Mathew was slowly stirring a pot of Hot-cocoa when his phone went off, its buzzing making it rattle across the counter. Mathew frowned, he never got calls. Mathew lifted the phone to see who was calling and was surprised to see that it was Arthur. They'd exchanged numbers when everyone got phones but Arthur had never call Mathew, he'd usually call Alfred. Shrugging, he answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"Eh, hello, lad."

"Everything ok?" Mathew asked as he idly stirred the shimmering drink.

"Um, no… You see, Francis lost our keys." A Muffled "Did not!" Could be heard in the background "Ah, well… We lost our keys and anyways, were a bit tipsy as it is…"

Mathew sighed "You need me to come pick you up in papa's car?"

"Please."

"I'm bringing Alfred…" Mathew said as he turned the stove off and moved the pot onto a back burner "He'll throw a fit if I don't."

Arthur groaned and then told Mathew how to get to the bar they were drinking at, it wasn't too far away luckily "Alright, drive safe, my boy… I love you."

Mathew chuckled "Love you too, dad. See you in a bit…"

Mathew sighed and wondered how drunk his dad was, he wasn't normally affectionate, even with Alfred or Francis, much less him. "Alfred!" Mathew called up the stairs "Papa and dad are a bit tipsy…" Mathew used his best British accent, it was mediocre to put generously "And they want me to pick them up!"

Running feet could but heard upstairs "I'm coming too!" Alfred hollered down "Lemme put pants on!"

Mathew rolled his eyes as he pulled his shoes on and gathered up the keys, and after double checking to make sure there was no extra lights on, he stood in the entryway waiting for Alfred.

Eventually Alfred appeared downstairs "Alright! Let's go!"

Mathew opened the door and giggled "Why are so excited?"

Alfred's voice darkened "You know why…"

Mathew closed the door behind them and walked over to Francis's car "So you can hold dad's drunkenness over his head?"

Alfred jumped into the air "Yeah, you know it!"

Mathew rolled his eyes as he unlocked the car, making no attempt to continue the conversation. He slide into the driver's seat after unlocking Alfred's door too, his hands rested on the chilled steering wheel, his eyes scanning over the mirrors.

"Dude chill, you always get this way when you have to drive, you're a good driver." Alfred said as he rested his hand on Mathew shoulder "Don't forget to buckle up!"

Mathew smoothly pulled the buckle to his side his clicked it into place, taking a deep breath, he started the car.

"I still can't believe you got your license before me…" Alfred moped.

"Maybe because I took it seriously?" Mathew sarcastically suggested with a smirk. Alfred frowned at his brother "I took it seriously! I just… I don't know, the driver instructor was kinda hot and I got distracted."

Mathew laughed as he drove in the direction of the bar "Yeah, right. The instructor was a balding man in his late 50s with a beer-belly. You just need an excuse as to why you didn't pass."

"As to why you didn't pass…" Alfred mocked "Sorry if I'm not super into reading manuals!"

Mathew laughed "Exactly why you didn't pass."

"Whatever, man… I'm turning on the radio…"

Mathew smiled as a sulky Alfred shifted through the stations. He really liked driving, well, once he actually pushed himself to turn the key he was always happy to have pushed himself. It was a very freeing feeling to be in control of a powerful machine. Alfred sung along to some pop song that was popular, making Mathew feel like an outcast, considering he never was able to keep up with the popular music… Maybe he'd have more friends if he listened to more of this trash.

Mathew visibly cringed.

Alfred gasp and started singing excitedly, harshly patting Mathew on the shoulder trying to get him to sing along "Hey! I just met you! And this is craaaaazy, but here's my number! So call me maybe!"

Alfred slapped Mathew harder "Dude sing!"

Mathew laughed "I don't know the words."

Alfred rolled his eyes "So, just… dude everyone knows the "So call me maybe" part so just sing that part!"

Mathew shook his hand "I don't think you want me too… I'm not very good at singing…"

"Come ooooon! You can cook, clean, draw and all sort of other womanly shit, so why can't you sing?"

Mathew glared at his brother "Don't be sexist!"

"It's a joke! Come on, lemme hear that pretty little voice."

