Alfred carried Matthew into the bathroom, Matthew snuggled up to him. Matthew was gently put down on a seat. Alfred walked over and started running the water for a bath. Matthew kicked his feet while he waited, wincing at the very slight pain in his back side.
"Sorry about that. You'll be a little sore for a while." Alfred smiled sheepishly.
"It was worth it." He said, grinning cheekily
"I'm glad it was." Alfred smiled back. He paused for a momet blushing at the question he was about to ask. "Erm silly question... are you gonna get pregnent or something?" Matthew blinked and said in all seriousness.
"Yeah, probably." Alfred face palmed.
"Your dad is gonna kill me." He knew what the human reaction to knocking someone up outside of marriage. He wondered if it was different for merpeople. He wondered whether Francis was the kind of guy who would over react to this. Yeah he would. Oh no what was he supposed to do? Alfred started to panic. His thoughts were only broken by Matthew bursting out laughing.
Alfred looked over to him confused. Matthew laughed more.
"I-I'm not going to get pregnant Alfred." He managed to say as he tried to catch his breath. It took a moment before Alfred cracked a smile.
"You had me worried there." He laughed. The pair laughed over the matter before Matthew spoke again.
"But I can get pregnant." He said.
"Really?" Alfred looked to him confused. "How? I thought guys couldn't get pregnant." Matthew shuffled a bit in his seat.
"Not without help. That's where the sea witch, or wizard comes in." He explained.
"Do you have a sea witch or wizard?" Alfred asked interested. Matthew nodded.
"Well he's a sea wizard. And he's the one who gave me the ability to turn human."
"Cool." Alfred said. "Must be an awesome job being magical."
"No. He was exiled." Matthew said quietly looking down.
"Why?" Alfred asked confused.
"Because of what he did to me. He was kicked out by my papa." Matthew said sadly. He remembered the day only too well.
"But because you can change human... you met me and we got together." Alfred tried to find the silver lining. Wanting to cheer him up. Matthew looked up to him and nodded.
"I know. And I hope thats enough for papa, for me to find love by his help." Matthew said. He really missed Arthur when he left. His papa also seemed really upset afterwards.
"So the guy can go back to living in the castle?" Alfred asked softly.
"I hope so." Matthew nodded. He remembered nights where he would snuggle up to Francis, waking to find his crying in his sleep. He hated seeing him cry. He was so young when it happened.
"I'm sure he will." Alfred said bringing Matthew back. "What would he need to do for you to get pregnant?"
"W-Why?" Matthew asked, blushing. He was caught off guard by this question. Why would Alfred want to know that?
"I'm interested." Alfred replied honestly.
"Well he would make a potion, I would have to drink it, and then we would have to make love." Matthew said blushing.
"Okay." Alfred smiled. He looked back over the bath. The bath was nearly done, he dipped his hand into the water to check it's temperature. "Do you want warm water or cooler water?"
"Warm water." Matthew replied. "Can I ask why you wanted to know? How I could get pregnant that is." He asked blushing again.
"One... out of curiosity. Two I didn't want to end up getting you pregnant by accident." Alfred smiled over to him. Matthew smiled, back deciding to tease him a bit.
"You hesitated on one. Could it be possible you WANT me to get pregnant?" Matthew asked teasing him. Alfred chuckled back to him.
"I dunno... do you want to get pregnant?" He asked.
"Maybe." Matthew blushed deeper. Alfred smiled warmly to him.
"We'll have to see." He turned off the tap. "Bath's ready." Matthew blushed and nodded, "Ok. Do you want to get in first? I'll probably soak the entire bathroom." Matthew offered.
"Hmm..." Alfred thought for a moment before smiling and offering a hand to Matthew. As Matthew took his hand and stood up. Alfred quickly scooped Matthew up and carried him over to the bath. Matthew let out a squeaked, wrapping his arms around Alfred's neck. "I think it will be easier for me to get in second." Alfred whispered.
