Like A Diamond in the Sky
Title: Like A Diamond in the Sky
Genre: Angst/Drama/Romance
Pairing(s): USUK, America/others, Korea/others
Word Count: 1,010
Rating/Warnings: Prostitution (lots of mentions of it), sex (mentions), 15
Summary: When he is researching his next book, Arthur Kirkland has to find out about the people living and working on the streets of London. Some things are better left unturned. AU Done for the 'Nighttime' prompt for the usxuk summer camp. Part one is 'Walk a Mile in Someone Else's Shoes'
Alfred liked to look up at the stars. In London, the light pollution blocked out all but the strongest stars but whatever he did see, he focused on when he was standing on his corner. They were forever staying the same, always watching down on them. Alfred liked to imagine that they looked down and watched humans go about their daily lives and despair at how some people could be wasting their lives. Rather like Alfred.
When a client was using him in an alley somewhere, Alfred would look up at the sky during it and start counting all the stars he could see. It helped him calm down and relax, not just his mind but also his body so it hurt less that way. Sometimes his clients went without any form of preparation or lubrication. Alfred tried not to let anyone else know, even though Yong Soo was probably aware since the same thing most likely happened to him, but Matthew ask him worried questions the next day after he had a particularly rough client and Arthur would send him searching looks that made Alfred feel that he knew exactly what happened to Alfred. Somehow, Arthur knowing what happened to him was even worse than Matthew knowing what happened to him.
"Alfred," Arthur appeared as suddenly as Alfred thinking about him had drawn him there, "are you stargazing again?" Alfred grinned at Arthur. He had long grown used to Arthur's habit of sneaking up on everyone and he was not even embarrassed by the clothes and make-up he wore when he was trying to attract clients.
"It's really nice. When we were younger, Matthew and I used to play with naming the constellations," Alfred said to Arthur with a bright grin. A breeze made him shiver in his thin top and Arthur looked at him.
"Here, have my jacket," Arthur said abruptly and he handed over his thick coat. Underneath he was wearing a thick green jumper so Alfred was not worried about him going cold, but Alfred would never attract clients with the coat covering his best assets.
"Maybe later. Thanks Arthur, but I'll just walk around for a minute," Alfred gave an easy smile before pacing the little corner. He could see Yong Soo getting into someone's car and knew that he had found a customer.
"I've never asked," Arthur murmured as if to himself and Alfred turned to his friend. Arthur was staring at the ground but when Alfred turned, he raised striking green eyes to his. "Why are you a prostitute Alfred?" Alfred froze for a moment and felt his smile falter. He shrugged his shoulders and decided to be honest. At least partly.
"No A-Levels, no chance of getting a job that pays this well. Found myself into drugs at one point and it led me to this job. I've got out of them but I still need this job," Alfred explained as best he could without letting onto the main reason he needed the money so badly. Arthur's look showed he was doubtful about Alfred's answer and Alfred swallowed nervously.
"But you earn a lot of money. Far more than some of the others. However you live in a flat which has three rooms and the only expensive things you own are the props you use when you stand out here or when you go to a high-class hotel room. Nothing else. So where does the money go?" Alfred felt sweat break out on his forehead. The smile had completely disappeared from his face now and he gave Arthur a terrified look. He could not find out. Alfred did not know why he was even protesting that much or why he didn't want Arthur to find out so badly, but he knew he had to keep a secret.
For the first time Alfred was honestly glad when a car pulled up beside the two men and the window rolled down. He sauntered up to the car, expensive with nice seats, that meant the man would probably want to take him somewhere else. They never wanted to ruin the upholstery of their cars.
"Hello darling, what can I do you for?" Alfred let his American accent from years ago come to the forefront and tried to ignore the fact that Arthur was watching his every move, watching him attract the clients. For some reason, this made him more ashamed than anything. Sitting in the car was a Japanese man with neatly cut black hair and a blank expression.
"Into the car," the man said and Alfred obeyed willingly. He resisted casting a glance back at Arthur but he caught a glimpse in the side mirror. Arthur looked defeated and Alfred turned away from the view, feeling ill. The man drove down the street and Alfred sat in silence, knowing that now it was up to his customer what he wanted Alfred to do.
Arthur watched the car disappear with a sick feeling in his heart. He hated Alfred's job and he still couldn't understand why Alfred continued to do it when he could do anything else he wanted to. Arthur understood not wanting to rely on charity, otherwise he would have offered all the money he had just to get Alfred out of the situation. He had tried so hard with his books to be successful so he wouldn't have to rely on his family's money but now he was willing to spend any amount of his family money if Alfred could just get a chance to get off the streets.
He sighed and started back to his car. At least he had managed to persuade Mei to let him help her, for her baby's sake if not her own. Maybe she could bring Alfred round to accepting even a loan from Arthur. She was waiting at Arthur's flat that he had decided to rent when he knew that the book was going ahead and that was where he was heading now. Hopefully she could help him with his confusing mess of a head.
Another really short one. But I didn't have time yesterday or this morning to write anymore. But it shall be continued and all shall be explained. Thanks for your comments!
