Chapter 21

The door knob was cold and wouldn't budge. Alfred tore his hand away and curled and uncurled his poor numb hands. "That's right." He told Matthew to lock everything up. He dug in his slacks, and froze when they were empty. Not even checking them again made any keys magically appear.

Alfred left his spare house key in his suit jacket, which he left with Francis. "Shit..."

He lightly knocked on the door, and then a little harder soon after. "Mattie!" He pleaded into the crack of the door frame, "I forgot my keys!"

A car sped by, and Alfred let out an unmanly squeak, "Let me in, man!"

The door knob jostled, and Matthew swung open the door, both looking and feeling shocked to see one another. Alfred shoved by with his hands tucked under his armpits, and kicked the door shut as soon as he was inside. He shuddered and rubbed his arms, giving them a little shake to put feeling back into everything, and noticed his brother was still in his formal wear.

"Hey, Mattie? What's up?"

Matthew's eyes were wide behind his glasses. "Is everything all right?!"

Alfred took a step forward to glance around the empty hall and kitchen. "Are you?"

Matthew stepped in front of him, scoffing, "You ran out on us at dinner. Dad's super pissed at you. What happened?" He moved again as Alfred peeked into the living room, but they were the only ones there. Dad must have gone to bed. "You said you were going to tell me what's going on."

Alfred shook his head, blurting, "No, I didn't!"

"So what? I deserve to know!"

"I-I can't say."

Matthew crossed his arms. Serious. "Yes, you can."

"No!" Alfred had enough with sassy people and yelling at those sassy people. He made a move for the stairs, but Matthew weaved to the side, so he tried to go the other way, only to be thwarted again. "Dude!"

"Don't 'dude' me. I know something freaking freaky is going on here!"

"Uh, yeah!" If only Matthew knew. "I know something freaking freaky is going on!"

"Oh, so you're going to play hero games and act like I don't care?"

Alfred flinched when his brother's soft might got into his personal space. "It's not that, Mattie, something-"

"Then what is it?" Matthew spat, and it sounded like the bathroom door creaked open down the hall.

Ivan. He tipped his head, smiling at Matthew's back as he approached. Alfred found himself stepping backwards. "That's the..."

"What?" Matthew tossed a look over his shoulder and jumped from Ivan's sudden presence.

They smiled at one another, and Ivan turned to Alfred. His eyes and expression were warm and soft. "Why is he 'freaking out?'"

Alfred swallowed so he could let out a decent chuckle. "Seeing you pop out of nowhere is enough to give me the creeps, dude!"

Matthew gave him a wretched eye, but his friend coolly replied, "Thank you. I am trying my best."

Alfred scrunched his face, trying to keep his blood pressure down as Ivan generously rubbed his brother's back and snickered from his own lame joke. "Could you like, leave? I got to talk to Mattie."

The dumb creature just tilted his head again, so Al had to talk slow, "You know, alone...? Without anybody else in the room?"

Matthew sighed, probably annoyed, and shouldered the beast. "Maybe he's right. Stop by some other time, okay?"

Ivan got all smiley, "Yes, you will see me again very soon." Alfred almost begged him not to. Oh, please, no - he leaned in and it looked like he was whispering something in Matthew's ear, or maybe kissing his cheek, but Al wasn't too sure, and he was too busy trying to not bust out in a frustrated yell to call him out on it.

Matthew nodded as his friend pulled away with a little giggle and hurried outside. "Yeah, bye." He swished a hand through his hair, face getting pink as he stared at Alfred. "What?"

Alfred grunted, not sure to laugh or freak out. "Nothing!"

"Okay." Matthew's eyes darted around the room. "Uh...are you going to tell me what's going on now?"

"Ooh, I really want to, Mattie, but-"

"And you are going to," Matthew calmly demanded. "Don't even say that I'm not going to believe you, either. I've been your brother for eighteen years now. When it comes to you, nearly anything is possible."

"Wow, that's actually...kind of uplifting." Alfred's eyes felt like they were about to water. Nope, can't let that happen. He squared his shoulders and put on his most serious, adult façade and announced, "Okay, fine. Your boyfriend is a demon."

Matthew didn't even need a second, "He's not my boyfriend."

Alfred slouched from his unwavering gaze. "Seriously, dude?" Matthew didn't budge. Maybe he didn't hear right. "Oh, my God. Demon. From Hell?" Al shook his hands as his brother kept stubborn, "You know, with fiery flames and torturing souls? Pitchforks? Red horns?!"

