Alfred's pov

I awoke with a start, a cold sweat chilled me down to the bone, I frantically looked to my side and took a shaky sigh when I saw my Matthew sleeping soundly beside me, I turned to my side and carefully brought him into my arms. I could still hear the echo of the unfamiliar screaming.

He stirred awake and brought his tired eyes to my own. "Hey Mattie." I wearily smiled. "Alfred? Are you okay?" he asked groggily, I held him close to my chest and kissed the top of his head. "I am now." I stated with a somewhat happy tone. "You're sweating." He stated worriedly.

I ignored his statement and closed my eyes. "I'm fine, just a bad dream." I mumbled tiredly and gave him a squeeze, he gave a small grunt and lied his head against my chest. "I'll protect you okay?" he yawned. "It's my turn to save you." He mumbled as sleep once again took over him. I smiled at his sleeping face. "You're silly Mattie." I opened my eyes and mumbled, moving some hair away from his face. "I'm the hero here. I'm the only one who can protect you and myself." I yawned and felt my eyelids droop as if lead were being weighed down on them.

With Matthew's warmth spreading onto my chilled skin I brought the blanket up to our chins and allowed sleep to envelop me in its arms, but my horrible dreams began once more. It was a horrible cycle that started again.

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I stared blankly at the plate of pancakes in front of me, my hands rested on my lap, the fork beside the full plate was left untouched. Each time I drifted off I forced myself to stay awake as Matthew's quiet hums reach my ears, his voice soft and angelic calmed me a bit. Shaking my head and grabbing my fork I dug into my breakfast happy that I knew Matthew was here with me.

After a while his humming suddenly stopped and was replaced by a small gasp, I quickly dropped my fork and stood from my seat whipping my head to face him. He was leaning against the counter clutching his hand. "Mattie what happened!?" I rushed to his side frantically, and I didn't know why but I panicked at the sight of his blood dripping from the palm of his hand.

I quickly but carefully took a hold of his hand and lead him over to the sink where I turned on the cool water and brought his hand under the stream. "Alfred I'm okay really." He stated. "It'll heal in no time since we're countries and all." A long gash ran across the palm of his hand. "I..I know I just.." I stammered, unable to find the correct words, did I even have a reason as to why I overreacted a bit?

I took a shaky sigh and turned off the sink when the bleeding stopped a little, I staggered back and gripped onto the corner of the counter. "Alfred.." Matthew grasped onto my arm and looked at me with wide worry filled eyes. "What's wrong? Are you okay?" he asked worriedly. "I'm fine." I reassured and straightened my posture. "Just got a little light headed." I smiled at him, a forced smile.

He still had an unsure look on his face but nodded ever so slightly. "Okay.." he mumbled and took a shaky breath, I instantly felt guilty. I had made him worry over me, he was pale white and shaken, but I had worried over him too, and maybe I overreacted a bit too much. I quickly pulled myself together. "I'm a hero so I'll be okay for sure, don't worry about me." I patted his shoulder. "Let's finish up our breakfast okay? Your pancakes are totally awesome it'd be a tragedy if they went to waste." I sat back down at the table, Matthew sat beside me with his own plate of pancakes.

I finished the rest of mine and then waited for him to finish eating, once he did I volunteered to wash the dishes. Today we were requested to go to a world meeting, or was it a G8 meeting? Either way I still had to go because I obviously had the best ideas ever, I mean there'd totally be no meetings without me. I dashed to mine and Matthew's room, Matthew moved in with me a couple of months after the...'beach incident'.

To say the least I was way overprotective after that, I was afraid of everything that surrounded Matthew because people couldn't see him, I feared they would end up accidentally hitting him or worse. Francis and Arthur got back together though, there were a few arguments here and there but they always found a way to make up in the end, and let me tell you, they have an odd way of making up.

Walking in the room I was met with Matthew's bare back, I gritted my teeth at the sight though. Bruises still painted over his milky pale skin, he was hurt by another country and if a country is hurt by another country the wounds take a long time to heal. He hadn't seem to notice that I was behind him yet, he pulled on a white button-up shirt and struggled with the buttons. I couldn't help but to shake off the foul feeling boiling inside me and managed a laugh, he flinched at my laugh and quickly turned around with a bright blush.

