The morning dawns bright and early as mornings tend to do when you don't want them to. Mathias continues to hold Lukas in his arms tightly watching as the smaller man slept. What was he supposed to do with him? He could lose him today. Again. And if he did they wouldn't be parting on the best terms. He sighs and feels Lukas start to shift in his arms. He looks down at him and smiles gently when Lukas's eyes flutter open and blink up at him with a small yawn. Lukas frowns realizing from the weary look in Matthias's eyes that the other probably hasn't slept at all. He sighs and touches his cheek planning on saying something though he isn't sure what when a very very loud knocking on the door interrupts them. Lukas pulls away.
'We should go downstairs.'
Mathias nods in agreement and they both stand dressing before heading down the stairs an uneasy silence still between them.
Arthur was already awake by then. Making some tea in the kitchen. Hearing the pounding at his door, he hurried over and opened it. "I'm glad you could make it." He said, stepping aside for them. He still had a very ill pallor to his skin, and he looked exhausted.
Romano pulls a protesting Antonio into the house. "You look like shit." He comments simply "what's wrong with you?"
Arthur sighed. "Long story." He said, shutting the door behind them. "I just made up some tea. Would anyone like some?" He asked.
Romano scoffs "I don't want shit that you make." He sits at the table next to a grumbling Spain. Lukas enters the room with matthais,
'I would love some tea please. Do you want me to cook breakfast?'
Arthur smiled gently at Lukas. "No, I'll make some. There's a pad and pen on the table. I figure you'll have an easier time explaining what is needed of Antonio than I will." He said, heading into the kitchen.
Antonio and Romano watch with wide eyes as the two communicate shocked because before these two couldn't even be in the same room as the other. Lukas nods at his and picks up the pad writing 'you have magic you don't know how to use. We are going to borrow it. All you have to do is sit and be pretty.'
Arthur made up some tea for him and Lukas, making up some simple scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast. He put five plates and sets of silverware on a tray, as well as the plate of eggs and toast. He put a couple jars of different jams on the tray and the two cups of tea, then carried the tray to the table. "I made plenty for everyone, so help yourselves." He said, setting a plate in front of everyone. "Does anyone else need something to drink? I have milk, water, and orange juice."
Thankfully while Arthur was cooking Lukas had cohered Antonio's help and the argument was over. Lukas smiles fixing him and matthais a plate eating while Antonio an Romano sit there awkwardly "no thank you." Antonio finally forces out.
Arthur nodded. "Lukas, when you have a moment, I have something I want to discuss with you in private." He said, picking up his tea and sipping at it.
Lukas nods in reply and when he finishes eating he stands beckoning Arthur to follow him to a separate room.
Arthur followed Lukas into the other room, closing the door. "I couldn't get back to sleep last night, so I did some research. I know you don't want Mathias to go with you, but I found a way to ensure his safety. As long as you don't die, he won't die." He said.
Lukas's eyes narrow 'alright that's reasonable. But how do we separate the spirit that can go into the gate and his body? I can do it because I am a spirit from the gate. But unless another spirit takes matthais' spirit out of his body matthais will run the risk of his body dissenting rating when he enters the gate'
"Don't worry about that. I can separate his spirit and body prior to entering. The only thing I can't guarantee is getting him out without your help on the other side. As long as you can push him back through, he'll be fine. That's why I say as long as you live, he'll be fine." Arthur explained.
'And if I refuse? I still don't want him to go with me.' Lukas looks agitated realizing that this is a battle he has lost already.
"Because you and I know Mathias is not going to back down from this. I figure if he is hell bent on joining you, we might as well make sure he lives in the end." Arthur said simply.
'Fine. Let's get this over with.' Lukas storms out of the room glaring at everyone who gets in his way.
Arthur nodded, following him out. "If everyone is ready, we need to go to the basement." He said. Mathias nodded, standing up to join them, having no intention of letting Lukas do this alone.
