Or 'In Which Some Confusing Things Are Afoot'

Hello Hello, Kitty29 here with a new chapter of 'To Follow The Music.' Um…ta-da?
I'm…just going to act as if that year and a half gap never happened. Year and a half gap you say? How presumptuous! I assure you I have no idea what you're talking about!

…-cough-

I don't know what what else to say, please enjoy!

Looking around to make sure there was no one he recognized, the teen raced into the building and up the stairs, his face one of utter guilt. He had been doing this for nearly a year now, so he knew the quickest way to get to his detestation without attracting too much attention. Even so, he willed his legs to go faster. God, why was it now that he just noticed his huge stupid mistake? If he didn't fix this now his best friend would never forgive him! And even worse, he could potentially turn his friend off the idea of using his gift forever! Why were his feet so damn slow?

He threw himself at the door, latching onto the handle with both hands and jiggling it viciously. Argh! Locked doors! Why do you exist? Nearly full out panicking now, he reached into his pocket. Keys, keys, where are you keys! You're needed keys!

His hand had just brushed against the jagged metal before Murphy's Law decided today would be the day it would kick him in the nuts repeatedly. He let out a sharp gasp when he felt the back of his shirt suddenly tugged backwards, temporary halting his ability to breath.

"Whoa, whoa, hey kid. Nice to see you here."

Of course. Out of all the people that had a key to this place, it had to be the guy from Denmark. It just had to be.

"I actually wanted to talk to you Ying Sue."

"Yong Soo," the Korean corrected almost automatically. He remembered Mathias, why couldn't he remember Yong Soo? "It's okay, let's talk, da~ze! Let's talk inside the studio!"

Mathias, seeming to have picking up on the teen's nervous state (not that it was hard), shook his head. "Nah, let's talk out here. It shouldn't take long."

Ffffffffffffffffffffuck! He knew!

Internally, Yong Soo had commenced his full out panicking. Externally, a small closed mouth smile appeared on his face and he stared at the blond as he waited for him to speak.

The Dane did so, "So, Young Shoe, about a month ago someone used the studio without permission."

Allowing his inner panic to show, Yong Soo took on the face of one that did something that was sure to get him in a whole heap of trouble. Mathias continued on like he didn't notice this change of expression, but his smirk said otherwise. "Normally I'd kick someone out for that but you know what? Ever since he's heard it, your cuz has been asking for that singer you managed to find."

Yong Soo's blood ran cold. Oh no...just when he thought it couldn't get any worse.

"So here's the deal, Bing Woe."

"...Yong Soo." He corrected weakly. Mathias chose to ignore that.

"You bring your mysterious singer here and you can use the studio again, alright?"

Yong Soo jerked his head elsewhere. It was his stupid aloofness that got him into his situation. He was a horrible friend! "Listen, those recordings aren't supposed to exist! It would be better if you deleted them!"

As soon as he saw the sudden interested smirk on the spiky blonds face he knew he had said the one thing he shouldn't have. "Oh? Alright then! New deal, Chung Li!" Now he was just making fun of him. "You bring me this singer of yours, or I'll personally make sure those recordings go viral. Understood?"

Yong Soo's head snapped back to the older man. God, if he felt guilt before he ran into the building, it was nothing compared to now. Not saying another word, the Asian turned tail and sped off. He didn't want to, but he knew who he had to talk to.

Oh...Matthew was not going to be happy...

/ / / \ \ \

Today was a normal day at the Bonnefoy household. Francis didn't even realize how much he appreciated normal days until his mentally unstable cousin moved in with him. As if was now, he was actually able to relax and read a book, not having to worry about his relative as he sat on the couch next to him and toyed around with his laptop. Yep. It looked like today was going to be a normal, mentally stable type of day. With no mishaps, break downs or surpri—

"mmmmaaaaaAAAATTTTTIIIEEEEE!"

The door slamming open immediately laughed at the Frenchman's hopeful thoughts of a day of normalcy. Matthew gave a sharp yelp and threw his arms over his head, his laptop falling to the floor as he reverted into the fatal position. Argh, and they were doing so well! Francis' head snapped to the door but he could only catch a dark blur before a spew of words filled the apartment.

