It was near evening when Alfred, situated on the kitchen island surrounded by books and papers he couldn't be bothered studying, was granted that exact wish with a distracting notification coming through his phone.
Okay, it would be a lie to imply that he had been studying before and only became distracted then. Truthfully, he had been distracted hours ago Francis let himself in and announced that because Alfred's oven was apparently superior, he just had to do all his cooking here. Which of course led to distraction. A welcomed one at that. Then an unwelcome one when Arthur came in and got irritated at all the bowls of yeast left to rise in every single window of the house. Apparently, it had a smell? Alfred wouldn't know, he's desensitised to it now and Arthur should be too. Francis basically ran a bakery out of their kitchen and the smell had to be ingrained into the walls at this point.
But onto the current distraction: the notification.
It was one from Antonio, a text reading:
We'll be there in 5
Not much more needed to be said. Alfred knew who 'we' was.
Alfred let Francis know, who perked up when he heard who their expecting company was. This wasn't unusual. Since Francis was almost always here, his 'brothers from other mothers' often came by, making Alfred's house the place to be.
Alfred was never upset by this because he loved their mutual friends and it pissed off his older brother Arthur. That last part led to a lot of Alfred's decisions. Probably the sole reason he gave Francis, who was 100% on the same 'annoy Arthur' wavelength, a spare key... He'd insist that was the reason.
That and Alfred was so into... trying anything Francis cooked! It was a mutually beneficial relationship because Francis needed a taste tester and had made it his personal mission to 'introduce' Alfred's 'inferior American tastebuds' to an 'exquisite palate'. Rude, just because he could stomach two-minute noodles... Alfred might've taken offence to that if he weren't so into Francis.
Whoops, he said it.
Yeah, he was down bad, he even stopped making 'France bad' jokes for this man, which he had been doing constantly to get a reaction and keep talking to him. But then when he saw it was genuinely bugging his crush and only creating bad defensive teasing instead of fun, he toned it back. Which was really hard for him because eugh France but the things one does for love-
Anyway, Alfred's daydreaming came to an abrupt end when there was pounding on the door.
"I'll get it," Alfred jumped up so Francis wouldn't have to wash his hands for the 27494th time just to open a door. Alfred knew he'd only complain about his hands cracking later and it would be a shame if they did. Fuck-? Is Alfred a part 4 (or 8) Jojo's reference? Because he promised he was only thinking romantically and he wasn't into hands.
except maybe Francis'-
Begone, intrusive thought.
but he's so élégant-
Simp.
imagine a ring-
Stop!
He just meant that he didn't want to inconvenience Francis in any way and he knew how Francis felt about his hands drying out (which is weird hands can dry out because they get too wet, doesn't make sense but Alfred wasn't studying biology) because Alfred always listened to Francis' lovely accented voice whenever he spoke-
Luckily he was distracted by his obsessive attempts to justify his... obsessive thoughts that certainly painted him as an obsessive person... obsessing for a person-
Gilbert and Antonio walked in and immediately gathered in the kitchen, just helping themselves to whatever crunchy bread Francis had made that was sitting still warm on a tray.
Gilbert didn't need to give a greeting. These were his close awesome friends after all. So he just leaned on the counter with complete confidence, ignoring the open books and spread pieces of paper as he unapologetically got crunchy bread crumbs everywhere. He didn't even acknowledge it when he turned to Alfred and stated exactly what he wanted.
"Hey Al, where's your cute bro at?"
Immediately Alfred pulled a face and Gilbert was ready to throw hands at this perceived judgment or disagreement. The American made a noise like he was trying to stop himself from regurgitating.
"Arthur?" It was said with such distaste. "No, please- Dude, is that why you've been stopping by so much? What the fuck Gilbert?! And here I just thought you liked hanging out with me!"
Gilbert could not be more offended at what had to be a willful misinterpretation of his question! Because why on earth would Alfred come to such a stupid conclusion!
"Ugh, I'd have to be fucking blind before I tried to get with Arthur!"
"Your hearing will need to go too," Francis remarked. "That one never stops criticizing or complaining."
"Well, my hearing's just peachy, just so you know!" Arthur scowled as he came into the kitchen and turned on the kettle. Speak of the devil, as Arthur would say.
"I'll keep that in mind, chap," Alfred teased.
