New Chapter yay! It's long... xD Sorry for the lag in updates! I had a HUGE speech and debate turni yesterday and Friday! It was soooo long Dx
This chapter is dedicated to Maddie who is the district champ in Lincoln Douglas Debate! I know you'll never read this, but you're amazing xD
Anyway, please enjoy! Warning: Much swearing!
The next morning, I wake up to find that I can actually breathe. Gilbert is still fast asleep and I am snuggled into his chest as he has protective hold around me. I simply lay there, not wanting to move as I breathe in the wonderful smell that is uniquely his. I feel so safe and comfortable. I don't know when I have ever felt this safe before.
I force my breathing to fall into sync with his, but it only lasts a few moments. My cold is not completely gone and I begin to cough rather loudly. I try to bury my mouth in the blankets to keep quiet so Gilbert doesn't wake up. It doesn't work, though, and I feel Gilbert shift and I know that I accidentally woke him up. Lazily, I feel him rubbing my back in circles as the coughing begins to subside. I look up and am met by tired, ruby red eyes.
"Hey Birdie," he whispers. His voice is tired and sounds grainy and dry. "Feeling any better?" I nod and unconsciously snuggle closer to his warm body. I am not sure what exactly causes me to do this. Maybe it's the cold that I imagine I will feel if he leaves my side. He gives me a squeeze before pushing the blankets off himself and getting off the bed. I wince at the cold from the lack of another person next to me even after he wraps the blanket back around me.
I sigh and sit up as I watch Gilbert returning with a thermometer, some pills, and a glass of water. I take the thermometer and place it in my mouth as I examine the pill warily. I always hated taking pills. But, I know that I need to take them or else I won't get better.
While waiting for the thermometer to beep, I see Gilbert disappear into the bathroom. I can tell that he is certainly not a morning person. He is walking slowly and dragging his feet. Plus, he isn't making full eye contact with me. He usually does as he has so much self confidence.
Gilbert comes back out of the bathroom looking a little more awake, but still irritable. I can tell that he's trying to play down his grouchy natures as he shoots me a tired smile. I try to smile back, juggling the thermometer in my mouth. Suddenly it beeps and I jump, startled at the sudden noise. Gilbert chuckles slightly and walks over to take the thermometer.
"99.1," Gilbert tells me, "That's good 'cause we have to go shopping for our awesome Thanksgiving." He gives me a wary thumbs up. "It's eight by the way and I'm starving." He looks at me expectantly and I sigh. I guess I should just be happy he's not going to try to help.
As I walk into the kitchen, I wonder a little about Thanksgiving. I'm not really going to miss Alfred too much because we never really celebrated the holiday. I'm actually just wondering if Gilbert's family is alright with him staying with me for the week and Thanksgiving. Isn't Thanksgiving supposed to be spent with family? I silently hope that his Grandfather doesn't mind.
Pushing my thoughts aside, I open the freezer and pull out four heat-up pancakes. They're the Eggo brand, and don't taste the best, but I'm not in the mood to cook. My head still feels a little foggy and I'm still trying to shake off my tiredness. Gilbert sees me taking the fake pancakes out of the fridge, but smiles. I'm guessing that he doesn't really mind.
In a little less than two minutes, the pancakes are done. I set two on each plate and bring them over to the table. Gilbert smiles up at me with those red eyes. I blush and grab two glasses of milk from the fridge and place them on the table as I slide into my seat.
"So, what do we need for Thanksgiving?" Gilbert asks after swallowing a bite of pancake, "I really want some dinosaur chicken nuggets! Those are amazing! And we need some Spaghetti-O's, but you have some, don't you?" At this I nod, wondering what kind of Thanksgiving he is used to. What about the turkey?
Seeing my confused face, he smiles. "We don't need a turkey," he says, reading my mind like he usually does, "They cost a shit load of money and I don't like them anyway. Besides, chicken nuggets are fucking awesome! We need more dinosaurs in our lives." he waves a fork with a piece of pancake attached to the end as though he is saying something important. I laugh at his comments and nibble on a bite of pancake. It doesn't taste great, but it's not too horrible.
"Anyway, we should get to the store as soon as possible," Gilbert continues, "Because we need to get our stuff. And the place will be packed with lazy-assed people who didn't get their shit before hand." He pauses. "Like us, but we're more awesome." Smirking, he takes another bite of pancake.
I finish before him, not being very hungry due to the effects of the cold. He looks at me worriedly when he sees me starting to get up. Glancing down, I notice that I haven't really eaten very much. I had give us each two pancakes and I had only eaten half of one. I smile, though, and whisk the plate away before he can comment. Placing the plate and the glass in the sink, I pull out a notepad and a pen and jot something down. I bring it back to the table where Gilbert is waiting eagerly. I can tell that he wants me to use writing to speak more often and I really want to make him happy.
