight until Gilbert left the room before squatting down and letting his tears fall. Seeing Gilbert was just too much for him to handle. Just Gilbert's voice alone had brought back so many memories, happy and unpleasant.
"Gilbert?" A soft voice asked. Roderich hurriedly wiped the tears from his face and stood up, looking around for the owner of the voice. The door to the washroom had opened, but there was no one standing there.
"Gilbert, are you in here?" The voice asked again, and Roderich gasped as he saw a blond man's reflection in the mirror.
"Who are you?" Roderich asked, and the blond man stared at him, his lavender eyes widening.
Gilbert left the washroom, unwillingly trudging behind Francis. He would have punched Francis' lights out for interrupting but he knew his best friend was trying to help. However, he would have to say sorry for ditching his travelling buddy Matthew, whom he dragged over to the concert hall right after they got off the plane.
"Why are you here?" Francis asked lightly as he led the way to the parking lot.
"It's about time I came back, don't you think?" Gilbert muttered.
"You could have come back a long time ago."
"Well...it just took me this long to get ready."
Francis stopped and turned around to face Gilbert, his blue eyes brimming with the sappy emotion Gilbert was afraid of.
"What?" He asked gruffly.
"Oh, mon ami," Francis said with a slight sniffle in his voice as he embraced Gilbert, "I missed you very, very, much."
Gilbert patted his best friend's back while trying to ignore the stares he got from people. "I missed you too, man. Life just isn't the same without you and Toni."
Francis led Gilbert to his car and Gilbert slipped into the passenger seat, wondering what Francis was up to now. They used to joke that Francis would be the best gigolo in the city while Antonio would probably be the best strip dancer.
"It's been two years since Paris," Francis said with a small smile as he started his car, "How have you been?"
"The usual," Gilbert said simply as he looked out at the blurred scenery, the hum of the engine filling the thick silence.
Francis gave him a sideways glance but didn't press him about Roderich, which was a good thing because Gilbert didn't really want to talk now. Seeing Roderich really shook him hard. He thought he was prepared, considering he had been prancing around Europe for eight years thinking about how to approach this particular screwed up episode of his life, thinking that staying away from Roderich was some sort of redemption for his stupid mistakes.
Gilbert had prided himself in being the most awesome being on the planet, that is, until he met Roderich. The man had swept him off his feet with one look and he found himself falling deeper and deeper, and it was too late when he realized what was happening—resulting in Elizaveta's win.
As he leaned back in his seat, he wondered what on earth happened to the German cross he sent to Roderich on his graduation day by mail. He thought it was cruel and insensitive to send such a graduation gift, but he hoped that the German Cross would help Roderich understand that he was important to Gilbert.
It turned out Roderich never got the Cross, but that didn't settle everything once and for all. And that was the reason why Gilbert showed up again. To make amends and correct some…misconceptions, as Roderich might put it.
"Where are we going?" Gilbert asked a couple of minutes later, and Francis just gave him a smirk.
"We're going to your house, which has undergone slight modifications."
Gilbert raised an eyebrow. "…slight modifications?"
Francis nodded his head. "Feliciano has moved in there because Ludwig feels lonely living in there by himself, and you know how Feliciano hates the cold, so they re-modified the heating system and planted a couple of plants in the garden."
"Oookay…" Gilbert replied uncertainly. Somehow Francis was making it seem like his house had been sabotaged.
"By the way, it's Feliciano and Ludwig's ninth anniversary, and Antonio and Lovino's eighth anniversary—which is actually a week later—and they're celebrating together. They'll be delighted to see you."
"I'm happy for them, but I have a slight problem here."
Francis sighed. "Roderich is married, Gilbert. You lost your chance to win him back ever since you left."
"No, not Roddy…" Gilbert muttered. "I don't have my luggage."
Francis blinked with realization. "Oh, where is it?"
"It's with Mattie, or Matthew. You were supposed to meet him last time in Paris, but you two missed each other."
"Mathieu?" Francis said with interest as he rolled the name on his tongue. "What kind of person is he? Will he be alright on his own?"
"Don't think about getting in his pants," Gilbert said with a warning tone, "I've known him for eight years, and Mattie can be pretty evil."
