#polypolypoly

He had given up on a few other simple things as well. His temper seemed toned down, the crude language he had been fond of no where to be found. Gilbert couldn’t say it hadn’t been funny to see Lovino grit his teeth and walk away without the snarky comments. He also gave up on the loving touches Matthew would give him and playing with Gilbert’a hair.

That had stung a little, but Lovino told them over and over it’s not them, it’s just what he needed to give up for the month. He would eat when the sun disappeared but the touches remained scarce and his mood on a lighter note. For a whole month. Gilbert could see Matthew struggling not to hug him when he entered a room. Gilbert wondered if all the hugs Matthew would give to him instead are just because Lovino would not accept them.

“It’s for gratitude,” Lovino told them. 

“There are so many things in the world, and we should be happy to have them in every day life. By ridding ourselves of them for a month, we gain a little more appreciation for those things.” He shrugged and backed away from Matthew’s touch, a sad smile on both their faces for another week at least.

When the month ended, Lovino and his kingdom rejoiced in their ability to hold off on the things they refused. Gilbert snickered into his hand, never seeing any one in the castle not eating for the next three days. Lovino always had food with him, casually munching. His temper returned with vengeance it seemed.

The best part though had to be the touches. Lovino would barely let go of Matthew’s hands, his waist, hugs overflowed. Matthew’s face grew into a bright smile every time and Lovino pretended to ignore it. Gilbert’s pleasant surprise came with Lovino offering him more touches too. Hands in his hair, holding his hand for longer than ever before, dragging him into cuddle piles that didn’t ever want to end.

“You don’t know how much I missed this,” Lovino told them one night after. Matthew laughed and kisses his head. Gilbert just smiled.

Matthew’s winter holiday began just a little after Lovino’s three day celebration of no longer fasting. He and Lovino accepted the invitation to join as Matthew simply lit a candle, and sat in front of it. Every day when night fell, he would venture to his candles, lighting one more than the night previous, then sitting on the ground with his hands in his lap.

“What are you doing?” Gilbert whispered to him during the third night. Matthew peeped an eye open, and a smile grew on his face.

“For my kingdom and my family, we take time to rejoice in the peace our kingdom holds. We light a candle for the wars now over and the miracle of living.” Matthew reached out a hand to the flame, his fingers curling around the flame but not close enough to burn.

“We take time to remember all we have to be thankful for.” With that he lowers his hand, intertwining his fingers with Lovino on one side, and then Gilbert’s on the other. They sit in silence, all lost in their own thoughts. Gilbert isn’t too sure he understand the what he’s supposed to be doing, but he thinks of both of them, watching their faces as they subtly twitch as they think about all that they have. 

Where would he be without them? Probably in the outskirts with his adopted father and brother, rummaging for scraps, making do with what little they have. Probably hating everything about himself like he used to. He doesn’t dislike himself as much with them around. They loved him so much, he forgot what hating himself felt like.

He’s grateful for them he decides. All the kind looks and words, and the clear standing up for him that they do not have to do. They make him feel special, a feeling he doesn’t believe he would have ever gotten without them. The idea of being just a servant to them is far out of his mind. He knows, he knows he’s so much more than that now. 

Matthew stands after some time, blowing out the candles for the night. Lovino and Gilbert give him loving looks, thankful they are trued enough to join in Matthew’s ceremony. Gilbert swallows as he trails after them on the way back to their room. His room is technically down the hall, but he can’t really remember the last night he slept in there.

Lovino is quick to shed his more royal garb for night clothing, Matthew following soon after. Gilbert carefully sheds his things, just in case they decide they do not want to be with him for the night. He turns and they are both looking at him, waiting. He sighs and sits on the edge of the bed. He’s immediately pulled down to be in the center of the pile.

With each prince softly sleeping beside him Gilbert comes up with a plan, hope burning inside him that they will like what he has to offer.

–

“Gilbert?” Matthew pops his head into the servants designated room, though if Matthew had his way all of Gilbert’s possessions would be in his and Lovino’s shared room. Not finding the servant anywhere he turns to his husband and shrugs. Lovino twists his nose up and with a roll of his eyes starts towards their room.

