END OF WEEK TWO (Part Two)

Gilbert was on a mission.

He was hiding behind a telephone pole in an army uniform. He dove and rolled behind a nearby trashcan. He then crawled, as though under barbed wire, to hide behind a nearby building as confused students stepped over him.

He pulled himself up, his face decorated with war paint, and pulled out a walkie-talkie. "The library is in my sight," he reported.

"Go get 'im, buddy!" Alfred shouted, his voice muffled over the sounds of "Triumph" by Pitbull blasting in the background. Gilbert nodded to himself and continued to parkour his way to the library as fellow students gave him incredulous looks.

"Isn't this a bit much?" Toris questioned loudly over the music.

"What do you mean?" Al shouted, confused.

"I mean, I know intensity is normal for you guys, but shouldn't this sort of thing be subtle?"

"That's why he's going undercover!" Alfred shouted. "It's a covert operation mission!"

"It's not very covert if you attract that much attention," Toris replied at the top of his cracking voice, strained from always yelling. "Besides, I get that you really like him, but you're taking what would be a casual situation a bit seriously, aren't you?"

Alfred gave him a serious look. "Toris." He turned down his music to low, stunning him. "I asked this favour of Gilbert as his friend. It's normal to take it seriously, isn't it? He's doing this in the name of our friendship. That he takes it so seriously just goes to show you how much he cares. I would do the same thing for any of my close friends, including you."

Toris was startled by his earnestness and blushed slightly, not used to Alfred being so direct. But then he smiled. "You've got a point, Alfred. And thank you. I really appreciate that."

"Besides... dude, haven't you always wanted to go on a covert ops mission?! I mean, it's totally cool, right?! Like, right out of an action movie! And we get to practice our sweet parkour!" He exclaimed, punching the air.

Toris sighed. "So basically you're bullshitting to cover the fact that you and Gil want to play spy?"

Alfred laughed loudly. "Pretty much, dude! You catch on quick!" And he turned up the music again as he went back to his reading, walkie-talkie at the ready.

Toris sighed over his crazy roommate as he drank water to soothe his throat. Like, seriously? Taking the bus halfway across town to buy ridiculously expensive, top-grade walkie-talkies that would work from anywhere on campus? Stealing (or, as Al and Gil called it, "borrowing") the military uniform from the history department's display case? His roommate was a good guy, but he could really be an idiot sometimes. Toris just prayed that his involvement with Alfred would not one day get him expelled or arrested.

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Eduard von Bock sat quietly and peacefully by a library window as he flipped through the pages of one of his favourite books. He heard an odd creak and turned, frowning, towards the nearby window. He paused for a moment. "Hm. Must be a bird or something." As he finished the next page, just starting to get into it, he jumped as he heard a loud thud. Eduard turned to see that a guy in a military uniform and war paint had toppled out of the nearby window. His mouth moved as he tried to stammer out a few words, but nothing came out. The man didn't seem to notice him (or if he did, didn't care since he was fixated on something else), and tucked into a roll, disappearing behind a nearby bookshelf.

Eduard was less startled by the man's attire, attitude, and the fact that he entered by window, than by the fact that the window was on the second floor.

Gilbert picked a leaf from the outside tree out of his hair and pulled out his walkie-talkie. "I have infiltrated the enemy headquarters," he reported in a hushed voice. "Seeking out target."

"Good job, soldier!" Alfred shouted back, alerting everyone nearby to the walkie-talkie and the odd-looking and strangely-mannered man operating it. Gilbert ignored the students staring at him and crept to the next aisle as though he was actually not noticed.

He poked his head around the next corner carefully, like he might have to dodge enemy attacks, and spotted a fair-haired, large man putting books back into the shelves next to his trademark librarian cart.

"I have spotted the target," Gil whispered loudly into the walkie-talkie.

"Engage!" Alfred shouted over his music.

Ivan turned in Gilbert's direction, frowning. "Excuse me? Is someone there?"

Gilbert rolled out from behind the bookcase and pulled himself up, whipping out a gun and pointing it like an action movie cop. "Put your hands up, scumbag!"

Ivan blinked in disbelief for a moment. There was a pause.

Then Gilbert laughed. "Just kidding! I—" As he started to put his arm down, Ivan grabbed his hand and twisted it. Gilbert yelped as he was quickly and violently smashed against the nearby bookshelf with Ivan's elbow on his throat.

