Dinner passed by blissfully, especially for Matthew, grinning sweetly the entire time. He'd talk aimlessly to Lars, sometimes not talking about anything in particular at all. The food began to go cold on Matthew's plate, forgotten between the conversations. The plate before Lars was stripped spotless, however. His hunger never ended. And yet, neither did his undivided attention towards Matthew. He took every word that spilled from Matthew's mouth into his ears. He didn't dare interrupt Matthew, not once. His voice soothed him, even if the words didn't make sense. Lars glanced out the window. It was dark and snow was falling again. It must have been freezing outside. He gulped and returned his eyes to Matthew, not looking forward to walking home in such weather.

Matthew paused and glanced at his watch. "It is late, isn't it?" he asked, as if reading his mind. He noticed the heavy snow descending outside. He can't go home in that, he thought. When he turned back to Lars, he was already standing up. "H-Hey…where are you going?" Matthew asked.

"Home," he stated, as if it were a ridiculous question.

"You can't go out in that weather," Matthew exclaimed. "You'll freeze!" He pouted. "You're just going to have to stay here."

Lars blinked. "What?"

"It's no trouble, really," he insisted. "The house is big enough for ten people, easy. You won't take up any space." Matthew stood from the table, pushing his chair back.

Lars sighed through his nose. "…I don't know."

Matthew shook his head. "No, you're staying. I will not allow you to go out in that weather. That's final." He put his hands on his hips, putting on the cutest, stern face he could muster. How could one say "No" to that? It turns out, you don't.

"Fine. I'll stay. Just one night."

Matthew grinned. "Good. You must be tired from all the work you did today. Why don't you take a shower, okay? My clothes might not fit you…I'm sure Alfred wouldn't mind if I let you borrow some of his clothes."

Lars looked down. "What's wrong with my clothes?" he asked, obliviously. He stared down at his old, smelly coat. It must have once been very nice and expensive, but years of constant wearing have really taken its toll.

"W-Well…you don't want to sleep in sweaty, dirty clothes, do you? I can wash your clothes for you, too."

He turned away, smelling his sleeve. Do I…smell…? He glanced at Matthew like a wounded puppy, and it melted Matthew's heart.

"O-Oh, Lars, I didn't mean…I-I'm sorry…" I didn't mean to insult him…Now I've made it awkward…

"…Your shower…," Lars said quietly. "…It has…warm water?"

Now his melted heart began to shatter as well. He doesn't have hot water, either? "Y-Yeah, it does," he replied sadly. He took Lars' hand gently into his own. "Come on, I'll show you where the shower is."

I'm so ignorant, Lars thought scornfully. Of course he has hot water in his house.

Just like everything else in the house, the bathroom was humongous. There were two marble sinks connected to each other in front of a large mirror, sparkling with cleanliness. There was a small, cubical shower on one side of the bathroom and a large bath tub on the other, with dials and buttons to make jet streams and massaging gusts of water. The shower was just as complex to Lars, with, what his exaggerating mind seemed to comprehend, hundreds of buttons and knobs. There were several bottles of cleaning supplies, all different brands and for different uses. Matthew reached into a cabinet and placed two large fluffy towels on the counter beside the sink. "I'll find you some clothes from Alfred's room. I'll be right back…" he nervously slumped out of the room quickly in search of clothes, leaving Lars alone in this spaceship of a bathroom.

Curiosity got the better of him after only waiting a few minutes. He roamed around the bathroom, staring addled into the strange, oddly shaped toilet. Is nothing simplistic anymore? Lars had to wonder. He stood over the bath tub, big enough to be considered a Jacuzzi. He glared at the buttons and gadgets surrounding it, hesitating to push one to see what it did. The shower seemed more like a torture devise rather than a place to cleanse. He pondered over the showerhead, seeing as there was a strange cord that attached to it and the bathroom wall. He reached his hand out to it with a fascinated frown. He fondled with it for a moment until it became unhinged and plummeted. The cord tightened and the showerhead pummeled into the shower wall, emitting a loud bang. Lars nervously gathered it into his hands and tried redirecting it back to where it originally was. He succeeded only slightly, as now the shower head was tilted a little to the left. Lars stepped away from the shower, whistling nonchalantly.

Matthew returned with neatly folded clothes in his arms. He looked questioningly at Lars. "Are you alright?" he asked. "I thought I heard something."

Lars shrugged. "I didn't hear anything."

Matthew tilted his head but went along with it, placing the clothes on the counter. "Here are some clothes. I hope they fit. When you're done, just lend me your clothes and I'll wash them for you."

Lars glanced over his shoulder at the shower. He wanted to ask how to operate the damn thing, but didn't want to make a fool of himself again.

