Hello everyone! Kitty29 here with a new chapter of Colours!(Ah, I forgot to do that in the last chappie...oh well)
What th- How is this chapter longer than my last one? But I swear that last chapter caused me three times the amount of grief as this one! How does that- I don't even... ARGH! Whatever!
Ah! Forgot to pimp out my other story! For those who don't know, I have another story that compliments this one called Hues and Shades. It's pretty much a place where I dump all of Colours deleted scenes, what ifs, and out takes as well as the story of Francis and Arthur and the events leading up to their marriage. Anyways, since the last time I talked about it I've uploaded a few chapters, so if you haven't read it that's there as well! ^^
But enough about that...
Oh! One more thing I forgot to do. Since I reached the awesome goal of 1000 reviews (WHOOP) my next goal is 1200! Cause my drill will be the drill that will pierce the heavens!
...I mean what.
Special thanks to bombayxprodigy for doing a general read through of the first 2/3s of this story and making some awesome suggestions for it as well as putting up with my completely random writer's angst. Srly, I don't know how you put up with me. I was about ready to punch myself in the face.
Another special thanks to MaryMew for taking out all my fails. She's my beta everyone! I'm excited, I have a beta again! (...Wow I need a lot of help don't I?)
Kay I'm done now. Please read and enjoy! ^^
It was always nice to have a plan. Especially when that plan included mellowing out a completely freaked brother who looked like he had just seen his first zombie. It was now that Alfred cursed not being more like the nerds he and his buddies constantly made fun of. They always seemed to know what to do in any situation. His most pressing concern was getting Matthew to a calm atmosphere, not that he knew of many.
"So that's why I brought him here," Alfred said with a sheepish shrug, finishing his explanation quite lamely.
Tino blinked at his employee before he looked over at the other's twin, pity raising inside him. His friends had warned him of this. They said that if he continued to treat his employees so nicely they would start asking him for favours. Though honestly, even though he was just about to close up shop and go home, he was kind of glad that Alfred had come here. His brother was quite shaken, even though he sat on the other side of the shop he could see him physically shaking. He wished he knew what had happened to have reduced the teenager into such a state. He attempted to get an explanation out of Alfred but his retelling of the events did nothing to shed light on the situation. Oh dear...The only other person he had seen paler was the albino that often frequented the shop. It really did look like he had just seen a ghost.
"Hey, boss. Is it okay if I can make Mattie some tea?"
Tino nodded and the blond went behind the counter to prepare the hot beverage. There was a brief hesitation before Tino made his way towards the shaken teen. He didn't really know what to do or say but people had told him they usually left feeling better after they had spoken with him. Then again, it was usually them who came to him and starting bawling on his shoulder. Still, he couldn't just stand here and do nothing. Sometimes, even in the darkest of situations, a kind word from a stranger was all it took.
Stopping just in front of the table the frightened teen was at he took a moment to absorb his form. He was seated far back on the chair, leaving enough space to prop his feet on and squeeze his knees to his chest. His face was buried as deep into his knees as he could without hurting himself, his hands gripping onto his blond hair as he muttered what sounded like rapid French under his breath. His glasses lay neatly on top of the table, the frames only getting in the way of his awkward upright fetal position. He continued to shake violently.
More pity rose within Tino and he decided to speak. "Matthew, was it?"
Matthew's head shot up making Tino jump from the suddenness of it. Surprisingly, Matthew's eyes were not red or puffy at all, the older man had honestly thought that the other was crying. Well, that was a good thing right? Even if they were a little too wide... It took a while for Matthew eyes to focus on Tino, an obvious sign that he wasn't used to being without his glasses. Tino spoke again, "Do you mind if I sit with you?"
Matthew continued to stare, his unwavering gaze unnerving the Fin. It seemed as if something had caught his attention and his eyes flickered to somewhere right beside his head. Curious, Tino turned to see just what he was looking at so intently. There was nothing there.
"Y-you can sit if you want!" Matthew proclaimed a little more nervously than he intended to, gathering the man's attention back on himself. Their gazes met for the briefest of seconds before Matthew looked away, his hands now grasping and relaxing on his knees. At least he wasn't shaking as violently anymore.