Francis grinned. "I am interested. You should introduce me to him."
"Did I mention Mattie's heterosexual?"
"I will make him love me."
"No, wait, actually, Mattie's gay but you're not just his type, 'cause last time I checked he seemed to be flirting with this macho Cuban."
"Then I will make me his new type."
"…actually, Mattie's asexual."
"Then I will make him sexually active."
"Can you stop with your weird obsession on a guy you don't even know?"
"Can you stop trying to dissuade me from wooing this person I don't know?"
The two fell silent and Gilbert laughed. "Man, you're desperate."
"I'm adventurous."
"No, you're desperate."
"Gilbert, you're the one who's desperate."
The mood in the car instantly died down.
"…just shut up and drive, will you?" Gilbert said as he glared at his friend.
Francis bit his lower lip. "Alright, mon ami."
Roderich stared at the blond man, who had a little yellow bird nested in his hair and a small polar bear hugging his knees. Roderich stopped himself from gaping open at the little polar bear. Was it even legal to be carrying one around?
"Are you alright…Roderich?" The man asked hesitantly.
"How do you know my name?" Roderich asked as he eyed the two duffel bags the man slung across his both of his shoulders and the two suitcases he was dragging behind him. The polar bear raised a hand and the bird chirped.
"Umm…I'm Matthew, a friend of Gilbert's." Matthew said softly. "Are you okay? Did he do something stupid again?"
Roderich blushed. How much did Gilbert tell Matthew? Did he tell him everything?
"I'm fine," Roderich insisted. "Tell me more about you."
Matthew smiled apologetically as he gestured to his baggage. "I think we should talk along the way. Are you free?"
-
"Mattie! It's been forever since last time!" Alfred screamed as he threw open the door with his ever-lasting vigor.
"Al," Matthew said with a breathless laugh. Roderich stood beside him, his eyes wide. He had known the address was familiar…but he hadn't expected the Alfred he knew to be Matthew's half-brother.
"Hey, Roderich!" Alfred cried as if some miracle had appeared before him, and he was promptly shoved away by Arthur after that sentence
"Roderich! We were waiting for Matthew and his friend, but I didn't think it was you!"
Roderich shook his head. "I'm not Matthew's friend…Gilbert is." Just saying the name felt terrifyingly painful yet delirious at the same time.
Arthur's smile dropped. "Gilbert? Gilbert Beilschmidt?"
Matthew nodded. "He's the one I'm always talking about. I thought you'd have figured out by now."
"Just come on in, everybody!" Alfred declared as he shoved his guests through the door, "Keep calm and open a can of coke!"
"Or a cup of tea," Arthur added with a sideways glare at his boyfriend, "Which one would you prefer?"
"Tea," Roderich and Matthew replied, leaving Alfred dumbstruck.
"Hey now, coke is way better than hot water and a bunch of leaves!"
"I'm sorry, Al," Matthew said, "I've been drinking beer and coke along the way so I need some tea instead."
Arthur shot Alfred a smug smile before heading off into the kitchen, the loud blond following him with complaint. Matthew seated himself opposite of Roderich and looked at him, his lavender eyes studying him discreetly. Roderich tried not to look back, letting his eyes wander around the house as he began thinking.
Ever since that day, he dedicated himself to forgetting the past. There were many things he still didn't understand and didn't want to. When he looked back he wondered why Gilbert had ever appeared in his life, since he still married Elizaveta in the end like he was supposed to. It seemed like Gilbert was just a momentary distraction, something Roderich fascinated himself with before diving to the depths of hell and torture.
Despite their cold marriage, Roderich was grateful that he married Elizaveta. After their marriage Roderich had found a way to earn back all the fortune his parents had lost and no longer felt obliged to do anything his parents asked of him anymore, including having children. Five years into their marriage, and it was never once consummated. Elizaveta never asked but just smiled sadly and said that she understood, but Roderich wondered if she really did.
"Roderich?" Matthew asked gently, breaking the brunette out of his thoughts.
"Yes, Matthew?"
"Did you want to know how I met Gilbert?"
"…yes."
