Forever Mine 2a/?
anonymous
November 10 2010, 01:00:38 UTC
Thanks for the comments! A quick update! --- Arthur didn’t really expect Alfred to be back but he did come back - not every day but nearly - and thereby running into Arthur’s awful family several times too. Arthur wasn’t sure that he really wanted Alfred around so much because even though he was half happy that Alfred was talking to him again now, he never knew what to say anymore. Their conversations were awkward and stilted and Arthur half wished Alfred would leave him alone again just so he could stop feeling so awkward even if, at the same time, he felt a wave of misery just thinking that Alfred might leave him alone for years again after this.
And then Alfred got rid of his tiresome family about half a week later and Arthur decided that awkward or not, Alfred was a savior and he could stay as long as he wanted.
“I’m sure you’re all very busy,” Alfred said casually one day during visiting hours when everyone was being particularly restless and every five minutes, someone else had a conference call they had to step out and take. “Arthur’s gonna get out soon. If you all want to leave, I can take care of him until he gets out,” Alfred offered.
Arthur was only a little bit annoyed at how fast his family jumped at the offer because he was mostly as relieved as they were.
“Would you really be, love?” his mother asked. “It’s just that I’ve missed two conferences in London now and the board members are calling me every day.”
“It’s settled then,” his father clapped Alfred on the shoulder and beamed at him. “Make sure our little Artie’s safe,” he said.
Arthur wasn’t sure if he felt more relieved or annoyed that his family all but hightailed it out of there.
“Well, looks like it’s just you and me,” Alfred said, looking vaguely surprised at how fast Arthur’s family had jumped at the offer.
“Sorry about that,” Arthur said with a shrug. “You know how they are - they hate me,” he said.
Alfred laughed. “What are you talking about? They came to see you didn’t they?”
“That was obligation,” Arthur said and before he could stop himself, stuttered, “Are you really-I mean, not that it matters, but you said-”
“I’ll look after you in sickness and in health,” Alfred said and grinned when the blush spread over Arthur’s face. “Promise. And I’m not taking an objections!” he added.
“Since you insist,” Arthur said, trying to sound annoyed but failing pretty badly judging by the wide grin on Alfred’s face.
“So I’ll come see you tomorrow?” Alfred said.
“All right,” Arthur said.
By that time, he’d started getting much better and the doctors said that he could probably check out of the hospital in another week or two once his condition was completely stabilized though he’d probably want to take some time off of work to fully recover. Which meant that the police came back, eager to question him.
The pair of police were actually half brothers - the loud Detective Chief Inspector Gilbert Beilschmidt and his much sterner younger brother, Ludwig.
“I told you, I really don’t remember anything,” Arthur said for the umpteenth time that day.
“And I said I don’t believe you,” Gilbert said. “You’re keeping something from us, aren’t you, you English pussy,” he said.
“Excuse me,” Arthur said, offended.
“Brother,” Ludwig said sharply although he mostly looked like he had a headache.
“What? It’s true,” Gilbert said. “And he’s lying. He was with that psycho for at least an hour and probably even longer on the bus. They were on the same bus, how can he not remember?”
“It’s perfectly normal for someone to have a traumatic experience and not remember what happened,” Ludwig said with a sigh.
“He doesn’t remember anything about the bus at all!” Gilbert insisted.
“He was also drugged,” Ludwig said.
“It was like any other bus. What do you want me to say? There wasn’t anyone on it I remember,” Arthur snapped.
“You always take the bus?” Ludwig asked.
“I don’t have a car,” Arthur said. “I can get everywhere I need to by foot or by bus,” he snapped.
“You-”
“Think back carefully. Is there anyone or anything that stood out in your mind? Anything about the killer that you can remember?” Ludwig asked, interrupting his brother who glared at him.
Forever Mine 2b/?
anonymous
November 10 2010, 01:01:55 UTC
Arthur didn’t want to remember the assault so he hadn’t been thinking about it. He didn’t want a killer on the loose either though, so he tried now. He could remember coming back from the business meeting with several important professors in Bath. He remembered going to the bus stop afterwards and longing to get home and get in bed with a good book. He could remember getting on the bus though he hadn’t paid much attention to the driver or anyone else in the line of people waiting for the National Express. He’d gotten a window seat around the middle of the bus. There had been rain dripping down the windowpanes and through the glass, he remembered seeing silhouettes of people and their clothes, but everything had been blurry - obstructed by the rain and umbrellas and coats with their hoods pulled up. There had been more people who walked past him and who sat down in front of him, but they were only patterned coats and scarves to Arthur - he couldn’t remember anyone clearly-
“Hey! What are you guys doing?”
