Alasdair has started to doze off, Elyan's hand clasped tightly in his when a blonde man stumbles into the E.R. His face is taut and pale and he reminds Alasdair a bit of the scared animals he used to try and save all the time as a kid, the same haunted look in his eyes as he surveys the room. Now, Alasdair has made it a point lately not to get involved in what other people do. Hell, the last time he did he ended up facing potential jail time and it was only because of Ludwig he was able to avoid it, so messing around with strangers? No thank you.
However when a paramedic approaches the man and he instantly stagger back, hands out as if to protect himself - Alasdair pets Elyan's hair and gets up, cursing silently as he makes his way across the room because he knows this kind of behaviour, sees it in his brother too often. The man is panicking and the stressed paramedic is too wound up to see or care, jabbing at his clipboard with his pen as if he's trying to hold back from stabbing the blonde man with it instead.
When he comes closer he sees that the paramedic is in fact Alfred with his hair pushed back, dark circles under his eyes. The boy looks relieved when he recognises Alasdair and takes a step back, finally lowering the god damn clipboard.
"Oh, hi Alasdair," Alfred pushes a shaky hand through his hair, "Elyan in trouble again?"
Alasdair points in his brother's general direction and smiles, "He's over there, sleeping. Maybe you could take a look at him?" Alfred's eyes dart to the stranger, but Alasdair puts a hand on his shoulder and quietly murmurs "let me try." Alfred's shoulders slump and he sends Alasdair a grateful look as he hurries over to Elyan, leaving Alasdair with the stranger.
"Do you want to sit down?" Alasdair asks, careful not to make any sudden movements. The man looks at him and Alasdair is struck by how scared he looks, scared and angry.
"You're not a paramedic," the blonde spits and Alasdair doesn't deny it, simply nods.
"I spend a lot of time here and I was set up to be a doctor, long ago."
"Is that your brother over there?" Alasdair nods again, smiling carefully at the stranger when he wobbles towards one of the seats. He tries not to notice how cute the man is but it's been a year since he last dated and he can't really help it, taking the seat next to him.
"You're not from around here I assume. I'm Alasdair."
"…I'm Arthur." Arthur looks at him and makes Alasdair's life a thousand times harder by biting his lower lip. "Would it be presumptuous of me to ask you to stay here with me for a bit? I know you have your brother but as you guessed, I'm not from around here and -"
"No problem. Maybe we could go sit by my brother and perhaps you could even tell poor Alfred what's wrong with you?" A small smile curls Arthur's lips and Alasdair can't help but smile back.