Matthew got home without issue, as expected. And as expected, Alfred wasn't home. He quickly went through his cleansing ritual as excitement ushered him on. He couldn't wait to see the outcome of tonight. He was eager to see the reaction to having another kill under his belt. It filled him with a hunger for more, urging him to discover just how high he could take that number.
He tucked himself back into bed with his phone clasped in hand as he checked Alfred's location. He frowned when he saw that Alfred wasn't where the body was but anticipation lit up inside of him when he noted that Alfred wasn't far from it. All he had to do was move a couple of blocks down...
In the end, the exhaustion from his earlier excitement finally caught up with him. His tiredness overcame him and he fell asleep before he found out if Alfred made the discovery or not.
When he woke up far earlier than he would naturally, he didn't really think much of it. It was too easy to assume that Alfred was being inconsiderate again. Considering how often it happened and how Alfred was characterised by being loud and disruptive, you'd think that Matthew would be used to it. Maybe he'd gotten used to Alfred sleeping in during the morning.
Memories of last night filled him in as he realised why his glasses were already on his face and why his phone was right next to his head, on his pillow instead of charging on the bedside table. He held his breath and strained to make out the noises outside his room as he read the time. It was a little before 6 in the morning, which was definitely earlier than Alfred would ever wake, even before he started venturing out at night...
Matthew was wide awake now as he stalked his roommate's location, showing that right now, he was definitely in the house and no doubt the reason for Matthew's rude awakening. The voices on the other side of the door grew louder, and closer, but did not become clearer. If anything they blended together more, like a marker being smudged with water. But there was definitely more than one person out there, leaving Matthew to wonder who was with Alfred. But he had a feeling he knew the answer.
Alfred wouldn't wake up at this time, instead, it was more likely that he was already awake and never slept. And if he never slept, that meant...
Matthew cruelly smirked as he looked at Alfred's location history. If Matthew had to estimate, he killed Natalya sometime between 11 and 1130. He had gone out early that night if only to get a head start on Alfred. His grin stretched on his face as he saw that his unsuspecting victim stopped right where he wanted him to. A little before 12, Alfred found her. Matthew could only imagine how he would've reacted. He was equal parts disappointed he didn't see for himself but pleased to know his plan worked out.
But why did Alfred stay out so long? Matthew quickly reasoned that Alfred would've called the police and moving through his location history proved that he was at a police station up until 20 minutes ago.
Feeling a sudden urgency, he untangled himself from his covers and crept towards his door. He badly wanted to see what state Alfred was in, aware it was time-sensitive as the police officer with him wouldn't stick around for long. Matthew couldn't trust Alfred to tell him the truth... but maybe the police officer-?
He cracked the door open.
"Alfred?" He said softly with a yawn. "What's going on?"
Alfred was standing in the hallway with a police officer that Matthew really shouldn't have been surprised he recognised considering Alfred knew everyone and claimed to be friends with the world.
Despite Ludwig's ever-present stern and professional demeanour, Matthew could see bags under his troubled eyes. But he was more interested in Alfred's appearance. His eyes were bloodshot and sunken, his face was pale and he just didn't look right. There was a vacant look on his face that he seemed to fight when he realised that Matthew was there.
"Mattie," Alfred tried to smile, but it was like he'd forgotten how and it came off as a grimace. "I um, it's nothing. Don't worry about me- It. Uh, just go back to bed."
Any frustration Matthew felt at being brushed off, he carefully kept off his face. He wanted all the details and he was going to try his best to get them.
"Alfred, are you okay? You look terrible..."
Alfred's grimace wobbled and his eyes darted to the floor. Matthew was going to poke some more when the police officer stepped in.
"He's fine, physically. I'm just advising him that he looks after himself for a while."
"Why's that?" Matthew appealed. "Did something happen? Alfred, why is there an officer here?"
Alfred didn't react further than running a hand through his hair and the police officer looked between them, seemingly debating something.
"Considering the nature of tonight's events, it's likely this won't be considered confidential. No doubt it'll be on the news everywhere first thing in the morning," the police officer said, though it seemed he was talking to himself. Then he put a hand on Alfred's shoulder. "I think you should stay away from the news for the time being."
"Why's that?" Matthew repeated.
The police officer faltered as he debated how to phrase it before settling on the most direct route.
"Alfred discovered a body last night."
Alfred kept staring at that spot on the floor as the hand in his hair turned into a fist and pulled.
"Fuck, if I was just a little earlier..." His wavering voice was hoarse. "She..."
"It wouldn't have made a difference," Matthew said, a little too pointedly. But he was right, Matthew would've found someone regardless just for Alfred to find.
"He's right," Ludwig confirmed. "You cannot blame yourself."
But Matthew knew he would. Hoped, even.
"Yeah, you're right. Obviously I know which asshole did this. It was the fucking Trail Killer!"
"How do you know it was the Trail Killer?" Matthew turned to Ludwig. "Wouldn't you know if it was?"
"Well... I have suspicions that it was inspired by... that individual. But it's only an assumption at this stage. An investigation would help us make an educated guess, but if it isn't a copycat it could be completely unrelated-"
"No! I just know it's not!" Alfred yelled, making Matthew jump. Ludwig only sighed like he'd been through this before. Chances are he has, if Alfred had been with them all night, then the officer would have witnessed many other outbursts. "I just know it was the Trail Killer!"