Arthur jerked out of his contemplation to see Alfred standing and glaring down DCI Gilbert Beilschmidt.
“And who are you, huh?” Gilbert demanded.
“I’m Arthur’s-friend,” Alfred said. “Were they doing anything to you?” he asked Arthur, ignoring Gilbert.
“You can’t just come in here like that! We’re police, see this badge? D. C. I. Gilbert. Beilschmidt,” Gilbert said, jabbing a finger at his badge. “And we can question him,” he jabbed a finger at Arthur. “However we want.”
“That’s police brutality and it’s illegal,” Alfred said just as stubbornly and jabbed one of his fingers at Gilbert’s badge. “I could have you reported and suspended for mistreatment.”
“Hah! As if!” Gilbert said. “If-”
“Order!” Ludwig shouted.
Gilbert and Alfred both turned toward him, surprised.
“First, we will question the witness in an orderly manner,” Ludwig glared at Gilbert. “And we will not have interruptions.” He glared at Alfred. “Agreed?”
Alfred glared at Ludwig and then Gilbert. “I’ll be outside,” he said to Arthur. “Holler if you need me.”
Then he stalked out.
“Who’s that pissy guy? Your boyfriend?” Gilbert asked.
“No he isn’t and isn’t there a rule against inappropriate questions?” Arthur demanded, although he was feeling ridiculously elated that Alfred was ready to go against even the police for him.
“Brother,” Ludwig said sternly.
“Fine, fine, West.” Gilbert held up his hands in mock submission.
“Think. Is there anything you could tell us? Anything you can remember?” Ludwig asked again.
Arthur tried to think again but it was difficult with Gilbert pacing the room and Ludwig staring at him so intensely. He was tired and mostly he just wanted to have Alfred in here and the policemen out.
Ludwig sighed. “We’ll continue this at another time. If you remember anything…”
“I’ll let you know,” Arthur said, relieved as Ludwig all but shoved his rude brother out the door.
Alfred, as promised, was in as soon as they had left. “Hey, are you all right? Remember anything?” Alfred asked as he dropped into the chair next to Arthur’s bed.
He looked worried as he reached for Arthur’s hand and it took all of Arthur’s strength not to jump when Alfred’s fingers closed around his, warm and big.
Arthur shook his head, throat suddenly dry as Alfred rubbed circles into Arthur’s palm with his thumb. Alfred didn’t seem to even notice he was doing it. “I-“ Arthur swallowed. “I can’t remember anything,” he said. “It was…it was just blurry.”
“Hey, it’s okay,” Alfred said. “You don’t have to remember any of that bad stuff,” he said.
“I do,” Arthur said. “If I could help catch the killer…”
“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you,” Alfred said, his blue eyes sincere and sweet.
But Arthur would be checking out in just a few days now, and he had no idea if he would even see Alfred like this after that. Arthur had to know just what was happening between them because he liked Alfred a lot even if this was a little like getting to know him again after nearly six years of silence.
“Alfred,” Arthur began and swallowed. “We… why are you doing this?” he asked.
“What?” Alfred blinked.
“Being-coming here and visiting me and everything,” Arthur said. “Back then, didn’t you ha-hate me?”
Forever Mine 2c/?
anonymous
November 10 2010, 01:03:03 UTC
In secondary school, Arthur had once gone with his parents to visit the Jones-Williams family for a week in July, and Arthur had really looked forward to it, not having seen Alfred for several years now. He had been going through an awkward teenage phase then, too skinny and too gangly and not quite fitting in his skin. He had liked to spend most of his time reading and daydreaming about fantasy worlds and magic back then. Arthur had never had many friends, but Alfred had been the one person who idolized and adored him as a child, so Arthur had brought gifts of toys and books, ready to sit Alfred on his lap and read to him or take him to the park to play like they used to.