Matthew smiled. "I met him eight years ago, in Paris. I was living there temporarily while Gilbert had just arrived from Germany. He slept in a tree beside my apartment, sporting a black eye that came from his grandfather. I was woken up in the morning because he was trying to save this bird—" Matthew gestured to the little yellow fluff ball on his head, "—from the landlady's mean old cat, and the landlady gave him a good beating with her broom until I explained everything to her. By the way, this bird is called Gilbird."
The little bird chirped in response, and Roderich tried to smile at it. It seemed that Gilbert's naming sense had never improved.
"After I fed him and sent him on his way—he was going to the Eiffel tower—we met again a couple of times." Matthew continued. "We decided that it would be fun to travel together and that's what we did. Did you know Gilbert likes to sleep with people beside him? He dragged me into bed a couple of times. Sometimes he nuzzles my neck, and it really tickles."
Roderich stiffened and Matthew let out a soft "oh."
"I'm not his boyfriend or anything…" Matthew began with a wistful look, "We're really just friends…but if he's willing…"
"You…you want to date Gilbert?" Roderich asked slowly. The thought of it made him nauseous, but what position was he in to stop it?
"I'm sorry…I know you two had a past, but you're married now, and if he can forget you, it'd be wonderful for me."
"He…" He's still in love with me, Roderich finished in his mind. He knew by the way Gilbert looked at him the albino was still in love with him, but he couldn't bring himself to say it out loud because he had to let it go.
"Roderich, do me a favor, will you?" Matthew said gently as he looked into Roderich's eyes, "Talk with Gilbert and sort things out—it's the only way the both of you can move on. I've been waiting for seven years."
Roderich's eyes widened and he opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Alfred and Arthur came back into the room with suspiciously red faces.
"Here's your tea," Arthur said as he set two tea cups on the table with a shaky hand.
"Are you alright, Arthur?" Matthew said with a small grin as he looked at his brother, who looked rather refreshed.
"Artie's as fit as a fiddle!" Alfred exclaimed as he gave Arthur a pat on the back.
"Shut up," Arthur said as he rubbed his waist, "You should give me a break sometimes."
"Oh, come on, Artie, it's not like you're that old!" Alfred laughed as he grabbed Arthur from behind and spun him around.
"Let go of me, you git!" Arthur screamed, and Matthew laughed.
Roderich gave a small smile. He had forgotten how comical the pair were and couldn't believe he didn't spend some more time at their house. He took a sip of the tea.
"The tea is wonderful, Arthur, thank you."
Gilbert was horrified that his awesome house had been redesigned into some cozy Italian pizzeria. He hadn't missed the smirk on Francis' face when the blond told him that there had been some "slight modifications," but Gilbert couldn't believe his bruder let Feliciano completely redesign the house.
The house had changed from its cold cool and minimalistic demeanor to a happy cozy house that bustled with activity. The garden was bursting with various plants and flowers that were accompanied by gnomes, and the grey stone pathway to the door had been changed into warm-toned bricks. The exterior had been painted a creamy white and the steel black door was now replaced with smooth oak.
Feliciano had answered the door in a fluffy pink apron and squealed in delight, throwing his arms around Gilbert and jumping around.
"Luddy!" Feliciano screamed with joy, "Gilbert is finally back!"
Gilbert heard a crash from upstairs and in a flash his brother was in front of him, his blue eyes wide and a few strands of his gelled back hair dropping in front of his eyes.
"Bruder, when did you get back? Why didn't you call?"
Gilbert sighed. "I just came back."
"I thought you were never going to come back!" Feliciano said as he ushered Francis and Gilbert into the house. "You always write letters and sometimes phone, but I thought you were going to stay in Europe for good!"
"Why are you all so fucking loud?" A voice called from the living room—if it still was the living room—and Lovino came out into the hallway, a bottle of wine in hand. The Italian almost dropped it when he saw Gilbert.
"Antonio, get your ass out of the kitchen right now!" Lovino yelled, and Gilbert groaned.
"GIL!" The Spaniard screamed as he grabbed his friend in a bear hug, almost knocking the albino down. Gilbert grinned as he realized that Antonio had grown more muscle and still had a nice ass.
"I missed you so much!" Antonio cried as he pulled Gilbert into the living room, which was now decorated with warm colors and plushies lining the sofa, and pushed Gilbert down before sitting beside him.
