Arthur didn't deserve this.
He didn't deserve the softly sung songs in his ear or the attentive and listening ear.
How was he supposed to manage, to handle, this?
It went beyond perfectly executed plans as Al was never someone you could plan for or expect to meet.
He always took you by surprise and constantly did so.
Arthur was shamelessly addicted like a small helpless child; he always came back to that addiction that ended the pain, that brought joy.
So Arthur stayed by Al's side as the russet skinned man had already laid claim to Arthur's heart a long time ago.
He watched Al gleefully make their dinner sans meat or anything else that came from an animal, and Arthur was thankful for everything that Al was and stood for.
He was gentle in a lesser known way as his rougher exterior shone brighter than his kindness, and Arthur guessed that he, himself, was like that as well to a degree.
Al smirked as he set his cooked dinner down before his blond lover, "Dig in."
The red haired man didn't stop there as he leaned in to kiss the Brit that he loved.
Arthur reciprocated in an almost shy way like he had done for so many times before like he still was unsure of how this man had been drawn to him as well.
Al smirked against Arthur's lips as he pulled back and took to making sure that he had had a large helping, himself, as Al had the hunger to rival a horse.
Arthur was unsure of how to thank his biggest support system or of the words to describe what he thought or felt, so his voice came out in a nearly broken murmur, "I love you."
Nothing else had needed to be said at all.
"You're welcome. 'Love you too." Al spoke confidentally on this as he knew what his Brit was trying to say.
Al stood up to wrap his arms around Arthur and lean down to kiss him.
May be love couldn't be chained down, examined, and understood as all that they had were each other in the long run it seemed.
They had to trust one another and move on as if their pasts didn't matter.
They had to confide in each other and see the faults and the honorable traits.
They must remain faithful through all their scars and pain, so that's what they did.
Al and Arthur like everyone else had to learn to love each other and look beyond the world's desires to truly and genuinely see each other.
It was fine that their brief albeit meaningful conversation ended in kisses and faint smiles that told so much more than any wide smile could ever tell of their lives.
'I love you so much more than this world and all that it's done to me.'