leaning against a tree, not entirely sure where he is.

already looked in Mattie's shop, and several places he's seen him before, getting a bit frustrated. He pouts as he walks down a sidewalk,_

muttering to himself while looking around for his brother.

rubs his arms, he'd forgotten his coat. Sliding down the trunk of the tree to the ground he debates whether or not to head back to his shop.

whats this?

((aileen_09 don't comment on Alfred's plurks, he's part of a roleplaying comm.))

walks past a forested area of the city, and finally spots his brother, his bad mood immediately lifted. "Mattie!!" He calls, running toward_

him and waving.

looks up and coughs into his hand, blinking when he spots Al. "A-Al?"

nearly tackles Mattie in a hug, grinning brightly. "Mattie I've got a surprise for youuu~!"

tries not to fall over under Al's weight. Carefully pushing his off. "Al you're heavy... and what could you possibly have to show me?"

nearly rips off his gloves and shoves his hands in Matthew's face, the skin healthy and unmarred by rotting. "Look, look!"

stumbles back at a bit at having hands shoved in his face. His eyes going to Al's fingers though. With an unbelieving look her tentatively_

takes hold of one of Al's hands and turns it over in his own for a few minutes. "What did you do Al? Ah I'm sorry... no need to explain,_

that's wonderful." He gives his brother a wide smile. One less thing to worry about.

rolls his eyes at Matthew's first question, still grinning. "Yeah! Me 'n Artie found the cure! And now I can always be here to take care of_

you!"

about to congratulate his brother and compliment him before he said that. Dropping his hand he looks away quickly. "I don't need you to_

to take care of me. I'm not a kid."

brings a hand up to squeeze his shoulder, his grin gentler now. "Never said ya were. I just meant that now I'll get to really be a good_

brother to you. If we hadn't found the cure, then I'd be dead, and I wouldn't be doing too good a job being your brother, now would I?"

him a sour look which softens as he listens to him speak. "I'm sorry, I guess I'm not really much of a brother too you myself."

just continues grinning. "'s alright, you're a lot better than I thought you'd be actually!" Laughs lightly at this, letting his hand fall_

from Matthew's shoulder.

tilts his head and stares blankly at him. "What's that supposed to mean? I haven't remembered everything Al."

shrugs. "I thought you'd be a hell of a lot more pissed off at me than you are! And you might be after you remember everything...but I wont_

mind! I'll still be there for you!"

watches him intently for a moment. "What did you do that you think I'd be pissed off about?" He sits back a bit and reaches into his coat_

pocket pulling out a wrapped candy he fumbles with the wrapper before popping it in his mouth and offers Al one.

happily takes the candy and thanks him. "For the accident, killing our family," winces at this, "running away, getting into dangerous_

magics in the first place, that kinda stuff."

blinks and sucks on the candy in his mouth. "I remember the accident. Well the pain anyway. I can feel it when I sleep, it wont go away. _

I can't be mad at you though. I don't want to loose the one thing I have left."

's smile turns a bit sad, and he nods in understanding, before his regular grin returns. "You wont though Mattie, no matter what! I'll_

always be here to bother you and make sure you're okay!"

lets out a small sigh and nods. "Somehow I'm glad. I thought I wouldn't see you again after the other day."

furrows his brow slightly at this, and tilts his head to the side in confusion. "Wha? Why?"

him a confused look, "well I saw your arms Al. I don't know, I just didn't think I would."

laughs lightly at this, smiling again. "Oh, that! Well I still woulda lasted a couple days!"

shrugs, wanting to drop the subject. "I should be getting back to my shop... I'm not so sure I'm going to keep it open anymore."

looks a bit puzzled at this. "Why?"

looks up at him again with another shrug. "With the amount of sleep I've been getting, I haven't been doing much business."

ponders on this for a moment. "Would you wanna stay at Artie's place until you start sleeping again? It might help if you're not alone all_

the time!"

him a half hearted glare. "I don't think I'd get much sleep there each Al. I've seen the way you two look at each other."

blushes brightly and splutters. "W-what is that supposed to mean!?"

grins at him and laughs. "Nothing Al, I'm glad you're happy is all."

pouts and looks away, crossing his arms and hunching his shoulders slightly. "We haven't actually done anything for your information!"

him a sly grin. "But you want to do something right?" He inches closer, glad he's the one doing the teasing for once.

flails slightly, sputtering again. "Sh-shutup bro!" His blush increases at the reminder that he's a virgin, and he doesn't know *how* to do_

that kinda stuff.

covers his mouth with a hand to stifle another laugh. "I think you should make a move. I'm sure he knows how..."

punches his brother's arm, forgetting his own strength for the moment. "Shutup!!! I totally know how to...do that...stuff!!"

winces and rubs at his arm. That kind of hurt. "From what I remember, you don't." He coughs into his hand again with that, pausing for_

several moments as his lungs try to take in air.

mumbles an apology and glances away, still blushing heavily. "I can learn whenever I want! I bet it's not that hard!!"

shrugs slowly, he'd remembered far more than he'd wanted to share with Al. "You'll figure it out."

nods. "'Course I will!" Wants to get off this subject now, and tries to find something else to talk about. "Erm...so, how is the baker?_

I heard he wasn't doing so hot."

him a small look and shrugs. "I don't know, I went to thank him the other day but he wasn't there."

nods again, his blush fading. "I'll fix up a potion that you can take over there for him and fill you in on everything you need to tell him.