"It's one thing to have him hanging around all the time. I've come to terms with it, which says something about my sanity," Arthur glared at Francis as he grabbed a mug and teabag, before turning to the other guests. "But you two can't just waltz in whenever you please."
"Sorry, I did text you both to give some notice," Antonio chuckled. "We'll try to keep it down amigo, I promise."
"Why don't you give us your schedule so we know when you're out..." Francis asked slyly. "...and when you're in."
Arthur fixed him with a glare. He knew their game. Everyone was always against him and he knew instantly that if he gave in they'd only show up when he was home, just to spite him.
"That will not be happening," Arthur really had to question why he was the one to draw the short straw in life.
Gilbert was on a roll today, a euphoric high that made him feel like he had the word at his fingertips. He needed to use this extra awesome confidence before he lost the nerve.
"Tell you what Arthur, we'll leave if you tell me where Matthew is!"
Arthur was pouring his tea and went to question who or what Gilbert was talking about, then paused. A second later the thought came to him and he realised that maybe he ought to take more breaks from his work than he currently was because his brain was certified fried. No thanks to Alfred and his wannabe boyfriend teaming up to harass him nearly every second of the day. He'd blame them for this embarrassing slip-up that thankfully never left his mouth.
"Oh, right, uhm, I don't know where he is right now... Now that I think of it I haven't seen a lot of him recently." Arthur took a sip from his mug as he tried to think back to when last he'd seen his little brother. "I'll go check his room."
Arthur wasn't being helpful, only trying to get rid of them faster. Don't mistake his motive for anything charitable.
Meanwhile, Alfred was connecting the dots. Years of history suddenly provided context and now he could see it was all so obvious now! Gilbert had a crush! That was news to him. But despite that Gilbert was his best friend so Alfred was definitely not going to be unsupportive!
"Did we see him at all today?" Alfred turned to Francis.
"Not that I can recall."
"Yeah, honestly I get so busy I don't even know. But that's not what's important right now!" Alfred leaned towards Gilbert and wiggled his eyebrows. "What's important is why are you asking?"
"I just want to know what he's been up to! Awesome things, no doubt!"
"Is that all?" Francis asked suggestively, earning a look from Gilbert that suggested Francis knew for a while. "You know you have my unconditional support~"
"What's going on here Gilbert?" Alfred asked mock accusationally, "Is there something you've gotta tell me?"
"I'll tell if you tell me where Matthew is," Gilbert insisted.
"My 'cute brother'?"
"Yes! That's the one! I won't take back my words!"
"So what do you like about him? Just that he's cute?"
"He's more than just cute! He's awesome too-"
"I knocked and there was no answer," Arthur stated as he returned and sipped at his tea. "Guess you'll have to come back another day. Pity."
"Gah this is so unawesome!" Gilbert grumbled.
"I told you, you should've made your move in high school," Antonio, today's wingman shook his head.
"Oh, to be high school sweethearts~," Francis said wistfully and Alfred had to refrain from picturing a whole-ass Highschool-AU-daydream in his head about what could've been...
"'Make your move?' Oh." Arthur sipped at his tea. "That's right, if you weren't such a coward then you would've done it when the poor boy was a captive audience in the halls of that horrible institution."
"Yeah fuck school," Alfred muttered as he looked at everything scattered on the kitchen island. He had to read all that... yippie.
If it weren't such a hassle he might have been able to escape Arthur by now... He sighed.
"I'm a new man now," Gilbert groaned, "and now I have awesome courage so don't hold that against me!"
"Liquid courage?" Arthur asked skeptically.
"Don't worry," Antonio patted Arthur's shoulder. "Gilbert would never corner anyone. Maybe it's better he didn't do it at school then-"
"I was just speaking pessimistically-" Arthur tried to explain and looked defeated when Francis spoke.
"Dear Gilbert would never do anything to make your brother uncomfortable!" Francis insisted. "After all, he's been trained by the best expert in modern romance~ I mean me of course."
"I can speak for Francis's rizz," Alfred added.
"Just-" Arthur sighed deeply. "Just leave your number- have you even tried finding him online? Blimey, get with the times, social media is right at your fingertips!"
Arthur couldn't fathom why he was trying to give suggestions and helping but how could someone not think of the obvious solution!