They go down Romano practically forcing Antonio who is convinces that they are being lead to a torture chamber while Lukas continues to glare. When they all get down there Lukas turns to Arthur expecting him to translate his words to the others. 'I will go first. To maintain the blank I will have to leave by the same way. Don't open the gate until I tell you once I have separated ok? Once my spirit is stabilized you can do your thing. But not until I am stabilized understand?'
Arthur nodded. "Of course. Let me draw out the circle first so it's ready. I'll let you explain yourself to Mathias." He said, grabbing some chalk to redraw the symbols on the wall.
Lukas glances as matthais sighing and moving over to take his hand 'I don't want you to come with me. As a matter of fact I would rather get married to Russia before I take you with me. But I have no choice so you are going to have to follow my instructions very carefully. Arthur will take care of the first part but from there you will have to listen and do exactly as I say. If I say run you run if I say hide you hide if not I will kill you myself understand?'
Mathias smiled gently, kissing his forehead. "Thank you, Lukas. I'll do everything you say, I promise." He replied.
"Alright Lukas, I'm ready when you are." Arthur said.
Lukas glances back at matthais for a moment before walking over to the circle laying down and looking at Arthur worriedly. His skin was still to pale and it worried him. Shaking his head at the distraction he willed his spirit child to leave. After a few moments the child that Arthur helped but yesterday slips out of the body and looks up at him with wide eyes before wandering over to matthais and looking up at him. After all the child recognizes Matthias. This was his other half. The part that belongs with him. And he wants him with him. Right now. After all a child's desires don't always work the way an adults mind would.
Mathias stared at the child in shock, not quite understanding what was going on. Arthur walked over and flashed the child a friendly smile, picking him up as he had before and carried him over to the wall with the symbols on it. "Tell me whenever you're ready, Lukas." He said, setting his free hand on the wall so he could activate the gate as soon as the child gave the word.
The child glares at him signing 'no!' he wiggles and struggles till Arthur is forced to drop him. And then runs back over to matthais taking his hand 'your him aren't you?' the child asks curiously. Matthais doesn't know it but the child is reaching into his body searching for matthais spirit child's hand.
Arthur watched the child, a bit confused. After all that wasn't part of the plan. But Arthur is aware that the child is in control now. And the child most likely sees things differently. Mathias raised an eyebrow. "I'm who?" He asked.
The child just looks agitated and kicks the back of his knee so he will fall to the floor. He wanted his friend and he wanted him now! He then pushes his hand into matthais' chest after successfully locating the spirit child and pulls out the spirit child.
Mathias let out a light pained grunt when he dropped to his knees, staring at the child with wide eyes when it reached into his chest. When his spirit child was removed, his eyes rolled back and his body went limp, flopping to the ground in a heap. Mathias' spirit child looked at Lukas, a little confused about suddenly getting yanked out of his body.
'Hello there. We are going home. But it's only for a little while. One of our friends is lost.' the child signs before taking his hand leading him over to the wall and smiling sweetly at Arthur 'ready.'
The child smiled lightly and nodded, seeming excited about going on an adventure. Arthur looked at them and nodded, setting his hand on the wall and murmured the incantation to open the gate. Warding off the initial wave of dizziness that came from opening the portal, he smiled gently down at the children. "Do you need help getting in?" He asked.
Lukas looks up at him and blows him a kiss before shaking his head bending down before jumping propelling himself and the other child into the gate.
Arthur watched them go through, then walked over to Antonio, looking even paler than before. "I need you to sit down and relax. I'm going to need that well of magic in you in order to keep the gate open without killing myself..." He said lightly.
Antonio just glares but he sits when Romano hits the back of his head whispering in his ear "do as he says and I will reward you later." so he relaxes but is unhappy about it.
Arthur carefully sat down in front of him. "Just relax and hold still. Hopefully this won't take too long..." He said, reaching forward and taking a hold of one of Antonio's hands gently, just so they were physically touching. He then closed his eyes and went into a meditative state, tapping into Antonio's store of magic to sustain his own and keep the gate open.