"Mattie! I'm sorry! I did something that I said I wouldn't do but I did it but I didn't mean to, I thought it was done but it wasn't so I tried to stop it but I couldn't and you trusted me and, and I'm so so sorry! Don't be mad at me, da~ze!"

Matthew blinked at the boy knelled in front of him and relaxed ever so slightly. "Y-Yong Soo? Wh-wh-wha...?"

"Excuse-moi." Both teens looked at the adult like they had just noticed he was there. "But, who are you?" Francis couldn't help his freaking out at the end. Sure he left his door unlocked a lot but that wasn't an open invitation for people to start barrelling into his home like this!

Yong Soo jumped into a standing position and approached Francis with his hand extended. "Oh! Hello! I'm Yong Soo! A friend of Mattie's! And you must be...Francis? It's nice to meet you!" Francis took his hand and it was shaken quite eagerly. It must have been two seconds after he let go that the strange teen was knelling in front of Matthew again like he had never moved.

"Hey Mattie, uh...remember that...favour I asked of you a month ago?"

Matthew simple stared for a long while, his brow slightly ceased as he thought back. His eyes suddenly widening symbolized his realization. "O-oh-oh no! No! Yong Soo, No!"

"Don't freak out!" Yong Soo commanded a second too late. Standing, he grabbed onto Matthew's hands and tugged him onto his feet. "Let's go for a walk! I'll explain then!"

Before the blond could even jerk his head in the first direction of a yes or no head shake he was already being dragged out the door. Just before he had completely disappeared from sight he managed to call out a quick, "I'm sorry Francis I'll be right back!" Before he was gone.

Francis just stared at the door stupidly, his mind several moments behind. He was confused, but not about what had just happened. Rather, it was what was said. Standing, he walked over to the unclosed door and stared down the hallway.

Why did Matthew let that strange boy call him Mattie?

/ / / \ \ \

Obviously Matthew was freaking out, which Yong Soo had unfortunately anticipated. So he went and did the one thing that always seemed to cheer him up; he went and got them ice cream. No one was immune to the power of ice cream! Well, unless you were lactose intolerant but Matthew wasn't lactose intolerant. So why wasn't he enjoying it?

"Um..." Surprisingly, it was Matthew who broke the silence. "When...when you were talking about that... favour. D-did you mean..." He trailed off and looked down at his ice cream cone, not seeming to care that the liquid was slowly trickling onto his fingers.

Yong Soo tensed, the guilt the ice cream had eased flaring up again. Deciding it was time for a flashback, his mind wondered back to the favour he had asked of Matthew a month prior.

"Sing for me!"

That had earned him several blinks from violet eyes, followed by a quiet but distinguishable. "Eh?"

Yong Soo looked around the classroom before he settled into a chair beside the Canadian. He wasn't even supposed to be in this class but the teacher either didn't notice him walk in or didn't care. "I don't think you know how good you are, but you really are a great singer!"

Matthew blushed and looked around as if making sure no one was paying attention before he stared down as his lap and started picking at his pants, not saying anything. So Yong Soo spoke for him. "Yeah! You're probably going to grow up and become a famous singer and travel all over the world and have groupies that follow you everywhere and shower you with love, da~ze!"

Matthew looked rather uncomfortable with the mental imagery that the Korean had thought up for him, making Yong Soo laugh. "But that's for later. Now you'll just have to get used to recording at a real studio!"

Matthew perked up. "A...A real studio?"

Yong Soo's smile grew. "Yeah! A real studio, can you believe it? Kaoru finally turned his apartment into a little studio, so that he doesn't have to rent out places anymore and I've got the keys!" He couldn't help but show his excitement at this and he bounced about happily in his seat. "So lets' jam after school, da~ze! Me on guitar and you singing! It will be so cool!"

Matthew smiled, but immediately tried to hide it. He looked away for a little while before he spoke. "Is...is your cousin okay with this?"

"Kaoru and his roommate are gone for the week! They have a gig in Quebec."

