Phone Lines chapter four

After reaffirming the date with Feliciano at the end of the day, Matthew set back home to choose a casual outfit. The rain had stopped some time ago, leaving only grey clouds and distant sounds of thunder.  

Dully, he stared at the faded blue lines on his button up. Alone, he sat in the lobby of his apartment waiting for Feliciano. Regretfully, he thought back to the last phone call he had with Gilbert.

He pulled a face, his nose wrinkling while he tried to stiffen his trembling lip. He felt like he was being swept away with the maelstrom of internal emotions. Wasn’t it a good thing Gilbert is upset at him for going on a date? It meant that he cared for Matthew enough for rouses of misery.

Then again he forcefully insisted Matthew to go on the date, to forget about the intangible relationship. This idiotic date was at fault for everything. If he hadn’t been such a pushover, he wouldn’t have been in this position in the first place. It was the catalyst of his problems and he had no desire to go anymore.

He sighed, but he wasn’t going to be that type of person for two reasons; firstly he promised Feliciano he would go and secondly, he knew staying at home would be a mental strain rather than distracting himself with company. A light shone through the thin shower outside, catching his eyes.

He rushed through the plunging drops and wrenched the Italian’s car door open. “Hey Feli, thanks for-“ he paused with the seatbelt in his hand, “Feli what’s wrong?”

The worried and anxious expression on Feliciano’s face disheartened the Canadian. His fearful amber hues took on a childlike terror as he admitted his feelings. “I’m scared Matthew,” Matthew had never heard Feliciano say his full name.

“I’m scared that this night isn’t real and Ludwig is just tricking me into thinking he likes me or that once he sees me he’ll see what a huge mistake he’s making and then he’ll leave me and never call-“

“Feliciano?” Ahead, two bright lights of a small red car grew larger.  

“What if he hates me because I order pasta instead of something with protein, does pasta have protein? Should I get a steak? What if I get pasta with a steak? Is that too much?”

“Feli!” Matthew screamed as the oncoming car honked its warning four feet in front of them.

Feliciano cried out before he jerked the car back to the right side of the two-way road, the wheels shrieked as they squelched on the wet pavement. Through his hysterics, Feliciano pulled to the shoulder of the road, crying uncontrollably.

Matthew unhooked his seat belt and went into immediately comforting the Italian, rubbing soft circles on his back and letting the brunette burrow in his shirt.

“I ju-just don-don’t want h-him to leave m-m-me…” The littler whimpered.

“He won’t. No he isn’t going to leave, in fact…” Matthew cupped his friend’s cheeks and whipped away his streaming tears, “Ludwig is going to come deeper into your life. I promise.”

Matthew took the broad smile as a good sign, along with the metaphorical light returning to his honey eyes. Feliciano wrapped his arms around the Canadian’s neck and pulled him into a strangling hug, “Oh I knew you would be there for me tonight! Thank you so much Mattie, I don’t know what would have happened if you weren’t here…”

Matthew smiled, “Yeah I technically saved your life tonight, if I didn’t snap you out of your own world that car would have killed us!” Oh God now he’s sounding like his brother.

Paling at the thought, he cleared his throat, “I mean that’s why I’m here. To keep you in check.”

Because he definitely was not here for the stupid date.

Luckily for the two, Feliciano had calmed enough to let them survive the ride to the restaurant. Matthew looked at his friend with mild worry as they walked through the lively joint. The brunette had the same terrified look that he did in the car, except Matthew could visible see sweat starting to gather at his brow. Who knew thatFelicianohad insecurity problems?

The waiter lead them it a secluded table, the only people near them were just a few businessmen. Feliciano pulled himself into the chair across from Matthew as their waiter poured a suave rose wine into a glass.

Before the glass hit the table, Feliciano snatched it and with just two bobs of his Adam's apple the wine was gone.

"Feliciano! This is ridiculous, you need to calm down before you have a panic attack!" His eyes widened as the Italian poured more wine.

"I just need a drink...or two," Matthew snatched the glass from his hand, "Hey!"

Ignoring the failed glare (it was more like a pout) Matthew poured the alcohol into his own glass. "Do you think Ludwig will appreciate it when you see him tonight completely plastered?"

Feliciano groaned and hung his head without argument.

"Feliciano?" A low rumble sounded behind him, causing his head to snap up.

He twisted around, saw Ludwig, and then scrambled to get out of his chair. "Lu-Luddy!" The velvet chair tipped on its back legs, almost falling if feliciano hadn't caught it.

Matthew could smell the embarrassment in the air.

"Feliciano, are you okay?" Ludwig helped the Italian settle back into his seat, before sitting in the chair next to him.

"Me? I'm great! Perfect like pasta!" He laughed at himself, avoiding Ludwig's raised eyebrow.

Matthew decided now was his cue to break the awkward silence before his friend internally exploded. "Hi, I'm Matthew Williams. You must be Ludwig." He smiled politely and held his hand out across the table.

Ludwig stiffly nodded, "Ja, it is nice to meet you. Mien bruder is just parking the car, so he should be in any moment now." He trailed off looking back to Feliciano. Out of all the countless hours he had spent with him, training at the gym, he had never seen the boy so quiet.