Tino slipped into the chair opposite of the small table. Several long moments of nothing passed, either knowing what words to exchange. Tino soon found himself transfixed with Matthew's hands. Grasp, relax, grasp, relax, gra—
"I-I hope Alfred and I aren't in...interrupting anything, Mr...um..." It was said so softly that if the cafe wasn't dead quiet Tino would have misheard it. He offered him a small, and what he hoped to be, comforting smile. "Please, call me Tino." He replied, not wanting to bother the other with his foreign last name. Matthew jerked his head in a nod, his eyes flickering to a couple random spots before he raised his hands and dug his eyes into his palms. "Alfred...Alfred talks about you Mr. Tino." It was said more as a fact than a form of flattery. An attempt to keep the conversation as normal as possible. His palms didn't leave his eyes.
Tino decided to keep it going, not really sure what else could be done. "Alfred talks about you too. I sometimes have to stop him so he can work." He offered a small laugh and was pleased when that earned him the tiniest of chuckles. They lapsed into silence once more. If not for Matthew's state it would have been comfortable. "Matthew, can I ask you a more personal question?"
Matthew looked to him at that, his hands returning to his raised knees. He blinked his eyes several times before he squatted them for a moment to straighten his focus. Even when he was looking right at the Fin he seemed unsure with himself, not sure if the blurs were trustworthy. Without his glasses the idea wasn't that far fetched. Seeing he had the others attention, Tino continued, "Is there something wrong with your eyes?"
Matthew sharply turned away to stare at the floor and for a moment Tino dreaded that he had only made the boy's situation worse. Though Matthew looked up again, his eyes now filled with a helplessness and fear that was barely contained behind violet orbs. He answered in all honestly, "I...I don't know."
Tino nearly jumped when the mug was placed down in front of him. Looking up he saw Alfred place an identical mug in front of his twin. He pulled a chair beside Matthew and sat down, his expression unnaturally chipper as if to spite everything. He slapped a hand on Matthew's shoulder and rubbed it, smiling at him. "Mattie, it's okay." He took the glasses on the table and slipped them back on Matthew's nose. "You can relax here."
Matthew took a moment to take a quick look around the cafe, the troubled look on his face showing he did not share his brothers thoughts. Nevertheless, he shifted and planted his feet on the ground, enclosing the warm mug between his hands. Though his position was more natural it only served to make him seem more rigid.
Suddenly the sound of Miley Cyrus filled the air. Though Alfred pulled his phone out as fast as any teenager would he hesitated before he answered, his cheeriness overdone. "Hey, Iggy! S'up?"
The static, incoherent sounds of 'Iggy' replaced Alfred's voice as the only sound in building. As the voice continued Matthew's brow ceased, confused thought behind his glasses.
"We stepped out we're—...I'm telling you now!..."
Though Alfred was making more noise, Tino was drawn to Matthew. As the faintest sound of a British accent continued to cut through complete silence the younger twin's face had started a painfully slow transformation into realization. Tino suddenly felt like an intruder. As if he was alone watching a play written for another. The feeling only intensified when Matthew grabbed the phone out of Alfred's hand and asked the strangest question Tino has ever heard seriously asked to another.
"You can see monsters, can't you Arthur?"
As if this had been rehearsed, Alfred practically leaped out of his seat and began to lightly tug on Tino's arm. "Hey boss! I just remembered I, um, have something outside to show you!"
He was so hasty to get Tino out of earshot he couldn't even think of a good lie fast enough. Tino knew this yet he briskly followed Alfred, looking over his shoulder at Matthew once more before he was pulled out the door.
Matthew didn't care. He didn't even notice.
Neither did Arthur.
"...Matthew is that you?"
"Please answer the question."
The silence lasted approximately ten seconds but it might as well have lasted decades. Finally, one symbol slipped into Matthew's ear.
"Yes."
Matthew had expected this. Hell, he thought he had prepared himself for it. Though when his brain had registered that one little insufficient word, his body went numb. If he were standing, he would have collapsed. He tried to speak, but his mouth suddenly felt so dry. It was the most intense feeling of betrayal he had ever felt and he cussed himself for feeling it. Just when he had started calling him dad again.
"...Matthew?"
"Why did you...You could have helped me."
The line was said so coldly that it caused Arthur to psychically flinch. He had never heard the Canadian speak like that.
"Matth—"
"Did you know how it feels to think you're alone in the world?"
There was a chocked noise on the other end as the explanation died in Arthur's throat before it was even given a chance. Matthew had yet to finish.
"I told you about my ability three years ago. You thought I was crazy. It had taken an entire year before that to work up the courage to tell you. Did you and Papa get a good laugh out of it? Did you find it fun to gawk at the moron?"