So he had gotten the shock of his life when Alfred turned out to be an inch taller than Arthur and now apparently thought he was God’s gift to humankind. Even though he was only thirteen, Alfred brought home a new girlfriend every other day and worked out bordering on obsessive because he woke up at five every morning just to do so. He was also extremely smart and had skipped two grades by then and could talk for hours about technology and physics and anatomy that completely lost Arthur and Alfred knew it.
Arthur had always been the designated babysitter when the parents wanted to go out together because he, as the only one of the Kirkland children who wanted to come, was the eldest. This time though, no matter what he said, Alfred ignored him. He turned his music up, invited his friends over when Arthur said he couldn’t, ordered pizza when Arthur was going to cook. Matthew was well-behaved as he’d always been, but Alfred who had been the one Arthur loved most completely disregarded him. He tossed aside the gifts, and when Arthur tried to recapture those happy childhood moments, Alfred threw it back in his face.
Arthur remembered knocking on Alfred’s door at one point during that time.
“Yeah, what?” Alfred shouted from inside with obnoxious American rock playing muffled on the other side of the door.
“It’s me. Arthur,” Arthur said and bit his lip, but they had gotten along so well when Alfred was a child - surely Alfred would want to spend some time together now that Arthur finally had the chance to visit again. “I just wondered if you wanted to go to the park together…and read… or something…” he trailed off, feeling pathetic.
He’d already given up and was walking down the hallway again when the door opened and Alfred stood there in a T-shirt and jeans with his arms crossed. “Yeah, all right,” Alfred said.
Arthur nodded, and he’d felt so happy that he didn’t even remember what Charles Dickens book he’d grabbed before he headed outdoors with Alfred.
“I brought Charles Dickens… you liked him when you were younger, right?” Arthur asked, trying to jumpstart the awkward conversation.
“I liked the Christmas Carol when I was five,” Alfred said dryly. “Whatever, books are boring.”
“They are not. Good literature is like bringing you to a different world,” Arthur said and glared at him. “Just because you’re too uncouth to appreciate it.” And this wasn’t the way he wanted things to go at all - not five minutes out of the house and they were arguing.
They never used to argue.
“Science is the answer to everything,” Alfred said. “Books are for people too scared to go out and do it themselves. If you want something, you need to go out and get it!”
“That isn’t true. What about murders then? In Cold Blood by Truman Capote? It’s a great book but I don’t think anyone should be doing that,” Arthur argued.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. And if you don’t want people fantasizing about murder, you shouldn’t write about it,” Alfred said.
The park they went to was close to Alfred’s house - only about a five minute walk - and at this time in the afternoon, it was full of kids and parents, and people walking their dogs.
Forever Mine 2d/?
anonymous
November 10 2010, 01:03:52 UTC
Arthur sighed as he watched the children running around in the playground - that used to be him and Alfred with Alfred demanding that Arthur push him higher on the swings or making Arthur climb up so they could go down the slide together. Arthur had felt genuinely wanted back then, but now it was like Alfred was only putting up with him.
Arthur didn’t want to give up their relationship for lost though when Alfred was here - just a little older and a little taller and a little meaner to him. “But didn’t you want to come out to read?” Arthur tried.
Alfred snorted. “As if. I’d go home to read,” he said but he sat down in the shade of the tree Arthur used to take him to and Arthur sat beside him.
“Then… what would you rather do?” Arthur asked, looking between his Charles Dickens and Alfred’s knee which was right next to his own.
“Dunno,” Alfred said unhelpfully, and then one of Alfred’s many girlfriends saw them.
She was obviously Alfred’s type with her blonde hair pulled back in a pigtail, straight white teeth, wearing shorts and a T-shirt that showed off her figure, and jogging a small dog.
“Hey, baby, what are you doing here?” she asked, smiling as she came and exchanged a kiss with Alfred right in front of Arthur.
“My friend wanted to come here,” Alfred said, gesturing to Arthur.
“Nice to meet you,” Arthur said politely and held out his hand.
The girl brightened as she shook it. “Wow, you have an accent! Are you like English?” she asked.
“From London,” Arthur said.
“That’s so cool,” the girl gushed and Arthur was just beginning to feel a little better when Alfred cut in.
“Yeah, babe, I’m showing him around. I’ll text you later?” Alfred said.
“Okay, bye! And it was nice meeting you!” Alfred’s girlfriend said and jogged off again, leaving them in the awkward silence again.
