Sorry to keep you guys waiting for so long. It took me ages to finish this chapter. And to make it up a little, here a nice little ANNOUNCEMENT: This story now has a spin-off!
It is called 'A world of difference', and will follow the class from first year on, based on Poland's life.
Thank you for reading. I won't bother you any longer now.
~o~o~o~
They got back to the hotel not long before midnight, so Trouillefou broke his own rule that the group should always stick together no matter what. "Okay, seeing that it is already late, I'll give you a choice. I can see that quite a few of you are very…" He shot a disapproving glare at Gilbert. "…tired, so I'll give you the opportunity to stay at the hotel instead of going to the Sacre Cœur. The only condition is that you stay in your room. Who intends to stay?"
A few students raised their hands.
Feliciano and Romano did want to join their class, but Antonio and Ludwig agreed that it wouldn't be safe to let the two brothers walk around in public any longer. Ludwig also had to drag his shouting brother upstairs by the hair and at the same time get Feliciano to stop being ridiculously clingy and go to their room. He wanted to stay with Feliciano at first, but the intoxicated Italian fell asleep the moment they walked though the door. Ludwig decided to just let him sleep and joined the others again, right after he had hurled Gilbert into his room.
Francis, who didn't seem particularly drunk but somehow extremely randy, was threatened into going to his room by Bash. Somehow, the Swiss managed to practically bark every word, even when he was speaking French, and this was enough to get Francis to his room as well. Despite his classmates thinking this was because of Bash' convincing tone, Matthew thought it probably also had something to do with the threat to castrate him with an AK-47.
About half the class intended to stay, so Mr Anderson decided to do so as well.
"Okay, the rest of you can follow me!" Trouillefou announced, and they went up Montmartre.
It was quite a trip up the hill so the usual groups of friends had found each other again to kill some time. The quite lively conversation between Ludwig, Mathias, Berwald and Abel was quickly ended though when Tino caught up to the group. His presence stuck out like a sore thumb. The sudden lack of sound had everyone look at each other until Tino seemed to subtly snatch Berwald away from the group.
Mathias chuckled but waited until the two were out of sight and hearing range. "No idea how that happened." He said, and chuckled again. "I'm telling you, Tino has no taste."
"What do you mean?" Abel asked.
"Oh, come on. Tall, weird, drinker with a whacko accent? No taste. Seriously, I have no idea what Tino sees in that."
"Ask Aleksander." Ludwig and Abel said at the same time, and gave each other a high-five behind a sputtering Mathias' back.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Tall, weird, drinker with a whacko accent? Sounds like you." Abel said and chuckled at the very offended expression of his friend.
"Shuddup."
"You're a bit ahead of the facts, though." Ludwig helped Mathias out of his dream. "They're not even close to being together by the looks of it."
"Ah, come on." Mathias complained. "What does a guy have to do to get Tino?"
"Oh, I don't know. Get a sex-change?!" Ludwig suggested.
"Sarcasm doesn't suit you, Luds." Mathias muttered back at the lack of anything else to say. After a short silence, he looked over his shoulder briefly and back to his side. Abel was just about to get a cigarette and a lighter from his pocket, but Mathias held his hand down before he could actually take them. He answered the questioning look with a light shake of the head before turning to Ludwig. "I think it's about time we left." He whispered and lightly nodded over his shoulder.
Ludwig also looked over his shoulder and got the hint immediately. The two were gone within the blink of an eye, leaving Abel to wonder what in the world they were on about.
"Hey, Abel." Matthew greeted from right behind him when he finally caught up.
Okay, maybe that was the reason. "Hey, Matty."
Matthew rolled his eyes. "Could you please stop calling me that?"
"Sure…Matty." He tapped the tip of Matthew's nose.
"Stop it." Matthew tried again, but he couldn't even remotely make it sound like he meant it. Curse that stupid giggle! Since when did he giggle?!
Abel thought it was cute, and patted his hair.
The only reaction he could give was a glare that failed ultimately thanks to the smile that forced its way to his features every time he looked at Abel. He just gave up and looked in front of him again.
He felt a bit awkward, knowing that Abel was so very close, and that he wanted to show some affection in one way or another, but there wasn't much he could do to change it. That teasing warmth that boiled in his chest was an absolute bother, and it also showed in the deepening colour of his cheeks. Abel probably found this very amusing, Matthew realised, which made it even harder to keep a straight face.
Oh, why even bother? What was there to lose? It was their last night in Paris, and when they'd come back, they'd be too tired for things to get awkward, no doubt. Besides, they were good friends, and Abel wasn't given to get pissed over his friend being in love with him. He was cool with basically anything.
