Soooo that took a little while! Sorry, been very busy, but here's a relatively long chapter! I hope you enjoooooy my sad attempt at the dialog! Also I finished this while I was rather tired, so some stuff might be...funky. :'D
Francis cracked one blue eye open as the sun's rays woke him, glancing down at the warm weight on his chest. Matthew still slept peacefully, head nuzzled in the crook of the Frenchman's arm. He smiled as he looked down at the sleeping face, wondering how it was possible for the boy to look even sweeter. Closing his eyes again he rested his own head on top of the blond's, cheek nestled in the soft golden hair. The peace was short lived however as the crowing of a rooster nearby pulled the boy out of his slumber. Blinking groggily he looked around and then gasped, sitting up.
"Oh, oh dear…" He said nervously. Francis sat up much more slowly, yawning slightly.
"Is the something the matter, pige?"
"It's morning!" Matthew said with concern.
"Oui." He replied with a stretch "So it is."
"I should have been home hours ago!" the boy said, standing up and dusting himself off quickly.
"Why?" The man asked simply. "Because you still believe in that 'ever faithful perfect young member of society' routine? Come now Pige, open your eyes."
"Open my eyes?" Matthew repeated, frowning slightly.
"To what your life can really be. Come here, I will show you what I mean." He beckoned the blond back over to the top of the hill, looking down. "Look down there. Tell me what you see."
"Well.." Matthew said, cocking his head "I see nice homes with yards and fences.."
"Exactly." Francis put in, "It is like life on a leash. Look again Pige." He said pointing past the town to the hills beyond. "There is a great big hunk of world out there, with no fence around it, where two people can find adventure and excitement, and beyond those distant hills who knows what wonderful experiences. And it's all ours for the taking Pige," Gently he turned the boy's chin up until blue eyes met purple. "It's all ours." For a moment Matthew seemed to be memorized, but slowly his eyes flickered down.
"It sounds wonderful…"
"But?"
He looked back up "But who'd watch over the baby?" The Frenchman gave a small sigh.
"You win. Come, I will take you home."
They walked slowly through town; taking back ways to avoid too much attention, finger's still brushing slightly every few steps. Francis didn't seem to be upset with Matthew for wanting to go home, which made the boy unnaturally happy. After all it wasn't like they wouldn't be able to see each other anymore, or at least he sincerely hoped that wasn't the case. He was snapped out of his thoughts as a warm hand firmly gripped his own, stopping him from moving any further forward. Turning to look behind him he saw Francis, who was looking at something to his right with a sly smirk. Turning to look at him the smirk grew wider.
"Not to change the subject." He all but purred "But ever chase chickens?"
"I should say not!" The boy answered immediately.
"Oh, ho. Then you have never lived." The French boy said, already half way over the fence that Matthew now saw surrounded a chicken coop.
"B-But we shouldn't!" He protested.
"I know. That's what makes it fun." Francis said with a wink dropping down to the ground on the other side. Seeing Matthew was still hesitating he leaned in closer. "Come on cher." He all but cooed. "Start building some memories." Matthew sighed and began to reluctantly climb the fence, coming down rather clumsily. Not that it mattered since he had his own French knight to chivalrously help him down.
"But we…we won't hurt the chickens."
"Hurt them? Non! We will just rile them up a little." The young man said while sneaking toward the henhouse. "Look at those lazy things, they should be up by now if we must be. Chasing the roosters is the best, they strut around so." Matthew couldn't help but think that the Frenchman himself reminded him of a rooster. He watched nervously as the man snuck into the henhouse, waiting in anticipation. Suddenly a burst of noise hit him and a flurry of feathers and beaks all but exploded from the door, nearly knocking him over in surprise. Francis came running after them, making sure they didn't get a chance to rest. Matthew followed, feeling extremely confused.
"Some fun, eh cher?" Francis yelled back at him.
"WHAT'S GOING ON IN THERE?" suddenly burst a voice, followed by a sharp bang and the dirt in front of their feet all but exploding, halting them in their tracks.