"No."

Alfred shrunk into his seat "No fun, dude."

Mathew laughed and turned the radio down "Whatever, were here anyways."

Alfred went to unbuckle himself but Mathew put his hand up "Um, no. I'm going in, you're staying here."

"What? No!" Alfred whined "I want to go in too!"

Mathew unbuckled himself and gave Alfred a severe look "No. You stay here, Mr. Crank it up."

Alfred gasped "My party animal name… Who told you?"

Mathew shrugged "I found out. Now stay here or dad might hear of it too."

Alfred glared at his brother as he stepped out of the car, Mathew turned and smiled at his twin. Alfred narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms "You cold hearted bit-"

Mathew slammed the car door and walked towards the entrance, smirking to himself. He felt super cool. Mathew walked past the "no minors" allowed sign and into the crowded bar, he could already hear his dad's slurred stories over all the other loud rambling. Mathew shoved through the crowd easily. It was the reason he'd insisted he go in alone, no one would notice him… But Alfred? It would've been a mess.

He found his parents sitting in a booth in the back, they were surrounded by people in the same drunken state, hanging onto every one of his dad's ridiculous words. Francis sat on Arthur's lap while drink a glass of wine, his "Yes's" and "It's true, it sure is" backing up Arthur's story.

Mathew placed his hand on Francis's shoulder "Papa, I'm here… Let's go."

Arthur squinted at Mathew "Mattie? What're you doin' ere?"

Francis did the same, but while looking through his empty wine glass like a telescope, pushing the steam into Mathew faces "Such a pretty boy we have, Artie…"

Arthur nodded and pushed Francis to his feet "I think I called you… right?"

Mathew nodded "Yes, you did." Francis tumbled into Mathew's arms, using his son as a crutch to help his walk. Arthur tried to walk on his own but ended up resting his hand heavily on Mathew's shoulder. Mathew helped his parents hobble out of the bar and to the car, the people at the table cheering loudly after them, saying they were lucky to be taking home such a sexy young one home with them. Mathew kept his snickers to himself as his parents looked around desperately for the sexy person they were supposedly taking home with them, and their disappointed grumbles when they realized they would be each other's only company. He rolled his eyes when they started giving each other "bedroom eyes" once they decided each other's company wasn't so bad after all. Alfred hopped out of the car and popped the door open, helping Mathew dump their parents into the back seat.

Mathew and Alfred stood outside the car snickering and giggling to themselves. Mathew straightened his shirt and walked around to the driver's side "I hope they can wait till we get home…" Alfred scrunched up his nose in disgust "Me too, bro…."

Once the car was running and on its way again, Alfred turned the radio back on, to drown out the sound of their parents make-out session. Suddenly Francis leaned forward and turned the radio up even louder "Oh my god, I looooove this song!" Francis said as he fell back into his seat.

"Put your seatbelt on!" Mathew shouted to the back seat.

He could hear his parents snickering at him and even mocking him just under the sound of the music, but Mathew still caught it. Mathew rolled his eyes as he drove a three person dance party back to the house, even Alfred was acting drunk now, making Mathew feel like screaming.

Arthur was singing as loudly as his son and husband, which was unusual to say the least. Mathew's mood lightened at that and he laughed quietly, listening to everyone sing in slurred words. Finally they pulled into the driveway and Mathew let out a sigh of relief as he ushered everyone inside. Alfred went to the couch and flopped down onto it, while Francis and Arthur tripped upstairs for a shower, Mathew on the hand, well he moved back to the stove and heated back up his now cold cocoa.


The next morning Arthur and Francis stumbled downstairs, groaning as they shielded their eyes from the light. They hobbled towards the coffee pot/tea pot, only to find that two cups had already been made for each of them and set out on the table. The people who did it were sitting in the chairs opposite from the cups. Alfred had his feet propped up on the table and his arms crossed as he lounged in the wooden kitchen chair. Mathew sat forward, his head resting on his hand and his eyes set into a deep purple color.

Francis groaned even louder as he recognized the color. Arthur looked from Mathew and back to his lover "What's that color mean?" Arthur asked with a hint of panic in his voice.