"Toni, Franny, it's good to be together again," Gilbert said as he pulled both of his friends into another long hug. "What're you guys up to now?"
"Nothing much," Francis said with a secretive smile, "I'm just expanding my family's hotel business."
"He is," Antonio chirped, "He's building 'entertainment' hotels all over the place."
"Says someone who preys on little children," Francis said jokingly before he turned to Gilbert, "Antonio is a kindergarten teacher right now."
"Toni? A kindergarten teacher right now?" Gilbert asked incredulously.
"I love my job with all those little angels looking at me with their huge pretty eyes," Antonio sighed dreamily. "But Lovi doesn't really like them."
"I've told you, Lovino is just jealous that the kids can get kisses and hugs from you," Francis said.
"But Lovi gets a whole different treatment!" Antonio cried, and the three jumped when they heard an angry shout from the kitchen that was followed by Feliciano's laughing.
"Lovi!" Antonio cried as he bounced into the kitchen, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing! Nothing! Get back to your jerk of a friend!" Lovino shouted with a tone of embarrassment in his voice.
"Is he talking about me?" Gilbert asked uneasily.
"Well, considering how depressed Antonio was after you left, that's what Lovino calls you." Francis said with a light smile.
Antonio came bouncing back into the room with a large smile on his face.
"It seems like Feli was teasing Lovi a bit!"
"Why?" Francis asked, and Antonio's smile grew larger.
"Lovi said he's jealous of the kids because they always grab my butt!"
Gilbert and Francis laughed wholeheartedly, and Gilbert couldn't remember laughing like this in the past eight years, excluding the times he was drunk.
"I told you, mon ami," Francis said as he wiped a tear from his eye, "Lovino is jealous of the children."
"Bruder," Ludwig said as he entered the living room with a smile on his face, "Dinner is ready."
Gilbert smiled at his brother. He always felt guilty of leaving Ludwig alone that year. It was something he wished he could undo. Ludwig graduated as a top student in high school and university, and was now a a professor (hmm...probably something else as a profession but yeah)
"Lud, is my room still safe?" Gilbert asked as he stood up with his friends. "I miss my living room now." He added wistfully as he looked at the cozy living room.
"We lost faith that you would come home, so we decided to redecorate the house, sorry, bruder. Your room is still the same though."
"Good," Gilbert said as he glanced upstairs, "Good."
-
"So, what did you do? Where did you go? Why did you leave?" Antonio piped up over his dinner after slurping an alarming amount of pasta.
"Slow down, Toni," Gilbert said as he sipped on some wine that Francis insisted he drink. "Which one should I answer first?"
"Why didn't you come back? Luddy and I feel lonely without you." Feliciano pouted.
"Our trio is not the same without you, mon ami," Francis added.
Gilbert smiled. It did feel nice to be with his friends and family again. "Well," He began, "After I dropped I went to Germany to see gramps and he punched the lights out of me."
Ludwig nodded in approval. "I hope opa beat some sense into you."
"Thanks to him I met Mattie, or Matthew, to you guys."
"Matthew?" Feliciano said with a tilt of his head. "Who's he?'
Gilbert laughed. "Mattie's been my travelling buddy in Europe—we've done a lot crazy shit together. After gramps gave me a black eye he threw me out of the house and I just headed to Paris, where he was staying, and slept in a tree beside his apartment."
"You slept in a tree?" Lovino asked as his disinterested expression turning into a curious one. "How did you not fall off?"
"It's 'cause I'm awesome like that," Gilbert said proudly before continuing his story. "Anyways, there was a nest of birds in the tree—they're like little yellow fluff balls and are pretty cute to have around—and they actually stole a chunk of bread from someone in the apartment for me. "
"They stole bread for you?" Antonio asked incredulously.
"But," Gilbert continued as his expression turned dark, "The landlady there has this fat old cat and it's been staring at the birds for a long time. The next morning when I woke up one of the chicks had fallen out of the nest and the cat tried to get it."
"Oh— how horrible!" Feliciano cried with his brown eyes full of terror.