"I'll eat more later. Right now, I'm just not that hungry," I wrote, "Do you want to pick something up at the store or go out? I'm fine with either."
Gilbert smile widens as he reads the note and hands me back the paper. He motions for me to sit and I do so, my pen in hand and ready to reply. It feels good knowing that I can converse with Gilbert without actually having to speak. It is a temporary fix to a seemingly permanent problem.
"Alright, Birdie," Gilbert smiles, "If you're not hungry, then don't eat. You're not going to throw up, though, are you? That wouldn't be awesome." I shake my head 'no' and he continues, "Well, then I think we should go out to eat! Eating out is awesome! Where do you want to go?"
"It doesn't really matter to me," I write, "I'm fine with anything... Just not McDonald's. I don't particularly like it."
"We wouldn't go there," Gilbert responds, rolling his eyes, "I know that idiot of a brother probably forces it down your throat, but I wouldn't do that to you." Pausing, he taps his finger on his chin. "Maybe we could go for pizza with my brother and his boyfriend. Feli's Grandpa owns an Italian restaurant downtown. If that's alright with you, of course. It wouldn't be awesome to make you do something you don't want to do."
I look at him for a moment before turning my gaze towards the opposite wall to think. I haven't had pizza in a while, but I'm not sure if I would be comfortable going to lunch with people I didn't really know. So, I decide to beat around the bush.
"Isn't your brother with Alfred on that football field trip to Canada?" I ask.
Gilbert shakes his head. "Actually, no," he sighs, "It would have been nice, huh? But my Gramps said that he couldn't go 'cause he needed him at the brewery. Feliciano's Grandpa tried to convince him otherwise, but he wouldn't budge." Rolling his eyes, he pulls at a loose strand of hair. "He always was a pretty stubborn man. It sucks. Luddy was mad, but didn't show it. That's what sucks more; I woulda been pissed."
I nod sympathetically, knowing that Gilbert probably would have been mad if his grandfather didn't let him do something. For a moment, I wonder if he approves of Gilbert staying with me this week. I can guess he probably isn't happy about it, but I also know that Gil is probably staying with me anyway, despite his grandfather.
"He doesn't mind you being here, does he?" I write nervously. I'd feel really bad if I was helping Gilbert defy his grandfather.
"Yeah, he does," Gilbert scoffed, "But I don't care. He just doesn't see that I'm old enough to do whatever the hell I want." Pausing he gives me a smile. "It doesn't matter, though, so don't worry about it. Now, do you want to go or not? If you're not comfortable, that's awesome. We can go by ourselves."
"Yeah, I'll go, I guess."
"They're nice, I promise. My brother can be a bit of a prick sometimes and Feli's a little... Special, but they're nice." Gilbert shoots me a reassuring smile. "Besides, I'm awesome!" I try to smile back, hoping my fake smiling skills wouldn't fail me. This is going to be a rather long day.
We stopped at the supermarket first. I grabbed the cart out of the way simply to keep Gilbert out of the basket. Sure, we weren't going to get a whole lot of things, but the store was far too crowded to be pushing a tall German teenager around in a cart like an idiot who couldn't keep his boyfriend under control. Yes, he pouted, but I stood firm. Eventually, he gave up trying to climb into the basket. I had a little help, too. He stopped after the basket tipped over.
Now with the groceries purchased and Gilbert with a bruised bum, we find ourselves in a small pizza shop off a main street I never caught the name of. A cheery Italian man is smiling at us with a smaller, younger version of him, sitting across from Gilbert and I. Next to the smaller Italian is a German boy with pale blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He and Gilbert don't look very much alike, but you can tell they are siblings by the way they bicker.
"Großvater wants you home right now!" Ludwig shouts when we enter the small shop and slide into the bench across from him and Feliciano. "What are you thinking, Gilbert? Running off with your friend and no word to us!"
"Oh, Opa can shove it," Gilbert sighs rolling his eyes, "I'm too awesome to do what that stick in the mud says." This only made Ludwig glare dangerously at him.
"You know better than to run off without telling us where you're going!" Ludwig growls, "Why am I always the one looking out after you? You never act mature! Why am I always the older one?"
"Hey, guys?" The younger Italian asks timidly, "Can't we all just be friends?" He peers up at Ludwig. "Please don't fight with your brother, Luddy! Please? You're family! And as family, you have to be best friends!"
"That's right," the older Italian nods, "Now, what will you guys be having? It's on the house, of course." He pulls a notepad out of his pocket, his other hand equipped with a pen.
