Chapter Eighteen

AN: Finally done my semester! Maybe I'll have time to actually/inspo/motivation to write.

"Are you sure you don't want to come?" Matthew asked sitting on the edge of the desk Prussia was working at.

"Ja." Gilbert sighed looking up from his paper work. "Some of us actually have vork to catch up on."

"Not my fault people forgot me." Canada smiled innocently. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to his temple. The albino caught him and pulled him down for a proper kiss.

"Don't be too long." Prussia hummed with a smile.

"I won't be." The blond said lingering for a second. He stood up and started to leave. He paused at the door remembering a question. "Do you want me to tell them? About you?"

"Ah, I don't know." The Prussian mumbled.

"I think it would be a good idea." Matthew said. "They'd know the next time they see you. Blair might pick your scent up off me."

"Okay." Gilbert smiled shyly. "Might as vell. They're friends, I trust them."

The Canadian smiled and nodded. He went to grab his keys. He decided to take his motorcycle. It had been forever since he'd been able to ride it. He went into the garage and picked up his helmet. He put it on before climbing on his bike. He took the long way to the warehouse.

—-❄️" How lucky I am to have known somebody and something that saying goodbye to is so damned awful."❄️—-

"Matt!" Ash greeted as soon as they spotted him. The other ghouls were there as well. They smiled seeing him. "You looked surprisingly normal."

"Thanks?" Canada said raising an eyebrow. Ash just laughed.

"Anyways, what happened?" Shayne asked looking worried.

Matthew started to explain. He started in the park when the Doves surrounded them. He told them about the suppressants and the deal he made with the investigators. The Canadian mentioned the questions he was asked and what he answered. He didn't bother much with the boring days and skipped to his escape. He told them about how he found Gilbert. He told them how they got out and back.

"You walked?!" Blair asked surprised.

"Yeah, I would have stolen a car, but I didn't want to leave Gil alone." Blackbird shrugged. He sighed. "And while Gil was there, they did an operation. They made him into an artificial ghoul."

"Wait, what?" Amity asked. She could see his eyes were sad and guilty.

"Like those Japanese one-eyed ghouls?" Ash asked. Canada nodded. "I didn't know the Americans could do that."

"Is he okay?" Zola asked.

"Surprisingly, he's taken it really well. He said he's been with me so long it wasn't a huge change." Matthew shrugged. "He's not used to eating so little. He doesn't really understand how eating is normally a territorial thing. He's not used to a few ghoul customs."

"That's good." Zyler sighed. "It's not a problem with you or us, but people who don't know him might be confused."

"He's curious and definitely wants to learn. I'm not the greatest teacher, but we're working on it." Matthew smiled slightly. "He definitely won't take to all of them, but it doesn't really matter."

"Other than that, you're both okay, eh?" Shayne asked and he nodded.

"Oh! And I lied and said America was a ghoul. His CCG caught him." Canada hummed.

"Pfff, nice." Ash laughed. They thought for a second and smirked. "If he's still there I can try to swap some info and pin Blackbird on him."

"Do it." Blair said poking their shoulder.

"Go for it." Blackbird smiled.

Ash bounced excitedly. They ended up talking for a while longer. Shayne told him about a few problem ghouls. He was a bit eager to get back to work. The Canadian told him to keep him updated on their movements and if they were getting close. He didn't want to go too far from Prussia yet.

—-❄️" We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that self may prove to be."❄️—-

Once he got home, he found the Prussian in the kitchen. He was humming quietly to himself. Matthew snuck up on him and wrapped his arms around his waist. Gilbert jumped in surprise, but quickly relaxed knowing who it was. Canada pressed kisses into his neck and collarbone. He looked down noticing the albino was cooking.

"What are you making?" The Canadian asked confused.

"Just soup." Gilbert shrugged. "I can't eat any of the stuff we've got so I decided to make something and give it to the shelter. I don't vant it to go to vaste."

"Aww Gilly that's so thoughtful." Matthew smiled kissing his jaw.

"The only problem is I can't taste it. I don't know if it's any good." Prussia explained.

"In my experience, whatever smells the worst to ghouls tastes the best to humans." Canada explained slowly swaying them back and forth. The albino offered him a spoonful to sniff. "Just needs some salt and pepper. Otherwise, it's perfect."

"Awesome!" Gilbert laughed. "I'm an awesome cook!"

—-❄️" Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination."❄️—-

A few months later...

Matthew hummed as Gilbert played with his hair. The pair were in France for their first meeting since they escaped. No one had noticed Canada was missing, but Germany immediately noticed when his brother didn't show up.

"I should get up, but I don't want to." The Canadian whined. Prussia smiled gently down at him. "I don't wanna mooove."

"Let's go shower and get ready." Gilbert hummed leaning down and kissing him. They broke apart and he moved to get off the bed. "Come on, Vögelchen."

Matthew groaned and rolled out of bed. He followed the albino to the bathroom. He yawned and pulled his shirt off. He smiled lazily watching Prussia undress. He smirked noticing and stuck out his tongue. He hopped into the shower and turned the water on. The blond finished undressing and got in with him.

After the pair were finished showering, they got dressed. They went to one of the cafés and ordered some coffee. They sat at the café and watched the people of Paris. Matthew was humming contently around his coffee. Gilbert smiled seeing him. He turned his attention back to the crowds of people. He tried to use his nose and pick out if there were any ghouls. Everyone's scent just mixed together.

"What are you doing?" Canada asked raising an eyebrow.

"Just checking out the smells." The albino said looking back at him. "I can't pick anyone's out."

"It'll take some practice." The Canadian shrugged.

The couple finished their coffees and started toward the meeting hall. Blackbird kept close to Prussia as they walked. He knew how territorial French ghouls could be. They got there quickly since Matthew knew a bunch of shortcuts to avoid the foot traffic.

The meeting was boring and uneventful. Neither one of them payed much attention. Alfred wasn't there. No one seemed to notice or really care much. He skipped meetings every so often so they didn't think much of it. No one seemed to notice anything different about the albino. He wasn't acting any different.

The couple left as soon as the meeting was over. Gilbert took his hand as they walked back to their hotel. It was just starting to get dark out. Matthew hummed leaning into the Prussian's side as they walked. Prussia put an arm around his waist and kissed his jaw. Canada smiled relaxing into his touch.

"Vant to stop for supper?" Gilbert asked looking up at him. It was a habit they had from meetings. He still sometimes forgot he couldn't eat human food. The Canadian raised an eyebrow. He realized what he said and sighed. "I forgot. Coffee?"

"Coffee would be awesome." Canada hummed and Prussia bounced happily.

AN: Please stay safe guys! Follow what your local medical professionals are saying, stay home and wash your hands.