"So naturally I helped the bird, but the landlady thought I was beating up her cat so she beat me up with her broom. That's when Matthew opened his window and stared talking to her in French. After a while the lady stopped beating me and just glared at me before she picked up her cat and left."
"What happened to the bird?" Lovino asked, despite his efforts of looking uninterested in the fate of the cute yellow fluff ball,
"It hopped on my head and stayed there since."
"But it's not here, is it?" Francis asked with a smirk, and Gilbert sent him a glare.
"After we arrived Gilbird seems to agree with Mattie that I should just talk to…Roddy, so it's been staying on Mattie's head ever since. Traitor," Gilbert added in spite of his pet.
"Gilbird? What kind of name is that?" Antonio asked before he began laughing, the others in the table joining in.
"Gilbert's bird, Gilbird!" Gilbert said with irritation. "You know, you guys just don't have an awesome naming sense, that's why you can't appreciate this awesome name."
"It's a unique name which I'm sure other pets don't have," Ludwig said as smoothly as he could before a smile broke out on his face.
Gilbert pouted. "I wish Mattie was here. He'd appreciate the name."
"Where is Matthew?"Feliciano asked, "Why isn't he here with you?"
Gilbert fell silent and Francis smiled before anyone noticed something was off. "They got separated and Gilbert met me. At least they can still text each other, that's what technology's for, right?"
As if right on cue Gilbert's phone indicated he had a message. Gilbert opened it and his mouth dropped open.
"The devil…" He muttered under his breath as he reread the message:
"Dear Gilbert, I'm currently at my brother's house with your luggage and boyfriend. I've given him a bit of rivalry (a.k.a me, aren't I nice?) to spice things up for you and I hope he gets the message and stops running away from you. You told me your brother lives nearby and apparently he's just at the end of the block. Are you there? I'm going to find you tomorrow and get all lovey dovey with you so your boyfriend can be jealous all he wants. You owe me some pancakes for this. Well, not some, but more like ten year's worth. Be prepared to love me with all your might! ;p
"I'm dead," Gilbert announced before he trudged upstairs to his room.
"Gilbert? Are you not hungry anymore?" Feliciano called. His question was answered by a scream of horror and a string of German cursing.
"Oh," Feliciano said with a sideways glance at Ludwig. "Did we forget some stuff in there?"
Ludwig shrugged. "I don't think a couple of vibrators are enough to scare him."
Feliciano tilted his head. "I think I left the gag and the handcuffs and the whips in there."
"No," Ludwig said, "I don't think it's those."
Feliciano and Ludwig looked at each other before looking at Antonio and Lovino.
"Don't look at me." Lovino said with a grunt. "I wouldn't go into some potato head's room even if Antonio wants me to."
Antonio smiled. "I don't know either."
Francis grinned. "It might be a certain photo shot."
Gilbert's voice screeched from upstairs. "Who the hell left lube dripping all over the floor?! And what's with Toni's butt-shot hanging on the wall?"
The table burst into laughter.
Roderich left Alfred's house in a daze. There was something painfully squeezing against his chest, and it had been starting since Matthew confessed his feelings for Gilbert. The brunette was now confused as to what he should do.
Eight years was a long, long, time, and Roderich thought he'd forgotten everything by now, but there were some things that the brunette couldn't forget, one being the house in the maze. It was a wonderful and terrifying place at the same time, but he couldn't forget it. He took a deep breath before he pushed past the doors and walked into the empty house, heading towards the piano room.
Soft moonlight shone in from the French windows and the illuminated the piano, which had retained its luster over the years. Roderich sat down in front of the piano. He had played many pianos before, but it was always the sound of this particular piano that made his heart wrench up at its beauty.
The brunette opened the fall board and stared at the ivory keys. The melody of Clair de Lune entered his mind, but when his fingers touched the keys he found himself playing the Moonlight Sonata. The more he played the more he began to remember.
Roderich had heard Gilbert play Clair de Lune in this room. He shared his second kiss—more like their first real kiss— with Gilbert in this room. He met Gilbert in this room three days a week like it was his mission, and he carried out his "firsts" plan with him. They did all sorts of things together in this room, and Roderich couldn't—wouldn't—forget. The way Gilbert's silver hair that glinted in the moonlight, the way his eyes were always burning bright with ruby red or smiling with mellow autumn, and his warm, slightly calloused hands that would caress Roderich's body and make him feel like he would burst into flames because it was just too much for him—everything, was just so overwhelming and unforgettable— after all, it was a part of him, and he wouldn't be himself without it.