"Parental." Francis faintly said.

"Damn straight it is! Mattie, give em' more of your parental eyes, and you two? Sit." Alfred demanded.

They did as they were asked, plopping down into the chairs and holding their bathrobes closed. Alfred frowned over at them "Now…" He started, he looked as if he was about to give them a serious talking to "Mattie you take it from here."

Mathew sat up straight in his chair and sighed "What happened last night, dad?"

Arthur smiled slightly and shrugged "It's a bit of a blur I'm afraid…"

Mathew nodded and turned towards Francis "You?"

Francis took a long gulp of his coffee before answering "I have no idea."

Mathew smiled "Well that's ok."

Alfred frowned at Mathew, everyone at the table asked Mathew the same question at once "Really? It is?"

Mathew stood up and pulled a cup from the cabinet "Oh yes."

Arthur raised a brow "I don't understand… What are you up to, boy?"

Mathew filled his glass with juice and hopped up on the counter, he smiled at everyone seated at the table "You see, I've learned a valuable lesson from all of you."

Everyone exchanged confused glances before turning back to Mathew. They all knew that Mathew was up to something, but they just weren't sure what it was. His sugary sweet voice was a clear indication that they would all be regretting something.

"You see…" Mathew continued "Everyone who is at this table always gets drop-dead drunk when they go out to drink…"

Arthur glanced over at Alfred before returning his gaze to Mathew "And that taught you…?"

Mathew giggled sweetly "How to drink! Now I know it's ok to go ahead and get drunk! It's what you all do right? So it must be the right way!"

Francis paled "Is this our punishment?"

"Punishment?" Mathew returned the question with mischief in his eyes "Not likely."

Arthur shot up from his seat "Now listen here, boy, I am your father and you will-"

"Treat you with respect? Oh I'm sure." Mathew said pleasantly while his mood ring eyes deepened in color "I was thinking about all the respect I'd give you in the morning after I had to drive to a bar in the middle of the night, pick your drunk butts up, keep you from making love in the backseat, cleaning up the vomit I found on the stairs and picking up the pants in the hallway. Oh yes, I have plenty of respect. It's all just accumulated over all the other drunken nights I've help you home."

Alfred laughed "Yeah! Give it to em' Mattie!"

Mathew turned his dark eyes to Alfred "Mm, you're not home free either, brother. You passed out after we got home, leaving me to clean up all the messes. And I've cleaned up more than my share of your drunken messes to cover you. That way they 'wouldn't know' but of course they always found out, their parents after all. But they're cool so they played if off, it's not like they have a lot of room to talk."

This time Francis and Arthur snickered over at Alfred. Alfred threw his arms in the air "How'd this become about me?"

Mathew took another sip of his juice, making orange juice look like the most diabolical drink this planet had to offer "It's ok though!" Mathew continued sweetly "Because I am the smallest most impressionable little blond and I think it's safe to say I'll follow in your footsteps."

Arthur paled this time "Mathew…"

Francis started crying "Oh, god… He's gonna start drinking if we don't become more responsible. H-he's gonna drink the stuff a-and… God I need more coffee."

Arthur rubbed his lover's back as he sobbed into his coffee, Arthur didn't look so good himself. Alfred looked damn-right scared "Mattie, no…" He whispered.

Mathew hopped off the counter "Then I think…" Mathew's voice had gain a sharp bite to it "That we can all agree that you will be more responsible when it comes to drinking… Or little Mattie might have to show you how it's done."

Everyone slowly nodded, Francis's sobs settling down into sniffles. Mathew's eyes changed rapidly, turning back to lilac as he opened the fridge again and pulled out a tray.

He moved back to the table and placed the covered tray onto the table. Mathew took in everyone's questioning looks before he whipped the cloth that was covering the tray away, revealing stacks of pancakes. It was a matter of seconds before everyone was severed and eating their personal stack of pancakes. Alfred's covered his in an assortment of toppings, such as marshmallow dip, syrup, chocolate sauce and so on. Arthur covered his in powdered sugar and jam, he shoved almost full pancakes in his mouth, folding them with his fork so they'd fit inside. While Francis and Mathew did the classy thing and… positively drowned their pancakes in maple syrup.