“He’ll be around shortly I’m sure,” Lovino says. Though he sounds so sure of himself, there’s a sadness lingering underneath. Mathew sighs. He hasn’t seen Gilbert all day and he knows with the way Lovino’s hand twitches that it’s getting to him too. He wouldn’t have run away, or truly left without telling them, but the bitter thought is stuck in the back of his mind.

The door to their room swings ope to reveal Gilbert standing in the center, feet shifting back and forth with his hands behind his back. Matthew’s face breaks into a wide grin as he skips over and wraps Gilbert into a tight hug.

“We missed you!” He says. Lovino has a relieved smile on as well, running a hand through Gilbert’s hair affectionately. Gilbert swallows hard and takes a step back from them, his head down out of shyness. 

“So you both shared with me traditions of your kingdoms and families,” He starts awkwardly, offering a half smile. Matthew and Lovino share a quick look then focus on him.

“And I just, wanted to share a bit of my family with you too,” Before his nerves can tell him this is a bad idea, he pulls two small wrapped boxes from behind his back. A white one wrapped for Matthew and a red one for Lovino. Carefully they take the boxes, amused smiles on both their faces.

Gilbert twitches as they tear at the paper, hoping with ever fiber of his being that he’s not making a mistake. Lovino pulls his gift out first, a simple metal band with one gem of white and another of gold. Matthew’s smile is blinding as he pulls out his as well, another metal band but with a white gem and a red gem.

“In my family we give gifts to those who-” we love.

“Who we are close to,” He changes the words. Matthew slips his onto his pinky, right next to his wedding ring. Lovino does the same, holding out his hand to admire the craft work.

“Did you make these?” Lovino turns his eyes to Gilbert suddenly. Gilbert nods. A skill he has earned from his father. Maybe not his best work in such a rush and out of practice, but the sharp edges are gone ans the stones are set and polished.

“These are beautiful,” Matthew coos, coming closer to him. Gilbert lets out a breath and lifts his own hand.

“You’ve been so kind, and cared for me, I just-” He cuts himself off, letting Matthew hold his hand and admire the metal band on his own finger, a gem of red and a gem of gold. Lovino steps closer, holding Gilbert’s hand as well. Every thought flies out of Gilbert’s head as Matthew places a soft kiss to the ring on Gilbert’s finger.

“It’s perfect, thank you for sharing this part of you with us,” Matthew is so close to him now. Gilbert nods and swallows the lump in his throat. Lovino is pressing their heads together soon enough, so close Gilbert feels more overwhelmed than when they end up cuddling. It’s intimate, both his hands held by those who have helped him in so many ways and their faces far closer than they have ever been.

Gilbert is the one to pull away, too much for him to handle. Matthew just laughs and places the new ring on his finger to his cheek lovingly. Lovino admires the handiwork and runs a hand through Gilbert’s hair.

“You are truly one of a kind,” It’s a compliment that makes Gilbert’s insides turn to mush. Every thing about them turns him to mush. He snorts at the compliment, excusing himself to attend to his servant duties. Matthew and Lovino both watch him go down the hall, turning to smirk at them one last time before leaving around the corner.

The added weight to their hands is pleasant, a happy reminder that they are in this together, and they wouldn’t have it any other way.

–

Lovino’s ceremony is based off Ramadan.

Matthew’s is based off Hanukkah.

It’s not until most of the boxes are gone does Emma get up, swishing her green dress a little more than strictly necessary. She approaches the worker with as much confidence as she can. They notice her just as she gets close, confusion spreading on their face.

“Hey,” Emma greets them. A bit of smile graces their features and they push back their long brown ponytail away from their neck.

“Hey?” They say back. Emma bites her tongue just enough to contain her excitement at the fact she can feel Kyle watching.

“Can I help you?” They ask her when she doesn’t outright say anything. Emma smirks having found her opening.

“Yeah actually, can I have your number?” She boldly asks. The worker blinks at her and a disbelieving laugh escapes her.

“Are you serious?” Their shoulders drop once they realize Emma isn’t joking. She nods her head and gestures behind her.