Roderich finished the sonata and sat there, drinking in the silence, feeling small and insignificant rather than the famous pianist he was.
Gilbert had Feliciano and Lovino clean the lube off the floor and made Antonio remove his butt-shot from the wall. He made Ludwig clean up all the toys and pick up the condoms. After that, he made Francis buy air freshener, new bed sheets, and a new mattress for him and successfully haggled so he could pay half price instead of full. He was rolling on his new bed when he received a call from Matthew.
"Hello Gilbert," Matthew greeted cheerfully, "Where are you, are you at your brother's house yet?"
"What the hell did you do?" Gilbert blurted, and Matthew laughed.
"I just helped you a bit, that's all."
"How the hell am I supposed to act lovey dovey with you?" The albino blurted again.
"You're not," Matthew said, "I was just joking—but you still owe me ten year's worth of pancakes." He added seriously.
"Pfft. You know you make the best pancakes, Mattie." Gilbert chuckled before he turned around and spotted his brother looking at him through the crack of the door. He stuck his tongue out before waving Ludwig away.
"I know, so I'm going to train you until you make a hundred percent Mattie pancakes."
"That alone will take ten years."
"Then that's how long we'll continue being friends."
Gilbert couldn't help but feel touched by Matthew's words. "Thanks Mattie, you really helped me a lot."
"Gilbert…why don't you tell Roderich what happened?" Matthew said softly after a few seconds of silence.
"No point in telling him unless he really wants to listen." Gilbert muttered.
"But I think you should tell him what the Elizaveta girl really is like."
"They're married already. Haven't you seen the ring on his finger? It's no use anymore. He can't divorce her with a snap of his fingers you know. He won't take me back anyways because I goddamn slept with the woman."
"You slept with her because she misled you and you believe her."
"If my brain was fucking bigger than a bird's I wouldn't have."
A tiny bird chirp sounded from the other end of the phone and Gilbert sighed.
"Sorry Gilbird, I didn't mean that."
"Gilbird is intelligent for a bird," Matthew said with a laugh before he continued seriously. "Gilbert, I still think you should explain everything to Roderich. He's still stuck in the past, you know? And I bet he still hasn't gotten rid of the bed you two slept on together." He added, making Gilbert smile a little.
"How do you know though?"
"It's obvious to me—and you know; if there's one way you want to make it up, show some submission. Why don't you let him top you?"
Gilbert choked on his own saliva. "What the hell!" This time it was Feliciano who looked at him through the crack of the door, his brown button eyes full of curiosity. Gilbert waved him away and he skipped off.
"I bet he hasn't topped anyone before." Matthew said with confidence. "You told me that you guys were going to do every 'first' he has, so why not?"
"Roddy has a fucking wife!" Gilbert exclaimed.
"What about the wedding night thing? The whole 'consummation of marriage' deal?"
Matthew laughed lightly. "I've seen enough people to know that he hasn't done anything to his wife; besides," the blond added seriously, "You two are still so much in love—it's impossible for him to hold another person."
"What makes you think that we're still in love?" Gilbert muttered.
"You obviously still care for him, and he obviously cares about you too. He was getting visibly jealous over me when I told him I like you. Besides, his ringtone is 'Salut d'Amour'!"
"What…'Salut d'Amour?' Are you saying he still... likes me?" Gilbert asked incredulously, "He was treating me like shit! He didn't want to talk to me!"
"Define 'shit'. Gilbert, if Roderich hated you he'd be treating you like nothing—like people treat me."
Gilbert felt bad that Matthew was using his own experience to make him feel better. "Mattie, people don't ignore you and they don't treat you like nothing."
"Do you remember when we met again at the Eiffel tower? Most people would have forgotten me by next day, but you still remembered me after a couple of months. I was happy that you recognized me, that's why I want this to work for you," Matthew continued as if Gilbert hadn't spoken at all, "People have been ignoring me, and that's why I can see what they're really like."
