"I'm the hero, so you should all just agree with me on the fact that we should just declare war on-" Alfred was interrupted by various other countries at once: Arthur telling him violence isn't always the answer, Ivan suggesting just killing whatever or whoever was bothering anyone, the rebuttals continuing.

"Obviously everyone'll just cower in fear before the awesome me!" Gilbert yelled, laughing arrogantly.

Ludwig pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head, "I don't think you realize how horribly obnoxious you are all being." Everything was a mess – most of everyone was expressing their feelings on the subject obnoxiously and in an extremely messy manner.

"How about we all just get past –" Feliciano was interrupted when he was hit on the side of his head by a hysterical country, who immediately cowered away at Ludwig's glare.

"Feliciano, are you alright?" Ludwig asked his close friend, examining his head carefully and worriedly.

Gilbert stiffened for a moment, just watching the two and their closeness. He often teased Ludwig on how overprotective he was for his bestfriend Feliciano, and almost always Ludwig would blush and curse at him.

In reality, however, Gilbert was jealous; jealous and envious that his younger brother had someone to care so much for, someone who would stay at his side to his dying breath and cared for him in return. They loved each other.

It was true that he was acquainted with Antonio and Francis, yes, and used to be very intimate with Elizabeta, who currently sat beside Roderich blushing. However, that didn't change the fact that Antonio and Francis were just acquaintances, and would declare war on each other nevertheless. It also didn't change the fact that Elizabeta was taken from right under his nose by Roderich.

He suddenly felt anger overcome him; how could she just let him take over her like that? She's an idiot. I don't need her. He thought to himself, tearing his eyes away from his ex.

He was so lost in thought that the sight of countries arguing, chairs thrown about recklessly, and the inability to make out what anyone was saying didn't faze him or catch his attention in the least. Gilbert heard the door open slightly, and a panting and sweating Matthew appeared at the door, huffing and puffing. He was a couple of half hours late, but no one really noticed.

Beforehand, Gilbert had realized there was someone missing, but he didn't bother to bring it up because he thought that action would make him seem too organized or something akin to that notion.

All of the chairs were thrown about everywhere, and Matthew looked conflicted on where he should sit, hugging his polar bear tighter than usual. No one was paying attention, so Gilbert decided he would help the frail-looking Canadian country and grabbed a chair for him, placing it some ways from his own chair. He caught eye contact, and gestured to the chair next to him.

Antonio was originally sitting to his left, but at the moment he was off trying to break off Lovino from initiating a fight with another country. Ludwig was still to his right, conflicted and struggling to keep everyone in check.

Matthew was shocked at the kind action; Why is he...? He thought. He quietly walked over to the chair, sitting in it awkwardly and muttering a "Thank you" to Gilbert.

He looked up at him and felt the need to say, "No, I'm not America…" The fact of the matter was that he was so often mistaken for his more prominent, infamous brother that whenever someone paid him any attention, he assumed it wasn't for him.

Gilbert's grin faltered, and he replied a bit angrily with, "I wouldn't get a chair for that loser," He said, glancing at Alfred who was obnoxiously slurping his drink and arguing with Arthur.

Then he realized he had just called Matthew's brother a loser, and that certainly wasn't a good way to start a friendship. But Matthew somewhat laughed at hearing his brother called a loser.

Gilbert realized just how much Matthew looked like Alfred, sighing and noting how much the poor country must have been harassed.

"Why aren't you… um…" Matthew trailed off, realizing how awkward his question was, regretting ever bringing it up.

Gilbert quirked an eyebrow, asking, "Why isn't the awesome me what?"

Mathew shook his head, "Nevermind."

Gilbert furrowed his brow, "Is someone daring to defy the awesome Prussia?" He asked playfully, only teasing the man.

However, Matthew visibly stiffened, and quickly stammered, "N-No…" Gilbert chuckled and shook his head.

