Gilbert looked at himself in the mirror not wanting to overdress but not wanting to look all plain either, so in the end he decided to just wear a pair of ripped jeans, a black T-shirt with a leather jacket along with black boots. He sighed and looked over at the room across, Matthew hadn't come out of the room and Gilbert worried if he had somehow hurt himself or fainted.

He swallowed thickly and trudged toward the closed door with deep regret, his fisted hand ready to knock, he suddenly stopped himself and rested his hand on the door. "..Matthew..are you still in there?" he called out. "Leave me alone Gil.." he got a quiet voice and a couple sniffles as a response. Gilbert bit his lip, he had made him cry! Sure there were times when Matthew cried because of pain or other reasons, but this time it was himself that had caused Matthew pain.

With utter remorse Gilbert tightly grasped onto the doorknob and pushed the door open, his heart ached when he spotted Matthew on the bed curled up in a ball, his tank and tubes strewn on the ground. "Matthew..you have to take care of yourself. Please put on your tank or at least your mask." He suggested desperately. Matthew stayed silent giving him no response, Gilbert frowned. "So what? You're giving me the silent treatment now? Honestly you're being stubborn Matthew."

Matthew winced feeling as if his heart was pierced by an ice cold spike, Gilbert's harsh words struck him like a freight train leaving him broken afterwards. The sun was already set, the sky was dark with thick clouds covering the moon and stars. "You still have a choice whether you want to go to the party or not." Gilbert sighed, Matthew thought for a moment surely if he and Gilbert were to be together right now it'd probably be a very tense and awkward car ride.

Matthew shuddered at the thought and shook his head. "No thank you..you can go ahead." He said barely above a whisper. Gilbert was left shocked he had never once left Matthew alone, he opened his now dry mouth. "Matthew are you su-" "Just go!" Matthew had cut him off with a startling outburst. "Please just go." His voice was quieter now breaking with incoming tears.

Gilbert placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, his heart dropped when he felt Matthew jump and flinch away from his touch.  "..I'm sorry.." Gilbert quickly removed his hand and backed away from him. "I'll go, but just please take care of yourself." He grabbed Matthew's tank and placed it on the bed. "I'll get going now." He cleared his throat expecting at least a quiet goodbye from Matthew. Silence was the only thing he received.

He turned away and left the room, he walked toward the front door with heavy steps feeling as if his heart was weighing him down. Grabbing the car keys he took a couple of shaky breaths and left, the wind was harsh sending his snow white hair in every direction, without the moon to guide he had only the street posts to show the way. He unlocked the car and reluctantly climbed in starting it and buckling himself in, his mind was now set on the party and his friends in which he hadn't seen for so long.

Arriving at their house he was instantly greeted by old friends and eventually met up with Elizabeta who suggested that he drink with her knowing how much of a drinker he was back then in high school. "I don't see your boyfriend around, did something happen?" she asked out of the blue as they were sitting at the kitchen while others danced to music or chatted loudly with friends. Gilbert took a long swig of his mug of beer before setting it down and wiping his lip. "We sorta had an argument.." he muttered.

Elizabeta's eyes widened, she thought of this as an opportunity. "What!? Oh god I'm so sorry Gilbert. It must've been hard." She frowned. "Yeah..I just don't understand what gotten  into him you know?" he sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "It's fine, here just relax, nothing bad can happen here." She rested another can of beer on the table top and slid it to him taking a sip of her own. "Yeah, thanks Eli." Gilbert smiled using the nickname he had given her during their school years. "No problem Gil." she giggled.

And as the party continued on the night sky became darker than ever and rumbled with harsh thunder, Matthew had listened to what Gilbert said and reattached his tubes with trembling hands, he absolutely hated thunder storms. He felt guilty after raising his voice at Gilbert wanting to grab his hand as soon as he turned away, but he was to cowardice his mind screamed at him to make a move but his body refused.

He forced himself to stand and with shaky steps he made his way to the kitchen, his throat dry, grabbing a cup of and placing it under the dispenser of water he forced himself to not pay attention to the low rumble of thunder that hummed against the dense walls and sturdy roof. A sudden clap of thunder and flash of lighting he yelped dropping his cup of water in the process.

Panicking he dashed over to grab paper towels only to slip in the process, he landed flat on his stomach a cry escaping his lips, with tears pricking the corners of his eyes he curled up in a ball trying to regain his breath. "Next time be careful and immediately call me if you get hurt." The pain on his stomach ached and pulsated with his heartbeat.

"G-gilbert!" his voice trembled as he spoke out that heart aching name, that was the only thing set on his mind, the only thing that rested on the tip of his tongue and hung on his lips. He covered his mouth instantly feeling guilty after calling out the only person who truly loved him, the person he yelled at to leave. Thunder continued to rumble showing no signs of ceasing, this would surely be a long painful night.

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Gilbert was completely drunk by now, twenty empty mugs were laid about the table, some on their side dripping with the last drop of alcohol and some place upright. "Gilly~ let's do something crazy." An intoxicated Elizabeta tugged at his shirt sleeve and wobbly stood from her stool. "Come on you're not chicken are you?" she teased. "No way!" Gilbert slurred and let her lead the way.

They soon found themselves in an empty guest room, the walls vibrated with the loud music and rumble of thunder, Elizabeta giggled and leaned against Gilbert. "Let's have some fun~" She pushed him down on the bed, (graphic content warning) crawled on top of him, and smashed her lips onto his own as she grinding against him, a few quiet moans emitted from her throat. Gilbert almost immediately placed his hand on her waist and returned the sloppy beer tasting kiss, his tongue then brushed against her bottom lip asking for entrance.

