"I do. I hate it. Now will you help me?"

"I will. After soccer."

"I don't like soccer."

"Nobody likes soccer."

"Fine."

Gilbert wasn't entirely sure what was going on in this movie anymore. There were multiple plots, all the characters seemed to know each other, and the sudden scene changes didn't always make sense. It was confusing. And he couldn't focus, anyway.

Some romantic comedy this was turning out to be. Maybe he shouldn't have followed Alfred's suggestion.

To be fair, he probably would have liked the movie a lot more if he could've paid attention and kept up with all the different characters. At the moment, he was definitely distracted. Matthew was being really distracting. Not on purpose, but still. It was a lot easier to think about the blond curled up against him than to watch a movie. He was just so warm, and sharing the futon like this was better than any movie.

Through a strange series of events, the pair had ended up with Gilbert and Ludwig's room for the night. Ludwig had gone to Feliciano's, since Lovino had messaged his brother that he would be out late, with no specified time of return. How Antonio had managed to pull that off, Gilbert wasn't sure he wanted to know.

He looked back to the movie in time to see a teenage boy leading a teenage girl into the woods. If this wasn't a sappy romcom, he'd have expected an awkward sex scene before sudden bloody murders by the shadowy villain character. Instead, there was a makeshift bed set up—pillows, blankets, sleeping bags—surrounded by a bunch of flowers the boy had obviously arranged. It looked especially sappy and romantic.

"This is your big idea?" The girl wasn't impressed.

"Yeah."

"You want me to do it here? in the woods?"

"It's rustic. And romantic. It's romantically rustic."

"With random people twenty feet away?"

"No, I checked. I've been screaming obscenities for an hour. There's no way they can hear us."

"So, let me get this straight. You really thought that I was going to come back in here the woods and have sex with you, outdoors, while I left alone the ten-year-old boy who I'm responsible for? Just left him alone out there? You thought that would be fun for me? You think that's romantic?"

The boy looked hurt. "I promised I'd figure it out."

His girlfriend was pissed. "You know, for a Valedictorian, you're a huge idiot!" She stormed off, leaving her boyfriend alone in the woods.

"Vhat zhe fuck!?" Gilbert burst out, startling Matthew.

"What?"

"She's such a bitch! He vas trying!"

Matthew sat up, jostled by Gilbert's overly enthused anger. "She was nannying, though. She really couldn't just leave the kid."

"He vas in soccer practice! Vizh a coach and ozher children! Und she's zhe vone putting all zhe pressure on zhis happening today! As if a stupid holiday like zhat should matter vhen you have sex!" He stopped, frozen, the movie still playing, forgotten. Slowly, he looked at Matthew. "I mean—zhere's nozhing wrong vizh vanting to make it special—but sex for zhe first time—forcing it like zhat—all zhe pressure—getting mad at him—"

The older boy was floundering, his face turning redder and redder the longer he talked.

"I just zhink it's a bitchy zhing to do. Rushing him like zhat. Pressuring him to make it vork. He's trying for her und she's ungrateful. I'd dump her."

Matthew looked amused. "So, if I set up a romantically rustic bed in the woods, you'd sleep with me?"

Now Gilbert's ears were as red as his face. "Nein! Zhat's not vhat I mean!" A pause. "I mean, maybe. I vould. I don't know. I haven't zhought about it." Uncomfortable with this shift in conversation, Gilbert looked at the floor. "I just zhink, if you really love somevone, zhat it should happen naturally. Not stressed out und squeezed in. Zhat's not healzhy. She's trying to force it und blaming him vhen it doesn't vork, but it's her fault. It vas her idea. It's her schedule zhey have to vork around."

"She wants it to be special."

"Vell, she's going to be disappointed. It doesn't vork like zhis," he uttered, gesturing at the T.V.
"Trust me."

The sudden bitterness in Gilbert's voice stole the amusement from Matthew's expression, replaced it with concern.

"Are you all right, Gilbert?" he asked softly, keeping his attention on the other boy even as he reached for the remote and paused the movie. It was quiet for a moment.

"I just vant to do zhis right," Gilbert finally managed, still not looking at the younger boy. "I've never done it right before."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Gilbert shook his head. "It's not vorzh telling. I just…messed up. A lot. I don't vant to mess zhis up, too." He scoffed, self-deprecating. "Not again, I mean."

"You didn't mess anything up, Gil."

"Like hell I didn't."

"Okay, maybe we both messed up. But we worked it out, right?"

"Ja."

"And we're dating now."

