Gilbert wasn't a shy person, so when it came to courting someone he was up front. Some may even call him abrasive. Though to his defense it usually paid off and he'd win the person over, but the relationships never lasted very long so perhaps the root of the problem could be traced back to their quick start.

So the fact that he hadn't even been trying, he didn't use any sneaky tactics, and yet here he was. Standing outside Mathew's house, kissing him. The most important part was for once he wasn't the first one to lean in and the first one to show interest because Mathew had the lead on him almost every step of the way.

Mathew started to pull away and it took all of Gilbert's willpower not to pull him back into another kiss, but he didn't want to scare Mathew, so he'd let him keep leading. Even if that meant ending their kiss.

Mathew pushed himself away from Gilbert slowly, letting himself down from his tip-toe position before his eyes slowly opened. Gilbert smiled as soon as Mathew's eyes refocused on him.

Mathew returned a smile as his cheeks flooded with color "So… uh, Gilbert. Remember when I said I wasn't ready to be going out with someone?"

Gilbert chuckled "Oh I remember the sting."

"Sorry…" Mathew said sheepishly but still keeping his smile in place "I was wondering if you'd let me explain myself."

"Go right ahead, I'm definitely intrigued." Gilbert said as he raised a brow.

"I'm a really shy person and I'm doing my best to be a good friend to you." Mathew started, finding his eyes focusing on Gilbert lips again "A-And when you asked me out I thought the smartest thing to do was the safest thing… which was staying friends."

Gilbert started leaning in to kiss Mathew again, watching as Mathew tried desperately to stay focused on the taller boy's eyes. Mathew swallowed hard as watched Gilbert's lips part to kiss him "Would you be ok with asking me out again?"

Then Gilbert closed the gap between their lips and reveled in the fact that Mathew immediately fell into the kiss. Gilbert was the one to pull away this time, but only an inch, just enough to say "Wanna go out with me?"

Mathew giggled "Yes, Gilbert, I do."

Alfred woke up and groggily blinked up at his ceiling, trying to decide whether or not he really need a high school education or if it'd be smarter to go back to sleep.

Regardless of his thoughts Alfred pulled himself out of bed and started to pull on some clothes. He was secretly excited to start his day, he felt like today was going to be a good day, and from the music coming from Mathew's room, his twin thought so too.

After Alfred was dressed he headed down the hall to his brother's room and knocked. Mathew opened the door as he was finishing pulling on his hoodie "Hey, Alfred. Good morning."

"Mornin', Mattie… what's with the music?" Alfred asked as he let himself in and settled on Mathews bed. Mathew was finishing packing my school bag and he shrugged "I don't know… it just feels like a good day, doesn't it?" Mathew asked with a wide smile, he cheeks coloring as he suppressed a giggle. Alfred was happy to hear someone agreeing with him for once "Yeah! I felt good when i woke up!"

Mathew nodded along to the music "Exactly! Hey could you tell me what time it is?"

Alfred pulled his phone out of his pocket and clicked on the screen before choking a little, which made Mathew freeze in his packing and eye Alfred curiously "What?"

Alfred turned his phone to Mathew as his wiggled in excitement. The screen displayed a roughly sketched out comic, and underneath the comic was small box showing how many people have viewed the comic and how many people have "liked" it. He had about four likes, but 16 people had viewed it. Mathew blinked "You were actually serious about starting that comic?"

Alfred looked offended at first but that quickly changed into excitement "Heck yeah, dude, and people like it!" then Alfred launched into explaining everything about his comic, and Mathew listened intently. It was exciting to listen to Alfred talking about art, which wasn't his strong point but the fact that he was expanding his hobbies was nice. Maybe now Mathew and Alfred could share drawing techniques and maybe, just maybe, Mathew could teach Alfred a thing or two.

Mathew was more than excited to help his brother grow his artistic skills and immediately after their "breakfast long" conversation Mathew offered his help with learning more drawing techniques. Alfred was enthusiastic and took his offer without a second thought and before they knew it, they were at school. Talking about drawing and comics took up their entire morning. They hardly noticed the time flying by.

