"Sorry Elizaveta's such a freak." Gilbert spoke up as soon as they were off the beach. They'd been dragging their feet in awkward silence for the last few mintues, and now that they were out of earshot, they could actually talk. Without a freaky homo lover hot on their trail. Matthew sighed heavily, deeply relieved she was still sitting on the sand. He really hoped he stayed there.

"No, it's..." Matthew couldn't really think of words, his brain was too scrambled up right now.

However, Gilbert simply laughed it off, covering up the uncomfort of the situation with a 'leave it to Eliza to fuck up moments.' They were headed to a cafe not far from their current location, unluckily for him it was on Axis territory. He'd just have to hope he didn't get caught. Subconciously, he tugged at his sleeve where his badge would be.

Aww fuck, he'd forgotten to take it off before the date. Shit, he was screwed, he was so screwed.

Gilbert's eyes shifted in his direction, and his eyes widened considerably. For a second he seemed at loss for words, his mouth hanging open and closing like a fish. After several failed attempts, Gilbert stuttered out, "Y-you're an Ally?"

Well, if Matt's life wasn't over before, it sure as hell was now. There goes this friendship. He gulped, covering up the badge on his shoulder with his hand. "Err... well... eh..."

Though, much to Matthew's surprise, the silver haired man next to him was laughing. Hard. Really freaking hard. He was bent at the knees, his arms holding himself up for support as he tried not to fall over. "I- you- you're the last person who could possibly be in a gang!" Matthew took offense to this, he really did. Like a lot of other people before him, Matthew was sure, he smacked Gilbert upside the back of the head. Well, he could thank Elizaveta for one thing.

"It's my brothers!" He said, exasperatedly throwing his hands in the air. "They're always calling me out on things! They think that because I play hockey and have muscles from it, I'm automatically some super-strength fighting god!" Gilbert was still laughing, only now he'd given up on strength and was holding himself up by a rusted over lamp pole. Matt would have to remind him to wash his hands before he ate.

"Wow, that's the lamest thing I've ever heard!" Matt wasn't sure if he was talking about his brothers dragging him into fights, or if it was about the whole 'super-strength fighting god' thing. It was probably the latter.

"Well, it's not my fault my step brother's an idiot!" The blonde knew he was going off now on an angry rant, but he honestly couldn't care less. "I mean, I don't think we look that alike, and he nearly got me killed the other day because he's so reckless and never thinks..."

Gilbert cut him off before Matt could continue any further. Really, if Alfred had been in the immediate vicinity he'd probably be crying pretty soon. "Whoa, step brother? I thought that raucous kid was your twin."

Anger flashed breifly in Matthew's eyes and he took a deep breath to calm himself. Everyone in town knew Alfred, it was impossible not to. And everyone thought they were twins the first time they met Matthew. "No, Alfred's older brother is married to my older brother." He explained slowly. Gilbert rose an eyebrow at him, and Matt heaved a sigh. Really, did he have to explain this furthur? "Yes, they're gay. My brother, Francis Bonefoy, has a man lover, Arthur Kirkland." After a quick moments thought, he added, "Don't tell Elizaveta."

"Oh, of course." Was all Gilbert said, and they immediately looked away from each other and dropped the subject. They walked for a little while longer, and soon the pink tiles of Matthew's favorite cafe could be seen. Matthew was stunned. When he'd first come here, in the month before the Axis had started the war, Matthew had frequented this place. They had pancakes and coffee to die for, and everyone knew it. How had Gilbert known he'd love this place? He must have mentioned it the other day. He skipped happily towards the place and Gilbert followed behind, shaking his head but similing widely at Matthew's strange behavior. "So, is this place truly as awesome as you claim it to be?" Gilbert asked, and Matthew simply stared at him dumbfounded.

"Are you kidding me!" He exclaimed, though it really wasn't that loud. Matthew was generally a quiet person, sometimes Gilbert had to strain his ears to hear the boy. "Haven't you ever had their pancakes?" A waitress showed up as they walked through the doors and ushered them over to a windowside seat. They sat down and looked over the menu's, (not that Matt really had too), and both ordered when the waitress came around again. Gilbert had taken coffee and a turkey sandwhich, and Matthew had gotten, of course, pancakes.

Suddenly Gilbert had flung his face to press against the window, pointing his finger accusingly at something outside. "Whoa, dude, what's that polar bear doing out there?" Gilbird popped his head out at this exact moment, chirping in confusion and curiosity. Matt didn't even need to look to know that the animal was his. Really, who else in the middle of a tropical city would own such a pet?

"Kumakucha!" Matthew exclaimed, opening up the window next to him. The bear climbed inside and sat on his lap. Gilbert sat across from the master and his pet, gaping wide.

"Really Matt, you're surprising me like crazy today."

