Lost Souls

Chapter Six

By the time Alfred and Arthur got home, Matthew and Gil were sleeping on the floor, curled up around each other like puppies in a basket. Alfred didn't pay any mind to them. He went up to his room, probably to sleep off his lost night.
Francis was in the living room as well, sitting on the couch and watching the two young lovers as they dreamed of a world in which he was still alive. Matthew let out a little whine and moved closer to Gil's warmth, drooling onto the albino's shirt. Francis gave him a fond smile that he would never see.
"So...how was your day?" Arthur asked, stepping into the room and lowering himself down at Francis's side.
"Good. Matthieu is experiencing amour for zhe first time and I got to watch 'im fall naturally instead of just 'earing about it." Francis was in complete bliss.
"Alfred and I went to the flower shop."
"Ah. Zhat sounds almost as fun as my day!"
"Maybe for you."
"Your brozhers 'aven't stopped by..."
"Yeah. So..." Arthur honestly forgot he even had brothers most of the time. They had been nothing but a pain to him.
"Was it fun, growing up wizh so many siblings?"
"It was hell. Why do you ask?"
Francis sighed. "Our parents struggled to 'ave even one child. Matthieu was like zheir miracle baby. 'E was born prematurely and zhere were a lot of complications so ma mere couldn't 'ave anozher child after 'im." The Frenchman closed his eyes and lowered his head. "But zhey always wanted to 'ave a 'uge famille."
"Is that why you're always so protective of Matthew?"
"Oui. You were lucky to be so blessed."
"Alfred was adopted."
"Quoi?"
"He's actually my cousin. My aunt died in childbirth and my parents took him in. But we haven't told him."
"I 'ad no idea."
"And Peter was a freak accident. That's why he's ten years younger than the rest of us."
Francis nodded. "Can you tell me what it was like? 'Aving a family like zhat?"
"I once tried to sell Peter on EBay." Arthur smirked, recalling that day. "Some Swedish guy was going to buy him but then my mom caught on. I was grounded for a week."
Francis chuckled. "When Matthieu was a toddler I convinced 'im zhat chocolate milk came from brown cows."
"That's tame, Francis. When I was six, Alister locked me in our dog's cage on his birthday and used me as a decoration."
"I used to feed Matthew cat food when 'e was a baby."
"Try waking up to a breakfast of haggis and scrambled eggs every morning."
"Matthieu got mad at me and set fire to my desk."
"The amount of times I found dead frogs in my bed is unbelievable."
Francis snorted loudly, a sound that Arthur didn't expect to be coming from a man as elegant and together as him.
"But I guess the only dead frog I'll be finding in my bed now is you..." He whispered softly enough that Francis wouldn't hear.
"What was zhat?"
"Uh...nothing..."
"Mattie, jour feet are cold." Gilbert groaned from the floor, interrupting the two ghosts.
"Would they be warmer up your ass?"
"Wow. Jou're hot Vhen jour sassing me out." Gilbert purred, rolling on top of Matthew and kissing his cheek. Matthew closed his eyes and tilted his head so his mouth was to Gil's.
"Shuttup." He grumbled, pulling his boyfriend into a kiss.
"We should probably leave zhem to it." Francis whispered.
"Yeah..." Arthur agreed. "We should."

I tried to wear my wig to town but my mom made me take it off ;-;