"You have your head held too high for a proper walk of shame little brother."
"That's because I'm not ashamed big brother." Matthew replied back evenly taking a seat next to his furious looking sibling.
"Leave your brother alone Alfred." Arthur cut in sitting on the American's other side before he could lash out at Matthew again.
The three of them sat in silence a moment before Matthew cleared his throat. "I don't have a timeline down quite yet but I was wondering if you two wanted to travel with us when we go."
"No." Arthur said cutting in before Alfred could fully open his mouth. "We will not be going with you."
"What are you talking about! Of course we are." Alfred burst out and Arthur ignored him.
Matthew looked between the two of them feeling tired despite his nap in the tub. God give him the patients to deal with family. He thought with a sigh. "You're not leaving until after the Fallen finishes his change correct." Arthur asked.
"Yes."
"We will stay until then just to make sure nothing goes wrong then we will be off."
"This is insane!" Alfred yelled standing up making his chair fall back. "We should leave. We should all pack our shit and go home now!" With a hard shove he sent the large dining room table across the room slamming into the wall making Matthew flinch though his face didn't change expression.
"I'm not going anywhere Alfred. Please sit back down." Matthew said gently only infuriating his twin more making him start to pace.
"What have they done to you? We heard you getting fucked up stairs. An angel bottoming to a demon!" He scoffed glaring at his blond wavy haired sibling. "You're becoming some kind of…freak!"
"Alfred!" Arthur snapped drawing the boys blue eyes to his annoyed looking green. "Are you a freak?"
"We're different Arty." He shot back already realizing where his lover was going with his question. "We're both angels. Matthews basically letting some savage fuck him."
"True but I have heard you screaming in ecstasy. Both yours and Matthew's screams sound the same no matter whose dick is shoved up your ass, angel or demon." Holland said from the doorway looking pissed. "I'm not really seeing the difference between the two relationships. Would it be easier on you if I let Matthew top me?"
Matthew and Alfred turned ten shades of red. "But we didn't have actual-"
"How dare you!" Alfred yelled power flaring and Holland raised an eyebrow before looking at Arthur.
The British man sighed heavily before standing one hand on his hip. "Vulgar Mister Holland, but well put. Alfred. Sit."
Alfred whipped around to face his lover looking betrayed. "But-"
"Sit boy, I will not ask you again." Matthew watched nervously as Arthur stepped up to the much taller Alfred threateningly. His brother was practically vibrating with his frustration his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides, desperate for the comforting weight of his gun.
"Just because I let you have me in the privacy of our rooms does not mean-"
"This has nothing to do with sex and everything to do with the fact that you are by all rights under my command according to angel ranks. Now sit down child or I will make you sit down." Green eyes flashed with the promise of damage should he not be obeyed and Matthew had the strongest urge to pull Alfred down into a seat just to keep their elder from looking at him like that. Arthur was a generally laid back man but had the power to back him when he wanted to set his foot down.
"Alfie please." Matthew whispered reaching a hand out towards him.
"Don't touch me." Alfred muttered pulling his arm back and dropping into his previous chair never breaking eye contact with Arthur. There was going to be hell between them later. It had been ages since Arthur had pulled rank on Alfred. Matthew had to crush the feeling of guilt he had knowing it was his fault they were fighting.
"I'm sor-"
"Don't apologize." Holland snapped before his face fell and he rubbed the back of his slowly drying hair. "We did nothing wrong." He added halfheartedly.
"You're fine Matthew. Perhaps you should go speak with Mathias about if he will be traveling with you or Ice about when he thinks his mate will be arriving." Arthur offered with a look of pain in his eyes from arguing with Alfred.
Matthew would normally jump at the chance to get away from his pissed sibling and Arthurs 'I see everything' eyes, but he knew it was an excuse so Arthur could take to Holland without him around. "I think it can wait." He said softly lowering his head and chewing at his lip nervously.
A gentle finger under his chin made Matthew look up into mirth filled amber eyes. "I'm a big boy, beautiful. I think I can handle your over protective family for a short while."
Matthew flushed bright red at the soft spoken words, hyperaware of how intimate they must have sounded to his angel relatives. "I'm not-"
"You are, but its ok. I think it's cute that you want to protect me, but it's not necessary. I need to chat with Arthur anyway and your homicidal brother doesn't have his gun so I will be just fine."
