Crap I posted the wrong chap again ^^'
Matt hummed softly as he watch the world roll by. They pulled up to an ice-cream shop.
Matt's smile grew brighter as they went in.
"So whatcha want?" They stepped up to the counter.
"Chocolate," he grinned instantly.
Gil gins and orders, they go and sit in a booth. They sit and wait, Matt definitely perked up now. Gil started up a conversation, just something random to get their minds off things.
It was the break they needed to calm the down before they jumped headfirst into hell. Their order got called. Gil going to get it. As soon as they got their ice cream, Matt dug in. Ice cream always made him feel good, he couldn't understand why.
Well it did that to a lot of people honestly, but it was a good treat nonetheless.
"Thanks for this... I really needed it."
"No problem, we've all gone a little off kilter lately. Besides! We haven't gone a date for ages!" He grins brightly.
"And I really have missed spending time with you," he leaned across the booth and kissed him lovingly.
Gil kissed back before chuckling. "You taste like chocolate now."
"Problem?" he smirked teasingly.
"Not at all~"
"Good," he grinned, kissing him again.
Gil hums softly leaning into it. They kiss tenderly for a few moments, relishing the contact. They got a few stares but who cared.
When they finally pulled back, Matt couldn't stop beaming.
"Feel better?"
"Much," he chuckled.
"Gut! Whata ya say we grab some for the others?"
"Sounds like a plan. Lord knows it might just cheer Ro up a bit..."
"Mhm.." They get up and order. "So how was Al..?"
"Not too good," he smiled sadly. "He's beating himself up over her, I can tell..."
"Maybe you can just slap him on the head a bit?"
"...literally?"
Gil chuckles. "I remember when I was brought over to train him. Couldn't do a thing right. Used his bayonet to roast marshmallows. Never took any care in his clothes.. I didn't know at the time when Washington would give him boots or a coat he'd just give it away to one of his men just so they could live a little longer.."
"That's Al for you... So blockheaded, but too kind for his own good half the time... He means well but he still doesn't handle losing people very well..."
Gil wrapped an arm around him. "Maybe they just need to talk it out some? I'm sure it'd be fine."
"I hope you're right," he sighed, cuddling in.
After a few minutes they got their treats and head back to the car. Matt sat mulling things over as they headed home. They pull up and gather the bags heading back inside.
Arthur sat in the lounge with Ro curled into his side, bunnies dotted about them. She still looked quite glum and withdrawn.
"We come bearing sweets!" Gil announced.
She flinched at the noise but Arthur smiled warmly. "Wonderful."
Francis comes downstairs as they were sorting through the bags.
Arthur smiled up at him tiredly. "All alright?"
"Sleeping finally." Francis sighs. "And Alfred's still not in his room.."
"He was in Ro's bed last I knew..." Matt piped up, looking at the little redhead in Arthur's lap.
Francis hums running a hand through his hair.
"Which means she can't go to bed," Arthur frowned softly.
"Should we check on him?"
"Better had... Just to be sure.."
France turned to go back upstairs. Matt tagged on with him, needing to see Al before his nerves would settle.
He was still asleep, but he seemed distressed. Hand wandering around like he was searching for something. Matt slipped over, taking his hand to see if that would settle him. He gripped tight with a whine.
*Al...* Matt rubbed his knuckles gently. *It's alright... Just talk to me...*
*Where'd they go..?*
*Who... Who're you looking for?*
*Ro.. The eggs.. Someone took em..*
*They're fine, she's fine, trust me.*
He curled up a little more.
*Shh... Do you want me to bring them to you?*
Al clung to his hand not wanting him to leave as well.
*Okay, I'll stay,* he sat beside him, petting his hair gently. "Papa? Could you bring Ro up please? And his eggs... He won't settle til he knows they're safe."
Francis smiles softly going off. The eggs were easy to get but Ro didn't want to move from Arthur.
"Please? He wants to see you.."
She whined, hugging herself anxiously.
Francis sighs softly, "What's wrong?"
"H-he's mad at me," she whispered. "I-I just keep m-messing everything up..."
"No he's not.. He's having a nightmare, he's looking for you."
She shifted uncertainly before slowly getting up. Her eyes never left the floor.
Francis lead her upstairs, to her room before going to fetch the nest. Al lay there pale and shivery, he was getting sick from his stress. She hovered nervously until Matt coaxed her over to him, getting her to sit with him. *Alfie... Ro's here now.*
He inched forward till he was pressed to her side. *Don't go.. Please..*
She flinched at the contact but stayed put, slowly patting his shoulder at Matt's encouragement.
Francis came back with Al's nest, both chicks and eggs. It had been built on a tray so he could carry it around easier.
*There... Now they're all here, okay?*
His shaking lessened but he was still rather pale, felt a little warm as well.
