Chapter Ten

AN: It seems like everything that happens in most of my fics happens in an alley.

A month later...

Gilbert smiled kissing his cheek pulling him along down the street. The couple had just gotten out of a movie. It was fairly late, almost midnight. They had walked there earlier in the night. It was a nice cool and clear summer night.

"It's such a nice night." Canada hummed happily. Prussia nodded in agreement taking his hand as they walked.

"We could sit outside vhen we get home. Too bad it's late." Gilbert sighed. "And jou've got meetings tomorrow."

"Unfortunately." Matthew grumbled. He had another round of NAFTA meetings with Mexico and America. He was a bit nervous just because Alfred was there. He'd slowly been getting better around the American, but the nerves were fully gone yet.

The pair turned down an alley on their route home. It was pretty dark without the street lights, neither one of them minded the darkness. Prussia was quietly humming a song as they walked. Blackbird didn't know what it was, but smiled listening to him. Without warning, Gilbert cried out in pain.

Matthew gasped and caught him before he fell. His instincts told him they were in danger. He growled possessively carefully pulling the Prussian close to him as his eyes changed. He spotted the attacker and released his kagune. The purple hair koukaku ghoul seemed to instantly recognize his mistake and took off running. Blackbird shot a blast of spikes as the man ran. He would have hunted him down if Gilbert hadn't gasped when he moved slightly.

Canada carefully sat him down against the wall and took in the damage. There was blood and a lot of it. Prussia had a large deep cut on his side. Matthew pushed his own fear to the back of his mind and took his sweater off. He quickly put pressure on the wound trying to stop the blood flow. The albino hissed at the pain biting his lip.

"Gil?" He asked eyebrows furrowed with worry. He was still on high alert knowing there was a possibility that the ghoul could come back.

"That hurts." Prussia grumbled opening his eyes. They were hazy and unfocused from the pain and blood loss.

"I know, I'm sorry." Matthew knew that he couldn't help him. He grabbed his phone and dialled 911. He quickly explained what happened to the operator. "Help will be here soon." He said reassuringly cupping Prussia's face with one hand. The other was still putting pressure on the wound, but it had bled through his sweater.

"Birdie, jour eyes." Prussia said with a small frown.

"Huh? Oh." Canada said blinking and changing his eyes back to normal. He quickly dissolved his kagune hearing sirens getting closer. Gilbert's eyes started to close. "Hey! Keep your eyes open, please Gil."

"I know, I'm just tired." Prussia slurred slightly.

"Just a little longer." Matthew said biting his lip. He was terrified. He didn't know if the albino could die, he wasn't a full nation anymore. Blackbird knew he needed to stay calm and keep a level head, but it was hard with all these thoughts in his mind.

"I love jou, Matthew." Gilbert murmured quietly pulling him out of his thoughts. He took his hand and squeezed. "I'll be okay, can't get rid of the awesome me so easily."

Canada cracked a small smile. He heard footsteps and looked over his shoulder expecting the ghoul. He sighed in relief seeing the paramedics rushing towards them.

-❄️" You always have two choices: your commitment versus your fear."❄️-

The ride to the hospital was a blur. Matthew couldn't remember anything. He was to focused on Gilbert. When they got there the doctor told him the Prussian needed surgery. He couldn't do anything, but wait and worry. He hated waiting. Blackbird sat in a badly lit room waiting for any news. He was alone in the room; for once he didn't mind being alone.

Canada had texted Ash a description of the ghoul that had attacked them. He had got a pretty good look at the man and made him top priority to find. He also texted Mexico telling him he wouldn't be at the meetings tomorrow. He had called Germany, but had got no answer. He didn't know what time it was there or he could have been in meetings. Matthew sat waiting for what seemed like hours when his phone finally rang. He jumped as it broke the silence.

"Hello Ludwig." Canada said biting his lip. He was putting his thoughts together to tell the German.

"Canadia? Vhat's going on?" Germany asked. There were voices in the background.

"Gilbert's been hurt." Matthew said slowly. "He's in surgery right now. They're saying he'll be okay."

"Was? How?" Ludwig asked quickly.

"A ghoul attacked us on the way home." The Canadian said shaking his head.

"The doctors are sure he'll recover?" Germany asked concerned.

"Yes, they just wanted to make sure that there wasn't any internal damage." Blackbird explained.

"I can't leave the meetings I'm in right now, they're to critical." Ludwig said. "Call me if anything changes. Please keep me updated, I'm sorry I can't be there."

"It's okay, Ludwig. I understand, Gil will as well." Canada said. Being a nation sometimes got in the way of their personal lives. "I'll text you as soon as I know anything."

"Thank you, Matthew." Germany said gratefully.

"No problem." Matthew said. They said their goodbyes before hanging up. He heard a knock at the door and looked up. There was a nurse in the door frame. She looked shy and nervous approaching him. She was a ghoul.

"Hello, sir." She said quietly clearing her throat. "Mr. Beilschmidt is almost out of surgery and will be moved to recovery soon."

"Okay, thank you." Matthew said relieved.

"And there's Doves on the way to interview you." The nurse said quickly. Blackbird nodded, he knew that they'd be coming soon. "It might not be the best idea to have a huge hole in the back of your shirt." She said handing him a jacket she'd been hiding behind her back.

Canada took it and put it on. "Thank you." He smiled. She nodded and started to leave.

"I'll come to get you when Mr. Beilschmidt is moved." She said and the Canadian nodded. He was alone again. He sighed leaning back and watching the clock. After almost fifteen minutes he heard footsteps again. He looked up to see two uniform CCG officers looking him over.

"Hello, Mr. Williams." The taller one greeted. Matthew stood up and shook both of their hands. "I'm Agent Avesta and this is my partner Agent Holbein."

"It's nice to meet you." Canada lied. He was a ghoul so Doves, even his own, made him tense.

"We'd like to ask you a couple of questions." Holbein said and Matthew nodded. "Were you able to get a good look at the ghoul?" She asked. The Canadian nodded. The agent pulled out a note pad as he started to describe the ghoul. "And the koukaku was the only ghoul there?"

"Yes." Canada said slowly faking thinking it over

"There were crystal spikes lodged in the ground. It looks like the Red-Winged Blackbird was there." Avesta said. Matthew widened his eyes to look surprised. "You didn't see them?"

"No, sorry." Blackbird said with his eyebrows furrowed. "I was to busy trying to help Gil."

"Hmmm, well. I'd say you two were very lucky Blackbird was around." Holbein sighed closing her note pad. "That's all we need for now. Thank you. We'll be back in when Mr. Beilschmidt is able to answer questions."

AN: And they never do come back. Completely forgot about them and don't feel like adding them in later.