The title comes from a song by a Korean boy band- here's a link- h t t p : / / w w w . y o u t u b e . c o m / w a t c h ? v = 9 H t 1 X B 8 _ X n A (just get rid of the spaces)

Chapter 10

Quasimodo

"So you snuck out just to come and see me?" Arthur purred from below Alfred. "You naughty boy…"

"Mmm-hmm," Alfred chuckled, nibbling on Arthur's neck. "I thought we might as well do this to, well, kind of seal the deal."

"What do you mean by that?" Arthur muttered as Alfred lay down beside him.

"The last time we did this, we weren't really making love…" Alfred explained. "This time we are."

"I guess that makes sense…" Arthur muttered sleepily, snuggling against Alfred's bare chest. "Alfred?"

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

"I know," Alfred responded, kissing his lover's forehead.

…

"Wh-what are you doing here?" Matthew demanded the vampire sitting in front of him.

"I wanted to see you," Gupta responded in a monotone voice.

"But how did you get in here?" the hunter countered, inching towards the bag of weapons hidden under his bed. "Aren't you supposed to be invited in first?"

Gupta cocked his head to the side, his eyes blank. "You're very perceptive… I didn't even tell you and you figured it out…"

"You didn't really try to hide it…"

The vampire seemed to think this over for a bit and nodded. "True. And to answer your second question, I don't need to be invited in repeatedly. Once I am invited the first time, I can come in upon my own will."

Matthew inched closer to his bed, subtly nudging the hidden bag with his foot. "Why are you here?"

"I was sent to observe," Gupta responded. "I have been doing that but I have felt the need to actually approach you. You see, I find you very interesting and I wish to know more about you."

Matthew felt his eyebrows arch and his cheeks adopt a pink color. He forgot about the weapons underneath his bed and focused more on the vampire standing in front of him. Gupta was interested… in him? He somehow felt flattered and a bit embarrassed.

"Uhm… What do you want to know…?" he asked timidly.

"About human mating rituals…" Gupta said, cocking his head to the side. "They seem so complicated and strange. How do they work?"

Matthew spluttered, choking on his words as he tried to come up with a good answer. It was an innocently asked question, like a child asking where babies came from, but it was so awkward.

"W-well…" he stuttered, not meeting the vampire's eyes. "You find someone you like and you try to see if they like you back. If they do, you get to know them until you can move up to the serious relationship. It can go on from there. Some of us don't find someone to stay with at first but when we do, we tend to settle down and get married to them."

"Married?" Gupta asked, trying to comprehend the word. "Is that like mating?"

"Uh… No…" Matthew said, taking a seat on his bed. "It's when two people who love each other make a promise to stay together for the rest of their lives. Then they can procreate after that."

"Ah…" Gupta said, sitting across from Matthew. "Your ways are so strange…"

"I could say the same about how you do things," the hunter pointed out. "It's just a matter of perspective."

"I see…"

"So why did you want to know anyways?"

"I wanted to make sure that I did not do anything wrong," Gupta responded. "I want to do it right if need be."

"Eh?" Matthew felt himself scoot away from the vampire. This was just getting too weird. He wasn't even supposed to be talking to this guy, let alone be sharing information on how humans interacted with each other. He should have staked this guy a long time ago but he couldn't bring himself to stop talking with him. What had happened to that damn brain of his?

"Do you like me?" Gupta asked flatly, looking straight into Matthew's eyes.

"I… uhm…" the blonde stuttered, feeling himself start to shake. "I haven't really known you for very long so I can't say…"

"Oh…" the vampire mumbled. "What do I do now?"

"Well, you could offer to get to know me better…"

"We should… hang out sometime…"

"…I guess that will do…"

"Does this count?" Gupta asked.

"I guess."

"So we're getting to know each other then?"

"Kind of…"

"So… Do you like me?"

"I think that's a bit too soon…" Matthew chuckled, trying to hide how nervous he was. He did have to admit, the vampire was attractive but this was so awkward and it would be going against his job. He couldn't compromise the mission like his brother had.

But those golden eyes…

"I should be going…" Gupta said suddenly. "Morning will be coming soon."

"Really?" Matthew asked. "Well… I guess I'll see you later…"

"Goodbye," Gupta said, flashing Matthew a small smile before disappeared out of the window again.

The hunter sat on his bed and stared at the window, cursing himself. If things could have gotten any messier than they already were, Matthew would have found himself in the same situation as his brother.

Which he was.