"Take as much time as you need," Matthew said, leaving the room. He blushed madly at the thought of Lars, naked in his house. He shut the door behind him, covering his blood-red cheeks with his hands.

Lars' coat fell to the floor. It was the first time he's taken it off today. Next was to come off was his shirt, a simple, long sleeve shirt, spotted with holes. He approached the shower, as if it were a beast to be tamed. Just don't…break anything, Lars, he reminded himself and turned what seemed to be the lever for the water. Thankfully, he was correct. Water spouted from the tilted shower head. Normally, he'd just bathe in cold water, but he noticed that the water grew warmer and warmer until steam filled up the shower. He extended his arm into the gentle rush of water, sighing. He removed the rest of his clothing and stepped inside. "Oh, my God," he muttered with another loud sigh. This was the best feeling he had ever experienced. The hot water splashed against his grime-covered skin, slowly melting away the dirt embedded on his flesh. His spiked hair fell into his face, becoming limp as the water made it heavy. Warmth enveloped him, releasing the cold buried within him.

He randomly picked up one of the many bottles and poured it into his cupped hand. He didn't know if it was body wash or shampoo, but that didn't stop him from lathering his entire body in it. It smelled sweet and made his skin and hair smooth.

He could have stayed there for hours, standing in that little cube with water rushing down his chest and back, gliding across his skin. He completely ignored all the other little gadgets the shower had to offer. This was more than enough.

Remembering that this wasn't his house and that Matthew was still waiting for him, he turned the water off and stepped out of the shower. He wrapped one of the towels around his waist, using the other to dry his face and hair. To avoid growing cold again, he swiftly dried himself and put on the clothing Matthew had placed out for him. Simple, old pajamas and an "I 'heart' N Y" t-shirt. They probably haven't been worn in a while. Perhaps they were too big or too small for Matthew's brother, and he decided not to wear them? Whatever the reason, they fit Lars well enough and made him feel comfortable. He gathered his clothes and left the steaming bathroom. He set the clothes in a clothes basket by the bathroom door, assuming Matthew placed it there for that particular reason.

He ventured downstairs to find Matthew curled up on the couch watching tv with a cup of hot chocolate in his hands. On the table was another cup, waiting for Lars. Matthew turned his head and looked at Lars. "Everything okay?" he asked, beaming cutely.

Lars nodded. "Yes. I placed my clothes in the basket outside the bathroom."

"That's good." Matthew shifted himself over a little, patting the space beside him. "Sit with me," he said. Lars did just that, reaching out for the hot chocolate and bringing the sweet liquid to his lips. He still sat up, his buttocks just barely on the couch. Matthew tilted forward and looked up at him, his mouth parting as he stared at him.

Lars glanced back at him. "What?" he asked before taking another sip.

"I've never seen your hair like that," he murmured, referring to Lars' hair now down, rather than spiked up. He held a pillow up to his face and looked down. "It's very…N-Never mind."

Lars placed the mug down. "It's very what?" he asked.

Matthew mumbled something against the pillow, but it was barely audible.

"What?" Lars asked again.

"It's very…sexy," Matthew repeated, shoving his face into the pillow completely.

Lars blinked, taking a moment to absorb the complement. "…Oh…Uh…Thanks…" he said.

Matthew placed the pillow on his lap and looked at Lars. He suddenly found himself hating the way Lars was sitting. "Relax a little," he said, pushing him back with his arm. Lars' back bumped against the back rest of the couch.

"Um…alright," he mumbled passively. He shrugged his back into the couch and relaxed. He stared up at the television for a moment. Some odd show he's never seen was playing. Of course, he didn't have a t.v. to begin with, so he really didn't know of any shows. Becoming bored, his attention returned to Matthew.

"Hey, Lars?" Matthew asked.

"Yes?"

"…Can I…rest my head on your shoulder?"

Lars hesitantly nodded, making a little room for him. "Yeah. Go ahead."

He blushed and scooted next to him. His head slowly fell onto Lars' shoulder. "Lars," he whispered tiredly, followed by a soft yawn. "Thank you for all you did today…with the decorating and, you know, saving my life."

Lars nodded nervously. "Yeah…Yeah, you're welcome. Um, thanks for letting me borrow your shower."

"No problem." He sighed, snaking his arms around Lars' arm. There was a dramatic change in Lars' overall air. He felt…warmer. Matthew glanced up at Lars, "Hey, do you-"

Poor, tuckered-out Lars was already passed out. Quiet snores resonated from his mouth, which was slightly ajar. Besides the slow, repetitive rising and falling of his chest, he was completely motionless. He was dead to the world.

"Goodnight, Lars," Matthew murmured into his ear, kissing his cheek.