Arthur half wished she’d come back because she was so talkative and friendly the way Alfred used to be and wasn’t anymore. “She was nice,” Arthur finally said. “Um… have you two known each other long?” he asked.
“Why? You like her or something?” Alfred asked.
Arthur turned to look at him. “What? No! I don’t even know her…” Was Alfred jealous? “I’d never, I mean, she’s your girlfriend, I wouldn’t-”
Alfred’s eyes had narrowed into blue chips of ice. “Do you want to kiss her? Feel her up?” He asked, leaning forward until Arthur felt trapped between the tree and Alfred.
“Of course not! I wouldn’t do that to you-”
“Yeah, and if she wasn’t my girlfriend, you’d want to?” Alfred demanded.
He didn’t even wait for an answer then, and it took Arthur a few moments to realize that Alfred was kissing him, his hands squeezing Arthur’s shoulders so hard it hurt and lips pushing against Arthur’s, forcing his tongue inside Arthur’s mouth until Arthur was gasping for air. Arthur bit down on Alfred’s lip hard and then shoved him back.
“What was that?” Arthur asked, still panting and more confused than ever before.
Alfred got to his feet, wiping at his bloody lip. “Nothing,” Alfred said. “I’m going back.”
Arthur sat for a long time in the park, wondering what had just happened and why Alfred had done that. When he finally made his way back to the house, a little calmer but no less confused, Alfred had locked himself in his room and the rest of the family was all back. Arthur was confused and uncomfortable so he’d tried to just ignore it. He tried treating Alfred the same as he always had, but Alfred only got more sullen. Twice, Alfred brought up the park and Arthur had to hide in the bathroom until Alfred dropped the subject because he just didn’t know what to say to him. And after a few days of this, Alfred seemed to give up.
Forever Mine 2e/?
anonymous
November 10 2010, 01:05:08 UTC
After that, it was unofficial war, except that Alfred had a much better advantage because he knew his own house, so Arthur had his books ripped up and tossed into the pool in the backyard. He had gotten paint dumped on him and a bloody nose from not paying attention when Alfred threw a football at him. Arthur’s pet hamster had died too though it had been found in the backyard so Arthur didn’t have any proof whether it had been Alfred or their pet dog. And then Arthur had enough when Alfred locked him out of the house completely one day their parents were all going out to dinner, and Arthur had been forced to sit on the front steps until they came home, alone in the dark.
Alfred had been grounded, naturally, but by then, Arthur was just hurt that someone he’d once adored hated him so much. It wasn’t like the apology they made Alfred give him was sincere to begin with, and Arthur had been relieved when it was time to go back to England. After that, he’d never gone with his parents when they went to visit America ever again.
Alfred touched his cheek, gentle like he knew exactly what Arthur was thinking about.
“I never hated you,” Alfred said.
“But-”
“I went through… a phase,” Alfred said slowly. “But I’ve gotten over it now,” he said and then smiled that beautiful, charming smile. “I came to Bristol for you,” he said.
“What?” Arthur stared at him.
“I had my choice of universities back in the States. I wanted to come here for you,” Alfred said as though he hadn’t just dropped a mind-blowing bomb on Arthur.
“But-but you never talked to me,” Arthur stuttered. “You’ve been here for three years-”
“You never talked to me either,” Alfred said.
Even when Alfred suddenly moved to Bristol three years ago for university, he had never made any move to contact Arthur. There had been one awkward meeting at the beginning when Alfred’s parents had asked Arthur’s parents to have Arthur show Alfred around Bristol and the campus. It had taken approximately two hours, most of which Arthur spent talking like a tour guide while Alfred looked cool and composed and friendly like nothing had ever happened three years ago. Half the time, Arthur had been trying not to stumble all over his words because Alfred had filled out a little more and had the bone structure and build that promised he would be absolutely gorgeous once he grew up a little more.
Because Arthur had never really gotten over that forced kiss. It had been his first kiss, and even though by now, Arthur had a lot more experience with these things, that was the one kiss he could never forget. And it only made it that much easier to harbor feelings for Alfred who he’d always been fond of even after what Alfred did. Arthur had never held any hopes for their relationship though - he knew that Alfred probably hated him and was only putting up with Arthur because his parents had ordered it. Arthur had only been sure of it when Alfred never contacted him again after that one time.