"Feliciano is...is something wrong?" The German asked with a hint of shame. Maybe he shouldn't have asked him on this date...

Feliciano didn't have a chance to answer due to the loud and unsuspecting screech of a chair being forcibly pulled out from the table followed by a sulking albino slumping right into it. Said albino than leaned toward the surprised Canadian and loudly whispered, "Did West fuck the guy or did I miss that, cuz I have a deal with this Japanese guy-"

"Gilbert!" Ludwig seethed angrily. Matthew looked from Ludwig to Feliciano and finally to Gilbert.

"A-ah so you must," the albino leaned forward and snatched the wine, drinking the alcohol straight from the bottle, "...my date..."

Gilbert grinned, "Yup, but don't get your hopes up kid. This is a one time deal and I'm only here cuz West is a little bitch."

Ludwig's glare was colder than ice. "Bruder..." He clenched his teeth bitterly.

Gilbert rolled his eyes and properly looked at Matthew, he held his hand out across his chest, the other still holding the bottle. "Nice to meet you uh..."

"Um...m-my name is Matthew Williams."

Clear as day, Gilbert's eyebrows curved high into his hair line, his forehead wrinkling and his jaw hanging down from its hinges. He slammed his fists on the table and exclaimed, "Holy shit, Birdy, you're actually hot!" There was a sudden silence of the other tables near as Gilbert hadn't realized that he shouted that aloud.

Matthew looked at the white haired German with an intangible mix of horror and confusion. He hadn't even registered that Gilbert had unintentionally weakened his already fragile dignity by throwing unnecessary attention towards him.

"G-Gilbert?" The confused Canadian squeaked.

The albino jerked his chair back and stumbled out of his seat, Matthew also followed (although with more reluctance) and with no warning, Gilbert pulled him into a bear hug.

"Holy crap! I can not believe this! You-you're real!" Gilbert shouted like a boisterous child, his hands grabbing at Matthew's clothes as if he would float away.

Mathew laughed, not knowing what to say. He felt giddy and even a bit relieved that this was Gilbert's reaction to seeing him. "I can't believe this either," He pulled away frowning softly, "I thought I'd never speak to you again, yet here I am seeing you for the first time."

Gilbert grinned, not being able to keep it back. He was just so happy, he was happy and excited and just...happy! "You...you look so much better than my imagination." He confessed, his hand raising mindlessly to brush back his blonde curls, but he stopped.

What was he doing? Matthew...Matthew was probably disgusted by him. Looking at the blonde now, how can he be worth it? Matthew was cute, smart, caring and he wasn't. He wasn't anything worth Matthew's time. How could he not realize this until now?

Matthew's smile started to fade, "Gilbert? Is everything-"

"I'm sorry." The tall German turned on his feet and sped out toward the door, bumping into their waiter and throwing the doors open.

Feliciano stood next to Matthew, his expression was just as shocked as his own. "Shouldn't we go after him?"

He could hear Ludwig grunt, but his eyes stayed locked on the doors. "The idiot can't get home without the keys. He's probably waiting by the car."

Matthew bit his bottom lip, he have an apologetic smile to Feliciano before saying "I'll be right back. You and Ludwig can go on and order though." He hoped that the Italian would be okay without him for a little bit.

A cold wind blew through him, small raindrops decorating his skin. Gilbert leaned against his brother's Volkswagen and crossed his arms, rubbing violently to keep warm. He should have taken the keys when he bolted...

His head lifted up at the sound of his name, coming from a familiar voice. Damn...he felt even worst now, he counted on the blond not to follow him out! He stared at Birdy carefully as he jogged toward him. "What are you doing out here?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing." Matthew dug his hands into his pockets, looking at Gilbert's wet jacket. "Why did you run out?"

Gilbert stayed silent, resting back on the car again and looking at the moving cars on the street.

"Please Gilbert...if I said or did any-"

"It's not you," he interrupted, "well I mean it IS you, but it's not you" he continued. Matthew didn't have to raise an eyebrow to tell him what he said made no complete sense. He sighed loudly, moving away from the car and Matthew all together.

"Um I'm sorry?" The Canadian said with a pitch in his tone.

"No! Don't be sorry, if anything I'm sorry," he spun around, "I'm sorry I wasted all your time. I'm sorry for liking you and-and wanting to be with you."

Matthew cocked his head to the side, "Why are you apologizing, I-I like you too."

"Well you shouldn't! I'm a-a rain cloud Birdy." His whole being seemed to cave in on himself, as if admitting that created a gaping hole inside of him. "I'm a rain cloud and you are..." He looked at the sky and licked his lips, "you're the sun. If I come close to you all I will do is cover you in blackness and rain and sadness and just shit!"

Matthew blinked. He look at Gilbert then the sky and then back to Gilbert. "It's funny..." He started softly, closing his eyes and smiling for the feeling of small rain drops running into his eye lashes. "The only time I'm really happy is when it rains."

Lightning flashed behind Gilbert's back. His mouth was agape only slightly, then it broke into a wide grin. He flew forward and grabbed the unsuspecting boy from his hands and pulled him into a kiss.

"I'm more of a clear sky kind of person, but maybe a bit of rain on some days wouldn't be so unawesome."