Then it all shifted back to usual. The moment of brotherly bound was gone as soon as Alfred saw his friends lingering in the parking lot.

Alfred waved to his friends and bid Mathew goodbye before running off to join in with his group, and suddenly Mathew felt alone again. He'd spent the whole morning with Alfred and then just as Mathew was feeling close to his brother, he was gone again. Sighing Mathew headed toward the doors, hoping to get to his seat before people were shoving their way into the classroom.

Suddenly a hand landed on his shoulder. Mathew turned to see Gilbert standing behind him looking concerned. Mathew's mind flashed back to last night, when Gilbert kissed him goodnight. When they started dating. Mathew's face flushed as he tried to say "Hello" to his boyfriend, but Gilbert cut him off.

"You didn't answer any of my texts, i was worried you were sick or hurt. Or like mad at me." Gilbert confessed the last one quietly.

Mathew frowned and reached into his pocket to retrieve his phone, only to find it wasn't there "Oh… I don't have my phone." Mathew laughed "That's why I didn't get your texts, I was really distracted this morning because Alfred and I were talking about his comic."

Gilbert raised a brow "Alfred has a comic? Actually, never mind. Were cool?"

Mathew laughed and grabbed Gilbert hand "Why wouldn't we?"

Gilbert's pale cheeks colored as he held Mathew's hand tighter, they entered the school together. Mathew breathed a silent sigh of relief, he had grabbed Gilbert's hand to hopefully hide the fact that his own hand was shaking. He felt so excited just standing next to him. His boyfriend.

He wondered if Gilbert was as excited to be with him as he was. He also wondered how bad it would be to be caught by Alfred while he was kissing Gilbert. But would he really care?

He was going to have to tell Alfred about all this sooner or later…. He just hopped Alfred wouldn't be too mad. After all, for the first time in forever Mathew felt noticed. Felt like he wasn't a second option. He actually was wanted by someone and it was an amazing feeling. Mathew sneaked a looked up at Gilbert while they walked, he really was very handsome. His skin was pale and his hair was a stark white color, but what never failed to capture Mathew's attention was his bright red eyes. They were unusual, yes, but if anything that made them that much more beautiful.

Mathew tried to count the colors in his eyes when suddenly they shifted toward him. Gilbert laughed "Were you watching me?"

Mathew swallowed "Your eyes, yes."

Gilbert raised a brow "They freak you out?"

"No!" Mathew said, a little too loudly. He cleared his throat and started again "Um, no. I'm actually fascinated by them." Mathew did his best to not blush but it wasn't something you could really help "T-They're beautiful."

Gilbert laughed nervously as his cheeks suddenly colored as well "Ah thank you, Birdie." he gave Mathew's hand a little squeeze. There was a small stretch of silence between them before Gilbert piped up again "Are you scared to be my boyfriend? Like did you just say yes because you felt bad?"

Mathew frowned "Do you think I'd do that?"

"I'd like to think you wouldn't but i only know you as a friend. Like I don't want to be all insecure on our first day actually going out but… if this is just out of pity then like let me know." Gilbert said with a shrug, like he was trying to look nonchalant. Mathew studied Gilbert's face for a second "No. I didn't do it out of pity." Mathew let go of Gilbert hand and stepped in front of him "Because pity is usually for something below you… but I actually you consider you way above me. Out of my league. You know-"

Gilbert shook his head "No! No way, Birdie, you're the one ahead of me!"

Mathew smiled sheepishly "You don't mean that."

Gilbert sighed and placed his hand on Mathew shoulders, he planted a small kiss on the other boys forehead "Yeah, I do actually. Hence way I'm asking you this."

Mathew leaned his head against Gilbert hand, pressing his cheek against Gilbert's warmth "I like you. A lot."

Gilbert had already been blushing, but he felt more rushing to his cheeks. He wondered if there was any blood left for the rest of his body.

