Forever Yours

By: Ezio Bonnefoy

"Alfred no! Cut it out!"

"Oh, so you're going to deny it forever?"

"I don't like her. Period!"

"Boys!" Arthur lowered his paper and looked through his reading glasses at his two sons. An imitate apology from the boys followed. Matthew stood leaned against the door frame and stared bitterly at his brother. Why did he tease him so? If it was a way of showing love, Matthew could easily say that he could live without it. The boy sighed loudly to show his dissatisfaction. In return he got sour face and an exposed tongue from his brother. Arthur gave the American a killer look before he started to read again. Alfred was sitting deep in the couch next to him in his big hoodie that said: AMERICA in capital letters. His hair was messy and he wore two different pair of socks on his feet, just like usual. This was a great contrast to Matthew who wore a white shirt and a pair of nicely ironed beige trousers. The two boys kept making faces at one another before Arthur broke the silence.

"By the way, Matthew." He cleared his throat and evened out the paper. "How is the assignment going?"

"Ah...It's going forward." Matthew said nervously and gave him an awkward smile. He didn't want to lie to Arthur. Truth be told, the assignment went like shit. It was hopeless. Matthew didn't have any hope left. He'd accepted the sad fact that he might fail. But why didn't he understand? The boy felt more stupid every time he read the stupid play. He got more questions then answers when he thought about it. This wasn't good. Anxiety started to get a grip of Matthew's chest as he thought of the deadline that was catching up.

"Ah...Good." Arthur said in his British accent and hid his face in the newspaper that he held. Matthew knew that he didn't want to ask too much. Every time he did the boy tended to close himself in even more, Arthur understood that now. Despite them having the talk, things where still extremely awkward between them. Matthew had only told him a part of his problems at the hospital. Arthur probably knew that. He was a policeman after all, a part of his job is to know when people are and when they aren't telling the truth. But now, he wasn't as hostel and demanding as before. He asked more nicely. Matthew found that weird, but also more comfortable.

"So...you sure you don't like her?" Alfred said with a smirk and shifted in his seat.

"Alfred for the last time NO!" Matthew said in his weak and embarrassed voice.

"Okay, okay!" Alfred held his hands up and left his seat in the sofa.

"Is that about the girl in school?" Alfred asked and took a sip of his tea.

"Yes. But please don't..." Matthew drug his hand over his red face in frustration, his brother laughing loudly. God, Alfred could be a pain in the ass. And that thing Maria did yesterday. Matthew remembered her being so close to him. Too close. He heard the laughs and giggles in his mind and lowered his head, letting his bangs hide him for a moment. Why did she do that? Did she want to embarrass him? And why in the hell did Alfred tell her about him being in the hospital?

"Matthew, is that a cut on your hand?" Alfred grabbed his wrist as he passed him, almost shocking Matthew with his touch.

"O-Oh, I hadn't noticed." He flung his hand close to his body again. Matthew didn't like human contact, Alfred was okay but it was so sudden. He examined his hand. I was more of a carpet burn than a cut. He must have gotten it during the fight with Billy at some point. As fresh memories of the incident flashed in front of him, Matthew felt a cold sweat coming and his heart starting to race. Billy's harsh voice slammed against his ear drums as he remembered himself being slammed into the concrete wall.

"Where did you get that?" Arthur asked and took of his glasses to see better. Matthew's heart skipped a beat. He still stared at the wound paralyzed. Lifting his eyes of his hand, he told himself to be cool. Alfred and Arthur didn't know anything so it was fine.

"I d-don't know..." Matthew tilted his eyes to his feet and then to Arthur who looked very skeptical. "Well..I..." His sight blurred for a second. Oh no, was it tears? His eyes didn't burn, then why couldn't he focus? The beating in his chest got harder as his knees started to tremble.

"Matthew. Are you alright?" Arthur said and rose from his seat.

"I-I'm fine..." Matthew covered his mouth. He told himself to calm down. It was just a memory. There was no danger now. A deep breath later, Arthur was already by his side and took him by the shoulder.

"Sit down."

"N-No..I-" Matthew tried to walk away with is shaking legs, the incident haunting his mind.

"Sit down. I'll get you some tea, alright?" Matthew finally nodded unwillingly and sat down in the sofa. He curled up and knotted his hands together. Billy had scared him alright. He was more frightening than Arthur at this point. The Brit came back with a cup of steaming tea and a sandwich on a plate.