"Ja."

"So, doesn't that prove that even if we mess up again, we can work it out and be okay?"

"Ja, I guess, but—"

"No," Matthew interrupted, "no 'but's." I want to date you. I wanted to date you all along. You'll have to mess up unbelievably badly to change that."

"Und if I do?"

"I'm really not worried about that, Gil. But if you hurt me, I'm pretty sure Alfred would kill you."

That, at least, got a laugh out of his unusually serious boyfriend.

"Fair enough."

"Besides," Matthew smiled and set a hand on Gilbert's knee, leaning close, "you've made a lot of good changes since then. You're doing better than ever, and I'm lucky to have you." He kissed the albino's flushed cheek before settling against him again.

His face now an embarrassed, flustered pink rather than the angry red it had been mere minutes ago, Gilbert sat still for a few seconds before finally putting his arm back around Matthew's shoulders and relaxing into the futon.

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, before Matthew leaned to reach for the remote again. "Ready?" he asked, hand hovering over the Play button to start the movie.

Gilbert considered the frozen image on the screen. The movie had switched to a different set of characters and he had no idea who they were or what their plot was supposed to be. He sighed, leaning his head back against the wall. "I can't focus on zhis movie."

"Do you want to do something else, instead? We can watch a different movie or play a game or something."

"Mm," Gilbert hummed thoughtfully, moving his fingers in the fabric of Matthew's hoody. "I don't know. Just sit quietly for a bit? I like just sitting vizh you."

Matthew pulled his hand back and shifted on the futon, turning into Gilbert and resting comfortably against him. "Okay." He smiled softly, looking up at the older boy through his bangs. "I like sitting with you, too."

Silent, they looked at each other, warm and comfortable and happy. Just sitting there, as simple as it was, being together and happy and safe, made Gilbert's chest feel like it might burst.

"Mattzhew."

"Hm?"

"I," he paused, swallowed, felt his heart strain to outgrow his ribcage, "I really, really like you. You make me happier zhan anyzhing."

Matthew looked up at him, his pale cheeks a fragile, pretty pink. "Kiss me," he commanded softly after a moment, blushing a little more.

His entire body was flooded with yearning. There was nothing in the universe he wanted more in that moment than to kiss Matthew Williams.

Gilbert ghosted his fingers over the other male's cheek, felt the heat coloring his skin. "You're perfect," he breathed, red eyes meeting violet. They were an amazing hue, especially this close up. So much closer to purple than blue, dark and deep and mesmerizing.

"Gil," Matthew's tone was whining, almost a plea; he shifted imperceptibly closer to the older boy, his hands coming to rest on his chest, fingers curling into his shirt.

It didn't feel like he was breathing, didn't feel like anything was real except for him and Matthew and the way his cheeks flushed and those tiny creases between his eyebrows because he hadn't been kissed yet. Perfect. What else could he do, but cup Matthew's cheek in his hand and kiss him?

As soon as their lips met, Matthew's fingers relaxed their hold on Gilbert's shirt, and his shoulders fell with a happy sigh. It was soft, slow, the patient melding of lips and tongues, hands sliding over bodies. Matt's fingers found their way under Gilbert's shirt, cold enough to draw a shiver from the heated flesh. They traced, following the dips and curves, the hard lines of Gilbert's hips, stomach, and chest.

They separated, breathless; Gilbert's shirt was gone a few seconds later. Leaning close, Matt splayed his hands over the other boy's pale chest and rested there, tucking his face towards Gil's neck. He kissed, lips just brushing the skin right under the corner of his jaw. Gilbert tilted his head, exposing more of his neck as Matthew continued to drop kisses there, so soft and light they almost tickled.

Sighing, Gilbert rested his hands on Matthew's ribcage and slid them down to his hips, pausing there as the motion made the smaller male arch against him. The fabric of his hoody was soft on Gilbert's skin, but he still would rather there was less clothing between them.

"Matt," he spoke quietly, not wanting to distract the blond to the point of stopping, as he gripped the hoody, "can I?"

He never had, before. They were going slowly. They were being deliberate and easy about things. No rushing, no thoughtless actions, no regrets. Steady and comfortable, always asking first, like now.

A longer, thoughtful kiss was pressed to his throat, then Matthew drew away, sitting up enough to offer a smile. Together, they pulled his hoody off over his head, leaving him in a plain long-sleeved navy shirt. Still too much clothing for Gilbert's liking, but he didn't push it, merely wrapped his arms around the blond's waist and pulled him close again. Matthew squirmed against him.

