Chapter Fourteen
"Birdie, I'm not scared to talk about this kind of stuff. It doesn't freak me out or make me scared of jou." He smiled gently. "If I'm part ghoul now, it's stuff ve'll have to talk about."
"I know." Matthew sighed looking up into the forest canopy. He closed his eyes trying to hold in his emotions.
"Liebe?" Gilbert asked worriedly
Canada didn't respond. The albino reached up and cupped his jaw. He could feel how tight it was. He noticed tears starting to form in the corner of his eyes. Prussia pulled him down into a tight hug.
"I'm sorry." The Canadian said quietly. He knew if he spoke louder his voice would break. "Je suis désolé."
"Matthew." Gilbert said with a sad smile. He pet and smoothed the blond's hair down. "It's okay."
"It's not, it's really not." Matthew said. His voice was strained. "I don't want you to be like me. I don't want you to have to deal with this." He sighed shakily. "It's my fault. I should have fought harder and got you away from the Doves. I shouldn't have made that deal. I should have escaped earlier. There are millions of things I could have done! It's my fault you're like this."
"It's not jour fault, Matthew." Gilbert said pressing a kiss into his hair. "Vhat if I had listened to jou vhen jou told me to run? We both could have got away. There vere things I could have done too." He shook his head. "Jou did vhat jou could. I know jou did jour best vith vhat jou had."
"I should have done better." Matthew mumbled. "It's my fault, I'm sorry."
"Vhere jou the one that cut me and did vhat ever it vas to turn me into this? Nein!" Gilbert said. "It is not jour fault!"
"But-" Blackbird started, but he was cut off.
"No buts allowed." Prussia said pulling back to look him in the eyes. "It is not jour fault. Do not blame jourself."
"Sorry." Matthew mumbled not meeting his eyes.
"Ich liebe dich." Prussia hummed stretching up and pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth. "I'm okay vith being this. I'm happy as long as I'm vith jou."
"Je t'aime aussi." Canada murmured hiding his face in the crook of the Prussian's neck. "Je suis désolé d'être comme ça en ce moment. Je me sens juste terrible."
"Don't fell bad. I'm okay, jour okay. Ve're here together. Nothing else matters right now." Gilbert said kissing his temple.
"Thank you." Matthew sighed leaning into his touch.
The albino was humming quietly petting his hair. The pair stayed hugging each other for what seemed like hours. He knew the Canadian just needed the time and connection. Prussia was more than happy to be there for him.
"Want to keep walking?" Matthew asked after a while. The albino smiled and nodded. He kept his hand in his as they started to walk.
—-❄️" Two wrongs don't make a right, but they make a good excuse."❄️—-
After a few more days of walking, the couple finally made it to the open boarder. Canada relaxed as soon as they crossed. Gilbert looked over and smiled brightly noticing him relax.
"Home?" The Prussian asked and he nodded. To him it didn't feel or look any different, but he knew for Matthew there was a lot of pressure off. "Vhat are we doing from here?"
"There's a town not to far ahead." The Canadian hummed. "I'll go and borrow a phone to call Ash. Tell them where we've been and tell them we won't be around for a while."
"Then vhat? Saskatchewan house or?" Gilbert asked looking up at him. He still hadn't managed to get his eye to switch back yet. His hair fell over and covered it fairly well, but not enough to completely hide it.
"Yeah, see if we could catch a ride north." Matthew nodded.
The pair kept walking for almost another hour until they made it to the town. Gilbert gave him the investigator's coat to cover his prison uniform when he went into the small town. The Prussian decided to stay back in the tree line. He was a bit nervous to be around humans already.
"You'll be okay here?" Blackbird asked worriedly. He didn't really want to leave the albino by himself.
"I'll be fine, Birdie." Gilbert smiled reassuringly. "Don't take fifty jears though."
"I won't." Matthew laughed lightly.
The Prussian smiled and pulled him down for a kiss before letting him go. Canada hummed to himself starting into town. The smell of people made his stomach rumble. He was starving and wanted to eat, but pushed it to the back of his mind. He had more important things to do. The Canadian managed to find a pay phone. One of the few left in the country.
"Hello?" Ash asked as they answered.
"Ash? It's Matthew." Canada hummed.
"Matt?! Where have you been?!" They demanded. "Do you have any idea how worried we where? It's been months!"
"Months?" Matthew was surprised. "I didn't know it was that long."
"Yeah." Ash sighed. "Where are you? Are you okay? Is Gilbert with you?"
"We're both okay." Blackbird answered. He'd let the Prussian decide if he wanted to tell them later. "We're in Saskatchewan. We'll be staying at the house here for a while."
"Okay." Ash sounded relieved. "Where were you guys?"
"It's a bit of a story. I'll tell everyone the full thing when I get a chance." Canada grumbled. "I was caught by the US CCG. Was stuck in the prison in Denver."
"What?!" They demanded. "There were warning about an escape, but nothing serious. Did they know who you were?"
"They knew." Matthew answered. "The one Dove said nothing had been put out about the Red-winged Blackbird being caught."
"There was nothing at all!" Ash grumbled. "Nothing about your escape either." They were both quiet for a moment. "You'll be gone for a while still?"
"Yes." Matthew said. "If you guys do need me, you know how to get in touch."
"Okay." They hummed. "And let us know if you need anything."
"I will, thank you." The Canadian sighed. "Bye."
Canada was quick to leave town and get back to the albino. He was far back in the trees, but the Canadian easily found him by scent. His nose was used to the slight change in Prussia's scent. He easily spotted his bright white hair among the green forest.
"Hallo Birdie." Gilbert hummed hugging him. "Did you get a hold of Ash?"
"Yeah, they know where we are now." Matthew sighed hugging back. "Told them we'd be staying out here for a while."
"Ja." Gilbert nodded. He took Canada's hand in his. "Start valking again?"
"Let's go along a road and hope someone gives us a ride." Blackbird said. The Prussian looked a bit nervous.
"Vhat about my eye?" Prussia asked.
"We can hide it well enough with your hair." Matthew said reaching over and brushing his fingers through his hair. He carefully swept it over his ghoul eye. He smiled pressing a kiss to his forehead. "There, no one will notice."
"Thank you, liebe!" Gilbert bounced as they started to walk again.
The pair emerged from the forest into the prairies. They started down a long road heading north. The albino stayed close to Canada. He knew he was a bit nervous to be out in the open. Blackbird put an arm around his waist to make him feel more at ease. They walked for almost an hour before a pick up truck pulled up along side them.
"Where are you two off to? Next town isn't for miles!" The driver, an older man, commented slowing down next to them.
"We're going to Clearwater River." Matthew said.
"Clearwater, eh?" The man hummed. "I'm heading up close to there. Want a ride?"
"That would be awesome." Canada smiled.
The man nodded and gestured to the back of the truck. The Canadian hopped into the bed and offered Gilbert a hand. He took it and Matthew easily helped him up. They sat down with their backs against the cab. The man started to drive once they were comfortable.
AN: Please stay safe guys! Follow what your local medical professionals are saying and stay home.