Matthew rolled his eyes. "Al, he's nothing like that."

"Nothing like..." That's why he wasn't freaking out. Alfred flapped his arms when words struggled, "You...you knew? And you didn't tell me?! What the fuck, man?! I thought we were bros!"

"We are, Alfred, but what did you do when you first found out what he really is?"

Alfred swished a hand, "Oh, I totally didn't freak out, dude. I mean, it was dark, I saw this giant demon right in front of me...yeah! Totally chill, don't worry."

"Right. It's not something that I am going to announce over dinner. I...I wanted to tell you, but I..." Matthew shifted from foot-to-foot and sighed, "I didn't know if you knew about angels and demons actually existing, and I didn't feel like jeopardizing Ivan's secret."

So...Alfred and Arthur were freaking out over people getting eaten by a big, scary demon for nothing? Al backtracked, "Angels? You know that Arthur's..." He stopped at a stupid time.

Matthew gave him a reassuring smile. "The glowing gave it away."

"Right, right." Alfred stuck a hand to his mouth as he gazed at the floor. All that crazy crap finally took off from his shoulders, and he let out a squeal of relief, "Angels and demons!"

Matthew laughed, just as stumped, "Uh, yeah!"

"This isn't a normal Sunday night anymore, is it?"

"You can say that again!"

Alfred decided not to. "What are we going to do?" Ivan just walked out the door, into the night where Arthur was scouring for him. "We can't let them find out each other!"

Matthew didn't seem as worried. "Arthur doesn't know Ivan's a demon?" He smiled, "Oh. That's...awesome. He's disguised, so I think he'll be okay. But why did you suddenly ditch us at dinner?"

"Wait, my food! Did you guys pack it up?"

"Oh, my God. Yes. It's in the fridge."

Alfred did a fist bump. "Yes! Okay, so Artie was like, 'Yo, there's a demon!' And I was like, 'No way!' But then he's telling me to stay where I am - this was at the restaurant by the way - but I wasn't going to do that when there was a demon flying around!"

"Uh...how about we go into the living room?"

Alfred eagerly nodded and bounced after his brother. "You still got the snacks, or did you eat them all?"

"There's still snacks, lard butt."

"Hey!" They flopped on the couch. "Oh, wait, let me text Artie real quick. I got to tell him to chill out."

Matthew dug around in the old boxes and wrappers for something good as Alfred tacked on his screen, 'Artie! Everyone's all right! What's it like out there?'

"So, what happened then? You ran out?"

"Yeah! I ran out to meet him, and let's just say he wasn't really happy about that."

"Surprise, surprise."

"Dude."

"Oh!" Matthew put a hand to his mouth, "Did I say that aloud?"

Alfred snatched a potato chip from the bag Matthew just opened, and loudly chomped it between his teeth to show him who's boss. "We were running around, looking for the guy, and then I saw him, but Artie didn't. I called you because, you know, 'Ah! Demon! Out on the loose! Stay indoors!' But apparently Ivan's not out on the loose. I got to explain to Artie that Ivan isn't going to eat people without telling him that Ivan is the demon at the same time. Oh, boy."

Alfred kept going, "Dude, when I realized what was going on, what he really was, I thought you had no idea. I thought he had plans to get all chummy with you and then eat your soul or something. I know now, so don't worry, man." He made a face, "He's not going to really do that, is he? Kind of takes away the element of surprise."

His phone vibrated, and Alfred glimpsed over Arthur's message, 'Not good. I lost the damn son of a bitch.'

Matthew wasn't pissy, "No, Al, Ivan doesn't eat people. He actually likes chocolate and potatoes. Sometimes both at the same time."

'Lol don't worry about it. He saw one look at us and got scared. He ran back to Hell because he knows we'll chase him down.'

"What?!" Alfred just registered what Matthew said. "Chocolate and potatoes?!" And Mattie was friends with this guy? "That's...ew!"

Matthew shrugged and popped a potato chip in his mouth.

"So...he isn't here to rain fireballs from the sky," Alfred tried to get a grip. "I mean, I didn't see him do anything bad so far behind anybody's backs that you'd think a demon would do."

Phone buzzed again. 'Very funny. I'll keep looking.'

Alfred shook his head and tucked his phone under his leg. "Unless he's hatching an evil plan to enslave the whole human race!"

