Gilbert was really fucking proud of himself. He managed not only to steal Matthew away from work, but was now on a date with the adorable nerd. Not that Matthew would agree to call it that, but you know what it was pretty damn close to a date in Gilbert's book.

As they sat across from each other at dinner, Gilbert couldn't help but grin at the other man.

"What?" Matthew asked, a confused smile on his lips. "Do I have something on my face?"

"Nein, just thinking is all," Gilbert said. "I don't think I've actually said thank you for doing this."

"Paying for dinner?" Matthew said with a chuckle. "Because that's not a big deal."

"Well first off you aren't paying and second I mean for this totally awesome setup," Gilbert explained, taking a bite from his spaghetti.

"Oh, ha, well I mean, it's my job? But I'm glad you like it," he said. He then raised his eyebrow. "Also if I'm not paying how are you going to? You don't have money."

"Dine and dash, baby," Gilbert explained, his trademark grin back on his face.

"Nope. You may have gotten me to play hookie and stolen these flowers, but I'm not gonna steal dinner," Matthew said, shaking his head vigorously.

"Ah, come on, birdie! It's not stealing. It's just not paying!"

Matthew rolled his eyes and took a bite from his fettuccine. "Not happening, I'm not a criminal."

Gilbert snickered and placed his hand against his chest, feigning insult. "And I am?"

Matthew paled, clearly afraid he offended the other. "I-I mean, I don't think you're a criminal, per se-"

The albino man let out a hearty laugh at Matthew's reaction. "Birdie, don't you worry. We both know I come from a criminal background, why else would I be here?"

"Right, right," Matthew said. "Sorry, just some of my past roommates have gotten touchy about being called criminals. They prefer entrepreneur or something like that?"

"I'm not pretentious enough to come up with some bullshit name about what I do. I'm a criminal, plain and simple. Now, I don't like being called one, but hey why beat around the bush? Am I right?" Gilbert explained. "I've known all sorts of assholes and the only ones pretentious enough to call themselves anything other than what they are, are the ones that get into trouble a lot faster. Think they can protect themselves better or whatever, but I've figured it out. It's like if you can't admit something you can't fix it."

Matthew stared at him for a moment.

"What is it? Do I have something on my face?"

Matthew shook his head. "No, I'm just listening is all," he said. He looked down for a second before asking, "So would you want to fix the bad stuff you've done?"

Gilbert took a bite of his food and tilted his head back in thought. God, not only was this kid cute, but he asked the real questions. A valid question too. Gil really did have the opportunity to turn a new leaf here. America was the country of possibility, but did he want to? He sniffed and looked at the blonde in front of him.

"Honestly?" he started, leaning forward a bit. "I wouldn't change everything I did. I got to see the world because of it, but at the same time I wouldn't have had to run away if stuck by the book, y'know?"

Matthew nodded and Gilbert couldn't help but shift a little as he noticed that the man had his full focus on him.

"But, being completely honest, I think I'd like to fix some of the shit I've done. I mean in this kind of business you make mistakes and I'm sure you can tell I've made a lot of mistakes, am I right?"

Matthew snorted and Gilbert grinned.

"But any bullshit motivational speaker will tell you that you learn from your mistakes, and fuck did I learn some shit. And I mean my mistakes got me to meet some really awesome people and whatever. But thinking about it, I think I'd want to fix it. Myself, I mean. I'm twenty six and I've travelled all over Europe, Asia, and a bit of Africa. I've joined a circus, been in prison, escaped, the jobs I've had could fill the classifieds. I've lived a whole life. And I think I could be ready to live another one."

When he finished he felt his face grow hot. "Not to sound like a pussy or some bullshit," he added quickly, his eyes flickering to his food and taking a huge bite.

Matthew smiled and leaned forward. "Hey, I don't think you sound like a pussy," he said. "That's probably the realest shit I've heard from any of the people I've housed."

Gilbert looked up and smiled. "Well, at least I can say the nerd doesn't think I'm a pussy."

Matthew chuckled and the two began to play the do we dine and dash or play game. But as he spoke, Gilbert's mind was elsewhere.

It was so amazing how easy it was to just confess stuff to this guy. It was nice. A lot of his old flings consisted of sex and a ride to the next town, even Roderich was no more than just a good fuck and a projection of a decent romance. But with this kid, this stranger really, he found himself contemplating leaving his long life of being a criminal. Fuck he just said he'd be ready to live a new life. Matthew had him considering shit he usually just shoved to the back of his mind.

"Gil? Hey, you alive there, buddy?" Matthew asked, as he handed the bill off to the waiter.

"Huh? Oh! Totally, I'm awesome," Gilbert said, standing up.

"You zoned out there for a sec, you sure you're okay?"

"Just thinking is all," he said, watching as Matthew gathered his things and stood himself. "So what now?"

Matthew raised his brow at this. "Home, I think. Been a pretty full night," Matthew said.

Gilbert smiled and snaked his arm around the blonde's shoulder. "It's not even ten, don't tell me you're already tuckered out, old man."

Matthew rolled his eyes and skillfully maneuvered his way out of Gilbert's hold. He's become pretty good at it over the past day and a half. "Okay. If not what do you suggest?" Matthew asked, tucking his hands into his hoodie's pockets.

"Let's go dance," Gilbert suggested. "Europe had some pretty wild clubs, I bet New York has something that might be able to get somewhere near that level."

"I am not going to a club," Matthew said with a laugh. "Something else."

Gilbert sighed. "Fiiiiine, what about-"

"Home," a voice said from behind them, freezing them in their place.

Gilbert was the first to work up the nerve to turn and see his cousin standing arms crossed and sort of kind of pissed, with his employer Feli by his side.

"Hallo," Gilbert said, forcing a smile onto his face. "Fancy, uh, meeting you here...Come here often?"

Ludwig's glare was relentless, but his small boss nodded. "Sì! It's our favorite restaurant!" Feliciano said, smiling at Gilbert.

"Sounds like you guys have shit planned, so me and Mattie are just gonna leave you to it," he said, hooking his arm to Matthew's arm. "Just go back to our apartment, no worries. No harm, no foul."

"Gilbert," Ludwig started, but sucked in a deep breath as Gilbert hurriedly tugged Matthew away, acting as if he hadn't heard his cousin.

Clearly they were going to have to have a talk.