There wasn't much to be said about Arthur Kirkland's life. It was organized, as evidenced by the calendars on his desk, wall, personal ledger, computer, and most recently, his smart phone. It wasn't incredibly eventful, a rebellious teenager though he had been, his college years, along with a steadily blooming career in business, fostered a sort of...cooling down...of his inner rebel. And that, despite how boring it was, was for the best.

Nothing was ever out of place, all of his friends were accounted for, and his entire life seemed well put together, and orderly. He was quickly, but continuously, earning a steady cash flow, accumulating a large wealth that was surely certain to be used on some sort of garish vacation with whatever attractive young man would settle down with him.

But, that was the rub. Arthur didn't have anyone who would settle down with him. Francis was busy with whatever it was he did, not that Arthur was all that incredibly interested in even dating the frog (though, he distastefully admitted the man was his best friend) once again. They had done that in college, and though the sex was incredible, they couldn't tolerate each other in a romantic sense in the slightest. Arthur might not have minded it incredibly much, but ultimately, Francis was a disgusting romantic sap, and so had dumped him so that they could find "true love", and Francis had been firm in cutting him off so hard that they didn't speak for the majority of their last two years in schooling.

And that was the last serious relationship he could think of since he was 23. Arthur was now coming up on 28, and 5 years of seldom one-night stands didn't have the thrill it did when he was still a young thing off at university. Now, nearing 30 without any prospects of a willing partner for the rest of his life other than Francis, who was already finding plenty of people who were willing to not only sleep with him, but rather those who desired to date and presumably, marry him.

Arthur, however, only seemed to attract young girls who craved his money and age rather than anything in particular about himself. He didn't even like women.

However, he was very interested in watching the new intern as he was picked up from the front. There was a very clear view from Arthur's window to the parking lot, where a young man, strapping, working on some clear muscles, a solid tan, and blonde hair that would make Rumpelstiltskin envious, seeming to be spun of gold. That didn't even get to the rest of his body, but more pressing, his smile, the man seeming to try and light up the entire world with one small smile.

Arthur watched him from the slightly cracked blinds in his room, held up with a pair of his fingers, as Matthew, their newest employee, gestured for the other man to scoot out of the drivers seat, get into the passengers side. He was happy too, and soon enough, Matthew was driving off with the other man, who despite looking nearly identical to Matthew, was so, so starkly different that it was hard to imagine them as anything close to being alike.

"Mon ami, what has caught your eye?" A bothersome French-accented voice grated on his ears, and Arthur turned his head to see Francis leaning against his door frame, Arthur especially irritated because he hadn't known that the man had opened his door, and so had no timeframe for how long he had been watched.

However, despite his irritation with the man who had gone to uni with him, when he opened his mouth to fire out an insult, nothing came out. He recollected himself, and attempted honesty. "...The man with Matthew," Arthur licked his lips before he asked the question that was eating at him. "Who is he? He's rather attractive. I've seen him a few times…"

Francis' eyes narrowed in confusion, opening his mouth to speak but nothing coming out. It was not like in Arthur's case where it was because he hadn't meant what he was going to say- rather, Francis meant whatever he had been about to say but he probably just realized that he needed to word it more delicately. "Ah...that is Matthew's twin, Alfred." He said, coughing a bit.

Arthur knew the name- particularly striking a cord because it was put into perspective with Matthew. "I knew an Alfred in high school...he was a freshman when you and I started senior year, right? And… Matthew was his twin too...strange coincidence, hunh?"

The other blonde simply raised an eyebrow, his mouth hanging open before he shut it, and licked his lips. "No, he is in fact, the same Alfred, just as Matthew is also the 12 year old we had meet in our senior year of high school."

"That's strange." Arthur murmured, taking his turn now to be befuddled. "Surely, if I knew them both, they would have at least reminded me, 'Mr. Kirkland, we went to the same high school that you did!'- Or something of the sort..." He mumbled, briefly imitating a soft-spoken voice that he knew to be Matthews.

"Well. I can't say that they'd be happy to talk to you." Francis said, though his voice relayed truthfulness, and a sarcastic undertone that was difficult to ignore.

Arthur frowned, "What the devil do you mean, Francis?" He asked. "Surely, if we went to the same high school, even if he looks different now, or if I look different now."

