Ex's to Lovers

Chapter 5

In Which Alfred and Mathew encounter a misunderstanding, much to Ivan's bewilderment

"Alfred," Alfred was cornered by a very angry Ivan, smiling his ever-threatening beam as he spoke, "Why did my good friend Yao offer me medicine that's good for heartbreak?"

Alfred flinched, both because he knew the reason, and also because Yao was well known for thinking his homemade remedies would cure anything. Ivan glared at Alfred over his beam, and Alfred remembered that he was in a very bad situation. Alfred opened his mouth, fully intending to either claim ignorance or tell whatever lies were necessary so Ivan didn't kill him -or worse, find out what Alfred had told his sister- but his brother had different ideas.

"Back off!" 

Alfred rarely heard his brother raise his voice like that, and had only seen his brother this angry once before. Mathew inserted himself in between Alfred and Ivan, doing everything but push Ivan away with his hands, glaring at him. Both Ivan and Alfred stared at Mathew is shock, then Ivan looked at Alfred over Matthew's shoulder with a raised brow, temporarily putting away his own grudge with Alfred to silently ask what he'd done to make the usually-friendly Mathew so angry at him. Alfred could only respond with a flabbergasted shrug. Mathew answered for Alfred. 

"You've got some nerve going near my brother after you broke his heart!" 

With a groan, Alfred figured out why Mathew, who was usually annoyingly close with Ivan, had suddenly turned aggressive. Ivan looked so taken aback he forgot to maintain his ever-present smile, looking with wide eyes between Mathew and Alfred. Mathew looked murderous. Alfred realized if he didn't do something, Mathew might actually attack Ivan, or worse, Ivan might find out what he'd said to get himself out of trouble with his sister. 

For once, Alfred's brain obediently decided to work, and Alfred grabbed his brother by the shoulders, mouthing "Just give us a second" at Ivan as he hauled his brother away before Mathew could get them both on Ivan and his sister's bad side. Alfred didn't wait for Mathew to explain himself. 

"Matt, where did you hear that?" He hissed, and Mathew stopped looking angry and looked guilty instead. 

"I'm sorry," Mathew apologized in his usual quiet tone, losing the fury in his eyes, "I know you didn't want us to know, but Kat told me and I just got angry when I saw him acting like nothing happened." 

Mathew flashed Alfred an embarrassed, not regretful smile, looking both proud to have protected Alfred, and guilty for not noticing his brother's heartbreak sooner. In another situation, Alfred would be flattered that Mathew would react that way on his behalf, and embarrassed and angry that Mathew thought he couldn't handle it on his own. As it was, Alfred would have been more embarrassed that Mathew thought he was in a relationship with Ivan, of all people, and had apparently been dumped by him, if he wasn't so horrified at something else Mathew had said. 

"Us?" Alfred repeated in horror, "How many people know?"