"O-oh." Matthew seemed unsure, but Yong Soo could tell he was still excited. He remained silent for a minute or two, looking as though he was thinking it through very carefully. Eventually he asked, "This...is just for fun, right?"

Yong Soo nodded his head furiously. "Yep yep! Don't worry Matthew! I'll delete everything after we're done!" Sitting up straight the Korean placed a hand over his heart and the other beside him, ready to make an oath. "I promise to protect your image before you even have one!"

Matthew blinked at him in complete and utter surprise. Then, quite suddenly, he burst into laughter, making Yong Soo jump. It really was surprising; it was the loudest he had ever heard the Canadian laugh (meaning about normal volume for everyone else). It didn't last long however, for Matthew quickly slapped his hands over his mouth and turned away to hide the rest of his giggles. "I-I'm sorry. I just..." He paused, taking the hands away from his mouth. He then said something that Yong Soo didn't quite hear but if he had to guess: "You...sound like someone..."

Yong Soo blinked and leaned closer to the other. "Sorry? What did you say?"

"Um..." Matthew looked back at Yong Soo, his usual unsure look in place of his smile. "I...t-this is going to sound a li...little weird but um..." A faint pink spread across Matthew's face, making Yong Soo increasing curious. "Can...can you call me Mattie?"

The request was a little strange but he remembered thinking that it didn't really matter. Everyone was entitled to their quarks. "...Well okay!" Yong Soo agreed with a smile. "But only if you sing for me!"

Matthew also smiled and Yong Soo noted it to be the biggest he had ever seen on the young boy's face. "Y-yeah!"

"Okay, Mattie! Meet me after school and we'll go!"

Snapping back into reality, he blinked at Matthew, who was regarding him curiously. Yong Soo looked down at the half eaten cone of ice cream, suddenly not wanting the dessert. He threw it in a nearby bin. "Yeah, it's about the studio."

"But, you, you deleted everything! R-right?"

"Of course! I did just like I said I would da~ze!" There was a small pause before he quickly blunted out, "but I copied a few of the files onto my computer! I'm sorry Mattie but they just sounded so cool!"

Matthew looked horrified. "But, Yong Soo I—"

"Then I must have left my computer open and Kaoru listened to the files and now he won't let me into the studio without you and—" He abruptly gasped, cutting himself off. What a minute. This was astounding! "Kaoru wants you! Kaoru's already in the music industry! Mattie, this could be your big break!" How could he have been so naïve? "That's what you want, isn't it?"

Matthew stared at him. It was obvious he didn't know just how great of an opportunity this really was! Not like he did anyhow. "W-w-well I...wh...what?"

"To create, da~ze!" Yong Soo began making fanatic gestures as he spoke, now fill of excitement. "To reach down to the deepest parts of your soul and convert it into funky beats for the world to hear!"

Oh yes! Perhaps he was looking at this the wrong way. What if this little accident turned out to be the best thing that could possibly happen for Matthew? What if, years from now, after Matthew became huge and famous and owned an amusement park, the articles would refer to this moment as the kick start to the career of one of the greatest surprise superstars to ever be? He looked to Matthew with a large smile though the longer he stared the more his smile slipped. He couldn't tell what the other was thinking, but for one reason or another he seemed almost...sad.

"I...I do want that to happen. More than almost an-anything! But I..." He stopped, the unsure hands wringing the bottom of his shirt even more so. He turned his gaze to the ground. "It wasn't supposed to happen before I..."

Yong Soo stared, his shoulders sinking along with his mood. "...Are you mad at me?"

Matthew didn't answer immediately, opting to stare adjust his jade flat cap. Eventually, "I...I should go."

He is mad at me. Yong Soo thought pitifully, a sinking feeling in his stomach. This was terrible, he didn't want to lose Matthew; he's the closest friend he's ever had and probably ever will have. "I'm really, really sorry Mattie. Please just...think about it?"

There was a small pause before Matthew tentatively nodded. He spared his friend a quick glance before he left, leaving Yong Soo to watch him go with the upmost guilt.

/ / / \ \ \

Tappa – tapa. Tappa – tapa, Tappa – tapa, Tap. Tappa – tapa. Tappa – tapa, Tappa – tapa, Tap. Rrrrrrrtappa – tappa – tappa. Rrrrrrrrrtappa – tappa – tap.

