Ohhhhh…man.

So I made this bucket list the other day, right?

And the first thing on it?

I want to eat a stick of butter before I die.

Enjoy chapter 12!

Matthew didn't have a watch or cell phone on him, so he had no clue how much time had passed. He was betting they were nearing almost an hour of just sitting under the night sky when Gilbert finally raised he head and looked at him. He looked tired, making Matthew realized just how tired he felt. And for a good reason too. The last few hour's events had taken a toll on both of them.

Gilbert didn't say anything. He just stared into Matthew's eyes for a few moments, and Matthew stared steadily back. For once, he didn't feel uncomfortable, just…calm.

Something about his eyes, how they weren't a complete red, but just off, with tints of pink in it. But it was beyond the color. Gilbert's eyes were filled with wonder and uncertainty. They were asking so many questions and he watched as Gilbert's eyebrows scrunched together in confusion, before they relaxed again. Finally, he opened his mouth and asked just one question.

"Why did you stay with me?"

It was quiet, not a whisper, but it was so quiet, like he had never said it. Matthew watched Gilbert's lips barely move as the words came out, his eyes boring into him. His eyes traveled away from his lips back to Gilbert's eyes. He shrugged his shoulders, and the words came out of his mouth, just as quietly.

"Because you asked me to."

Matthew felt his cheeks burn slightly. Had he really just said that?

But Gilbert didn't seem to mind. He continued to stare back at him, apparently unaffected by the answer. Still they didn't break eye contact, and Matthew was struck with the odd impulse to suddenly reach forward and touch Gilbert. He didn't know why he wanted to, but he felt he had to. He had to see if this were real, if it was all really happening. As if his mind and body were two separate things, without looking away, he slowly reached forward with his one hand and closed the distance between them, his fingers coming to rest lightly on Gilbert's wrist. He could feel the fabric of the shirt and he gripped a small piece of it between his index finger and thumb. Gilbert's eyes traveled down and looked at his hand for a second before he looked back into Matthew's eyes.

Matthew wondered how long they sat like that. No words were exchanged. Everything was quiet around them, and he wondered if they were the only things left on the planet. It was an absurd thing to think, but that was the way it felt.

But the feeling didn't last forever, and Gilbert suddenly ripped his arm out of Matthew's grasp. Matthew wasn't holding on too tightly, and it made him jump.

"We should head back." Gilbert murmured, avoiding Matthew's gaze. He stood up and Matthew did the same, all the while trying to calm his racing heart. Hurrying after Gilbert, he just caught what he had asked him.

"Do you think you can stay the night at my house?"

Matthew was frustrated at the slow pace his brain was working at. He turned toward Gilbert. "Huh?"

"I'm too tired to drive you all the way home tonight anyway." Gilbert continued.

"Oh…okay."

When they finally made their way out of the woods, they were greeted with the sight of Ludwig and Vash sitting on the back patio, staring off into the forest. The party was still going on inside, and Matthew wondered how long they had really been gone. Apparently long enough, because when they finally came into full view, a very angry Vash stomped up toward them and Matthew felt himself cringe.

"What the hell, Gilbert?" Vash hissed, "Did you really find it necessary to pick a fight with Ivan and break one of the fucking tables? Oh yeah, the one with all the alcohol on it too?"

Matthew nervously looked toward Gilbert and saw that he was calmly staring back at Vash, the chiding apparently not affecting him.

"Do you have any idea how expensive that stuff was? What am I going to—"

"Vash, leave him alone." Ludwig said effectively sneaking up on them, causing Matthew and Vash to jump.

"How can I—"

"We'll come by tomorrow and help clean up." Ludwig cut him off, his tone full of authority, "But until now, I think you'd agree that we all, especially Gilbert, need some rest."

Vash and Ludwig stared at each other for a moment, but Vash looked away first.

"Fine, but Gilbert, if this ever happens again…" He turned around and stomped back into the party.

When Vash was gone, Ludwig turned his attention toward Gilbert. They looked at each other for a moment, then Ludwig opened his mouth and said something. It completely threw Matthew off guard when he had no clue what he was saying, and he thought he was going crazy, until he realized that Ludwig was speaking German. His voice was deep, but you could hear the concern behind it. Gilbert lowered his eyes to the ground and also replied in German. He paused for a moment, and then said something else, and Matthew caught him saying his name in the sentence. Ludwig turned toward Matthew after this and looked at him as if he hadn't realized he had been standing there the whole time. He glanced away and said something else in German, his eyebrows raised. Gilbert shook his head and there was silence between them. Ludwig sighed, said something, then turned away and walked up toward the party.

"Come on." Gilbert said to Matthew. Matthew walked after him as they walked around the house. He figured that it was just so that they could avoid drawing any attention. They made it to the car and Gilbert took out his keys. Instead of unlocking the doors though, he paused for a moment, just staring down at his hands before he sighed loudly and leaned against the vehicle, and covering his eyes with his arm.

"…Gilbert?" Matthew's voice broke the silence as he stared at him concerned.

"…hmm?"

"Are you alright?"

Gilbert took his hand away from his face and righted himself. He unlocked the car door. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Matthew bit his lip. He felt like he had been talking to a complete stranger for the past hour. He wordlessly walked over to the passenger side and got into the car.

Neither spoke on the way back, and Matthew was content on just watching the road roll under them, lit by the headlights.

The ride wasn't long, and when they finally turned off to the road Gilbert's house was on, Matthew noticed that their driveway was normal, unlike the long winding one that Vash's house had. Three cars were parked on it already, and Gilbert pulled into the open space. When Gilbert killed the engine, he turned to Matthew.