Matthew made a disapproving noise as he stood up frowning and lowered his voice. "Please don't fight with them."
"You worry too much."
"Promise me." Matthew insisted and Holland rolled his eyes smiling.
"Kiss me and I will promise you anything you want." Matthew flushed bright red glancing back at Arthur and Alfred who were both watching him closely.
"You are a little shit, you know that." Matthew hissed softly before jerking Holland down to his height and kissing him full on before letting go and backing up. "Be good!" He said firmly before glancing at everyone once more and fleeing to the safety of the upper floor.
Matthew sighed reaching the upper landing and rubbed the back of his head as he walked down the hall.
Equals.
Holland told him they were equals. What did that entail? Would Holland let him top in the bedroom? Matthew blushed at the thought. He wasn't sure he wanted to but the idea that Holland would let him made the angel suddenly feel like they were on the same footing. It was no longer Holland's way or Matthews way. Now it was 'their' way and that had a nice ring to it.
Matthew by passed Matthias not hearing any noise inside and assumed him and Norge would still be sleeping. It would be easier to talk to the larger man after he talked to Ice anyway. Best to get his ducks in a row, as it were, before he approached Mathias unprepared and pissed the man off.
Hearing the sound of someone moving around in Ice's room Matthew knocked softly and pushed open the door. "Ice I'm sorry to bother you so early I just…"
Matthew blinked in surprise at the dark skinned masked man laid out half naked on Ice's bed holding onto the much smaller silver haired demons waist both of them looking at the Matthew in surprise as blood dripped down Ice's neck and off his small fangs.
The temperature in the room was a swirling mess of hot and cold making Matthews knees go weak as he grabbed the door handle to keep upright. The sound of the nob jiggling seemed to set them in a flurry of motion. Ice flew backwards straightening his rumpled clothes trying to hid the demon mark on his neck as the masked man let out an angry noise that make Matthew jerk and hiss back stepping away from the entrance to show his lack of fear and whipping back around as the door slammed shut. "They might see!" Ice whispered feverishly looking panicked as he pressed his small frame against the door like he could block out the rest of the house with his small frame. "Sadiq no!"
Matthew felt the larger man plow into him from behind sending them both sprawling to the floor with a muted thump before he had enough time to react. Matthew growled letting his wings split onto his back forcing the demon back just long enough for the angel to roll himself over before they were grappling again. Heat poured off the other man hot enough to make Matthew break out into a sweat as they struggled to overpower each other. "Sadiq stop it please!" Ice begged from above them. "They will hear you!"
Sadiq snarled showing off still bloody fangs from marking Ice and droplet from his own freshly made mark dripped down on Matthew neck. "Angel power level three. " Matthew panted, pushing the larger man away long enough to reach for his forming halo only to freeze as the demon reached for it at the same time with a flaming hand snatching it away. Leaning back to his full height, keeping pressure on the angel so he couldn't get up, Sadiq perched high above Matthew showing him the weapon held easily in his fiery grip.
"I am worthy of higher then a level three little angel." He said giving a smile that made Matthews stomach clench in fear as his beautiful golden halo turned red with heat. "SADIQ!" Ice yelled stomping his foot. "Stop it right now!"
The dark skinned man glanced at the furious little demon giving Matthew a chance to reach up for his halo with both hands trying to wrench it back burning his hands in the process. A large hand over his mouth silence the scream and Ice's small hands covered his cooling them instantly. When Matthews scream died down to soft whimpers Ice shoved Sadiq off the angel dropping to his knees in a panic prying Matthew's hands off his now ice cold halo to look at them. "Oh my god, Holland's going to kill us!" He whispered. "Sadiq what have you done!"
"He was going to tell!" The large demon whined pitifully pulling himself upright scowling down at both of them as he jerked a sweatshirt on. Matthew would have retorted if he wasn't staring at his uncontrollably shaking burned hands and to his black halo lying on the floor next to him where Ice dropped it. He couldn't feel any of his power in it. "He wouldn't have told damn it!" Ice swore startling Matthew again with his harsh tone when he was normally so quiet. "Now how am I supposed to hide this? Jesus they are already bubbling up."
"I'm fine." Matthew whispered feeling like he was in a twilight zone. The previously aggressive demon was now leaning against the window frame looking chastised by the much smaller man who was glairing death at him from his spot on the floor.