"I was kidding," Gilbert said. He then asked, "Are you wondering why I'm not being obnoxious like everyone else?" He drank some of the beer he brought while awaiting Matthew's answer. When he didn't answer, he continued, "Why, do you want me to be? Does it make me more awesome?" Gilbert asked, continuing to tease him. Matthew didn't really know what to say, and all he wanted to do was just go home already.

'Why is he talking to me?' He thought gloomily. Talking to him would only bring attention towards him, and he certainly didn't want anyone to actually notice him.

But, even he knew… that was a lie.

Matthew kept quiet for the rest of the conversation, not wanting to embarrass himself by saying something stupid; but Gilbert didn't seem to care. He continued to babble on and on.

"Listen! We are not getting anything done this way any time soon! This is a complete waste of my time! So let us all settle down and get organized, yes?" Ludwig declared sternly, interrupting everyone's arguments.

"...And that's why you should hang out with the aweso-" Gilbert stopped talking when he realized everyone was quiet, and honestly he was very embarrassed, but nevertheless he laughed and brushed it off, saying, "What, is everyone that interested in the awesome me?"

Ludwig pinched the bridge of his nose and said, "…and we certainly are not having small talk with one another. This is a world meeting, for God's sake." He advised, the warning directed towards his brother. He questionably raised an eyebrow at him when he saw that he was talking with the unnoticed, outspoken country, Canada, but he continued the meeting nevertheless.

During the meeting that would stay organized for another five minutes and then get revolted once again, Matthew mumbled a soft apology to Gilbert. Gilbert heard him, yes, but he wasn't sure what he was apologizing about. To say the least, he found the small country a bit interesting. Not in the way that he was so small that he thought he could take over him, no, but in the way that he thought that becoming acquainted with him would be good; maybe Matthew be able to handle him and his struggles.

A nagging thought crept into Gilbert's mind: even if he really was just a tiny, new-born country, you wouldn't be strong enough to take over him anymore. You're pathetic.

He shook his head a bit obnoxiously, trying to block out those invasive thoughts that had been invading his mind for weeks, perhaps months; he wasn't sure anymore. Matthew noticed, and looked at him a bit worriedly. Gilbert grinned when he saw the Canadian man staring at him, trying to make him forget about his unusual shaking of head earlier by perhaps making him flustered. It worked, as Matthew immediately looked away in embarrassment and said, "N-No, I-I wasn't-" He stopped talking when he realized he was in a civilized meeting at the moment, not an obnoxious one, and because of his stammered loud response to Gilbert everyone turned to look at him.

He felt himself fade away into the air, his soul seemingly escaping his body as every country in the room looked in his direction. At least, that's what he wished happened in that embarrassing moment; instead, he blushed heavily and slid far down in his chair while holding his blushing face in his hands.

"What? Again?" Gilbert questioned exasperatedly, trying to turn the attention to himself instead of the faltering country beside him. "Ha, I guess my awesomeness is contagious, huh?" At hearing his stupid remark, everyone went back to their original meeting and seemingly forgot about Matthew's incident. Matthew muttered an apology to Gilbert again, hugging his polar bear tighter, his heart hammering in his chest not only because of the embarrassing moment but also because of the fact that someone took a hit for him. He didn't know why, but for some reason his heart had continued to pound for the rest of the meeting. It was becoming apparent to him that the Prussian made him unusually nervous. It was so long since he last had a mutual conversation and understanding with someone, after all.

"Man, that was so boring," Gilbert complains, stretching his arms and making stretching sounds. He noticed the Canadian country still looked as flustered as he was, maybe even more, as when he had been briefly embarrassed. "Hm? What's up with you? Am I too awesome for ya?" He joked.

Matthew only blushed at hearing this, leaving Gilbert confused and honestly a bit worried. "Uh? Have a fever or somethin'?" Matthew shook his head a bit violently at this sudden question. "N-Nothing, forget it!"

