Chapter Text
Again.
And again.
And again.
Matthew tried whatever. Cutting deep just made him bleed, hanging gave him a headache, and falling off anything just hurt. No damage at all. But the pain of it... felt relieving, somehow...? So he kept doing it. Wearing longer sleeves and bigger jackets to hide the cuts spanning his arms and torso, scarves to hide the burn marks from the rope, and the pain made him feel alive in a way, but he knew he had to hide for two people: His brother, America, and his boyfriend, Cuba.
Matthew decided not to come to the meeting today, relishing too much in the feeling of rutting a box cutter on his wrists, leaving his reserved chair empty. Of course, no one really noticed... Except for Alfred, who scratched his head while staring at the empty, maple-leaf decorated chair in worry.
"Hey, where's Canada?" America asked, head tilted in confusion.
"...Who?" Germany responded.
"My little brother, Canada? Matthew?" America quizzed.
N. Italy shook his head as well. "Ve, I don't know who that is either..."
"Well, I'm gonna go look for the little dude," America said, standing up from his chair, "You guys go on without me, mkay?"
France nodded. "Alright. Au revoir, Alfred."
America rushed out the door without a trace.
Matthew was unbuttoning his shirt, ready to slice a few marks on his chest, before he heard a rhythmic banging at his door.
"Hey Canada, It's your big bro! Brought you some food if you're hungry!" Alfred shouted from the other side, as Matthew quickly buttoned his shirt up and pulled his sleeves down, hiding the blood-stained box cutter in his drawer. He unlocked his door, peeking out to see America's smiling face with a bag of Wendy's in his hand. "Hey little man, how ya doing?"
Canada put on a small smile, opening the door fully to let him in. "Ah, just feel a little sick. Nothin I can do aboot it but rest, eh?"
America grinned wider (If that was even possible for anyone but him), setting the food down on Matthew's mattress. "Right, right. I'll tell everyone else, just wanted to check on you. See ya, little bro!"
"Goodbye, Alfred..." Matthew waves at Alfred as he moves to leave, letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He opens his drawer, and-
Wait.
Where's the box cutter?
Did America...?