Matthew was lonely. He knew that Gilbert was going to be late in coming, if at all, but that still didn't stop him from hoping. It was nice to have someone by his side, even if he couldn't talk to the person. Gilbert was never short on conversation.
The end of visiting hours came and went and still no word from Gilbert. Matthew could feel himself sinking into depression again, thinking that he had just dreamed up yesterday. But no! Of course he hadn't! They'd exchanged numbers. So, he decided to send Gilbert a quick text, just to assuage his worries and to make himself feel a bit better.
How are things going? he typed, not really expecting a reply.
Shitty. Your parents don't want to give your things up... We may need to do something a bit more drastic, though I'm hoping it doesn't come to that.
What do you mean 'drastic'?
Don't worry about it. It won't come to that.
I wouldn't be so sure if I was you.
Well, you're not me. I'm more than sure about everything that I do because I'm just that awesome. :D
You're also really full of yourself. Matthew couldn't help but to giggle. Gilbert may be an idiot, but he was still a good guy... a really sweet guy.
Well, 'Tonio's bugging me to get back to work here. Don't worry. I'll bust you out of there asap, but I wanna get your stuff first, if I can.
Okay. You have no idea how much I appreciate this.
You don't know that. And I'm just glad I can help. For real this time, I'm going. Be safe, you idiot.
I'm not an idiot!
But he got no reply to that last text. However... he was rather certain that Gilbert was probably laughing his head off. The thought made him smile, because he loved it when people he cared about were so happy that they couldn't contain their laughs. The thought of Gilbert laughing after their text conversation is what got Matthew through that long night.
"Hey. Wake up, you idiot."
"I'm not an idiot," Matthew groaned, rolling onto his side, only to regret it immediately and roll back onto his back.
"Come on, I'm busting you out of this place, like I promised."
Matthew opened his eyes to see a smiling Gilbert... But something looked out of place. He looked so... tense. Like he was frustrated and holding it in.
"What's wrong?" Matthew asked sleepily, sitting up.
"Your fucking idiotic parents, that's what's wrong," Gilbert fumed. He wasn't really one to hide when he was annoyed, after all. "I want to just knock them out and go take all of your stuff."
"That doesn't sound like a good idea." Matthew looked down, only to realize that he'd already been unhooked from the machines.
"I know. That's why I've got to resort to my next plan. I will get your stuff for you, but in the meantime, you're going to stay somewhere that you're not all alone so that I know you're safe. Oh. And they say that I have to take you out in the wheelchair. Sorry."
"Ugh... I hate the wheelchairs. I'm depressed, not handicapped," he groaned.
Gilbert smiled sympathetically. "I'm parked right by the entrance. The humiliation will be minimal, and if not, I can sit and hold you like Francis does when Antonio finds that he forgot tomatoes on his sandwich."
Matthew giggled. "Does he really get that worked up over a sandwich?"
"No. He gets worked up over the tomatoes."
"Okay, now you're really just pulling my leg."
"No," Gilbert said, grabbing one of Matt's legs and gently but playfully giving it a tug. "Now I'm just pulling your leg." He gave his signature grin and Matthew could feel his heart lift.
"Alright. I'll get in the damn chair." He moved to it, all of a sudden feeling really weak, and rather grateful that the damn thing was there. He settled into it and Gilbert pushed him out to the car.
"Why are you so awesome?" Matthew asked, looking up at Gilbert from his spot in the chair.
"Because I was born like that," he said, smirking again. "It's just how I am, sorry if you can't handle it."
"Of course I can handle it!"
"Of course you can. You're awesome as well. Though, you have bouts of idiocy."
"Well, we can't all be perfect."
This time, Gilbert's voice was softer than ever. "But you can try."
Matthew blushed faintly and moved from the chair to the car to hide it. "Thanks, Gil."
"You're always welcome," he replied easily, wheeling the chair back before getting into the driver's seat and heading off.
Matthew was excited. He had never been to a friend's house as he had never really had friends. And since he had never been to a friend's house, he had certainly never spent the night. So many new experiences would be occurring for him now that he was out of the oppressive atmosphere that was his own house. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't even notice when Gilbert parked his car in a three-car garage.
"Whoa... are you like... rich or something?" he asked in awe.
"Yeah, sorta. We've got old money, and my family's rather... utilitarian, so we don't spend it frivolously... well... they don't." He grinned a bit. "So, I apologize for the boring décor of the house, but if you need some reprieve from it, my room is pretty damn awesome."
"Of course your room is awesome. How could someone as awesome as you not have an awesome room befitting of their awesomeness?" Matthew giggled at the overuse of the word.
Gilbert blushed a little. Not at what Matthew was saying, but at how cute he was when he giggled. "Yeah! Awesome!" he said in reply, not knowing what else to reply with.
Matthew giggled again. "You're so enthusiastic all the time. I love it."
"Thanks," Gilbert said, then looked momentarily lost in thought. "Hey... I should have asked you... do you like dogs?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Because that's the only 'frivolous' thing we have. Three dogs. Though, my parents claim that they're watch dogs. But in truth, they're all bark and no bite. They wouldn't hurt a fly... Wait... yes they would... if they see flies, they try and chase them and eat them... But never mind that. They're harmless to humans."
Matthew giggled once again. "That sounds funny... A dog chasing a fly."
"Yeah, it is pretty ridiculous," Gilbert agreed. "So, are you getting out of the car or what?"
"Actually... I need a bit of help," Matthew admitted.
"Oh," Gilbert said lamely, before making his way around and helping Matthew up. He lifted him into his arms, a little saddened by how light he was, and then made his way inside, dogs jumping all over him immediately.
"Down!" Gilbert barked. Matthew was surprised when the animals obeyed the command right away. "Go find mein bruder. I need to get this kid fattened up."
The dogs ran off, coming back a bit later with an annoyed looking blond man following in their wake.
"What do you want?" the annoyed blond asked, his voice heavily accented in what Matthew assumed was German.
"This is Matthew. The kid that I told you about. He weighs nothing. So now we need to fatten him up. Go make something to eat... Unless... you want me to use the kitchen."
Gilbert's brother looked horrified at the mere thought. "No. I'll make you something. Will you be in your room?"
"Ja."
With a nod, the man ran off to the kitchen.
"That was mein younger brother, Ludwig."
"Younger? But... he's..."
"Huge? Ja, I know. It's just his build... and he works out." Gilbert shrugged, Matthew moving up in his arms when he did.
"Oh." This time, it was Matt's turn to use the single, lame syllable.
The two made their way through the boring, undecorated halls into a room that was... well... shockingly different. The walls were painted bright red, rather than white, posters decorated their colorful surface. The bed was unmade and clothes were strewn about haphazardly.
"Wow... this is quite different from the rest," Matthew said.
"Ja. They try and make me conform, but... I don't like it super tidy. I mean... sure, I could pick up my clothes and make my bed, but... I'm just lazy."
Matthew smiled at the admittance. "Well, can you try and keep the clothes off to the side while I'm around? I don't want to trip and kill myself."
"Oh gott... I should." After setting Matthew down on the bed, Gilbert kicked the clothes to the side so that Matthew wouldn't trip on them.
This was to be the beginning of the true healing. Matthew could feel it this time.
A/N: I have to thank Koharu Kage for the idea for what I'm building to in the next chapter. So thank you so much! (Also, that's why I love reviews. 3)