After having taken a good breath, Matthew hesitantly touched Abel's fingers very lightly with the back of his own. It was merely experimental, as if asking permission.
In response to the unexpected contact, Abel, a little less hesitantly than Matthew, brushed his fingers against Matthew's. Just a little longer than the former had done. Permission granted.
Reassured, Matthew reached back, this time searching a little more contact and a bit clumsily, they finally took each other's hand.
It felt a bit strange, Matthew thought, those long, thin fingers between his own chunkier ones, but Abel's hands were so comfortably warm…His worries from before were instantly forgotten. He smiled up at Abel, and Abel smiled back at him, for once not having a sly smirk on his face but an actually sweet and caring, heart-melting smile.
The ten minutes it took to get to the top were gone in a flash, and they were staring up at the Sacre Cœur. Beautiful building, but not nearly as beautiful as the night view over Paris. Lights of all colours were scattered over the black background of the city, creating a sea of coloured glows.
Matthew and Abel however, had more attention for each other rather than the view over the city. Much more interesting. Hugging was so much more fun than staring at a city you couldn't even see.
Matthew couldn't help but snigger at himself, though.
"What was the giggle for?" Abel asked, toying with his now boyfriend's hands.
"I don't giggle."
"Yes, you did."
He sniggered again. "Just…This can't get any cheesier." He let go of one hand and put it on Abel's shoulder.
"Says who?"
"I can't think of a way to-" He cut himself off when Abel kissed his cheek, softly and carefully. Was this really happening? Did Abel really just give him a kiss?
And after that, one look into each other's eyes was enough to erase their smiles.
Without thinking, Matthew pulled him closer, and for a moment, their lips touched. Very briefly, and very softly. He doubted. Should he-?
Yes, Abel decided for him, capturing his lips in a most tender kiss.
It was one of the sweetest things Matthew had ever felt in his lifetime. He closed his eyes, got entirely lost in the feeling and forgot about anything else. He carefully ran his fingers over Abel's cheek, feeling warm skin and small stubbles. And Abel held him close, combed through his hair and stroked his back very soothingly.
Far too soon to their liking, they parted again, the cold of the evening long forgotten. All there was now, was them.
Them, alone in this perfect moment, with in the back of their heads the realisation slowly bubbling up that they had just kissed. For the first time.
Alfred looked around, searching for his older twin. "Hey. Where'd Matt go?" He asked. Within a few seconds, he spotted Matthew. With Abel. Kissing. "Yuck!" He made a disgusted expression and a gagging sound. "Oh, great. Now look at that. My brother hooked up with a porcupine!"
Arthur raised an eyebrow at him and crossed his arms.
"No, I mean, dude, seriously. My brother is dating a dude with gravity-defying hair!"
Arthur clapped three times. "Wow, Alfred. A word of more than two syllables." He said sarcastically.
Alfred pouted a little and then realised something: "Does that mean Matt's gonna bottom?"
"Why are you even thinking about that?!" Arthur squeaked.
"Dude, it's important 'cause if he's bottoming-"
"And what exactly is wrong with that?" Arthur sneered, mildly offended.
"That's the chick role!" Alfred shouted.
Arthur huffed. "Oh, I'll top you next time if you want." He hissed.
"What? No! Ew!"
Arthur glared darkly, sending off sparks of annoyance. "Alfred. I can strongly recommend keeping your mouth shut. Now."
"Or what?"
"Or I'll take out and clean my piercings when you can see it." He threatened.
"Oh, dude." Alfred shuddered in discomfort. "Don't start on the piercings."
"I thought you liked them." He said evilly. "You did last night, anyway."
"Duuude. Stop it." Alfred begged, shivering and nearly crying. "Piercings, piercings, yikes." He mumbled.
Not too far away from them, the newly formed couple looked out over the city below. Matthew smiled absently, trying to keep both his feet on the ground while his mind was on cloud nine and his heart was pounding out of his chest.
All there was in his world was the comfort of the shoulder he was leaning against, the arm that was loosely around his shoulder, the hand that was now combing through his hair and the affectionate kisses that got pressed to his temple any now and then.
He sighed shakily at the exciting warmth that bubbled inside his chest. There was no doubt in the world he was blushing bright red right now, but for once, he didn't care. The moment he looked up, his eyes met the two beautifully bright green ones of the person he adored most.
Abel looked down at him with a small shy smile, and quickly averted his eyes and bit the inside of his lip. Despite his desperate attempts to keep his cool, he had to keep his breath in for a second to get his head together before he dared to look back. At least Matthew was at least as flustered as he was. That made it a little less embarrassing.
