I Know Places.
It's been hard. Very hard for the both of them. Alfred was often going on business trips, Arthur stayed behind and went along with his day, keeping up with the daily house needs. He tried to keep his head held high, but the more he tried, the more it seemed to become impossible. The more his little act crumbled. The more everything just seemed to keep falling apart.
Alfred often called when he got his chances and would ask how Arthur was holding up and saying his I love you's and that he would be home as soon as possible. That's mostly how everyday went. He would also send him things from where ever he was at.
Arthur sighed, he just didn't know what to do anymore. He didn't know why he was still here if Alfred was always gone. Sure, he understands that Alfred had things to do, but did it always have to be all the bloody time?
It as honestly frustrating and awfully lonely. He has gone through Alfred leaving before, didn't see him for years. But now that he and Alfred had figured things out, they were happy and finally able to be with each other and then. He just leaves. All over the place and sometimes it takes him over a month to get back.
It hurts, It's lonely, its too quiet, too dull, too..well..Lifeless.
Even though Francis and Antonio came around and always bugged him, he was still in fact, very much alone
He sighed and walked into the living room, plopping himself down onto the couch and grabbing his book off the coffee table. He groaned once he realized he hadn't gotten his afternoon tea. He could never read without his tea. It just soothed him in the strangest way.
He set his book back down, got up, and walked to the kitchen He would have to clean it later, he was slightly disgusted with himself knowing he let it get so out of hand.
Listening to the noise around him, it was completely silent until he heard the chirping of the birds outside the window. He payed it no attention and started cleaning now instead of having to do it later. Plus, he didn't want this place a mess when Alfred got back.
He heard the faint buzzing of his phone on the coffee table, he suspected it was Alfred. Of course It was, who else bothers to call him besides that bloody frog?
He shuffled over to the coffee table and picked up the phone, looking at the contact name to see "Hero" He smiled lightly, he never remembered putting that as Alfred's contact name.
He quickly swiped his thumb across the screen, answering the call. "Hello?"
"Arthur!" the Americans loud voice screeched from the other side, Arthur naturally pulled the phone away from his ear. It's not the first time hes done that. He does that purely to annoy Arthur, but it doesn't bother the brit much due to having long grown used to the screaming
"Hello Alfred, hows your trip going? And how many times do I need to tell you to stop yelling like that? You're going to blow my ear drums out if you keep it up" He scolded lightly, Alfred ignored him and continued his usual loud obnoxious speaking.
"Well anyways dude, I'll be home later tonight!" The words made Arthur smile instantly, his excitement starting to bubble up. His loneliness starting to ebb away at the words instantly.
"-And we got very lucky!" Alfred said while chuckling. Arthur was too caught up in the wonderful words that were ricocheting inside his head.
"Pardon, what was that?" He asked, feeling guilty for not paying attention for what Alfred had to say. Alfred chuckled for a minute and Arthur could practically see him rolling his eyes, " you must be getting old Iggy if you aren't listening to what the hero has to say! But i said, I won't be going on business trips that often anymore, and that's why we got very lucky! We can spend more time together now" His voice level dropped an octave, which made Arthur realize he wasn't kidding this time.
He certainly hoped he wasn't. He better not, or else he may not be able to hang on to what they had anymore.
"Arthur?" Alfred asked, his voice was softer now. "Yes?" Arthur responded and his voice cracked in the process. He wasn't sure if he was breaking down from happiness, or from all the bottled up emotions. "I love you, Arthur. You know that right?" Arthur wasn't really paying attention at this point, too caught up of images of Alfred coming home.
"Mhmm, of course I do, you tell me every day after all" His excitement immediately began to dissolve and was replaced by curiosity and a hint of fear, He hesitated to ask, "..why?" "Just making sure...I'll be home around Four a.m. And you sound tired. Go get some rest okay?" He sounded genuinely worried, so Arthur nodded even thought the other couldn't see him,
Now that he thought of it, he hadn't been getting much rest due to their problem of being separated all the time. The bed just seemed too big, too cold, So usually, Arthur would have to sleep on the couch. But would only get an hour or two of sleep, and that was it.
It wasn't the most comfortable place to sleep, but it was better than a half empty bed.
"I think I will, I love you too, wake me when you get here please" Alfred usually let him rest when he came back merely because he knew Arthur didn't get much sleep while he was away on his trips. He smiled and laughed brightly "I sure will! Plus I have to share something else with you.." His sentence trailed off and he stayed silent for a moment.
"Arthur?" He heard light rustling on the other end and soft snoring. He shook his head and laughed. "I'll see you later Arthur"
And the line went dead.
Alfred smiled and shrugged on his bomber jacket. Excited to see his lover after three weeks of being separated, he never thought things would end up in such a way. With him having to leave Arthur behind and all alone. He knew perfectly well what him leaving did to Arthur. He honestly wasn't on business trips at all.
He was just traveling. Wanting to see the world, Being the hero and helping others because that's what hero's do right? Sure he felt bad about leaving Arthur all the time and lying about the business trips..
but a hero's gotta do what a hero's gotta do right?
But then again, he wasn't sure if this was even right. Or who he was actually being a hero for. Or how it started, or why.
'Am I really a hero?' Of course he was, to everyone else of course.
But Arthur.
He seemed to be the opposite of what he wanted to be for him. Of what he wanted to be. Hero's didn't lie to their loved ones, at least..that's what he thought.
But he would make it up to him he promised, He always kept his promises because that's what hero's do.
He had a good reason for lying, Arthur was sure going to like it if his plan worked the way he wanted it to.
He prayed it would otherwise all this traveling would be for nothing.
'please don't let this be all for nothing..' He fidgeted with the object in his right jacket pocket,nervous about going home for the first time.
Still, he shoved it out and replaced it with a bright smile, swinging open his door and running out. He would miss his flight if he kept stalling any longer. Hero's can't be late after all.
'I know why now I wanted to be a hero Arthur, Not only because it would help others,but it's because I wanted to save you all along..' He grinned and finished off his sentence '..today is going to be the day I finally save you'
And maybe, he really is going to be the one to save him.
He was going to be his hero, thats of course, everything ran smoothly.