Francis simply snorted. "You really don't remember? Or, are you having trouble connecting the dots, mon ami? Alfred, the one you were just ogling- that man, my friend, was the boy we called Fat Al, Four Eyes, Pizza Face, and my personal favorite, Stupid Matthew." Francis said, rolling his eyes. "I have reconciled with Matthew somewhat, but admittedly, Alfred for one reason or another refuses to see me. We haven't spoken- and remember my friend, I was only one of your lackeys, let alone the fact you, Arthur, were the head of the boys misery, and from what I have gleaned from Matthew, who despises you, a large part of why dropped out of high school, and why, I presume anyway, he is still dependent on Matthew, even though it's been essentially 10 years from the time we met."

Arthur was left gaping. "Are you pulling my leg, Francis?" He asked, trying to joke but falling flat, his voice barely in a whisper. "Surely...I mean, I know I pulled some stunts in high school...but nothing like..."

Francis held up a hand, attempting to quiet him. "Arthur, I am not mad at you- I participated in it often enough. Matthew, he is furious- probably mad that he has to support him. He has made it clear to me he tolerates me so that he can avoid you." He sighed. "I am only really telling you so that you don't go digging into something you might not want to know."

Matthew was driving off now, that bright smile leaving the parking lot slowly getting darker in the sunset, which tinged his golden hair, orange.

However, Arthur simply couldn't let the issue go. Something sat terribly wrong in his stomach. "I know I was horrible, but…Truly, Francis, I was dealing with plenty of stuff at home…I never meant to hurt someone…"

Francis nodded. "No, again, I am also not free of blame, Arthur. However, for your sake, I would not dig into that further. If he refuses to see me, what makes you think he'd talk to you?"

Arthur frowned, but acknowledged that Francis was right- but, even if he wasn't interested in dating the young man, he would have to apologize, and perhaps explain himself if given an opportunity.

XXXXX

He had arrived early to the office the next morning. His troubled thoughts had kept him up anyway, so he saw no harm in trying to get in some extra work. Arthur, however, was surprised to hear a car pulling into their parking lot, not incredibly long after him. The man hadn't even had time to get a full pot of coffee brewing.

It was 6:45 AM…who in the devil would be up right now?

Glancing through his blinds again, his eyes widened as he saw the twins, Alfred looking more asleep than not, and Matthew gently ushering him along, urging him to get out of the car. The twin that had so attracted Arthur's attention was acting strangely sluggish, seeming to get off track before Matthew redirected his attention.

Good heavens, the boy must be a real bum, Arthur thought distastefully as he saw how Matthew was trying his hardest to get Alfred into the building across the street from the firm. Arthur didn't know what that building was, and neither did he care to know.

He closed his blinds, and turned his attention back to getting coffee in his system, and getting onto his computer to arrange meetings and other things. He heard Matthew come in, but they didn't speak.

Poor boy, Arthur thought to himself. He knew what having to deal with a bum for a brother was like. His own brothers, mostly older than himself, had their times where they were the most unhelpful people in the world. He didn't think that bullying could have done that to Alfred- no, it was much more likely that was a continued excuse that he was giving Matthew, the young employee who always seemed vulnerable to being stepped on by others.

Perhaps he would give Matthew advice at some point? Urge him to set his brother free unto the world, to sink or swim? But, remembering Francis' warning, he decided ultimately not to involve himself in his affairs. How Matthew dealt with his twin was ultimately up to him.

That day would be uneventful, and Arthur saw how the two left at the same time everyday, Alfred never driving. Probably didn't bother ever getting a license. Probably also did weed, or something else, Arthur thought disparagingly of the man with Matthew.

XXXXX

And so, life went on, Arthur turning his attention from the bum with his faithful employee to looking into more prosperous options.

…Which put him, unfortunately, back to square one. He had no offers. Not that the bum living with Matthew had offered, but he was interesting. He was still rather attractive, in a bothering sort of way, if Arthur was to be entirely honest about the bloke with Matthew.

Francis seemed to go back to normal as well- normal as possible it was for a man such as Francis. If any behavior ever displayed by the man could count as "normal".

Matthew was a good hard worker, spending long hours at the place, getting paid a mediocre wage, Arthur knew, compared to what he and Francis were making. He decided to bring the boy in for a meeting, discussing options between him and Francis.

They casually brought up dependents, trying to gauge who he lived with. "I have one." Matthew said, voice hard. That meant he didn't want to answer who was his dependent.

"Is this dependent able to work?" Arthur said, raising an eyebrow at Matthew, who scowled.

"No, my dependent is unable to work." He answered stiffly, his shoulders tense and his violet blue eyes suspicious.

Francis shrugged. "Then it is settled. You are planned to get a bit of a raise. You work so much overtime that we are guilty we cannot pay you more." He supplied, making Matthew's eyes bulge a bit.