Gilbert looks around the table. "Coke?" he asks. We all nod, Feliciano mumbling a happy "yes!" "Four awesome cokes!" Gilbert smirks at our waiter, "And one large pizza."
"And what would you like on this pizza?" Feliciano's grandfather asks us.
"Cheese and Tomatoes, of course!" Feliciano shouts excitedly causing the people at a closer table to turn and look at us.
"How about we just get it with everything?" Ludwig suggests rationally, "That way, we don't have to waste time choosing toppings and we can pick off whatever we don't like." Again, we all nod. Ludwig repeats that to the Italian waiter who rushes off to go cook our pizza.
"Your Grandpa makes the most awesome pizza awesome, Feli!" Gilbert declares, "It's been a while since I've had it. And Birdie here had never had it! Can you believe that?" Gilbert turns to me. "You haven't lived you've had Grandpa Vargas' pizza!" Turning back to the table, he smirks at Ludwig and Feliciano. "It's almost as good as Mattie's pancakes. Now, those are good." Still smirking, his eyes shine with teasing amusement when he looks Ludwig in the eyes. "Orgasmic, even. Kinda like your porn that Kiku gives you."
Ludwig turns bright red and growls at his brother. "I-I don't know what you're talking about, Gilbert," he growls, "I don't read porn!"
"Luddy, what's 'porn?'" Feliciano asks innocently. Ludwig's blush deepens and he coughs nervously.
"I-It's n-nothing. Don't worry about it," he stammers, looking down at the table and fiddling with his shirt. After a moment of awkward silence, he glares back up at Gilbert. "See what you do?" he asks angrily, "You put things into Feli's head. He's innocent right now. Don't go corrupting him!"
"I'm corrupting him? What kind of idiot doesn't know what porn is?"
"Don't call him an idiot! Dammit, Feliciano, stand up for yourself!"
"S-Sorry, Luddy!"
I look down uncomfortably while Gilbert and Ludwig argue. Feliciano turns to me and smiles, forcing me to look up and into his half closed eyes. "Buon giorno!" He says happily, "Hello! I'm Feliciano, but you can just call me Feli! I don't think we've ever been introduced. I love pasta, sleeping, and food!" He looks at me innocently, as though asking me to continue the conversation. I simply nod.
"Oh! That's right!" Feliciano shouts embarrassed, "I forgot; you don't speak. I'm sorry! I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable! Ludwig always tells me that I can't read the atmosphere. It's alright, I won't make you talk. I heard about what happened in Mrs. Plum's class. I'm so sorry!" He looks upset and I want to calm him down. So, I take his hand and smile hoping that he'll feel better. He looks up at me and smiles knowingly, before I take my hands off of his and look back to Gilbert and Ludwig hoping they have stopped fighting.
Thankfully before another argument starts up, Feliciano's grandfather comes back with our drinks and a large pizza. It smells delicious and I find myself hungry. I inwardly sigh with relief knowing that my cold is going away and that I'm actually hungry. I also feel very happy that I can smell things again.
Taking a small sip of soda, I sit back and make room for the pizza. A small white plate is placed in front of me by tanned hands. A set of pale white hands places a piece of pizza on my plate. Looking up, I see Gilbert and he smiles as he puts a slice on his own plate.
I, of course, eat in silence as does Feliciano. Gilbert and Ludwig bicker with each other some more before Feliciano threatens to never make pasta for Ludwig again if he continues to fight. Looking at Ludwig's face, I can tell that he probably doesn't care but also doesn't want Feliciano to be sad.
"I'm sorry, Feli," he sighs, "I really hope you make pasta for me again, so I won't fight any more." The words seem almost scripted, but it works nevertheless.
"Of course!" Feliciano claps. "I'll make some for Thanksgiving tomorrow!"
"But, Feli, we eat turkey on Thanksgiving," Ludwig reminds the small Italian. As Feliciano's face starts to crumple, Ludwig throws his hands in the air and places them on Feli's shoulders. "B-But if you want to make pasta, you can." Ludwig tries to smile.
"Really?" Ludwig nods. "Yay! I can't wait, Luddy! I'll make the best pasta ever!"
"All your pasta is the best ever," Ludwig sighs, blushing. This in turn causes Feliciano to blush as well. It also causes Gilbert to crack up.
"You two could be in a soap opera," Gilbert chuckles as he nudges me, "Huh, Mattie?"
"Really? You think so?" Feliciano smacks his hands together in happiness, "That would be wonderful, don't you think so Luddy?" Ludwig says nothing and looks away out of embarrassment brought on by his brother.
"Hey, Gilly?" Feliciano asks cutely, "Are you and Matt going out?" He tilts his head to the side innocently. I blush at the question and look to Ludwig for help, but he is too busy staring at the floor.
