"So what happened with Dad?" Matthew asked softly as the boys settled down to sleep, the lights already turned off.
"Nothing happened, Matt. We just talked stuff out..."
"Oh..." Matthew was silent for a moment, "Papa was really worried and upset... he never meant to make you feel bad, Al..."
"I know he didn't, Matt..." Alfred swallowed, "But Dad said that if I really want him to he'll talk to the school about trying to get me to switch to a different language, seeing as I'm so crap at French. I was thinking about maybe learning German... that was pretty fun last year. Would you mind, Matt?"
"No... if it makes you happy why would I mind?"
Matthew's mild confusion made Alfred grin, "Well I'd be spending more time round Ludwig's so he'd be able to help me catch up... so I'd be with your boyfriend a lot. Though you might be jealous."
He could tell even in the dark that Matthew had gone bright pink, "G-Gilbert isn't my boyfriend... H-He's only a friend...!" he spluttered indignantly.
Alfred laughed, "But you knew who I was talking about. Come on, Matt, ask him out already. Everyone can see the pair of you totally like each other and as much as it's funny to watch you dance around each other and pretend everything's normal you NEED to stop beating around the bush and just tell him you like him."
"It was kind of obvious who you were talking about considering you mentioned Ludwig..." Matthew mumbled, staring at his hands in an attempt to conceal his blush.
"You like him, Matt. Just tell him."
"He... He wouldn't like me back anyway... so there's no point..."
"Oh that's a total lie and you know it. It could not be more obvious if he had it tattooed on his forehead. So just for the love of Batman, ask him out!"
"Go to sleep, Alfred..." Matthew muttered, rolling over to his back was to his brother.
"Not until you say you're going to ask him out. Tomorrow."
"Not a chance."
"Then I'm not going to leave you alone," Alfred teased.
Matthew sighed, "I'll think about it... now go to sleep!"
"Not until you say you're going to ask him out tomorrow."
"I said I'd think about it." Matthew retorted, "And I'm not going to consider it if you don't let me sleep."
"Fine," Alfred relented, "Goodnight, Mattie. And you better ask him tomorrow."
"Yeah, maybe... night, Al," Matthew replied softly, tired.
The room lapsed into silence as the two boys lay in their beds, both of them staring at the wall with their minds whirling. Neither slept for a long time.
Author's Note: Short (a bit late) and rather cute chapter after the explosion that was the last chapter!