"Please, Matthew, if you would just give me another chan—"
"You had five years! Every day was another chance!" It was the first time since the conversation started that Matthew actually sounded angry. "Even just knowing that there was someone close to me who also had an ability it would have been so much easier than thinking I was hated by people I didn't even know! I never made friends! I never did anything! I never lived but you could have HELPED ME!"
Dial tone.
The phone had barely slipped from Arthur's fingers before he launched into another bout of self loathing sobs. This really was all his fault. He was a coward, even a fifteen year old had seen through his poor persona. He was a fool, he knew that all too well. Everything that he did with this family only seemed to blow up in all of their faces. Did he even belong here? He had no real relation to any of them other than his marriage and he honestly had no idea if even that was going to last.
He would be lying if he said he hadn't expected this. He wasn't handsome or passionate. He was useless when it came to expressing his feelings and he knew he lost his temper on the stupidest of topics. It was these thoughts that made him wonder why Francis, the most perfect structure of a man if there ever was one, hadn't cheated on him sooner.
He felt a small, comforting hand on his shoulder, but he was far too deep in his self pity to appreciate it. Looking behind him through tears filled eyes he screamed, "WILL YOU FUCK OFF?"
The creatures behind him all seemed surprised at the outburst, a few of them even letting out small sounds of the emotion. They didn't move as the man had requested but simply shrunk into themselves, their expressions ranging from pity to sadness to faint betrayal. Arthur regarded them silently for a moment before his face softened and he turned away to wipe the tears from his cheeks.
The creatures had been with him for as long as he could remember. They had bonded so well that even when he had moved to America they had left their home country to follow him. Truthfully, he had not spent as much time with them as he used to in the past, gaining both the responsibly of age as well as not wanting to be looked at as insane. Many of them may have looked rather ferocious at first glance, but whenever he needed them most they always seemed to find him, no mater what.
A young fairy, one of the few creatures among them that could communicate, slowly stepped up to his form and placed a tiny hand on his arm.
Would you rather we left?
There was only a second of thought before Arthur shook his had and continued to wipe away the tears that were trickling down his cheeks. "No...no...I apologize. The anger was not meant for you... Much like being able to see you was not supposed to hurt my family..." He didn't even realize he had said that last bit aloud until one of his friends climbed up on the bed and simply sat down in front of him, not caring when Arthur wrapped his arms around him and continue to weep on it's shoulder.
It wasn't often that the Brit found himself in this emotional state. The last time being brought on by the death of his best friend. Francis was there to comfort him then and although it was because of his husband that he was left in this state, he still wished he was here. He really was a bleeding fool. Mere hours after he's heard of his spouse committing adultery he wished him back. God damn that wine bastard.
Just how could he ever forgive him?
/ / / \ \ \
"Matt! Matt! Mattie wait!"
Matthew heard Alfred calling after him but his feet wouldn't stop. His mind was in a whirlpool, one thought barely finishing before another came tumbling in. He didn't even feel the hand grabbing his arm until he was forced to stop.
"Matt! Stop it!" Alfred spun his brother around and caught his shoulders in a firm grasp; the frustration clear on his visage. "I can't take it anymore! Tell me what the hell is going on!"
Without even a moment of consideration, Matthew obliged. "I see them! There everywhere! And it's because I made a connection with Arthur, Alfred! Arthur!"
Alfred's eyes widened in shock. Obviously he was not aware of Arthur's secret either. Then, almost like a switch had been pulled, they narrowed as though offended. "What? A connection with Arthur? Matt that's crazy! I think I would know if dad had an ability!"
"You wouldn't be saying that if you can see what I've seen!" Matthew snapped, though his face still begged him to agree. "I know I made a connection. Arthur has an ability, Alfred. He told me."
Alfred opened his mouth as if to argue but the will to do so died before he could even start. He didn't know what to think. A large part of him urged to defend his step-father further but he was silent. Arthur didn't have an ability. To that fact he was...pretty sure but arguing about it wouldn't get them anywhere. Instead, he lowered a hand to grip onto Matthew's wrist and began pulling him down the dark and lonesome street. "We should go." It was dark now, so the only thing leading their way were the street lamps. Matthew brought them to a stop with one simple question.
"Where?"
Alfred paused and looked back at his twin who was looking back at him rather expectantly. He had intended to go back home but now realized that was the last place Matthew wanted to go. There was an awkward silence, the faint buzzing of the crickets suddenly more interesting. Just before the silence became a bit too long, Matthew wiggled his arm out of Alfred's grasp, turned around and started walking. It took a few seconds before Alfred jogged up beside him and matched his pace. Matthew barely spared him a glance before he spoke.