The bear looked up at him now, tilting it's head to the side as it asked it's usual "Who?" Matt replied to this with mock hurt, whispering, "Canada!" to the bear. It didn't seem to recall, but as far as the bear seemed to be concerned, it was in a cafe. Those usually meant food.

"Holy shit man, and it talks!"

Matt finally looked up from the white fur (which he was now absentmindedly stratching on the neck) and turned to Gilbert. "Um, yeah. Kumawachi can do that, for some reason or another."

"I thought it's name was Kumakucha."

"No, it's Kumabaro."

"..." Once again, they dropped the subject. The silence this time was rather uncomfortable, and they both shifted slightly in their seats. Excited to pop the bubble, Gilbert brought up the next thing that was on his mind. "Hey dude, I remembered something!" He exclaimed when the table next to them was served some chocolate sundaes. "Remember when we were kids, I brought you that ice cream?"

Matt looked at him, generally confused. However, not wanting to be rude, he replied, "Um... refresh my memory?"

Gilbert seemed to be lost in the memory now, his eyes were focused on something different and he had a content smile on his face. "We were in a park with Antonio," Matthew didn't quite know who Antonio was, "And we all had ice cream. It was awesome and sunny, and we were standing in the shade eating." He put a hand across the table, grabbing a napkin and a pen and inking a poorly drawn tree. He put down 3 X's, which Matt assumed were supposed to be them. "Only then Antonio tripped you, and you fell down the hill." He drew a hill and a loopy line down it. Matt visibly winced, and Gilbert caught sight of it. He tossed the pen down and put his arms accusedly in the air. "Don't worry, I beat him up for you." He was smiling widely now, and Matthew found himself smilling too. Really, Gilbert had beat someone up for him? "And then you went home sniffling about being covered in ice cream, so I came over and gave you some more."

Not really knowing what to say for the third time that day, Matthew looked down at the table. He was still smiling, though a blush of embarrasment had crossed over his cheeks and he didn't want Gilbert to see. They were both silent for a little while longer, Gilbert still thinking something over, and Matthew soon found himself tracing over the curving patterens of the oak table.

Finally the waitress came with their food. She set it down at the table, but not without noticing the out of place bear. "Erm, there's no pets allowed inside." Gilbert looked over at her, furrowing his eyebrows. The waitress, stuck in a trance because of the arctic animal, never seemed to notice that he had a yellow fluff burried in his own hair. "Want me to just give this to you in a doggy bag?" She said finally, tearing her eyes off the fur.

"That'd be awesome!" Gilbert exclaimed, pumping his fists wildly in the air. "Come on, Mattie. We'd better get out before we get yelled at!" Matthew stood up to leave, his pet hanging lazily over his arms. "Not that you couldn't take them, you Ally." The silverette continued, waggling his eyebrows. Matt rolled his eyes.

When the waitress came back with their food, they took it and started to walk back to the beach. Gilbert once again was throwing bread crumbs out to begging birds, and Matthew just followed along giggling. Now it was Gilberts turn to surpise Matthew as he found himself uttering the first thing that came to his mind. "You know, I used to be in a gang once, too." He said it like it was no big deal, and Matthew found himself thinking that it wasn't one.

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah. I guess everyone does it when they're naive young teenagers like you." Gilbert planted his hand atop Matthew's head, succeeding in making the boy feel short. Which he wasn't, infact he was almost as tall as the man next to him.

"You're not that much older than me." He scoffed, shaking his head to dislodge the arm. Gilbert hadn't looked over at him once, he was still watching as the birds wildly flapped their wings for food. Gilbert was still happily throwing it out to them. Matt sighed, and contentedly continued to watch him. His purple eyes never strayed from the lithe, yet muscular figure in front of him.

When they finally made it back to the beach, Gilbert finally gave Matthew his attention back. "Thanks for coming out with me today." He said, the awkwardness of saying so written plainly on his face. He was shuffling his feet back and forth, forming thin lines in the grains below his shoes. The blonde couldn't help but wonder what he was so embarrassed about.

But he found out soon enough. Gilbert was suddenly grasping Matthew's chin with a ghost-like finger, pulling it forward and capturing his lips in a long and silent embrace. Matt was surprised at first, but eventually he leaned back into the kiss. It was really sweet, even though Gilbert's lips weren't exactly that soft. Matthew's mind was spinning, sparks flying as he wrapped his arms around the albino's neck.

Somewhere not too far away, a camera flashed.

AN:/ Oh man, writing this chapter went really slow for me. Because nothing exciting really happened, except for the kiss (olol, Eliza got her picture!) However, this chapter was important, and it did need to be written. Because some of the stuff in here is going to be mentioned again later. Next chapter will have action in it, I promise, because the main fight is going to start. Anyways, I'm out of cheddar chex mix you guys! Isn't that horrible? I might die, and then you might not get another chapter! ANYWAYS again, Paint it White is coming out in a few weeks, I'm so excited! Disclaimer: I own nothing.