Big doe green eyes looked up at Matthew, as the little child tilted it's head. "Lili!" Matthew heard some call from somewhere in the huge mansion. "Not yet big brother!" Lili called out to the voice. "We're leaving!" The voice called back. "No!" She cried out, pouting her little lips at the half opened door. Lili then turned back to Matthew and blinked up at him. "Why are you crying?" She asked him, as she held her book close to her.
Matthew quickly wiped his cheeks, he hadn't realized he was crying and took a deep breath. "Sorry...you just, really...really resemble a person I used to know; did know." He said softly, his voice strained. "Oh, where is this person now?" She asked, taking a seat on the floor next to the love seat. Matthew felt his heart throb, "I-I don't know." He muttered, the realization of the truth hitting him hard. He had no clue if Peter was even alive.
Soft footsteps were heard outside the bedroom door as it was then completely pushed open. "There you are, I've been looking all over this place for you!" A man with similar looking hair yelled. "Hey! What's with all the fucking yelling!?" Gilbert yelled from under the mound of pillows. "Watch your language Beilschmidt!" The short blonde headed man yelled at him. Gilbert appeared begrudgingly sat up, a few pillows falling away from him. "And why the fuck should I?" He asked, scratching the back of his messed up white hair. The man glared at Gilbert before walking over to Lili and picking her up. "Lili we're leaving now, our business here is done and we don't need to stay here any more." He explained and suddenly left the room, Lili pouting over his shoulder as she opened her book. Matthew heard Gilbert grumble something about mornings and flopped back down in bed.
He shrugged off the big bed sheet and stretched himself out. Glancing Gilbert's way to see he had curled back up under the covers, Matthew walked into the bathroom. He went over to where Eliza had washed him yesterday and sat beside what looked like the water came from. Matthew tapped the knob, but nothing came out. He slid into the bath tub and then tried pulling at the knob. Giving it a hard yank his hands slipped and he fell backward into the tub. Matthew let out a soft groan and sat up, glaring at the knob, getting up he sat in the tub next to it. "Turn on." He barked at it as he tried messing around with it again. Suddenly freezing cold water poured from the tub faucet and onto Matthew's pants who clumsy scrambled out of the tub shivering. "As much fun as it is to see you try and turn on a simple knob, I hate noisy things in the morning." Gilbert said from behind Matthew, who turned around and glared up at him. "Have you ever taken a bath before?" Gilbert asked looking at him up and down. "I bathe in the river near my brother's place...I mean I did..." Matthew said softly. "Would you just forget about the past already? Jeez, just suck it up!" Gilbert told him as he walked over to the bathroom door. "Easy for you to say." Matthew growled at him, turning his attention to the slowly filling bath.
Looking over his shoulder, Gilbert smiled and flicked his finger towards Matthew. A shadow appeared behind the oblivious teen and shoved him forward into the cold water. Gilbert laugh as he left the room, hearing Matthew gasping and coughing. He decided to throw on a pair of jeans as he exited his room, walking down the stairs to the main entrance to see Vash standing there, holding a happy Lili, as he talked to his younger brother. "Since I saw Lili I knew ya had to be here." Gilbert said, coming down the stairs. Normally his younger brother would babysit Vash's sister whenever he needed to take long trips far from home. The blue eyed demon looked up at his elder brother, making an entrance; as usual. "Yes, I came home from my business trip early and so happen to be free so I offered to watch Lili for the night. I just came back here to get a few things of mine." Ludwig said. "Nice try, Lovi told me the whole thing about you and his brother getting it on." Gilbert snickered as his usual unemotional brother blushed slightly. "Excuse me!" Vash growled at the two of them.
Back in Gilbert's bathroom, Matthew had curled up inside the tub against the wall, pressing his head against the cold tile. His shoulders shook violently as he tried hard not to sob too loudly, the faintest sound echoing off the walls. Imagines of Peter, Hercules and his mother plagued his mind, replaying happy times over and over again, tormenting him until he felt like he was going to go insane! He knew he'd never get those time back and it wasn't fair. Matthew looked up at the ceiling with puffy red eyes. "What ha-have I done to anger you so much?" He whispered softly, his voice crackling a few times. "I just want to go home." Matthew sobbed, placing his head back down. But he knew he had no home, and cried harder, not wanting to be in the stale bath water.
He wanted to be held by his mother's warm arms again, as she would play with his hair until he fell asleep. To look up and see her beautiful face and tell him that everything was okay and everything will work out. "I'm i asking too much? Please..." He begged sat in the cold water for a little while longer letting the last of his tears rolled down his cheeks and brushing them away. Getting out slowly he went to go put on some clothing.
Ludwig mumbled a 'sorry' at Vash. "Story time!" Lili suddenly yelp, wiggling in Vash's hold. "I told you when we get home I'll read you as many as you wanted." Vash explained to the young girl. Lili then detach herself from her brother and ran to the bottom of the grand staircase. "I wanted him to read me a story!" She exclaimed happily. The three men looked up to see Matthew standing there on the middle of the stairs in a white shirt and jeans, towel around his neck looking down at them. "Lili, stay away from him." Vash warned her, to which she then trotted right up to Matthew who stood still, not knowing what to do.
