Lured into the Danger

Sept

As Gilbert lay in his bed, surrounded by instruments he would never again use, he wondered what the last two years had been like for Matthew.
The guilt of what he had done must have been eating him alive, and on top of all that, his family was just rolling with his depression like it was bound to happen.
There had to be more to the story, more to explain why he couldn't talk and more to explain why he had stopped taking his meds.
Gilbert desperately wanted to talk to him, to really talk to him, to figure out what had happened to him.
He couldn't sleep.
He needed to see Matthew again. There was too much going on in his brain.
He needed a god damn drink, something strong to get him to sleep.
All he had was beer.
That would have to do.

The next morning, Gilbert wandered to the mansion's front door, sick and hungover, but ready to be alone with Matthew.
"Oh...you're back...."
"Of course I am, Francis. I said I would be."
"Well, it's just that, Matthew took his meds this morning so I think he'll be fine now."
"One day is not enough to get him back on track." Gilbert insisted.
"Oui, but we think we have the hang of it now. No point in pushing you on him longer than necessary."
"Let me see him, Francis."
Francis scowled. "You did it, didn't you? You went and fell in love with him like we said not to."
Gilbert swallowed. "You're wrong. I never stopped loving him."
"Stay away from my cousin." Francis slammed the door in his face, but not before Gilbert caught a glimpse of Matthew at the top of the stairs, eyes watering as his heart shattered yet again.
Gilbert slammed his hand against the closed door, feeling hot tears bubble up inside him. He wanted to be with Matthew, just like they used to. He wanted to fall asleep next to him, to joke about his dick and to cook pancakes for him on his birthday.
When was his birthday, anyway?
Gilbert stomped down the path and then down the road, not knowing what to do with himself. Maybe he should drink some more? But he didn't have any beer left at home and the bars weren't serving right now.
He spent the day walking in the park and through the shopping mall, anything but going home to that empty bed and those unplayable instruments.
He just wanted to be with Matthew.
He just wanted to be with Matthew.
He just wanted...
"Hey, are you that DJ who broke down at the wedding?"
Gilbert looked up, seeing Matthew right in front of him.
But...no...this wasn't Matthew. Not exactly. This guy had shorter hair and blue eyes instead of violet. He also looked more alive than Matthew had in a while. He held a toddler in his arms, bouncing it occasionally. The man before him wasn't Matthew but he wasn't far from.
"I am..." Gilbert answered, unsure.
"Cool. I'm Mattie's twin brother, Alfred."