"Oh, ok." Matthew blushed. Alfred lower Matthew slowly into the warm water. Matthew squeaked as his legs melded together. Alfred smiled softly, waiting for Matthew to become comfortable. Matthew smiled gently moving his tail. "Ok. You can come in now." Alfred slid into the bath sitting behind Matthew. He made sure to get his legs in around Matthews tail. Matthew giggled. "That tickles!" Alfred chuckled as well as he sat behind Matthew. Matthew leaned back into Alfred's chest his lavender eyes meeting Alfred's blue ones. Alfred smiled down to Matthew. He wrapped his arms around his waist, resting his chin on his shoulder. Matthew smiles and relaxed back, gently swishing his tail back and forth. Alfred chuckled, his hands brushing against Matthew's stomach. Matthew's breath hitched.
"Would you like to have a kid one day?" Alfred asked softly.
"Yeah... That would be nice." Matthew said, smiling.
"Me too."
"Really?" Matthew looked to Alfred.
"Yeah. I'd like to have a kid one day." Alfred said softly. Matthew grinned and wriggled around slightly to kiss Alfred. Alfred smiled kissing Matthew back.
"Thank you." Matthew said pulling back
"For what?" Alfred asked confused.
"For saying you want to have a child with me." Matthew smiled.
"Thanks for wanting to have a kid with me." Alfred kissed Matthews neck. Matthew let out a little whimper.
"Y-You're welcome." Matthew stuttered. Alfred chuckled hugging Matthew.
"What?" Matthew asked, hugging back.
"Nothing. I just... never thought I'd find someone like you." Alfred said brushing some hair out of Matthew's face.
"I didn't think so either. Why did you go traveling in the first place anyway?" Matthew asked. Alfred paused for a moment, thinking back all those years.
"One reason was it was a good job. I get good money from it. The other reason was I... I guess I didn't feel I belong here." Alfred admitted.
"Really? Why?" Matthew asked confused.
"I dunno. I guess it's something to do with my family. We were all traveling. Sailing from town to town. Then one day I decided to stay put here." Alfred said. "They continued but I sensed something about here."
"Ah. And what was that if I can ask." Matthew asked smirking slightly.
"I'm not sure. Just a hunch I guess. I'm glad I stayed." He smiled to Matthew.
"I'm glad too! I wonder what would have happened if you had left." Matthew said relaxing back into Alfred.
"You probably would of got Gilbert or something." Alfred said.
"Yeah. I'd probably be married to him right now." Matthew shuddered at the thought.
"What's his deal anyway?" Alfred asked.
"I don't know to be honest." Matthew looked up at the ceiling.
"Well. I hope he finds someone." Alfred said.
"I do too." Matthew agreed. He might find something to better to do with his time then stalk him and Alfred.
"I guess he's stuck inside because of the rain as well." Alfred said as they could hear the rain falling down.
"Pft yeah!" Matthew chuckled.
"I wonder how that's working out..." Alfred said.
"I don't know." Matthew closed his eyes relaxing. He was at peace. In the water with his love by his side.
Gilbert glared angrily at the rain. Staring at it as it fell down the window, muttering something under his breath. Roderich looked up from where he was making breakfast to look at the angry merman.
"Now what has your knickers in a twist?"
"Stupid rain." He grumbled. "It does this to annoy me."
"Oh is that all? Well why don't you go outside?" Roderich asked, knowing fully well why he couldn't. Gilbert turned annoyed.
"Because I can't, and you know it." He sulked.
"Of course I do." Roderich smiled. Gilbert huffed at returned to glaring at the rain.
"What am I supposed to do now?" He grumbled. He couldn't do anything.
"Well. You could listen to me play. Or go sulk in another part of the house. Or I could shove you out that door." Roderich said slightly irritated at Gilbert's actions, though he didn't mean the last comment. Gilbert glared at to Roderich.
"So I have the choice between being experimented on... or sulking." He asked, not even wanting to think of being outside.
