"You know he's a guy... But does he know that he's currently book-flirting with another guy?"

Matthias frowned at Alfred's question, all the while the youth stopped for a moment to create and pop a bubble gum bubble.

"Why do you always have to come into my land and destroy everything I consider precious? I know you're American, Al, but you don't have to go through with the stereotype so accurately."

The American chewed loudly for a good five seconds, extremely aware that he was getting on Matthias' nerves. Then he finally sighed, "You're a guy. He's a guy. And I know Denmark's one of the most liberal places around- what with their legal gay marriages since the 1900's," Matthias felt the impulse to correct the kid, but he continued to speak before he had the chance, "But that doesn't mean he's okay with going out with a guy... The norm is still reproduction, as you well know."

"You're taking research I made to use against me?"

"It was for a stupid project you didn't even like. If I had to suffer through the torture that was listening to you practicing that stupid presentation then I can use those damn facts against you!"

His frown deepened and then there was a knock on the staff door that pulled them both away from the conversation.

Their boss stood in front of the door, a confused eyebrow quirked up as he took in their expressions. Usually, they were both wearing smiles and having a good time when they took their breaks. But, considering what the topic of their conversation had been, it only made sense that they did not have their usual jovial camaraderie bursting from their bodies.

"Your breaks end in five minutes." The older male told them, making them both nod tensely. His light eyes shifted from Matthias towards Alfred for a second, then back to Matthias. "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah. We're just not agreeing on something stupid."

Matthias flinched at his own words, while Alfred scoffed and shook his head.

"Sure. Stupid enough that you're obsessing over it."

With those final words, the teenager left in a rush. He hurried past Mr. Frederick while the man looked at him with a truly stunned look on his face. Then, once he was gone, his boss looked over at him.

"I may be an old man, but I'm still available to offer whatever kind of help I can give." He smiled kindly and Matthias felt his heart squeeze uncomfortably at just how lucky he was to have such a great boss.

He knew Mr. Frederick wouldn't judge him... But Alfred had forcibly injected all kinds of doubts into his mind with just one question... And now, Matthias just wanted to be alone.

"It's really nothing, Mr. Frederick. Really. Alfred's just being a dramatic American."

The frown that stayed on Mr. Frederick's face let Matthias know that he wasn't buying the lame excuse. But instead of admitting what was bothering him, the young man stood up with a clap of his hands and forced a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes onto his lips. "I guess I should get back on my shift, eh? Are we busy? Or is it a slower day?"

The older man's eyes were narrowed in a thoughtful manner as he stared at Matthias. And Matthias just stared back with a faltering smile, hoping that his boss would just let his out of character actions go; just for today; so that they could regain some semblance of normalcy.

Eventually Mr. Frederick sighed and offered, "Medium crowd. Not too many, not too little. Enough to give you a couple of drinks to complete."

With those words, he left Matthias alone in the break room... And Matthias took that opportunity to drop the fake smile and sigh, a heavy weight suddenly on his shoulders.

Ludwig was beautiful. He was intelligent. He was studying forensic anthropology with an emphasis on deontology. He was about as close to perfect as anybody could ever come.

But he was a guy that be as straight as a metal rod for all Matthias knew because he had yet to muster up the courage to tell the other man that he wasn't exchanging books with a woman.

Ludwig had never asked, so he had never found a reason to tell... Until Alfred had asked him what his plans with him would be now that he had a steady conversation through book exchanges.

"So, where'll you take him for your first date?"

That had been the innocent question that had started it all.

Matthias had admitted that he wasn't sure yet, just like he didn't even know if Ludwig would even want to meet with him for a date. Because, yeah, they were interacting extremely well through books and everything, but they hadn't really managed to speak aside from a bit of their personal lives and their love for books. And, yeah, Matthias admired the German as someone that could be more than just a friend- he was hot, no denying. But Ludwig didn't even know what he looked like. So he hadn't really made any plans farther than hopefully getting him to open up some more through their correspondence.

It was when Matthias had admitted to this that Alfred had jumped on his case about the whole 'are you even sure he'll be willing to go out with you once he finds out you're a guy?'.

And now Matthias was here... Alone and quiet and extremely aware of his mounting nerves slowly building up to a frenzy that would send him into a not-quite-anxiety attack that would make him regret ever having thought he could ever have a good idea.

Forcing himself to breathe in deeply, Matthias tried to remind himself that he had never been the kind to wallow in dark thoughts. No, that had always been Lukas' job- he was the one that went through that one weird emo phase. No, Matthias was the ray of sunshine that never doubted any one of his actions because everything eventually worked out for the best- why fight against the current when he could just let himself go with the flow?

He was the cool one. He was the one that always found light, no matter how dark the situation. He was the one that his brothers would always scold because, even if he couldn't find light in any given situation, he would create it by joking around or making the situation seem less than it was. He was not the one that allowed himself to get overwhelmed when he could find light in anything.