“Me and my boyfriend think you’re cute and we would love to take you out for dinner,” Emma explains. Kyle raises a glass to them when he notices them looking his way. The worker blows out a puff of air, rubbing at the back of their head, looking between Emma and Kyle.

“This isn’t some kind of stupid joke or.. threesome proposal is it?” They ask and Emma actually looks offended. She crosses her arms and scrunches up her nose.

“I’m not that shallow,” She fusses. The worker snorts and raises their hands part way in a mock surrender. It takes an awkward moment of them looking between Emma and Kyle to make any kind of decision.

“Sure? Why not,” They say and Emma has to hold herself back from lunging at them in a hug. They plug their number into her phone and Emma blows a kiss as she heads back to the table. She sits smugly while Kyle just shakes his head. They both wave happily to the worker as they drive away, both giggling like school kids when they wave back with a incredulous shake of their head.

–

“I still can’t believe you actually did that,” Kyle says after their moment of reminisce. Emma is giggling into her hand as best she can with her face smushed into Elizabeta’s shoulder. Eliza herself is spread out on the bed without a care. She came home from work and just crashed, not bothering just yet to take a shower from a long day. Kyle is on her other side playing with Eliza’s arm.

“It worked didn’t it?” Emma snarks back at him, a smug look on her face. Kyle laughs himself and then flops his face right into Eliza’s stomach. She jerks and whines at his action and pushes him hard enough so he falls off the bed. Emma bubbles up into laughter.

“Ugh my stomach is sore why did you do that?” Eliza whines not offering up an apology when Kyle glares at her over the edge of the bed.

“You know Gilbert laughed his ass off, teasing me the whole damn day afterwords,” Eliza offers up her own glare to the boy hanging off the edge of the bed. Emma pouts at that thought.

“He went on and on about how it was just some sex thing,” Eliza snorts but there’s a darker look in her eyes about the idea. Emma grabs her face and kisses her.

“While that is nice, it’s not the reason,” Emma says to her. Eliza bursts into a laugh, accepting Kyle’s cuddles when he wiggles his way back into her arms.

“We wanted another person to come home too, and you don’t seem to mind it either,” He teases. Eliza rolls her eyes and then squishes them tight to her making them both gasp for air.

“It is nice though,” She admits once she fidgets her way out of them holding onto her. She sends them half hearted glares when they both make grabby hands for her to get back in bed.

“I need a shower!” She laughs at their pouts and makes her way to the bathroom, the shower water turning on a few seconds later. She pops her head back out to the bedroom.

“You can join me ya know?” Her tone is suggestive enough and she slips back into being unseen. Emma glances at Kyle then takes a pillow to his face to push him down and sprint into the bathroom.

“What do we do?” He whispers hazardously to Allen. Allen scrunches up his face in confusion, putting his hands out in an ‘I don’t know’ way. Alfred waves his hands too. Allen glances between Alfred and the other snoozing in their bed.

With a groan Alfred lays back down with a furrow in his brows. Allen pops up from over James. They spend a few minutes making faces at each other and gesturing to James between them. Eventually they both lay down on opposites sides with a huff.

Alfred watches James sleep and feelings conflict inside him. It hadn’t been his idea to invite James over but he sure hadn’t be opposed. Allen seemed excited and the movie night had gone wonderful. They didn’t even make James feel like a third wheel, rather a big part.

He and Allen had been dating for some time now, coming close to a year if he remembers correctly. Their relationship has been gong wonderfully, never fighting and being able to talk things out those Allen tends to get a little heated over somethings and Alfred has a habit of acting a little too childish.

Then James came into the picture. Someone from work, a friend of a friend, it didn’t matter how he came into the picture but Alfred knows very much after the cuddle puddle they got themselves mixed into that he really likes James, and wants to make him a more permanent part of the picture.

He sits up again, slower this time. Allen is turned into James, his face smushed to James’s arm as he lays like a lug on the bed. He angles his eyes up when he noticed Alfred looming over him. Alfred sighs and puts his arms on James’s chest to rest on him. Allen scoots closer to be snuggled into James too.