Mathew took a step closer to Gilbert, gauging his reaction, before stepping into his arms. Snuggling into Gilbert's chest, Mathew carefully wrapped his arms around him. Gilbert quickly tightened his own hold on Mathew and hugged him back.

Quietly Mathew repeated against his chest "I really do like you."

Gilbert swallowed hard "I l-like you too."

Gilbert wasn't a shy person, but you would never guess that by the why Mathew was making him blush. The way Mathew was making him stammer. Gilbert rested his head on top of Mathew's and enjoyed the feeling of everything being right in the world.

Alfred yawned as he leaned back in his chair, he was the first to sit down and was waiting for everyone file into the classroom. Which was weird, Alfred was usually the last one in because he'd stretch out his conversation with his buddies as long as possible.

Though the past week he'd been cutting out early and giving his friends half thought-out excuses for why he had to get to class early. Super early. The real reason was that he wanted to get a little drawing time in before he didn't have any time at all. So he made a little time in the morning by getting to class before anyone else and that way he also avoided any teasing he'd get from his friends about his doodles. Alfred slumped forward and started on his drawing again, doing his best to keep his lines steady but still fluid. Which was harder than one might imagine.

Suddenly the door opened swung open and Alfred quickly look up with wide eyes, not trying a bit to hide the fact that the sound made him jump. Then suddenly the fear melted away as Alfred recognized the person. It was Kiku.

Kiku had walked into the room with a stack of papers in his arms and seemed unaware of Alfred's presence. Alfred noticed this thought about lightly tapping his pencil against his paper to get Kiku's attention but instead he launched out of his chair "Kiku!"

Kiku dropped his paper due to Alfred's booming voice startling him.

Alfred shimmied out from behind his desk "Oh sorry, dude! I didn't mean to spook you."

Kiku seemed to finally collect himself to recognize Alfred, who was bending down to help gather up the paper "Oh, Alfred. You scared me" Kiku said as he too bent to clean up the papers "You don't need to help me, I can handle this."

Alfred laughed and continued to gather up the papers "nah man, it's cool. It's nice to see you, by the way, like it's been awhile."

"It's been a few days, yes… so what have you been up to?" Kiku asked as Alfred handed over all the papers he'd gathered. Alfred smiled widely "You wanna see?"

Kiku seemed a little confused but he nodded anyways as he set the stack of collected papers on the desk. Alfred led Kiku over to his desk and took a deep breath before presenting his art. He was incredibly nervous, he hadn't shown anyone close to him except Mattie, so the fact that he was just going to right off the bat show Kiku everything he was working so hard to hide made Alfred's palms feel sweaty.

Kiku lifted the paper off of Alfred's desk to examine the sketch more closely "Alfred, have you been drawing long?"

Alfred shoulders slumped "No I haven't, is it that noticeable?"

Kiku's eyes widened as he shook his head "No, not at all! I was asking because it seemed like you've had some practice. You didn't strike me as an artistic person."

Alfred smiled widely "Well I am! My papa paints all the time and my brother, Mathew, as I mentioned before draws as well!"

"So it runs in the family!" Kiku chuckled as he set the paper back down "I love your characters."

Alfred blushed brightly "You do?"

"Yes, they have a good design!" Kiku smiled

Alfred shifted nervously "Thanks, Kiku. That means a lot to me!"

Alfred wanted to stay right here. He wanted to stay in this empty classroom forever and just talk with Kiku. He wanted to get to know Kiku and keep having this feeling of raw newness, he was quickly finding himself addicted to. He wanted to hear Kiku talk about his day like he was now. As he talked Alfred wanted to keep watching his eyes change with his emotion. We wanted to keep watching his lips move.

He wanted to hold Kiku again.

Kiku's confused face finally registered in Alfred mind and snapped him from his thoughts "Y-Yes? Sorry I spaced out there for a min, dude."

Kiku laughed "I was saying I had to go, I need to deliver half of that stack of paper to another class before the bell rings."

Alfred nodded "Ok! Let's go."