"Yup." Roderich nodded.
"I might as well do something productive." Gilbert sighed. "What do you wanna do?"
"Excuse me?" Roderich asked taken a back.
"What do you want to do?" Gilbert repeated slowly.
"Um. I don't know to be honest." Roderich shrugged.
"..." Gilbert looked to him not very amused.
"What?" Roderich asked.
"I dunno." He shrugged. "At least you can still go outside."
"Yes I know. I'm planning on going to buy some groceries. Would you like anything?" Roderich asked.
"Nah. I'm good." He looked around. "Do you have some pen and paper?"
"Yes." Roderich left the room and came back a couple minutes later. "Here you go."
"Thanks." Gilbert took the paper and scrambled off upstairs. Roderich blinked but shrugged it off. At least he wasn't sulking anymore. He hears some soft notes from a flute. Roderich smiles and sits at the piano. Waiting for the next notes. He didn't have to wait too long as Gilbert played a few more notes. It was clear from the stopping and starting of the notes that Gilbert was writing music. Roderich smiled and plays some notes of his own to compliment Gilbert's playing. He adored music and this was a good way to get better sounds. Gilbert seemed to write the piece quickly. He plays the tune, it was a very alluring tune. Roderich registered the tone of the music but shrugged it off. He felt no strange feelings, choosing instead to make his own notes to Gilbert's piece. Gilbert continued playing, noticing the accompaniment with the piano. He smiled as he continued to play. He was thankful for once Roderich wasn't effected. This piece he was writing was all part of his plan. If Alfred could't be seduced away, he was going for the oldest trick in the book. Good old fashion drowning. Roderich continued playing along with him, oblivious to the evil purposes this piece was to play. Gilbert continued playing, the sound drifting out and into the streets. Roderich frowned as he noticed thought the window many people begin to feel entranced by the music. Gilbert continued until reaching the end of the piece. He got up and walked over to the window, stopping and smiling to himself. Roderich looked out the window at all the people beginning to head to the ocean. Filled with a mixture of panic and anger he quickly stormed upstairs and pushed the guest room door.
"Fix this right now." He hissed. Gilbert blew a final note cancelling the effect. He smiled looking out of the window. Seeing everyone snap back to normal. Roderich glared. "What are you planning on using that tune for?" He demanded.
"What?" He looked innocently at Roderich. "I'm just experimenting."
"No. You're not." Roderich snapped.
"Yeah I am." Gilbert argued, smirking as Roderich seemed to get more frustrated.
"I can tell your not. Someone doesn't create a piece that allows them to... whatever it is it does, just because they can." Roderich began to argue.
"I can't help that I effect people." Gilbert said cockily.
"What are you planning on doing with that piece Gilbert?" Roderich asked in all seriousness.
"Nothing." He grinned. "I'm just writing some new stuff."
"Liar." He spat.
"You write new pieces all the time. What's wrong with me doing it?" Gilbert was starting to get irritated now.
"Nothing wrong, but when you use beautiful music for bad purposes then it becomes wrong!" Roderich said trying very hard to keep his composure.
"I'm just experimenting." Gilbert growled.
"You better be." Roderich growled in return.
"Don't get your knickers in a twist." Gilbert teased Roderich. Roderich gave Gilbert a flat look and went back to his piano. He knew a special song he'd been wanting to play for a while and wanted to know what it would do to Gilbert. Gilbert smirked as Roderich left and went back to tweaking his music. Roderich began playing the tune on the piano, making sure it rang through the house, and out the window into the streets as well. Gilbert noticed it, trying to sense any effects. Roderich continued playing the song, loving the slightly sad and slightly happy aspect of it. Gilbert shrugged it off. No clear effects on him, so he didn't have to worry. He continued to tweak the music. Trying to get it to only effect one person. Roderich began putting his own feel, letting only the sad, despair side of the song ring through. Gilbert stopped writing... looking over to the door. He looked back to the music. Was he really in the right doing this? Roderich continued playing the song. Matthew had been so much happier. He had to care about... wait a minuet! Gilbert glared back at the door. Roderich continued playing the tune, making it louder. Gilbert knew what Roderich was up to. The piece was depressing because that's what Roderich wanted him to feel. He was trying to make him guilty. He looked back at the paper trying to write another note. Roderich was of course oblivious to it, he just wanted to know the effect that it had. Gilbert wasn't going to feel sorry about anything. Trying to block out the music. Roderich neared the end of the piece, he would head back up to Gilbert when it was done. Gilbert couldn't write another note. The feeling of guilt was still strong. He started to grumble again. Roderich finished the piece and smiled.