"You can go home if you want, Alfred."
It was incredibly faint but it was so foreign in Matthew's voice that Alfred heard the bitter undertone almost immediately. It hit a weak spot inside and his throat felt tight. Of all the people he thought would ever be bitter towards him, Matthew was the last person he'd expect. There were hundreds of things that he did and didn't want to say but he settled with, "Where would you go?"
"I...I need to talk with my guide."
He said guide but Alfred knew he meant boyfriend.
Alfred would later deny feeling any ping of jealousy. "I'll come with you."
Matthew threw a quick glance over at him before he looked back ahead, his jaw set. It was clear he didn't want Alfred to come along.
Alfred studied his twin for a minute before he looked down and watched their feet as they walked. His loyalties were certainly being put to the test. On one hand he had Arthur, his step father. The man who had practically raised him from before he could remember. He was back home in the most depressed state he had ever seen and he had no idea why. Then there was Matthew, his long lost twin. He knew more about his situation than Arthur's and yet it still confused him a whole fuck ton more. He was 'seeing things' and freaking over everything. For all he knew, his brother was on the first step towards insanity. Why else would he blame Arthur for...whatever.
His steps became slower and slower until he had come to a complete stop, watching Matthew's back as each step took him further away. His next words would decide his own fate. So the question was: Who did he place his loyalties with?
He was almost ashamed to say he knew the answer before he finished asking himself the question.
"Arthur can stuff it." Matthew turned and looked back at Alfred, the statement obviously taking him off guard. Alfred took a moment to look away and suppress the raising guilt. He didn't know if he truly believed what he was about to say next but he spilledit all out anyway. "I mean, seriously, I know that Papa and him are having a fight or something but I'm barely sixteen for fucks sake! This is the time that I start to defy him! Mattie...I don't know if he has an ability or not but I don't care. If anyone needs my support right now, it's you Mattie. C'mon, I have six years of older brother shit I need to make up for. Don't tell me to go home." He stopped for a moment before he quickly added, "Not yet anyway."
Matthew just stared, his face shadowed from the street lamp behind him. Alfred sucked in his breath as he waited for the younger blond to do something. Anything. For the better part of several long moments nothing happened. Then, there was slight movement as Matthew reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, only breaking his eye contact with Alfred to call whatever number he wished to call. There was another moment of nothing before Matthews soft voice filled the silence of the night.
"Gilbert? It...It's...me..." Pause. "I...Alfred and I don't have anywhere to stay tonight."
Alfred supposed he should have been more concerned for Matthew's sudden melancholy behaviour but the only thing that registered in his mind was the fact that Matthew didn't reject him. He began towards his twin as Matthew ended the call. "He's going to pick us up." Matthew managed to say before he was pulled into a tight embrace.
A wave of relief washed over Alfred as he buried his face in the others shoulder, deeply inhaling his scent. For just a fleeting moment, he felt as if he had lost him. It was a stupid thought in retrospect. No matter what happened to them, as long as they were together, they would be fine.
Matthew didn't return the hug.
Approximately ten minutes later The Awesome Mobile rounded the corner. Not a word was exchanged as Alfred dragged the other into the backseat and Gilbert started up the car again. If it was another time, at least one of them would have found the silence unsettling. Though as it was, none of them even gave it a second thought. A human voice didn't even fill the air until the Prussian had pulled his excuse of a vehicle into the driveway of his house. "Gramps isn't here now so you don't have to worry about him being a fucking prick."
If not from what he had said, his clutched jaw and narrowed glare told the twins he wasn't having the best day of his life either. The three exited the car and made their way towards the house, multiple muffled barking greeting them as they went. "Oh yeah, those are Ludwig's dogs," Gilbert walked up to the door, and instead of opening it, knocked on the door and said, "Their with me."
As if the dogs understood want he had said, the barking ceased with one last assertive yelp. "Don't ask." Gilbert said when he noticed Alfred lips part to do just that. He opened the door and they walked inside single file, the three large dogs sitting around the door barely giving them enough room to pass. They sniffed at the newcomers viciously as they passed but made no move to follow.
"One of you can have Ludwig's room. He's not here right now because he's fucking moron." He muttered something in his own tongue as he ascended the stairs, the blonds following closely behind. "There's a pull out bed downstairs too but you'll probably wake up to one of Lud's dogs crashing your chest. Better than nothing. I see you didn't bring any shit so you can raid some of his stuff. My awesomeness sleeps over there. If you want anything though just get it yourself. Anyways, here's Ludwig's room, he wouldn't care if some of his stuff is missing." He stopped and pushed open a door to his left. "This is Lud's room. Go steal his shit."