"Why should we hide anything?" The demon named Sadiq asked, making a face Matthew could only call a pout as Ice covered Matthews slowly bubbling hands with his own chilling them trying to soothe the pain that was radiating up his arms.
"Because I told you Mathias will kill you." Ice muttered focusing totally on Matthew now who was slowly coming to out of the shock of having his halo lying lifeless in front of him.
"He's your mate? The one from the dream?" Matthew asked shakily.
"Yes."
"I dreamed of you too." The large man said with a small crooked smile that made Ice blush.
The sound of a nearby door opening startled all three of them and Ice went pale as footsteps started towards his door. "Go." Matthew snapped at Sadiq who looked startled by the command. "Mathias will rip you in half. Get your ass out that damn window!"
Ice jumped to his feet rushing up to the Turkish man before jerking him down by the front of his sweater to his height and kissing him soundly enough to have Matthew blushing. The little man jerked up the green hood covering the dark locks of hair with a shy smile before shoving him out the window with a thud of the demon hitting the ground his only response. Ice pulled his curtain closed as Matthew snatched up his dead halo and the door opened. Mathias blinked at them in surprise.
"Matthew? Not trying to have your way with my little Ice are you?" He asked teasingly smiling widely but looking confused by the angel's presence.
"We-" Matthew's voice was shaking from the pain in his hands from gripping the cold metal tightly. "We were…" his throat caught and Mathias eyes narrowed dangerously sensing something was wrong and slowly knelt down to Matthew's height while glancing at the frightened looking Ice.
"Deep breath." Mathias commanded softly but firmly dragging his gaze back to the angel making Matthew take a deep shuttering breath trying to calm himself. "You're crying Matthew."
The blond blinked in surprise realizing that he did indeed have large tears rolling down his face. "I'm sorry." He gasped up fear rocking threw him anew at his display of pain and depression he was feeling at the loss of his most useful weapon. "Ice and I were talking about when he thought his mate would be arriving." Matthew said blinking quickly trying to clear his burning eyes without lifting his wounded hands not wanting Mathias to see them. "I wanted to talk to him before I talked to you because I wanted to travel to find a man Ivan told me about who could help Romano and Feliciano and I wanted to ask you guys to come with us and I needed to know everyone's plans before we left!"
Mathias blinked at Matthews rushed explanation before looking back up at Ice who was chewing on the inside of his lip trying not to move then back again. "And that caused you to break down into tears?" he asked reaching a hand forward brushing away a stray tear.
"No. No I…It's…That was because of my family being here." Matthew replied eyes wide praying his excuse would work.
"Your family?" Mathias asked skeptically.
"It's very stressful." The angel insisted gripping his halo tighter.
Mathias snorted at that wiping away another tear before smiling. "You want to know what I think it is?" He asked gently making Matthews stomach drop and his heart nearly stop. "I think its Holland isn't it? You're falling for him and your little angel head just can't wrap around it and all this mate talk with Ice just has you in a mess."
Matthew swallowed hard and nodded unable to speak afraid his voice would break again and Mathias laughed boisterously. "Poor thing. Don't worry I won't tell him. He wouldn't understand why you're crying and take it all the wrong way."
"Thank you." Matthew whispered squeezing his hands tighter feeling something pop and liquid slowly filled his palm and slipped through his fingers.
"He was going to stay here and calm down a bit if that's alright with you Mathias." Ice finally spoke up looking stoic as ever and Mathias nodded rubbing the back of his head as he stood up. "Good idea. You wouldn't want Holland to see you like that. Come talk to me about your little trip when you are ready alright?"
"I will." Matthew said nodding harder then was necessary as Mathias left the room shutting the door behind him and walking down the hall. Ice collapsed against the wall in relief before looking at Matthew. "Thank you." He said softly pushing himself upright and walking up to Matthew before kneeling down. "Let me see your hands."
"I will take care of them. You have done enough." Matthew snapped jerking his hands back as all his fear from Sadiq, burning his hands, his halo not responding to him, and Mathias converted into anger.
Ice looked upset and Matthew regretted being harsh but forced his wings back into his back and stood holding his halo to his chest. "When are you seeing him again?"
"He'll be back tonight when everyone is asleep." Ice whispered.
"I want to talk to you both about your plans." He muttered feeling stupid for having burst in in the first place.
The small silver haired demon nodded Matthew fled from the room vowing to never open another door without knocking and waiting at least ten solid seconds before entering again.
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