"You're going to have to be quiet. My parents don't know that I'm bringing someone home."

Matthew felt his cheeks grow warm. The way Gilbert had phrased that sentence…or maybe it was just Matthew thinking all wrong. He hoped that because it was dark out, Gilbert couldn't see him blush.

"Alright…"

Gilbert opened his door, and Matthew did the same. Quietly closing the door, he made his way over to Gilbert's side as they cautiously made their way up the front porch, and taking a deep breath, Gilbert opened the door slowly and peeked in. The inside of the house was different from Vash's, especially being the stairs where located right next to the door, giving easy access to sneak upstairs. Matthew had never done something like this before, and he kept thinking they were going to get caught for sure.

But they made it without any trouble. When Gilbert opened the door to his bedroom, Matthew shot into the room, leaning against the wall, trying to catch his breath to calm his racing heart. He heard Gilbert chuckle quietly as he switched on the light to the bedroom.

"Wow, were you that scared?"

"Shut up." Matthew snapped and took a deep breath, "I've never done stuff like this before."

"Oh, but you've drank alcohol before." Gilbert said unsympathetically.

"That was because I thought it was root beer!" Matthew blurted out in frustration.

Gilbert's eyes widened at the statement, and his mouth dropped open. Matthew stared annoyed as his shock then wore off and he began laughing. (Quietly of course, but still, hysterically)

"Okay Gilbert, shut up." Matthew growled, turning away to hide his reddening face.

"N-no, you thought it was…it was root beer?" And once again, Gilbert was laughing again, clutching his stomach.

"Alright, yes I did! Just shut up about it, okay!" Matthew tried not to sound like he was whining.

Gilbert straightened up slightly, and he cleared his throat. He stopped laughing aside from the occasional, "You thought it was root beer…pffffft."

Matthew ignored Gilbert and looked over the bedroom. It was exceptionally tidy, aside from the pair of jeans carelessly thrown on the ground and what not. Matthew found that it was his turn to laugh when he noticed the poster hanging right above Gilbert's bed. Framed and everything…

"Oh. My. God." Matthew breathed out between laughs, "You have a framed poster of Nicki Minaj?"

Gilbert sniffed indignantly. "Of course I do. I told you before, she's my girl. Don't you insult her."

"Never said I was…" Matthew giggled and Gilbert huffed.

The laughing was like a nervous release for Matthew after how tense everything had been earlier. He was relieved that Gilbert was acting normal again, at least.

Gilbert walked passed him and opened a closet door.

"That's the bathroom." Gilbert said, pointing toward a door by the bed as he pulled a rolled up mattress and several blankets out of the closet. "Don't clog the toilet. I'll kick you out if you do."

"Oh, okay." Matthew rolled his eyes and watched Gilbert unroll the mattress on the floor next to the bed. He walked over and sat down on the bed.

"Do you need anything to wear?" Gilbert asked, and Matthew looked himself over. His clothing was slightly dirty from their little trek in the woods, and he felt a little gross and sweaty.

"Ummm…sure…" Matthew said, embarrassed.

Gilbert pointed to his clothes drawer. "The top two drawers are shirts and stuff. Just take some of that and change in the bathroom."

Matthew did as he was told and looked through the drawers until he settled on a pair of knee length shorts, and a plain white top. He went into the bathroom and hastily put on the of clothing.

"Where do I put my clothing…?" Matthew asked through the closed door.

"Just throw them in the corner, it doesn't matter."

Matthew did as he was told. Tossing the dirty clothes aside, he then looked at himself in the mirror. He was sweaty, and his face looked slightly ashen. He sighed and turned on the sink, rinsing off his face, and rinsing out his mouth the best he could, the bile tasting awful from when he had thrown up.

Once he was done, he turned the sink off and opened the door. Gilbert had changed into a white tanktop and a pair of black shorts. Matthew decided not to drop the comment that the tanktop and his skin were practically the same color. He couldn't help but grin slightly though.

Gilbert pointed to his bed. "You're sleeping there." Was all he said, and he began to lie down on the mattress located on the floor.

Matthew looked at the bed helplessly then back at Gilbert. "Hey, wait, I can't…"

"Why not?" Gilbert asked with his one eyebrow cocked. He was resting his head on his hand, his elbow propped on the floor.

"Because…you'll be sleeping on the floor…and stuff…and it's not fair to you…" Matthew said weakly.

Gilbert rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Just throw me a pillow from the bed."

Matthew chewed the inside part of his bottom lip, but complied and took a pillow and dropped it by Gilbert. He grabbed it and placed it under his head.

"Just turn off the light whenever you're ready to go to sleep." Gilbert murmured, and then he was silent. Matthew watched Gilbert's back as his breathing began to come slower, and he sighed. Hesitantly, he got up onto the bed and sat down on it, pulling his knees up to his chest. He felt like he was forgetting something, but he didn't know what it was. He looked down at Gilbert again then around the room, until his eyes finally came to rest on the Nicki Minaj poster. He couldn't help it, and his face broke out into a grin again.

"Gilbert…?" Matthew asked into the silence and got no reply. He was already asleep.

Matthew sighed and pulled back the sheets and slid under the cover. The bed was surprisingly comfortable, and it took all of his energy to reach over and turn off the light before his head hit the pillow and he was asleep.

Yes, short and pointless. I'm sorry guys.

BUT THERE WAS CHEMISTRY BETWEEN MATT AND GIL. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT. YEAH.

Thank you for reading!