"Hold on," he pushed at Gilbert's chest until the albino released him, sitting up and turning to face him fully. With his hands on the older boy's shoulders to steady himself, Matthew swung one leg over until he was straddling Gilbert, his cheeks turning a dark, embarrassed red. "Is this okay?"

It was very, very okay.

Gilbert smiled and settled his hands on Matthew's thighs, leaning up to kiss him softly. "Yep." The hands on his shoulders slid down to his chest again and Matthew pressed close to him, returning the kiss with more energy than they'd shared before. Without the hoody in the way, it was easier to feel his body, the slender, flat shape of his torso against his own. Gilbert ran his hands up and down Matthew's thighs, squeezing just a little. The blond shifted forward, arching his stomach and pressing his hips down against Gilbert's. Immediately, his hands slipped around to cup Matt's ass and gave it a firm squeeze, palming the soft flesh through his jeans.

Mathew broke the kiss with a soft moan, his eyelids fluttering as he rocked his hips back into Gilbert's hands. It was a beautiful sight.

Squeezing and pulling to bring Matt's hips back against his own, Gil set to the task of kissing the blond's neck. He wasn't as soft as Matt had been, instead leaving hot, open-mouthed kisses that made Matthew tremble against him.

"Gilbert…"

"Matt," he spoke against the Canadian's skin, "can I give you a hickey?" He never had before, and he really, really wanted to.

Matthew swallowed hard and licked his lips, mouth dry suddenly. "I…won't someone see?"

Not allowing himself to be disappointed yet, Gilbert nuzzled into his boyfriend's neck. "Nein, your hoody vill cover it. But I vouldn't mind people seeing." He kissed just below Matthew's ear, resisting the urge to squeeze his ass or pull his hips again. "Ve're dating. Vhy vould it matter if anyvone saw?"

Fumbling and flustered, Matthew was glad Gilbert couldn't see his face as he chewed on his lip. "Well, I just…it'd be…embarrassing."

"I von't do it if you don't vant me to, Mattzhew." This time, he couldn't keep from sounding a little sad.

"I want you to," Matt was quick to respond, leaning back now so he could look into his boyfriend's eyes, "I do, Gilbert. I…like the idea of you biting me." His face burned with embarrassment to say it, but he didn't let himself look away. "Really, I do, I'm sorry, I just….you know…." he trailed off, not entirely sure how to phrase it, but hoping Gilbert would understand anyway.

The older boy didn't seem to be catching on. "You're….not ready?"

Matthew shook his head; he was starting to wish he still had his hoody on. "It's not something I ever really considered safe."

Gilbert wasn't entirely sure what that was supposed to mean, either. "Safe?"

"You know," Matthew sat back, putting several inches of space between them, save for the fact he was still sitting in Gil's lap, "where I grew up, it wasn't exactly safe to be…me. So any evidence of it was dangerous. I guess I'm just still stuck in that mindset. And since I'll be going home for break soon, it could still be a bad idea."

"Oh." He hadn't thought of that. He knew Matthew was shy, obviously, and he knew he'd been bullied, but he hadn't taken that into account with how slowly the blond was willing to go with their new relationship. "Maybe I shouldn't, zhen."

The blond in his lap chewed his lip, his eyebrows drawing together slightly as he thought. "I…guess it would be okay if it was somewhere no one would see. Can't be evidence if no one knows about it, right?"

Gilbert smiled. "Right." His smile was returned before Matthew took a deep breath, his eyes closing momentarily.

"Okay." He leaned forward and kissed the other boy again, softly, wrapping his arms around Gilbert's neck this time to hold himself close.

Patient, the older boy kissed back just as gently, letting his hands rest on Matthew's waist. Whatever the blond decided, he didn't want to push too far or make a move without permission, so he waited and enjoyed the kiss, enjoyed the warmth of Matthew in his lap and against his chest, the soft pressure of his mouth. It was nice, this kissing, and he smiled when Matt pulled back enough to look into his eyes, their foreheads pressed together.

"Gil?"

"Ja?"

Matthew's cheeks were turning red again. "Take my shirt off."

He blinked once, surprised—Matt had never asked him to do that before. "Sure, Mattie."

They separated once again, this time with Matthew taking his glasses off and carefully setting them aside before lifting his arms over his head. Gilbert was careful in gripping the bottom hem of his boyfriend's shirt, and even more careful in pulling it up and off, worried it would catch on his ears or face and hurt him. When at last he was free and the garment had been tossed aside, Matthew offered a small, shy smile and resisted the urge to wrap his arms around himself protectively.

