Sweet Symphony

Chapter 12

Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia

Matthew was not looking himself and that fact was not sitting well with Francis at all. First off Matthew seemed to be hiding his body. Why Francis thought this? Well it happened to be late August in Texas and that meant it was still blazing hot out, yet here was his sweet little boy covered up in hoodies and long sleeves. Francis was not amused. He'd let it slide for a while. He had silently watched Matthew become reclusive during the latter half of the summer and lose a good deal of weight. He was just that sort of parent to let their child do their own thing as long as nothing seemed too seriously wrong, but this was really starting to alarm him. His son was being too secretive. What was it that he was trying to cover up? Had he become one of those self-mutilating teens that seemed to be all the rage for their stupidity? Merde, he hoped not. He missed his awkward son that was bad at holding a conversation and blushed much too often for a teenage boy; his little angle. Whatever Matthew was going through well he was about to find out.

It just so happened that Matthew had fallen asleep on the couch. Sleep was always a very compromising thing. Matthew's sleeve had been pushed up in his sleep and revealed, much to Francis' delight, unmarred wrists. If he wasn't hiding his wrists, what was it he was hiding? Francis caught sight that the hem of Matt's shirt was up exposing his stomach. Francis went closer and kneeled next to the sleeping form of his son. What he saw was displeasing; from the looks of it there were the yellowing remains of a bruise. What made him even more upset was there was more than one bruise. His pale skin was peppered with the fading bruises. There were already all of these bruises and that was only with about four inches of skin visible from beneath the hem of his red shirt. Francis was determined to see if there were more. It was right after this determination set in that Matthew began to stir awake. What he awoke to was his father on his knees beside him slowly sliding his shirt up, what teenager didn't want to wake up to a situation like that? It took about five seconds for Matt to register all of it and completely freak the crap out.

"Papa?"

"Oui? Are my hands cold?"

"No, but that's not the point! What are you doing?"

Francis sighed and got up to sit on the couch near Matthew's feet.

"I'm just trying to play the role of concerned parent. I have been getting quite worried about you. You don't talk to me anymore, you spend all of your time in your room, Eliz doesn't come over much, you don't go out, you've gotten far too thin, and just now I found so many bruises. Papa just wants to know what's going on."

Matthew didn't say anything his father was right about everything he'd just said but Matt just couldn't come out and say that he was being harassed by another guy in band because he was jealous that Mr. Jones liked him more. That just wasn't the kind of thing one told one's parent. So Matthew settled for silence and didn't say a word. His father frowned at him causing his faint wrinkles to become more pronounced.

"I'm not sure what it is yet but I know you're hiding something. I promise you I will figure it out. Keep that in mind Matthew Bonnefoy."

His father stood in an upset sort of huff and walked away. Matthew felt so guilty for making his father act so, so unlike himself. Things in his life were just not getting any better for him.

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Roderich was walking home from the downtown library, his few new books in hand. Downtown was also known for housing the town's best club. While the city wasn't particularly huge, people from the adjacent counties also came to party it up there. And so as it goes while Roderich was on his way home he had to pass the oh so ravishing club. What he didn't account for was that while he was walking he would catch sight of a shock of white hair shimmering towards the door of the club. He stopped and from across the street he watched Gilbert flash a fake ID and walk inside. What he felt at that moment was nothing new…

Gilbert…

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"I haven't done a thing, Vash. So get your paws off of me."

The albino was sneering at the intense teen.

"You haven't done anything but we all know it's because of you Matthew keeps getting harassed by that 'friend' of yours."

"It's not my fault or my problem what Antonio does. Just because I want to hurt Blondielocks doesn't mean I tell him to do it for me."