"Mattie—"
"Gilbert," Matthew interrupted, "When have I ever been wrong? You trusted me before, why can't you trust me this time?"
"I can't, I just can't, I'm sorry, Mattie." Gilbert mumbled.
"Gilbert—"
"Good night." Gilbert said quickly before he ended the call. The blond was always right when it came to people, but this time, Gilbert couldn't bring himself to trust him—because he couldn't trust himself.
The next morning Gilbert woke up to the smell of pancakes. He threw off the covers and raced downstairs, surprised when he saw Matthew in the kitchen, and more surprised when he saw Antonio, Lovino, Feliciano, Ludwig and Francis sitting at the table. Except Ludwig, none of the others were early birds at all.
Feliciano was fawning over Gilbird and Kumajiro, trying to convince Lovino to say they were cute. Francis and Antonio were asking Matthew questions, and Ludwig was drinking his black coffee.
"Mattie! When did you get here?"
Matthew smiled. "Your brother let me in," He said as he set a platter of pancakes in front of Ludwig, who nodded his thanks.
"What did you do to let my bruder let you use the kitchen?" Gilbert said in wonder. Ludwig never let people he wasn't comfortable with use his kitchen, let along strangers.
"I brought your luggage in and told him a bit about our adventures." Matthew said with a smile as he gestured at the luggage sitting in the corner of the room.
"Yeah," Antonio snickered, "Like the time you ran into the women's washroom at the swimming pool in Canada,"
"The time you tried to scale the Eiffel Tower," Francis said with a sigh,
"The time you wrestled a shark in America," Feliciano said excitedly,
"The time you two played as lovers so Matthew could eat the Valentine's Day couple limited all-you-can-eat desserts in Japan," Lovino added,
"And the time you took Matthew to see opa and he insisted you on taking him as a wife." Ludwig added, and Gilbert's face heated up at the memory of his grandfather shouting to his neighbors that his grandson had finally found a nice woman to marry and finally realized his mistake when he found his glasses.
Gilbert looked at Matthew with a face of complaint.
"What?" Matthew said with a smile as he sat down beside Feliciano, "Your friends and family are fun to be with, and I don't see why I shouldn't tell them about our adventures. Here, Felicino, do you want to see the picture where I cross-dressed to get into that cake shop?"
"Ooh, you look so pretty!" Feliciano squealed as he grabbed Matthew's phone and showed it to Lovino and the others.
Gilbert smirked at their reactions. Matthew put all ladies to shame that day with his ultra adorable lavender eyes and cute pout. In the photo Matthew was wearing a wig and parted it in pigtails, tying the hair with red ribbons and parting his bangs with red hair clips. He wore a loose red sweater that had a band of white near the hem and a row of maple leafs decorating it, a white blouse, and a blue skirt that revealed his long slender legs. That day Gilbert wondered if Matthew was actually a girl. Matthew proved himself by going to the hot springs with Gilbert the same day.
"Wow, Gil, you're so lucky to go out with such a hot girl!" Antonio exclaimed, earning himself a glare from Lovino.
"That's a fucking guy, Antonio."
"Oh, Lovi, it's not like I'm hoping I can date Matthew," Antonio said hurriedly as he sidled over to his boyfriend and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
"Fuck off," Lovino huffed, and Matthew smiled apologetically.
Gilbert looked at Francis, who just smiled. Across from him, Matthew's eyes blinked rapidly before looking confused, and then a small laugh escaped his lips.
"Whoever has his leg running up and down my calf; those are some really long legs."
Everyone looked at one another.
"Definitely not me," Antonio said with a smile.
"Nobody's going to admit running his leg up and down my calf?"Matthew smiled as his lavender eyes fixed on Francis. "Too bad I like my men with their legs long."
"Mattie, I remember the last guy—" Gilbert began, but stopped when he felt Matthew kick his leg under the table.
"Ah, mon cher," Francis said as he leaned towards Matthew, his blue eyes sparkling, "What would you do if I have long legs?"
"I would like to massage them, from toe to thigh." Matthew replied lightly as he took out his own bottle of maple syrup and poured it onto his pancakes. Gilbert could see the spark in Francis' eyes—the predatory look he had when he was out scouting for bed-mates—and sighed. Matthew was bottling his maple syrup when the doorbell rang.
