The Long Way Home

Fifteen

Spoilers for chapter 105 of Kuroshitsuji:
Grell in the beginning of the series was irrationally suicidal but then in 105 we discover that grim reapers are people who commit suicide and have to take the lives of people who want to live and I'm only just connecting that now but anyway I'm crying.

"Mattie, there's this party tonight at that clearing in the woods." Alfred enthused as the boys closed their lockers after a long day of school. "Wanna sneak out with me?"
"No thanks. Me and papa were going to have a movie night. I'll cover for you, though."
That was what brothers did.
"If you change your mind, let me know."
Matthew didn't change his mind. He was glad he didn't.

"Earzh to Mattie." Gilbert waved his hand in front of Matthew's face, pulling him from his daydream.
"Sorry. I was just thinking."
"I finished anozher drawing."
"Can I see?"
"Ja." Gilbert held his textbook up, showing the drawing idea he had for chapter twenty. They were almost done this thing. Hard work really paid off.
"So...vhere are ve going tomorrow?"
"We're going somewhere?" Peter poked his head out from beneath the couch where he had gotten himself stuck. Matthew refused to help the boy because the couch kept him out of trouble. Instead, he dropped goldfish crackers into his little brother's mouth to nourish him.
"I'm going to visit my brother and my papa."
"Und ve get to go?"
"Not directly. I'm going and Lars is taking you out."
"To lunch, I hope."
"Yeah."
"Can we go to Burger King?"
"Not McDonald's?"
"Dad says that McDonald's is for slobs."
"Of course he does."
"So, Burger King?"
"Just ask Lars. And don't eat their poutine. It's disgusting."
"Jou can get poutine at Burger King?" Gilbert exclaimed.
"Only in Canada. But it's super salty."
"How? Vhy?"
"Most fast food places have poutine in Canada these days. It's a marketing thing. You're supposed to tap into the local likes of the place you're opening in so the people there feel like you're part of the community and trust you more."
"Zhat's vild."
"McDonald's, however disgusting their food may be, is really good at tapping into this. In the maritime region of Canada you can get a McLobster sandwich at certain times of the year. Walmart, however is awful at this, which is why they bombed in places such and Germany and India."
"I did not know zhat, Mr. Textbook."
"I had to do research for a book, leave me alone!" Matthew exclaimed.
"It vas cute, zhough."
Before Matthew could fall off the couch in shock, Peter distracted him with an open mouth. He chucked some more Gold Fish in there and escaped with only a deep blush.
"Vant to take a break?"
"Sure. And do what?"
"We could help me get out of this couch, maybe?" Peter wondered.
"Not a chance in hell."
"Could you at least give me a toy to play with?"
"Play vizh jourself."
"Please do not play with yourself."
"I want a tooooooooy!"
"So, Gil. Wanna go for a walk."
"Ja. Sure."
Matthew got up and walked toward the door, Gilbert in tow and Peter screaming at them to let him go.
They didn't.