"I-I was joking!" Gilbert squeaked, partially from the elbow on his throat and partially from sheer, unfathomable terror. "It's a squirt gun! A squirt gun! I bought it at the dollar store!"

Ivan frowned at him in disbelief and disgust as he pulled the trigger, squirting out a stream of water.

"Are you an imbecile?"

"Well, uh—"

"That was rhetorical. Of course you're an imbecile. You do realize you could be expelled—no, arrested even—for pulling a prank like this?"

"Um," Gilbert stammered. "S-sorry?"

"Sorry? That's all you can say?"

"Err... well… what else do you want me to do? Write an apology note to all of humanity for being stupid?"

"It's a start," Ivan sneered, tossing the water pistol behind his back.

"I'd have a comeback for that, but... dude, you're intensely hardcore. Like, who attacks a person with a gun?"

"This is my place of work. I cannot allow my place of work, coworkers, or customers to be endangered. Plus, well, I didn't want to get shot. But that's beside the point."

"Wow. I gotta respect that, man. I can see why Mattie and Al like you so much; you're a total ass-kicker."

Ivan's frown disappeared slowly and was replaced with a slight smile. "Ah, so you are a friend of Matvey's?" He paused, looking him over. He smiled wider, almost mischievously. "You're Gilbert, yes?"

Gilbert frowned. "Yeah. How'd you know that?"

"Matvey has told me so much about you."

Gilbert blinked in surprise. "Really?" He paused. "Good things, right?"

Ivan smiled warmly. "Yes. Very good."

Gil smiled, visibly pleased. "Well, we are friends, after all." He grinned. "Plus, y'know, I'm awesome, so it's pretty hard to think of anything bad to say about me anyway."

Ivan raised an eyebrow. "That sounded like something Alfred would say."

"I know, right? He's my brother from another mother. And my best friend. Awesomeness attracts, I guess." He grinned.

"I suppose Alfred sent you in his place, like Matvey?" Ivan sighed. Gil straightened himself up, suddenly very serious as he remembered his mission.

"Dude, I know, like, you don't think much of Al, but he's actually a really great guy. I don't know what exactly it is you don't like about him, but whatever it could be he's got so many great qualities to offset that. Like, he's loyal and honest. Wears his heart on his sleeve, y'know? He might seem lazy at first but it's just his priorities are a little odd. When he really wants something he goes for it one million percent, which is why he's such a gifted athlete. He might get sad or frustrated easily, but he's also easily cheered up and never stays in a bad mood for long. He might seem a little dense at times, but it's just because he saves his effort for when it counts. And when he actually puts his brain to work, he's actually really, really smart! Like, a genius! He might take it a bit over-the-top sometimes, but he's really fun! And at times when he seems overly lame or childish, don't take it too seriously because he doesn't either. He's just a really fun-loving guy. When he acts weird just laugh, and he'll laugh too. Like, seventy-five percent of the stuff he says isn't even serious, especially if it's lame—he's just trying to make you laugh. And he doesn't know a lot of people like you, so he doesn't quite know how to interact with you yet, so he might've said or done some stupid things, but it's just because he's at a loss at how to impress you, honestly. And he might seem confident, but he's actually pretty nervous because he's sincerely serious about you! And—"

"That's quite enough," Ivan cut in sharply but softly, holding up his hand.

"But…"

Ivan smiled. "Matvey was quite right about you. I knew he was a good judge of character."

Gilbert frowned curiously. "What did he say exactly?"

"He said that at first you seem quite like Alfred, but that you are very loyal, determined, and sincere."

Gilbert loved being complimented, of course, but he felt surprised at how much more elated he was that Matthew had said such fond things about him. Brushing the momentary surprise off of his face, he grinned. "He's right about you too, y'know."

Ivan raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"He said you can seem intimidating and cold at first, but that you're actually quite a people person and you're actually very kind."

Ivan blinked in slight surprise. "Matvey said that?" He responded quietly, sounding a bit touched. People didn't usually see that side of him.

"Yeah." Gilbert smiled, patting him on the back. "Aww!" he thought to himself. "He's actually such a softie!"

"So," Gilbert added, "You really like me and Mattie, right? They say that birds of a feather flock together; you should really give Alfred a chance. Besides, I think you're a good example of how there's more to people than what you see on the surface, right?"

