Hide and Seek ~ Chapter One ~

"Psssst, Matthew, come here!" Hushed light voices trickled through the dense over growth of grass and what not. A boy, about the age of eight perked up at his name and struggled his way over to another who sat there, his hands cupped around something.
"Alfred...if that is another one of those creepy animals I will tell Papa on you!" He threatened, tears already trying to accumulate in his eyes. The other boy laughed almost falling back onto the grass as he leaned back to let out an obnoxious laugh.
"That was a month ago Matthew! I would think you would've let that go by now, and besides, your 'Papa' can't do anything to me!" He huffed, his vibrant blue eyes filled with amusement. Matthew stalled and sighed.
"Alright, then what is it?" He asked curiously as he inched closer. Alfred's smile widened noticeably and he opened his ungloved hands to reveal a flower. Matthew giggled and leaned closer but stopped as he noticed the other's hands were ungloved.
"Alfred....you know better than to-" He started. Alfred rolled his eyes dramatically.
"Shhh, if you don't tell Arthur or anyone, then it won't be a problem, besides, I never would've known I had the touch with them on all the time." He whispered. Matthew's violet eyes widened considerably as he shivered.
"Yes, but, Alfred, why would you want to know? It's illegal." He whispered back as if someone would over hear the two. Alfred chuckled.
"Oh come on, if I'm not using it for bad purposes, then it's perfectly safe, come on, take yours off, it feels amazing." He smiled pulling at the other boy's gloves. Matthew instinctively pulled his hands away which only aided the American's movements, his dark brown gloves slipping off. Holding them with a smug smirk Alfred held them up in front of the blonde teasingly. Matthew's eyes were wide and he was on the verge of panicing. Alfred slipped them under his thigh and quickly grabbed the blonde's hands with his own a smirk still on his face.
"See? Nothing is happening to you, or me, we need to be able to trust one another." He smiled brightly. Matthew's breath hitched as he tried to hold back fearful tears and as well as surprised blubbering, and maybe even a sob of relief. Nothing was happening, which relieved yet worried him. What if he wasn't a worker? He didn't know...Offering a smile back to the blonde he sniffled the tears still at bay.
"Alright th-" He started.
"Matthew~!!!" They both jumped as the other's name was called. Matthew scrambled for his gloves underneath Alfred, as Alfred himself scrambled for his own that had been knocked underneath a nearby bush. Both of their hearts beat wildly, their skin hot with the fear of being caught without their gloves on. Slipping them on they both threw an all knowing glance at each other and sighed with relief, both of their hands shaking with the recent fright they had received.
"Alfred! Get over here! Where are you anyways?!" Came an agitated call. Alfred chuckled and scrambled out from the small hiding spot, Matthew in tow.
"Right here~!!!" He laughed loudly. Matthew stumbled but the other caught him easily holding him steady by the hand.
"Oi, Matthew, don't worry me like that, anyone could snatch you up." Came a chuckle from the familiar french man who approached the two kids, pulling Matthew into a tight hug, his blue eyes fluttering closed as he kept the other close. Alfred sighed, if only Arthur acted like that, it seemed as if the Brit wanted Alfred to disappear from the face of the earth.
"Young man, you need to stay where I can see you, don't want to worry me now." Arthur scowled finally making his way up the large grassy hill. The place was huge, which gave Alfred a little more freedom than most worker kids, and he was glad he had food, even though it wasn't always the best, but he hated being restricted behind gloves, not that he'd ever work Arthur or anyone he knew, but it just felt like he was a bird stuck in a birdcage.  
"Alright..." He trailed off sneaking a glance at Matthew who seemed to be relieved beyond belief at the moment. Breaking into a large smile he bounded off, right past Arthur who sighed in exasperation and turned to watch Alfred race down the hill letting out a small yowl of joy.
"That boy, he acts like a savage." Arthur chuckled lightly in reproof. Francis laughed, still holding Matthew close as he joined Arthur.
"Ah, well it goes to prove my point Arthur, you cannot break everyone of their spirit." He smirked. Arthur scoffed turning away, his gloved hand once again in his pockets.
"Watch me." He replied. Matthew looked between the two with wide innocent eyes, clearly catching the attention of his 'papa' who clucked his tongue and smiled sadly down at the other.
