"So, why can't I know about this big secret you guys have?" Gilbert asked just as the train began to move. They had already packed up, the money dispersed across the city of Brussels, and Gilbert insisted that he stay with Matthew before they went on top of the train.
"There's no secret," Matthew assured him. He had a bit of a problem lying to him now, but he figured Gilbert would be told soon anyway. Everyone liked him, aside from Ivan, but they hated each other, and Francis was sure they could trust him. He would know by the time they left Berlin. He just couldn't know now. Matthew wasn't in charge of that.
"That's just code for I can't know yet," Gilbert sighed dramatically, leaning against the side of the train. "You know, it's weird that you can't feel these things move very much."
"I guess," Matthew shrugged. He'd only ever been on trains that he couldn't feel move. He was sure if he felt one move, then he would be panicking, thinking about how soon they would be crashing. "Or maybe you're just old-fashioned."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm crazy," Gilbert rolled his eyes. "I know." Matthew noticed that his "brother" was the first out of everyone to go out of a window and people followed him swiftly. "Let's go," Gilbert smirked as he quickly opened the closest window to them, ducking out first and clamoring not-so-gracefully to the top. Matthew followed him and took the hand Gilbert offered to help him up. "Do you ever get used to this?"
"Nope!" Matthew laughed, enjoying the rush of the wind around them. "It's great, though!"
"Hell yeah!" Gilbert laughed, spreading his arms wide and stumbling backwards slightly.
"So, my little bro tells me that you guys had a nice date!" Alfred shouted, tossing an arm around Matthew's shoulders.
"I'm not the younger one," Matthew sighed, rolling his eyes at his "brother" while Gilbert cackled.
"You talked about it?" Gilbert laughed.
"He woke me up in the middle of the night to force it out of me!" Matthew yelled, glaring at Alfred. "And then continued to pester me all of yesterday!"
"So that's why I didn't get to see you!" Gilbert laughed. "That makes a lot of sense!"
"Since I'm a protective older brother-"
"Not really by brother," Matthew inputted for Alfred.
"I'm gonna need to find some time to talk with you about dating my little bro!" Alfred continued, ignoring Matthew's comment, despite the fact that it was true, after all.
"Oh, yeah, I'm so scared of you," Gilbert rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Don't say that while we're on top of a speeding train!" Alfred laughed and Gilbert laughed as well. Now it was Matthew's turn to roll his eyes. Only those two could take a threat like that and not take it seriously.
"I should leave you two alone, then!" Matthew shouted over the wind. "I'll go talk with Ivan or something!"
"Don't let him kill you with his icy heart!" Gilbert shouted back while Matthew got out of his "brother's" grip and walked over to where Ivan was standing, talking with his sisters.
"If he forces you to go Commie, tell me and I'll be your hero!" Alfred boasted and he and Gilbert high-fived. Matthew just sighed and walked over to his Russian friend, who smiled at him. Though Matthew didn't ignore the glare he sent Alfred and Gilbert, who were animatedly talking to each other. Matthew knew the two would get along well, given enough alone time together.
"Hello, Matvey!" Ivan greeted him and Matthew nodded back to him with a smile. Natalia glared at him for interrupting her alone time with her brother, but Matthew ignored it easily enough. She didn't have any weapons and Ivan would stop her if she tried to push Matthew off, so he knew he was safe.
"Hey!" Matthew shouted in turn. "I came up with a few ideas for our act a little while ago and figured we could talk about them now! Do you mind?"
"Not at all," Ivan smiled.
Berlin, Germany
Matthew looked around the building he was in, making sure no one had followed him. Once they had begun setting up in Berlin, he had managed to sneak away, Alfred and Gilbert busy with each other's egos, and made it to a library. Computers lined the wall he was approaching and he stood carefully in front of one. The screen lit up upon sensing his presence and a search screen was already up. Matthew took a deep breath.
"Gilbert Beilschmidt," Matthew said clearly to the computer and it easily filled in the words to the search bar and began its search. Matthew quickly looked through the results, reading the short summary of each site that had information. None of them seemed very interesting, just people with the same name, but then Matthew saw something interesting. "Fourth one down."
The computer opened the page and Matthew started to read.
Reported missing by his brother, Ludwig, Gilbert Beilschmidt disappeared in London, England in the year 2014. There was no further information given by Ludwig, aside from the picture below. It is known that he is in his early twenties and has continued to be missing for 50 years. Many theorize that he is dead and will never be found, though an alert and a reward are still supported by Ludwig. The police stopped their search after one year of nothing appearing after their search. If found, call…
Matthew stopped reading and waited as the computer scrolled through the page, having already sensed the rate Matthew read and it stopped at the end of the page while Matthew stared at the picture the page supplied. It was an old picture, but it was from 2014, so it could clearly show all of Gilbert's features. The shocking white hair, red eyes, pale complexion, knowing smirk.
"Print this page," Matthew muttered breathlessly and quickly left the computer, which closed out of Matthew's search as he left. He ran up to the printer and took the page, still staring at the picture of Gilbert. He'd been missing for 50 years, but looked the same as in that photo. He should be in his 70s by now…
With a sigh, Matthew stormed out of the library, nearly running into several people and marched to the grounds where the domes were already all set up. Some people stood around lazily and Matthew searched desperately for the mysterious albino. He found him when Matthew entered the main dome. He was alone, setting up the tight rope.