"Al," more of that not-giving-a-crap from Matthew, "the first time he came up here, he got stuck in a tree and tore his wing." He leaned closer, gesturing in secret despite them being alone, "Before I bought him clothes, he would take them from people's wash lines, even if they didn't fit. He didn't see anything wrong with wearing heels." He pulled away with a little shrug, "So, I don't think he has other motives besides his own curiosity."

Alfred gnawed on the inside of his cheek as his brother reached for more food. That demon popped up for a joy run, and Matthew took him in like a little bird that snapped his wing. All the while Arthur scoured the town with duty and secrets up the whazoo.

A part of it didn't seem fair.

Still, Alfred was glad. He didn't want anything throwing fireballs all over the town...if demons could even do that. He thoughtlessly dug in the bag of pretzels Matthew held out for him, and scrunched up his face. "Wait, did you say Ivan tried to wear heels?"

Matthew snorted, almost spitting out his food as he eagerly nodded. "Oh, yeah! I even have a picture of it!"

"Are you serious?!" Alfred asked a bit too excitedly as Matthew whipped out his phone and scrolled through his pictures. He tilted it so they could both see. Sure enough, in the middle of an aisle in some shoe store, stood Ivan, tugging at some ugly jean jacket he was wearing while showing off hooker red high heels. It was like seeing God before his very eyes. "Do...do you think you can get him to wear a dress?"

Matthew gave him a 'Try me' look. "He tried to get me to buy him a bra. He thought it was some kind of shirt, so...probably."

Alfred looked to the Heavens. This was hundreds of times better than fireball-throwing demons. "Wow, big, tall fella from the deep pits of the Earth, rocking heels and a dress. I'd pay to see that! Ha-ha, I mean, I'd pay to see and laugh at him!"

Matthew tucked that masterpiece back into his pocket, and it sounded like he said, "Me, too." He butted Alfred's shoulder. "I missed this, Al."

"Aw," Alfred gently pushed him back, "I missed you, too, Mattie, my man!"

"Are you going to bed anytime soon?"

"It's a school night. We really should..."

They looked at each other for a long moment before bursting into laughter. "Yeah, right! Come on," Matthew shoved his shoulder again. "You said you'd play video games with me! Technically, it's still the weekend."

Alfred dug around the boxes and bags on the coffee table and pulled out the gaming controllers. "Me, Player 1!"

Matthew snatched one of them from his hands. "Of course."

Alfred waved the remote at the TV, but his eyes jumped to the ceiling when something creaked along the house. They glanced at one another again, more concerned this time. Footsteps stomped through the upstairs hall, hesitated for a second, before thunking down the steps.

"Dad's coming!"

Matthew panicked and looked around the couch to look for who knows what. "What do we do. What do we do?!"

"What are we going to tell him?!"

"You're good at making up bullcrap!"

"Hey!" Alfred tried to be offended, but couldn't. "Yeah, okay, I guess, but-"

They jumped as Francis snapped, "What are you two doing?!"

"Dad!" Alfred hollered, spooked by his presence in the living room doorway. He had a super-pissed-Dad look beneath the bags under his eyes. This creature was not their Dad; he was too hideous!

"Go to bed, Matthew."

"Papa-"

"Go, Matthew!"

Matthew scrambled off the couch and squeezed by Francis' looming. The coward. Alfred smiled and nodded, "Hey, Dad!"

"Be quiet for a moment, Alfred. I'm trying to think what to do with you."

Alfred slowly rose from the couch and put his hands out. "Dad, I know you're mad-"

"You abandoned us during a family dinner! For who?! That Arthur?!"

"I-I thought you liked him. Wait, how'd you know?"

Francis didn't answer his question, "I understand you have friends, my boy, but there is a time and place for everything! Everything in its place! That time was for your family!"

Alfred gnawed on his lower lip. That time was for the family. Just in a way Dad could never understand.

Francis kept going, hands swishing dramatically, "And what is this...this 'Life or Death' situation, huh? More important than spending time with your father? Any other time, fine, but I'm leaving in just a few hours!"

Alfred blurted pass the scolding, "Yeah, it actually was!" His Dad raised his eyebrows, obviously taken back. He turned around and plopped on the couch with his hands pressed to the sides of his face, like that would make an excuse come quicker. "Arthur...Arthur lost somebody he knew."

"Oh?" Francis crept around the sofa to settle beside him. "This...this changes things." That nasty look lifted a little. "Were they close?"