Kiku chuckled "Alfred you don't have to come along."

Alfred was already separating the stack in half "I'm going to anyways, ya know, for uh… safety reason, like there's wolves everywhere so traveling in packs gives you a better chance of survival!"

Kiku didn't object, he laughed as he followed Alfred from the room. They walked together and joked together. Alfred was telling Kiku ideas for his comic when suddenly he just… stopped. Alfred squinted at what he saw. It was weird. It look like Mathew and Gilbert, but he just couldn't tell.

Kiku turned to see Alfred looking into the crowd of people with a confused, almost angry face. Kiku followed his gaze on found he was looking at a Tall white haired boy holding the hand of another boy in an oversized hoodie. Kiku couldn't find anything wrong with the picture so he cleared his throat "Know them?"

Alfred blinked a couple of time before answering in an almost bewildered tone "Yeah… yeah I do."

Kiku raised his brows "Is something wrong?"

Alfred slowly handed the papers over to Kiku, his voice becoming more stable, he features quickly changing from confused to angry "Yes, yes there is, excuse me a moment Kiku, dearest."

Kiku blushed at the statement but Alfred didn't notice as he dropped the papers into Kiku arms. The raven haired boy frowned as Alfred marched through the hall toward the unsuspecting couple. The boy in the hoodie saw him first and immediately stiffened, the taller boy didn't notice and until Alfred yelled

"Gilbert, you get your hand off my baby brother!"

Kiku nodded his head to himself, finally understanding. Clearly "Gilbert" picked the wrong boy to try and hit on, because Alfred looked as if he was about to do something that he'd regret later. The thought of Alfred getting in a fight sent a shiver down Kiku's spine.

"Oh hello, Alfred." Gilbert said as he let go of the blonde's hand and instead wrapped his arm around the smaller male "Is there something I can help you with."

Kiku could see Alfred clenching his fist and noticed people staring, getting comfortable against their lockers as if a show was about to start. The smaller male stepped forward "Alfred, this doesn't involve you."

Alfred seemed to calm down slightly at the sight of his brother, but only for a second, and then he was filled with rage again "Why are you holding his hand, Mattie?"

Kiku wasn't really paying attention to the conversation anymore, he was focusing solely on Alfred as he continued to work himself up. He was going to fight. He wanted to fight. Kiku wasn't sure if he wanted to beat up his brother or Gilbert but either way Kiku wasn't about to let that happen. Kiku carefully set the papers on the floor and was about to enter "The ring" but something stopped him. He wasn't sure what it was but the way Alfred looked so filled with rage, it caught his attention.

Mathew straightened his back "Because I want to. Because it's my choice, Alfred!"

Alfred shook his head "I thought… I thought you guys were just friends."

Gilbert laughed "With your brother being this cool did you really think that'd last very long?"

Mathew blushed "Ah, Gil…"

Alfred scoffed "Wait you're serious? You're actually doing this? I mean I'm trying to be cool but you… you are forcing my hand."

Kiku watch as Alfred's jaw clench and his muscles moved under his clothes, Kiku swallowed, he needed to break this up before something happened.

Alfred went to leap at Gilbert, he'd had enough with this guy toying with his life. With his brother. He rocked back on his feet to launch himself forward but someone touched his arm. Alfred went to shake the hand off but from the corner of his eye he recognized the thin figure gripping onto his arm. Suddenly all the angry drained from Alfred body, like letting the plug out in the tub, it all just slipped away.

Kiku kept his head down "You shouldn't." He could feel everyone's eyes burning his skin as they watched him pull at Alfred.

Alfred heard Mathew called his name but he ignored it, after all, Kiku was pulling at him and that was infinitely more interesting than Gilbert moving in on his brother. Maybe not more important, but Kiku's eyes were dark and heavy, which immediately drew Alfred in. As Kiku started to pull him away from Gilbert he couldn't help but think if it was possible that Kiku had some sort of black magic.

Kiku smiled slightly and in a low voice said "It's really not worth it. I mean I don't know the situation, but your brother looks like a big boy, I'm sure he can handle… uh, Gilbert? On his own."