"Fuck, yeah we are!" Gilbert shouts earning a glare from a mother a few tables away. Ludwig glances up and glares at him as well.
"Language, Gilbert," he growls.
"Oh, stop treating him like a baby," Gilbert rolls his eyes, "He's just a few months younger than you."
Sighing, Ludwig turns to me for the first time. "Are you really dating my brother?" he asks curiously. I nod with a slight blush lingering on my cheeks and look down. "Well, good luck. My bruder can be a bit of a jerk. I wonder how you put up with him."
"He puts up with me because I'm awesome and he's awesome and we're awesome together!" Gilbert flashes him a smirk. "What? Am I not allowed to be in a relationship?"
"No, you're allowed, but I wonder what Großvater will say when he finds out," Ludwig says thoughtfully, "I mean, he was rather upset when he found out I was dating Feli. It took him a good year to finally accept us."
"Yeah, but that's only because: one, he's a prick and two, he hates Feli's Grandpa with a burning passion," Gilbert retorts. "Mattie's parents probably never fucked anything up, so he should be cool with it."
"Still, you should be careful," Ludwig warns, "He's already angry at you. Don't do anything stupid tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? Oh right, I meant to tell you," Gilbert says, "I'm having Thanksgiving with Mattie tomorrow." He smirks as Ludwig smacks his forehead with his palm and sighs heavily.
"And that is exactly the type of stupid thing I was trying to tell you not to do," Ludwig growls from behind his hand, "Are you crazy? Großvater will kill you."
"No he won't," Gilbert shrugs, "Feli is taking my place, right?"
"Feli is not 'taking your place,'" Ludwig glares, "He's just coming over because Grandfather Vargas is going on a business trip and his brother is going over a friend's house. But you are expected to attend our Thanksgiving dinner."
"Well, sorry, but awesome me is going over Mattie's house while his stupid brother is away," Gilbert informs him, "We're having dinosaur chicken nuggets and Spaghetti-O's! Awesome huh?"
"Ve! Very awesome!" Feliciano throws in, "We should join them, huh, Luddy? Can we? It would be so fun! I could bring pasta!"
"No!" Ludwig shouted forcefully, "Großvater wants us at home for Thanksgiving."
"Fine, fine, fine," Gilbert sighed, waving his hand around, brushing away his brother, "It will just be me and Mattie, then." Glancing at a tomato shaped clock on the wall he smiles and grabs the sleeve of the jacket I am wearing. "We need to get going. We have a Thanksgiving to prepare. Plus, it's getting late and you're just getting over a cold."
"A cold?" Feliciano asks worriedly. "Oh, are you alright? You shouldn't be out in this weather! It's getting much colder now!"
I nod apologetically. "He's alright," Gilbert assures him, "We bundled up and shit. But we really should be going home, just to be sure." He turns to me and smiles. "You ready?" I nod and grab onto his arm. He pulls me out of the booth and waves goodbye to Ludwig and Feliciano. I do the same and even give a small smile.
Gilbert walks me to his car and I get in the passenger's seat. Gilbert shoots me happy look as he pulls out of the spot in front of the shop he had claimed. "Did you have fun?" he asks once we're on the road.
I nod and sigh happily, leaning back against the seat. It's late and rather dark out. The streetlights draw long shadows inside our car. My shadow and Gilbert's grow long and mix together. I smile at the sight and sigh. It had been a long day, and I'm tired. I allow my eyes to close as I snuggle into my seat.
The next thing I know, I am being carried by someone. Opening my eyes and looking up, I see Gilbert carrying me. We're on the stairs of my apartment building and Gilbert is carrying me bridal-style. I snuggle into his arm and sigh.
"Hey, Birdie," he whispers, "It's been a long day, so we're just gonna go to bed. Just relax and go to sleep. We'll have an awesome day tomorrow!" Nodding, I snuggle closer to him and begin to nod off. As I fall asleep once again, I realize that I am doing what he asks simply because I trust him. I haven't trusted anyone in a while.
Translations:
Bruder: (German) For brother
Buon giorno: (Italian) Hello
Großvater and Opa: Here's the story with these. is a more formal term, one that I think Ludwig would use. Opa is more formal and I think that Gil would be, well less formal xD
(Please tell me if I screwed this up xD)
Next chapter is Thanksgiving! Whoo! Be excited! I am so tired right now, so here's just a quick Author's note.
First, updates will be slow. Like, really, really slow! Sorry! I have been so busy lately! D;
Second, sorry for the OOC-ness. I tried really hard, but I don't think I got it. ;A;
Anyway, please review! I love getting them! The support i have gotten for this is amazing and I love you all~