"T-Thank you...But-" Matthew took the tea and Arthur placed the food on the coffee table.

"I know Matthew. I know." He said calmly and sat down next to him in the sofa and leaned back. "Could you just..." Arthur clenched his jaw and looked away for a second. "I know you don't want to, but could you just eat it? You looked like you where going to pass out again and I really don't..." Arthur let out a sigh as he focused in front of him with his mossy gaze. Matthew's eyes widened a bit as Arthur swallowed his pride and sunk in status.

"Okay." Matthew understood. He didn't have to say anything else. Arthur looked at Matthew with worried eyes and asked, as nicely as he could.

"Did something happen today?" Matthew's eyes met his and a silence passed. Arthur was really trying. His gaze was pleading, desperately. Sighing and looking away, Matthew thought of the incident. He could not tell him it was Billy. He just couldn't. Arthur would freak out and therefore loose his job as an officer at the NYPD. Billy's father was after all short tempered just like him, if Arthur would bring up what Matthew had experienced he'd surely take his son side and fire the Brit.

"Y-Yea...A scary thing happened..." Matthew said finally with cracked voice and took a sip of his tea. "I-I was almost mugged..." A strong feeling of guilt wrapped around Matthew's chest as he let the lie slip out of his mouth. Crap. He was the worst liar ever. Ashamed, he sat next to Arthur who tried so badly to reach out to him.

"Almost?" Arthur leaned closer to Matthew. He was getting sharp again. Probably because he wanted to catch the so called non exciting criminals himself.

"Y-Yes...They didn't take anything though..."

"They?" Alright, he was mad now. His voice was growling. Shit. He was going to find out. Why did Matthew say they? Why? The boy curled up even more and held his cup close to his chest. Matthew waited for Arthur to start bombing him with questions, but as it turned out he just leaned back and sighed again.

"Um..." Matthew felt like he should say something but was surprised by Arthur's reaction.

"Sorry." Sorry? Why did he apologize? Matthew should be the one to do that since he was keeping the truth from him. "Did they hurt you?" Staring at Arthur, Matthew was still baffled. Why was he this calm? He normally would have interrogated him, ask him for details, drag the truth out of the boy, but, he wasn't doing any of it. Why was he holding back? "Did they?" Arthur awoke Matthew from his thoughts.

"N-No...They didn't." The boy stared down in his tea. What was Arthur doing? It's something odd with him. Did he know about Billy already? Did he know about the attack? Matthew felt his chest sink. Did he know that he lied?

"But, what happened? You said there were more than one. Did you fight them off? You used the tazer didn't you?" Arthur smiled in the corner of his mouth.

"What? No, no." Matthew breathed out. Thank god, he didn't know.

"Then how?" Arthur held his hands out.

"Yea bro. How?" Alfred came out of the kitchen with an apron around his waist. Turns out he was listening too. Matthew thought for a second before speaking.

"Well, I was...kind of saved."

"By who?" Arthur curled his bushy brows.

"Superman?" Alfred stood in a heroic pose with a whisk in his right hand.

"You really believe that Alfred?" Arthur turned to him with a skeptical face.

"Yea! Or Spiderman!" He did another ridicules pose.

"Alfred..." Arthur just laughed at Matthew's brother. His laugh was old and light. Matthew hadn't heard it for a while, so he chuckled a little himself before Alfred joined in. They laughed together.

This was nice. Really nice.

Matthew enjoyed their happy faces. Maybe this family wasn't so bad after all?

"Okay, but seriously. What happened bro? Was it a superhero?"

"Yes tell us. I'm really curios." Arthur still had a smile on his lips and his green eyes almost glowed.

"W-Well...You know that Frenchman I told you about?"

"No way!" Alfred almost shouted out of surprise.

"You sure?" Arthur laughed again when Matthew nodded.

"Is he stalking you or something?" Alfred raised one of his brows.

"I was thinking that too." Matthew finally dared to take a bite of his sandwich. It wasn't good but at least Arthur hadn't put Marmite on it.

"Well what did he do?" Arthur looked pleased as Matthew lowered the food to the plate again.

"I told you. He saved me. Apparently he saw them trying to-" Matthew cleared his throat before he let the words beat up slipped out of his mouth. "Steal my money and he came there and brought them down."