Right now, though... The very thought of Ludwig rejecting him... Well, it hurt so much that he would rather not think about it at all.

This was the first time in his life that he wasn't able to think long enough about a serious situation to find something to make light of. This was the first time that thinking about something serious actually hurt him so much he would rather ignore and forget about it.

With a heavy sigh, Matthias forced himself to smile and return to his work station.

His heart began to pound impatiently as soon as he was able to catch sight of the beautiful German seated in his usual table, hunched over his many books as he stared intently at them.

He was in love.

And he was kind of afraid of admitting it to Ludwig.

Alfred had a right to worry.

He began his work shift by trying to push all thoughts of the beautiful German a couple of feet away out of his head so he could fully concentrate on the drinks he was making.

That didn't work when his brain forced him to notice that Ludwig suddenly pulled away from his books with a heavy, indecisive frown on his face. He was glaring down at his desk and Matthias glanced over, only to find that Ludwig was writing something within what seemed to be a literary book, not one for his classes.

His heart stuttered when he began to wonder if, maybe, that was a book that would be left for him to pick up later.

Ludwig breathed out heavily and Matthias wanted nothing more than to ask him what was wrong and offer him a free cup of his favorite drink just so he could see the other male smile again.

He didn't do that, though. He stayed in his area and began to make the order he was given. Even though he tried his best to concentrate solely on his work and not mess anything up, he found that a part of his attention always diverted back to Ludwig to continue checking up on him.

By the end of his shift, Ludwig still looked like a kicked puppy. And Matthias wanted to do everything in his power to destroy the very essence of whoever had dared mess with his perfect German. But he didn't do anything irrational and made his way around the counter so he could begin his usual routine of preparation to leave the Kaffebar with Alfred and their boss.

As he began to walk into the staff room, he heard a tremulous voice call out, "E-excuse me! Matthias, correct?"

The thick German accent almost had him swooning.

Matthias found that he had to hold onto the doorknob of the room's door so he could maintain some degree of balance. He closed his eyes, breathed in deeply, and finally dared turn around so he could look at the man that had called for him.

"Yeah. That's me. I'm Matthias. You are correct."

He somehow managed to finally bite his bottom lip to keep from finishing with a lame, 'You were correct in calling me Matthias, for that is my name... Matthias.'

Ludwig had somehow become more handsome.

Matthias wasn't sure if that was because he was now face to face, outside of work hours, or because the German had simply gotten even more handsome since they had first seen each other.

"Hi... Um... I am not sure how to say this, but..."

Matthias blamed trick lighting on the fact that he swore that the larger man's cheekbones were highlighted with a light hue of pink.

"I have... Hmm..."

Okay, without a doubt, Ludwig looked to be pouting. His eyes lowered to the floor as he seemed to contemplate over what he wanted to say, leaving Matthias completely dumbfounded and in need to squeal at how truly adorable the man before him looked.

"It is rather embarrassing, now that I want to say this aloud... But, well, you see, I have been receiving different kinds of communications through books left to me, usually when I am in the bathroom. I have never seen the person that leaves me these books, though... Und, I vas vondering if you had, by any chance," Holy shit, did his accent become more noticeable when he was embarrassed?! "Seen who has been doing zis?"

For a moment, Matthias swore he felt his heart stop.

Then, when it began, it jump started with so much intensity he could only hear his heart for a couple of seconds.

Blood rushed up to his face, against his wishes, and his mind fumbled to find any kind of answer for the German's answer.

"Uh, you see, I work the counter and pay too much attention to making coffee to look at stuff outside of my station and," He snapped his mouth shut as soon as he noticed the German's incredulous, kind of worried look.

Taking in a deep breath, Matthias did his best to ground himself.

Ludwig cared enough about the messages to question someone he did not know about it. And it would make sense to ask someone that worked in the coffee shop, they would have been able to see something, after all.

"May I ask," He began slowly, making sure to enunciate his words and not slur vocals together as his Danish speaking mind usually tended to do when he became flustered. "If the messages are negative? Is this bothering you? In any way?"

Okay, the light pink hue had reddened and was now much larger. Ludwig was blushing!

"Nein… Vell, yes, actually... I... I wish to know who this person is... Und..." Once again, the German averted his gaze. He fiddled with his fingers, twirling them around each other as he tried to keep only looking at them.

To be such a large and broad man, he acted in an incredibly shy manner.

Matthias found this endearing.

"I do not have anyone else to ask for help... Mein brüder is not very good at zhese matters und my friends..." He sighed heavily, his shoulders drooping as if a thousand pounds had just been dropped on them. "You seem like a kind man und I vouldn't be asking if I had someone else to ask... But, do you zink you could help me write a message to tell this person... Zat I vish to meet wiz zem?"

..~..~..

Cliffhanger time!

I hope you all liked this chapter! Please review and tell me what you thought!