Alfred practically ran home. Matthew had stayed behind to talk to people but Alfred had just wanted to be back before Arthur or Francis. He quickly checked that no one was home before shutting himself in the bathroom. Swallowing, he fished his razor from its hiding place and rolled up his sleeve. He examined the scars and half-healed cuts that already littered his arm before starting to make more, watching the blood run over his pale skin.
"Al? Are you in there?"
Alfred jumped at the sound of his brother's voice from the other side of the door, he has been so engrossed in what he'd been doing he hadn't heard the front door.
"Yeah. I'll be out in a second, Matt," he called back, quickly turning on the tap and washing away the blood.
After a moment he stood up, pulling his sleeves down and unlocking the door, "Have a good day, Matt?" He asked, leaning against the wall and folding his arms. He raised one eyebrow, grinning at his brother, "How's Gilbert?"
Matthew smiled back, "Gil's alright. Lud and Fel are driving him slightly mad but that's nothing new."
"They admitted their love yet?" Alfred grinned wider.
"No, still being obvious about it yet denying there's anything between them. I would have thought they'd just come out with it. Especially as they walk around school holding hands."
Alfred laughed at this, "Well some people just aren't good at admitting feelings, even to themselves. Lud's too shy and has probably sworn Feli to secrecy. So it'll be out within the week. Let's get some snackage. I'm staaaaaarving!" He barged past his brother and bounded downstairs towards the kitchen.
Matthew followed him down more slowly, "You're always starving, Al. I don't get how you can eat so much and not get fat!" He went over to his twin and affectionately poked him in the stomach, "particularly with your fast food obsession!"
Pouting playfully, Alfred batted his hand away "But McDonalds is epic!"
"But it's unhealthy."
"They sell salad!"
"Do you eat it?"
"No. Salad's gross. But they do sell it. Therefore, I win!"
Matthew sighed and rolled his eyes at his brother's logic. Crouching he searched the cupboards for a box of maple cookies he was sure he had left, "Gilbert's coming over later, by the way. He's going to help me go over my plans for revision. We barely got a quarter of the way through it at lunchtime. Plus, apparently Lud, Feli and Kiku are working on some science project and he's 'too awesome to hang around with them.' So, hope you don't mind."
"Not at all.," Alfred grinned, "I'll play video games or something while he's here, leave you two alone to 'work.'"
"We will be working!"
"Sure you will..."
"Al-!" Matthew was cut off by a knock at the door, "Just go upstairs and play your stupid games. We'll be in the dining room." He pushed Alfred towards the stairs before running to answer the door.
Alfred laughed, "I'm going!" he called as he went up the stairs and into their room. Glancing at the door briefly he tip-toed along the white line in the middle of the room that split it neatly in half, deemed their 'no touching zone' after the arguments they got into when they were younger. It meant they could have their own space but still share a room like they both wanted.
He was silently glad that Matthew hadn't noticed his arm, blood was starting to seep through his shirt. Sighing softly he sat on the bed to clean and bandage the cuts using the supplies he kept stashed under his bed before turning on the TV and settling back to play some games. He wasn't going to go spy on his brother. Not tonight anyway.
Author's Notes: What's this? An update from me? Really sorry about the delays with updating, I've been really busy for the last few weeks and I now have some unexpected university business to sort out. Which is fun.
I wrote this chapter on the train and I'm surprised I actually managed to decipher my handwriting well enough to type it up. hope you enjoy!