Alfred swallowed and mentally cursed himself for repeating the way Kiku said "big boy" in his head. He felt despicable just thinking about that sort of thing in this sort of situation but he couldn't help it "Y-Yeah your probably right." he was whispered.

Kiku smiled wider, and while still keeping his voice quiet "They look happy. Remember that. Happiness is always the most important."

Alfred blinked. Was Kiku trying to calm him down? That was weird, usually his friends work him up and cheer him on. He wasn't used to this sort of support. Alfred swallowed again but this time not because he was trying to suppress overly sexualized thoughts, but because he was nervous. Kiku had this… effect on him. We wasn't sure if it was just because of his imagination or if Kiku really did have this sort of aura. Either way, he liked it.

Alfred nodded to himself and turned to Mathew and Gilbert and mumbled a faint "Sorry." before bending to pick up the papers. When he stood again Kiku was still smiling, but his eyes were lighter and his smile was playful. Did he even know what he was doing to him?

Alfred and Kiku continued walking, this time silently until they were out of earshot. The few people that were standing around were surprised by Alfred unusual behavior and parted for them to walk past them with ease. They moved out of the way smoothly as they all tried to get a better look at the smaller male.

Mathew watched them go and blinked in surprise "Who is that?"

Gilbert let his arm fall from around Mathew's shoulders, realizing how tight he was holding Mathew to him, and linked their hands again "I don't know but I'm glad he came. Beating up your boyfriend's brother isn't really how you impress them."

Mathew paled "You would've fought him?"

Gilbert shrugged "Probably yeah."

Mathew sighed deeply, this was an interesting development.

Feliciano sat on the playroom's floor as he waited for all the children to finishing filing into the room. He was one of the first kids to get into the classroom because he lived the closest to the school. Ludwig entered the room looking stern as usual, as if he was about to come and lecture you, but Feli knew that was just his face.

"Luddy!" He called as he sat up on his knees to get the other boy's attention "I'm here!"

Ludwig immediately located where Feliciano's voice was coming from and made a beeline toward him "Good morning, Feliciano, how was-?" But his question was cut off by the other child wrapping his arms around Ludwig's middle and squeezing "Guess what, Luddy!"

Ludwig struggled to breath but was able to grunt out "Wh-What?"

Feliciano let go Ludwig and plopped back onto his butt "Gilbert got a boyfriend."

Ludwig raised his brows "My brother? I don't think so."

"Then why did Mathew tell me that he kissed your brother, hm?" Feli said excitedly. Ludwig plopped onto the colorful rug next to his friend "They're together now? Did they kiss again?" he asked loudly, more surprised than angry.

Feli giggled "On the cheek was the only time… but that's all they'll need. They're gonna go out now for sure!"

Ludwig sat back "Wow… I bet you're right!"

Feliciano wrapped his arms around Ludwig again "It's exciting! I'm surprised Gilbert didn't tell you, though."

Ludwig shrugged and put a hand on top of Feliciano's head "There still a chance they're not actually together… but I doubt it. I think you're right. He was probably just trying to be sneaky so my parents don't find out."

Feli frowned "I wish your parents were nicer."

Ludwig began petting Feliciano's hair and laughed "They're nice, just stern."

Feli looked at the bruise on his arm "Stern…" he said slowly. Maybe his parents were stern too.

Ok its been forever and I'm really sorry it took so long for me to get my shit together, like damn I was a mess ok.

But I really want to thank you guys for staying supportive! Honestly I didn't even see all the reviews asking me to come back until early this month, and again, I'm sorry for not being on top of things. Anyways, this chapter is a lot shorter then the ones I used to post! I think (unfortunately) cutting them down a couple thousand words will help me be able to post more often, well... hopefully anyways! Please please please give me feedback on this chapter, good or bad. Its been awhile and I'm a little rusty so just like whip me back into shape!

so yeah, I really hope you enjoyed this chapter and another is one its way soon!