"What's that?" Matthew gasped out as the blond next to him gripped his arm tight, pulling him back to the fence.
"That's the signal to get going!" He said helping Matthew over the fence before scrambling over the fence himself and hitting the ground running. Another bang was heard, but this time it sounded father away.
"This is living, huh cher?" He yelled over running at full speed.
"I-is it?" was all Matthew could manage out in reply. Francis simply smiled and focused on his running. He was and expert on getting away from trouble after all. He ran across the ever so familiar train tracks, taking the tunnel under them to hide the trail even more, getting into town he jumped over a fence in his way not stopping until he was safely behind a large billboard. Breathing heavily and closing his eyes he gave a little laugh. "I suppose there's a little bit of miscreant in all of us, Pige." When nothing but silence met him his bright blue eyes snapped open quickly, revealing no one with him. His eyes widened.
"Pige?" He said quickly looking around the sign, but to no avail. He began to panic slightly, retracing his steps and calling out his pet name. "Pige? Pige? Pigeon!" But to no avail. Little did he know that there was currently a horse drawn carriage slowly making its way back to a place lovingly referred to as "The Pound", its new passenger sitting huddled and scared in the back.
It was always dark, and the dampness made it seem chilly even on the nicest of days. The stone walls were lined with cells, dirty and overcrowded. Many of the inhabitants lied in their makeshift beds, staring up at the dark ceiling looking as though they had given up hope. If you listened closely you could hear some crying softly. There were still other's, however, who hadn't been broken by the place, and they could be heard talking, laughing and even singing to relieve there boredom and keep away despair. One such group was practicing an interesting version of a barbershop quartet, and with their loud voices echoing off the stone walls. After a chorus of their questionable singing one of them looked back to the corner that was blocked from view by their bodies.
"Hey, hey, Krautie, how we doin'?" He asked, flicking blue eyes to check on the door.
"Just a little vhile longer and ve're out." The man who seemed to be doing something to the wall said, sending glare back.
"Good, then we'll just-"The man was cut off as the door at the end of the hallway creaked open. Behind them the German man jumped quickly, covering his work by sitting in front of it, trying to look as casual as possible.
"Put him in number four, Bill, while I check his license number."
"Okay!" Came a gruff reply from a man who was leading a small frightened youth by a rope around his wrists. Unlocking the cell door he guided him in firmly, untying the ropes and giving the other cellmates a look that said they better not try anything.
"Alright, in you go." He said, closing the door with a clank, and walking out quickly. Matthew watched as his cellmate's eyes fallowed the guard. The one closest to the door was a blue eyed blond who wore glasses like Matthew, though his were not nearly as nice. Leaning on the wall next to him was another blond, but with green eyes and rather large eyebrows. A woman seemed to be sleeping and the corner and he could see the outline of someone sitting behind the two blondes. Leaning through the bars of the next cell over was an extremely large silver haired man, and a brunet who seemed half asleep.
"Well, well look you guys," Matthew flinched as the man with glasses approached him, grinning. "Miss Park Avenue himself."
"Heh," The other blond said, a British accent coming through instantly. "A regular bloody debutant."
"Yeah, and quite the crown jewels he's wearin'." The American said, leaning up close to stare at the license, barely seeming to care Matthew was practically trembling now.
"What are you in for, love? Spilling Champaign on the butler?" the Brit said smoothly. His companion started laughing obnoxiously loudly, while the other simply chuckled at his own joke. Suddenly there was a body standing between him and the laughing men, glaring at them one by one.
"Alright, alright you guys lay off!" It was the girl Matthew had seen sleeping earlier, who was now coming to his rescue. She had long dark hair drawn into pigtails and long thick eyelashes framing chocolate brown eyes. She was quite exotic despite her rather ragged appearance.
"What's the matter Sylvie?" The American whined, pouting slightly.
"We were only having a bit of sport." The Brit huffed.
"Can't you see the poor kid's scared enough already?" She growled, gesturing to the wide eyed and trembling Matthew.
