Punishment [17c/18]
anonymous
October 6 2011, 03:49:49 UTC
Tino never voiced his discomfort and concerns about Arthur’s presence, but they were obvious whenever Arthur looked at him. Tino avoided looking at Berwald whenever he took care of Arthur. He also tried to avoid Alfred at those times, as Alfred demanded answers and explanations for every move Berwald made.
Arthur was sure that neither really thought about what Tino really saw (or in this case, didn’t see). When Berwald fed Arthur, Tino only saw the food disappearing into empty air. When Berwald changed Arthur’s bandages, bloody strips of fabric became visible once they were pulled away from Arthur. The fact that Berwald could see Arthur instead probably bothered him more.
In a move that had Arthur questioning how much he underestimated Alfred’s thinking, one day Alfred asked why Tino couldn’t see him while Berwald could.
It was an answer that had haunted Arthur since the first time he had realized he could be seen. The only humans that had ever been able to see Arthur were the young, and those that had seen or were near death.
Arthur couldn’t understand why Berwald could see him. He feared that Berwald was nearing the end of his life, though he couldn’t imagine what could possibly kill him. Had Arthur not been an angel, he would have mistaken Berwald for a demon on their first meeting. A human with that presence didn’t die easily.
Alfred hadn’t asked any more after Arthur had answered his question, and Arthur had been relieved. He didn’t want to imagine the death of the man who was so gentle when he changed his bandages and always brought in extra blankets at night because he feared Arthur (and Alfred) would get cold.
Arthur hated thinking that Berwald’s days were numbered.
“Oh.”
Arthur looked over his shoulder when Tino gasped, and the shattering of glass attracted Berwald’s attention from where he checked Arthur’s wing.
“It’s an angel.”
Berwald nodded and left Arthur so that he could pick up the broken glass from the floor. Tino was staring at Arthur in shock, his jaw slack and his eyes wide.
“He’s really an angel.”
“You can see me?” Arthur turned on his cot and watched while Tino knelt to help Berwald with the glass.
Berwald and Tino spoke to each other in hushed voices so that Arthur couldn’t hear, but it was obvious that Tino was stuck somewhere between shock and awe. He kept glancing towards Arthur and then looking back at Berwald.
There was a groan and Arthur looked towards the couch. Alfred had been woken from a nap by the crashing glass, and he squinted at Arthur.
“Where’s your halo?”
Author's note: Sorry for disappearing! Shit happened and I lost my muse for a while. This is extremely close to the end (it ends with 18 parts, and 18 is just about done. I thought it would be better to split at a good spot and put this much out, at least). I'm really trying to finish everything and quickly, and there definitely will not be another 6-8 month period of silence from me.
Re: Punishment [17c/18]
anonymous
October 6 2011, 20:51:12 UTC
Oh my god! You're back! I had given up on this ever being updated! I still pull up this fill to reread sometimes, you know? My jaw literally dropped when I saw this on the fill list. I'm so glad you're back!
Tino never voiced his discomfort and concerns about Arthur’s presence, but they were obvious whenever Arthur looked at him. Tino avoided looking at Berwald whenever he took care of Arthur. He also tried to avoid Alfred at those times, as Alfred demanded answers and explanations for every move Berwald made.
Arthur was sure that neither really thought about what Tino really saw (or in this case, didn’t see). When Berwald fed Arthur, Tino only saw the food disappearing into empty air. When Berwald changed Arthur’s bandages, bloody strips of fabric became visible once they were pulled away from Arthur. The fact that Berwald could see Arthur instead probably bothered him more.
In a move that had Arthur questioning how much he underestimated Alfred’s thinking, one day Alfred asked why Tino couldn’t see him while Berwald could.
It was an answer that had haunted Arthur since the first time he had realized he could be seen. The only humans that had ever been able to see Arthur were the young, and those that had seen or were near death.
Arthur couldn’t understand why Berwald could see him. He feared that Berwald was nearing the end of his life, though he couldn’t imagine what could possibly kill him. Had Arthur not been an angel, he would have mistaken Berwald for a demon on their first meeting. A human with that presence didn’t die easily.
Alfred hadn’t asked any more after Arthur had answered his question, and Arthur had been relieved. He didn’t want to imagine the death of the man who was so gentle when he changed his bandages and always brought in extra blankets at night because he feared Arthur (and Alfred) would get cold.
Arthur hated thinking that Berwald’s days were numbered.
“Oh.”
Arthur looked over his shoulder when Tino gasped, and the shattering of glass attracted Berwald’s attention from where he checked Arthur’s wing.
“It’s an angel.”
Berwald nodded and left Arthur so that he could pick up the broken glass from the floor. Tino was staring at Arthur in shock, his jaw slack and his eyes wide.
“He’s really an angel.”
“You can see me?” Arthur turned on his cot and watched while Tino knelt to help Berwald with the glass.
Berwald and Tino spoke to each other in hushed voices so that Arthur couldn’t hear, but it was obvious that Tino was stuck somewhere between shock and awe. He kept glancing towards Arthur and then looking back at Berwald.
There was a groan and Arthur looked towards the couch. Alfred had been woken from a nap by the crashing glass, and he squinted at Arthur.
“Where’s your halo?”
Author's note: Sorry for disappearing! Shit happened and I lost my muse for a while. This is extremely close to the end (it ends with 18 parts, and 18 is just about done. I thought it would be better to split at a good spot and put this much out, at least). I'm really trying to finish everything and quickly, and there definitely will not be another 6-8 month period of silence from me.
I apologize so much.
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Oh no, Arthur, what's happening to you... :O
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