Dark Waters

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Matthew sighed feeling Gilbert's arms around his waist and his chest pressed against his back. It was late in the night, but he still hadn't fallen asleep. He was busy worrying about the time difference for the Storm Hawks. He hoped it wasn't a factor. The war could get better while they were gone, but it could also get worse.

Canada was pulled out of his thoughts hearing footsteps. He spotted movement and judging by the hair it was Aerrow. He watched him walk to the door and quietly open it. He could see him leaning on the cabins railing through the window. The blond sighed carefully prying Prussia's arms off him. The albino groaned and rolled over. He sat up grabbing his jacket and going outside. He wanted to make sure the red head was okay.

"Can't sleep?" Matthew asked walking up to him and leaning on the railing next to him.

"No." Aerrow said looking up at the stars. "You're worlds so new. I want to see more."

Matthew smiled and gestured for him to follow. He lead him to the training forest and picked the tallest tree. He climbed into the branches helping the shorter teen up. The pair climbed to the highest branches. Canada sat on the branch, but Aerrow stood and looked out over the land.

"It just goes on forever." The Sky Knight said shaking his head. "I remember you said it was big, but I didn't realize you meant this big!"

"This isn't even half of it." Canada said. "There's so much more outside the walls with even more on the other side of the ocean."

"That's amazing." The red head said sitting on the branch next to him. They sat quietly for a while before he spoke up again. "Will we find the crystal? This place is huge, it'll be like finding a needle in a hay stack."

"I know exactly where it is." Matthew said reassuringly. Aerrow still looked unsure. "It's in my land. I can feel where it is. We just need to go get it."

"Why did you leave it?" He asked.

"I never got the chance to grab it when the titans came." Matthew shook his head. "We were way out west when it was under the floorboards in the east."

"Under the floorboards?" Aerrow asked with a light laugh.

"I didn't want someone to accidentally use it." Canada said with a smile. "Knowing my brother he would have ended up in another dimension."

"When we find the crystal," Aerrow started looking over to him. "Will you guys come back with us?"

Matthew didn't respond right away. He definitely wouldn't mind going back. He had missed the Storm Hawks and was so happy to see them again. He was a bit hesitant, they had just found his family again, but Gilbert and him had been talking about leaving the Scouts forever.

"I'd like to, but I won't go anywhere without Gil." The blond said and Aerrow nodded. "I'll talk to him and see."

"I understand." The red head said looking down. "It would be nice to have you back. We missed you."

"I missed you guys too." Canada smiled sadly. "We haven't been that happy with the Scouts lately. We've been thinking about leaving and living outside the walls, but we just found my family again last year." He sighed. "They're really the only thing keeping us around."

"What about Gilbert's family?" The Sky Knight asked. "Is he a nation too?"

"He is, yes. Well, neither one of us are exactly nations anymore." Canada shrugged. "We don't know what happened to his family. They could be fine on the other side of the ocean in another set of walls, but we don't really know."

The pair sat quietly again for a while until Aerrow yawned. Matthew stood up and stretched while the teen looked up at him.

"Better go back to bed. We've got to get up earlyish tomorrow." The Canadian groaned and Aerrow nodded. He started dropping down out of the tree while the Sky Knight climbed down.

"What happened to being afraid of falling?" Aerrow asked finally making it to the bottom of the tree.

"I can catch myself here." Matthew shrugged. "If I fell off a skimmer there is nothing to grab."

"Fair enough." The red head shrugged as they started to walk towards the cabin. He paused and the Canadian stopped with him. "How did you deal with being dropped in a new world? I mean, you did it alone. I've got my squad mates and you. You had no one!"

"I don't know. I've always been laid back." Matthew said with a sigh. He knew what the Storm Hawks were going through. "But I think it was mostly your kindness. I don't know where I would be or how I would have got back without you."

"Thank you again." Aerrow said with a smiled. He knew the Sky Knight was worried. Matthew pulled him into a hug. He sighed hugging him back.

"We'll get you back home." Canada said reassuringly. "I promise."

"I know." Aerrow said pulling back with a bright smile. "I trust you Mattie."

The Canadian smiled as they started back towards the cabin again.

-❄️"We're doomed."❄️-

The next morning, Matthew was awake before Prussia. He hummed tucking his head under his chin breathing in his scent. The blond was trying to think of a good way to bring up what Aerrow had asked. He knew it was a big step, to go to another dimension. Living outside the walls was completely different. He wasn't sure if the albino would go and Canada wouldn't go anywhere without him. He sighed tiredly trying to fall back asleep.

A few hours later he was woken up by a sleepy Gilbert. The albino's hands slipped under the back of his shirt smiling at the warmth. Prussia pressed a light kiss to Matthew's forehead as an apology for waking him. The blond didn't really mind much returning the kiss to his jaw line.

"Morgen Vogel." Prussia said quietly clearing his throat. The Canadian smiled hearing the grogginess. He stretched up to kiss him properly. The albino ran his hands through Canada's hair with a smile as they broke apart. "Jou're avake early."

"Oui, je sais." Matthew said with a small smile.

"Vhere did jou go last night?" Gilbert asked playing with his hair.

"Get cold without me?" The Canadian asked.

"I vas a snowman by the time you got back." Prussia said with a quiet laugh. The blond smile.

"I noticed Aerrow sneak out." Matthew sighed. "I wanted to make sure he was okay."

"Vas he alright?" The albino asked concerned. Canada nodded and he sighed in relief.

"Yeah, just curious about the world." The blond explained. They laid together quietly for a while. He could see that it was light out, but wasn't sure what time it was. He could still hear most of the Storm Hawks snoring. He knew Gilbert's internal clock would tell them when it was time to get up.

Canada decided not to bring up what Aerrow said yet. It was to early in the morning to be talking about serious decisions. He also wanted to give the Prussian more time to get to know the Storm Hawks. He seemed to already care and worry about them like Matthew, but he didn't really know them yet. He hoped Gilbert would be open to the idea. He was his world and the Canadian wouldn't do anything without him.