Ro's concern started to override her fear. She took his hand gently, little fingers ice cold. "Alfie...?"
He had eased back into an easier sleep. She clung worriedly, scared that something was going to go wrong.
"He does this a lot when he's upset.." Francis sighs.
She glanced between the men, like a rabbit in headlights. "Is he okay...?"
"If we can get him to start eating and sleeping again he'll be fine."
She whined softly, guilt clogging up her throat. This was her fault... Making him worry even more...
Francis smiles sadly petting her hair. "He'll be fine. We just need to cheer him up."
She nodded softly, trying not to cry again. That would just be selfish when Al clearly needed the attention. He must have sensed it or something as Al hugged her gently. She couldn't resist him... She curled up next to him, burying into his chest. He mumbles softly nuzzling in.
She sniffled softly, a flower of hate for herself starting to blossom in her heart.
"..don't cry..."
That just set her off, tears tumbling down her cheeks. "I-I-I'm sorry..."
"No, 'S my fault.." Al was still groggy.
"I-I should have..." she broke off with a hiccup, trembling with the effort to calm down. "I j-just..."
"You tried.. That's all that counts.. He was just stronger.."
"H-he nearly..." she felt sick... She couldn't stop crying because it was all too much like Nate...
"I-I thought I was... H-he was gonna..."
He hugged a little tighter.
She just bawled, apologizing repeatedly no matter how many times she was told not to that it wasn't her fault. If she was just a little stronger...
"Hey.. Even strong people get beat sometimes.."
She whimpered, huddling in. Al rubs her back gently. She just clung to him, letting months of emotions tumble free. Francis smiles softly. Matt gave him a sad but relieved look. Maybe now they'd both calm down..
"You want that ice cream now?"
She sniffled softly, scrubbing her eyes. Francis leaves to get it. Al glanced to his nest pulling it closer to his warmth. Ro looked at the chicks with a sense of wonder and apprehension. They were kinda cute when they looked so small, but it was what they grew into...
Did that mean she was scared of Al as well? The thought plagued his mind as he tapped on the eggs hopefully.
She always seemed to trust him... But, if he thought back, she always seemed to vanish when Eagle came out... When he attacked Iain on the airbase, she was gone for nearly a week...
He felt bad for it. He hated how people were afraid of his other half.. Though to be fair, some had just cause to be wary of Eagle...
He sighs softly clutching his eggs close. Still nothing. Francis comes back with their treats. Ro perked up some with ice cream, but she stick close to Al. She wanted to be with him...
Al ate his, it helped his mood only slightly. Ro started to hesitate, unsure if he was negative about her.. Matt watched, worried about Al's depressed state and Ro's increasingly anxious one.
Honestly he just felt like shit, he worked himself sick and he loathes being sick.
*Al... If you need to vent, I'm here... You know I' for you, right...?*
*I know.. I just don't feel good.. Maybe I need to go out for a bit..*
*Rest first... Spend some time with your chicks... Then we'll take you for a walk.*
*Ok..*
Matt smiled softly. *Do you want anyone to stay with you?*
*..Would Ro?*
*Ask her.*
He set down his bowl. (Empty thankfully) and hugs her lightly. She looked a little surprised to be embraced again but folded in instantly.
"Wanna watch a movie?"
She looked up, hope building in her eyes. "Me?"
"Yeah you."
A bright smile split her face and she nodded eagerly. He smiles back tiredly. He gathers his nest and they head off to somewhere with a tv. He had to lean on Matt to get there though.
They ended up in the den, sofabed pulled out for the first time in ages and a nest of blankets set out on it. They settled in Al with his nest in his lap and them all covered with blankets. Ro quickly snuggled in, happier than they'd seen her in months.
It was something they both needed apparently.
Matt set them up with a couple films, letting them be together for a little while. Francis had already left, checking on others. The house seemed much calmer now, even with the rabbits hopping about. It finally let them rest a bit.
After a little while, Ro started watching the chicks, eyes curious. Tiny little balls of fluff bowling each other over while chirping. They needed to eat soon. She kind of wanted to touch one, but they made her a little uncomfortable.
"They're harmless you know.."
She looked up at him then back at them again. "But... Beaks..."
"Not even big enough to get your pinky into." He even showed her so as one tried to bite him, they were definitely hungry now..
She hummed uncertainly, preferring to keep her distance for now.
"...are you scared of me..?"
"No..." she didn't sound 100% certain...
His lips twitched as he pet a chick.
"I... I love you, but..."
"...eagles aren't really as bad as people tend to think.."
"I know, but... When it gets angry, I..."
"..it's not at you.. Eagles are loyal and protective he'd never hurt you.. The thing with Iain was an accident. I was trying to get out of his grip and wasn't paying attention to where he was standing.."
