Matthew realized in a quiet moment while assisting Grandmama Dunlock with hanging laundry, that the week was trickling by a lot faster than he wanted to admit. Gilbert had been quiet,...hell, the entire Points seemed to be walking on glass. It was like they knew...they all knew something was up.
Everyone except for Ivan.
Slowly, Matthew bent to lift and press the oval shaped wicker basket to his hip as the old woman placed the last of her clothespins on top of the dried clothes. Ivan was out trying to gain evidence and information again, though Matthew knew that he could not have been finding a lot out. His eyes scanned the peasants and dirty workers milling in the streets, a few faces he recognized that did not dare to look at him.
Grandmama Dunlock gently tapped his wrist to gain his attention and Matthew gave her a little smile as he snapped out of his stupor and began to follow the woman slowly back to Ivan's apartment, his shoulders hunched and his eyes on the ground.
Ivan returned to the home in the evening, exhausted and frustrated with his lack of progress. He had the feeling that everyone except he was in the know on some big secret, and it was not too difficult to imagine that it was about Matthew's Papa and Gilbert.
"No luck?" Matthew asked softly as he approached the older male, a warm cup of tea in both hands as he carefully set it in front of Ivan. He was certain his tired, distraught appearance over committing such an act of distrust against Ivan, looked well placed and perfect to a worrying son over his missing father. "It's...it's probably a lost cause," he murmured without thinking, his fingers shaking as he curled them into his lap after sitting across from the officer.
"I know that it was Gilbert... One of his Hellcats mentioned them having a falling out. Don't know where he put the body. He could be in the bay for all I know." Ivan rubbed his eyes and sipped at his tea, looking down at it and frowning at the unusual flavour. "Grandmama got a new tea?" He asked before taking another sip.
"I did," Matthew straightened and watched Ivan carefully. "It's...really for Alfred, but… I figured you'd appreciate its effects after a bad day…," the blonde murmured, his eyes dropping to the table. "It has a little bit of belladonna in it...to make one sleep and help their muscles relax. At least thats what the drugstore says," the blonde smiled a little. "Too much...and you could die but...a little bit in tea won't hurt."
Ivan nodded, drinking the tea until it was gone before pouring himself another cup. He already looked a bit on the edge of sleep, his eyes fighting to stay open as he stared at Matthew. "How is he, by the way? I think I found a doctor that would be willing to take him in..."
"He's alive...if that's what you're asking," Matthew stated quietly before he moved to stand up to gently help Ivan up the stairs to his bedroom, making sure to bring the tea along "I'm not sure for how much longer...I wouldn't...want to waste the money, you understand?" the blonde smiled a little as he settled beside Ivan on the edge of the bed, his eyebrows pinched on his forehead as he reached to smooth his fingers against the older male's hair.
Ivan nodded, tilting his head into Matthew's palms, fighting to keep his eyes open before he leaned forward, his mouth pressing to Matthew's firmly before he managed to slur out a soft, "I love you." It didn't take much more for him to fall onto the bed, sound asleep.
Matthew felt his lower lip tremble as he leaned forward to curl his arms around Ivan's neck, his face pressing to his hair. He couldn't do this to him; he couldn't willingly hurt Ivan at all, not when he was so kind and loving and gentle.
And most of all, Ivan loved him.
Matthew wasn't about to lose that.
Pressing a kiss to Ivan's forehead, Matthew stood and carefully opened the windows to the man's room, his hands shaking and his stomach full of twists and butterflies. Carefully, the blonde moved to gently wake Alfred and move him slowly and as soundlessly as possible out of the house, assuring him that everything was fine and that they'd be back together with Ivan soon as he left his elder brother with Elizabeta who really could've cared less.
Swallowing hard, Matthew wandered into Gilbert's main butcher shop and hideaway, his stomach twisting as he curled his fingers tightly together.
He had to stop him, and if he couldn't stop him, he'd have to get back to Ivan before Gilbert did.
"Well?" Gilbert finished hanging up a pig from his hooks, carving open the belly of the thing in order to get to the guts of it. His red eyes turned to Matthew and he raised his eyebrow. "You kill the pig?" He asked as he jerked his knife downwards, the ripping sound of flesh being carved open filling the air.
Matthew was silent as he gripped his hands together, glaring hard at the butcher. He could say yes, he could lie, but Gilbert would know. He'd be able to see through him easily and then Ivan could already be in more danger than Matthew would have time to prevent.
"...he doesn't need to die, Gilbert," Matthew started softly, his shoulders slumping.
Matthew was so exhausted, all he wanted to do was let Ivan keep that promise, to run away with him and put all of this nonsense behind him.