“I think I like him,” Alfred mouths and barely whispers. He nods towards the lumberjack. Allen sighs and nods too. For a second Alfred wonders if he should have kept his mouth shut. He adores Allen, would never give him up, but he does like James he has to be honest with Allen about how he feels.

“I think I do too,” Allen tells him with a grimace. A wash of relief comes over Alfred and he smiles to Allen. His boyfriend raises up to kiss him and also join him on James’s chest. They snuggle into the larger man and slowly he groans to a wake up. His face contorts and he makes no move to get them off him.

“Why,” Is what he says deadpan. Both of them laugh and begin to wrap their arms around him, refusing to let him go, not that he’s trying very hard to get away from them.

“Cause you’re warm and cozy,” Allen says by way of explanation. James just stares at the ceiling. He shrugs once, then closes his eyes again as if trying to fall back asleep. Alfred smiles at Allen who winks back at him. He pushes up to kiss James on the cheek then slip out of bed and start making breakfast.

Alfred copies him and kisses James’s cheek. He slides out of bed to pad down to the kitchen. Allen is there with a soft smile on his face, a smile he gives to Alfred easily. They share a soft kisses before Alfred flops to the table to wait for food. He’s no good with cooking and this way Allen knows what he’s eating.

James comes around the corner with a grumpy look on his face. He takes a seat by Alfred and yawns before thunking his head to the table. Alfred lays on him as Allen laughs, bringing over two mugs of coffee for them. Alfred drinks his while James takes a while to start moving again.

“So you wanna go on a date?” Allen asks half way through breakfast. Alfred almost chokes on his coffee at the blunt way he asked but really there is no other way Allen would have asked. James stops with his mouth full to stare at him. He looks between them dumbly. It takes him a lot of effort to swallow.

“What,” He says. Allen sighs and Alfred puts down his mug to make sure he doesn’t spill it.

“A date? With us?” Alfred tries to explain. It only makes James more confused.

“Really?” He asks plainly. Alfred nods and Allen smirks openly at him.

“You’re cute papa bear and we wanna treat you right,” Allen tells him with that wicked look that Alfred definitely fell hard for. He looks earnestly to James who is still looking confused. He sighs.

They had spent most of the time engaged just getting to know each other, maybe learning soft bits of each other’s kingdoms, but nothing business for so long. To be thrown back into such an unforgiving atmosphere put both of them in a loop is confusion. Lovino got over it quicker, but some times it shook his anger well enough.

Matthew enjoyed the soft moment they could spend together after hours. They would met up in their bedroom and Matthew would hold his hand as he ranted on his day, sometimes laughing at his venting but never causing Lovino to be too cross with him. He always managed to get Lovino to calm down enough to lay beside him and sleep the troubles away for tomorrow.

Those moments held something special in his mind. A simple time where they could be open and honest with each other. They would cuddle up to each other and whisper words of encouragement. A simple moment of loving that brought a little more joy to their upturned world.

The subject is sensitive to them both. Matthew knows this, that’s why neither of them have brought it up. After spending so long together, it would make sense for some form of feelings to be shown, but what kind they are is still an unknown factor. 

Lovino must enjoy his company to some extent, enough to be that kind of genuine open and honest with him, but are his feelings that of a love variety Matthew does not know. He’s not too sure of himself either. He does adore Lovino, but the romance of it all could be a figment of his own mind.

Engagements aren’t meant to be romantic for the people involved. They are not intended that way at least. They are alliance forming for royals more often than not. The people of the kingdoms can marry for love, or riches, or other selfish needs. A part of him hopes he’s not making up the happiness he feels.

Lovino makes him feel special in any way at least. There are very few that he’s seen that his spouse can talk to without feeling judged. He’s happy to say he is one of them. Knowing Lovino trusts him enough with who he really is makes him feel like there could be something more.

It doesn’t help that the kind of affection he has for Lovino hasn’t been entirely exclusive. For as often as Matthew smiles Lovino’s way to maybe help him relax, he’s just as often turning his head behind him to where Gilbert always is to smile his way. The now personal servant instead of ‘footman’ has very much been the cause of Matthew’s happiness and joy.