"I'm not stupid," Gilbert retorted. "I've tried stalking him! But even my awesome stalking skills couldn't find him. Even Toni couldn't find him! And we looked everywhere! Fuck, we even tried Linking! You know that stupid site for stuck-up professors or whatever?"
"Yes, yes I know what LinkedIn is," Arthur sighed again and set about making another mug of tea. "You mustn't be searching correctly or he simply doesn't care for having an online presence, which isn't a crime you know."
"I'm sure Mattie has social media," Alfred commented as he took out his phone and with fast fingers quickly went to work. Only to pause with a contemplative face. "Had social media? What the fuck? It's like he doesn't exist. Did he delete it or block all of us?"
"He wouldn't block me, I am far too nice," Francis jested as he searched for himself, only to be just as puzzled. "I can't find him."
"Oh fuck," Alfred exclaimed in a joking manner, "you know what they say, if you don't exist on the internet do you even exist in real life?"
"Maybe he just likes his privacy, ever thought of that?" Arthur chided. "You ought to limit your screen time, you chronically online gremlin."
"Nuh-uh! You're not my Mum!"
Arthur sent his foolish brother a frustrated and disappointed look.
"Maybe he just doesn't have any because we couldn't find him online when we looked while skipping school. And that was months ago," Antonio decided.
"That's probably it then," Arthur mused before turning to Gilbert and sighing. "Just write down something and I'll leave it in his room. Surely if he had low enough standards he'd create a social media account just for you and I won't have to hear any more of this."
"Write something?" Gilbert laughed. "Who uses paper anymore? Only my old-fashioned little bro has a pen on him at all times... Who does that?"
"A lot of people, apparently," Alfred sighed, relating to Gilbert's statement as he passed over some paper and a pen. "Here you are!"
"Okay!" Gilbert put the pen down to the paper and... "what should I write?"
"Your number?" Arthur spoke slowly. "Like you said. And your social media contacts so he can see what a narcissist you are-"
"Ignore him, that's what I usually do," Francis chimed in. "Write something passionate, something breathtaking-"
"Be forward," Antonio suggested.
"-like poetry-" Francis continued.
"Don't overwhelm him," Arthur demanded.
"Yeah don't, you need to remember that's my brother and I know where you live," Alfred added. "If I didn't know you had a crush til now and we're best bros, then how the fuck would he know? Don't make him feel awkward-"
"Certainly don't make him uncomfortable," Francis reminded.
"So leave him room to decline," Antonio said sympathetically.
"I don't want to make him not like me!" Gilbert fretted. "That would be so not awesome!"
"Do you always speak so primitively with such a childish adjective?" Arthur criticised.
Gilbert was too focused on furiously writing to entertain Arthur with a verbal answer, so instead he raised his middle finger. Awesome was his signature. Awesome was love, awesome was life.
"Man," Alfred sat back in his chair. "I just realized it's been so long since I've hung out with Mattie, now I kinda feel bad. I don't even know what he's up to now- hey Arthur, do you know what Mattie's doing?"
"I don't," Arthur felt a little ashamed. "I always assumed he was closer to you."
"Aw well I kinda assumed the same thing," Alfred said unhelpfully.
"You're twins, Alfred."
"Oh shit yeah..." Alfred grimaced. "Now I feel double bad."
"But you're older Arthur," Francis quipped, falling into the habit of 'bully Arthur'. "So you should have more responsibility. As the oldest why don't you know."
"I don't think this is a joke but I agree with Francis," Antonio frowned, actually being serious. "And I still think you're neglectful, Alfred. You're twins, how couldn't you know?"
Alfred's glaring was wavered by guilt.
"Yeah, Arthur you always act so uppity so why don't you know?" Gilbert added, joking with a smirk and Arthur glared.
Francis then rested a hand on Alfred's shoulder, the touch making his skin tingle. "You have been so busy studying and I'm sure Mathieu has been busy with...uh, whatever has been consuming his time. Besides, it's nothing you can't fix."
"Yeah," Antonio reassured. "Next time you see him just say sorry and everything will be okay!"
"Why am I held to different standards?" Arthur asked pointedly. "I'm busy too!"
Arthur didn't get his answer and he wanted to roll his eyes because what did he expect?