He stopped talking and turned towards the two though looked elsewhere, his face in an angry pout as his thoughts became more self-centred. The twins blinked at the albino before they glanced at each other, their thoughts easily transferring to the other. Weird.
Alfred was the first one to enter the room, sending Gilbert one more look before he disappeared inside. Matthew meant to follow but just before he could a hand grabbing onto the back of his shirt stopped him. He looked back to see Gilbert staring back at him intently, studying him. They stayed that way for what felt like longer than it was, Matthew telling himself to look away but Gilbert's gaze not allowing it. Then, red eyes flickered over the American inside his brother's room. At the moment he was facing away from the two, opening up Ludwig's drawers and randomly tossing out clothes he didn't approve of. Focusing back on Matthew, Gilbert jerked his head in another direction before he let go and began to walk in the mentioned direction. Matthew only took a second to glance back at his brother before he followed behind the albino.
Gilbert waited for Matthew to walk into the room before he went in himself and pushed the door behind him. It didn't close completely but he didn't care enough to fix it. Matthew took a few seconds to glance about the room, the room that Gilbert pointed out as 'the room the awesome him sleeps in'. He didn't have time to make a full option of it. The only concrete thought he had formed was that the room was surprisingly neater then he would have expected before Gilbert had stepped in front of him. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and simply stared at Matthew, not saying a word. His face wasn't expressionless but it only held the minimal amount of emotion to not be considered a blank stare.
"I...I guess both our days have been pretty bad, eh?" Matthew said, forcing an unsure chuckle. Gilbert said nothing and the pathetic smile on Matthew's face couldn't maintain itself. He looked away from the other and focused his attention to a random spot on the floor, his hands fumbling with the bottom of his shirt. "I...I'm sorry. I...I shouldn't even be here but... I didn't know what else to do..." It wasn't until he had said those words that the entity of his situation came hurling down on him like a ton of bricks.
He couldn't go home. Not now. Not with Arthur there, the man with the horrible black surrounded by those horrible monsters. Where was Francis? Did he know of Arthur's ability too? Was it some kind of cruel inside joke between his spouse that he and Alfred were purposefully left out of? Alfred...though he had followed him here Matthew knew it was only because Alfred thought he was losing his mind. He couldn't blame him, he couldn't see what he could, but the last thing he wanted right now was someone to reinforce his thoughts. His chest and throat felt tight and the stinging behind his eyes happened so suddenly that his vision temporary blurred. He felt the presence of the black inside him. Perhaps it never left. Perhaps it would be with him the rest of his life. This fact scared him more than anything.
On the outside, the only thing he did to show his inner thoughts was raise a hand to clutch onto the fabric over his chest. He started talking again, unable to stop the words from tumbling out of his mouth. "You-you're probably concerned about Ludwig and, I-I...oh I...I shouldn't even be here, I'm s-so sorry. T-thank you but I...we should g—"
He didn't even realize how close Gilbert was until he felt arms wrap around his body and pull him close. Without even giving it a second thought, Matthew clung onto him and wept. Who knows how long they stayed that way, Matthew clinging shamelessly onto his shirt as Gilbert stroked his blond locks.
Alfred stood outside the room the entire time, his arms crossed as he stared at nothing in front of him.
/ / / \ \ \
It was nearly half an hour later that Gilbert walked out. He wasn't two steps out of his room before his eyes met Alfred's. They glared at each other simply to glare at each other. No reasons needed to be had, no explanations needed to be said. Gilbert was the one to break the contact. With an arrogant jerk of his head, he turned and went towards the stairs. For the fuck of it, Alfred followed.
"Where are you going?"
"Matt fell sleep in my room, so I'm sleeping downstairs," Gilbert stated very matter of fact. He began descending the stairs. "Ludwig's gonna be gone for a while so you can stay in his room for as long as you guys want."
"Matt and I are leaving tomorrow."
Though Gilbert was halfway down the stairs, he turned and scowled at the American, a sudden hot rage coursing through him. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" At this point he probably would have yelled at whoever had crossed his path, Alfred just happened to be asking for it. "You really think you can control everything he does just because you share some genes?"
Alfred scowled back and in a second he had matched the Prussian's rage. "I'm his older twin brother! Of course I know what's best for him!"