I walked up to him and grinned. "Here let me help." I unbuttoned the messed up buttons and rebuttoned his shirt correctly. "T-thank you." He stammered quietly and pulled on his overcoat. "I'm a bit nervous to be honest." His voice was incredibly soft and quiet, it always lowered in tone whenever he got nervous or scared. "It's alright, look at me Mattie." I lifted his chin to make him look up at me, he stared at me with his beautiful purple eyes. "Everything will be okay." I reassured and softly pinched his cheek. "I'll be right next to you." I leaned down and placed a kiss on his forehead before pulling away and going to the restroom to change into my own suit.

When I was ready I was met with Matthew sitting at the edge of the bed holding his polar bear close to his chest. "You ready Mattie?" I asked, he looked at me and nodded. He stood almost reluctantly and was instantly by my side grasping onto my hand as if dear life depended on it. "Calm down a little. You're worrying me here." I rubbed his knuckles with my thumb. "Sorry." He mumbled and held his bear even tighter with his free arm. "Don't worry so much, don't panic. I'm right here." I smiled lovingly at him, by the way his breathing changed I could tell that he was calmer.

Eventually we were both in my car, Matthew fidgeded in his seat mumbling under his breath every now and then. "Buckle up Mattie." I grabbed my own seatbelt and buckled myself in, Matthew obeyed, his hand was trembling. His bear rested on his lap sleeping. "Should I even go? I mean no one ever notices me anyways so what purpose do I have?" as he buckled himself in I quickly grasped onto his hand and forced him to look at me.

"Mattie, you give me strength. Without you there I'd be a mess, I need you to be with me, I'll go crazy without you." I smiled bitterly. "Just look how i was before I met you, a complete idiot." I nearly shivered at the memory, the time I had done something so stupid I was sure I had traumatized Matthew, I could tell by the way he looked at me before. I stared into his eyes, they suddenly glittered like amethyst, tears had filled his eyes.

I wiped them away feeling my heart shatter at the sight, even if they were happy tears it still hurt me to see him cry. I pressed my forehead against his, he giggled and wiped away his remaining tears. "Thanks Alfie." I smiled happily this time glad that I had got him to laugh and smile, his smile was the world to me. And sometimes I was happy that no one else could see, it was all for me, I was granted the greatest power of all. I was able to see the most beautiful person in the world.

I had almost lost myself in his eyes, I had to shake myself from my thoughts and pulled my attention back to the steering wheel in front of me. "You're dazzling me with your eyes Mattie, you can be dangerous. But an adorable kind of dangerous, like a kitten playing with ribbons." I laughed, he flushed red and looked out his window.

When I started the car I was still debating on whether or not I should take him with me or not, I knew how hurt he would get by not getting noticed by the others, I hated the pain that would flash on his soft features, his eyes would fill with pain as well. I tightened my hands on the steering wheel trying to even out my breathing. "Alfred?" Matthew turned his attention back to me. "Yeah what's up?" I glanced at him as I drove.

He seemed to hesitate a bit before speaking. "Last night..you were whimpering in your sleep. I was worried, what did you dream about?" I suddenly remembered last night's dream, it was absolutely horrible. I didn't even want to think about it, but my mind was already set on the memory. "It.." I pursed my lips. "It was about some weird alien." I blushed because I probably sounded childish, but it was the truth.

The alien was nothing like my friend Tony though it was larger, and terrifying, and it killed. I shuddered. "An alien?" Matthew mumbled. "Y-yeah." I stammered. "It must've been scary then, since it even scared you." He hugged his bear to his chest. "It was." I whispered, Matthew flinched and kept his gaze on me. "I-I mean I was scared until I beat it!" I grinned widely. "I felt your presence beside me and it gave me strength." His eyes still held worry. "Really?" he asked unsure.

I nodded eagerly. "Yup! Just like i said, you're my strength." I reached out for his hand as I drove I smiled when I felt his delicate fingers intertwine with my own. "Thank you Mattie." We both shared a couple of conversations and loving words until we finally arrived at the building we were going to have our conference at. I turned the car off and waited allowing Matthew to collect himself and prepare, he tightened his grip on my hand, he was trembling. I hated when he trembled. "I-I don't know if i can do this Alfie, I'm scared." He stammered fearfully.

I brought his hand to my lips. "It's okay, remember I'm still here. I'll always be by your side." I hummed, Matthew calmed down and took a breath. "Okay, I'm ready." He nodded. I reluctantly let go of his hand and unbuckled myself before heading out. I waited for Matthew to get out, once he did I took a hold of his hand. "You're okay Matthew." I reassured. It would be the first time in a while that Matthew would be in a meeting with me, and hopefully I could get people to notice him.