The first thing that matthais notices is bright white light and the sensation of falling. The child Lukas beside him seems to glide thought he air instead of falling as matthais is.
Mathias freaked out a little at the feeling of falling, not liking it one bit. He clung to Lukas' hand tightly like his life depended on it.
Lukas smiles at the slightly larger child pulling him closer into his arms and they seem to land but everything is still completely white so matthais isn't sure what they land on. When they land he notices something blue seem to fold against Lukas' back before disappearing completely.
Mathias looked around the place a bit confused, not entirely sure what was going on. "What was that?" He asked, pointing at where the blue thing was.
The child flexes his vocal cords before becoming excited and speaking "they are my wings. I am a creature of the gate. Most magic users have an alternate form. I'm a fea. Arthur is an angel. That's who we are looking for." he says sounding much more cheerful than matthais has heard in a really really long time. "Come on we need to make it to solid ground."
Mathias smiled widely, getting excited about searching for an angel. "Okay!" He said, his tone expressing his excitement, still holding onto Lukas' hand firmly.
Lukas smiles at his companion's excitement and began to lead him through the blinding white light. What seems like hours pass to the hyperactive matthais until suddenly an explosion of color surrounds them and they find themselves in the middle of a dense forest. Lukas' eyes widen in shock before furrowing in worry.
Mathias looked around at everything, eyes wide with wonder. "Woow...it's pretty..." He said absently.
"Everything here is beautiful" Lukas comments "stay here I need to figure out where we are." he says before propelling himself into the air blue wings snapping out to catch him before he falls. He hovers above the trees trying to figure out how they ended up in the forest instead of the lake region like he planned.
Mathias nodded, staying put and doing his best to resist the urge to go explore. He loved the forest. He just wanted to run around and see what cool things he could find.
Lukas lands and takes his hand again "we are going this way ok?" he says as he starts to lead him through the forest.
Mathias nodded, following alongside him as he continued to look around the forest, wishing they could just go explore.
Lukas watches him carefully knowing that if given the chance he will run off to explore the forest. They spend a long time seemingly walking nowhere until they suddenly break through the trees onto what appears to be a prairie.
Mathias grinned at the field. "Race ya!" He suddenly blurted, releasing Lukas' hand and took off running.
Shocked Lukas shrieks "no!" and takes off after the boy. But Lukas is shorter and can't run as fast so decides to cheat taking to the air and landing right in front of matthais right before he would have hoped over a small stream.
Mathias' eyes widened when Lukas landed in front of him, jamming his feet into the ground to slow himself to a stop, almost slamming into the smaller boy. "That's not fair! I don't have wings!" He said with a pouty face.
"Well we should use all of our abilities to our advantage yes?" Lukas asks grabbing the other boy and pulling him away from the stream nervously.
Mathias continued to pout, following along with him. "But it was a race! Flying is cheating!" He insisted.
"No it's not. It's perfectly fair. Ok new rule. No running off." Lukas says sternly leading him back to the edge of the forest and starting to walk again.
Mathias grumbled to himself. "Fine..." He relented, following alongside him.
Lukas relaxes relieved that he didn't fight him. "Ok so you know who we are looking for right? None of your memories disappeared when we went through the gate?" he inquires having already checked everything else to make sure he was stable.
"We're looking for Artie with angel wings, ja?" Mathias replied.
Lukas relaxes content that the gate didn't take anything from him "right. And he will probably not want to come back with us and he has very strong magic here so we need a good reason or a good lie to get him back to outside."
"Oh! We could tell him Peter is in danger and we need his help!" Mathias suggested.
Lukas stops in his track looking extremely shocked "you know sometimes I wonder why I ever thought that you were stupid. You're such a genius, on occasion. But now we need to find him. His favorite element is water that's why we are headed to the Lake District."
Mathias grinned wildly at his compliment, nodding. "Alright, let's do this then."