"...he's leaving. He doesn't give a damn about New York...the gangs...you...he's moving as soon as possible...and the only reason he continued to look for Papa was..was for me. He doesn't care...and...and neither do I."
Gilbert gave the blonde a look, leaning his elbow against the hooks holding the pig up before he spoke up. "Well... If he doesn't care now then he won't care in a few minutes." The man shrugged and it was only then that it became apparent that Antonio wasn't present.
Matthew's stomach dropped and he turned to back out of the room, his eyes wide and his hands shaking as he pushed through the drunkards and prostitutes out onto the streets. His heart was in his throat as he broke out into a run, his eyes stinging and glossing over the closer he got to Ivan's house and the realization hit that indeed there was black smoke billowing high above the rooftops of the buildings on the man's street.
The blonde was terrified of fire, but he was even more afraid of losing Ivan, not like this.
If the man wanted to leave him after finding out his involvement all along, then that was fine, it was much better than him dying in his sleep, stabbed in the back, no honor or chance.
The flames were pouring out of the bottom floor when Matthew arrived, but the blonde wasted no time in running into the house, Grandmama Dunlock hitting him square in the chest in her terror to flee the premise.
Good. At least she was out alive, too.
"Ivan!" Matthew cried, the smoke making it hard to see as he clambered up the stairs, his eyes burning and his chest already heaving with struggle for clean air. His curls were limp and damp in moments, pressed to his neck and cheeks as he cried out, one of the middle steps on the staircase giving out under his weight and the damage from the flames.
His foot, no matter how hard he struggled would not come out from between the break in the boards. Still, Matthew twisted, and banged his hands against the step above where he had fallen, voice harsh as he cried over and over again for Ivan to wake up and get out.
A strong hand grabbed hold of the blonde and Ivan, still drugged and stumbling, hauled Matthew upwards, stumbling out of the building and into the alley beside it, Matthew clutched to his chest and eyes wild as he checked the blonde over. "Where's Alfred?" He asked, voice hoarse from the smoke as he coughed and his eyes stayed open. His hair was singed and his shoulder and neck burned enough that the bandages had fallen off. "Is he in there?" He asked, clutching Matthew close.
Matthew managed to shake his head, his feet and legs burning up to his hips and thighs as he clutched to Ivan's shirt. His throat felt raw and dry and his chest heaved with an attempt to breathe clean air but it just felt like there was no use.
"...you….you need to..to get out of here...now, Ivan…," Matthew murmured, his lips parting as he gently pushed against the older male's shoulder. "..they're going to..to know you aren't dead in there...go."
Ivan clutched at Matthew, shaking his head as he tucked his face against soft curls. "I'm not. I'm not leaving without you." He managed before he stood, slowly and with labour, his lung still screaming for clean air as he stumbled out of the alleyway. "Go to Alfred." He called hoarsely, looking back at Matthew. "I'll be back." He managed.
Grandmama Dunlock was holding his hammer in her frail hands where he had given it to her, the man smiling as he accepted the weapon before dragging himself through the streets.
"Gilbert! Gilbert, come out you sonuvabitch!" He screamed, throat sore and tingling with adrenaline more than pain as he moved. He managed to make it to the palm of the five points and shouted into the sky. "Gilbert! Get out here and fight me!"
The butcher arrived as called, apron bloodied and clutching two knifes in his hands as he stepped towards the older male, grinning as his red eyes swept over the injured policeman. "Am I the only one that smells bacon? You should have just died in that fire."
"You're going to die here in the street." Ivan growled, lumbering forward, his hammer hoisted over his shoulder.
"We'll see."
Without warning Gilbert lunged forward and Ivan let out a roar of pain as a knife was buried in his side, the man swinging his elbow down to the back of Gilbert's head, causing the smaller male to hiss in pain. They struggled like that for a moment before Ivan managed to shove Gilbert aside, the knife still sticking from his waist as the large man threw a punch that broke the smaller male's nose. A knife sliced along the joint of his neck and shoulder and Ivan snarled, his fists delivering firm blows until he managed to hoist his mace.
He finally swung at the man's head. After years and decades and months of suffering, of watching the man take and take and suck the life out of New York and the Five Points, Ivan finally swung his mace and with a wet noise of impact had blood spattering onto the ground.
Gilbert fell and Ivan's chest heaved before he fell to his own knees, staring down at the body of the most notorious gang leader in all of New York.
And then everything went black.
The ticketmaster looked over the couple that was sitting together, an older gentleman with a heavily scarred face and a younger looking woman who was resting against the man's arm. They had boarded the train in New York along with another young man, currently wrapped in a blanket and laying across from them in the seats. The woman's eyes were closed and the man held out all three of their tickets, smiling at the ticketmaster as he tilted his head to the blonde.