Matthew put his arm around Abel's waist and rested his hand on his hip. He wasn't sure of what he was doing, but it all seemed so natural. As though it had never been any other way. That he had always had the freedom to hug, hold hands with or snuggle up to Abel at any given moment he felt like it. And it was perfect.
Later that night, when they all returned to their rooms, there wasn't anyone who was as much in a hurry for a bit of privacy as Abel and Matthew. The two rushed upstairs, laughing and joking around, all the way to the top floor.
Abel opened the door, stepped inside and was turned around immediately.
Matthew gave the door a kick, and it clicked into the lock right at the same time he and Abel eagerly pressed their lips together. He hummed contently against the other's lips and closed his eyes to drift away completely.
They held each other close, laughing, playing and stealing quick kisses any now and then. Finally, after a week of anxious interactions, there was relief.
They finally had all their worries and doubts off their chests. They had each other now.
Matthew had never dared to dream that he would ever be held like this, and that it would feel so great. It was great to listen to Abel's rapid heartbeat. It was great to have his arms around him. It was great to hear his sweet whispers in his ear.
Abel stroked a strand of hair out of Matthew's eyes and put it behind his ear before stealing another quick kiss. "Well, aren't you just the sweetest." He put his arms around Matthew's waist and hugged him tightly.
Matthew waggled his feet above the ground. He briefly wondered if Abel even noticed he was lifting him off the ground at all. He probably did, but he didn't seem to care much. Either way, it was very amusing.
The thought he maybe should have said something before popped up in his mind later, but was pushed away immediately when he kissed Abel's cheek again. Now wasn't the moment for nagging thoughts. The past couldn't be changed anyway, and everything was right now. Things were the way they were supposed to be.
"You know, being a mind reader would have made this a lot easier." Abel said when he came back from the bathroom and dressing into his sleepwear which was, as usual, only a pair of trousers.
"I don't think you would want to know what was in my head the past few days." Matthew stood up from his bed. He was in his pyjamas as well.
"You little pervert."
"What makes you think I was thinking perverted things?"
"The fact you stared at me being shirtless?"
Matthew had no response to that. Even though he hadn't exactly been thinking perverted things, they weren't in the category safe for work either. Or in the category safe-for-your-just-gotten-boyfriend's-innocent-min d. Although innocent? It was Abel after all.
"You're so weird."
"Has that ever been any different?"
"No."
"Then that's one of the many things that aren't going to change then."
"What is going to change, even? I mean, really." Matthew wondered.
Abel put his hands on Matthew's shoulders and shrugged. "I might hug you for no reason at unexpected moments?"
"That's in no way a change."
"And I might become extremely childish…"
"Not a change."
"True." He let Matthew go. "Or I might do this." He smacked Matthew's behind when he walked away. The reaction was a yelp and a pout. "You had it coming, Matty."
Matthew didn't answer, but instead threw one of Abel's shirts into his face. "Put that on."
"What? Why?"
"Because I can't stand having to sleep another night next to you when you're not wearing a shirt. It's driving me nuts."
Abel laughed again. "You find my chest that distracting?"
"Yes, quite. I thought you'd noticed that as well."
True. He had. But who was he to complain about Matthew's occasional staring? He had to admit he'd like to try that scheme the other way around too. Staring at shirtless Matthew? Yummy!
Despite the enthusiasm and joy, both quickly started to feel the effects of the late hour and the exciting week. It was later than it had been the night before and after a week of long days and short nights, a bit of sleep was very welcome.
The moment they both felt the mattress beneath them was when it became painfully clear how much they actually needed their sleep.
Wishing he didn't have to sleep at all, Abel looked to his side, locking eyes with Matthew's perfect ones behind a pair of glasses, which he removed and put on the nightstand. And finally, for the first time, they didn't have to hold back. Abel finally could snuggle up close to Matthew and hold him in his arms. He could press a kiss to his cheek and tell him he was the cutest, sweetest most wonderful person in the world. And he did until they both fell asleep.
~o~o~
Oh, my god it's fluffy I'm gonna die! *dies*
Well, look at that. This is what you've been waiting for, isn't it? The two slowpokes finally got together after tons of painfully obvious hints. Took them long enough! *shot*
And it took me long enough to write it! Holy shit on a shingle! I've spent hours sitting behind my computer typing in words, deleting them again, thinking it over, and again!
Oh, and yes, Arthur has piercings. You're free to guess where and I'll reply which ones you guessed right. Hint: He removed a few before this story starts, and you can guess at those too. I'll see what you guys come up with.
Please review?