"Would you please stop that?" Arthur snapped. Removing his headphones he glared at his companion. "Christ, I can't even drown out that accused beating!"

The drumstick bounced against the wooden surface once more before it stilled. Moving both sticks to one hand Antonio removed his own headphones and looked to Arthur, an oblivious smile on his face. "Did you say something amigo? These noise cancelling headphones are great!"

Arthur sighed, returning his gaze back to the sketchpad on his lap. "Honestly Antonio, shouldn't you be studying?"

Antonio paused halfway through putting his headphones back on to blink blankly at his friend. "But I am studying."

"...You're listening to the audio files you made of yourself listing medical terms?" Antonio nodded and Arthur raised an eyebrow. "...You're drumming to yourself listing medical terms?"

"Every term gets a different beat!"

Arthur looked at the other strangely. "I honestly have no idea what to say to that."

Antonio just smiled again, not fully understanding Arthur's words. Arthur just shook his head before he continued idly sketching. He honestly wasn't even sure why he was here. Gilbert had called them earlier for band practice though shortly after they arrived he recalled what day it was and ran up to his room. Since then he and Antonio had just been bumming about aimlessly, not even doing anything band related, really (unless you counted Antonio's banging about 'band practice'). He really should be heading back home, he had countless things to do and not much time to do so but for some abnormal reason he found himself feeling rather lazy. He supposed Gilbert must be rubbing off him even more. Sigh…

Knock Knock

...

Knock Knock

Arthur and Antonio looked to one another. "Is someone knocking on the front door?" Arthur pondered aloud.

"Maybe they have the wrong house?" Antonio reasoned, unsure.

Knock Knock

The door opened above them and a moment later Ludwig poked his head down into the basement. "Are you expecting someone?"

The two shook their heads in a negative making Ludwig look back at the front door curiously. "Hm." He hummed before he left.

"I wonder who it could be." Antonio wondered aloud. "Everyone knows the lock's broken and I don't know if girl scouts sell cookies door to door anymore."

Arthur shrugged before he returned his attention back to the sketchpad in hand. "It may just be some Jehovah's witnesses. I'm sure Gilbert would get off antagonizing them." He sighed before he glanced at the hanging clock. "That so called leader of ours certainly had been gone a while."

Antonio reached over, nearly falling over as the other was just beyond arms length, and patted Arthur on the shoulder. "Don't fret! I'm sure when Gilbert is hungry he'll let us all know."

Arthur sighed again, forcing his attention back to the paper in front of him. "Yes I suppose so..."

The door above them opened once more and a smaller blond appeared on the stairs. "Thank you." Matthew said to the German who had led him there. He turned and smiled awkwardly to the pair. "Hello."

"Ah! Chiquito, hello!" Antonio responded flashing a smile that easily put Matthew's to shame. "I was wondering who would knock on the door!"

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't know I wasn't suppose t—"

"Oh no, you've done nothing wrong." Arthur interrupted, flipping his sketchpad closed. "Come down."

Matthew complied and climbed down the stairs though stopped at the foot of the steps awkwardly. "I…I came to talk to Gilbert actually but Ludwig says he's busy so—"

"Oh don't worry about that." Arthur interrupted once more. "That lazy oaf has stuck himself in his room for hours now. Just go up and talk to him, lad."

"Just go up? But…" Matthew looked to Antonio for guidance. Antonio grinned and shrugged.

"I'm sure it will all be good! We freeload all the time and nothing bad has happened to us!"

"It's not freeloading if we pay for half the groceries." Arthur corrected firmly, bringing a bewildered look to Antonio's face. "Anyhow, go on lad, and tell him to come down and eat something while you're there, eh?"

There was only a small pause before Matthew nodded and went off, leaving the two alone once more. "I wonder what the lad wants with Gilbert..." Arthur pondered aloud, tapping his pencil to his chin thoughtfully. He thought it was a little strange for the boy to arrive in person, couldn't he have just called? Francis wasn't restricting his calls was he? He wouldn't put it pass the perverted weirdo to do something as unnecessary as that.