Bullshit. Complete and utter bullshit. You could tell by the patronizing sickeningly sweet voice he was using that that was exactly what he was telling Antonio to do. Even though Gil wouldn't give Matt the time of day anymore Vash knew everything that happened to Matthew was because of Gilbert. Gilbert got Antonio to mess with Matt and then Antonio's jealous little boyfriend would start shit with Matt because he claimed 'Matt couldn't have his Antonio'. Even people they didn't know but were pretty sure they'd seen in the hall with Gilbert were causing issues for Matthew. Vash was sick of it! He wouldn't often get involved on other people's affairs but Matt was probably the closest thing he'd ever had to a best friend and he wasn't about to let someone bring damage to his friend.

"Shove off Vash, I haven't done a thing."

As much as Vash wanted to hurt him he was right he didn't have any physical proof that Gil had done anything, yet. He would get his justification though.

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Mr. Jones, while he was a rather aloof type of man had been watching all the happenings with Matthew unfold. Matthew continually had various abrasions and bruises. Every so often Eliz or Vash would slip into his office and complain about a plethora of things but usually Gil. So as it was Mr. Jones knew what was going on. He also knew he was the reason Matthew was being targeted in the first place. Mr. Jones had shied away from Matthew and it was killing him. Every time Matthew got hurt Mr. Jones just wanted to wrap him up in a crushing hug of comfort. He wanted to be there for him but he knew every time he got close to the teen something bad would happen. According to Vash and Elizebetta, Gil wasn't even going after Matthew personally anymore. In fact from what he had heard Gilbert had been getting his new best friend to do all his dirty work for him. Thankfully or maybe unfortunately rather, the last time Matthew had been attacked was last Friday. There had been a ruckus out in the hall and then moments later Matthew came staggering in the band hall. Due to Gilbert's idiocy he thanked Antonio in an obnoxiously loud voice. Before anyone registered what was happening Vash was out of his chair and dashing out into the hallway. The band hall was silent and the next thing heard was a cry followed by a roared "What the fuck?" There wasn't a reply but Mr. Jones was already out in the hall. He was shocked that Vash was acting out without warning. As much as he didn't want to break them up, he did. He pulled the boys apart, holding them out at arm's length. Mr. Jones was beyond being angry at this whole dilemma. He looked at each of the teens.

"I'm disappointed."

That's what it all boiled down to. He was disappointed, in Gil, in Vash, in himself the most though. Everything was his fault. All of this discord was because of him.

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Mr. Jones was lying in bed that night but he was far from sleep. He felt wired. He was sprawled out on his back; his left arm resting on his forehead. His glasses were off and so he was staring into the darkness of his room with heavily blurred vision, which was fitting since that's pretty much how he felt.

…Matthew…

Sweet Matthew he was just so … appealing. No, that's wrong, he's too young. He's a minor. But he had such a strong attraction to him. His father pretty much accepted it as well. Yet, his father had also said not to hurt him, which he was failing at pretty badly. He didn't deserve Mattie. Arthur had plainly told him a relationship between a student and teacher wasn't fair anyhow. It would have been too much of a power imbalance. Alfred was already older than Matthew which was power enough but on top of that he was Matthew's teacher. Arthur had basically said if Matthew and he were to be together it wouldn't be fair because Matt would always be trying to please him due to his power role. More importantly, he was indirectly causing harm to Matthew through Gilbert. His precious Gil. They had been so inseparable once. They'd even slept in the same bed when the boy used to spend almost every weekend with him. He really did miss his little Gilly, he did. Now, Vash was caught up in all this mess too, and all because he was trying to be a good friend. Everyone was becoming so hostile due to a little bit of love Alfred was beginning to feel. For the first time in a long time he was falling in love, but all the world seemed to be getting in his way. As he thought of Mattie, alone in his bed, his body began to stir in the most pleasant of ways. He felt so ashamed when he finally let his own digits touch himself. This was definitely not how things should go.

A/N: Wahoo a decent length chapter c: Ideas and comments are always welcome, you know that. I hope everyone is still interested in what's happening. Oh & yes I realize last chapter Gil said he wasn't going to do anything but he's stupid and gets ahead of himself, but it's mildly relevant.