"Pay no attention my little orchechornya…" a sticky sweet voice came from behind him. Turning he saw that it was the large man with silver hair. His voice was heavy with an accent.
"That's right dearie, they don't mean no real harm." The woman assured as the two blondes pouted.
"It is like Gorky says in lower Dapts: quote 'Miserable beings must find more miserable being, then is happy.'"
"Ivan is a philosopher." Sylvie whispered, giving a slight smile.
"Besides little bublichki," Ivan continued "Wearing license here, it is like waving, you should excuse the expression, red flag in front of bull." At the mention of a bull the brunet next to him lifted his head before deciding to go back to sleep.
"M-my license?" Matthew managed out "But what's wrong with it?"
"There ain't nothing wrong with it dearie." The dark haired woman next to him assured.
"Confidential, is not one person here would give left leg for such a knick-knack." The Russian agreed.
"That's your passport to freedom honey. Without it-"
"Hey, hey look you guys!" The boy with the glasses and cowlick interrupted, standing up by the bars. He looked back, eyes wide and a little scared. "Poor Nutsy is taking the long walk…" They all went up to the bars, watching as a slightly deranged looking young man was lead down the hallway.
"Where….where are they taking him?" Matthew asked with a slight tremble.
"Through the one way door." The boy replied solemnly, watching as the two people disappeared behind the swinging door.
"You…you mean he's…" The blond simply gave him a small nod. There was an odd grunting noise from behind them followed by the sounds of scraping and digging. Matthew turned, curious as to what it could be. In the corner a large well built blond seemed to be working on some sort of tunnel in the wall. He looked very familiar.
"Ludwig?" Matthew said quietly, eyes growing wide. He looked up, grimacing.
"Ja."
"W-what are you doing here?" he asked, looking slightly horrified.
"I could ask you the same thing." The German said, causing Matthew to color and look down at the floor biting his lip. Ludwig sighed.
"I…I don't actually have a license, but I have been trying hard to get into a "normal" life…I got my job at the zoo and as long as I stayed in the right places I vas fine, but..." he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I got careless, I vanted to..to visit someone, and I vas in the wrong place at the wrong time.."
"I'm sorry.." Matthew said, barely audibly. He jolted forward suddenly as he was given a heavy slap on the back from the loud American.
"Yeah, Sauerkraut here is going to get us out of here using his amazing skills, right?" The German nodded, just as a new voice floated in.
"Excuse me amigos, but I think I have finally lost my mind…" The sleeping brunet was sitting up now, scratching his head and looking around.
"You didn't have a bloody mind to lose in the first place." The British man spoke up for the first time in a while. The man, who sounded Spanish, gave him a half hearted glare. "No I mean it, I think I have finally gone love crazy.." This earned him a snort from the same Brit and a chuckle from the American. "No, no, listen, I swear right now I can smell my Romano's delicious tomato sauce.." He said licking his lips a little.
"You really bloody have lost it."
"Wait…I think I smell something too.." His American companion said. "Besides that slop they feed us here..."
"Si, it's him." The Spaniard said, suddenly pointing at Matthew who tried to shrink away as much as possible. He found himself being sniffed by a very oblivious American, feeling highly uncomfortable.
"Aw man, it is him!" He said, grinning ear to ear "He smells like really yummy food!"
"Amigo, do you know my little tomato, Romano?" Came a Spanish accent, as the owner of the voice leaned through the bars, green eyes sparkling.
"Y-yes." Matthew squeaked out. "I..I ate at his restaurant.."
"Really?" The man exclaimed. "How is he? Oh how I miss mi amore.."
"H-he was very…very…e-enthusiastic?" Matthew tried, not sure how else to describe the violent young man.
"Ah, si that is my Lovi.." He said with a fond sigh.
"Did you see Feliciano? How vas he?" Matthew turned to see a slightly flustered, but determined, looking German.
"I-I did, and he seemed very well."
"Gut." The man said with a nod, a small smile gracing his lips.