And it had been a lot easier to keep his distance when Alfred was superficially friendly but never went out of his way to talk to Arthur and the greetings they exchanged upon occasionally seeing each other on campus was cool at best. He’d never even considered that Alfred might care about him too.
“That’s different. I wanted to, but you were never-I thought you hated me!” Arthur said
Alfred’s smile was like the sun beams breaking slowly through a thick cloud. “I’ve always loved you,” he said. “I tried to stop. God knows I tried, but I couldn’t do it in the end,” he said, looking a little bit sad and a little bit wistful.
Alfred took a deep breath and shook himself a little. “Then this happened and I couldn’t stay away any longer,” he said.
Re: Forever Mine 2e/?
anonymous
November 10 2010, 01:26:03 UTC
“So.” Alfred smiled. “Will you be my boyfriend?” God, that cliffhanger line. XD It's like cutting to a commercial break right when the main character's about to step into the room where an ax murderer is waiting: you know they're going to do it anyway, but you still want to yell at them to RUN AWAY INSTEAD. OTL
OHMIGAWD this reminds me of this Cold Case episode I watched a long time ago :D
The obvious is right there Artie! D': Don't fall for his sweet charms! Nooo! XD (If I didn't think up the prompt and this was a regular fic, I wouldn't suspect Alfred. Hell, it would be a BADASS plot twist right there!)
But I feel bad for what happened between them, that's gotta be hard to live with.
Author anon, I hate it you left us with a cliffhanger! You tease~ ;A;
---
Arthur didn’t really expect Alfred to be back but he did come back - not every day but nearly - and thereby running into Arthur’s awful family several times too. Arthur wasn’t sure that he really wanted Alfred around so much because even though he was half happy that Alfred was talking to him again now, he never knew what to say anymore. Their conversations were awkward and stilted and Arthur half wished Alfred would leave him alone again just so he could stop feeling so awkward even if, at the same time, he felt a wave of misery just thinking that Alfred might leave him alone for years again after this.
And then Alfred got rid of his tiresome family about half a week later and Arthur decided that awkward or not, Alfred was a savior and he could stay as long as he wanted.
“I’m sure you’re all very busy,” Alfred said casually one day during visiting hours when everyone was being particularly restless and every five minutes, someone else had a conference call they had to step out and take. “Arthur’s gonna get out soon. If you all want to leave, I can take care of him until he gets out,” Alfred offered.
Arthur was only a little bit annoyed at how fast his family jumped at the offer because he was mostly as relieved as they were.
“Would you really be, love?” his mother asked. “It’s just that I’ve missed two conferences in London now and the board members are calling me every day.”
“It’s settled then,” his father clapped Alfred on the shoulder and beamed at him. “Make sure our little Artie’s safe,” he said.
Arthur wasn’t sure if he felt more relieved or annoyed that his family all but hightailed it out of there.
“Well, looks like it’s just you and me,” Alfred said, looking vaguely surprised at how fast Arthur’s family had jumped at the offer.
“Sorry about that,” Arthur said with a shrug. “You know how they are - they hate me,” he said.
Alfred laughed. “What are you talking about? They came to see you didn’t they?”
“That was obligation,” Arthur said and before he could stop himself, stuttered, “Are you really-I mean, not that it matters, but you said-”
“I’ll look after you in sickness and in health,” Alfred said and grinned when the blush spread over Arthur’s face. “Promise. And I’m not taking an objections!” he added.
“Since you insist,” Arthur said, trying to sound annoyed but failing pretty badly judging by the wide grin on Alfred’s face.
“So I’ll come see you tomorrow?” Alfred said.
“All right,” Arthur said.
By that time, he’d started getting much better and the doctors said that he could probably check out of the hospital in another week or two once his condition was completely stabilized though he’d probably want to take some time off of work to fully recover. Which meant that the police came back, eager to question him.
The pair of police were actually half brothers - the loud Detective Chief Inspector Gilbert Beilschmidt and his much sterner younger brother, Ludwig.
“I told you, I really don’t remember anything,” Arthur said for the umpteenth time that day.
“And I said I don’t believe you,” Gilbert said. “You’re keeping something from us, aren’t you, you English pussy,” he said.
“Excuse me,” Arthur said, offended.
“Brother,” Ludwig said sharply although he mostly looked like he had a headache.