"Not in front of my boy." He warned the Brit, as his hand shuffled the boy's hair dotingly. Smiling up at Francis, Matthew continued to cling to his arm happy and relieved they hadn't been caught, and now he kind of felt like he was a bad boy for breaking, not only his guardian's rules, but the law as well. Then again it was Alfred who took his gloves off of Matthew, so he hadn't really broken any type of law, it was Alfred. Damn him. Though now he was interested...what kind of worker was he? He itched to find out, so of course he asked his guardian.
"It's not time, when you're older you will know." Came the reply. Matthew snapped out of his frustrated thoughts to turn his attention back towards his blonde and blue eyed guardian, he even had some stubble, it looked as if he had forgotten to shave once more.
"Please papa! I promise I won't speak a word! Just please!" He begged sorrowfully. Francis turned his gaze away, his lips thin and pursed with slight anger.
"I said no Matthew, now that is final, I am only trying to protect you, now leave it alone." He almost snapped. Matthew felt slightly angered and betrayed. Why wouldn't he tell him?! What was the harm?
"From what?" He asked harshly, something that surprised him as much as it did Francis, though he continued to stand his ground. Couldn't Francis trust him enough?
"You'll know when you're older." Came the hollow reply. Matthew wanted to scream, burst out into tears and scream.
"That's what you always say, but....but..." He chocked on his words and turned on his heel hurrying away, damn Alfred for making him wonder! Damn Francis! Damn magic!

It was sunny, maybe too sunny at this time of day, but that didn't matter, what mattered was that struggling with the painful silence was enough to drive someone insane, almost, but this was a stubborn someone we're talking about, someone who was patient without being patient, someone who was kind but spit out rash words so much someone could never repeat all of the words the young boy said in one day. The house was almost empty except for he himself and he sat there, pouting and waiting at the window, looking out, but that stupid sunlight was blinding him from seeing any sign of his guardian's arrival! Uncurling his tiny hands from the windowsill he jumped down and raced to the door slipping out easily and racing down the dirt road. The small Italian male almost broke into a wide smile as he spotted his guardian far down the road, but he was still heading home. Racing along he easily reached the Spaniard who was almost dripping sweat as he made his way along the edge of the dirt road. The auburn paused taking in his features with worry. He looked worn out and sick even.
"Hey, what took you so long?" He snapped out on impulse. The Spaniard looked up slightly surprised but threw him a smile nonetheless.
"Ah...I just went out to work for a little bit." He lied, but of course the boy bought into the small fib.
"Oh...alright...well I'm hungry, I need something to eat, right now." He complained, trying his hardest to keep pace with his guardian who smiled some more.
"Ah, I think I can hear your stomach, poor poor Lovino." He almost cooed mockingly.
"Shuddap bastard!" He snapped. Antonio laughed and ran his hand through his disheveled hair. That's when Lovino noticed. Not only did he notice the other's gloveless hands, but he could spot a dark ash looking color start at the tips of his fingers. He gulped the truth finally dawning on him. He knew exactly what Antonio had been doing, and it uneased him, pretty much all the young workers knew how to identify other workers, especially with their blowbacks. Gulping he stared at his feet as the walked along. Awkward silence ensued. Antonio sighed and could easily feel the awkward silence between the two and made an abrupt stop as he turned reaching out and grabbing Lovino by the arm. Lovino, of course, couldn't help but flinch away from Antonio but pause as he realized he had just given himself away. Antonio sighed with worry and pulled away running a hand through his hair once more.
"I'm sorry Lovino...You know I don't mean to work like this, and I would never work you." He almost whined out. Lovino blinked up at the other and spotted remorse scrawled onto his pained face, it didn't fit him. After a moment of processing those words he sighed.
"Hurry up and fix me something to eat idiot." He snarled happy to change the subject for once. Antonio looked at him worriedly and then smiled realizing that Lovino was going to let it slide either that or he was telling the Spaniard that he was trusting him.
"Okay, little tomate~!" He chuckled, shuffling the auburn's hair. Lovino hissed out and swatted the male's hands away, pretending to hate the attention, but he secretly yearned for it, though no way in hell would he let that secret slip.