Genre: Angst/Drama/Romance
Pairing(s): USUK, America/others, Korea/others
Word Count: 1,010
Rating/Warnings: Prostitution (lots of mentions of it), sex (mentions), 15
Summary: When he is researching his next book, Arthur Kirkland has to find out about the people living and working on the streets of London. Some things are better left unturned. AU Done for the 'Nighttime' prompt for the usxuk summer camp. Part one is 'Walk a Mile in Someone Else's Shoes'
Alfred liked to look up at the stars. In London, the light pollution blocked out all but the strongest stars but whatever he did see, he focused on when he was standing on his corner. They were forever staying the same, always watching down on them. Alfred liked to imagine that they looked down and watched humans go about their daily lives and despair at how some people could be wasting their lives. Rather like Alfred.
When a client was using him in an alley somewhere, Alfred would look up at the sky during it and start counting all the stars he could see. It helped him calm down and relax, not just his mind but also his body so it hurt less that way. Sometimes his clients went without any form of preparation or lubrication. Alfred tried not to let anyone else know, even though Yong Soo was probably aware since the same thing most likely happened to him, but Matthew ask him worried questions the next day after he had a particularly rough client and Arthur would send him searching looks that made Alfred feel that he knew exactly what happened to Alfred. Somehow, Arthur knowing what happened to him was even worse than Matthew knowing what happened to him.
"Alfred," Arthur appeared as suddenly as Alfred thinking about him had drawn him there, "are you stargazing again?" Alfred grinned at Arthur. He had long grown used to Arthur's habit of sneaking up on everyone and he was not even embarrassed by the clothes and make-up he wore when he was trying to attract clients.
"It's really nice. When we were younger, Matthew and I used to play with naming the constellations," Alfred said to Arthur with a bright grin. A breeze made him shiver in his thin top and Arthur looked at him.
"Here, have my jacket," Arthur said abruptly and he handed over his thick coat. Underneath he was wearing a thick green jumper so Alfred was not worried about him going cold, but Alfred would never attract clients with the coat covering his best assets.
"Maybe later. Thanks Arthur, but I'll just walk around for a minute," Alfred gave an easy smile before pacing the little corner. He could see Yong Soo getting into someone's car and knew that he had found a customer.
"I've never asked," Arthur murmured as if to himself and Alfred turned to his friend. Arthur was staring at the ground but when Alfred turned, he raised striking green eyes to his. "Why are you a prostitute Alfred?" Alfred froze for a moment and felt his smile falter. He shrugged his shoulders and decided to be honest. At least partly.
"No A-Levels, no chance of getting a job that pays this well. Found myself into drugs at one point and it led me to this job. I've got out of them but I still need this job," Alfred explained as best he could without letting onto the main reason he needed the money so badly. Arthur's look showed he was doubtful about Alfred's answer and Alfred swallowed nervously.
"But you earn a lot of money. Far more than some of the others. However you live in a flat which has three rooms and the only expensive things you own are the props you use when you stand out here or when you go to a high-class hotel room. Nothing else. So where does the money go?" Alfred felt sweat break out on his forehead. The smile had completely disappeared from his face now and he gave Arthur a terrified look. He could not find out. Alfred did not know why he was even protesting that much or why he didn't want Arthur to find out so badly, but he knew he had to keep a secret.
For the first time Alfred was honestly glad when a car pulled up beside the two men and the window rolled down. He sauntered up to the car, expensive with nice seats, that meant the man would probably want to take him somewhere else. They never wanted to ruin the upholstery of their cars.
"Hello darling, what can I do you for?" Alfred let his American accent from years ago come to the forefront and tried to ignore the fact that Arthur was watching his every move, watching him attract the clients. For some reason, this made him more ashamed than anything. Sitting in the car was a Japanese man with neatly cut black hair and a blank expression.
"Into the car," the man said and Alfred obeyed willingly. He resisted casting a glance back at Arthur but he caught a glimpse in the side mirror. Arthur looked defeated and Alfred turned away from the view, feeling ill. The man drove down the street and Alfred sat in silence, knowing that now it was up to his customer what he wanted Alfred to do.
Arthur watched the car disappear with a sick feeling in his heart. He hated Alfred's job and he still couldn't understand why Alfred continued to do it when he could do anything else he wanted to. Arthur understood not wanting to rely on charity, otherwise he would have offered all the money he had just to get Alfred out of the situation. He had tried so hard with his books to be successful so he wouldn't have to rely on his family's money but now he was willing to spend any amount of his family money if Alfred could just get a chance to get off the streets.
He sighed and started back to his car. At least he had managed to persuade Mei to let him help her, for her baby's sake if not her own. Maybe she could bring Alfred round to accepting even a loan from Arthur. She was waiting at Arthur's flat that he had decided to rent when he knew that the book was going ahead and that was where he was heading now. Hopefully she could help him with his confusing mess of a head.
Another really short one. But I didn't have time yesterday or this morning to write anymore. But it shall be continued and all shall be explained. Thanks for your comments!