Alfred didn't know how long it was since he called, he lied beside his brother who still slept.

He rested his hand against his flushed cheek and frowned. "Matthew.." He gently shook his shoulder in an attempt to wake him, Matthew stirred and hugged his bear closer to his chest. "Matthew come on you have to wake up." Alfred whimpered and softly tapped his cheek.

Matthew whined and completely opened his glossy eyes, he looked at Alfred and reached out to him. "Alfie.." He mumbled and grabbed his hand giving it a squeeze. "It's hot." He stated with a raspy voice. "I know, but don't worry someone is going to save us," Alfred reassured and helped his brother sit up against the seats.

Matthew sleepily looked at his brother who trembled in anxiety. "Who is going to save us?" he asked quietly. "I..." Alfred trailed off, he was beginning to lose hope, what if no one had answered? What if he just imagined it all due to the stress and being locked in a hot car for too long? He calmed himself and drew a long breath.

He scooted closer to Matthew. "I dialed dad's number, and now since they possibly have the number to this phone" He waved the drained phone in his hands at Matthew. "They can track it down and find us." He stated. Matthew softly smiled. "You're amazing Alfred." He said. "No," Alfred shook his head in protest. "Don't praise me, Mattie, you're hurt and sick because of me." He said in a guilt-stricken tone.

Matthew frowned, he hated when his brother beat himself up for things he never did. "Alfred." Matthew grasped onto Alfred's hands and looked into his eyes. "Did you raise your fist at me?" he asked seriously, catching Alfred way off guard. "N-no! I would never!" he exclaimed. "When you take the blame it'll seem like you were the one responsible, so when you take the blame for him hurting me it's like you're admitting you were the one that hurt me," Matthew explained.

Alfred gaped at his brother who pouted at him. "...thank you, Mattie." He sighed and smiled, he was starting to get dizzy, it was extremely hot and humid in the car Alfred wondered how long it would take before he fully passed out. "Alfred..." Matthew suddenly looked exhausted and slumped against Alfred's shoulder his grip on his bear loosening. "I can't breathe." He whispered anxiously.

Alfred gritted his teeth and pulled his brother close. "Take a deep breath, don't panic okay?" he instructed in a calm soothing voice. "I'm scared, Alfie can you breathe?" he looked up at him and shakily sat up. "Are you okay Alfie? You can breathe good right?" he asked anxiously as he checked over his brother who giggled. "I'm okay really Mattie, what did I tell you? Don't panic." Alfred said and pulled his brother back to a lying down position.

Matthew huffed and took in a couple of breaths. "I really hope someone comes soon." He mumbled and hugged his bear. "It's getting harder to breathe...." He clutched at his chest. "But," He huffed once more and cuddled against his brother. "I have a hero with me." He tiredly smiled. Alfred winced and ran his hand through his brother's hair. "Just hang on a little more Mattie." He mumbled and hugged him tightly.

Matthew coughed and grasped onto Alfred's arm. "You better not get sick too okay? Though...I will be able to take care of you, but I don't want you to get sick. It's really horrible." Alfred wondered if Matthew was just trying to distract himself to keep him from panicking, if it were then it was working, Alfred felt at ease when his brother talked to him.

It made him feel relieved to see and hear his brother who was still alive and partially well. "Don't worry Mattie." He smiled at him. "There's no way I'm getting sick. Heroes never get sick." Although honestly, Alfred was slowly losing hope, the lack of oxygen was already getting to him his chest felt tight, and his brother was already dozing off again.

His smile faltered. "How are you feeling Matthew?" he asked anxiously. "Sleepy," Matthew answered with a long yawn. "How about you?" he asked, Alfred looked down...' I'm scared.' As much as he wanted to admit it he stayed strong for his brother's sake, if he broke down Matthew was sure to break down too, and that wouldn't do any good for the both of them.

He took a breath despite it being hard and held Matthew's hand. "I'm really okay because you're here with me." Matthew blushed. "You don't really mean that." He mumbled Matthew had never been someone that could be of help, someone like a hero. It made him feel happy yet embarrassed, he didn't know how to deal with the new feeling which left him flustered.

He hugged Alfred, his stuffed bear lying on his lap. "I..." He hesitated before continuing. "I can be a hero too?" he stammered, Alfred felt his heart swell. "Matthew." He giggled. "You're already a hero, you're my hero." Matthew was overwhelmed with happiness he smiled and hid his bright red face.

Alfred struggled to stay calm now, but his heart hammered hard against his chest Matthew frowned. "You okay Alfie?" he asked worriedly. "I'm fine, just worried." He admitted. "He's taking a long time, he's probably drunk." He muttered. "I'm just glad we don't have to see him now..." Matthew replied. "But he locked us in here, so either way he's still hurting us."

Alfred was dozing off his head swayed side to side he was surprisingly very tired. "I'm really tired, Matthew." He said. "If I fall asleep wake me up no matter what, dad or papa might come." He slurred in a tired voice. "I'll keep you up I promise." Matthew nodded and poked Alfred's side. "Even if I have to tickle you to stay awake." He whispered and then grabbed his stuffed bear. "Even if Mr.bear will have to smother you!" he said in a low cartoonish voice.

Alfred laughed and lightly pinched his brother's cheek. "You're so silly Mattie, never change who you are." He smiled. "Then you have to stay a hero okay?" Matthew replied. "I never planned on quitting," Alfred stated.

"Especially if you're still here by my side, I'll never stop being a hero."

"I'll protect you, no matter what."