The effort and care Matthew has given him is far more than any other being he has ever met. The amount of self hatred that has been gnawing Gilbert to the bone has slowly been unraveled bit by bit not only by Matthew, but Lovino too. That of course does not help the confusion.

He wants Gilbert to like himself, as much as both Matthew and Lovino do. He knows enough that Lovino would never want to see Gilbert feel like he’s not worthy for anything. Especially the hints of affection they do give him. Matthew isn’t too sure where Lovino stands romantic wise with the beautiful servant, he can only hope for something good.

Still it does not help his own thoughts. He knows he feels something for both of them, but the likelihood of them both feeling the same to the other too is unheard of. Rules would forbid it and the secrets would need to be kept. He would lose his head if someone then insulted Gilbert, and Lovino has definitely shown he would not stand by. It would be a disaster.

Oh but it would be wonderful too.

“Are you listening?” The stern voice knocks him from his daydreams about his spouse and servant. Matthew snaps his head up to Queen Carmen. She’s smiling down condescendingly at him, knowing for a fact that he had not been listening and waiting to hold it over his head. Matthew sits up a little straighter.

“My apologies, my head seemed to have gotten lost in the pages,” He says. It’s not the biggest half truth he’s ever said. Carmen hums and goes back to her own book. Matthew settles into his chair just slightly as he continues to read over the history of the Olive Kingdom.

As the future queen, it’s his job to know about what he is to be ruling. Customs and traditions, laws and regulations, wars and treaties he hadn’t even been alive for. So much history and not much he can do but compare it his own homeland.

A peaceful kingdom, almost as much as the one he used to live in. The Glow Kingdom has been one of the most war-less kingdoms, opposite to the Scorch Kingdom who decides it necessary to pick fights as often as possible. He supposes he might be lucky to be in the Olive Kingdom instead.

Their laws are fairly simple, a little skewed towards the royals in his opinion but his own homeland had been no better, potentially worse if he looks hard enough at the laws that have been doctored. Maybe he’ll be able to talk to Lovino about that when they rule together. It would probably make the villagers like them more.

He grits his teeth when it comes time for the section about ‘unwanted’ persons. Maybe it is against his own ancestry, but the thought of others being unwanted because of what they look like is brainwashing at its finest. He understands it, but there are some thing, some people, who are beautiful despite what other may say of them.

“So Prince Matthew.” Slowly Matthew raises his head to the Queen. She’s got a simple smile on her face, one that looks like it holds poison underneath. He takes a quick glance at her handmaiden, a simple girl with what could be considered ‘plain looks’ by most in this kingdom. Though they may have gotten rid of the ‘footman’ principle, they still keep those of lesser looks around, a leftover from the once wide spread tradition.

“Tell me something young prince,” The queen goes on, not really getting to her point fast enough for Matthew’s tastes. He closes his history text softly and waits as patiently as he can. Finally she looks up to him.

“How on earth did you find someone so horrendous to be your servant?” The words are cold and it makes Matthew’s blood boil anyway. He keeps a neutral expression for as long as he can.

“He came to me, helping me when my carriage got stuck on the way to visit your home the first time,” He admits only enough to say what he needs to. Away from the queen’s cruel eyes he holds his book with white knuckles to try and keep himself under control.

“On the outskirts I presume? How dreadful,” She says and leans back to enjoy her book again.

“It is not,” Matthew speaks before he can fully tell himself to not. The queen just hums a small tune as if to ignore him.

“What does my son think of him?” She asks though. Matthew highly doubts Lovino is her actual son but he doesn’t comment on the thought.

“My husband enjoys his company as well,” He says. The queen shoots him a look for his words and Matthew tries to hide a knowing of what she might be picking up. Rather than Gilbert’s servitude, it is his existence they like most. Perhaps not the right words to say.

“His company,” She repeats but with malice neither would ever use in regards to Gilbert. Matthew takes a deep breath.

“Yes, his company is rather enjoyable and far better than some,” He says though he shouldn’t have. He stands abruptly, trying not to glare at the queen when he bows to her politely. There’s a dark look on her face but she remains smiling. He leaves the room without closing the door behind him.