“What? It’s true,” Gilbert said. “And he’s lying. He was with that psycho for at least an hour and probably even longer on the bus. They were on the same bus, how can he not remember?”
“It’s perfectly normal for someone to have a traumatic experience and not remember what happened,” Ludwig said with a sigh.
“He doesn’t remember anything about the bus at all!” Gilbert insisted.
“He was also drugged,” Ludwig said.
“It was like any other bus. What do you want me to say? There wasn’t anyone on it I remember,” Arthur snapped.
“You always take the bus?” Ludwig asked.
“I don’t have a car,” Arthur said. “I can get everywhere I need to by foot or by bus,” he snapped.
“You-”
“Think back carefully. Is there anyone or anything that stood out in your mind? Anything about the killer that you can remember?” Ludwig asked, interrupting his brother who glared at him.
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“Hey! What are you guys doing?”
Arthur jerked out of his contemplation to see Alfred standing and glaring down DCI Gilbert Beilschmidt.
“And who are you, huh?” Gilbert demanded.
“I’m Arthur’s-friend,” Alfred said. “Were they doing anything to you?” he asked Arthur, ignoring Gilbert.
“You can’t just come in here like that! We’re police, see this badge? D. C. I. Gilbert. Beilschmidt,” Gilbert said, jabbing a finger at his badge. “And we can question him,” he jabbed a finger at Arthur. “However we want.”
“That’s police brutality and it’s illegal,” Alfred said just as stubbornly and jabbed one of his fingers at Gilbert’s badge. “I could have you reported and suspended for mistreatment.”
“Hah! As if!” Gilbert said. “If-”
“Order!” Ludwig shouted.
Gilbert and Alfred both turned toward him, surprised.
“First, we will question the witness in an orderly manner,” Ludwig glared at Gilbert. “And we will not have interruptions.” He glared at Alfred. “Agreed?”
Alfred glared at Ludwig and then Gilbert. “I’ll be outside,” he said to Arthur. “Holler if you need me.”
Then he stalked out.
“Who’s that pissy guy? Your boyfriend?” Gilbert asked.
“No he isn’t and isn’t there a rule against inappropriate questions?” Arthur demanded, although he was feeling ridiculously elated that Alfred was ready to go against even the police for him.
“Brother,” Ludwig said sternly.
“Fine, fine, West.” Gilbert held up his hands in mock submission.
“Think. Is there anything you could tell us? Anything you can remember?” Ludwig asked again.
Arthur tried to think again but it was difficult with Gilbert pacing the room and Ludwig staring at him so intensely. He was tired and mostly he just wanted to have Alfred in here and the policemen out.
Ludwig sighed. “We’ll continue this at another time. If you remember anything…”
“I’ll let you know,” Arthur said, relieved as Ludwig all but shoved his rude brother out the door.
Alfred, as promised, was in as soon as they had left. “Hey, are you all right? Remember anything?” Alfred asked as he dropped into the chair next to Arthur’s bed.
He looked worried as he reached for Arthur’s hand and it took all of Arthur’s strength not to jump when Alfred’s fingers closed around his, warm and big.
Arthur shook his head, throat suddenly dry as Alfred rubbed circles into Arthur’s palm with his thumb. Alfred didn’t seem to even notice he was doing it. “I-“ Arthur swallowed. “I can’t remember anything,” he said. “It was…it was just blurry.”
“Hey, it’s okay,” Alfred said. “You don’t have to remember any of that bad stuff,” he said.
“I do,” Arthur said. “If I could help catch the killer…”
“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you,” Alfred said, his blue eyes sincere and sweet.
But Arthur would be checking out in just a few days now, and he had no idea if he would even see Alfred like this after that. Arthur had to know just what was happening between them because he liked Alfred a lot even if this was a little like getting to know him again after nearly six years of silence.
“Alfred,” Arthur began and swallowed. “We… why are you doing this?” he asked.
“What?” Alfred blinked.
“Being-coming here and visiting me and everything,” Arthur said. “Back then, didn’t you ha-hate me?”
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So he had gotten the shock of his life when Alfred turned out to be an inch taller than Arthur and now apparently thought he was God’s gift to humankind. Even though he was only thirteen, Alfred brought home a new girlfriend every other day and worked out bordering on obsessive because he woke up at five every morning just to do so. He was also extremely smart and had skipped two grades by then and could talk for hours about technology and physics and anatomy that completely lost Arthur and Alfred knew it.