Ivan looked surprised for a moment, then sighed. "Well, I suppose you may be right. I don't really know Alfred well enough to judge him. He may not be a bad person, I don't know. However, he seems to have no tact, and he can't sense the mood, and... I'm not very good at expressing myself. I am really bad at dealing with that kind of person. He seems like a lot to handle. Too much for me."

Gilbert frowned, then grinned nervously. "But you can't really know until you've given him a chance, right?"

Ivan sighed again. "I will consider it. Not dating, I mean… but I will consider getting to know him a bit better. Just a bit."

Gil grinned broadly. "Well, it's a start!" He picked up a couple books off the cart. "So, how about I help you out with these and then when your shift's over we go out for a drink?"

Ivan raised an eyebrow. "Why would I do that?"

"Because Mattie got to have coffee with ya, and I demand a friendly outing as well, to cement our newfound friendship!"

"Who said we were friends?" Ivan responded somewhat more coldly than he had meant to, trying to mask his shyness around someone new. He immediately regretted it, but was relieved when Gilbert threw his head back and laughed, not bothered at all.

"I did, of course! You can never have too many!"

Ivan gave a small smile. "It's a little early for drinking, isn't it? Why not coffee?"

Gil grinned, patting him on the back. "Hey, it's five o'clock somewhere! Besides, coffee is for when you're sleepy. I'm pumped! I wanna have some fun! C'mon, let's go party!"

Ivan smiled, a little uncomfortably. "I don't mind drinking, but I don't exactly think I have experience with the sort of 'partying' you refer to..."

Gilbert smiled. "Aw, don't be nervous, man! It'll just be you and me. I won't judge. You can be as wild or as chill as you want. Just let it go! No need to worry about it."

Ivan smiled, still looking just a bit nervous. He really wasn't used to this sort of thing, but he really did want to give it a try. He summoned his courage. "Okay."

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"You partied with him?! Awesome!" Alfred high-fived his best friend. As soon as Gilbert had returned, he messaged Alfred, who was at Gilbert and Matthew's room within moments, bursting in without so much as a knock.

Matthew rolled his eyes. "How come Gilbert makes friends with him and it's 'awesome', but I do it and I'm a home wrecker?"

Alfred pretended not to hear him. "So, what'd he say? Did you talk me up?"

"Well," Gilbert admitted, "He's not very good with people, and you kinda made a bad impression, so it's not like he's gonna adore you right away no matter what I say. But I talked you up a lot, and it seems like his opinion of you is really improving. I'm sure he's going to come around. It just might take a while."

"Awesome, man! I knew I count on you!" Alfred exclaimed. Matthew sighed in annoyance.

"What, so I don't get any credit for trying?"

Alfred turned his nose up at his brother. "Gil's my bro, my wingman. He actually tried to get him to like me, which was sort of the point of meeting up with him. Meanwhile you and him are thick as thieves and you won't try to convince him."

Matthew sighed. "Al, I'm sorry. It's not like I don't want you to be happy. He just didn't seem interested, and I was trying to respect his feelings. I don't want to be pushy. Friends are supposed to be supportive."

"So are brothers."

Matthew opened his mouth to speak, but decided against it and sighed. "Look, it's not like I just talk bad about you to him all the time. I say nice things sometimes too. But I don't want to nag him or anything. If he says no, I leave it at that. I'm not really comfortable being pushy after someone says no."

"Gilbert managed to get him partway there."

Matthew sighed in frustration. "I'm just not good at this sort of thing, okay?! Sorry for being a crappy brother," he muttered, burying his face into his homework on his desk.

Al frowned, feeling a bit guilty. "Dude, you're not a bad brother at all. You're always going out of your way to do nice things for me, even if I annoy the crap outta you sometimes. You don't have to do anything you don't want to, 'kay?"

Matthew looked up and smiled, happy to share a rare moment of sincerity with his brother. "Okay. I won't nag him, because I don't think it's fair, but I'll definitely make sure he knows you're a good guy. And if he chooses where to go from there, I'll respect his choice, but if he asks my opinion… I'll definitely tell him that you'd make an awesome boyfriend."

"Of course I would!" Alfred grinned. "Just look at these abs!" He pulled up his shirt, and Matthew sighed and facepalmed.

"Moment ruined."

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Thanks for reading! Feel free to leave me a review on your thoughts from this chapter!

Once again, thanks to Anon990 for editing!