Hardly anyone talked as they scarfed down their pancakes, but afterward, they all laughed together about last night.

"Was I really singing? Bloody hell…"

"They thought we were taking Mathew home as a bed-mate?"

"I acted drunk too? Man, that's embarrassing…"

"God, I hope the story was telling was good."

"As a telescope? I used a wine glass as a telescope?"

Mathew sat back quietly as they all threw each other rhetorical questions, laughing as Alfred explained having to wait in the car. Mathew was glad everyone was enjoying themselves, he hated to ruin everyone's fun. "Hey, Alfred?" Mathew asked "Were late for school."

Alfred brought his wrist up to look at his watch, making sure that they really were late for school. Alfred sprung out of his seat once he saw the time "Mattie! We gotta go!"

Francis smiled as he ushered the boys towards the door "Use my car!" Arthur appeared at his side a minute later and tossed them their backpacks "Work hard today, got it?"

Mathew and Alfred both received goodbye kisses on their foreheads from Francis and a firm pat on the shoulder from Arthur. Arthur quickly work to pull the extra key to his car off Francis's key chain, hopefully they'll pick it up later. Then keys were shoved into Mathew's hand and they were flying out the door towards the car. Mathew quickly unlocked the doors to the car and they both settled themselves in. Mathew didn't have time to hesitate so he turned the key and got the car going. Mathew and Alfred finally breathed a sigh of relief once they had pulled out of the driveway, now set on their course to school.

"Man, it's gonna suck showing up in a ride like this…" Alfred grumbled.

Mathew didn't make any comment, he actually like his papa's old pick-up truck. Even though his dad was always one for the glamorous he was also practical and unafraid of getting his hands dirty. It was surprising to most people that the fashionable Francis would have such a dirty old car, but it made perfect sense to Mathew.

It was the perfect car in bring home freshly picked apples, or crates of farm fresh vegetables, even boxes of freshly slaughtered meat. Do you see the trend? Fresh. That was the only way Francis wanted to cook. He thought that the "stuff" at the store was tasteless and fake.

Francis was so passionate about this that he'd rather keep his old pick-up to haul the food around occasionally instead of trading it in for a sleek new car. Mathew would rather his papa keep this car anyways, considering his head was filled of fond memories due to this car.

Mathew smiled to himself as Alfred struggled to find some good music on the radio "Like the many times papa helped Alfred and I load pumpkins in the back. Or when we would play outside on the hot summer days, dad would come down the street and we'd go running to his truck. He'd always let us ride in the back like seatbelt-less rebels… even if it was only to our driveway… The back of this truck was always my go-to hiding place whenever me and Alfred would play hide and seek, he still doesn't know that here was where I'd always hide."

Mathew smiled warmly at the memories as drummed his thumbs on the steering wheel, playing along to a song stuck in his head.

"So if you don't like pop… What do you listen to?" Alfred asked when he noticed Mathew's drumming.

Mathew went to answer but Alfred interrupted "Do you listen to classical? You seem like a dude who would listen to Classical... Or maybe you're in that emo punk stuff? How about old school? That old stuff is hellllla."

Mathew continued to drive on silently as Alfred threw more music genres at him. Finally Alfred stopped, staring at his brother expectantly as he leaned his head on the dashboard.

Mathew smiled at his brother before turning his eyes back to the road "Death metal."

Alfred stared at his brother blankly "No fucking way… Are you serious? Come on, man, you were already sassy and sarcastic this morning so cut it out, like dude, you actually listen to that?"

Mathew chuckled but kept his eyes glued to the approaching school, not giving Alfred an answer.

"But yo… But yo, dude, are you serious?" Alfred asked again once they'd parked "You for real?"

Mathew popped his door open and looked back at his brother "Do I look like I listen to that kind of music? I mean really."

Alfred looked over his brother face, taking in his brightly colored eyes and pale skin. Then down to his red over-sized sweater that held at least one pencil in the front pocket, his black skinny jeans hugged his thin legs "No… but man I don't know with you… Well if it's not that, then what is it?"