She gladly obliged and parted her lips allowing him to dominate her, the kiss became more heated, a string of saliva connected to their lips when they pulled away for breath. Gilbert switched positions with Elizabeta and gazed at her clothed body, his hand and fingers snaked their way to the hem of her shirt. "Take me Gilbert." She pleaded as she wrapped her arms around his neck and once again kissed him heatedly.

She removed his own shirt her fingers grazing over his warm toned chest, Gilbert ripped off her own shirt and groped Elizabeta's bare skin, his hands traveling up and down her body. "G-gil.." she whined as a shiver ran up her spine. "I'm going to do it now, is that okay?" he asked with a sluggish voice. "Yes." She breathed out. "Thanks." He huffed and teasingly undid her pants exchanging quick kisses here and there.

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

Matthew had finally gotten his breathe back, with trembling hands he cleaned the puddle, a sudden clap of thunder startled him causing him to leave all the contents on the ground as he dashed to his and Gilbert's room. He grabbed Gilbert's pillow from the bed and hid in the closet pressing his face in the cushion taking in the comforting scent he grew to love. "Gilbert I'm sorry..please come back." He whimpered.

Rain poured buckets outside, lightning lit the dark sky and thunder shook the dense walls. Matthew shook along with the walls desperately awaiting for his lover to arrive.

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Gilbert awoke with the bright rays of sunlight hitting his face, with a groan he turned to his other side and rubbed his temple feeling a strike of pain shoot through his head. He winced and opened his eyes, his vision was blurry at first until it focused on an unfamiliar figure, a nude girl with long brown hair slept beside him, her bare back facing him. With panick setting in he sat up and found himself also nude. "Oh god..shit!" he silently cursed and scrambled off the bed searching for his clothes.

He quickly and sloppily dressed himself being cautious not to wake the sleeping woman and tiptoed out of the room, hearing the familiar jingle of his car keys in his pocket he ran out of the house closing the door as quietly as he could. Hopping into his car he leaned back on his seat and groaned trying to dig out memories of last night from his clouded mind, his mouth had a terrible sour aftertaste which brought back memories of alcohol and mugs of cold beer with its foam overflowing and sliding down the glass.

He suddenly remembered the kiss with Elizabeta, his chest was heavy with guilt wondering if he should tell Matthew....his eyes went wide and his heart instantly stop. "Crap! Matthew!" he yelled and shoved the keys in the ignition and started the car, it sputtered at first and then roared to life. Gilbert looked out his window to see the muddy sidewalks and large puddles filling the potholes on the street.

He gripped on the steering wheel so tight he was sure he would leave their imprint on it, he gritted his teeth as he wallowed in self hatred, because he knew how much Matthew hated thunder storms. He remembered how much he shook and cried one night on a storm Gilbert had promised to stay with him always during storms that day. Now look where he was now speeding down a road wondering how Matthew was, wondering if he even made it through the night.

Arriving home he tripped out of the car and slammed the door shut not even bothering to set the alarm, he turned the knob expecting it to be unlocked but was instead met with the dreadful click of the lock staying in place. He grabbed his car keys with shaking hands and struggled to find the house key amongst all the others he owned, with a shaky sigh he unlocked the door and ran into the house calling out his lovers name.

Passing by the kitchen he took notice of the fallen cup and soaked towel lying on the ground, muttering another curse he ran into the guest room where he last left Matthew, his blood went cold when he found the room empty. With the last shred of hope he bursted through the door of his room and quieted down leaving only the noise of his heavy breathing filling the room. He eventually heard shuffling in the closet and quickly walked over to it placing his hand on the knob.

He opened the door and instantly fell to his knees when he found his lover hugging his knees, his face hidden with the cushion. "M-Matthew.." he tapped his shoulder earning a flinch from the frightened boy, he flinched, Gilbert hated himself even more and eased the pillow out of his arms. "Matthew please look at me." Gilbert pleaded anxiously.

Matthew was hesitant at first but eventually gathered up the courage to look at him, his eyes were dull with dark bags resting under them, his cheeks were pink and puffy stained with last nights tears. Gilbert slowly removed the uncomfortable looking tubes and brought Matthew into his arms and ever so carefully took him out of the cramped closet and sat on the edge of the bed soothingly rubbing circles on Matthew's tense spine.

Matthew hid his face in the crook of Gilbert's neck and trembled. "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry.." a whimper escaped his lips. "Please don't leave me again. I'm scared." He admitted as his arms wrapped around his neck and his fingers clutched onto his shirt. "Please don't leave me Gilbert." He cried out as his tears choked him.

Gilbert held him tighter almost as if dear life depended on it and apologized numerous times reassuring that he'd never leave him alone again. He soothed Matthew as he cried and trembled hating himself from the moon and back. He whispered sweet nothings in his ear and rocked him in his arms until he slowly drifted off to sleep, with a shaky sigh he lied on the bed holding Matthew close stroking his soft blonde hair.  "..oh god Matthew...I'm destroying you.." he muttered.

He reluctantly placed a kiss on his cheek and placed his head against his chest. "I..I want to protect you, I know I make mistakes but please don't give up if things get bad.." he trailed off. "I love you and always will, so please don't ever forgive me for this." He now knew Matthew's up most weakness, it was himself.