Forgettable

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

"I have a memory problem." Matthew shrugged.

Kiku looked slightly confused. Gilbert shook his head and rolled his eyes with a small smile. The Prussian handed Kiku the list of names. He seemed to already know what to do with them and started typing.

"This'll take a while." The Japanese man sighed looking at the long list. "You do not have to stay."

As Kiku was finishing his sentence, Kuma lightly nipped his finger and whined. "Kuma needs to go out." Matthew said turning to the Prussian.

"There's a place out back we can take him. It's vhere the K9s run." Gilbert said and the blond nodded.

The pair left Kiku to his work. Kuma trotted along eagerly in between them. They took the elevator back down to the ground floor. Gilbert lead them through the back halls of the station trying to make small talk with him. The Canadian did appreciate it, but didn't have much input.

Once they got outside, Kuma ran to the grass and started sniffing. He seemed to forget the fact he had to go minutes earlier. Matthew smiled watching him run around. He leaned against the wall of the building to watch. Gilbert stood next to him, just close enough their elbows were touching. Kuma had done his business and had found a ball. He ran over to the blond and dropped it for him to throw.

"So, where will I be staying? Witness protection or something?" The Canadian asked as he threw the ball for Kumajirou.

"Jou can stay vith me." Gilbert hummed. Matthew hesitated. The albino seemed to realize what he was implying. He quickly clarified. "I've got a spare room?"

"Oh, okay." Matthew said. "What about Kuma with Gilbird? Do you still have him?"

"Of course I do!" The Prussian nodded. "Gilbird vould be fine! He can just fly away!"

"I guess so." The blond agreed. "Thank you for letting me stay with you."

"No problem, Birdie!" Gilbert smiled brightly.

Matthew's brain pretty much stopped seeing it. He felt like it almost wasn't real that he was here with him. His mind started flooding with every memory of when the Prussian had given him the same smile. He was pulled out of his memories by a loud woof. He looked up to see Kuma standing a few meters away with the ball in front of him. The blond patted his leg expecting the dog to bring the ball, but no. Kuma wagged his tail curiously before charging towards him.

The Canadian quickly knelt down and the dog tackled him. He laughed as Kuma licked his face excitedly. He was petting him as the dog wiggled happily. He woofed and knocked Matthew over from where he was crouching. Kuma kept licking his face as he laughed. The blond tried to push him away, but ended up with a face full of fur. The dog had decided to flop on top of him.

"Uh, jou good down there Birdie?" Gilbert asked watching them. Matthew just gave him a thumbs up from under the mountain of fur.

It had been a long time since he'd heard the blond laugh like that. Not even counting the three years since he'd disappeared, it had been a wile before that. He missed it, he wanted to hear it more often. Gilbert quickly realized that he was still absolutely and completely in love with the man. He sighed sadly looking off into the distance.

A bark brought him out of his moping. Kuma had finally gotten off the blond and was demanding for him to throw the ball again. He did after standing up and dusting off.

"So, how exactly did you find me?" Matthew asked as he kept playing fetch.

"Alfred." The Prussian replied simply.

"You still had his number?" The blond raised an eyebrow.

"Ja, but no. I had his old number, but he's changed it since then." Gilbert explained. "Kiku found him, I called and we narrowed it down from there."

"Ah." The Canadian hummed. He jumped slightly as the albino's phone started to ring. He still used the same boring generic ringtone he used to.

"Eliza?" Gilbert asked answering.

"Wow, Gilbert." He could hear the amusement in her voice and was slightly concerned. "I didn't think you'd make a move this quick!"

"Entschuldigung?" The Prussian sputtered. He was relieved he hadn't used speaker phone. Matthew was just looking at him confused.

"No time for that right now." His boss said tone changing. "There's been another murder and note."

"Awesome, vhats the address?" Gilbert asked still recovering from her earlier comment. Elizabeta told him and he repeated it out loud for Matthew to hear. He'd remember it. He quickly hung up before she could ask anymore questions. "Ready?"

"Sure." Matthew sighed biting his lip. He didn't sound ready at all.

"Jou don't have to come, Birdie." The Prussian said reassuringly. "I'm sorry for putting jou on the spot with Eliza earlier."

"It's alright." The Canadian sighed. "I'll go, it's good to have an extra pair of eyes. You don't have an actual partner, do you?"

"Ah, no." Gilbert smiled guiltily. Matthew knew that the albino found it hard to work with people and that he was also hard to work with at first. He knew his history with partners.

"Then, extra eyes will be good." The blond grumbled and the Prussian nodded.

Matthew called for Kuma and the trio started towards the parking area. They got to the car and he let the dog in. Kuma curled up in the back seat tired from playing.

"Vhat's- "Gilbert started, but Matthew cut him off. He repeated he address he heard earlier. "Danke Birdie."

The Prussian started driving and started talking. Matthew listened politely knowing he was just talking to fill the quiet. He was looking out the window absentmindedly. The blond had only passed through the city a few times. The area they were driving through was new to him and he was curious.

Kuma was curious too. He nosed his way in between the back window and his seat to see out his window. He must have thought he'd see something different. The blond smiled and pet him. He started to zone out as they drove. Matthew started to fall back into his memories.

"Birdie?" Gilbert called getting his attention. He stared at him blankly for a second figuring out when he was. It took him a minute to realize he was actually in the present. "Ready? Ve're here."

The Canadian nodded and got out of the car. He waited for Kuma to follow. Gilbert came around the side to meet him before they walked the few steps to the scene. The albino showed his badge to the officers and they let them through into the alley way. Matthew paused for a second and told Kuma to sit. He took a deep breath before turning back toward the Prussian and the scene.