"Hey, Miss. Priss, you must be cool if you know Ludwig and those Vargas bros, you can stick with us if you like! The name's Alfred by the way." The loud American said, throwing his arm around the other blond's shoulder. "And that magnificent beast over there is Arthur. Don't mind him, he can be cranky." In response the British man flipped him off, to which Alfred blew him a kiss. "Then you've met the resident bossy pants, Sylvie." She rolled her eyes. "And creepy Ivan, and that sleepy dude's Antonio."
"Do.." Matthew paused, biting his lip. "Do none of you have a home?" Alfred shook his head, but to his surprise, also smiled.
"A short life, but a merry one." The British man put in.
"Yeah, that's what the Tramp always says!"
"The Tramp?" Matthew asked with a small frown of confusion.
"That's what they call him!"
"Now, there's a bloody frog bastard that never gets caught." Arthur growled.
"He's given the slip to every catcher in this burg." Alfred added, with a tone of admiration.
"You won't believe this dearie." Sylvie said, sauntering up "But no matter how tight a jam he's in, that Tramp always finds a way out."
"I can quite easily believe that." The boy quipped, piecing things together in his head.
"But remember my friends, even the Tramp has his Achilles heel." The large Russian interjected with a small, and rather scary, smile.
"Chili heel?" Antonio said lifting up his head.
"Nyet. Achilles heel, it is meaning his weaknesses" Ivan corrected.
"Oh yeah, the dames!" Alfred said with a laugh.
"He has an eye for a well turned foot, the pervert." Arthur agreed. "There's been Lulu.."
"And Trixi."
"Und Fifi."
"And my cousin, Rosita Chiquita Juanita."
"Just to mention a few."
"And it ain't just the chicks, he'll go for anything with a pretty face."
"He's bloody well gone after us enough."
"What a man." Sylvie cut in, leaning against the wall with a dreamy look on her face.
"Tell us about it Sylvie." Alfred said with a wink.
"What a man." She repeated, leaning over even more dramatically, giving Matthew a wink. "He's a tramp, but they love him. Breaks a new heart every day." The British man snorted, earning a raised eyebrow from the dark haired girl. "They adore him," She continued, a seductive look passing across her face. "And I only hope he'll stay that way." There were wolf whistles as she paused for a moment. "He's a-"
"Scoundrel."
"Rounder!"
"Cad."
"He's a tramp." She cut in, stopping the free for all. "But I love him." Matthew made a little noise, making her turn her head. He quickly tried to hide his heartbroken expression, but she seemed to think he was only surprised. "Yes, even I have got it pretty bad." Alfred made another cat call to which Sylvie merely shook her head. "You never know when he'll show up, he gives you plenty of trouble. I guess he's really just a no-'count man." She said, giving a grin. "But damn I wish he were double."
"Damn French bastard." Arthur said, clearly not liking the 'compliments' the man was receiving. Sylvie merely gave smug shrug.
"He's a tramp, a rover. There's nothing more to say. But," She said with a dreamy sight 'If he's a tramp, he's a good one, and I wish that he would travel my way."
"Yeah," Alfred butted in "But he never takes 'em serious."
"Ah," came a floating accented voice. "But one day he is meeting someone different, da? Some delicate fragile creature who is giving him a wish to shelter and protect."
"Like Miss. Park Avenue here, eh?" Arthur said.
"Mmm. Could be. But when he does…"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm way ahead of ya," Sylvie's drawled "Under the spell of 'true love'-"
"The git gets careless-"
"The Cossacks are picking him up-"
"And it's curtains for the tramp." Matthew couldn't help the small gasp that escaped his lips, immediately covering his mouth as the metal door at the end of the hallway was opened.
"It's the one in number four Bill!" Turning to look at his cellmates he could see they were all giving him sad smiled.
"Will…will all of you be alright?" He whispered.
"Yeah, don't worry yer pretty head about us, Ludwig will get us out." The American said with a wink. "But you know, now that I get a really good look at you, you seem kind of familiar…" Matthew opened his mouth, but was cut off by a hand on his shoulder.
"Come on, they've come to take you home. You're too nice of a boy to be in a place like this."