Lili held out her story book and Matthew took it, opening it up. She sat down on the stair case and tugged at Matthew's pants to do the same. He settled down next to her and looked at the first story, "Hickory, dickory, dock...the mouse ran up the clock." He read out loud, and then turned to Lili. "Why did the mouse run up the clock?" He asked, confused. "Silly, you have to read it!" She said. Matthew looked back down at the page. "This isn't a story, I'll tell you a story." Matthew said, smiling softly. "Really! Is it a good one?!" She asked, tiny little teeth showing as she smiled brightly. "Well, that'll keep them busy for a while." Gilbert commented, though noticed the slight strain in his face and movements. "Indeed." Vash agreed. Ludwig, simply nodded, excusing himself to grab his things before he left. Gilbert heard Vash sigh to himself as he looked up at Matthew telling a story to his little sister. "What's got you so glum?" "I haven't told Lili I'm leaving again for a meeting in Poland. I was going to read to her until she fell asleep and then Elizabeth said that she'd love to babysit while I was gone." He explained. "Then why don't you just take her along with you?" Gilbert, said crossing his arms.
His eyes fluttered over to Matthew who was now talking with hands, saying something about a giant bear. "She gets sick very easily and the plane rides back and forth would be too much for someone like her." Vash said, pinching the bridge of his nose. Suddenly the door behind the two talking men opened and closed. They both looked over to Elizabeth standing at the door, a very big smile on her face. "Speak of the devil." Gilbert muttered. "Guess who's having a baby!" Eliza said, looking at everyone. "Well congrats, I didn't think Roddy could even get it up." Gilbert said, which earned him a smack across the back of his head from Eliza's handbag. "Not me idiot, my friend Belle. I just thought you all would like to heard the good news, since this place is always so down." Eliza said, walking pass the two men.
Her eyes found Matthew and Lili sitting on the stairs together and smiled. Lili got up and ran to her, jumping up into her arms. "Baby girl I've missed you so much!" She said, hugging the little blonde tightly. "You're leaving again aren't you?" Lili said, pouting sadly at her brother. As the three chatted Matthew took this time to escape into the hallway towards the dinning room. This didn't go unnoticed by Gilbert and followed him. "Who knew you were so good with kids?" Gilbert said, coming up beside him.
Matthew didn't answer him as he continued to walk. "Did you tell stories back home and dance around the campfire with a cow's head on yours?" Matthew stayed silent and walked faster. "Oh, maybe you all went out hunting together and chanted Indian song saying- ooomp!" Gilbert grabbed his stomach where Matthew's elbow had connected with it. "Would you shut up." He snarled dangerous at him. "Sorry, did I hit a soft spot?" Gilbert teased him. Matthew got in his face, staring up at him but before he could retort Gilbert suddenly disappeared from sight. He blinked and looked around for the demon. A pair of arms then wrapped themselves around Matthew's shoulders, bringing him back against Gilbert's warm chest. "If it's a fight you're looking for its a fight you'll get. One way or another you are going to submit to me." He purred softly into Matthew's ear. "And that's a promise." Gilbert whispered and bit Matthew's ear before disappeared again.
He reappeared down the hallway, going back to the main entrance. Matthew started to walk towards the dinning room, to get to the living room. He passed the kitchen doors and saw a few of the servants coming out of swinging doors talking to each other. They suddenly stopped and stared at Matthew before whispering to each other. "There he is." "I heard that Gilbert was going to make take a pregnancy pill." "Why would he want to do that?" "Imagine how awful it would be for the children to have a parent like him." They chattered. Matthew's hands balled into tight fists, and his lips curled into a snarl. "You want a beast fine you all seem to keep thinking I am then I'll start acting like one!" Matthew snapped, shifting and fur bristling out.
Right before he could move forward, arms suddenly hugged his neck and held him back. "What do you think your doing!?" He heard Gilbert yelled. "That beast was going to attack us!" One of the servants called out. 'Keep tempting me and I will!' Matthew barked. "Matthew calm down right now!" Gilbert ordered. He kept moving around in his grasp, snarling and barking when suddenly Gilbert's hold on him broke and Matthew darted for the closest servant in from of him. The poor demon barely had anytime to think before Matthew sank his jaws into his shoulder and squeezed. "Matthew stop it!" Gilbert yelled at him, trying to get Matthew off of the screaming servant. Matthew's jaws seemed to be made out of steel when Gilbert tried prying his mouth open. The other servants had already retreated away from them leaving the three of them struggling. Suddenly a force knocked Gilbert off of Matthew, and Matthew away from the servant. Gilbert looked up to see a woman, wearing many overlapping robes standing over Matthew. "What the hell..." Gilbert said, staring at her.