"What?" He breathed, the comment soft and confused.

Arthur nodded, handing him over the necessary paperwork. "Indeed, we are giving you a raise, Mr. Williams."

"It will take you about an hour to sort through all of that paperwork, however. We are terribly sorry we are keeping you late to finish this." Matthew looked conflicted at Francis' words.

The man looked to Francis. "I must go get someone- I'll be right back." Matthew said, quietly, putting down the paperwork and leaving his jacket and bag, as a token to show he was going to come back shortly.

Arthur looked to Francis, and once the door was shut behind Matthew, he commented. "That means he's likely needing to pick up Alfred." He noted, and Francis nodded.

"Why he needs to pick up his twin is an entirely different question." Francis held up his senior yearbook from high school, and opened it up to a marked page- the freshmen section. "Here, we can see Matthew. He is named clearly, Matthew Williams."

Arthur resisted a guffaw at the braces and dorky smile.

Francis than turned back a few pages, to another marked section, and Arthur blinked suddenly when he saw Matthew's identical twin in a different section. "Alfred Jones." The yearbook labeled him. There was a dorky smile, with big thick glasses, and a lot of acne as well. However, this twin didn't have braces, though his teeth obviously needed them.

"There's my question. Different last names, and obviously, different standards. Matthew has braces, and much better looking glasses. Alfred, however, doesn't have braces, and look at what he's wearing. It's a mystery to me why they're so different." Francis murmured, and then they heard the bell on the entrance to the firm ring.

"This is where you work, Mattie?" A confused voice was speaking, a bit more distinctly American than Matthew's was.

"Yes, Al. This is where I work. I've told you before, I work right across the street." Matthew's voice was exceedingly patient, and Alfred only made a humming acknowledgement of what he was saying. "If you don't remember, you can always ask the Misses." Matthew gently reminded him.

He instructed Alfred to wait right there, Alfred sitting down quietly in Matthew's office chair, before the working twin came back in to the office room, sitting down and quietly asking for a pencil. Francis gave it to him, and then gestured for Arthur to leave the room. "For legal reasons, we cannot watch you fill out the paperwork." He said, and Arthur agreed, the two older men leaving the young employee to fill out everything.

Which, meant they walked away, and to Matthew's desk, where Alfred was blankly sitting, occasionally fiddling with the toys on the surface where Matthew worked.

Bollocks, the man was even more handsome up close, though he seemed rather dim. Francis motioned Arthur away, and the Brit did just that, but he was still close enough to hear the words Francis was saying to Alfred, who seemed shocked to see them.

"Hello, Alfred." Francis said, lightly. "Ah, it seems that we knew each other, before?"

"Matthew said I shouldn't talk to you guys." He said, glancing to Arthur as well. "He said you were bad for me…or something." Alfred's blue eyes admittedly looked rather terrified, but Francis shrugged that off.

"Come now, Alfred." Francis smiled easily. "Why would we be bad for you? I simply wanted to ask some questions."

"A-alright then." Alfred agreed quietly. "Questions, those I can answer…" He nodded. "Yeah."

Francis spoke quickly, his voice concerned. "Why do you still live with Matthew? Certainly, if you're not working, that must be hard on him."

"Ah…." Alfred's gaze was slowly focusing on something else. "I…Dunno, I guess…" His face went blank, and Francis continued.

"Well, we hope that you're not a burden on deal Matthew!" He joked lightly, still watching Alfred carefully for a reaction, and he got one, certainly.

Alfred's face crumpled a bit, and he seemed to grow somewhat agitated. "I…I…" He murmured, his gaze distant, before he nodded slowly. "No, I'm not…a burden. I won't be." He stood, gripping his arms. "I won't be." Alfred mumbled again, before he walked outside, making Arthur and Francis raise eyebrows. That had certainly been strange.

XXXXX

Matthew was finished with the paperwork in about an hour after he had sat down to do it, and he handed it to Francis with a short smile, calling for Alfred, saying it was time to go.

There wasn't an answer. Matthew frowned, and Arthur did to. "Where'd he go?" Matthew muttered, going to examine his desk. Arthur was collecting his things, and so saw fit to tell him.

"Ah, your brother got up a while ago, and he walked outside." He said, conversationally. His nicety was not rewarded, however, when Matthew turned around and forced him up against the wall.

"And you just…let him?" He asked, outraged. "No, you probably encouraged him, didn't you?!" He barked out laughed, his eyes wide, fear suddenly becoming a huge emotion in them. "Shit!" He dropped everything, trying to get out his phone but his hands were shaking too badly. "Shit, shit, shit dammit." He was cursing below his breath, and now Francis and Arthur, shocked to say the least at the sudden outburst, turned to each other in worry.