Lukas gives a small smile in response as they continue their trek. Eventually matthais can see what appears to be a lake far in the distance and as they get closer Lukas stops walking "matthais. When we get there please remember that you must not get in the water. You can't touch it drink it play with it anything do not let anything on your body touch the water understand?"
Mathias nodded quickly. "Ja. Water is bad. Got it." He said, giving Lukas his grin and a thumbs up.
Lukas just rolls his eyes and they continue till they reach the lake area. Lukas immediately starts to look around searching for another person. It dawns on matthais that they have seen no other people since their arrival.
"Lukas? Where is everyone? Isn't this supposed to be the afterlife or something like that? There should be millions of people here..." Mathias asked after a moment, keeping an eye out for Arthur.
Luka sighs "no that's history. We are in the gate. The gate is what leads you to history. But if it isn't your time or you don't completely die you come here to the gate instead of just passing through. Right now I think there are maybe six people in the gate. Sometimes countries stay here If they have unfinished business with the living as well." he explains.
Mathias nodded in understanding. "Okay, so how are we going to find Artie?" He asked.
Lukas grimaces "well its trial and error really we just start searching. You can walk around the lake and I can take to the air but there is no sure way to find him. Even if I use a spell. If the gate doesn't want me to use it, it won't work."
Mathias nodded. "Alright. I'll search down here." He said, then started walking along the lake. While Mathias is walking he is suddenly tackled to the ground by an angry head of blonde hair.
"Gah!" Mathias let out a startled cry at being tackled, immediately going on the defensive and trying to push the other child off of him.
The blonde child breaks away from him standing and glaring at him with angry blue eyes. "Who are you? State your name and business and why you are here!"
Mathias stared at the boy. He seemed really, really familiar, but he couldn't place why. "Mathias. I'm here looking for a friend of mine." He replied.
"Well you shouldn't be here! This isn't your place so go away!" the child just seems to get angrier and advances on matthais threateningly "your friend is probably already happy in history!"
Mathias took a cautious step back, shaking his head. "He's here somewhere, I know he is. He's only been here for a day." He replied.
"You mean that stupid angel kid? Humph he's over playing by the water. Stupid. You would think he knows better! He could fall in!" the child advances on him again forcing matthais to take a step back again toward the lake.
Mathias took another careful step back. "Well, if he's over there, then I'll just go over there and not bother you anymore."
"But you shouldn't be here. You aren't a shade so you are destroying the balance." He says angrily continuing to advance on him.
"I'll leave as soon as I get my friend, I promise. But I can't get him with you in my way. Just give me a couple minutes to go talk to him." Mathias said, taking steps back whenever the blond child moved closer.
"But why should I let you take him? He belongs here. This is his home now." He takes a few steps forward grinning almost wickedly at the other boy.
Mathias took another couple step back, not realizing how close to the water he was in. "He's not whole here. The rest of him is still in his body on the other side. I just want my friend to be whole again." He said.
"But he doesn't need it does he? Two other nations have shades here and they seem to be doing just fine." He continues to advance on him.
"He's my friend, and I'm going to take him home where he really belongs." Mathias said, taking another couple steps back until he was right at the water's edge.
"But he is happy here. Why would you take the happy shade?" He looks genuinely confused for a moment before smiling "doesn't matter you won't get a chance to take him home." He steps forward again raising his hands as if to strike him.
Mathias raised his arms to defend himself, taking one step back to help brace himself against a blow. However, in doing so he planted his foot right in the water, his eyes widening when he realized what he'd just done.
As soon as his foot lands in the water the other boy backs off and matthais is overwhelmed once again with the sensation of falling as his surrounding blur and then disappears. The difference is this time he is falling through black.
On the other side of the lake, the child spirit of Arthur sat at the water's edge, playing with a small boat he made out of leaves and twigs. Since he was only part of Arthur's spirit, he looked very frail and scrawny, the simple tunic he was wearing hanging off one of his shoulders and looking like it was a few sizes too big. Lukas takes to the sky covering more ground than his counterpart and not paying as much attention to matthais as he should have been. He spots the blonde child and brings in his wings a little to land. Arthur looked up when he heard something above him. He stared up at Lukas, a flash of surprise crossing his features, followed by confusion.