Long flowing brown hair swept around her slender face as she kneeled next to Matthew, who was laying on his side breathing heavily, his mouth stained with blood. The woman leaned in and Gilbert saw her whisper something into Matthew's ear, and then brushed her hands through his fur before standing again. He saw Matthew suddenly calmed down and looked like he was asleep. The woman and Gilbert made eye contact. "Take care of Matthew until he has awoken from his slumber." She said, her voice like silk as she faded away. The only evidence she was ever there were two deer tracks in the carpet next to Matthew. Gilbert quickly got up and walked over to Matthew as his body morphed back into his human like form. He saw that the blood had started to dry around his neck, throat and chest. Seeing Matthew's eyes open gave Gilbert a sudden feeling of...relief? No, that couldn't be right.
He saw Matthew try to get up but was struggling, so Gilbert bent down and picked him up in his arms. Matthew tried to get away, and pushed against Gilbert's chest but his energy felt like it was sucked out from him. "Just let me get you cleaned up alright, stop complaining." He told him as he brought him back up stairs. In the bathroom Gilbert sat Matthew down next to the tub and turned it on, warm water filling it up. Both Gilbert and Matthew had their back facing each other as they both started to strip, unaware of the other's actions. Matthew had removed his clothing quickly and slipped into the bath, sighing as the warm water relaxed his muscles. He closed his eyes and sank down until the water lapped at his shoulders. Matthew cupped the water and splashed it on his face, getting rid of the blood on it. He was content being there, but was turned around and was suddenly sitting on Gilbert's lap. Gilbert's naked lap.
Matthew started to moved to get away. "Woah, easy there puppy, you're making the situation worse." Gilbert said smoothly. "Me!?" Matthew said, looking at his wide eyed. "Yes, all I want is for you to sit, but I'll do more than hold you down if you moving around." He told him. "B-But-" "But what?" Gilbert raised a silver eyebrow at the blushing demon on his lap. "You're...we're you know..." "Naked?" "Yes! Now let me go!" Matthew said. "Nope." "Get away from me!" "I don't think so." "Please!" Matthew begged. Gilbert blinked at Matthew, "Hey I think that's the nicest thing you've said-" Gilbert was cut off as Matthew's sharp nails slashed at his cheek, causing two red lines to appear and slowly, droplets of blood slipped down his cheek from wound. Matthew quickly got off Gilbert's lap and moved to opposite side of the tub. "This isn't right." Matthew muttered softly. "Where's Peter? Oh my god where is he!?" Said frantically. "He has to be okay, oh lord, please save him." Matthew prayed, his eyes fluttered down to see his hands speckled with blood, some of the blood washed away in the water around. "Hercules, why...I just wanted to die! Why was it so hard!? You shouldn't have saved me, you could of made it to the tribe I-I-I..." Gilbert saw the distraught and fear in Matthew's eyes as he spoke, and could smell it on him as well.
Quietly he went over to him and wrapped his arms gently around the crying boy. "We said we needed to keep going! You need to wake up! Why aren't you getting up!?" Matthew cried, not noticing the arms around him. "We...we promise mom we'd live...mom..." Gilbert felt Matthew stiffen in his hold. "...I want my mother...I-I want...why, did she...is she okay?" Matthew tried form some kind of sentence but his mind was going haywire with all these thoughts. "Matthew?" Said softly, trying to bring Matthew out of his own mind and back into the present. Slowly, he watched as Matthew closed his eyes and slumped against Gilbert's chest, passing out due to stress.
Gilbert got out of bath, hauling Matthew in his arms as he walked out of the bathroom and to his bed. He lowered Matthew's soaking wet body on his bed, placing blanket, after blanket around him before he got himself dried off and dressed. He was sitting at the very edge of the bed, his back against the bed post, a leg propped up on the bed, the other lazily hanging off of it as he watched Matthew sleep, the occasional shiver running through his body. Gilbert couldn't remember how long he was sitting there, watching Matthew sleep but his attention was pulled to his bedroom door as it opened.
Eliza stood there, holding the door in her hands as she gave a concerned glance over towards Matthew. "He's alright, just having a metal breakdown." Gilbert said. "Well, you do have a lot of experience in metal breaks." Eliza said softly. "I do, don't I?" Gilbert said, his normally boasting loud voice, was quiet. "Did she see anything?" Gilbert asked, looking back at Matthew. "Lili wanted to go see what happen, but I got here to go upstairs to one of the bedrooms and we played house for a little bit. But she's sleeping now." Eliza told him, with a small smile on her face.
"Good..." Gilbert muttered. "I should go check in on her." She said, closing the door as she left. Matthew mumbled something under his breath and shifted in his spot a little. Slowly Gilbert shuffled over to Matthew, and laid next to him, covering the boy of them with a different blanket. Matthew shifted a bit closer to the sudden warmth next to him as he slept, and he could felt an arm wrap around him, bringing him closer to the source of the warmth.
He felt a hand slightly tug his hair and a soft murmur if words. Matthew didn't know what was said but it made him happy. Gilbert could feel Matthew shift closer to him and looked down at him. He saw some traces of blood still on his face and brought his hand down to wipe it away, slowly dragging his hand up to his wet locks, tangling his fingers in his hair. Looking down at Matthew's peaceful face, he realized that this is the closest he's gotten to the boy and he wasn't trying to run away or bite him.
"You'll be okay." Gilbert said into Matthew's ear before laying his own head down on his many pillows and closed his eyes, cradling Matthew close to him.
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