"Gilbert!" Matthew shouted to him and Gilbert jumped slightly, but looked back at him and smiled. Matthew just walked up to him and showed him the paper. "What is this?"
Gilbert blinked, staring at the page for a while, reading what was typed on it, but Matthew tore it away from him. Gilbert stared dumbly at him, looking like he was at a loss for words, for once in his life.
"Gilbert," Matthew said. "What is going on?"
"Where did you get that from?" Gilbert asked, his voice oddly quiet and serious.
"A library," Matthew said clearly. "Now explain what is going on. You've been missing for 50 years, yet you look just like you do in that picture? What aren't you telling me?"
"Take me there," Gilbert said, apparently ignoring the rest of what Matthew had said.
"No," Matthew shook his head. "Not until you explain this to me. What is going on, Gilbert? I'm just trying to understand! Are you faking an identity?"
"No," Gilbert shook his head slowly. "Please, take me to that library."
"Why?" Matthew asked. "What is so important that we can just ignore what I found about you that doesn't make any sense at all? I need answers, Gilbert!"
"You keep your secrets and I'll keep mine," Gilbert said. "Please, I need to find my brother. Take me to that library."
Matthew was about to protest, but the look in Gilbert's eyes, the lost, pleading look that Matthew knew couldn't be made up made him change his mind. Gilbert looked almost scared, glancing at the paper in Matthew's hand, which was now down by his side. Matthew sighed and nodded, turning towards the entrance of the dome.
"Matthew, lad," Arthur said and Matthew looked at Gilbert, who nodded, and Matthew walked over to Arthur. "I need a favor of you. I would do it myself, but I'm a trifle busy at the moment. You're close with Gilbert, as I've heard around the circus. I need you to tell him, alright? I'll need him for this next target, as it's a little tricky. Are you two going somewhere?"
"Yes, but we'll be back soon," Matthew muttered, folding the paper in his hands.
"Please tell him by the time you get back," Arthur sighed and continued walking on, muttering words in German Matthew couldn't understand. Matthew moved back to Gilbert and continued walking forward. He would allow Gilbert to look up whatever it was that he needed and then tell him the truth and then he would learn about what the hell Gilbert was up to and why he needed to be so mysterious.
They made their way through the grounds of the circus and back into the streets of Berlin without a word to each other. Matthew walked ahead while Gilbert was eerily quiet behind him. They walked into the quiet library and Matthew moved to the computer that he had been at earlier. The computer recognized him and opened the old page Matthew was on.
"New search," Mathew said and the computer changed screens. "Ludwig Beilschmidt." Gilbert stayed quiet and read the results over Matthew's shoulder. The computer scrolled slower now that two sets of eyes were looking at it.
"Second one," Gilbert said and the computer obeyed. Gilbert read through it and Matthew saw that it was information on a man, roughly in his early 70s, and it described the hospital he was currently living in due to a heart condition. "I need you to take me there," Gilbert said.
"I can't just…" Matthew looked at Gilbert, who gave him pleading eyes.
"Please," Gilbert muttered and Matthew could nearly see tears in the man's eyes. "I have to see him. That's my brother. Please."
"And then you're explaining all of this to me," Matthew said clearly, pointing at Gilbert. "All of it, I don't care if it sucks for you. We're going to that hospital and you're lucky I know where it is," he had to there when Alfred "accidentally" broke his leg to get out of practice last time they were in Berlin. "But you're explaining everything to me after your done there."
"Deal," Gilbert nodded. "Hurry."
Matthew nodded and they left the library silently. They walked briskly through the city, running into multiple people as they continued. Matthew realized he had left his paper in the library, but he didn't really mind, they could just throw it away. Before long, they reached the tall hospital and they entered it, Gilbert quickly running to the reception desk to ask what room Ludwig was in. He seemed almost…desperate at this point and Matthew could only guess why. There was 50 years where they had never met each other. Luckily, the receptionist did not seem to care about them and gave him the information, waving him away quickly.
Gilbert was at the elevator in a matter of seconds and Matthew ran to keep up with him. He had to make sure Gilbert held up to his end of the deal. Desperate or not, he had explaining to do once this was over. Gilbert was silent as the elevator moved and he fidgeted nervously. Matthew gave him a curious look and was almost thankful that no one else got onto the elevator, ensuring they didn't slow down for anything.
Immediately when the door opened, Gilbert tore out of it, running around old people in wheelchairs, and Matthew followed him. He was surprised to see Gilbert go to a dead stop in front of a door, staring at the number and taking deep breaths.
"Do you want to talk about anything?" Matthew asked and Gilbert shook his head numbly.
"It's all so fucked up," Gilbert muttered and moved forward. The door opened for him and he jumped back slightly. Matthew gave him his space as he slowly walked into the room and Matthew barely glanced in after him. He barely saw an old man in a bed, his hair as white as Gilbert's. The man's eyes went wide just as the door closed.
Well that happened quickly. To be honest, that was the only way that was gonna happen. Oh, well, it turned out okay in the end. Gilbert's becoming a little mysterious there, but we'll figure it out soon enough. I hope I didn't confuse you all too bad yet!
Anywho, kinda important announcement. As I am going to Denver Comic Con on Saturday, I will be a day late in updating this, meaning I'm updating Sunday instead. Just makes it easier for me, but after that, I'll be updating once every other day again. Figured I should give you all a heads up about it!
As always, please review!