When we entered the first thing we were met with was Italy running down the hall laughing as Germany chased after him. "Italy get back here!!" Germany yelled angrily, Italy took a u-turn as soon as he reached the end of the hall, and Germany nearly ran into the wall. Italy was now running toward us, he was heading toward Matthew and didn't seem to notice him, I acted quickly and pulled Matthew away before he could get trampled by Italy and Germany. "Crap, you okay Mattie?" I looked over at him.

He gave me a small smile and nodded, I tugged him close to my chest and walked to the conference room. Arthur and Francis were sitting beside Yao, there were two empty seats in between Yao and Arthur. That's where our seats were, I groaned in annoyance. "What's wrong Alfred?" Matthew asked. "Hmm? Oh nothing, I just want to go back home already." We both headed over to our seats, Arthur looked at me. "What a surprise, you actually found the will to get up." He stated with sarcasm.

I frowned and ignored his statement. "H-hi Arthur." Matthew stammered, Arthur looked around. "Who said that? Flying mint bunny was that you?" he asked bewildered. "You're crazy mon amour, it's obviously Alfred playing a trick." Francis chuckled. "I heard it too aru." Yao stated. "Ah...uhm." Matthew looked at the small trio and then hung his head. "Nevermind." He mumbled and pulled away from my embrace and sat on his seat beside Yao.

I took my seat beside Arthur and the meeting soon began when Germany arrived with a sleeping Italy on his back, mostly everyone was on their seats either fighting or chatting until Germany demanded them to quiet down. And with that the meeting started off with Germany talking about how the purpose of the meeting was to state the negative things happening within our countries.

When he asked for countries to politely raise their hands to be called out I instantly shot my hand up and waved it around eagerly almost literally jumping up and down in my seat, my actions caused Matthew to giggle. Germany sighed and called me, I raised a fist in the air and cheered before giving Matthew a quick reassuring look. "I'll be back, I promise." I whispered to him before standing from my seat and made my way to the front of the room where a chalkboard was at.

And so I started my mini introduction speech before actually talking about what problems I had and how I needed help from certain countries, I was interrupted in the middle of my explaining when Russia (Ivan) entered the room. "Sorry, I was taking care of something, please continue." He smiled at me, and he headed toward Matthew and pulled out his seat.

Matthew squeaked, his bear escaped his arms and ran off in fear of Ivan, and before I knew it Ivan sat right on top of Matthew. A sharp cry escaped Matthew's lips, my heart dropped. "Are you done Alfred?" Germany asked. "A-ah..uhm Ivan." I called out to him, I tried hard to control my anger. "Hm? Yes?" he looked at me and slightly tilted his head to the side. "Do you mind getting off your seat?" I asked with a forced smile. "Why?" he asked. By now Matthew was breathing unevenly. "Please just get up really quick." I pleaded anxiously, desperately. "What's the problem Alfred? What are you planning?" Arthur asked. "I just want him to get up really quick, so please Ivan just for a minute." I did not want to make a scene.

And putting Matthew as the center of attention would only make things worse for him, that I knew.

But the tension in the air had gotten to the other countries and they started to tell me to leave it alone and take my seat, Matthew whimpered and looked at me with pained filled eyes. "A-Alfred I can't breathe!" he cried as he reached his hand out to me. I had finally snapped, I stomped up to Ivan, and with my strength I shoved him off of Matthew and brought his trembling figure into my arms.

Matthew gasped and wheezed for breath, but the room was now silent, I realized what I had done and felt my blood run cold. "Ah, sorry!" I apologized quickly before breaking into a run and ran out the conference room knowing well that Ivan would probably want to kill me now, Matthew was out of breath though I just couldn't allow Ivan to just sit on him without being chewed out by me, I wasn't going to let him get away with it.

I felt my shirt get soaked, when I looked at Matthew I saw him burying his face in my shirt, he was struggling for air and I quickly understood why, I looked around the hall and ran into an empty room closing the door shut behind me, I sat on the ground and sat Matthew on my lap. "Alfred, I'm invisible...please don't forget me Alfred. Please!" he was trembling, oh god I hated his trembling, he was wheezing by now, he was having a full on panic attack.

I held his face in my hands and quickly pressed my lips against his, he grasped onto my wrists, and finally his breathing slowed. His trembling stopped, but his tears continued, his whimpers still caused pain to me. I pulled away and wiped away his tears. "I'm here Mattie." I smiled. "I'll always be here." And I once again pulled him into a kiss.

I love him too much, and if I were to get beaten, then it'd totally be worth it, especially for him.