…

Arthur woke up the next morning to arms wrapped tight around his chest. He rolled over to see Alfred lying beside him, holding him like some sort of security blanket.

"Wake up," he muttered playfully, kissing Alfred's forehead. "You wouldn't want anyone to notice, would you?"

"Mmm?" Alfred blinked a couple of times before focusing his eyes on his vampiric lover. "Oh… Good morning, Artie."

"Morning, love," Arthur greeted, pressing a chaste kiss on Alfred's lips. "How are you feeling?"

"I was good but I'm better now," Alfred smiled.

"Oh? And why's that?"

"Because you're here with me."

"Oh, you ham…" Arthur chuckled, blushing nonetheless. "C'mon, get up. You have to get home."

"Awww… Why the rush?" Alfred whined, kissing Arthur on the neck and making the vampire squirm. "I could stay here all day…"

"And you would…" Arthur sighed, sitting up. "But you need to go home before someone notices you're gone. Come on, love…"

With another whimper, Alfred forced himself out of bed, stretching his arms above his head. He looked behind his shoulder, watching Arthur's naked body as the Brit went to pick up their clothes. He loved the bend Arthur's lower back made when the vampire picked up a pair of trousers and the more he looked, the more he wanted to place kisses on that area.

"Hey, Alfred?"

Alfred shook his head, snapping out of his trance. "Yes?"

"Is this yours?" Arthur asked, holding up a bronze chain that held a rectangular charm. "I don't think I have anything like this…"

"Oh! Yeah, that's mine!" Alfred gasped, running forward to take the necklace. "Thanks. It would've sucked if I lost it…"

Arthur threw him a curious look but handed him his clothes. "Here, you'll need these… trust me."

"Wouldn't leave home without 'em," Alfred grinned, taking the clothing. "Thanks."

As Arthur started to dress, he glanced back at Alfred. "I'm just curious but… what is the necklace for?"

"This?" Alfred asked, holding the chain up by a finger while putting on his pants. "Just something to keep close to my heart, to remind me of home… That sort of thing."

"What is it exactly?" the vampire asked, slipping on his shirt.

"It's a locket," Alfred smiled. "Yeah… I know, it's kinda girly but it belonged to my mom."

Arthur cocked his head to the side. "Really? What's in it?"

"Here," Alfred said, handing the locket to Arthur. "Look inside."

Arthur hesitantly pulled at the sides of the rectangle, carefully opening the locket. Inside was a family photo of four happy looking people; a man, his wife, and their two young boys.

The man looked a lot like Alfred with the same blonde hair and glasses. His face was strong and youthful, a handlebar mustache resting below his nose. The woman was absolutely beautiful. Her wavy blonde hair was tied into a loose bun and her violet eyes looked kind and thoughtful. The two boys looked almost alike, aside from their hair and eyes. The boy on the left had a bright smile on his face while his brother smiled shyly at the camera.

"Alfred… are they your mother and father?" Arthur asked after studying the picture.

Alfred smiled, a sad sort of smile, and nodded. "Technically, she's my step-mother."

"Step-mother?" Arthur frowned. "What happened to your mother?"

"According to my father, she died when I was really young," his lover responded. "I can't remember her at all. Soon after that he married Daphne Williams and a year later, Mattie joined the family."

"I… I'm sorry about that…" Arthur started. "Your mother, I mean…"

"S'okay," Alfred smiled, kissing Arthur on the forehead. "My dad always said that I had her personality though…"

"What was your father's name?"

"Alfonse," Alfred responded with a smile. "Alfonse Jones. Trust me, the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree; he was just as ditzy as I am…" His smile became soft, sort of nostalgic. "He was a good man with a big heart…"

"And Daphne?"

"Mattie's just like her," the hunter grinned. "She was always shy but very sweet and polite. She kept all of us boys in order… Well, only dad and I. Mattie behaved most of the time. But she was a great lady to have as a mother."

There was a minute of silence as Arthur began to work something out in his brain.

"Artie? Are you okay?" Alfred asked when he noticed the silence.

"You keep saying 'was.'"

"Eh?"

"You keep saying 'was' when talking about your family," Arthur repeated. "Did something happen to them?"

Alfred stared at him, surprised at the sudden question, and looked down at the floor with guilt written all over his face.

"They died when I was sixteen…" he said, not meeting Arthur's eyes.

"What happened?" Arthur asked, ready to console his lover if need be.

Alfred looked up at him, catching his eyes in an uncomfortable and steely glance.

"I killed them."