"Wow!" Alfred sounded impressed by Matthew's story.

"That's quite brave." Arthur said and and crossed his arms.

"Yea, but I think he actually stalks me! For real. I got really mad and scolded him."

"I think you have a guardian angel Matthew. You should have thanked him instead." Arthur drew his lips in that warm smile that Matthew had come to love. He thought for a second. Matthew hadn't actually thanked Francis. Now he felt rude. The boy was saved, Francis had been hurt and he didn't even give him a: Thank you.

"You and you're mythical creatures man!" Alfred gave Arthur a silly face and widened his eyes. "By the way, we're out of milk guys."

"Why would you need milk? You never drink milk." Matthew looked a bit skeptical at Alfred.

"We're making pancakes tonight. Or, well Alfred is, I can't." Arthur said and rose from his seat. "I'll go buy some-"

"No, I'll do it!" Matthew said in a cheer and left his seat. "It's faster to take the scooter." Arthur looked a little displeased but sensed the boy's joy.

"Alright. But be quick about it." He said and nodded towards the garage.

"I will!" Matthew rushed to the hall. Yes! Pancakes!

-x-

The sun was setting already. A red shifting palette sky stretched out above Francis as he strutted along the almost empty sidewalk. Felling his wrists, he frowned his face and sighed. He didn't understand why that damn freak had to use handcuffs. It wasn't like he'd go anywhere or try to flee during the service he was giving him. Francis felt a little guilty for working despite Gilbert's orders, but he needed money. And this guy paid well. Feeling the pay in his pocket Francis counted the bills with his thumb once more. 300 dollars. Even thought he got the double amount of cash he usually got, the French barely think it was worth it. His body was sore and hurt. That damn Mr. Smith. He knew how badly Francis needed the pay. And in exchange for that huge amount of salary, he demanded he'd do all sorts of sickening things. Most of them more painful than weird.

A sharp pain hit Francis in his side. Clenching his jaw, he leaned against the building next to his and held the hurt rib. Merde. Why did that freak have to hurt someone else to gain pleasure? Francis straightened his back again and continued walking. Not only the bruises from him hurt, but also the wounds he'd gotten from Billy just a few hours before. He kept feeling the taste of iron in his mouth and his lip still stung. Francis smiled and laughed lightly. The combination of his lip wound and his red knuckles probably added up to Mr. Smith's experience. Even though he was bitter, he couldn't help but to feel good that he saved Matthew. Well, the boy didn't seem that way, but he probably was thankful.

Francis felt his side again. Maybe he should let someone take a look at that rib. It didn't hurt as much now, but when he got hit by Billy it burned. And that dirty costumer had to make it worse by almost cracking it. Francis shook it of. He shouldn't be thinking that way. It would bring him down. Instead he thought about why he actually got hurt. It was to save Matthew. He smiled for himself as he passed people on the sidewalk.

Matthew.

Francis couldn't let that gorgeous boy get hurt. That skin was too fair. The French laughed at himself. He really thought that boy was beautiful. He could barely keep his eyes of him. Not only his skin, but his eyes and his hair. It was truly candy for Francis gaze. He knew he couldn't, but wanted to carefully touch it. He wanted to touch Matthew's alluring beauty.

His smile faded. Matthew had however been very rude to him. Francis remembered how big his eyes where the first time he saw him on that dark and eery street. Maybe he was afraid of him and therefore pushed him away? Was it because of how he dressed? The French locked at his ultramarine old English-styled coat and his worn out dress shoes and gloves. Did he really look frightening? He shook his head lightly and put his hands in his coat pockets. He would never know for sure.

He looked at his feet for a second and started to wonder what Matthew must have experienced to make him so on edge. He seemed like a nice young man but when he opened his mouth his words cut just like Natalia's did. But still, he wasn't as tough as she was. Not in mind and nor in body. Francis saw his frightened face in front of him. When he stood in that ally next to Billy, it must have been truly terrifying for him. Francis had only seen that kind of expression once or twice before. On those occasions it had been out fear of someones life. Was Matthew afraid that he was going to die? Non, that could not be it. Sure, Billy was mad, but he wouldn't kill the boy, now would he? What could Matthew had done to make him that upset? This must have been because of the French. He did humiliate him in front of his friends and he did know his real name now. Maybe he felt threatened.