-----------------------------------------------------

Francis didn't know what to do or how to react he wondered if his exhausted mind just made up the voices, he shook his head and looked down at the phone in his trembling hands, the call ended...

Arthur lied sick in bed with a high fever and a weak body he could barely move, he still refused any help. Francis still wasn't catching up to everything it had happened so quick he didn't have time to react properly. "The...the boys...." He stammered, his heart dropped to his stomach he felt sick, he gasped and dashed to their room where Arthur slept soundly.

Francis was sure to regret what he was going to do, but it was urgent. He gently shook Arthur awake. "Amour! Love, please wake up." He pleaded anxiously and took Arthur's flushed face in his hands. "I'm up.." Arthur mumbled with a weak voice "Arthur don't panic but...." Francis took a breath. "The boys called amour, our children called and they need help." His voice wavered.

Arthur shot up and groaned in pain.  "T-the boys? Where are they? We need to get to them now!" he exclaimed anxiously. "What if they're hurt? Who exactly called?" he asked so many questions, Francis tried to calm him down as best he could, but he already knew that when it came to their children nothing was going to stop him from getting to them.

Arthur quickly stood his head spun and ached. "Have you called back at all?" he reached for the phone in Francis' hand. "I.." Francis frowned. "The call ended abruptly, the phone died." Arthur felt like he could pass out. "Track the phone.." He demanded. "How?" Francis asked. "I bought an app that can track down phones that have recently called, I have no time to explain." He took the phone from Francis.

He activated the app and then he tracked down the number, he anxiously waited as the phone loaded the location.

It beeped and showed a route to the destined device in which the boys had called from.

Arthur's eyes widened. "It's not that far." He gasped. "It's at a bar! Children are not supposed to be there!" he exclaimed. "Francis we have to go right now." He stated and hurriedly slipped on his shoes and a coat. Francis followed after him and grabbed the car keys. "We should call the police too just in case." He suggested.  "Already on it," Arthur answered and hurried off to the front door.

Both men were filled with anxiety and hope, they so badly wanted to see their children again, and soon they would. They just hoped they weren't in bad shape, and if they were, the man was going to get killed.

Arthur practically ran to the car despite his invalidity and climbed into the passenger seat waiting for Francis who had to catch his breath. "I'm not well at the moment amour please forgive me." He apologized and climbed into the driver's side shoving the keys into the ignition with shaking hands.

Arthur calmed himself down knowing that he was probably worrying Francis. "It's alright love, let's both calm down." He took Francis' hand. "Take a deep breath." He instructed, Francis, did what Arthur demanded and calmed himself a bit. "Thank you, love." He smiled idly at him and drove out their driveway. "Just follow the route." Arthur placed the phone in front of them.

Francis nodded and drove down the road following the route in the hope of finding his children, his life, his happiness.

------------------------

Alfred whimpered his chest and head ached it felt like he was drowning, but there wasn't any water, just heat and humidity, and his sweat. Matthew lied nearly unconscious curled in a ball he hugged his bear with all his might trying his hardest to stay awake and alert. "Alfie.." His voice was weak. "Yes, Mattie?" Alfred responded tiredly. "Don't go to sleep," Matthew mumbled.

Alfred nodded. "I won't, you better not go to sleep either." He warned wearily. "I'm trying not to, honest," Matthew stated. "I really hope daddy and papa get here soon, I want to go home." He huffed. "They'll get here," Alfred reassured. "They'll save us."

Matthew nodded and coughed. "Do you think we can break a window?" he asked quietly, Alfred sat up on his knees and crawled over to the window closest to him he tapped on the glass and proceeded to hit it with his fist, though it was sure to fail. Alfred was too weak and tired he sighed and slumped back to his seat beside his brother. "I can't, they're too strong." He mumbled.

Matthew frowned and turned to face Alfred. "It's okay I know you tried your best thank you, Alfred." He smiled weakly. "We'll just have to wait for them to come, I'm sure we can stay up a little longer." Though Alfred knew that wasn't true, eventually they were going to pass out, and when they would it would all be over for them. Matthew's breathing was uneven, his chest rose and fell weakly, his throat was sore and raspy.

He didn't have enough time. "Matthew sit up for me please." Alfred tried to lift his brother up. "Okay." Matthew nodded and tried to pick himself up, his arms trembled underneath him and he collapsed. "Alfred I can't." He whimpered and once again tried to pick himself up, his body was too weak, he couldn't move as much anymore.

Alfred gritted his teeth and pulled Matthew onto his lap. "It's okay, everything will be okay soon I promise." Matthew nodded and rested his head against Alfred's chest. "Just don't....all...eep.." Matthew couldn't hear clearly now, his vision blurred, his chest heaved, he couldn't breathe. They were in the car for two hours now with no water or air conditioning and the doors and windows were locked. It was a hot day.

Alfred panicked and gently shook his brother's shoulder. "Mattie?" he looked him over and noticed that his breathing had gotten worse. "Matthew..." The heat was now taking its toll on Alfred his head spun. "Wake up." He slurred, and practically gasped for fresh air, he hugged his brother tight before falling unconscious due to the extreme heat and lack of oxygen.

Both boys lied in each other's arms, unmoving, barely breathing.

The sound of sirens could be heard, Alfred stirred and coughed. "Please..." He whimpered hoping that the police or ambulance was for him and his brother. The sirens became louder and eventually stopped right beside the car in which they were locked in.

With blurry vision Alfred could see bright lights and people walking and looking into the car, a small weak smile tugged at his lips. "We made it Matthew." He whispered before once again falling into darkness.

The last thing he heard was the sound of shattering glass.