"Ah, it must be Arthur and Alfred," Matthew said as he looked at Gilbert.
"Arthur and Alfred?" Feliciano asked.
"It's a small world," Matthew explained. "Alfred F. Jones is my half-brother, and of course, Arthur Kirkland comes with him."
"Go answer the door, bruder," Ludwig said, and Gilbert grunted as he dragged himself from his chair to the doorway.
"MATTIE! Why'd you leave in the morning without waking me up! I know Artie and I went a little too late last night but it doesn't mean you had to leave a note saying 'I'm bothering you so I should leave'—oh, it's you!" Alfred said as he stopped from his loud rant as he looked at Gilbert in surprise, his blue eyes wide and unblinking.
"I believe if you looked with your eyes you would see that it's not Matthew who answered the door,"Arthur said as he rolled his eyes. "Honestly, are your glasses just for show?"
"Hey, Arthur, Alfred, you guys are still dating?" Gilbert said nervously.
"Gilbert, how nice to see you here," Arthur said as his emerald eyes sliced through the albino, "when did you come back?"
"Yesterday," Gilbert muttered as he backed away to let the pair inside.
"Mattie!" Alfred cried again as he rushed blindly into the kitchen. It reminded Gilbert of the first time Alfred dropped by with Roderich and Arthur for a drink.
"Al, I'm over here," Matthew said as he waved his fork in the air.
"Why'd you leave?" Alfred whined as he dragged a chair over and snuggled against his brother, "It's been a long time since I've seen you and you just left without breakfast…"
"Well, you obviously didn't like the fact that I made Arthur moan," Matthew said with a smile as he patted his brother's head, "So I thought I'd have to drop by at Gilbert's."
"I've already told the git that it wasn't what he thought it was," Arthur muttered, "But he still thinks its incest."
"But you were moaning with your 'I'm-having-and-orgasm' moan!"
"Shut up!" Arthur shouted as Francis and Antonio exchanged looks, "Matthew was just giving me a massage!"
"Alfred, I'm sure you're the only one that can ever satisfy Arthur." Matthew replied, "Arthur and I would never get anywhere as far as having some 'girl-talk'."
"Just stop being a bloody wanker!" Arthur spat, and the whole table laughed. Gilbert felt more relaxed than he had been since high school and it made him wonder why he didn't come home earlier—until Roderich popped back up into his mind.
Roderich; who used to blush gently and smile at his touches and let out a soft moan whenever Gilbert kissed the nape of his neck and slid a hand down his thigh. Roderich; who's face would light up when Gilbert played the piano for him. Roderich; who was now married to Elizaveta and had become the renowned pianist he dreamed to be.
Gilbert's phone rang and he picked it up.
"Hello?" Gilbert asked as he left the noisy table and headed to the living room. He could hear uneven breathing on the other end of the phone and was beginning to wonder if some crazy pervert was calling him when he heard Roderich's voice.
"Gilbert?" And that took the breath out of him.
"Roddy?" He whispered incredulously. "How did you—I mean—"
"Your…friend, Matthew, gave it to me."
"Mattie?"
"…I've decided to listen to you, so come over to my apartment."
"You're not living…?" Gilbert asked without finishing his question. Roderich knew what he was talking about anyways.
"No, not really, Elizaveta is in France right now and the apartment I bought is more ideal for me, so I'm not staying there. Gilbert, just come. I'll be waiting tomorrow night at eight."
Gilbert's heart soared at his chance. "I'll be there," he said, and as soon as he said it Roderich ended the call. The brunette sounded like he was choking, which Gilbert assumed to be a good sign that showed he still had some effect on Roderich.
His phone signaled that he had a new message. Roderich had sent him the address to the apartment. Gilbert exhaled and looked at the sun that was partially hidden behind the clouds. He had made a promise to himself that he wouldn't let Roderich fall into the clutches of Elizaveta, but he ended up running away like the coward that he was. This time he was going to man up and set things straight.
Thanks to everyone who read up to this point!
I'm going to America for the next two days, but I think I'm might start chapter eight during that time.
Reviews please :)