Then it hit Francis. The Girls. Laura and Jessica. They didn't know about each other. He was afraid that Matthew would tell him about Laura and that he would tell him about Jessica. Well, they did, but by chance. They didn't know each other. Billy must have believed that they did. So he attacked Matthew to keep him silent. Wow, Billy was an asshole. He would have beaten Matthew up really bad if Francis hadn't arrived. The ache in his side did have a purpose after all. Francis action wasn't pointless. It was only sad that Matthew had to get in trouble because Francis wanted to be nice to him, and embarrass Billy at the same time.

Just as he started to lean back he heard an engine slowing down and someone shout behind him.

"Hey!"Francis blood went cold and his body tensed. Could this be them? Memories flashed and the possible dangerous suspects lined up in his mind. Had they found him? Francis pulse skipped a beat and he felt his whole body cry out of fear.

He continued walking as if he didn't hear anything. "Hey!" With heart rapidly beating and pain in his side, Francis told himself too keep calm. He was not Francis Bonnefoy, he did not have 300 dollars in his left coat pocket and he was not followed by anyone. Especially not them. As he was about to turn around the corner a red scooter stopped at the street in front of him. Shit. On the vehicle was a man in a big winter jacket. Francis did not see his face as it was covered by a red scarf and a pair of pilot goggles. The French stopped dead in his tracks and smiled nervously at the man in front of him. Who could this be? He did not recognize him. Should he run for it?

"I need to speak to you." When he heard the sweet and soft voice Francis finally recognized him. Matthew took his helmet off and put the goggles on his head.

"Oh, bonsoir Matthew." Francis let out a sigh of relief and walked closer to the boy as he pushed the scarf down and reveled his face completely.

"Yea, hi." Matthew smiled nervously and scratched the back of his head.

"So?" Francis smiled back and crossed his arms.

"S-So?" Matthew blinked a few times as he'd forgotten where he was.

"You wanted to speak to moi, non?"

"Ah, y-yes!" The boy brushed his fair bangs back from his shimmering eyes. "I...Um..." Francis smirked when he noticed his face getting redder by the second. "I wanted t-to thank you. Because of what happened earlier today..."

"Oh, really?" Francis rolled his R in excitement.

"Y-Yea..."

"You didn't seem that thankful..." The French said and looked away a bit bitter.

"Yes, I know I'm sorry-"

"Apology not accepted."

"What?" Matthew's eyes widened in confusion, just like Francis wanted them to. "B-But..."

"Oh, so I save your life, then you burst out on me acting all ungrateful, I even offered to help you with your school project and you denied me. And then you come to me with a: sorry? You think everything is fine?" The French spat in his dialect. Matthew looked like he was panicking now.

"Ah...I-"

"I was hurt you know?!" Francis pointed at his lip with a dramatic face. "And you hurt me with your words after that too, how cruel..." The French looked away with a face of dread and waited for Matthew's reaction, and it was good. Maybe Francis was a bit too dramatic, but he got what he wanted.

"Um...I'm truly sorry. I am! Ah..." Matthew thought hard and held his hands in front of him, almost as if he would catch the idea with them. "How can I make it up to you? I'll do anything!"

"Oh?" Jackpot. Francis swallowed his fake tears and smirked towards Matthew. "I want you to buy me coffee at that Swedish cafe tomorrow at 5pm. And bring the Romeo and Juliet project."

"Uh..." Matthew sat on his scooter baffled with his jaw dropped.

"You got it?"

"Y-Yea, but-"

"Bien mon amie! I'll see you there tomorrow!" Francis turned his heel and started walking again.

"W-Wait!"

"You said anything!" Francis waved him goodbye with his back still facing the boy. His heart still beat hard in his chest, but now for another reason. He wanted to skip on the sidewalk but told himself not to since Matthew's eyes was still on him.

"What if I can't come?" Matthew finally shouted at him before Francis was about to leave his sight. He turned to him and smiled.

"Then I'll never forgive you!" Matthew frowned his face by that statement before he drug his goggles down to hide his red face.

This was good. Now Francis got Matthew just where he wanted him, on a date.

Merde: Damn it

Bonsoir: Good evening

Moi: Me

Non: No

Bien mon amie: Good my friend