Settle down, it'll all be clear
Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found
Just know you're not alone
'Cause I'm gonna make this place your home
- "Home" Phillip Phillips
It took five, maybe ten, minutes for Gilbert to get there, and Matthew felt a blanket draped over his shoulders. Strong arms wrapped around his trembling form, and lifted him up into the air.
"Shh... it's okay, Matthew. I'm right here," he heard Gilbert whisper, holding him close. Matthew nodded a little, practically quivering in the other's arms.
"Th-Thank you," Matthew whispered in reply, closing his eyes and resting his head on Gilbert's shoulder.
He was carried to Gilbert's van, and the paler teen set him on the passenger seat. Matthew managed to buckle his seat belt himself, although a bit shakily.
The blond watched Gilbert close the door and go around the front of the van, climbing into the driver's side and turning up the heat to help warm Matthew up, and stop his quivering.
"What happened, Mattie?" the albino asked after a few long minutes of silent driving. Matthew tensed, shrugging a little. "M-My... my parents were fighting. They... said I couldn't do anything," he whispered, tears starting to prick at his eyes once more.
Gilbert looked over at Matthew with those words, shaking his head. "Matthew..." the blond let out a small sob.
"Th-They called me a shut in, said I had no friends and... and they found ways to accuse each other. To blame it on each other. And they're right. I've never had many friends, I'm always at home, the only thing I ever do is the play, and I used to only do lighting," Matthew sobbed out, curling up the best he could in the seat.
Gilbert sighed softly, pulling up in front of a smaller house. It was a bit run down, but it was clear that someone had been doing work to fix up the patches and weak spots.
"Come on, let's go inside," Gilbert said softly next to him, and Matthew nodded a little, getting out and following the paler teen inside. He let himself be led through the nearly immaculate home, and to a room that Matthew guessed was Gilbert's.
It was almost weird how clean the room was compared to the other's personality. The only messy part was his bed, which was clearly vacated only recently, and in a hurry, too. Everything seemed to have it's own place in the room, and everything was precisely where it belonged. If it wasn't put up, it was on Gilbert's bed, or resting on the shelves neatly next to it.
"Sorry if it's messy," Gilbert muttered. Matthew blinked at him, going over to delicately perch on the on the edge of the unmade bed. He felt like if he touched anything it would ruin the perfect serenity and cleanliness of the room.
"Messy? Are you serious? It's spotless!" Matthew insisted, letting out a small, almost broken little laugh. The blond noticed Gilbert flinch slightly, looking away. "Th-Thank you... for getting me... It's been a really bad weekend and my parents fighting didn't help because I was already trying to decide why I was so upset that you wouldn't talk to me."
Matthew hardly even paused, rambling. It felt like the dam had been broken, and now it was just a rush of words trying to get out, "And then I realized how much I really liked you and had these thoughts of being your boyfriend and it all just-"
"Wait," Gilbert tensed beside him, cutting off his spew of word vomit, "You... You like me?" Matthew's eyes widened up at Gilbert, his face flushing darkly.
"I-I... kind of," he said softly, hiding his face from Gilbert's sight. "I... I should go," he said quickly, starting to get up.
Gilbert quickly grabbed Matthew's wrist and looked up at him worriedly. "No. I can't let you go. Matthew you and I both know that you won't go home. Just stay here for tonight. It'll be okay," the paler teen said softly.
Matthew hesitated, before he slowly nodded and settled back onto Gilbert's bed. "So you... don't hate me, then?" Gilbert snorted slightly, shaking his head.
"No, of course I don't hate you, Mattie," he said quickly, tensing and looking down. He looked like he wanted to say something else, chewing on his lower lip in what seemed to be a nervous action.
"Umm... Here, let's go see what we can pull together for dinner. I'm sure you're hungry," the albino said after a few moments of awkward shifting and fidgeting.
Matthew nodded and got up again, following Gilbert through the small home to the kitchen. The blond leaned against the counter and watched as Gilbert started pulling ingredients from the cupboards.
"How about we make pizza? We have all the ingredients we would need," he said softly, setting the things they would need on the counter.
Matthew nodded a watched Gilbert move around the kitchen, beginning to cook. "Umm... What do you want me to do?" He asked softly, straightening up and going over to the sink to wash his hands.
Gilbert set a block of cheese on the counter, as well as a bowl and cheese grater. "Could you shred this for me?" He suggested, and Matthew nodded quickly, grateful for the chance to do something other than stand there awkwardly and stare at the paler teen.
There were a good ten minutes of silence before Gilbert let out a frustrated groan. "Nope! Too quiet! I can't do it!" He said quickly, pulling out his phone and fiddling with it for a few moments.
Loud music began to blare from the device, and he set it on the counter.
Matthew raised an eyebrow at him, but couldnt help but laugh as Gilbert danced back over to where he had been kneading the dough for the pizza.
Gilbert smiled over at Matthew and the blond blushed, turning back around to continue shredding the cheese.
He heard Gilbert whine behind him, and was surprised when he felt Gilbert grab his wrist, tugging him back into the open area of the kitchen. "Come on, Birdie! Dance with me," he laughed, smiling brightly and dancing quite horribly.
Matthew couldn't help but laugh, slowly beginning to dance along with him. They were laughing loudly, both having bright smiles on their faces as they moved.
Suddenly the song changed to one much slower; A surprisingly sweet and gentle tune compared to the albino's loud personality and music tastes.
Matthew felt himself pulled against Gilbert's chest, and the other's hands rested lightly on his waist.
He was so close. Matthew could smell the cologne he wore, a strange spice that tickled his nose pleasantly.
The blond wrapped his arms about Gilbert's neck, and suddenly Gilbert began to lean closer to him.
Oh my god. Was Gilbert going to kiss him!? He seemed to be getting closer. So close to him. He could hear the other's breath hitch, before Matthew closed his eyes, and felt Gilbert's forehead press against the skin of his neck.
Wait... Gilbert hadn't kissed him?
Matthew blinked his eyes open slowly. "G-Gil?"
"Just... give me some time, Mattie," he heard Gilbert whisper softly, and Matthew felt himself relax in the other's arms.
Matthew nodded just a little, slowly pulling back and going back over to continue shredding cheese.
"L-Let's finish cooking," Matthew said softly, hearing Gilbert change the song and go back ver to work on the pizza.
Eventually things became much more comfortable between the two, and they went back to teasing each other.
They finished the pizza and went to watch a movie in Gilbert's room. Matthew curled up against Gilbert's side, nuzzling his face against he paler teen's shoulder.
"Thank you, Gilbert," Matthew whispered softly, closing his eyes. To his surprise, he felt Gilbert press a soft kiss to his forehead.
"Of course, Matthew. You don't need to thank me," he said softly, and Matthew was pulled closer against the albino.
He yawned and felt his eyes begin to droop, slowly falling asleep.
The other's home was just so warm, and despite the rather action-filled movie on, Matthes just couldn't help but fall asleep, not hearing Gilbert's gentle whisper of:
"I love you."
-Gilbert's POV-
Freezing, Gilbert's eyes went wide as he stared down at the blond, wondering if his words had been heard.
There was no reaction, however, and Matthew's breathing had already deepened as a sure sign that he was asleep.
Gilbert let out a sigh of relief, turning the tv off and carefully tucking his arm around Matthew's waist. He stared into the darkness of his room for a while before he fell asleep, holding the blond close to him.