It takes him half an hour to start regretting his word choice, but it felt good to tell her so. For all he’s worth he’d rather spend seconds with Gilbert than any amount of time with that wretched person who thinks themselves so much more worthy than Gilbert.

He collapses to his shared bed and curls up, trying to calm down as best he can. He’s angry though. Gilbert is his friend and a trusted companion. He wouldn’t give him up even if they offered him plenty of other ‘prettier’ servants.

The knock on the door startles him and Gilbert enters even without acknowledgment that it’s okay. He spies Matthew looking disheveled and almost walks out to give him space when Matthew flies from the sheets to wrap him in a tight hug.

He can hear Gilbert swallow hard but the embrace is returned soon enough. It’s comforting, a sense of home that he doesn’t much have any more in the Olive Kingdom. Gilbert pets his hair and holds him tight and that’s all Matthew really needs.

“I don’t like it when they talk bad about you,” He says once he’s calmed down. He sits on the edge of his bed, playing with the hem of his shirt. Gilbert cackles at his words from across him, something he never would have done two years ago. Matthew gives him a chiding look.

“Plenty people do, it does not matter so much any more,” Gilbert tells him honestly and Matthew has to sigh and put his head in his hands. It does matter though, it matters to him.

“They should keep their mouths shut,” He hisses and again Gilbert laughs. He comes closer to put an arm around Matthew and nuzzle into him. Matthew accepts the affection. Words burn on his tongue, wanting to ask a thousand times what Gilbert’s feelings are, to say a thousand times how much Gilbert means to him. It’s all cut short by another servant coming to tell him dinner is served.

It is by far the awkwardest meal Matthew has had in the Olive Kingdom. The King says nothing as he usually does but the Queen is less chatty, and when she does talk her words are clipped short. It doesn’t help that she only talks to the 2nd prince, who under her sharp words has grown quiet. Lovino is no where to be found.

Matthew sneaks looks at Gilbert behind him through out the meal, looking for some sort of comfort in his presence. Gilbert smirks softly at him when he catches Matthew looking and it’s enough to get him through the meal. Still he excuses himself early to continue his reading. It earns him a sassy remark from the queen that this time he manages to hold his tongue against.

He lounges in a chair back in his room, reading over some more historical texts about the kingdom. Gilbert is on the other side, fiddling with some tools that remind him of home. That’s when Lovino barges in, a mess of a person with a sour expression on his face that is worse than the one he normally wears.

“Fuck,” Is the only coherent thing he says when his words run off into nonsense. Matthew is quick to drop his book to his chair and go towards his spouse. Lovino is pulling at his clothes, trying to get out them. They are tattered and messy. Matthew helps him get out of his outer shirt, leaving the thin under shirt on his skin when he manages to get Lovino to look at him.

“What happened?” He asks softly and Lovino, for all his hands move, does not get farther away from the soft touch of Matthew’s hands on his shoulders. He rants and rambles hard about the lessons he had today. Arithmetic and numbers and words that hurt his brain and so mush professional letter practice and essays that made his hand hurt. Then to top it all off he had a sparring lesson that no one told him about.

“You’ll never be prepared in battle so why should you now,” He says in a high pitched voice to mock his sparring teacher. He drops to a bench on the side of the room and Matthew sits next to him, rubbing softly at his back to maybe help soothe some of the sore muscles there. Lovino only huffs and puts his head in his hands.

It’s quiet as they soak in the words Lovino spouted at them. Matthew and Gilbert share a look of unknowing. Matthew eventually leans his head on Lovino’s shoulder comfortingly.

“You’re doing so well,” He says and Lovino scoffs, dropping his hands to just glare at the bed across from them.

“To bad it’s not enough.” He spits and Matthew snatches him by his face to make him look his way.

“You are enough,” He says sternly like he might have said it to Gilbert. Lovino scrunches up his eyebrows, judging the stubborn look Matthew has on his face. He melts down to a calmer state and Matthew releases him, just slightly.

“I’m trying, but they never seem to think I’m trying,” He says softer this time. Matthew goes back to cuddling him.