Alfred's eyes darted away from his father. "Well, uh...he likes to...he goes to hospitals and visits people that are going to die soon. You know, in case they're lonely or something. It was a little kid he watched over, and-"

"I thought he works for that special class in your school."

"Oh, he does! It's just that he does this kind of stuff, too. Like those people that come into your room and ask you if you want anything before you die." Alfred let out a giggle as he scrubbed his palm over his neck, "It's kind of an independent organization. Anyway! I just thought he didn't want to be alone, you know..."

Francis planted a hand on his son's knee, almost scaring the crap out of him, but he had on one of those sad smiles. "I understand. I'm sorry I yelled at you earlier. That is most certainly a special circumstance." He poked a finger into Alfred's chest, "I do not like to be left in the dark, Alfred. Let me know these things. You had me so stressed out! Oh!"

Alfred dramatically rolled his eyes and leaned away with a groan. "You freaking worry-wart! No wonder where Mattie gets it from!"

His father slung his arms around him, sighing and patting his back, "And you are dangerous, just like your mother."

Alfred pulled away, trying to keep his face blank as he nodded. "Sorry, Dad. I'll, um, try not to do it again."

Francis tapped his nose once. "Good. Get going to bed now. It's getting late."

"We'll talk on the phone," Alfred promised, and went in for another quick hug. "Love you, Pops."

"Ah, I love you, too, even if you make me gray."

Alfred grinned as Francis broke out in an overwhelming yawn. "'night."

It looked like the couch was going to gobble him up, and Alfred let him to it. He sprinted up the stairs and sighed as he reached the top, "This is some freaky shit going on."

Matthew came out of his room, and spun around to slowly pull his door shut to stay quiet. He jumped as he noticed Alfred. "Hey, Al."

He probably wanted to know what happened. "I got yelled at."

Matthew readily pointed out as he tip-toed closer, "You did do something stupid, though."

Alfred scrunched up his face, but...his brother was right. "Yeah, yeah. I'm going to bed now, okay?"

Matthew smiled all happy and stuff despite it all and quickly threw his arms around Alfred. "All right. Goodnight."

Alfred blinked in surprise as his brother ran down the stairs. "Uh, yeah...'night." He closed his door a bit too roughly, but finally could get out of those dressy duds. He bobbed his chin at his bed, the soft prospect, "I missed you, man." With a careless toss of his day clothes to the hamper, he held his arms out and flopped face-first into the mattress. "Missed you so much."

Soon after, Matthew thumped up the steps like his feet were made of lead. Alfred cracked open his eyes, grumbling as he realized he should use the bathroom so he didn't have to get out of bed later. Looks like sweet dreams had to wait.

Matthew cried out in surprise as Alfred popped out his room. He carried a bunch of water bottles, but dropped one of them. Alfred bent down and grabbed it before it could get any ideas of running away. "Hey, what are you doing with all this water, Mattie?"

"I don't want to keep going downstairs to get water when I'm all the way up here, so I'm taking a whole bunch."

"Whoa!" Alfred had to agree as his brother snickered and nodded, pleased with himself. "That's a good idea!" He would have to stash all those empty ones and bring them to the trash while Dad wasn't looking like it was the water bottle Walk of Shame.

It was so normal, but not really. "I don't know, Mattie, it feels kind of wrong to have a demon running around." Matthew's mouth opened, but Alfred swished his hands, "I know, I know! Not all of them are homicidal, sinful maniacs, but Ivan doesn't seem like the kind of guy to gladly listen to other people telling him what to do."

"I'm not telling him what to do," Matthew tried to put a hand to his chest as-a-matter-of-factly, "I'm giving him suggestions, and it would be stupid of him not to listen to them. He's in a pan over a cold burner, and we both know that if he instigates the angels, there will be heat."

Alfred slowly nodded, not sure why his brother wanted to swing with a smoky, shadowy creature like that instead of literally anybody else, but as long as he behaved himself, so what? "I mean, if you say so." Alfred slugged an arm over Matthew's shoulder, giving him a weird side-hug. "Give me a holler if he tries anything funny."

"Sure, Al." Matthew nudged his side before struggling down the hall with his water bottle parade. Alfred watched him fight with his door knob, but he turned and nodded, "Goodnight."

Alfred shrugged and ducked into the bathroom. Looks like he would have to look the other way for a few more things now. May Matthew do the same for him.