Arthur had always been the designated babysitter when the parents wanted to go out together because he, as the only one of the Kirkland children who wanted to come, was the eldest. This time though, no matter what he said, Alfred ignored him. He turned his music up, invited his friends over when Arthur said he couldn’t, ordered pizza when Arthur was going to cook. Matthew was well-behaved as he’d always been, but Alfred who had been the one Arthur loved most completely disregarded him. He tossed aside the gifts, and when Arthur tried to recapture those happy childhood moments, Alfred threw it back in his face.
Arthur remembered knocking on Alfred’s door at one point during that time.
“Yeah, what?” Alfred shouted from inside with obnoxious American rock playing muffled on the other side of the door.
“It’s me. Arthur,” Arthur said and bit his lip, but they had gotten along so well when Alfred was a child - surely Alfred would want to spend some time together now that Arthur finally had the chance to visit again. “I just wondered if you wanted to go to the park together…and read… or something…” he trailed off, feeling pathetic.
He’d already given up and was walking down the hallway again when the door opened and Alfred stood there in a T-shirt and jeans with his arms crossed. “Yeah, all right,” Alfred said.
Arthur nodded, and he’d felt so happy that he didn’t even remember what Charles Dickens book he’d grabbed before he headed outdoors with Alfred.
“I brought Charles Dickens… you liked him when you were younger, right?” Arthur asked, trying to jumpstart the awkward conversation.
“I liked the Christmas Carol when I was five,” Alfred said dryly. “Whatever, books are boring.”
“They are not. Good literature is like bringing you to a different world,” Arthur said and glared at him. “Just because you’re too uncouth to appreciate it.” And this wasn’t the way he wanted things to go at all - not five minutes out of the house and they were arguing.
They never used to argue.
“Science is the answer to everything,” Alfred said. “Books are for people too scared to go out and do it themselves. If you want something, you need to go out and get it!”
“That isn’t true. What about murders then? In Cold Blood by Truman Capote? It’s a great book but I don’t think anyone should be doing that,” Arthur argued.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. And if you don’t want people fantasizing about murder, you shouldn’t write about it,” Alfred said.
The park they went to was close to Alfred’s house - only about a five minute walk - and at this time in the afternoon, it was full of kids and parents, and people walking their dogs.
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Arthur didn’t want to give up their relationship for lost though when Alfred was here - just a little older and a little taller and a little meaner to him. “But didn’t you want to come out to read?” Arthur tried.
Alfred snorted. “As if. I’d go home to read,” he said but he sat down in the shade of the tree Arthur used to take him to and Arthur sat beside him.
“Then… what would you rather do?” Arthur asked, looking between his Charles Dickens and Alfred’s knee which was right next to his own.
“Dunno,” Alfred said unhelpfully, and then one of Alfred’s many girlfriends saw them.
She was obviously Alfred’s type with her blonde hair pulled back in a pigtail, straight white teeth, wearing shorts and a T-shirt that showed off her figure, and jogging a small dog.
“Hey, baby, what are you doing here?” she asked, smiling as she came and exchanged a kiss with Alfred right in front of Arthur.
“My friend wanted to come here,” Alfred said, gesturing to Arthur.
“Nice to meet you,” Arthur said politely and held out his hand.
The girl brightened as she shook it. “Wow, you have an accent! Are you like English?” she asked.
“From London,” Arthur said.
“That’s so cool,” the girl gushed and Arthur was just beginning to feel a little better when Alfred cut in.
“Yeah, babe, I’m showing him around. I’ll text you later?” Alfred said.
“Okay, bye! And it was nice meeting you!” Alfred’s girlfriend said and jogged off again, leaving them in the awkward silence again.
Arthur half wished she’d come back because she was so talkative and friendly the way Alfred used to be and wasn’t anymore. “She was nice,” Arthur finally said. “Um… have you two known each other long?” he asked.
“Why? You like her or something?” Alfred asked.
Arthur turned to look at him. “What? No! I don’t even know her…” Was Alfred jealous? “I’d never, I mean, she’s your girlfriend, I wouldn’t-”
Alfred’s eyes had narrowed into blue chips of ice. “Do you want to kiss her? Feel her up?” He asked, leaning forward until Arthur felt trapped between the tree and Alfred.