"Hey Artie." Lukas says lightly landing beside him "what are you doing?" he takes a cautious step forward not wanting to scare the boy.
"I'm playing with my boat. Do you like it?" Arthur asked, picking up the boat and held it out to Lukas to get a better look at it.
"Yes... It's quite a lovely little boat. I couldn't have made one that good." he compliments. "Hey Artie do you want to come see a bunch of bigger boats with me?"
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Bigger boats? Where?" He asked.
"They are back at my home. You would have to come with me to see them."
Arthur pouted lightly. "But I like it here." He said, not budging from his spot.
"But you will like it there even better I promise." Lukas says gently trying to convince the other boy into following him.
Arthur shook his head, facing the water and put the boat back in. "No thanks. I like it here." He said simply, going back to playing with his boat.
Lukas pulls the child's face around to face him "Arthur. Peter is in trouble. He need your help and we have to get to him as soon as possible." He says urgently.
Arthur stared at Lukas in confusion. "Who's Peter?" He asked. Because this was only a small part of Arthur's soul, he had almost no memory of his life outside the gate.
Lukas throws his hands up in frustration walking a little ways away. "Do you remember who I am?"
Arthur shook his head in response. "Nope."
"I'm your friend Lukas. We have been friends for a long time. And you had an accident I guess you hit your head and now you don't remember anything. I need you to trust me when I say it's time to go home." Lukas lies trying to get the other to follow him.
Arthur shook his head lightly. "I don't know...I like it here..." He said.
Lukas feels a tugging in his chest and knows exactly what has happened he spins around cursing violently.
Arthur blinked, looking up from his boat to see what the commotion was.
Lukas reaches out and grabs Arthur's hand not willing to let the other disappear from his vies now that he has found him. He pulls the other along as he runs to the place where Matthias fell.
Lukas comes to a stop in front of the other child before hastily letting go of Arthur and stepping into the water. But nothing happens "you can't follow him. You aren't a full spirit. Only full spirits can go through." The blonde child says. Lukas turns around and punches him in the face. Arthur stared at Lukas and the other boy in shock, not understanding what was going on. The two children start fighting full out. Both screaming at each other.
Arthur could only watch them in shock, too stunned to move.
Lukas and the other child stop fighting and Lukas just sits there blankly staring at the water before deciding that he would go home and commit suicide so he could go to history to see his matthais. But first he had to get Arthur home. He sighs unhappily. "Come on Arthur lets go."
Arthur shook his head. "I don't want to go..." He said, folding his arms across his chest.
"Too bad you're going anyway." Lukas announces grabbing his hand pulling him along in his wake.
"No! You can't make me!" Arthur shouted, pulling against Lukas' hold, even using his wings to try to fly away from him.
"Watch me." Lukas snarls pulling on the boy forcing him to follow.
Arthur continued to resist him, starting to scream profanities at him. Lukas grows agitated turning and knocking Arthur unconscious. And carrying him to the entry point. Arthur went limp when he was knocked unconscious. He carries him to the entry point and lays him down and takes a moment to cry.
Mathias let out a panicked scream when he started falling again, flailing his arms around when he started falling, absolutely terrified. When he lands it is in a beautiful meadow everything is gorgeous and wonderful and perfectly preserved like it came straight out of a storybook. Mathias stands on shaky legs and looks around for Lukas whimpering when he doesn't see him.
Suddenly matthais hears a soft familiar voice from many years ago. "Oh my child. What are you doing here? Your time has not come!"
Mathias frowned lightly at the voice, looking around trying to find the source of it. He hadn't heard the voice in so long, he couldn't place who it belonged to. "I...I don't know how I got here...I don't know how to get back..." He replied.
The woman's voice grows closer and matthais' mother steps from In between the trees picking up the child. "Oh sweetheart you can't go back. This is history. Once here you can't leave." she says sympathetically as she carries him out into a clearing where there are a lot of people.