Gilbert raised a questioning eyebrow at this. What a weird dude…

"Brother, come on. We are going to go to the bar, right?" Ludwig asked Gilbert, sending a questioning glance at Matthew. Gilbert knew he had agreed to that. They almost always went to a bar together after tiring meetings like this, as brothers, and he knew Ludwig didn't want someone else tagging along. However, he was under the impression that the only reason Ludwig ever hung out with him so frequently was because he pitied him. He didn't blame him if that was the case.

"Yeah, sure, West. Wait for me, yeah?" Ludwig sent him a questioning look, but sighed and nodded. It had been a tiring day. Just as Ludwig was about to walk off, Feliciano jumped and hugged him, not letting go and just clinging onto the German man. "Ludwig, where are you going~ Take me with you~"

Ludwig awkwardly wobbled over outside the room, deducting that Gilbert probably desired to discuss some matters with the Canadian.

Matthew continued to fidget awkwardly, a certain redness on his face. Gilbert's arrogant, cocky expression faded into a bit of a concerned one as most of the countries left the room. "You sure you aren't sick or somethin'?"

Matthew shook his head; all he wanted to do was become invisible to Gilbert again, and leave and go back to his home. Why was he so nervous right now? It's true he hadn't had much interaction with other countries other than his brother, but...

"Alright, how about you come with Antonio, Francis, and I to the bar tomorrow?" Gilbert suggested, not knowing himself that those words were going to come out of his mouth. He had really only begun to talk to Matthew to tease him for the fun of it, but somewhere along the way he found himself wanting to become friends with the man.

Matthew stood, shocked, for a good thirty seconds before realizing how long he had stayed silent. Slowly, he nodded, averting his eyes. He didn't remember the last time someone invited him somewhere, so it was an understatement to say he was caught off guard.

Gilbert smiled, and laughed, that arrogant expression back on his face. "Alright, I'll come pick you up at ten."

"Ten… in the morning?" Matthew asked, tilting his head.

Gilbert burst out laughing, patting the unsuspecting country repeatedly on his back as he almost choked on his hysterical laughter. "Good one, man,"

Matthew was hurt; he wasn't joking… Gilbert realized this as Matthew not so much as smiled. "Oh, uh, it's at ten at night."

He thought to himself, Wasn't that obvious..? Hasn't he ever gone to a late gathering at a bar before? Gilbert found himself smiling to himself, thinking that now he could give the poor unnoticed country a thrill in his life for once.

"That's… pretty late… And I'm not sure I want to go in the first place," Matthew mumbled, letting his finger scratch the side of his face – a habit of his. He really did want to go somewhere for once, and he wanted to be seen. He didn't want to stand in the corner, invisible, again. Yet when someone talked to him, he always messed it up.

"What? Ya don't like the awesome me?" Gilbert asked, pouting. He suddenly coughed momentarily, trying to muffle it before waiting for Matthew's response. Matthew twirled his hair around, not knowing what to say.

"That's… not it." Matthew muttered. Gilbert put an arm around his shoulders and said, "Ah, come on! You have to get out once in a while and have fun! Don't be lame. That's like, the opposite of awesome."

Matthew bit his lip, wanting to leave already. His hear still beat quickly out of sheer nervousness.

The reason for him refusing to go to the gathering at the bar was not because he didn't want to be with the Prussian – quite the opposite actually – but if he went, he'd only be awkward and out of place, and Gilbert would probably be embarrassed by him.

"Brother, hurry it up a bit, will you?" Ludwig stated from the doorway, the Italian still clinging close to him. "Feliciano, I'm going somewhere with my brother right now."

Gilbert sighed, but smiled and said, "Well, whatever you decide, I'll still show up at your door tomorrow. Let me know your answer then!" He walked over to Ludwig, and they departed off together to the bar.

"What was that about?" Ludwig asked, curious.

"What? I can't make friends?" Gilbert asked. In reality, he kind of wanted to get closer to the Canadian man.

He was… interesting.