Antonio leaned over to pat Arthur on the shoulder again, though this time he actually did fall onto the couch in his attempt. "Maybe it's a runaway thingy that only Gilbert can answer for him. Ha! What a small world it is for two with such similar pasts met each other, hm?"

"…Yes I suppose." Arthur replied half-heartedly. Seeing as he got his answer, Antonio smiled and sat upright, pulling his noise cancelling headphones over his ears once again. Arthur didn't mind, for nearly as soon as Antonio blocked himself out of the outside world his phone buzzed in his pocket. Glad for the distraction, he grabbed his phone and opened the text.

Is Mathieu over at Gil's house?

Hold on a moment this was Francis. How the hell did he know his number? Pushing that issue aside he replied back:

Yes Matthew's here. Why are you texting me? I don't live here.

There was more he wanted to put in the message but he couldn't be bothered to put in the extra effort it would take to insult him. Not like the frog would get they were insults anyway, he would probably see it as some kind of non-existent sexual innuendo. His phone buzzed again and he opened the next one with a small sigh.

You're there now are you not?

…He couldn't argue with that. Just as he was about to put the phone away he got yet another text from Francis:

I'm coming over. See you soon!

Not if he could help it.

…

Darn it he was still too lazy. Even with thoughts of avoiding confrontation with the Frenchman fuelling his drive he couldn't bring himself to get up and drive back home. Well, looks like he was doomed to sit here and wait for the man to arrive.

Sigh.

/ / / \ \ \

God, shit, yes. No! Gah-fuck!

Good time he had realized what day it was today or he might have been completely screwed. Not that it really seemed to matter, seeing as his internet decided to be stupidly slow. Godammit! Didn't the internet know that if he didn't get this shit up online he wouldn't get paid and if he didn't get paid he wouldn't be able to pay the internet bill in order for the stupid thing to continue existing? Stupid country and its slow fucking internet services. Fucking Canada. Fucking Bell.

A knock on the door temporary pulled his mind away from cussing everything internet related and he lazily lolled his head towards the door. Huh, a distraction. 'Bout time. He's been waiting for this for almost fifteen whole minutes now.

"Took you long enough!" He called towards the door.

…Silence.

Gilbert paused and raised an eyebrow, clearly confused. No witty retort back? No angry shouting, no yelling at him to 'get off his arse and answer the door'? Curious now, Gilbert heaved himself up and opened the door, revealing a wide eyed Matthew. Not expecting that certain person to be on the other side of his bedroom door Gilbert was momentary caught off guard and for several long moments the two simply stared at each other, each not sure what to do. After fully realizing that the boy in front of him was in fact Matthew Gilbert finally broke the silence. "Oh hey Blondie thought you were Artie preparing to shove burnt scones down my throat."

Frinkin' Arthur. You would think after a year he would get the hint and start ordering take out. Shaking his head Gilbert pushed the door opened a bit more before he shuffled back inside, glad that Matthew understood the unspoken invitation and stepped in shortly afterward. Moving back to the chair in front of his laptop Gilbert flopped himself down, sighing almost melodramatically. Thing was still uploading. He looked back to face Matthew, who was simply standing in the middle of the room wringing his shirt. "Make yourself extra comfy. Just give me a sec to finish up some shit." He then winked before he reluctantly turned back to his computer.

Wanting to get back to his distraction, a.k.a Matthew, as soon as possible Gilbert quickly opened up whatever programs he had yet to save and did just that before he pushed the laptop away and mentally yelled at it to be better. That over and done with he spun his chair around to focus on Matthew who had made himself quite comfortable on his bed. He was just about to ask what the young boy wanted when he found him transfixed with something hanging on his wall. Following his gaze Gilbert would help but smile at the picture. Pointing at it he said, "Bet you've never seen a more awesome painting anywhere, have you?"

Matthew jumped at Gilbert's voice. Hm, it would seem the blond was more into the painting than he thought. "It's, um, really good."