"Alfred-" the officer sighed.
"I'm sick of MY FRIENDS being fucking KILLED by this ASSHOLE!" Alfred had both hands twisting in his hair. "Fuck!"
Ludwig grabbed at his wrists and tried to stop him, but Alfred just kept repeating himself. Matthew watched with mixed feelings, a little bit of pride, but mostly... a bad feeling he couldn't name. He felt bad about what he did to Alfred now that he saw what was happening. Matthew meant to hurt him... but now he was feeling uneasy. He reminded himself that Alfred would bounce back, just like he did with Arthur and Francis and Lovino - Matthew wondered if Alfred reacted like this after finding Lovino. Probably not, if only for Feliciano's sake.
But that wasn't what troubled Matthew. Now he felt double bad because despite the fact he decided that Alfred wasn't his brother, why did he still care about him?! Why did he keep pining for an acceptance he knew he wasn't going to receive?! Matthew wished he could just turn off his feelings and make this easier.
"Maybe..." Alfred sucked in a shuddering breath. "Maybe it should've been me!"
"That's enough!" Ludwig said sternly.
Matthew's guilt was just as heavy as his confusion. Surely Alfred knew that his dying would not stop the killings. Surely Alfred knew that no one had to die, and Alfred hypothetically swapping his place out with someone else wouldn't solve anything. It would still cause hurt. How could Alfred say that knowing that he still had friends who were alive that would be hurt by his being gone? Everyone *always noticed Alfred's absence, except Alfred apparently. And how... how could Alfred say that right in front of Matthew? Didn't Alfred know assume that Matthew cared for him? Even if Alfred didn't care for Matthew, why would Alfred not assume that Matthew cared for him?
"Do you mean that Alfred?" Matthew inquired.
"Wha-? Mattie?" Alfred's large eyes locked onto him and Matthew knew had forgotten he was there. His stomach twisted.
Ludwig took that opportunity to pull Alfred's hands away.
"Get some rest, Alfred," he said and turned to Matthew, his eyes both frustrated and pleading. "Can I count on you to look after him?"
Matthew just nodded.
"Alfred," Ludwig tried again, "As a police officer I'm ordering you to stop going out at night. It's dangerous-"
"I can handle it!" Alfred snapped. "Someone fucking needs to!"
"We have teams patrolling, trained teams who want to protect civilians like you. So make our job easier and keep yourself safe!"
Alfred was about to snap back but Matthew cut in.
"Will that be enough?" He said, faux concern disguising his digging. "I mean, how many people are on the lookout? What if they're in the wrong areas? Maybe if you told Alfred it would make him feel better and he wouldn't go out at night!"
Ludwig looked conflicted, no doubt knowing this was heavily confidential information, but Matthew could see him weighing up the odds as he pinned Alfred's arms.
With a little bit of questioning, Ludwig told them anyway.
Matthew kept his smile from his face as he nodded along to everything he prompted Ludwig to say and Alfred slowly pulled himself back together.
"Look after him," Ludwig said and then sent Alfred a conflicted look. "Don't go out at night. If not because it makes you a suspect and gets you into trouble with the law, if not because a police officer is ordering you to, then do it because I'm asking you. As a friend. I don't want to find you somewhere you shouldn't..."
Alfred looked like he was about to argue again, so stupid yet so typical of him.
"Think of your friends," Ludwig added. "Think of Feliciano."
Alfred's face twisted up again.
"I'm grateful you were there for him," Ludwig disclosed. "But I don't think he'd cope well losing anyone else."
Alfred's shoulders slumped, finally defeated. All he could do was nod and the officer was finally satisfied.
"Good. Now you know I'm letting you off with a warning but don't do anything stupid again. I know you think vigilantism is cool but with the current climate as it is, we can't have individuals walking around with anything that could be used as a weapon. I know your character and that you wouldn't be capable of it, but others do not. It's important we don't add to the civil unrest."
Again, Alfred just nodded, his eyes cast down.
When the police officer finally left, the two brothers just stood there for a moment. Matthew wondered if Alfred had forgotten he was here again. He felt like he was intruding even though he was in his own home.
"Alfred," Matthew decided to break the silence, if only so he could move on from it. He reached for his brother's arm but Alfred flinched back. Matthew halted with a jolt that pierced his heart.
"I'm uh," Alfred kept his eyes down as he put his facade up. "Imma go sleep it off."
Matthew could only stand there as Alfred brushed past him and the door to his room clicked shut as he locked it. Matthew could only keep standing there with blank eyes as he stood, staring at the spot Alfred had just been in.
He couldn't name his feelings, only that they were intense and his mouth tasted weird.
Part of him wanted to slaughter all of Alfred's friends, just to get back at him for the intense hurt he had caused that was now circulating through Matthew's fragile system and leaving his heart shrivelled like a prune.
But another part of him was reluctant. Maybe he should take a break from killing Alfred's friends. Especially when it would make Alfred so... what was the word? Irregular? Matthew couldn't name what Alfred's behaviour was like now, but he knew he pitied it.
At the very least, a wider range of victims - truly random victims - would prevent the police from narrowing their suspicions... If they had any. He didn't expect they would be capable of pinning him.