"Yeah lemme grab that paper imma write something on it for him too!" Alfred reached for Gilbert's letter only for him to yank it away.
"No go write your own totally awesome love letter."
"To my brother? My twin brother? Dude that's weird-"
"There are some sick people out there..." Arthur spoke into his mug and Antonio pulled a face at the implication. Francis just wiggled his eyebrows.
"Need I be jealous?" Francis teased Alfred.
"Not if I write it ironically. Pfft." Alfred blurted. "I mean, if you're jealous then I'll have to write you a love letter too to balance it out and-"
"I'm just teasing," Francis said. "You should absolutely write Mathieu an honest love letter-"
Thanks to the encouragement Alfred grabbed a pen and started writing. He didn't need this page of notes anyway.
"-Of appropriate love!" Arthur interjected. "I'm not sure what's acceptable in France but we're civilized over here-"
"In Greek philosophy, there are 7 types of love, but of course," Francis narrowed his eyes at Arthur, "you are unfamiliar with all of them."
"Alright! Get out!" Arthur's face was red and his temper was about to spill over. "I've had enough of all of you and you-" he jabbed a finger at the Frenchman "-have overstayed your welcome so get out!"
"You can't kick Francis out! He's still cooking!" Alfred cried. "Let him cook!"
"Eugh, Americans... cooking and baking are two different things-" Francis reminded.
"I'm not leaving until you put the letter in his room!" Gilbert insisted.
"I'll proofread it and consider it," Arthur said snarkily.
"You better not proofread mine," Alfred held his letter close to his chest.
"If I don't Matthew won't be able to read it through the spelling mistakes-"
"HEY!" Alfred glared at his brother.
"You should let him read it while he still can," Francis leaned in close and Alfred quickly made his face pleasant as he could smell the faint scent of sweet cologne. "It's only a matter of time before his eyebrows migrate over his eyes."
The group laughed and Arthur was officially pissed off.
"That's it!" Arthur shouted as he snatched both papers, uncaring if they were torn. "They're going in this poor bugger's room and you are all leaving."
"Nuh-uh! I live here too so I get a say-" When Alfred was cut off, he pulled an offensive face at his brother because he couldn't wait to move out from this tyranny!
"No! You're leaving too! Out with the lot of you!" Arthur growled as he marched to Matthew's room and the group could still hear him muttering from the kitchen.
"I love shitting on Arthur as a bonding activity," Alfred said vindictively because fuck his overreaching brother.
"It brings people together and that's a truly beautiful thing," Francis wrapped an arm of agreement on Alfred's shoulder, the warmth and weight and closeness made Alfred feel a lot calmer... if only because his attention was split from Arthur to something much nicer.
"I'm proud of you amigo," Antonio leaned on Gilbert.
"Nothing is more courageous than professing one's feelings," Francis said. Alfred glanced to the side with a sheepish, if self-deprecating expression.
Arthur cursed loudly, no doubt just to contradict what Francis said.
"But I was hoping to do it in person," Gilbert sounded a little defeated. "I'm so much more awesome-"
Arthur's voice from the other side of the house interrupted.
"Alfred?"
Something about it was weird and Alfred felt warning bells ringing inside of him...
"Uh, what?" He tentatively called back.
"Come confirm, where's Matthew's room?"
"I see his eyebrows have taken over sooner than we imagined," Francis said solemnly, stepping out of Alfred's space (regretfully). "Now he will need an expensive eye-seeing dog. Guess we'll have to have a bake sale."
"Maybe it's just a senior moment," Alfred shrugged.
"No, this is serious. Come now Alfred."
From his tone, everyone realised it was. Everyone followed as Alfred went to the source of the voice, unsure of what he was about to find. Arthur came up to him with a paranoid expression.
"His room's just through here-" Alfred said as he pushed open Matthew's door. Uh. "What the fuck?"
The room was completely devoid of any personality. It didn't look lived in at all. Or like anyone had ever been in at all. Like a hotel room... in an abandoned town with a faint sense of foreboding.
"Exactly," Arthur swallowed thickly. "And the spare room looks just the same so it's not a senior moment of having mixed the rooms up-"
Alfred was wandering in what he was sure was his twin's room... if only a long time ago. He dragged the pad of his finger over the desk by the bed. It was covered in a thin layer of dust.
"What the fuck?"