"It was scary... I hovered by his bed for ages... And it's still not gone away... I just..." she was struggling so much with this...
"...if you wanted to leave you can.. I wouldn't blame you for it.. We haven't exactly been good for you.."
"I don't wanna leave," she said quickly, voice catching a little. "I-I like being here, I like being with you! I wouldn't have anywhere else to go, I..."
He blinks glancing up, Just mentioning leaving had gotten her worked up and upset. He hugs her hiding in her neck. She clung back instantly, trembling. She didn't want to be anywhere else but with him...
Al just felt relief, rocking softly. He'd just reminded her of how little she had... Without him, she had nothing...
"I'm sorry.. For everything.. I'd do anything to make it up to you.."
She choked, burying into him. "P-please don't leave me..."
"I won't.."
"N-not again..."
"I won't leave.. I might get busy with work or Ivan, but I'll never leave. I'll always come back.."
"B-but... What do I do when you're gone...? What do I-I do when you're too busy a-and I'm all alone again, what do I d-do...?!"
"Hey.. I hate being alone just as much as you.. But I found ways to cope and distract myself. That's something school can do. It keeps you busy and you meet new people. You learn all kinds of things too."
"I-I don't wanna go alone... Everyone there's gonna hate me... And I'm still stupid... And I..." she was looking for excuses, just scared of going.
"Believe me, every little kid feels that way on their first day, I get a surge of it every year. But once you actually get there you'll have a lot of fun."
"What if you get too busy to remember I'm there...?"
"Then hit me over the head if you have too, ya gotta understand that I'm older than I look, and you're still fairly new so I tend to forget sometimes and slip into old habits."
She really was just a child in all respects... Now that he'd pointed our the age difference, she felt more out of place than ever. "I don't belong here... I'm out of place..."
"No you're not.. You're part of the family now. And you know what? I wouldn't be surprised if you've partially become a nation yourself."
"I doubt that," she laughed bitterly. "I'm just going to live for ages, stuck in some horrible midpoint between a grounded fairy and a pointless freak..."
"Not true if you think about it. That potion had mine and Frances's DNA in it, if it managed to save your magic and turn you human what's not to say nation? Besides it's not completely unheard of for humans to turn into nations, next time you see Japan ask him about NicoNico republic."
"What if I don't wanna be a nation?!" she snapped suddenly. "What if I wanted to be myself, instead of some mix of leftovers?! Don't I even get a say anymore?!"
He blinks at that. "..I'm sorry.."
She turned away, blinking back tears. "No one ever asked if I even wanted to be human..."
"...would you want to go back..?"
"I-I don't know..."
"..."
"I don't know, okay... If I never changed, I'd feel more myself than I have in months, but I'd lose you and I can't be alone again... I never want to ve alone again..."
"Maybe, we could work something out.. Talk to Iain? He might know something.."
"I don't wanna go near another of his bloody potions..."
Al sighs softly thinking. Did she really hate all of this so passionately or was she just upset?
"Ro.. What what is it you do want? If I can ill do something about it."
"I don't know," she yelled, tears of frustration brimming in her eyes. "I-I just don't... I wish I'd been in the trees with everyone else... It wouldn't have hurt this much..."
Al frowns softly. His heart ached again. Ro just hugged her knees, burying her face in her lap. Al wanted to hug her. But did she want it? It was hard to tell now... All this time and he didn't even know she resented being changed...
*..Mattie..?*
*What's up? I'm just helping Arthur feed the rabbits.*
*I... Th-they're getting hungry could you help me get to the kitchen..?*
*Why don't I just bring the meal through and you can feed them there...?*
*...*
At the silence, Matt switched onto high alert. *What happened?*
*I don't know..*
*Al, what happened?* Matt was coming closer, he could sense it.
*She's upset..*
*She was upset beforehand...*
*But it's different..*
*Just tell me what happened,* he sighed, stopping silently in the doorway to observe.
Al flash backed to their conversation, unsure what to do.
The raw emotion behind it shocked him. Matt went over to put his arm on her shoulder but she shook it off.
Al quivered slightly. He picked up his nest and hobbled off. Matt cussed, hating to leave Ro but know Al needed the support. He chased his brother, steadying him. *Hey.*
*M' fine, just going to out for a bit. I need some air..*
*You can barely walk! Ans the nest needs to stay in or the chicks are going to die.*
*Please.. Just let me go for a bit..*
Matt hated the thought of it. *Not with the nest...*
Al was torn at that. He didn't want to leave them but he needed to clear his head. *...Fine..*
Matt took them with a sigh of relief. *Okay... But if I lose track of you, I'm coming to hunt you down.*
Al gazed at them for a moment before leaving.