"Fuck yeah it is!" Gilbert replied rather enthusiastically. The painting was of himself but that wasn't the reason why he had hung it on his wall so gleefully. Well, not the only reason anyway but more importantly it was the first and only capturing of his image that he had ever seen across any medium that actually showed just how awesome he was. For that reason alone it was the best painting in the world; his awesomeness was not easily comprehendible. "It was Arthur who painted it y'know."

To that Matthew looked to him with wide eyes, making Gilbert laugh. Yeah, that was pretty much everyone's reactions when they heard. "He painted it back in high school, now he's some kind of high class artist or something. Has his shit in galleries and everything."

Matthew simply blinked before he looked back at the painting, making Gilbert sit there and wait for the questions to come. Knowing that the uptight British bassist was also an artist perplexed even the most open minded people and for that reason they bombarded the Prussian with questions as if to somehow make Arthur's profession untrue in their own minds. It was kind of annoying he had to admit though most of the time the questions ended when he would just start laughing at the stupidity of it all. So it didn't surprise him all when Matthew turned back to him and asked, "Why do you want to do music?"

…Oh. What?

Slightly taken back by the very sudden change in topic Gilbert would only blink and reply intelligently, "huh?"

Matthew turned his gaze to the floor, suddenly looking very nervous. "I was just wondering…why you decided to pr-pursue music…"

"…Oh. You gotta work on your segues, kid." Gilbert jabbed before he shrugged and decided to actually answer the question. "I didn't choose music. Music chose me as its beacon of awesomeness. Music is what keeps me up at night; music both agonizes me and fills me with the greatest pleasure that's ever been known to mankind. Music is my fucking everything, without it I might as well kill myself right here and now." He smiled. "Like it? That's what I'm gonna tell reporters when they interview me."

Matthew nodded, though it didn't seem as if he actually heard the question he was agreeing to. "…Can I ask you something else?"

Gilbert made a noise as if thinking it over. "Hmmm, I don't know. Two questions in one day? That's a little outrageous." He laughed when Matthew's eyes widened. "I'm just messing with you! C'mon, hit me with your best shot."

"O-oh. Okay."

Silence crept upon the two. Gilbert continued to sit and wait for Matthew's question as Matthew…did, well…not much of anything. After a tedious thirty seconds rolled by Gilbert decided he should say something. "So what's the—"

"Why did you runaway?"

Ah, so that's what the kid was so hesitant to ask. Fighting back a smile at his adorable behaviour, he leaned back in his chair and sighed. "Why did I run away…well it's not as exciting as your story. You sure you want to hear it?"

Slowly Matthew nodded, giving the albino in front of him his full attention. "I-if that's okay with you…"

Gilbert waved off the boy's timid nature. "Nah I don't mind." He paused to think about how to tell his story. After brief deliberation he decided to just start it at the beginning. "My parents were really young when they had me, I mean really young. Like, so young I'm surprised my mom was even able to get pregnant in the first place. Why the hell they had good old Luddy after me I'll never know. They made a lot of sacrifices to raise us, my dad's family disowned him and my mom had to quit high school to work. Hell, after Ludwig was born they even moved to a whole different country just to try and give us a better life—we're fromGermany, by the way. You know, lederhosen and Oktoberfest and all that awesome shit." He chuckled at his own stupid joke. "My parents wanted to raise us well but they weren't any good at it."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you know how some people just suck at things for no real reason? Like Artie, don't ask him to cook unless you want to experience vomiting for twelve hours straight and you don't ever want to see Toni do an impression of Al Pacino, it's painful."

Matthew simply titled his head and continued to stare at him expectantly. Gilbert sighed before he indulged him. "My parents were a little hardcore, always took what they thought to be good parenting techniques and took it a little too far. Don't think they knew the difference between an open handed or close handed 'slap'." He tried to wave off Matthew's sudden horror. "Really, really it wasn't like that, they thought that's how everyone raised their kids. They were young and stupid, and not that great at hiding the fact that our mare existence fucked up their teenage years. Which it did, not like we wanted it to but it did." Gilbert licked his lips and collected his thoughts. "Still not sure why the hell they even had us in the first place. If it were my decision, I say they should have offed us when they had the chance."