Mathew rolled his eyes "Did you forget already?"

Alfred looked down at his hands, trying to remember if Mathew had already secretly told him his taste in music, but nothing was coming up, Mathew didn't usually talk about himself. "Were late." Mathew whispered as he hopped out of the truck.

Alfred immediately dropped the subject and burst out of the car, sprinting towards the door, Mathew only a pace behind him.


Mathew looked down at phone for the first time today, he just gotten out of his first class and was on his way to his next. He had two texts, on from Alfred and one from Gilbert.

He opened to one from Alfred first. "but rlly wuts ur fav music? I'm srly curious..."

Mathew chuckled at the messages but left it unanswered. He then opened Gilbert's. "hey meet me on the roof 4 lunch!"

Mathew squeezed his eyes closed, trying to remember how to get on the roof in the first place. Shrugging, he moved on to his next class, he'll figure it out.

"Okay, see you there." Mathew replied.


Mathew wandered through the halls, it was lunch time and he had no idea how to get to the roof. He'd sent Gilbert multiple texts asking him to send him directions, but all of them stayed unanswered. He was getting frustrated. He just needed an answer!

Mathew bit his lips once he remembered leaving Alfred's question hanging. He quickly pulled out his phone and sent him a quick message with his answer. Alfred probably didn't really care anymore but if there was the slightest chance that Alfred felt like Mathew does now… well he wanted to remedy that. Just as Mathew was about to send another text, his phone buzzed. It was Gilbert sending him directions. Mathew swallowed his aggravation and followed the directions to the stairs leading up to the roof.


Alfred walked through the halls, he'd stopped at the bathroom so he told his friends to go ahead of him to the lunchroom. The halls weren't very crowded but he did find himself sidestepping every now and then. He didn't actually have to go to the bathroom, but he did need to collect himself, so he used it as an excuse so he could go in and wash his face.

He didn't know why but he'd been thinking about his brother a lot. Not in the usual "I got to get Gilbert away from him" way, but in a more neutral way. He saw Mathew changing before his eyes and he wasn't sure if he liked it or not.

He laughed with more enthusiasm and smiled with a brightness Alfred wasn't used to.

He seemed more confident and stable, more present.

His art and cooking were turning out better than ever, the pancakes this morning were the best Mattie had ever made.

Alfred knew exactly why Mattie was changing, he knew it was because of Gilbert but he honestly didn't want to give him credit for his brother's happiness. It wasn't fair that Gilbert could make Mathew happy and Alfred just couldn't… Why him of all people? Why did it have to be the one person Alfred didn't want anything to do with? He was trying to consider Mathew feelings this time. Those eyes when Alfred told him the story of his and Gilbert's past relationship, the pure broken look in Mathew's eyes, it fucked him up. He was constantly finding himself trying to look at this situation from different angles, hoping he find one good enough to satisfy the protective brother in him… but it was difficult. Why Gilbert?

Alfred sighed and stopped in the middle of the now empty hall "Why? Just why?"

"Why what?"

Alfred spun around to see a boy standing behind him, he was alone and he seemed surprised to see Alfred. He chuckled nervously as he ran his eyes over the other's body, he was thin and short, not at all unlike Mathew. Alfred quickly identified him as the boy he'd knocked down the other day. His black hair fell into his eyes and he gave Alfred an even more confused look.

"Uh, no sorry… I just… Well it's nothing." Alfred said while scratching the back of his head, something he did to try and fight off embarrassment. His blank eyes searched Alfred face for a moment. Alfred's cheeks flushed bright pink, he wondered if the raven haired boy could read his mind, with eyes like that, he was sure there was some sort of mystery to this boy. He blushed furiously at the thought the other might be able to hear his thoughts about how interesting his eyes were or how soft his skin looked, about how badly he wanted to fan away the layers of mist the seemed to be protecting his eyes.

The other nodded "Ok then, I thought maybe you were talking to me… Bye now." The raven went to move past him but Alfred caught his wrist "W-wait!"

The other slowly looked over his shoulder and smiled slightly "Yes?"

