HOME | DD

Description
Gilbert thought maybe the worst part was the fact that Matthew always suffered silently. The Canadian rarely had nightmares but when he did... they were bad. That was the only word Gilbert had for it. But the small blonde was always stoic in his pain. That hurt Gilbert the most.
Gilbert had learned that there was a pattern; the nightmares always came after something bad happened for Canada. Regardless of what it was or if it was fixable, Matthew's nightmares would come then. So on those nights, Gilbert would hold Matthew extra close, stroke his hair and whisper gently in his ear. He never knew if Matthew even knew that he did this but it didn't matter, he would do anything for his love. Some nights, it worked. Most nights it didn't. So Gilbert learned the signs.
He snapped awake as Matthew tensed up in his arms. Gilbert took a deep breath and hugged tighter, his other hand in Matthew's hair.
"Shh. It's okay, my little Birdie. I won't let anything hurt you, my love. Hush now, shh, it's okay." He whispered in his ear, mumbling what he hoped was comfort in a steady stream. They would stay like that for a while, Gilbert hoping that the nightmare would fix itself. But most of the time it didn't.
Then the shaking would start. Gilbert hated it, his Canadian, his lover, his Matthew, quaking in his arms like a leaf and there was nothing he could do to fix it. He could feel the tears building behind his eyes.
"Birdie. Birdie, my dear, wake up." He said softly, his voice thick and choked with tears. "Shh. I'm here, Birdie. Now wake up for me, love." A few tears escaped Gilbert's eyes but instead of wiping his own cheeks he brushed the tears away the tears that Matthew had silently cried in his sleep. "Birdie, wake up, I'm going to pour out all your maple syrup." He said a bit more forcefully. Still, the smaller nation didn't wake up.
Next, Matthew would begin to jerk with silent sobs. Gilbert was sitting up by then, a hand still in Matthew's hair.
"Matthew. You need to wake up." He said. The blonde flinched violently at the harsh tone of his voice. "Shh, shh, shh." Gilbert immediately soothed. "Wake up now, Matthew. It's just a dream. I'm here to protect you, my little Birdie. Now wake up. Wake up, Matthew."
It normally never got farther than that, Gilbert always tried to make sure it didn't. But when it did...
Matthew whimpered softly.
"No. No no no. Wake up, Mattie." Gilbert said louder than before. All the he did in reply was flinch and whimper in a way that snapped Gilbert's heart in two. He forcefully grabbed the sleeping man's shoulder. "Matthew, wake up, right now." He said as he shook the shoulder.
"Gil." Matthew sobbed. Gilbert loosened his grip.
"Yes, Birdie. I'm right here." He said, leaning down.
"Gil. Gil, help me Gil. Please. Make it stop. Gil, Gil, Gil." Matthew sobbed over and over, calling out repeatedly like a mantra. Pain danced across Gilbert's features as he realized his Birdie was still asleep.
"Matthew Williams, wake up!" He shouted, finally snapping, as he shook the blonde's shoulder with every bit of force he could manage. Matthew gasped, taking a deep gulp of air like he was emerging from underwater. Gilbert sighed, beyond relieved. At the noise, Matthew's eyes snapped open. He shot up into a sitting position, eyes darting back and forth, panicked.
"Shh, shh." Gilbert hushed, putting a hand on the Canadian's upper arm. Matthew turned his head with frightening speed to look at Gilbert, a feral look in his eyes that even Gilbert, a long time soldier, would have to admit scared him to no end. Matthew just sat there, breath heaving, looking ready to attack at any sign of a threat. Until recognition flitted across his violet eyes.
"G... Gil?" He breathed. Gilbert nodded. "I... I'm..." he sobbed once, putting a hand to his mouth. Gilbert wrapped his arms around him, feeling that there was no way he could hug Matthew tight enough.
"Shh. It's okay, Birdie. It was just a nightmare. It's not real. I'm here, I'm always going to protect you, I'll never let anyone or anything hurt my precious little Birdie." He whispered as Matthew relaxed in his arms and began to weep in earnest.
"I- I'm sorry." Matthew managed through the tears.
"Shh, don't apologize, you have nothing to be sorry for." Gilbert replied, rubbing small circles on Matthew's back. Matthew nodded, his cheek rubbing against Gilbert's bare chest. "Don't worry, Birdie. I've got you, don't worry." He whispered, brushing his fingers through Matthew's hair as the smaller man cried into his chest. It was a long time before the tears began to subside. Gilbert had lied back down, Matthew lying with his head on top of the Prussian's chest and arms draped over him.
"I love you, Gil." He whispered, voice still choked with tears. He lifted his head up a bit and looked at Gilbert, eyes still bloodshot and full of tears. Gilbert brushed a lock if hair away from Matthew's eyes then leaned in and gently kissed his forehead.
"I love you too, Birdie." He whispered, lips still on Matthew's skin. Matthew looked up at him.
"Thank- thank you, Gil. I... I was so scared. And then you were here, holding me and... Thank you." He whispered, blushing wildly. Gilbert smiled a bit, tilting Matthew's head towards him. He leaned over, slowly closing the gap between them and meeting their lips. It was a short kiss, Gilbert trying to be gentle and caring, Matthew still hesitant with residual fear. Gilbert pulled back a bit and whispered against Matthew's lips.
"Any time, Birdie. I'll never let you go."