Mathias' eyes teared up when he saw his mother, wrapping his little arms around her neck as soon as he was picked up. Hearing her words, he frowned, looking up at her face. "I can't go back...? But what about Lukas? Or Artie? Or my other friends?" He asked.
His mother just smiles at him sadly. "I'm sorry sweetheart. You will see them again one day." she sets him down in the middle of the clearing where there is a huge mirror. All the other countries mill around feeling for the small child. "Every now and then you can look into this mirror and watch those most important to you."
Tears started streaming down his cheeks as everything sunk in. He didn't want to be dead. He wasn't prepared for this. "Mama...I-I don't want to be d-dead..." He whimpered.
She rocks him "I know baby it wasn't your time I'm so sorry this happened to you but it's all going to be ok alright? Just go to sleep alright little one? Things will look better in the morning they always do."
Mathias buried his face against her shoulder, letting out wailing sobs.
She tries to soothe him helplessly glancing around at the other countries for help but no one knows how to help her. In desperation she carries the child over to a huge tree and puts him down in front of a door in the tree. "Go in little one and ask for help."
Mathias reached up and wiped his eyes. "Wh-What's in th-there...?" He asked, trying to calm down, but couldn't stop crying.
"The entire world is in there young one. The one who gives us all life." she pushes him toward the door gently.
Mathias nodded lightly, going up to the door and cautiously opened it, stepping inside.
In the middle of the floor is a large tree with a continually changing woman in the chair. Her features are forever changing depicting each and every nationality there is or ever has been. Her features slow and morph into a Nordic look and she smiles at him. "Hello matthais."
"H-Hej..." Mathias said softly, wiping his eyes again.
"Why are you crying little one." she asks picking him up putting him in her lap and wiping his tears.
"I-I just want to g-go h-home...I-I don't want t-to be dead...I-I don't want t-to leave L-Lukas..." Mathias sniffled, trying to stop his tears, but still couldn't.
"I see. Why don't you tell me how you ended up here I don't have you scheduled until well never mind."
"I-I was looking for m-my friend A-Artie...a-and this other boy h-hit me and I f-fell in the water..." Mathias replied, wiping his eyes.
"I see. Well since it's not your fault I suppose you should be sent back."
Mathias' eyes widen. "R-Really? Y-You'll do that?"
"Yes for not only you but your friend as well." she waves a hand and the image of Lukas leaning against a tree sobbing appears in the room.
Mathias frowned deeply at seeing Lukas the way he was. "P-Please...I-I need to go t-to him..." He said softly.
She stands leading him out to the mirror that his mother had first taken him to. "Lean against it and imagine him ok?"
Mathias nodded as he followed. "C-Can I say bye to m-my Mama first...?" He asked softly.
She nods and his mother picks him up cuddling "I love you."
Mathias hugged her tightly, burying his face against her neck again. "I-I love you, too, M-Mama..." He said softly.
She holds him close before setting him down stepping away "I will see you again someday."
Mathias nodded, giving her a faint smile and wiped his eyes one last time. "I-I'd say I hope I-it's soon, b-but I don't want t-to die for a-awhile..." He said with a soft laugh.
"Don't worry sweetheart you have plenty of time with him." she says fondly to him kissing his unruly hair and pushing him toward the mirror
Mathias nodded, going over to the mirror, breathing out a heavy sigh. He leaned against the mirror as he had been instructed, closing his eyes and imagining being with Lukas again. Again he feels the sensation of falling and he can hear Lukas' sobs. Mathias let out a startled yelp when he felt himself falling again. He hits the ground with a thump and Lukas goes wide eyed looking at him.
Mathias let out a grunt when he hit the ground, a bit stunned. Finally opening his eyes, he spotted Lukas, relief washing over him as he scrambled to his feet and ran over, tackling Lukas in a bear hug.
Lukas doesn't fight back arms wrapping around him as he tries to stifle his tears "never leave me again." the child cries fearfully.