“They know you will be king, they want to make sure you’re the best you can be, and you will be,” He tells his spouse. Lovino sighs and rests up against him as well. The moment is softer now. Matthew raises his head which forces Lovino to raise his, bringing them almost nose to nose.

“You will be amazing,” Matthew says to him and Lovino rolls his eyes, not moving away. A soft smile comes to Matthew’s face. He watches as the last of the anger drains from Lovino’s face. They end up just looking at each other in a moment of stillness. Slowly but surely they get closer together.

The kiss is small and sweet, definitely less awkward than when they had to for the wedding ceremony. It’s only one and after Lovino drops his head to Matthew’s shoulder to just be.

Matthew smiles at the ground, bringing his arms up to hold his spouse to him. It feels right to be with him, to be able to have these moments with him. He sighs slightly and relaxes with him, holding him tightly.

Gilbert standing awkwardly, like he’s attempting to sneak away, catches both of their attention though. He looks distraught about something and there is no way Matthew would let him leave looking like that but Lovino beat him to it.

“Where do you think you’re going?” He asks with a teasing tone but not moving from his huddled up position in Matthew’s arms. Gilbert points to the door and sputters out some semblance to a statement but doesn’t get anywhere. Lovino holds out his hand and Matthew nods him over. Tentatively Gilbert does come closer. He kneels down between them and is brought into the huddle.

He rests his head on Lovino’s legs when prompted and Matthew moves one hand to run through his messy white hair. There’s something completing about the action that really settles Matthew. A simple sense of right and belonging. A lingering homesick feeling is pushed aside for this. Lovino is relaxed and Gilbert’s agitated expression is gone. It’s exactly as it should be.

“Lovino,” Matthew says softy, both of them looking to him with utmost attention. He keeps his eyes on the stone floor.

“I know we’re married, but sometimes marriages aren’t for.. anything else,” He says in some sort of explanation. Lovino looks up to face him properly and Gilbert tenses.

“If this runs deeper than just an outward appearance,” Matthew bulks up his courage to look Lovino in the eye.

“I would like to know,” He finishes his small speech and Lovino casts his eyes back down. He twitches and when Gilbert moves his head from his leg he’s quick to place a hand to him to keep him still. A silence stretches on and Matthew puts his head on Lovino’s shoulder to wait while his spouse thinks.

He looks to Gilbert then, another piece to their puzzle and Matthew isn’t sure where he goes. As far as he’s concerned he belongs right beside them. Gilbert is glancing between the two of them from his spot on the ground. Matthew calms him by placing a gentle hand on his face. Gilbert stalls for the moment, nuzzling into the touch.

“I don’t know,” Lovino finally says and breath escapes Matthew hard.

“There’s a lot of things going on, and I want to be sure of those, before I try figuring out-” Lovino takes a second to pause, slightly turning his head to the both of them in turn. Mathew takes a deep breath and rests into him more.

“Okay, me too,” He agrees. Lovino accepts the affection, pulling both of them closer to him. It’s not the most conventional embrace, but it is very them. He can feel Lovino’s arms around him keeping him close and the grip Gilbert has on where he can reach. That homesick feeling has vanished completely.

“You’re in this mess to I hope you know,” Lovino snaps down at the servant. Gilbert lifts his head and a disbelieving laugh escapes him. Matthew smiles at the reaction but makes a note to make sure later that Gilbert knows their feelings, whatever they are, are true and real.

They both refuse to let Gilbert leave, making him dress down as much as he’s comfortable and joining them in the large bed. Matthew is stuck in the middle with them holding onto his middle. It’s confusing what he’s feeling, but knowing he’s not entirely alone in it makes it easier to handle. One day when Lovino has a handle on him being king and Matthew has the power to talk about it, they can figure out what they mean to each other, and how Gilbert fits. By what Lovino said, he’s sure they both want him to fit.

“Arthur please come on I’ve never had any!” Alfred begs. He’s on his knees now and looking up at Arthur with puppy dog eyes that he wears far too well. He’s not in a transition stage but Arthur can firmly see the sad dropping ears that would be on his head and the tail that would be wagging with hope should he be closer to a full moon.

