Warning: this passage contains major swearing (reader's discretion is advised)

Chapter Ten: Prayers For The Troubled

Alfred stared silently as an Englishman beside him stayed just as quiet, not daring to look into those ruby jewels.

The air was thick like blood and completely suffocating as two set of eyes tried to fight and comprehend each other. Gilbert broke the silence with a barely audible scoff. "Now you decide to be quiet." The words hung in the air and pained Alfred's head with guilt as his eyes traveled to look at the ground that was covered by pieces of his broken controller and he swallowed non-existent saliva down his dry throat. He heard another scoff and nearing footsteps. Alfred kept his head down, scared of looking at his best friend's face; he already felt those angered eyes staring down at him. Everything after, was terrifying, in a way.

Arthur was left breathless and terrified after he saw Matthew being pulled by the rim of his grey shirt and taken upstairs by the German monster. He hung his head low, full of guilt and frustration. His hands shakily covered his face and he prayed, to anyone who even cared, for Matthew and asked forgiveness from Alfred.

He knew he had to stop this. He knew he had to forget him. He knew he couldn't love him. At least he shouldn't. "What the bloody hell am I doing?" Arthur whispered, full of anger to himself.

He only loves Alfred. Always will. Then why is it he keeps thinking of Matthew? Why does he find those eyes so sad that he wants to comfort him? Why does he find that soft fragrance of maple vanilla so relieving? Why does that smile take all his worries away? Why can't he stop thinking about him? "I don't love him. I love Alfred" Arthur thought, "I love only him. Alfred. He will always be the one I dream of, think of, deeply care for, and love. Period. Concluded. The End. There is no sequel, no problem and no audition. It's final. Alfred is whom I will love and forever more."

'Matthew' his clock sounded.

"No. Alfred. Only Alfred. I will only think of Alfred. I will only love Alfred." Arthur decided, determined. His lips shaking.

'Matthew, Matthew' the wind hummed.

"Alfred, Alfred, Alfred, Alfred, Alfred" He chanted, covering his ears.

'Matthew, Matthew, Matthew' his heart banged.

"Al-f-red" Arthur sounded out his name, trying to picture Alfred in his mind but the more he tried, the harder it was to rid of the thought of the Canadian man. He dropped his arms to the side of body, his knuckles hit the floor, he held his head high and cried helplessly, admitting defeat to not only his mind but to the world that seemed to also mentally disorganize his dignity.

"He has your smile, Alfred." Arthur mumbled, closing his eyes and ending his prayer.

"Don't kill me." Alfred held his hands out after his back hit the wall and his bottom jumped up and down on the bed. Gilbert had slammed and locked the bedroom door behind him and is now staring at Alfred intently from the front of the door. He had the eyes of a hungry hyena staring at a young gazelle, ready to hunt and kill. But Gilbert's hands formed shaky fists and his mouth was slightly twitching. Alfred knew what this was.

Gilbert usually looked like this when he was about to have a misunderstood fight. He looked like this when he just confessed to someone he thought was cute and got rejected instantly. He appeared like this when he stared down at his brother's gravestone whenever it was his birthday. He looked calm, strong, determined. Yet as if he was about to burst into a sea of tears.

Alfred would always want to comfort him somehow and would always want to try to make him laugh or smile like he always did. He wanted to help him so badly right now. But whenever he was like this, not a single soul could waver him. Alfred was about to say something when Gilbert spoke himself.

"Do you know what the hell you're doing?"

Alfred narrowed his eyebrows and became confused, swallowing and looking away. "How could you?" Gilbert continued firmly, "How the fuck could you do that, Matthew?" Alfred still continued to idle and look down, not knowing how or what to answer. But Gilbert went on.

"You traitor."

Alfred widened his eyes and looked up bewildered and absolutely stunned, his eyes wide and looking straight into Gilbert's, trying to grasp what he was getting at. "W-What?" He managed to say. Gilbert shook his head, not believing how Matthew could be this dazed. "Okay, I get why you didn't answer me when I confessed. But a simple 'no' would have been taken more easily than this shit! I don't EVER want anyone to take my feelings that fucking lightly!" Gilbert yelled at the top of his lungs and Alfred could feel the house shake.

"I-I never meant to do that! W-What you saw down there Gil, had nothing to do with you liking Ma-me! I would NEVER, EVER think of taking your whole being lightly! I swear this on my life!" Alfred tried to reassure just as firmly. Gilbert sneered with an angry smile. "Unbelievable. You weren't even holding back when you were stealing the guy's mouth! My feelings are burning but when it comes to the people I care about, I swear I'll commit a crime. Fucking asshole!" Gilbert pointed his whole arm at Matthew, tightening his jaw.

Alfred breathed heavily, his mind burning to try to find what other thing could apparently be bad enough to endanger his life. In the meantime, Gilbert was giving death warnings and was getting closer, giving Alfred shivers with every loud step. When Gilbert was towering above him, he gulped and cold sweat ran down every inch of his skin and he mumbled a small prayer to helplessly save him.

"Why Kirkland?"

"W-What?"

"Why him? Of all the people in Frisco, why did you have to take that one? Or do you actually have feelings for him?" Gilbert asked calmly.