"I-I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean to..." Mathias mumbled, holding him tightly against his chest. Lukas sobs uncontrollably for a while into his chest. Matthais has never seem Lukas like this.
Mathias just held onto him tightly. "We should go back. Artie needs his spirit." He said after a little bit, kissing the top of Lukas' head.
Lukas hiccups a little before standing and nodding. He then invokes the exit charm and picks up Artie taking matthais' hand and walking into the air. Mathias followed along quietly, holding his hand firmly.
They walk into the white place and Lukas leads him through. Then they hear a voice. "What is your payment." the voice booms
Mathias frowned, looking at Lukas. "What's our payment?" He asked, his voice a whisper.
Lukas sighs "you can have my voice back!" he calls out.
"But there are three of you I need more than that this time what do you offer?"
Mathias bit his lower lip, trying to think of what to give up. "You can have my voice, too." He said.
There is the sound of a chuckle and Lukas "you can't have his voice. But you can have Antonio's magic. He will never miss it." he sounds proud of himself for coming up with that.
"Ja! That works!" Mathias said with a grin.
There is no reply and Lukas sighs in relief heading off quicker this time until he can see the open gate. Mathias closed his eyes against the whiteness, trusting Lukas to lead him out. Lukas leads him blindly for a moment and then gives him a rough shove and he falls on to the basement floor the Arthur child right behind him.
Mathias let out a startled yelp when he fell through, not expecting the shove. Arthur snapped out of the meditative state at the noise, looking over at the gate. His eyes widened in surprise at seeing the unconscious child that looked like himself. Lukas reaches his hands out searching for something to grab onto to pull him out of the gate. Seeing the other hand, Arthur hurried over and grabbed onto it, pulling Lukas through the gate. The child falls out and into Arthur's arms holding him tightly,
"Close the gate it's over."
Arthur nodding, quickly swiping the symbols to shut the gate before it drained him too much more. Suddenly Arthur feels all of the magic drain from Antonio and seem to dissipate as the child Lukas leads matthais back to his body coaxing him back into it. Arthur felt even more drained once Antonio lost his magic, since he had made the connection between them.
Mathias walked over to his body, figuring he had to enter the way he was pulled out, going in through the chest. Once Lukas makes sure that matthais has returned to his body he looks guiltily up at Arthur. He then begins to shake the younger Arthur awake. Arthur just stood and stared, extremely confused about what was happening. The child stirred awake, rubbing the back of his head with a mumbled 'ow'.
"Hey sorry about that I was mad" Lukas says apologetically "but we are home now little angel so go home ok?" He says gently pushing him toward Arthur.
The child looked from Lukas to the still shocked Arthur. Recognizing Arthur as 'him', he scurried over to the man, jumping up and literally flew into his chest. Arthur had this weird sensation course through his body when the missing piece of himself that he hadn't realized he was missing entered his body. It was like a strong tingling going through all of his nerves. However, in his greatly weakened state and not expecting what just happened, it overloaded his system and he blacked out, falling to the ground. He was fine and breathing normally, although still rather pale from everything.
Mathias stirred awake, slowly sitting up and rubbing a hand down his face. "Okay...that was like, the weirdest thing I have ever gone through..." He grumbled.
The child Lukas smiles up at him gently "don't leave me ever and you will go through weirder" he comments. Since the body is a blank and a blank that has not yet acquired his full signature as the blank is still relatively new, the spirit child can't find his body and he looks up at matthais desperately "where am I?"
Mathias smiled gently, taking the child by the hand and lead him over to the blank body. "You're right here." He replied.
"Oh good." Lukas says happily and flows into the body his wings folded up against his back as he slips into his chest he is unresponsive for a moment before slowly blinking awake.
Mathias smiled gently down at him. "Hej."
Lukas smiles and stands wearily holding a hand out for help to stand. "How are they?" he asks glancing at Antonio and Romano who look fine, if a little shocked. Neither of them had really understood what had just happened and all Antonio knows is he doesn't feel all that great anymore. Typical Romano just scowls though not willing to admit he is confused. And then Lukas glances over at his friend, at Arthur, who is unconscious.