Alfred didn't know what he was doing, he didn't even know this guy's name, and yet his entire mind was now consumed by the very thought of him. He felt like a fool, what was coming over him. Alfred frowned through his blush, squinting slightly at the raven "Who are you?"

He pulled his hand from Alfred's grasp and blinked his emotionless eyes up at Alfred, his mouth twitching into a smirk "How rude… Asking that question before you've introduced yourself?"

Alfred sputtered "U-uh, right… I guess that is rude. My name is Alfred."

"Nice to meet you Alfred, I am Kiku." He smiled ever so slightly as he extended his hand.

Alfred shook the hand a bit too enthusiastically but Kiku didn't comment on it "Hi, it's nice to meet you too. Oh! And I never really did get to properly apologize for when I kinda… crashed into… uh, you. So yeah, sorry about that dude! I don't know if you remember but yeah, I totes knocked you over."

Kiku laughed. Alfred thought it'd be like a tinkling bell or maybe even compared to a bird song, but no, his laugh was perfectly him in the most uplifting way. Even if he didn't laugh in a melody Alfred still found himself smiling widely at the other, it was just a normal laugh, but that's what made it so special.

Everything else about Kiku screamed mysterious and shadowed, but his laughed was anything but that, it was grounding for Alfred for some reason.

"You're doing that thing again." Kiku said, all traces of a smile gone from his face as he looked at Alfred.

Alfred shook himself from his thoughts and coughed into his hand "I'm… uh sorry, but what do you mean?"

Kiku's brows creased "You're face… you made the same face when you were trying to apologize last time too. Do you have something against apologizing?"

Alfred realized that he must've been wearing a dorky smile again and he sputtered slightly as he tried to explain himself. But what could he say? Sorry you mystified me again. That wouldn't work.

Alfred simply waved his hands in front of himself "yeah, I mean no, I just… Gah, ok listen, I'm sorry for making a weird face and knocking you over and grabbing your wrist and making this really awkward."

Kiku smiled slightly again "It's ok, I don't mind as much as you might think."

Alfred tried to look cool but he knew he was coming across as dorky again, he couldn't help it, and he just blurted out his next question with a huge smile "So, do you want to eat lunch with me?"

Kiku smile faltered slightly "I'm afraid not, sorry, it's just I have problems with loud and crowded rooms. Like the lunch room. I use an empty classroom, the teacher gave me permission to use it thanks to a doctor's note."

Alfred nodded understandingly "I get it…"

Kiku shrugged and turned to go "Nice talking to you, Alfred."

Alfred almost reached out to grab his wrist again but held back, calling for him instead. Kiku turned again with an eyebrow raised "Yes?"

Alfred couldn't help his dorky smile this time "Can I eat lunch with you then?"

Kiku looked shocked to say the least, his cool guy act seemed to shatter as he fumbled over his words and a slight tint found its way to his cheeks "Y-you want to eat with me? But what a-about your friends? Aren't they waiting on you?"

Alfred shrugged and hoped he wouldn't get turned down "They won't mind."

Kiku cleared his throat and turned to hide his smile "You can join me if you want…"

Alfred bit his lip and he quickly followed the raven haired boy to the classroom, he was trying really hard not to smile too widely or cheer even, but there was just something about this boy the Alfred wanted to get to know.


Doobley doop! New chapter! This next chapter I will be doing the lunch scenes and I'm actually sorta excited to be writing them... So as always, I'm sorry if there is any typos, I'm sorry, I just suck at writing xD

Thank you for reading! You have no idea how awesome you all are, thank you so much for following along with my little story and being so nice! I'm like seriously so damn grateful to have such awesome followers! I really hope you enjoyed this! Oh also, tell me what you thought of Mattie's darker side... To be honest I probably had way to much fun with that scene. I love the whole "Or little Matties gonna have to show you how its done..." it just sounded so bad ass to me...

...

(Psst... My little sister did some art for that scene actually, she's kinda like my proof-reader, as in she reads the story and tells me its really awesome. And then I rewrite it... like 20 times... and she says its awesome each time... in short she's a cheerleader xD anyways, if you guys are interested in checking that out heres the thingy art/Mr-not-so-lonely-anymore-Fanart-479283335)