"Lovely." He said, standing up and going to investigate Gilbert. As he walked through the door, he was met by the furious merman. His red eyes glaring at him. Roderich raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"YOU MADE ME MASSIVE GUILT TRIP!" Gilbert shouted at him.
"Oh so thats what it does." Roderich said, a small smile sneaking onto his face.
"See you're experimenting!" Gilbert pointed accusingly at him.
"Of course." Roderich chuckled. Gilbert's face went blank before returning to a very annoyed expression.
"So what's your issue with me doing it?" He shouted.
"My music can affect no one but your kind. Your music can affect everyone but me and your own kind. I am currently living in a place infested with humans, and you ask me what my issue is."
"Well..." He growled at him. "I'm try to only get it to affect one person!"
"Alfred I'm guessing." Roderich sighed.
"You know. You are really controlling." Gilbert stood up to challenge Roderich.
"Am I?" He asked unsure.
"Yeah. You are." Gilbert said flatly.
"Huh. Well if you say so." Roderich shrugged off the so called insult and began to leave.
"You know how!" Gilbert followed him, not done with this argument. "You let me stay here. You test what different music does to me! You guilt trip me about this whole thing! And then you don't make me want to leave!"
"Don't make you want to leave? What on earth are you talking about? You have every right to leave, the rain's stopped!" Roderich said really confused by his statement. Gilbert looked to the window and back to Roderich. He looked confused for a split second before storming back to his room. Roderich looked very confused before heading back to the piano
"Stupid pianist... so damn stubborn." He growled sitting down. "Maybe if I play a bit. I'll feel better." He started to play an emotion piece that reflects the players current mood. He started to play music, it was more upset and confused. It sounded as if it was an apology piece. Roderich listened to the piece and leaned back.
"You're forgiven for whatever you did." He mumbled. Gilbert stopped in mid piece realising how it sounded. He had to do this now. He was risking becoming attached to Roderich. He needed to take out Alfred quickly. But he couldn't just use music. He needed another thing to insure that Alfred wouldn't resist. He needed another potion. He quickly got up and decided he needed to do this tonight. Grabbing his bag he went down the stairs.
"Thanks for everything Roderich. But I have to go." Gilbert said quickly. Roderich looked at Gilbert and blinked when his heart throbbed.
"Yes, well come visit if you can." He said unsure if he even wanted him to go. Gilbert looked back to Roderich. Roderich looked back to him. Their eyes meeting each other as the moment held. Gilbert felt his heart rip knowing he would not be returning. But after tonight...Roderich wouldn't want to know him.
"We'll see." He said quietly.
"W-Well all right. Lovely meeting you." Roderich said, trying not to let any emotion escape him. Roderich turned back to the piano, he began another piece, but it was obvious that is playing didn't have the same spirit in it. Gilbert could feel the sorrow... but he turned away from it. Leaving the house and running to the sea. He couldn't risk it any more. Arthur wouldn't give him the potion he needed. He had to steal it. Luckily Arthur was such an organised guy, it would be labelled for him to find. He ran to the sea. Roderich watched Gilbert go. He'd only known the man for a couple of days, so why did he feel so betrayed? Droplets of water fell on to the piano, and it took Roderich only a couple of seconds to realize they were tears.