"I think everyone is fine." Mathias replied, helping him to his feet, then went over to Arthur to check on him. "He looked okay. I think he just exhausted himself. You gotta remember, he is recovering from the radiation poisoning, too." He said, carefully picking up the unconscious Brit to take him to his room so he could rest more comfortably.
Lukas nods following "I seem to have completely healed from my radiation when I died. But that's probably from spending so long in the gate. Hopefully it cleansed some of Arthurs as well" then a shocked gasp is heard and Antonio exclaims in shock,
"Radiation?! You died?!"
Mathias looked over at Antonio, letting out a wary chuckle. "There's a lot that's happened that you don't know about..." He said lightly. Antonio looks confused and is about to open his mouth to start asking questions when Romano shakes his head,
"We don't need to know ok Antonio? Let go home. You all have fun." he says leading Antonio out. After all if weird shit was going down in the northern European countries it wouldn't take long for the southern countries to end up involved again. And Romano would like to avoid that as long as he could. Lukas and Matthias follow them up the stairs Arthur still held in Matthias's arms. Mathias lays him up in his bedroom so the other can rest peacefully. Your bed was always the best when you were sick after all. Lukas then cook some food so that he can feed Arthur when he awakes and then waits for him to awake leaning into matthais who has returned from the upstairs and had watched him cook silently.
Mathias Wrapped an arm around Lukas, he breathed out a weary sigh, holding him close. "I got to see mom..." He said softly after a few minutes.
Lukas is silent unsure how to respond to that statement "when I died I did to. She was mad at me and told me I had been too hasty what did she tell you?" he asks lightly.
"She spent most of her time trying to stop me from crying..." Mathias replied with a sheepish smile. "She told me it wasn't my time yet and tried to console me..."
Lukas laughs a little "she did always like you the most." he says as he smoothed back his hair and turns giving matthais a kiss.
Mathias kissed him back with a gentle smile. "If it wasn't for the fact that I wanted to come back to you, I probably would've stayed with her...it was really hard saying goodbye again..."
Lukas smiles "thank you for coming home. I was going to join you. I was bringing Arthur home and then I was going to come to you."
Mathias chuckled lightly. "At least we're both alive still. Besides, I promised Eskil I was coming back."
"Yeah. He seems very much attached to you." Lukas cuddles into him "jeg elsker dig." he says blushing, he was a little confused as to why he used the Danish words when around Matthias, after all he preferred the Norwegian ones but even when they had been younger ha had used more Danish than Norwegian around the other, perhaps it was left over from when Mathias didn't know a word of Norwegian and Lukas had been forced to use Danish. Perhaps he had just never grown out of the habit. He ponders on this before shaking his head so as to pay attention to Matthias again.
Mathias smiled more, kissing his forehead. He loved it when Lukas used Danish. It made his already amazing language sound so much more beautiful. And it meant a lot that Lukas used the Danish words around him. He notices the other space out and waits for him to pay attention again before replying. "Jeg eslker dig også." He said.
Lukas smiles again at him "how do you feel? Everything working ok?" he asks starting to get sleepy from all the magic he has used lately. A magic crash was often compared to a sugar crash. You felt fine until suddenly all your energy was gone and you just can't stay awake for a second longer.
"I feel fine. A bit tired, I guess, but I'm okay." He replied.
"Hmmmm" Lukas says smartly falling into a comfortable sleep against his lover's chest, still standing showing just how exhausted he was from the magical extremities of the day. Glad that things seem to finally be calming down.
Mathias smiled softly, carrying Lukas up to the guest room they used so they could get some sleep. Lukas cuddles into Mathais contentedly murmuring a little as he shifts making himself comfortable and falling into a long deep sleep. Mathias soon fell asleep, holding Lukas protectively against his chest, wrapped tightly in the blankets and a small happy smile on his face.