Energy was frozen in place. He felt like he couldn't breathe. He'd just left for a bit, Matthew was fast asleep, he made sure. He would just sneak out and sneak back in so he could save the day and Matthew would never know. This was it; Matthew was going to hate him. He knew Gilbert was a mutant now, he'd never want to touch him again. This was all because Gilbert had been so stupid and thought he could pull this off. Ludwig said it was a stupid idea to have Matthew stay through the night.
"Look I-"
"Gilbert?" Matthew cut him off, looking at him in confusion. He slowly reached over to the nightstand to pick up his glasses and put them on.
Gilbert took a deep breath. He could easily try to deny everything, but that would risk pissing off Matthew and Gilbert really didn't want to risk that. With a sigh, Gilbert simply nodded.
"If you're…mad," Gilbert muttered, looking at his own feet, "or…disgusted, you can just-"
"Why would I be mad?" Matthew asked calmly, getting out of the bed and walking around it until he was standing in front of Gilbert.
"Well…you know…" Gilbert shrugged uselessly. Matthew was taking this a lot better than he thought. Or maybe Matthew was just keeping it in, Gilbert couldn't really tell. He did look really calm, though. "Mutant."
Matthew smiled slightly and it was adorable, even in the lack of light around them. "Energy is more than just a mutant, in my eyes at least. He's a hero. Why would I be mad? Sure, I mean, now I'm a little more concerned for your safety considering how many times you get hit and nearly shot…"
Gilbert couldn't stop himself from laughing, holding onto his stomach and kneeling over slightly.
"And you should really hide it better," Matthew muttered as Gilbert continued to laugh. "I mean, I was even starting to guess it myself. I'm surprised no one else has."
"You're fucking awesome, Birdie," Gilbert smirked, placing his gloved hand on Matthew's shoulder. Matthew rolled his eyes.
"I've never thought that mutants were bad people," Matthew sighed. "Unless they've done something bad. You haven't stolen or anything, have you?"
"Never," Gilbert smiled. "Do you think I really have a need to?"
"Of course not," Matthew chuckled before leaning forward. Gilbert leaned forward as well and their lips met perfectly, as always. Matthew was quick to deepen it and Gilbert could barely feel his hands threading through the hair of the wig before starting to do something on the back of Gilbert's head. It was only a matter of time before Gilbert's mask came off, untied. Gilbert smirked into the kiss as Matthew's hands moved underneath the wig to touch Gilbert's real hair, carding his hands through it and pulling him closer. All the while, Gilbert's hands were on the nape of Matthew's neck.
When the finally pulled away, puffing air in each other's faces, Gilbert cracked another smile.
"So how does it feel to be dating a superhero?" Gilbert smirked.
"I really hope I don't turn out like the girls in the comics," Matthew joked half-heartedly.
"I'll never let that happen to you," Gilbert promised, resting his forehead on Matthew's. "So, how did you know this was a wig?"
"Because you have no hair die in your bathroom," Matthew laughed slightly. "Just little strands of black wig hair."
"Dammit," Gilbert muttered. "The maids should do a better job cleaning."
"Or you could try your hand at cleaning," Matthew shrugged and sat back down on the bed.
"You know, between school and fighting crime, I really can't find the time," Gilbert shrugged and sat beside his boyfriend. The news was still on and the newscaster had turned to asking passersby about their opinions on Energy. There were quite a few haters.
"Looks like you have a lot of time now," Matthew hummed.
"I dunno," Gilbert smiled. "I think I'm a little preoccupied with someone right now." Gilbert didn't even care that someone on the news just said that Energy should die. Matthew was right there, leaning his head on Gilbert's shoulder, tracing random things on Gilbert's hand over the glove. Why had he been so scared of this moment again?
They stayed up for a while, just talking while the news changed stories to the new baby tiger at the zoo and to the stock markets and then to the weather. Matthew started to yawn and Gilbert felt his eyelids begin to droop. They both moved back to their original positions on the bed, Gilbert only taking off his gloves and boots, not bothering to change, and they fell fast asleep. Gilbert had a nightmare.
"Al, I'm home!" Matthew called into the apartment, kicking off his shoes as he closed the door. He swiftly carried his bag back to his room and heard no response. It was about 3 in the afternoon, Alfred would definitely be awake by now, even if he did sleep in. Matthew sighed and walked over to Alfred's door after he put his bag down and noticed a little sticky note attached to the door. It was written in Alfred's familiar scrawl and Matthew quickly deciphered it.
Out with friends smell ya later!
"Friends meaning Ivan, I'd think," Matthew mumbled to himself, crumbling the note before tossing it in the trash in the kitchen. He quickly went about making himself a sandwich, feeling slightly hungry as he and Gilbert had elected to skip having lunch in favor of walking around New York for a few hours. Matthew still didn't know his way around very well, but Energy seemed to have a fantastic idea of where everything was.
While he was alone and the apartment was quiet, Matthew quickly went through the homework given to him the day before. It was easy, nothing major, and then he spent the remainder of his time alone to simply space out and watch TV. He was off that day and it felt amazing to get a chance to simply sit around and do nothing, not even think. Matthew wasn't even paying closer attention to what was on when Alfred finally walked through the door, a very happy smile on his face.
"Yo, little bro, you're alive," Alfred announced happily.
"I'm older, Al," Matthew said. "By a few hours, remember?"
"Pfft, you can say you're the big bro when you're bigger than me," Alfred laughed before slumping beside Matthew. "Whatcha watchin?"
"Stupid people," Matthew shrugged. It was one of those shows that just showed clips of people wiping out and causing a lot of physical pain to themselves and others. It was pretty funny, but Alfred was definitely laughing harder than him. Alfred was in a great mood. Matthew smirked slightly. "So, how was hanging out with Ivan?"