"

tilts his head at him, "I don't really know him though Al."

smiles then. "Doesn't mean you shouldn't help him! Nobody deserves to die cause of this stupid zombification!"

nods, "I know that. I want to help him, he was so nice to me."

nods. "You wanna go get the potion now? So he doesn't hafta wait?"

smiles brightly. "You don't mind?"

grins and shakes his head. "Not at all!"

gets up from his spot on the ground and brushes himself off. Wobbling a bit out of shear tiredness. "Thank you Al."

stands as well, and steadies his brother. "No problem, bro! 's what I'm here for!" He gives Mattie a thumbs up before leading him to_

Arthur's shop.

dislikes having to be steadied but shakes it off and follows after Al. "Al what spell where you trying to do anyway?"

's smile fades and he looks off to the side, a frown pulling at the corners of his lips. "Something very difficult and very dangerous._

Something I'll never try ever again."

reaches out and takes Al\s hand in both of his. Closing his eyes he follows him blindly. "Al... just promise me you'll smile more okay?"

chuckles lightly, the sound dry and humorless. "I'll smile more when I've repaid the debt I owe you and mom and dad." Only when he's dead.

squeezes his hand tighter before stopping. "Al... what do you want me to say? What would make you happy again? It's not like you to be like_

this."

smiles sadly back at his brother. "I know, Mattie. But, I'm not sure if there's really anything you can say." He looks up to the sky now._

"Just be yourself. Tell me anything you want to, whether it be yelling at me or just talking. Find yourself a good lover, someone who'll_

make you happy. Move on with your life, and always think positive. Be a better person than I am. That's all I can ask of you."

blinks up at him, flushing with the part about finding a lover. He quickly shakes his head and pulls Al closer before giving him a tight_

hug. "You've already made it up to me, I never would be remembered if you hadn't spoken to me at Arthur's party. I'm sure mom and dad_

don't blame you either. So stop beating yourself up over it."

bites his lower lip and refrains from hugging his brother back. "I can't, Mattie. Even if you all forgive me, I can't forgive myself."

steps back and gives Al a good smack across the face. His features hardened in a glare. He almost never got angry, but when he did it_

lasted. Without another word he turned away from and headed towards his shop. He hated himself for hitting his brother like that, but_

he just could stand to watch Al degrade himself like that.

's eyes were wide, head still turned the way that Mattie's slap had directed it. He knew he deserved it, and that he needed to get his act_

couldn't*

together, but he just can't seem to get out of the rut he's put himself in. He turns to watch his brother leave then, several tears_

running down his cheeks as he whispers to the wind, "I'm sorry, Matthew, I'm so sorry."

stops, hands clenched into fists at his sides, he's so tired. His gaze is locked on the ground as he debates turning back to his brother. _

No he is still to mad at him to face him. Taking another step he freezes, he's so damn tired. His eyes fall closed and he sinks to the_

ground, unable to stay awake any longer.

immediately runs to his brother's side, beginning to panic. "Matthew? Matthew!?" He quickly checks his pulse, relieved that he's still_

alive, but worried about his health. Why does he have to cause his family so much pain? He scoops Mattie into his arms then, and begins_

carrying him back to his shop. "I'm so sorry, Matthew...I'm so, so sorry..." He whispers, several more tears falling from his eyes.

curls into the source of sudden warmth, grateful for it. The whispered apologies made him stir, looking up at Al through sleepy eyes."_

Stop saying your sorry, I'm only going to hate you more if you keep that up. Besides..." He's realized he's being carried and he clings_

to Al even more. "This the second time you've had to carry me home. I should be the one saying sorry."

lets out a light chuckle, a breathy, slightly choked sound. "No, this is the only thing I can do to help make up for what I did to you._

It's because of me that you're like this."

wakes up a bit more at that and quickly shakes his head. "No. It's not because of you. It's my own doing. Not yours. Say that again and_

I'll hit you for it."

doesn't mention that the backfiring of the spell probably had some adverse effect on Matthew that neither of them know about, and that's_

probably what's causing some, if not most, of his brother's loss of sleep. He only smiles sadly and keeps his gaze trained on the scenery_

before him. It's silent denial of Matthew's words, and silent cooperation so as not to upset his brother any further.

glares at him before tightening his hold on Al's coat from. "I'm still mad at you right now though," it was hard to show it while he was_

being carried by his brother. With a frown he looked away. "I have to thank Arthur for saving you. If he didn't do that I wouldn't have you_

to be mad at." Pursing his lips he closes his eyes again. "I think I can finally sleep tonight. Sleep sounds so peaceful."

just continues to smile. "Close the shop tomorrow too, so that you can sleep in. You need it."

nods, "do me a favor, don't stop by tomorrow. You're to loud, I wont get any sleep if you're around." Truth be told he doesn't think he'll_

be waking up once he falls asleep. It's just a sinking suspicion but the one thing that had kept him from sleeping for the past couple of_

days.

nods. "Alright. I'll visit you the day after that though." Is completely clueless to Matthew's predicament, and continues carrying him into_

his shop, setting him down in the chair he uses to sleep. "I'll see you around then, Mattie. Have a good sleep." He ruffles the younger_

boy's hair, walking to the shop's sign and flipping it around to say 'Closed' before leaving.

watches Al leave before he manages to pick himself up and drag himself to the small bedroom he has in the back. He just never really uses_

it. Curling up in his bed he falls asleep instantly.