Ex's to Lovers

Chapter 33

In Which Alfred Decides Mathew Has A Crush

Alfred was watching Mathew read his texts with a feeling of growing suspicion. Matthew's eyes went wide as he read his text, clapping a hand over his mouth to hide his choked snicker, but there was still a smile pulling at his face as he responded, and Alfred felt goosebumps. There was no doubt about it, his brother was in love. And, as the older Twin (Mathew would argue that point but Alfred knew he was right), it was Alfred's duty to make sure that his brother wasn't hurt. 

"Yo, Mattie, who you texting?" 

Mathew jumped, like he'd forgotten Alfred was in the room, then glanced back at his phone, suddenly looking guarded. 

"Just Katyusha." 

He responded warily, hiding his phone when Alfred tried to peak at it. That made Alfred sure he was right. Mathew didn't usually hide things from Alfred, mostly because Alfred was obnoxious whe he did, but Alfred just thought that they were close like that. Alfred studied Matthew's face, which was beginning to look guilty. 

"You're hiding something." 

Instead of responding, Mathew looked away, but the smile was twitching on the edges of his lips again. Alfred frowned, the realized his frown might make his brother think he didn't approve, so he beamed instead, looking rather Ivan-like.  Mathew looked like he perfered the frown to Alfred's sudden sunny beam.

"What-"

Mathew started to ask, but Alfred cut him off, trying his best to sound just curious and casual, in case Mathew thought he sounded too tense and decided not to tell him.

"Sooooo, Mattie..." Alfred drew out the 'o' sound, not sounding at all casual, "You like Katyusha, huh?"

Mathew hesitated, brow furrowed, as though sensing this wasn't a completely normal question, and then responded to Alfred somewhat warily.

"Yes?"

Alfred hadn't expected Mathew to admit it so easily. But then there was the issue that Katyusha was also two years older than Mathew, and in college, and Mathew was still finishing his last year of high school. Mathew was very sensitive, and Alfred knew he had to speak carefully to avoid upsetting his twin.

"Well, I guess if it's you, you can definitely wait till you're older?"

Alfred suggested, not sounding quite as confident as he sounded, and Mathew gave him a Wierd look.

"I guess? I'm going to college next year though, it's not that long?"

Mathew had made a valid point, and Alfred made up his mind. He didn't know Ivan's big sister all that well, but if Mathew was interested in her, he'd have to investigate what kind of person she was. Luckily, he knew she was back home for the weekend, visiting Ivan, since Toris had told him so, and Toris got all his information directly from Natalya. It didn't matter who's sister she was, Alfred was going to make sure Katyusha wasn't the type of person who'd hurt his brother- even if that meant walking into the lion's den himself.

"Alright." Alfred announced, standing up and grabbing his hoodie, "Then I'll support you!"

Mathew looked very weirded out, and gave Alfred a look like he thought Alfred was being strange.

"Why don't you worry about your grades first? Didn't you score lower than you usually do on your math test the other day?"

Alfred flinched at the reminder, and valiantly chose to ignore Matthew's response. His twin just didn't understand that it was a brother's duty for Alfred to protect Mathew from being hurt, and avenge him if needed. Alfred headed to the door, letting Mathew know where he was going just in case.

"I'm headed to Ivan's!"

Mathew who had just started a text in reply to Katyusha, started a little with large eyes.

"Wait, Al, I don't think-"

The door slammed behind Alfred and his brother was gone, and Mathew looked rather anxious as he sadly finished his sentence to empty air.

"-that's a good idea right now..."