"Then why the fuck is he here, oh mighty Captain Shit For Brains? If you were really his older brother then you would have taken care of it!"
"Shut your mouth! You don't even know what you're talking about! Matt didn't tell you shit about what happened!"
"I don't have to know! Matt needed someone to comfort him without being such a fucker! Gott, that's what an older brother is suppose to do you fat sack of useless fuck!"
A flash of red completely clouded Alfred's thoughts and before he could even think about it he lunged at the albino. They tumbled down the stairs in a tangled mess, scratching and punching anything they could reach. Gilbert's back hit the floor with a loud thud causing a small yelp of pain to escape his lips.
"MOTHERFUCKER!" He grabbed onto Alfred's shirt and reared back his fist. Alfred did the same, more than willing to put all his weight into the next punch. It was then, in the moment when the teens wanted to cause the most bodily harm towards the other, when the thought of murder did nothing but strengthen their resolve, did they hear something they shouldn't have been able to.
The faintest of disapproving sleep groans traipsed into their ears, stopping them dead.
Ah, of course. Even in his sleep he was a peace keeper. Alfred shoved Gilbert to the ground before he got off him and went back up the stairs, the exaggerated heaviness of his steps showing his frustration. Gilbert watched him go, panting heavily. Feeling something warm trickling down his chin, he reached up and wiped his mouth on the back of his hand. He flinched a bit at the contact and swore under his breath when he saw blood. Great, fucker had managed to split his lip. It wasn't deep enough for a stitch but now that his adrenalin was rapidly fading it was starting to sting.
He pushed himself to his feet, his back aching at the movement. It was now that he noticed the three dogs that had gathered around him. "Where the fuck were you?" He snapped, earning nothing but blank stares. "Stupid dogs..." He mumbled before walking around them to go tend to his lip.
Gott... The best thing he could say about today was it was ending.
/ / / \ \ \
... ... ...
"ICH TU' DIR WEH, TUT MIRNICHT LEID!"
Matthew nearly jumped out of the bed at the sudden loud German, looking about the unfamiliar room with enhanced panic. Where was he? How did he get here? Who's room was this? What was going on? Where was that noise coming from?
Where was that noise coming from?
He blindly flailed his hand to the side until he had eventually hit something that made the room silent. Relaxing back into the bed he threw his arm over his face; his naked eyes only showing him shapes and blurs. He allowed himself to lay there, generally allowing the events of the night before to slip back into his tired mind. As the memories came back he found himself getting more and more embarrassed. Had he really acted so rash? Just so he could find some comfort? Though he supposed it had worked.
The memories still caused him pain but it wasn't enough for him to act on it. It was a dull kind of pain, one that he could live with. With the hand not covering his eyes he grabbed at the fabric over his chest. The black was still there. It was so faint he couldn't even feel it but a voice in the back of his head ensured him it was there. It frightened him, of course it frightened him but it would probably remain inside him for the rest of his life. It was meaningless to be afraid forever.
He reached out to the side again, more cautious this time, and began to feel around the side table there. Eventually, he found what he was looking for and slipped his glasses back on his face. He opened his eyes and blinked at the ceiling, realizing there was something taped to it. Several pieces of white printer paper were taped together, decorated words written proudly in various colourful markers adding substance. The first couple of words were written largely in German though underneath lay the English translation in smaller characters. Matthew tilted his head to the side before he read:
I am the most awesome person in the WORLD!
Matthew couldn't help the smile that spread across his face. Of course, he would wouldn't he? It wasn't enough to constantly remind everyone of his awesomeness, Gilbert also had to be reminded of that fact every time he woke up. Of course...
He propped himself up on his elbows before he took a more thorough look around the room. Last night he thought that it was rather neat in spite of Gilbert's personality and those thoughts were unchanged. Other than the laundry basket in the corner that had clothes on top of it rather than in it, the place all looked very organized. The rest of the room held no other surprises. A Prussian blue graced the walls, a proud what he guessed to be Prussian flag on the opposite wall accompanying it. A dresser topped with several hair products, colognes and deodorants stood awkwardly next to the foot to the bed, a desk with numerous papers just across the room to it. Random boxes that he supposed were used for storage were scattered about the room and a TV was nestled quite snugly in the corner. Surprisingly Matthew found himself a little...disappointed. He had expected more. After getting acquainted with 'The Awesome Mobile' he just assumed his room would be more of a mess.