The look of horror on Matthew's features told him he had said the wrong thing. "P-Please don't talk like that! You deserve to live as much as a-anyone! Pleas do—"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!" Gilbert hurriedly interrupted. Yeah, he had definitely said the wrong thing. "You got the wrong idea! I can't kill myself! The world couldn't possibly handle my awesomeness leaving the earth just like that! Everyone would probably stroke out and die if that happened and I'm not going to be blamed for the extinction of the human race!"

Matthew stared at him for several long moments before his posture slowly began to relax. "I-I'm sorry…"

"Don't worry about it. You okay?"

Matthew slowly nodded. "Yeah…um…please continue."

Gilbert hesitated before he decided to skip his parent's antics and continue on. "I was about thirteen when I first tried to take Lud and leave but he refused to go, said our parents needed us as much as we needed them which, at that point, wasn't really that much. I stayed anyways; someone had to be there to make sure he didn't do anything stupid. About three years later we met our uncle and Ludwig and I actually ran away with him. Pretty fortunate for us cause our uncle is a rich mother fucker. Actually gave us this house after he moved back toGermanywith his wife. We've been here ever since." Gilbert spread his arms as if to display the space they were in. "Pretty fucking sweet, eh? Everything's paid off and everything, all we got to do is pay unities." Gilbert smiled largely; glad that he could always end his story on a positive note.

Matthew didn't seem as satisfied with the ending as Gilbert for barely a beat was skipped before he continued on.

"Why didn't you leave without Ludwig?"

Gilbert paused to think over his story. Didn't he already answer that? Nevertheless, "He's my younger brother so I guess since I'm the older brother I have to protect him or some shit. Can't do much protecting if I'm not there, right?

"But you could have left first and came back for him."

Gilbert scratched his chin. "Yeah, I thought about doing that but—"

"Why didn't you?"

Gilbert paused to stare at the unusually serious blond. Whoa, kid was getting a little too into his story here. "…If I just up and left my parent's great 'parenting skills' would all be dumped on him and than he'd turn out even more messed up than he is now." He chuckled at his own joke.

Matthew didn't laugh with him. "So…you stayed because you love him?"

Gilbert recoiled mockingly. "Whoa! Don't know if I'd go so far as to say I love him…" He trailed off when he saw his small act did nothing to lighten the suddenly serious mood. He frowned before he leaned back in his chair. What was up with this atmosphere? "Yeah. You could say I did it because I love him."

Matthew said nothing. He stared hard at something behind the Prussian and continued to wring his shirt into a wrinkled mess. Actually, looking at him now, he was a little on the pale side. "Matt, you okay?"

The question knocked Matthew out of whatever thoughts he was in. "…Yes. I'm f-fine. Sorry I…I have to go." Without even waiting for the other to speak Matthew stood and left, gently closing the door shut behind him.

Gilbert blinked at the door, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. Huh, what was that about? Maybe he shouldn't have told him that story, he vaguely remembered several people telling him to try and be more sensitive when around the young blond. Maybe he should have told him both he and Ludwig had made up with their parents and now had dinner with them at least once a month. Or maybe it was a good thing he didn't tell him that. Fuck he didn't know.

Wait shit, his documents.

He spun the chair around and pulled his laptop closer to himself, eager to see how the upload was coming along.

It was still going.

Gilbert slumped and groaned loudly.

Thank you RedCyanide, Ayla The Librarian, SchemingAlchemist, maximumride123, koosei, IchigoMelon, gabieblue, SaxyMisty, zero434, xxassassinxx18, MrsTrickster, Keroanne, Italiangurlinamessedupworld, Miss T Hyuga, Shimaki-33, Ellarose C, Dark, Empresss. Spiral, FANGIRL, curious alice, CanIHasAFryingPan, QuartzWillow, bleach-otaku, Asa-Taiyou, Iceestar, APH1168kittens, TheKillerJalapeno, Lovelolism, crazyhorse567 and Hetaliafangirl1113 for the reviews!

See, this was my plan all along! Stop writing for years so that when I finally doupdate the story again I get all the reviews! Muhahah!

…No. No it really wasn't. I'm sorry for the wait everyone.