"I..." Alfred tried to think of an answer. He loved Arthur. Arthur loved him. They were even dating. For him, it was even love at first sight. So, why couldn't Gil see that as easily as he could now? Gilbert didn't wait for him to answer and he spoke again, "Don't you even care about the situation that man is in?" Alfred listened intently as if he was in the shows that had patients with such hopeful spirits that the doctor was going to tell them their child was alright. He was just as prepared to hear that their child was not going to live.

"Do you even know what situation Arthur is in?" Gilbert stated, looking emotionless. Alfred raised a brow. "What do you mean?"

"Arthur is a grieving dude that lost his boyfriend" Gilbert exclaimed, getting annoyed at Matthew for the first time. Gilbert sighed, not ready to stare at the teary-eyed Matthew that he hurt. Gilbert paused his thoughts and stared confused at the wall beside him. "That's right." Gilbert thought, "He... doesn't act like that anymore. He doesn't cry anymore. He isn't my Matthew anymore." Gilbert finally looked in front of him to find Matthew, in shock. "This... isn't Matthew, ja?"

Alfred sat gripping the bed sheets under his sweaty palms. He totally forgot about this whole situation. The very reason why Gilbert was here. Why he was here. Why Arthur would cry every singe night. He looked up at Gilbert, his best friend, that doesn't even know him anymore. He opened his mouth to apologize, "Gil, I'm so-"

"Shut up." Alfred widened his eyes to try to comprehend what that was supposed to mean. Gilbert had his right palm shakily covering his flushed face. His eyes were looking at every direction but him, his jaws were clenched, his other hand shook softly by his side and his eyes... were filled with tears. Alfred felt a grey cloud of guilt come over him and he stood up to try to hug his best bud, probably was prepared to get pushed back. But Gilbert hung his white head on Alfred's chest and held back, grabbing his t-shirt with his shaking hands.

"Al?" he whispered with a warm, shaky breathe.

Alfred opened his mouth in astonishment, letting go of Gilbert and stepping back. He covered his own mouth with his hands and stared at Gilbert. Alfred swallowed and swung a hand to rub the back of his head and the other made a shaking fist, touching his mouth. "You," Alfred mumbled through his hand, "You said... My name! My actual anime!" Gilbert quickly nodded in response sniffing his snot behind the hands that covered his mouth.

Alfred grinned happily and started pacing around the room, a joyful sound escaping him here and there. His hands moved rapidly through his body, clenching fists, rubbing his neck, ruffling his hair and continuing to cover his opened mouth. Finally he faced back to the also excited German boy in front of him and loudly exclaimed, "You know me!" Gilbert once again nodded and this time replied, "Yeah."

Alfred shut his eyes tightly, biting his lip and his mouth grinning so much it hurt but, he didn't care. Someone finally knows Alfred Jones again. And better yet, it was his best friend in the entire universe. Alfred ran to Gilbert with his arms wide and they held each other tightly, laughing, crying, smothering snot all over each others' shirts, like the good old days. The best days. Desperate prayers do get answered.

"I missed you, Al! I missed you so fucking much!"

"You too, Gil. I missed you like hell too, man!" Alfred replied joyfully and finally stepped back to stop air-blocking Gilbert. Well, the German was creating a noose for him too. They stared at each other for another long while before bursting out laughing.

"You look like shit!" They yelled at the same time.

Arthur heard two sets of footsteps coming down the stairs and laughter came with it.

He hurriedly got up from his position on the disgustingly dirty floors and bent down, picking up the broken remote and wiping his face from any residue. As the two men made their appearances near the kitchen, Arthur quickly scurried to the sink to hide his flushed face. He rapidly tried to think of something to say, trying join the obviously lightened up mood. "S-So, I'm glad you didn't kill Matthew, Mr. Beilschmidt." He quickly joked.

No reaction. Rather than odd whispering coming from behind him and nervous auras. He suddenly heard through the private conversation: "He doesn't know?" and Arthur snapped. "What is it that I don't know?" He asked but came out commanding and harsh. Gilbert opened his mouth but slowly closed it and turned the other direction. Alfred was biting his lip and looking at the stove beside him. He suddenly started laughing, the tinge of nervousness so obvious, the other side of the world could sense it.

"N-Nothing! Nothing at all!" And Alfred prayed for someone to save him again.

Author's Notes:

I apologise.

I haven't been on since the Jurassic times. Nearly two months. I will make sure, on my grave, that the next chapters to come will not take centuries like that ever again. I'm sorry.

Well, I hope you liked this happy reunion. I've never used language like that so much in my entire life. It was definitely new. I give my thanks on the German teachings on the last chapter. Thank you, kind friend. And I also found that many of you may be confused on Alfred being called "Matthew and Alfred" on different times, always changing.

Alfred is known as 'Matthew' in the point of view of someone who does not know he's Alfred. For example: Arthur (Used to also be Gilbert but now he'll be reffering to Alfred as 'Alfred/Al' because of the reunion)

Alfred is known as 'Alfred' in his own thoughts and (now) those who know him to be Alfred and not Matthew. Example: Gilbert now.

I hope that helped to some of you and I bid you happy reading.