“The smell is so tempting,” Francis is behind him, draping his arms over Arthur’s shoulders and trying to seduce him into making them an antidote. His skin is cold and Arthur shrugs him off as best he can with Alfred leaning on his knees. They are trying to be charming.

“It’s a stupid idea,” Arthur tells them both. Alfred whines, sounding very much like he’s been kicked. Francis sighs, his breathing making Arthur shiver and he can feel his pointed teeth next to his ear.

“Please Arthur~” He coos in that way that vampires can to make him lose his sense. It almost works. Arthur shakes his head and shoves a mirror in Francis’s face. The vampire hisses knowing Arthur showed him his lack of reflection on purpose. It does it’s purpose and Arthur manages to wiggle out of their hold.

“It’s a bad idea!” He tries to convey to them. Still the two creatures pout and give him pleading looks. Sadly Arthur is weak to their sad faces more than the charms and vaguely puppy like features. He sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose.

“It’s a bad idea,” He says weakly. In a quick wisp of shadow Francis is next to him, pulling him in close and nuzzling him. Alfred is not far behind, picking the two of them up in a giant tight hug.

“Please Arthur,” They ask once more. With a groan Arthur pushes them both away and stomps down to his own cave. He ignores their cheering in exchange for the sanity of silence. He slumps to the door with a slump in his shoulders.

“Ridiculous,” He mutters to himself and pushes off and to the array of bottles that line the shelves. Each specially prepared and created for purposes yet to be determined. He waves his hand towards a book on the table and it flips open to a page with the specification needed for what he plans to create.

Bottle after bottle and page after page, he diligently mixes specific proportions to twist the antidote to a bite from either vampire or werewolf, shifting and changing it to work for the creature instead of against it for the things that harm it instead.

It takes a full day for him to feel completely satisfied with what he’s created. He stumbles out of his creation lab and into the living world again. His eyes are a little blurry from the light but they adjust well enough. He sighs deeply and goes back to the kitchen.

He’s tackled quickly by Alfred who bursts in from outside where he had been playing. There’s a hiss for him to shut the heavy blinds so Francis can emerge as well. They hold Arthur tight and cuddle him, making him sit down and drink some water as he exhausted all of his energy creating what he did.

“Will it work?” Alfred asks excitedly, his entire being shaking with excitement. Arthur sneers at him.

“I don’t know I’ve never tried it before,” He mocks and smacks his head to the table. Francis smooths out his hair and places an entire chocolate bar in front of Alfred and takes a new hot plate of garlic bread for himself. 

“Drink a little first, then the rest after,” Arthur mumbles. He straightens out his head to watch the two creatures take a soft sip of their own antidote, make gross faces at the flavor, then try the food they have been denied due to their conditions. Alfred eats the chocolate bar straight on without taking the wrapper off, pulling it out of his mouth after he realizes he can’t eat it.

He melts to the taste, whining in happiness. Francis takes a different approach, smelling the bread first then taking a deliberately slow bite. He breathes deeply with a low escaping him as he does. Then he dislocates his jaw and eats three pieces in one go. Alfred tears through the house to find the other chocolate bar and tear it out of the package.

They both sit satisfied at the table until Alfred starts itching like he has fleas. A rash is beginning to break out on his skin and he downs his antidote without care for the flavor. Francis on the other has puffy spot starting to appear on his face before he drinks the rest of his liquid cure.

Arthur watches them carefully as he can with a groggy mind. There’s still a chance he created the potion wrong and that it won’t work. Thankfully Alfred’s itching goes away and the rash devolves into little dots on his skin that disappear. Francis’s face stops swelling up and he can breathe again.

“That,” Alfred says from the floor an hour after the sugar in his system has finally crashed. Arthur is on the floor on top of Alfred to stay warm and cozy. Francis is on the couch reading.

“Was so worth it,” The werewolf says with a large yawn. A few of his teeth are sharpened into points. They may have scared Arthur at first but not any more. Francis hums and lifts both of them to the couch so they can all lay on each other.