Once the gentleman had left Ivan leaned forward to kiss Matthew's soft curls, cupping the blonde's face gently. "We're almost there." He murmured as he glanced out the window.
Matthew slowly blinked open his eyes before tilting his head to peer at Alfred, the other blonde sleeping soundly and comfortably. The blonde smiled and reached to curl his hand in Ivan's, his thumb rubbing over little bumps of scars on the older male's fingers, left over from the fire.
"I'm excited," Matthew breathed softly, his shoulders slumped with relief. He had trouble walking lately, until the skin healed on his legs and hips it would continue to be so, but it wouldn't be forever, but Matthew prided himself on still being able to move, albeit a bit slowly. "What'll be the first thing we'll do…?"
"Other than check your brother into that hospital?" Ivan smiled as he gently stroked his fingers over Matthew's cheeks. "We can go to the French Quarter. Enjoy some of that famous New Orleans music." The older male leaned forward to kiss Matthew's lips. "We could go to a hotel for the evening... Have some time to ourselves."
Matthew laughed softly, his nose gently brushing Ivan's as he shook his head. "...you don't want to see what's under here," the blonde teased, touching his lap before he leaned into Ivan's side heavily. "...I'd really like that, though….seeing Alfred in a place clean and safe...spending a night with you and not having to worry about anyone or anything…"
Ivan smiled and kissed Matthew just as the train's whistle blew, waking Alfred from his sleep. It took them an hour to find the hospital, then they spent some time checking Alfred in, speaking with nurses and then paying for the young man's stay. After that was seen to it was already dark and Ivan and Matthew walked to the hotel they would stay at. It had been nearly two weeks since the events leading up to Gilbert's death and the two had been paid the bounty on the man's head, which was well enough for them to leave. The South was a dangerous place but they decided to go there instead of spending another minute in New York. Besides, with Ivan being too old and Matthew being crippled it would hardly be a cause for them to be drafted.
Ivan smiled as he untied Matthew's corset stays in the hotel room, gently pushing Matthew onto the wonderfully soft bed as he kissed over soft shoulders and warm skin, tossing aside the corset once he had managed to open it.
The blonde shifted onto the bed, the bare skin of his chest and stomach and arms touching the soft sheets as he nuzzled into the cotton pillows and breathed deeply of the clean, fragrant soap. It was like heaven, soft and warm and perfect, Matthew decided as he tilted his head to peer at Ivan, his gaze softening on the man's scarred face.
He still looked perfect to Matthew, roguish and handsome, the blonde smiled fondly and opened his arms, reaching for Ivan to come closer.
Ivan smiled as he tugged open Matthew's skirts, feeling over the healing skin gently before he leaned down to kiss at the tender scars, nuzzling at Matthew's thigh as he did so. The train ride was exhausting and Ivan doubted that either of them had the energy for much more as he leaned forward, locking their hips together and unbuttoning his own pants in order to grind their hips together to gain friction.
"I love you." He murmured against soft curls. "My beautiful Bludget."
Matthew laughed softly as he curled his limbs carefully around Ivan's shoulders and hips, his head tilting in order to press their foreheads together as he sighed and gently nuzzled their noses together. "I love you, too, Ivan," the blonde purred, his eyes closing as he pressed his mouth gently against Ivan's.
Their movements weren't as frantic as they had been in the Points. This wasn't some desperate attempt to feel one another before they died and Ivan couldn't help but sigh and smile as he felt a languid heat pooling in his stomach. His hand reached between their bodies, stroking their lengths together and feeling the heat building until he kissed Matthew's lips to stifle his own groan of release.
The blonde let out a little whimper as he came, his legs trembling as he nuzzled and pressed his face to Ivan's neck. He could feel the older male's heartbeat against his own and Matthew felt so entirely grateful for that, the reality that he very well could've missed this forever having hit the blonde a dozen or so times since they had left New York.
"I love you," Matthew murmured, his fingers gripping tight to Ivan's body as he practically manhandled the older male into a more comfortable position so he could hold him close.
Ivan smiled and pressed his lips to Matthew's, the reality that he could kiss the blonde whenever he so pleased now enough to make him perform the gesture as often as he could. He wrapped his arms around Matthew, allowed the blonde to throw a slim leg over his own hip and waist and tucked his head against blonde curls. This was perfect and Matthew was beautiful and they were alive.
He didn't need anything else but this now. If he died in his sleep at that moment then he would gladly do so.
For the first time in a long time... He had made a real difference... And had gotten what he had wanted. A beautiful lover and a life together.
He couldn't ever ask for anything more than that now.