Pushing the thin blankets off himself, he climbed out of bed and frowned when he saw he had slept in his day clothes. Arugh, he was gonna have weird imprints on his skin for the rest of the day. Not to mention he now felt uncomfortably shabby. He would have to take a shower when he got ho—
...
He'd ask Gilbert if it was alright for him to shower here. He started to leave the room but paused and turned back to fix up the bed. He supposed it was the least he could do. Smoothing out the sheets he stepped back to ensure everything was in order before he turned to leave once more.
Pii Pii!
Stopping, he turned around and looked about the room. Nothing. He lingered for a moment longer before he took one step towards the door.
Pii Pii!
He spun around and located the source immediately. There, nestled comfortably at the far edge of the dresser was a bird cage, a yellow fluff ball bouncing up and down inside it. Curious, he approached the edge and peered inside, realizing the fluff ball was the chick that inhabited it.
"Hello little bird." Matthew said with a small smile. It was just so cute. "Is Gilbert your owner?" At the mention of the Prussian teen the bird chirped happily making Matthew laugh. "I didn't even notice you. Were you there the whole time?" His thoughts turned to last night and he found himself embarrassed. "I'm...sorry about last night. I hope I didn't make you feel uncomfortable." The bird tilted his head and ruffled his feathers. Obviously it didn't understand what Matthew had said but the fact that it did something left him feeling better. "Thank you." The bird chirped before it turned away now disinterested in the blond.
Taking this as a sign to leave, he did just so; attempting to smooth out his bed head as he went to find his boyfriend. Eventually he found him in the kitchen, sitting at the table with a coffee mug in hand. Gilbert looked up when the other had entered and smiled. "Hey birdie. You want some coffee? And I actually mean coffee not sex but I'm up for that too."
"Oh, um n-no thanks." Matthew said with a faint blush. Gilbert laughed and he changed the subject. "I-I saw the bird in your room."
Gilbert's face seemed to light up at the mention of the bird. "Yeah that's Gilbird the third. He's awesome, like me! You can let him out of his cage."
There was a small pause before Matthew left the room. A few minutes later he returned, the top of his head now Gilbird's nest. Gilbert found this humorous though Matthew seemed concerned. "He's not going to poo on me is he?"
"Nah he's far too awesome for that." As if feeling that his awesomeness was not appreciated with Matthew he flew over to Gilbert instead and landed on his head. Gilbert smirked at it and turned his attention back to Matthew, like it was normal to have a bird on your head. "Looks like you slept well, you look cuter than last night."
Matthew blushed again and he wondered if Gilbert as saying those kinds of things on purpose. "Um...ah...about last night—"
"Shut up."
Matthew blinked at the other, his answer catching him off guard. "Eh?"
"I know what you're going to say." Gilbert coughed into his fist before he widened his eyes and blinked them several times, feigning innocence. "'I-I'm sorry for intruding like this. I'm sure you were busy and-and I just came and-and, oh no I'm so sorry..."
"What? I-I don't sound like that!" Matthew fumed, face now completely red. It didn't help that he was going to say something along those lines. "But...with what happened with Ludwig I..."
"Gramps kicked me out the hospital and told me to go home. Said I was spending way too much time there." He tried to wave it off but Matthew could tell it still upset him. "Though it seemed like you needed my awesomeness more. Ludwig is my brother so it makes him a little awesome by association. I'm not worried about him."
Of course he was worried. Hell if it was Alfred Matthew probably—
"Oh!" Matthew called out, feeling a little bad that he completely forgot to ask about this until now. "Um, Alfred, is he—"
"He left," Gilbert stated bluntly, the faint facial twitch going unnoticed by the blond. "Said he was gonna stay at Kiku's house for a bit cause he can't stand my awesomeness."
Matthew rolled his eyes before he decided that standing awkwardly at the kitchen entrance was, well, awkward and sat down at the table across from Gilbert. There was a small silence before he addressed the elephant in the room. "But, um...About last night..."
Gilbert made a noise like he was listening. "You wanna talk about it?" He asked as he sipped on his coffee.
Matthew hesitated. He thought that when it came to this point he would be more than eager to talk and explain himself; but he didn't. He looked down at his lap and began twiddling his thumbs, not sure what to do. Well, he had brought it up, he had to say something.
"Um...Gil?" He said this to get Gilbert's attention even though he already had it. "How would you feel if, um...Ludwig had an ability?"
Gilbert seemed rather bemused by the question. "West? Pst, that might explain why he did something so stupid like force Feli to give back his wound. If anything he has the power of homo love sickness."