"Matthew, he's a grown man, he can find his way to your house." Francis said, trying to play it off, but he got too close to Matthew and the boy turned around and punched him.

"Shut the fuck up! You don't know anything!" He said, panicking as he got on the phone. He had only pressed 3 numbers, and Arthur's stomach sunk. There was something going on here they hadn't been aware of.

Arthur overheard the emergency operator on the phone with Matthew, the boy quickly saying he had a missing person to report. When asked how long the man had been missing. "An hour!" He barked, and the operator questioned it.

"Matthew, that's not a terribly long time- he's probably in the area." Arthur said, trying to stay calm, but Matthew just exploded.

"He's brain damaged, you fucking morons! He can't dress himself in the morning! He needs a constant eye on him, and he's been gone for an hour! He could have walked out into traffic and be in the hospital for all I know!" Matthew said, before relaying the information to the operator, who would send out a description of the man to local police and hospitals.

Arthur and Francis were staring at Matthew, who was hanging up and frantically gathering his things. "Shit!" He said, dropping his stuff as the man struggled to get out the door.

Francis seemed stupefied by the information, but Arthur stepped in for him. "Matthew, dear, we didn't know. Let us help you. We can find him faster if we all spread out."

Matthew looked angrily between him and Francis, before nodding, accepting the help. "Fine." He said, thrusting some of his bags into Arthur's arms. "Help me to the car first." He grit out, and the Brit couldn't find it in himself to argue with that.

XXXXX

It seemed like Arthur had been searching the whole night. Francis had already called it a day, and Arthur also knew the police weren't ready to launch a search for the man. Matthew was still probably looking, but no one had had any success in finding Alfred.

Arthur focused on trying not to feel guilty over everything that had happened.

However, it was 3 AM, and he was exhausted. He decided to call it a night, heading back to his car from where he had been walking down Main Street in the small town by the office. However, as he was walking, he heard a breathy sob coming from down the alleyway. He tried not to let his heart beat skip too much in hope, the alley was only about a 2 hour walk from the office, meaning that it was perfectly reasonable for Alfred to be in this area.

He walked down it slowly, getting out his flashlight, and holding his keys in his other hand. "Alfred?" His voice was tepid, his green eyes looking for the source of the sobs, which were slowly stopping.

He turned the corner to face the wall, and even with the black eye and bruised chest, Arthur could see it was Alfred. His blue eyes were red, from tears by the looks of him, and he had situated himself between a trash bin and the wall. He was all curled up, trying to make himself small and unnoticeable. He had clearly succeeded until this point, which worried Arthur.

"Alfred?" He murmured, voice gentle. "Hey, how'd you get back there?" He asked, soft with him, and Alfred whimpered a bit. "Are you hurt?" He asked, and Alfred tentatively nodded at Arthur, still staring at him. "Your brother's worried." Arthur murmured, reaching out a hand for him to take. "How about we call him?" He held out his hand, not touching Alfred, but leaving room for Alfred to touch him and take his hand.

Which, after a bit of waiting, Alfred did just that, gripping it slowly, and allowing Arthur to drag him out from behind the dump.

"Good, good." Arthur said, and he wrapped his nice suit jacket over Alfred's back, not even pausing to think of how dirty Alfred was, and started walking him to his car. Once he was in, Arthur made sure his seat belt was fastened, and pat his shoulder, getting out his cell phone.

He called Matthew, and had it on speakerphone. However, it went straight to voicemail, though Alfred had perked up when he had heard "Matthew" speaking. Arthur nodded, and sighed. "I think his phone is dead." He stroked Alfred's back reassuringly, the man leaning into the touch. "It will do no harm to bring you to my home, and we'll get you cleaned up and into bed."

"T-that sounds fine." Alfred stuttered, but it was good. It was the first thing Alfred had said to him, rather than through him. Arthur smiled at him, gulping a bit as Alfred stared at him, examining him. "You're different." He noticed, and Arthur frowned.

"What does that mean, Alfred?" He inquired of the man, who paused to think about that.

"You're…not a teenager." He said, and Arthur scoffed.

"I haven't been one of those in years." He mentioned. "I am 28 now."

Alfred's face fell, and he nodded as he spoke again. "Yeah…Matt's told me…it's been a long time…" However, he curled up, and looked out the window, practically closing himself off in the process.

Arthur wasn't yet certain if he wanted to know what happened to Alfred F Jones.