Quiet, Gilbert looked him over before smiling and kissing his cheek. "You're beautiful, Mattzhew."

The only response he got was a flustered squeak before Matt was hiding his face in Gilbert's neck, which made the older boy laugh quietly.

"You are," he assured, hugging the Canadian to his chest. "I'd have to be blind not to see it."

Matthew only buried his face farther into Gilbert's neck. The albino hummed softly, running his hands up and down the other's back, enjoying the softness of Matt's pale skin. He kissed the shoulder that was exposed to him, felt the shiver that ran through his shy companion.

"Here?" he asked softly, and kissed the spot again.

Without pulling away, Matthew shifted against him and nodded.

Gilbert dropped one more kiss before he bit, gently and sucked, his hands rubbing comforting circles on the other boy's back.

"Mm…"

It was the softest moan he'd ever heard in his life, but somehow that didn't surprise him. He would have been more shocked if Matthew had turned out to be loud.

"Gilbert…"

The blond was shifting again, pressing closer, his spine curving inwards to press his stomach and chest against Gilbert's. He let his hands fall down to Matthew's backside and bit again, a little harder this time, catching a little more skin as his hands squeezed.

"Ah!" The shoulder twitched, but didn't pull away; he felt a hand against the back of his head, fingers buried in his hair. "Gil..."

He pulled back, sucking to pull the skin before letting it slip from his teeth, then admired the dark bruise already beginning to form. "Hm?"

Matthew was breathless. "Do that again."

With a chuckle, Gilbert nodded and shifted down against the futon, kissing over Matt's pale skin as he went so the blond would know where he planned on biting next. It made him shiver to feel breath and lips trailing down from the still-a-little-painful hickey he'd just been given, but Matt didn't dare pull away. The last thing he wanted was to put space between himself and Gilbert, to end what they'd only just begun.

Teeth catching over his collarbone pulled a gasp from him and he closed his eyes, letting his head tilt back so Gilbert would have more room to bite and suck as he pleased. It was an odd, painful, wonderful sensation, being marked like this. The touch of teeth sent excited shivers down his spine and into his stomach. He'd never had a hickey before—he wanted Gilbert to cover him in them.

Sighing happily, Matthew stroked his fingers through the other's white hair as the bite turned to kisses once more; this hickey would be smaller than the one on his shoulder.

"I like zhe sounds you make," Gilbert murmured against his skin before nipping the other side of Matthew's neck.

The blond tensed. "Don't," he warned, and Gil kissed the spot.

"I von't. Zhat von't leave a mark. Your neck is just….too pretty to ignore."

Well, that made Matthew blush even more than getting the hickeys had, and he swallowed hard. "Oh….thank you."

"Bitte."

Then the hands on his backside were moving, slipping around to his hips and pushing him back. Reluctant, Matthew allowed himself to be moved, unhappy about the space between them; it was cold with Gilbert's body heat. His dissatisfaction only lasted for a couple of seconds, before the feeling of a hot, wet tongue dragging over his nipple nearly made him cry out. He bit down on his lip and put a hand over his mouth, muffling the sound, only to hear Gilbert laughing quietly.

"You're so sensitive," the older boy teased, letting his breath drift against the wetted skin. "It's adorable."

Cautious, Matthew dropped his hand and let go of his lip, tonguing it gingerly to make sure it wasn't damaged. "It's not like I've ever done this before," he defended, embarrassed, but Gilbert only shook his head.

"I know, Mattie. It's not a bad zhing. I'm…glad to be zhe first vone to do zhis to you. It's special."

Relaxing now and smiling fondly, Matthew lifted Gilbert's chin so that their eyes met. "I'm glad it's you, too." Then he kissed him, firmly, before pulling away and giving his best mischievous grin. "And I like the hickeys."

One of Gilbert's eyebrows lifted. "Ja?"

His grin widened and Matthew nodded, imitating Gilbert's accent. "Ja."

That had the albino laughing again, though he was quickly interrupted by another kiss. To his surprise, Matthew caught his lip in his teeth after just a few seconds, not painfully, but enough to tug just a little, before sitting back and pressing their foreheads together.

"Give me more of them, Gilbert," he commanded softly, just a little out of breath, and Gilbert felt a rush of heat go through his body.

That was hot.

"Vhatever you vant, Mattie." Ducking, he focused his attention on Matthew's nipple again and reveled in the low moan it earned him.