"Eh, it was alright, I mean he dragged me to a fucking horror movie and…" Alfred paused for a second before laughing loudly. "Well, I mean it was great, we all went to a move and I didn't hang out with Ivan. Why the hell would I hang out with that guy?"
"Whatever you say," Matthew snickered and Alfred pouted, glaring at him.
"You're not gonna tell anyone, are you?" Alfred asked.
"What about?" Matthew asked.
"The…thing, you know," Alfred shrugged.
"I'm sorry?" Matthew asked, forcing back laughter. He was going to get Alfred to say that there was something going on between him and Ivan, it just took a lot of effort when it was Alfred that was involved.
"With Ivan and stuff," Alfred mumbled, obviously uncomfortable.
"What about him?" Matthew asked. "I mean, there's a lot I can tell people about Ivan, since I hang out with him so much. What do you want me to not tell people?"
"That Ivan and I…" Alfred trailed off and Matthew barely held back more laughter.
"What about you guys?" Matthew asked.
"We're…uh…" Alfred scratched the back of his neck and Matthew noticed that his face was getting beet red. This was definitely worth it. "You know."
"I know what?" Matthew laughed.
"Mattie!" Alfred whined. "Don't make me say it!"
"How are you going to admit it to yourself if you can't admit it to me?" Matthew laughed even harder and Alfred slumped further into the couch beside him.
"Admit what?" Alfred grumbled. "I hate the creep."
"I think it's interesting how you can get hickeys from someone you hate," Matthew laughed.
"Wait, you can see them?" Alfred groaned, putting up the hood from his jacket to cover his head.
"Wait, there are new ones?" Matthew laughed even harder. "I was talking about the ones from when I locked you two in a room together. I didn't know you got new ones today!"
"I never said they were from today!" Alfred whined, his face getting even redder. "Please, bro, do me a solid and just don't tell anyone! Especially not your boyfriend."
"What? You think Gil can't keep a secret?" Matthew laughed even harder, if that was even possible.
"Please, if he knew the secret identity of a superhero, the world would know in a day," Alfred rolled his eyes and Matthew fell over onto the side of the couch. "What? It's the truth. You can think all high and mighty of him but that's bullshit."
"He would never know the identity of a hero," Matthew snickered, attempting to compose himself. "He's too busy puking when there's any action anyway." He laughed a little more. Alfred was oblivious to why it was so funny, but it made everything so much better for the Canadian.
"Whatever," Alfred sighed. "But seriously, dude. Promise me to my face, right here, that you won't tell anyone."
"Al," Matthew attempted to keep a straight face and looked his brother in the eye. "I promise I won't tell anyone you're making out with Ivan at horror movies."
Alfred groaned and leaned his head back, over the back of the couch. "Seriously, dude? It wasn't my idea to see the stupid horror movie and we didn't make out! Who the hell makes out at horror movies? The couples always die first, too! Why would I be one of those couples? That's just a stupid idea!"
"So you were just clinging to Ivan's strong arm while you nearly pissed yourself?" Matthew laughed and Alfred attempted to shrink into the couch.
"No," Alfred said quietly and Matthew laughed even harder. Alfred had always been a terrible liar, which was why it was so easy to get information out of him when Matthew really wanted it.
"Don't worry, I swear I won't tell anyone about your…relationship with Ivan," Matthew snickered but tried to keep a straight face again. "Whatever it really is."
"Don't ask me, I don't get it either," Alfred mumbled.
"So…where are those new hickeys from?" Matthew asked curiously.
"Nope," Alfred said and quickly stood up, going into his room. Matthew had no idea why he hadn't done that in the first place when he was uncomfortable. Maybe he did want to talk about it or something. Matthew simply shrugged and turned his attention back to the show while he watched a guy fall from the top of a building and chuckled. Whatever possessed their parents to decide to send Alfred and Matthew to that school, Matthew was happy they did.
"Our trail's cold and he wants results now."
"I know, sweetheart, relax. Take a deep breath. Is there any news from that spy?"
"We can't use anything he gives us. I would have to tell the boss about the spy and he would hate to know that he has to work with a mutant. And then he'd have us kill him and we already promised him that he wouldn't die if he helped us."
"We have to take risks here. Do you have any news from him?"
"The only relevant information is that Energy is gay and now has a boyfriend. That is all the mutant's told us."
"He's gay?"
"Don't start."
"What? It was a simple question. I just wanted to confirm it."
"Don't go soft now because of that bit of information. It's not enough to find him and the boss wants results by the end of the week. What do you intend we do now that we know that he's gay?"
"Here's a thought. Matthew. The way he looked at him when he saved him from the gunshot at our staged show, he obviously has feelings for the boy. So, if we add that in, it's a possibility that Energy could be going out with Matthew. If that's the case, then it would stand to reason that, eventually, Matthew will figure out his identity."
"You know we can't follow the Matthew lead. He's a human. We have no permission to go after him, despite what is necessary."
"Let's just watch Energy carefully. If he comes into contact with anyone, we'll know. We have cameras everywhere, it's alright. We'll be fine. Give it a week and then we can start freaking out, alright?"
"Fine. But so help me, if you start…doing whatever it is you do if we catch them together…"
"I will keep it completely professional. I swear."
Such a huge hint for the voices. Anyway, now Matthew knows Energy's identity, though if you really look at it, he guessed it a while ago, he just didn't want to admit it to himself. And Alfred and Ivan are doing things behind the scenes, how sweet. I'm excited for next chapter and you all should be as well!
In any case, please review and be awesome!