Gilbert ran a hand through his already messed up hair. "You said I needed to come to you if I did want to be friends. I think I just did without realizing it." He frowned, trying to make this sound like something more than a rash decision. Is was, but not completely. "What I mean is, I did think about it. And maybe I never decided if I want friends or how to have them or anything, but I'm pretty sure I need one or you or something..." He garbled the last bit into his shoulder, but he said it and couldn't take it back. Glancing over at Matthew, he tried gauge how was reacting. "I don't know if that's good enough for you, but it's true."

"So.... You're saying you want to be friends?" Matthew asked, his tone slightly confused. It wasn't something he had been expecting from the other man. Especially after the disaster that was dinner last time. But it was more than he could have hoped for from the albino. So he hoped his suspicion about this was correct. He could handle being friends with him. Even though a part of him wanted more, it was easy to push that aside.

"Isn't that what I said?" Gilbert asked, his confusion pushing his awkwardness aside for a second. He knew he rambled his way through that, but he did just say he needed a friend. "I couldn't think of anyone else to talk to just now. Lud was right. I don't think I realized how much until I couldn't talk to him and then had nobody..."

"Just wanted to clarify. You were rambling." Matthew told him. "I will be happy to be your friend." He added. It was something he really didn't mind. "Just give me a sec; I'll give you my number and you can call me, anytime day or night and I'll be there for you." he promised. He dug around for a pen and paper and wrote down his phone number before handing the paper over to Gilbert.

Just as easy as that. Gilbert took the paper, a little marveled at how little effort it took once he tried to be friends. "Okay, I'll do that. I'll see you around then." He shuffled his feet before he headed out again. After all, he had an important conversation with his brother to deal with. The crinkle of paper in his pocket though made him feel a whole lot better about it.

"Bye." Matthew called after him. He watched him go before returning to work.

Ludwig was at the campus. He still had a few minutes before his class started, so he was taking time to take in the scenery and think. Mostly about how to make things right with Gilbert. He didn't like the animosity between them. It just felt wrong. But he couldn't think of anything to just get his brother to even talk to him. Let alone work things out.

Since Ludwig had class, Gilbert left a note on the table reading, 'want to talk before dinner. If I'm still asleep, wake me'. He wanted to make sure his brother knew he wouldn't run from this conversation that needed to happen. In the meantime he showered, texted elizabeta that he wouldn't be at work, and crawled back into bed, this time in comfortable clothes. With his stress over, he was so ready to crash.

Ludwig went through his day completely distracted. Normally school was a good distraction for him. But nothing could distract from his need to talk to Gilbert but having no idea what to say. He was reluctant to go home, but knew he had to. If only to take care of Astor. Besides, there was a chance his brother had already gone to work and he wouldn't have to see him. That thought instantly died when he saw the note. He looked at the time and knew that before dinner would have to be now. With a quiet sigh to himself, he went to wake up the albino.

Gilbert groaned as he woke up and found himself looking at Ludwig. For a second, he started, then said a mumbled 'morning' like it wasn't six in the evening. "Want to order a pizza for dinner? You saw my note right?" He ran a hand through his hair as he walked out into the living room and plopped onto the couch. His phone got lost between the cushions earlier and he fetched it to look for the pizza place's number. He could hardly cook and have a serious conversation after all.

"Pizza is fine. And yes, I did." Ludwig responded. He followed Gilbert out into the living room, Astor at his heels. He took a seat on the couch as well and the dog jumped up to curl up between them. "What did you want to talk about? I thought you didn't want to see me again." He asked, confused by his behavior. Sure, he had wanted to talk to the older man. But his brother normally stuck to what he said for at least longer than a day. So he thought it would have taken longer for them to start talking.

Once he'd ordered their favorite pizza, Gilbert shifted on the couch, awkward, but still reasonable. "Of course I want to talk. Lud...you know I didn't mean that, right? I'd never mean that." How could Ludwig ever believe such a thing considering just how much he needed the younger man. Gilbert groaned and leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "We never fight like this. Gott, I don't even know what happened, but I can't stand this. I don't want us to fight."

"I don' t want us to fight either." Ludwig admitted. He didn't want to admit it, but it felt like a weight had been lifted from his chest now that the two of them were talking. He was silent for another moment, trying to get what he wanted to say in order. "I need to know why you hid this from me. Is it that you're ashamed of it?" he asked.

Gilbert stared at the floor and how his bare toes contrasted against the carpet. "I guess a bit. At first anyway, or more so...that you would be ashamed of me." He still felt that Ludwig must be, at least a little. It didn't sound nearly as cool as security guard. He twiddled his fingers, wondering when the pizza would get there even though only a few minutes passed. "I love my job and all, but it's not respectable. I know that and no one would be happy to hear I do it. I'm just the strange one."