"That's not what I mean." He knew Gilbert's words were directed towards Ludwig but, well, Ludwig wasn't even here. "I mean...What if he's known for...awhile?"
"Awhile, huh?" Gilbert's first answer seemed to amuse him but before he could voice them another thought changed his option. He took the better part of several long moments drinking his coffee and thinking. The whole picture seemed so out of place. There he was, the usual narcissistic, rash, hyper and weird Gilbert Beilschmidt sitting quite calmly, his red eyes barely visible over the mug as he lost himself to his own thoughts. It was the first time that Matthew had ever associated Gilbert with the word mature that didn't have 'is not' in-between, but in this moment, he really did look quite mature. The faint bamf of the mug landing back on the table disturbed his thoughts and he looked to Gilbert to find him ready to answer.
"I'll be pretty fucking pissed." Gilbert answered honestly, the bird on his head chirping almost angrily as it agreeing with him. "Especially since it took years for the fucker to believe I had one but then I would get past it, because I'm awesome and—"
"But wait, wait," Matthew interrupted, surprised at the answer. "You'd forgive him? Just like that?"
"Not just like that," Gilbert said with a slight sadistic smirk. "If he did that I'd make him my bitch for a year kesese."
Matthew didn't reply so Gilbert continued to speak again. "So later I'm gonna go and grace my brother with my awesome presence. You want to come?"
What happened with that whole speech about not worrying about him? Matthew thought but he chose not to voice it. Instead he said—
Well, nothing as at that moment his cell phone began vibrating in his pocket. Curious, he pulled it out and looked at the caller ID. "I-I'm sorry Gil, I need to get this." He apologized again before he answered his phone. "Hello?"
"Good morning, comrade Matvey! How are you today?"
"Good morning, Ivan." If he was paying attention to Gilbert he would have seen his brow deepen at the name. "And um...I...haven't...well...not so good." Matthew decided to reply in full honesty. Surprisingly this earned him a:
"That's perfect! Just what I need for your test today!"
Matthew blinked, a dread that was always associated with the word test raising in him. "S-sorry. Test?" He could practically hear Ivan nodding on the other end.
"Da, da! You are learning so fast that I decided to set up a little challenge for you comrade!"
This was a little strange. There wasn't a time where he recalled Ivan telling him that he had improved in any way. This 'challenge' seemed completely out of the blue. Though...It was him who had asked to become his student. If Ivan thought he was ready then, "W-well okay."
"That's good to hear! So you'll met me at the warehouse at around noon, da?"
"Da—I mean yes. Yes, I'll see you there." A moment later Matthew heard the dial tone. Suppressing a small sign, Matthew hit the little red button that ended the call.
The date was set.
Song: Ich Tu Dir Weh by Rammstein. Hardcore.
I think that this is the first chapter where I feel the most sorry for Alfred. :\
My, this story has taken a bit of a turn for the serious hasn't it? Normally by now I'd be like 'Here's a completely meaningless fun chapter! A-derp!' But I can't do that now... please don't kill me for what I have planned next.
Argh! Finally, Gilbird! I've been trying to get him in this story since chapter 9! Little birdie little birdie yay!
Sometimes I completely forget that I've been writing this story for over a year until I have to write Gilbert. At the start of the story I wrote him as a slightly watered down version of his manga character (just because he's younger) but now that I'm this far I'm like 'Well, Gilbert would probably say something like this because when he was this old this happened to him and because of that he was a guide for this long and blah blah blah.' I should probably write more about Gilbert's past, it's really quite interesting.
Arthur always struck me as a guy with a self-esteem problem just because he's such a defensive guy. It always seems to be those ones...
Anyways, thank you TheAwesomeMeThatIsPrussia, Kuraitsuki Tukiko, ChibiKillerPanda, Her Diary, RedmapleLeafinFall, Fierce Kitten, Silvermoon of Forestclan, Mikadocon, Cruz-Hime, A Bleach-Drinking Hetalian, It's A Bonsai Tree, Berry Doyle, otaku876, fan girl 666, Leite Destiny, The-doodle-queen, MatthewKirklandWilliams, Anji-Chan666, Axxi, Me, SchemingAlchemist, SaxyMisty, FlyingSolo365, cutegixie, xmitsubachix, Nayli28, Don'tMessWithAFangirl, UnicornHorn, earthluva, AmayahAki , Miggery, Darkmoonphase, MaryMew and Kagimine for the reviews!
Thanks for reading!