“Of course not! I wouldn’t do that to you-”
“Yeah, and if she wasn’t my girlfriend, you’d want to?” Alfred demanded.
He didn’t even wait for an answer then, and it took Arthur a few moments to realize that Alfred was kissing him, his hands squeezing Arthur’s shoulders so hard it hurt and lips pushing against Arthur’s, forcing his tongue inside Arthur’s mouth until Arthur was gasping for air. Arthur bit down on Alfred’s lip hard and then shoved him back.
“What was that?” Arthur asked, still panting and more confused than ever before.
Alfred got to his feet, wiping at his bloody lip. “Nothing,” Alfred said. “I’m going back.”
Arthur sat for a long time in the park, wondering what had just happened and why Alfred had done that. When he finally made his way back to the house, a little calmer but no less confused, Alfred had locked himself in his room and the rest of the family was all back. Arthur was confused and uncomfortable so he’d tried to just ignore it. He tried treating Alfred the same as he always had, but Alfred only got more sullen. Twice, Alfred brought up the park and Arthur had to hide in the bathroom until Alfred dropped the subject because he just didn’t know what to say to him. And after a few days of this, Alfred seemed to give up.
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Alfred had been grounded, naturally, but by then, Arthur was just hurt that someone he’d once adored hated him so much. It wasn’t like the apology they made Alfred give him was sincere to begin with, and Arthur had been relieved when it was time to go back to England. After that, he’d never gone with his parents when they went to visit America ever again.
Alfred touched his cheek, gentle like he knew exactly what Arthur was thinking about.
“I never hated you,” Alfred said.
“But-”
“I went through… a phase,” Alfred said slowly. “But I’ve gotten over it now,” he said and then smiled that beautiful, charming smile. “I came to Bristol for you,” he said.
“What?” Arthur stared at him.
“I had my choice of universities back in the States. I wanted to come here for you,” Alfred said as though he hadn’t just dropped a mind-blowing bomb on Arthur.
“But-but you never talked to me,” Arthur stuttered. “You’ve been here for three years-”
“You never talked to me either,” Alfred said.
Even when Alfred suddenly moved to Bristol three years ago for university, he had never made any move to contact Arthur. There had been one awkward meeting at the beginning when Alfred’s parents had asked Arthur’s parents to have Arthur show Alfred around Bristol and the campus. It had taken approximately two hours, most of which Arthur spent talking like a tour guide while Alfred looked cool and composed and friendly like nothing had ever happened three years ago. Half the time, Arthur had been trying not to stumble all over his words because Alfred had filled out a little more and had the bone structure and build that promised he would be absolutely gorgeous once he grew up a little more.
Because Arthur had never really gotten over that forced kiss. It had been his first kiss, and even though by now, Arthur had a lot more experience with these things, that was the one kiss he could never forget. And it only made it that much easier to harbor feelings for Alfred who he’d always been fond of even after what Alfred did. Arthur had never held any hopes for their relationship though - he knew that Alfred probably hated him and was only putting up with Arthur because his parents had ordered it. Arthur had only been sure of it when Alfred never contacted him again after that one time.
And it had been a lot easier to keep his distance when Alfred was superficially friendly but never went out of his way to talk to Arthur and the greetings they exchanged upon occasionally seeing each other on campus was cool at best. He’d never even considered that Alfred might care about him too.
“That’s different. I wanted to, but you were never-I thought you hated me!” Arthur said
Alfred’s smile was like the sun beams breaking slowly through a thick cloud. “I’ve always loved you,” he said. “I tried to stop. God knows I tried, but I couldn’t do it in the end,” he said, looking a little bit sad and a little bit wistful.
Alfred took a deep breath and shook himself a little. “Then this happened and I couldn’t stay away any longer,” he said.
“Alfred…” Arthur said.
“So.” Alfred smiled. “Will you be my boyfriend?”
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The obvious is right there Artie! D': Don't fall for his sweet charms! Nooo! XD (If I didn't think up the prompt and this was a regular fic, I wouldn't suspect Alfred. Hell, it would be a BADASS plot twist right there!)
But I feel bad for what happened between them, that's gotta be hard to live with.
Author anon, I hate it you left us with a cliffhanger! You tease~ ;A;
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