"I could never be ashamed of you, bruder." Ludwig told him, hurt that Gilbert would ever think otherwise. "If its a job you love, then what's their to be ashamed of. From what I could tell, it was just dancing.... It is just dancing, right? You're not selling yourself for money, are you?" he asked. That wouldn't change his opinion on the older man, but if his brother was that desperate for money, then he could do something to help.

Gilbert swallowed past the mix of relief that swept over him. He wanted to doubt Ludwig, but he couldn't. He just sounded too honest. Gilbert let out a snort at what his brother said, unable to resist rolling his eyes. "God no! Just because they want it doesn't mean they get it! This is a no touch zone," he said with a motion toward himself. "Anyone who goes for my ass be losing their fingers!" He looked over at Ludwig, offering a weak grin.

Ludwig offered Gilbert a small smile in return, glad his brother was back to normal. "If you're doing a job you enjoy, then there shouldn't be any shame with it, alright? If you're happy with doing this, then there is no reason for me to complain about it." As he finished speaking, a knock came on the door. It appears the pizza had arrived. He stood to go pay for it.

"Thanks," Gilbert said, his voice returning to seriousness for a second. "And I'm sorry I freaked out so bad before. That was totally uncool. I shouldn't have lied." He shook his head. That was behind them now though. They were cool. He didn't need to act weird or anything anymore so he trailed after Ludwig to snatch the pizza box away while Ludwig paid. "Awesome! Sausage and bacon is the best!"

Ludwig hummed slightly in agreement. "If you don't mind me asking, what caused your sudden change in attitude? You were so set on avoiding me last night and now you're back to normal." he asked, wondering what pushed Gilbert to have this conversation. He knew his brother. He was the type to avoid things like serious conversation, so he had been expecting at least a couple more days before they would have a chance to talk.

"Um..." That, Gilbert didn't quite know how to say. It was simple really, but also had to admit that Ludwig was right. "I talked it out with Matthew. He said you probably weren't disappointed in me if I'd just go and talk to you..." He ran a hand through his hair before sliding a few slices of pizza onto a paper plate. The friendship thing was still new to him and he had yet to think about it and how it might all work out.

"You worked things out with Matthew? That's good." Ludwig told him. Like Gilbert, he grabbed a couple of pieces of the pizza and set them on a plate. He could see Astor slowly slinking forward, hoping to steal some. He stopped with a look though, knowing he was caught and would have to try again later. He took a bite of his food, not minding that it burned his mouth slightly. "He was right you know. I'm not disappointed in you. I never could be."

"Yeah, I guess I did. Just seemed like I needed it." Gilbert didn't elaborate much more on the subject. Since he was feeling a lot more at ease, he flipped through his text messages as he ate, deleting most of them after getting the amusement from reading the notes. Because he had his phone out, he set a quick message to Matthew. 'Made up with lud :)' He shook his head, but with a slight smile. "You wouldn't believe how many texts I have right now."

Ludwig watched Gilbert as he ate. His own phone was indicating messages, and he didn't have to even look at it to know they were from Feliciano. Since his brother was distracted, he went about answering him while keeping one eye on Astor, who was still hoping to steal a bite. "From who?" he asked. He wanted to guess Matthew, since the albino had said he hadn't had friends before the blond, but it seemed unlikely.

Matthew was confused when he got a message from an unknown number, but once he read the message a smile formed on his face. 'Knew you could do it :)' he sent back.

"Uh...some coworkers sent me ten million after that whole scene. Ah, seriously?" Gilbert whined as he read another message. "It was all, I'm so concerned, then two minutes later, are you going to return your costume? Bitch." He looked up at Ludwig, still rolling his eyes. "Do you remember Elizabeta? Crazy girl who used to dress like a boy and beat people up on the playground?" he asked like he wasn't one of guys who she beat up half as often as she fought for him. "Just in case you're wondering, I didn't wake up one day and decide I wanted to be a stripper. She opened the club after she divorced that prissy-pants Roderick and asked if I wanted a job. I had no idea what she had in mind so I said yes and then she shoves these bunny ears into my hands like what the fuck!" He laughed at his own story and continued texting, a smile forming on his face at the note Matthew sent.

"Yes, I remember her." Ludwig told him. From what he remembered Elizabeta had never done anything bad to him, unlike towards Gilbert. But that was his brother's own fault. He was silent for the rest of the albino's story, slightly amused by it. "That seems like a random thing to do. Why'd she ask you anyway?" He asked. Surely there would have been plenty of people she could have hired for the job. So why did she choose Gilbert, considering how they always interacted.

Gilbert blinked. "That is a really good question. She knew I needed a job pretty bad?" His brow furrowed as he tried to remember if she had any reasoning back then. Nothing came to mind. "Is she a psychic?! How did she know if be good at it?!" He was going to have to ask her when he went into work next. Elizabeta had to know something he didn't and that was just unacceptable. "A-anyway....at leat now you know the story."